On the Mertens Conjecture for Function Fields

We study an analogue of the Mertens conjecture in the setting of global function fields. Building on the work of Cha, we show that most hyperelliptic curves do not satisfy the Mertens conjecture, but that if we modify the Mertens conjecture to have a larger constant, then this modified conjecture is satisfied by a positive proportion of hyperelliptic curves.Comment: 17 pages. Several minor revisions and corrections based on referee comments. To appear in International Journal of Number Theor

Unwanted Warriors: The Rejected Volunteers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (Book Review) by Nic Clarke

Review of Unwanted Warriors: The Rejected Volunteers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force by Nic Clarke

On the Mertens Conjecture for Elliptic Curves over Finite Fields

We introduce an analogue of the Mertens conjecture for elliptic curves over finite fields. Using a result of Waterhouse, we classify the isogeny classes of elliptic curves for which this conjecture holds in terms the size of the finite field and the trace of the Frobenius endomorphism acting on the curve.Comment: 12 pages. Minor revisions and additional references added. To appear in Bulletin of the Australian Mathematical Societ

Effective Lower Bounds for L(1,{\chi}) via Eisenstein Series

We give effective lower bounds for $L(1,\chi)$ via Eisenstein series on $\Gamma_0(q) \backslash \mathbb{H}$. The proof uses the Maass-Selberg relation for truncated Eisenstein series and sieve theory in the form of the Brun-Titchmarsh inequality. The method follows closely the work of Sarnak in using Eisenstein series to find effective lower bounds for $\zeta(1+it)$.Comment: 17 pages. To appear in Pacific Journal of Mathematic

Collaborative Student Centred Learning: Intellectual Property for Product Designers

This paper fits into the topics of student centred learning and learning spaces and explores the question - How will the academic/industrial interface develop? At least a basic understanding of intellectual property (IP) rights is essential for practice as a professional engineer and/or designer to ensure commercial success. Yet it is recognised that there are barriers to incorporating learning and teaching of IP within the Higher Education design and engineering curriculum. These barriers include an already ‘over-packed’ curriculum and no established pedagogy. This paper reports on an example of collaborative student centred learning activity between BA/BSc Product Design (PD) and LLB Law (Intellectual Property Practice option) (LLB) final year students at Bournemouth University (BU). The final year product design students are required to design and produce a working prototype of a marketable product. The LLB students advise on the intellectual property aspects of the design. This learning activity has been ongoing for a number of years, however, last academic year changes were made to incorporate an assessed element for both sets of students and make the learning space almost entirely virtual using the BU virtual learning environment (VLE) called myBU. It is the outcome of these changes that are reported in this paper, using data gathered from the on-line discussion forums and the feedback from students. The activity has proved to be an extremely valuable learning experience for both sets of students, providing simulation of real life for both designers and IP lawyers and bridging the academic/industrial interface

Sustainable design and the design curriculum

This paper reports on an initial study that begins the process of considering how design education should deal with the issue of sustainable design specifically in the context of the education of graduate designers in the fields of product, design engineering and interior design. Consideration is given to the development of the design curriculum and the design process. Further, a number of questions related to shaping the future of design and engineering education are also explored. The question this research seeks to address is whether sustainability, or more specifically sustainable design, should or can be an integral part of engineering/product design programmes or whether it should/or can be developed as a separate design discipline, perhaps as a postgraduate extension to the designer’s core skills set? The research also discusses the difference between, eco-design and sustainable design and the implications of the understanding of this difference for design education

Not Your Older Brother’s Bonds: The Use and Regulation of Social-Impact Bonds in the United States

Smarta elnät är en av lösningarna för att uppnå EUs klimatmål den s.k. 20-20-20-satsningen. Klimatmålen innefattar bl.a. ökad energiproduktion från förnybara energikällor och ökad energieffektivisering, detta anses nödvändigt för att hindra den globala uppvärmningen samt uppnå en bättre och mer hållbar framtid.   Den elektriska energins svaghet är den begränsade möjligheten till effektiv och storskalig lagring. Eftersom den förnybara energin har en väderberoende produktion ska smarta elnät hjälpa konsumenten att styra energikonsumtionen efter hur energiproduktionen varierar. Det finns planer på ett smart elnät som genom att integrera avancerade informations- och kontrolltekniker ska samla in information från producenter och konsumenter för att sedan agera utifrån det "smartaste" alternativet. För att maximera användandet av den producerade förnybara energin kan en lösning vara att konstruera flera energilager där energi kan lagras under t.ex. blåsiga och soliga väderförhållanden. Vad som skulle kunna användas som energilager i framtiden är bl.a. elbilar och industrier. För implementering av smarta elnät är dynamic rating en viktig pusselbit. Med hjälp av sensorer ska information kunna mätas i realtid för att på så sätt maximera nyttjandegraden av energiproduktionen och elnätet.   Idag är Vecturas uppdrag inom elinfrastruktur till stor del inriktade på järnvägsanläggningar. Eftersom Vectura har en vilja att vidga sin verksamhet inom det elektrotekniska området finns ett intresse att bredda sig till andra områden inom elinfrastruktur t.ex. smarta elnät och dynamic rating. För att Vectura ska lyckas med denna uppgift är vidareutbildning av sina konsulter att rekommendera inom områdena: energilager, sensorer samt förnybar energi. Vattenkraft, vindkraft och solkraft är de viktigaste förnyelsebara energikällorna på svensk elmarknad.Smart Grid is one of the solutions to achieve the European Union climate targets, "the 20-20-20- targets". These targets include e.g. higher energy-production from renewable sources and increased energy efficiency. The purpose of these targets is to prevent global warming in order to achieve a better and more sustainable future.   The weakness with electric energy is the limited possibility of effective and large-scale storage. With solar power plants and wind power plants, the energy will only be produced under favorable weather conditions. By using Smart Grid the energy consumption, the energy production and the grid can be controlled in a higher scale than today. This will be done by advanced information- and control-technology which will gather and act on information from suppliers and consumers and then act upon the "smartest" alternative. According to the power industry several energy storage units must be built due to store the energy in terms of maximize the benefits of renewable energy during windy or sunny weather, when renewable energy is produced as its best. Some experts in the field believe that electric cars or industries could be possible energy storage units. Another advantage with Smart Grid is the ability for consumers to produce their own electric energy and sell the surplus to the energy market. Dynamic Rating is an important part of the implementation of Smart Grid and can best be described with the words "increasing the level of utilization". By using sensors, information should be measured in real time to maximize the utilization rate of the energy production, the energy consumption and the grid.   Today, Vectura's mission in electricity infrastructure is largely focused on rail infrastructure. Now, they have a desire to extend their business in the field of electrical engineering, e.g. Smart Grid and Dynamic Rating. If Vectura will be able to start work on Smart Grids and Dynamic Rating in order to expand their business, training for its consultants is recommended in these areas: energy storage, sensors and renewable energy. Hydro power, wind power and solar power are the main renewable energy sources in the Swedish electricity market