A practical approach to goal modelling for time-constrained projects

Goal modelling is a well known rigorous method for analysing problem rationale and developing requirements. Under the pressures typical of time-constrained projects its benefits are not accessible. This is because of the effort and time needed to create the graph and because reading the results can be difficult owing to the effects of crosscutting concerns. Here we introduce an adaptation of KAOS to meet the needs of rapid turn around and clarity. The main aim is to help the stakeholders gain an insight into the larger issues that might be overlooked if they make a premature start into implementation. The method emphasises the use of obstacles, accepts under-refined goals and has new methods for managing crosscutting concerns and strategic decision making. It is expected to be of value to agile as well as traditional processes

A Parametric Study of Economical Energy Usage in Freeze Tunnels

An investigation into economical energy usage in freeze tunnels was conducted. Freeze tunnels are commonly used in the food processing industry to freeze products, and in some cases may use large amounts of electricity. An actual freeze tunnel was observed and modeled on a computer. A parameter study was conducted. The results of the parameter study indicated the efficiency and energy costs in freeze tunnels may vary widely. Important parameters included the Nusselt number, air temperature, and the ratio of fan work divided by the useful refrigeration effect. Although no single set of optimum conditions were found, methods for improving the effectiveness of freeze tunnels, both in existing and future designs, were discussed. It was also concluded that the ratio of fan work to the freeze tunnel\u27s useful refrigeration effect was a dominant factor in the energy cost of operating a freeze tunnel

Bargaining behavior, demographics and nationality: a reconsideration of the experimental evidence

Bargaining behavior appears to vary across nations. What drives these apparent differences? We reconsider the evidence provided by previous experiments, and undertake some new experiments that expand the controls for demographics. We show that inferences about country effects are sensitive to the way in which the data are analyzed and the controls that are incorporated. Separating out differences in initial behavior versus trend shows significant differences in both. Adding interaction effects between countries, gender, and ethnic background shows that cultural differences are more complex than the factors captured by either nationality or gender alone. Some subgroups behave in ways which are clearly closer to the subgame perfect equilibrium prediction than others.

Analyzing the WNBA\u27s Mandatory Age/Education Policy from a Legal, Cultural,and Ethical Perspective: Women, Men, and the Professional Sports Landscape

The Women\u27s National Basketball Association (WNBA) age/education policy, which generally requires women\u27s professional basketball players to wait four years after graduating high school before entering the league, invokes substantial debate about both its legality and ethicality. This article discusses the WNBA age/education policy from a legal, cultural, and ethical perspective. Part One of this article discusses the women\u27s basketball landscape in terms of sociology, race, and gender. Part Two discusses the history of women\u27s basketball in America, as well as the history of the WNBA and its age/education policy. Part Three explains the legal issues that underlie an antitrust challenge to the WNBA age/education policy under Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Part Four discusses the likely effect on society if the courts were to overturn the WNBA age/education policy

Analyzing the WNBA\u27s Mandatory Age/Education Policy from a Legal, Cultural,and Ethical Perspective: Women, Men, and the Professional Sports Landscape

The Women\u27s National Basketball Association (WNBA) age/education policy, which generally requires women\u27s professional basketball players to wait four years after graduating high school before entering the league, invokes substantial debate about both its legality and ethicality. This article discusses the WNBA age/education policy from a legal, cultural, and ethical perspective. Part One of this article discusses the women\u27s basketball landscape in terms of sociology, race, and gender. Part Two discusses the history of women\u27s basketball in America, as well as the history of the WNBA and its age/education policy. Part Three explains the legal issues that underlie an antitrust challenge to the WNBA age/education policy under Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Part Four discusses the likely effect on society if the courts were to overturn the WNBA age/education policy

Numerical implementation of a CTO-based implicit approach for the BEM solution of usual and sensitivity problems in elasto-plasticity

This paper presents boundary element method (BEM) formulations for usual and sensitivity problems in (small strain) elasto-plasticity using the concept of the local consistent tangent operator (CTO). “Usual” problems here refer to analysis of nonlinear problems in structural and solid continua, for which Simo and Taylor first proposed the use of the CTO within the context of the finite element method (FEM). A new implicit BEM scheme for such problems, using the CTO, is presented first. A formulation for sensitivity analysis follows. It is shown that the sensitivity of the strain increment, associated with an infinitesimal variation of some design parameter, solves a linear problem which is governed by the (converged value of the) same global CTO as the one that appears in the usual problem. Numerical results for both usual and sensitivity problems are shown for a one-dimensional example. They demonstrate the effectiveness of the present approach. In particular, accurate sensitivities with respect to material parameters (e.g., exponent of the power-type hardening law) are obtained even with few integration cells and for large load increments

Step away from the CAD station: A hands-on and immersive approach to second year teaching of Mechanical Engineering design

The purpose of this paper is to present a new methodology to enhance creativity within the context of learning and teaching in an engineering design module in the College of Engineering at Swansea University. The challenges to introducing creativity into an engineering undergraduate course are explored, with the main intervention—Virtual Reality for concept development—investigated through pre- and post-intervention surveys, student interviews and a focus group. Additional interventions to enhance creativity are discussed and future improvements to module design put forward