1,257 research outputs found
Driving Impact Through Networks: Learning Through Experience
This paper provides an overview of current thinking on network impact, pulling together insights from Aleron, a social impact consulting firm, and Sinzer's (that offers software for measuring impact) recent network impact event, and offers case studies looking at the way different types of networks provide value for their members. The report identifies three models of network; those that are formally integrated, that share a common platform, or that share a common language of success. It offers a framework for evaluating the impact of each type
AVL based Bus Priority at Traffic Signals
Recent developments in technologies such as Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and advanced control systems have stimulated new interest in bus priority facilities using traffic signals. The use of AVL systems has generated opportunities for implementing flexible busspecific priority strategies according to performance. The extent of the opportunities available depends very much on the architecture of a bus priority system, including the location(s) of intelligence determining the priority level and its implementation, and the method of priority request to the traffic signal. These aspects are important from the point of view of bus priority performance, communication requirements and the cost of the system.
This paper draws together and compares the various architectures currently being used for AVL-based bus priority, providing an overall review to supplement other papers which are usually concerned with individual systems. The paper reviews current bus priority systems used across Europe under five different architecture categories. The present bus priority architecture in London is then analysed in more detail as a case study. The paper concludes with a discussion of issues for this application, given the continuing advances in locations and communication technologies, and issues for the future
Feature-based validation reasoning for intent-driven engineering design
Feature based modelling represents the future of CAD systems. However,
operations such as modelling and editing can corrupt the validity of a feature-based
model representation. Feature interactions are a consequence of feature
operations and the existence of a number of features in the same model. Feature
interaction affects not only the solid representation of the part, but also the
functional intentions embedded within features. A technique is thus required to
assess the integrity of a feature-based model from various perspectives,
including the functional intentional one, and this technique must take into
account the problems brought about by feature interactions and operations. The
understanding, reasoning and resolution of invalid feature-based models
requires an understanding of the feature interaction phenomena, as well as the
characterisation of these functional intentions. A system capable of such
assessment is called a feature-based representation validation system.
This research studies feature interaction phenomena and feature-based
designer's intents as a medium to achieve a feature-based representation
validation system. [Continues.
A Comparison Between an Individual and a Collaborative Versions of a Serious Game to Learn About Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is a major infectious disease caused by arbovirus and there is no vaccine yet; prevention is the action which raises the importance of an educational approach. The use of games to help in the educational process can be motivating and effective but it is not clear which interaction approach is the best: individual or collaborative. A comparative study on a between subject (n=73) experiment using a single player and a pair based version of a serious game that teaches about Dengue fever has been performed. Both versions performed well but presented different advantages: single player version can be used for consulting more easily, and the pair-based game seems to be slightly more motivating to the point that players would be more willing to suggest it to someone else. Data suggest that each interaction approach has its role in the educational process and should be carefully evaluated against educator’s intents
A very luminous, highly extinguished, very fast nova - V1721 Aquilae
Fast novae are primarily located within the plane of the Galaxy, slow novae
are found within its bulge. Because of high interstellar extinction along the
line of sight many novae lying close to the plane are missed and only the
brightest seen. One nova lying very close to the Galactic plane is V1721
Aquilae, discovered in outburst on 2008 September 22. Spectra obtained 2.69
days after outburst revealed very high expansion velocities (FWHM ~6450 km/s).
In this paper we have used available pre- and post-outburst photometry and
post-outburst spectroscopy to conclude that the object is a very fast,
luminous, and highly extinguished A_V=11.6+/-0.2) nova system with an average
ejection velocity of ~3400 km/s. Pre-outburst near-IR colours from 2MASS
indicate that at quiescence the object is similar to many quiescent CNe and
appears to have a main sequence/sub-giant secondary rather than a giant. Based
on the speed of decline of the nova and its emission line profiles we
hypothesise that the axis ratio of the nova ejecta is ~1.4 and that its
inclination is such that the central binary accretion disc is face-on to the
observer. The accretion disc's blue contribution to the system's near-IR
quiescent colours may be significant. Simple models of the nova ejecta have
been constructed using the morphological modelling code XS5, and the results
support the above hypothesis. Spectral classification of this object has been
difficult owing to low S/N levels and high extinction, which has eliminated all
evidence of any He/N or FeII emission within the spectra. We suggest two
possibilities for the nature of V1721 Aql: that it is a U Sco type RN with a
sub-giant secondary or, less likely, that it is a highly energetic bright and
fast classical nova with a main sequence secondary. Future monitoring of the
object for possible RN episodes may be worthwhile, as would archival searches
for previous outbursts.Comment: 9 pages 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&A. Abstract has
been slightly shortened from published versio
Review of public transport needs of older people in a European context
People's life expectancy is increasing throughout the world as a result of improved living standards and medical advances. The natural ageing process is accompanied by physiological changes which can have significant consequences for mobility. As a consequence, older people tend to make fewer journeys than other adults and may change their transport mode. Access to public transport can help older people to avail themselves of goods, services, employment and other activities. With the current generation of older people being more active than previous generations of equivalent age, public transport will play a crucial role in maintaining their active life style even when they are unable to drive. Hence, public transport is important to older people's quality of life, their sense of freedom and independence. Within the European Commission funded GOAL (Growing Older and staying mobile) project, the requirements of older people using public transport were studied in terms of four main issues: Affordability, availability, accessibility and acceptability. These requirements were then analysed in terms of five different profiles of older people defined within the GOAL project - 'Fit as a Fiddle', 'Hole in the Heart', 'Happily Connected', An 'Oldie but a Goodie' and 'Care-Full'. On the basis of the analysis the paper brings out some areas of knowledge gaps and research needed to make public transport much more attractive and used by older people in the 21st century
- …