Redesigning procurement in the public sector will be a vital part of meeting budget reductions.

In 2008/09, the public sector spent £220 billion on goods and services alone, accounting for one third of all spending. However, there is multiple overlap in terms of procurement processes and structures across the public sector and collaboration across organisational boundaries has been slow to develop. Chris Cox and Paul Rainford report from a recent seminar organised by the London School of Economics and the Design Council in which it was argued that innovative procurement will be crucial if the public sector is to reduce duplication, provide value for money and survive austerity.

The foreign exchange and over-the-counter interest rate derivatives markets in the United Kingdom

In April this year, the Bank of England conducted its usual three-yearly survey of turnover in the United Kingdom’s foreign exchange and over-the-counter (OTC) interest rate derivatives markets. This forms part of the latest worldwide survey co-ordinated by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The results show that the value of foreign exchange activity in the United Kingdom rose by one quarter between April 2007 and April 2010, increasing the UK share of the global market to 37%. Turnover in OTC interest rate derivatives also rose considerably over the same period. This report sets out the results of the UK survey, and then considers the potential underlying drivers in these markets over the past three years.

Path isomorphisms between quiver Hecke and diagrammatic Bott-Samelson endomorphism algebras

We construct an explicit isomorphism between (truncations of) quiver Hecke algebras and Elias-Williamson's diagrammatic endomorphism algebras of Bott-Samelson bimodules. As a corollary, we deduce that the decomposition numbers of these algebras (including as examples the symmetric groups and generalised blob algebras) are tautologically equal to the associated $p$-Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials, provided that the characteristic is greater than the Coxeter number. We hence give an elementary and more explicit proof of the main theorem of Riche-Williamson's recent monograph and extend their categorical equivalence to cyclotomic Hecke algebras, thus solving Libedinsky-Plaza's categorical blob conjecture

Probabilistic fatigue crack growth analysis using response surface methodology

All aircraft operated by the United States Navy were designed to operate for a predetermined number of flight hours defined as the flight life expectancy (FLE). An aircraft is due to retire from service once the FLE is reached. Due to the end of the cold war and budget priority, it is anticipated that fleets of United States Naval aircraft will be used beyond their designed FLE. A study was performed for the US Navy to address the aging aircraft issue by examining crack growth at the logeron of the aircraft. The objective of the study was to develop a probability model for the number of load cycles (N) needed for a crack to grow from its initiation size to critical size Fatigue crack growth due to constant stress intensity as well as random stress block was examined. The Pans equation was used to compute the fatigue crack growths. Response surface methodology was used to approximate the number of load cycles with respect to the geometric and material properties and stress intensity level. The most workable relationship was a linear function with all the input parameters and number of load cycles in their natural logarithmic base. The statistical analyses of the study showed that the mean number of load cycles (N) approximated from the response surface functions predicted the mean pseudo population load cycles at a 95 percent confidence level. The study also showed that the probability density function of the number of load cycles from the response surface functions, Gaussian distribution, fit the histogram of the pseudo population well

The adjuvant effect of Gantrez®AN nanoparticles on oral vaccination of pigs and mice with F4 fimbriae is strongly influenced by polymer degradation

We analysed the adjuvant effect of Gantrez nanoparticles NP on oral immunisation of pigs and mice with F4 fimbriae. The animals were vaccinated with F4, F4 encapsulated in Gantrez NP, called gF4 NP, or F4 + empty Gantrez NP, called F4 + gNP, and intragastrically infected with F4+ ETEC. The adjuvant effect of Gantrez®AN nanoparticles on oral vaccination of pigs and mice with F4 fimbriae is strongly influenced by polymer degradation

A hands-on approach to teaching system identification using first order plus dead time (FOPDT) modelling of step response data

This paper describes three step response-based system identification methods of increasing complexity, together with a range of exercises that will enhance student understanding of this area in an engaging and practical way. For illustration purposes and practicality, it is assumed that the model to be identified is of the first order plus dead time (FOPDT) type. The first method uses a popular graphical technique, which is easy to understand and apply, but inaccurate when the response data is not ideal. The second uses the Nelder-Mead simplex method, which is a more powerful technique and has the added benefit of introducing undergraduate students to the concepts of numerical optimisation. The third uses an integral equation (IE) algorithm. The latter two methods, which can be readily extended to other model structures and input types, are also demonstrated using experimental data obtained from a tank level control system

A review of the research literature relating to ICT and attainment

Summary of the main report, which examined current research and evidence for the impact of ICT on pupil attainment and learning in school settings and the strengths and limitations of the methodologies used in the research literature