The unseen planets of double belt debris disk systems

The gap between two component debris disks is often taken to be carved by intervening planets scattering away the remnant planetesimals. We employ N-body simulations to determine how the time needed to clear the gap depends on the location of the gap and the mass of the planets. We invert this relation, and provide an equation for the minimum planet mass, and another for the expected number of such planets, that must be present to produce an observed gap for a star of a given age. We show how this can be combined with upper limits on the planetary system from direct imaging non-detections (such as with GPI or SPHERE) to produce approximate knowledge of the planetary system.Comment: Accepted to MNRA

Beyond Markov Chains, Towards Adaptive Memristor Network-based Music Generation

We undertook a study of the use of a memristor network for music generation, making use of the memristor's memory to go beyond the Markov hypothesis. Seed transition matrices are created and populated using memristor equations, and which are shown to generate musical melodies and change in style over time as a result of feedback into the transition matrix. The spiking properties of simple memristor networks are demonstrated and discussed with reference to applications of music making. The limitations of simulating composing memristor networks in von Neumann hardware is discussed and a hardware solution based on physical memristor properties is presented.Comment: 22 pages, 13 pages, conference pape

Some serological studies in the horse in relation to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The study described in this thesis was designed to examine some serological factors which may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (C.O.P.D.) of horses.In the first section, zone electrophoresis of normal horse serum on agarose gels (pH 8.6) was studied and the serum electrophoretic profiles of normal and C.O.P.D. affected horses and ponies were compared. No differences between the serum electrophoretic profiles of healthy and C.O.P.D. affected horses and ponies were observed which could be attributed to the presence of the disease.In the second section, the nature of the two major, electrophoretically distinct antiproteases in horse serum was investigated prior to examining the possible association of antiprotease deficiency with the onset of C.O.P.D. in the horse, analogous to the association of the inherited dysproteinaemia of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and chronic lung disease in man. The electrophoretically faster antiprotease, a functional homologue of human alpha-1 antitrypsin, was shown to appear in the prealbumin region of horse serum after acidic starch gel electrophoresis (pH 4.3). This polymorphic antiprotease corresponded to the allele products of the Pr locus of horse serum described by Braend (1970). The genetically determined polymorphism of the Pr antiprotease was examined by acid starch gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and immunofixation electrophoresis. The occurrence of a second antiprotease in the acidic prealbumin region of horse serum was postulated, although its nature remains to be established.The electrophoretically slower antiprotease of horse serum was identified as alpha-2 macroglobulin, and was shown to contribute 48 percent of the total serum antiproteolytic activity. As in man, horse alpha-2 macroglobulin is able to inhibit the proteolytic activity of trypsin, but has only limited inhibitory activity on its esterolytic activity. Native alpha-2 macroglobulin was shown to possess esterase activity and the possible association of the macroglobulin and plasma pseudocholinesterase is discussed. No inherited polymorphism of horse alpha-2 macroglobulin was observed.The Pr antiprotease allele frequencies in healthy and C.O.P.D. affected Thoroughbred horses were compared and no significant differences were observed. There was however an apparently increased frequency of the PrW allele amongst C.O.P.D. affected horses and ponies of mixed breeding, although the significance of this observation could not be established. Significantly increased levels of immunochemically measured circulating Pr protein were observed in a C.O.P.D. affected population, although no corresponding increase in biochemically measured serum trypsin inhibitory capacity (STIC) was observed in this same population.It was concluded that serum antiprotease deficiency and consequent predisposition to the development of C.O.P.D. was unlikely to occur in the horse, although a possible deficiency of local bronchiolar antiproteases, resulting in an increased chance of hypersensitization to the protease antigens of the fungi commonly incriminated in C .0 .P .D ., could not be excluded.In the third section the occurrence of a serum homocytotropic antibody in the horse, homologous to human IgE, was investigated. A passively transferable homocytotropic antibody against Culicoides pulicaris was demonstrated in the serum of horses and ponies affected with recurrent seasonal dermatitis. Like human IgE, this antibody is heat-labile, susceptible to thiol reducing agents and persists for long periods in homologous skin. The elution characteristics of the horse antibody on DEAE-anion exchange chromatography are similar to those of human IgE. Anti-human IgE was shown to induce reversed anaphylaxis-like reactions in horse skin and immunfluorescent studies provided preliminary evidence of the binding of antihuman IgE to horse mast cells. These observations on the equine homocytotropic antibody satisfy Vaerman's (1970) criteria of interspecies protein homology suggesting that the antibody is homologue of human IgE

Impact of a high-involvement approach to customer satisfaction on employees and organizational performance

This study examined the impacts of high-involvement approaches to enhancing customer satisfaction within a professional services firm. The study identified supportive organizational factors and employee attitudes and behaviors. Employee, customer, and organizational impacts associated with the initiative also were identified. Ten employees were surveyed and six were interviewed. Survey data were neutral, meaning that the respondents neither agreed nor disagreed with the items. Empowerment measures however, were significantly and positively correlated to organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and engagement. Organizational supports include direction, vision, allowance and recognition for these customer-focused behaviors, and having a return on investment from customer orientation. Supportive employee attitudes include valuing strong customer relationships and active involvement. Supportive behaviors include team-wide customer orientation, immersion with customers, follow through, and consistency. Employee outcomes include self-efficacy, ownership, and a sense of reward and contribution. Customer outcomes include superior value and connection. Organizational outcomes include business health and return customers

Automating tide gauge quality control

Tide gauges provide a vital component in coastal flooding alert systems, and as a record of past events. They are used to record short duration extremes such as tsunamis, storm surges lasting a few hours, regular tides, and long term changes in relative sea-level. Globally, there is far more tide gauge data in existence than is available in the public domain for research. A significant factor obstructing the release of data is that quality control of tide-gauge records is still carried out with a great deal of manual inspection, and is therefore labour-intensive. Automated systems must carefully distinguish between spikes due to instrumental error and genuine rare extreme events; and between damaged instruments and still water. The National Oceanography Centre automatic quality control software aims to enable analysis of any high-frequency tide-gauge record around the world with minimal manual intervention or parameter selection. We demonstrate the implementation in Matlab and discuss the successes and challenges of the software

A compact to revitalise large-scale irrigation systems using a leadership-partnership-ownership ‘theory of change’

In countries with transitional economies such as those found in South Asia, large-scale irrigation systems (LSIS) with a history of public ownership account for about 115 million ha (Mha) or approximately 45% of their total area under irrigation. In terms of the global area of irrigation (320 Mha) for all countries, LSIS are estimated at 130 Mha or 40% of irrigated land. These systems can potentially deliver significant local, regional and global benefits in terms of food, water and energy security, employment, economic growth and ecosystem services. For example, primary crop production is conservatively valued at about US$355 billion. However, efforts to enhance these benefits and reform the sector have been costly and outcomes have been underwhelming and short-lived. We propose the application of a 'theory of change' (ToC) as a foundation for promoting transformational change in large-scale irrigation centred upon a 'global irrigation compact' that promotes new forms of leadership, partnership and ownership (LPO). The compact argues that LSIS can change by switching away from the current channelling of aid finances controlled by government irrigation agencies. Instead it is for irrigators, closely partnered by private, public and NGO advisory and regulatory services, to develop strong leadership models and to find new compensatory partnerships with cities and other river basin neighbours. The paper summarises key assumptions for change in the LSIS sector including the need to initially test this change via a handful of volunteer systems. Our other key purpose is to demonstrate a ToC template by which large-scale irrigation policy can be better elaborated and discussed

A linked data approach to publishing complex scientific workflows

Past data management practices in many fields of natural science, including climate research, have focused primarily on the final research output - the research publication - with less attention paid to the chain of intermediate data results and their associated metadata, including provenance. Data were often regarded merely as an adjunct to the publication, rather than a scientific resource in their own right. In this paper, we attempt to address the issues of capturing and publishing detailed workflows associated with the climate/research datasets held by the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia. To this end, we present a customisable approach to exposing climate research workflows for the effective re-use of the associated data, through the adoption of linked-data principles, existing widely adopted citation techniques (Digital Object Identifier) and data exchange mechanisms (Open Archives Initiative Object Reuse and Exchange)

Experiences and perceptions of Spring Lane Sure Start Children's Centre

Spring Lane Sure Start Children’s Centre was designated in September 2007, and ‘officially opened’ in February 2009. The Centre is housed in refurbished premises within a nursery/school complex in the heart of Northampton and offers diverse health, childcare, early education and support services delivered by a multi-professional team. These services and activities are available to children aged 0-5 years old, and their parents/carers, residing within a catchment area comprising eight ‘Super Output Areas’ in the Castle and St. James ward of Northampton. In April 2009, the Centre for Children and Youth (CCY) – a research centre based at The University of Northampton – was commissioned by Spring Lane Sure Start Children’s Centre to collate and gather evaluative data regarding experiences and perceptions of the Children’s Centre during its first year of activitie