1,242 research outputs found
Rethinking Capstone Courses in Civil Engineering: A Response to ABET 2003-2004 Criteria for Accrediting Engineering
Abstract Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs [ABET
Universal Scaling of Optimal Current Distribution in Transportation Networks
Transportation networks are inevitably selected with reference to their
global cost which depends on the strengths and the distribution of the embedded
currents. We prove that optimal current distributions for a uniformly injected
d-dimensional network exhibit robust scale-invariance properties, independently
of the particular cost function considered, as long as it is convex. We find
that, in the limit of large currents, the distribution decays as a power law
with an exponent equal to (2d-1)/(d-1). The current distribution can be exactly
calculated in d=2 for all values of the current. Numerical simulations further
suggest that the scaling properties remain unchanged for both random injections
and by randomizing the convex cost functions.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
UK Large-scale Wind Power Programme from 1970 to 1990: the Carmarthen Bay experiments and the Musgrove Vertical-Axis Turbines
This article describes the development of the Musgrove Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)
concept, the UK âCarmarthen Bayâ wind turbine test programme, and UK governmentâs wind
power programme to 1990. One of the most significant developments in the story of British
wind power occurred during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, with the development of the
Musgrove vertical axis wind turbine and its inclusion within the UK Governmentâs wind
turbine test programme. Evolving from a supervisorâs idea for an undergraduate project at
Reading University, the Musgrove VAWT was once seen as an able competitor to the
horizontal axis wind systems that were also being encouraged at the time by both the UK
government and the Central Electricity Generating Board, the then nationalised electricity
utility for England and Wales. During the 1980s and 1990s the most developed Musgrove
VAWT system, along with three other commercial turbine designs was tested at
Carmarthen Bay, South Wales as part of a national wind power test programme. From these
developmental tests, operational data was collected and lessons learnt, which were
incorporated into subsequent wind power operations.http://dx.doi.org/10.1260/03095240677860621
Describing interruptions, multi-tasking and task-switching in the community pharmacy: A qualitative study in England
Background: There is growing evidence base around interruptions and distractions in the community pharmacy setting. There is also evidence to suggest these practices may be associated with dispensing errors. Up to date, qualitative research on this subject is limited.
Objective: To explore interruptions and distractions in the community setting; utilising an ethnographic approach to be able to provide a detailed description of the circumstances surrounding such practices.
Setting: Community pharmacies in England, July to October 2011.
Method: An ethnographic approach was taken. Non participant, unstructured observations were utilised to make records of pharmacistsâ every activities. Case studies were formed by combining field notes with detailed information on pharmacists and their respective pharmacy businesses. Content analysis was undertaken both manually and electronically, utilising NVivo 10.
Results: Response rate was 12% (n=11). Over fifteen days, a total of 123 hours and 58 minutes of observations were recorded in 11 separate pharmacies of 11 individual pharmacists. The sample was evenly split by gender (female n=6; male n=5) and pharmacy ownership (independent n=5; multiple n=6). Employment statuses included employee pharmacists (n=6), owners (n=4) and a locum (n=1). Average period of registration as a pharmacist was 19 years (range 5-39 years). Average prescriptions busyness of pharmacies ranged from 2,600 â 24,000 items dispensed per month. Two key themes were: âInterruptions and task-switchingâ and âdistractions and multi-tasking.â All observed pharmacistsâ work was dominated by interruptions, task-switches, distractions and multi-tasking, often to manage a barrage of conflicting demands. These practices were observed to be part of a deep-rooted culture in the community setting. Directional work maps illustrated the extent and direction of task switching employed by pharmacists.
Conclusions: In this study pharmacistsâ working practices were permeated by interruptions and multi-tasking. These practices are inefficient and potentially reduce patient safety in terms of dispensing accuracy
Delivering reform in English healthcare: an ideational perspective
A variety of perspectives has been put forward to understand reform across healthcare systems. Recently, some have called for these perspectives to give greater recognition to the role of ideational processes. The purpose of this article is to present an ideational approach to understanding the delivery of healthcare reform. It draws on a case of English healthcare reform â the Next Stage Review led by Lord Darzi â to show how the delivery of its reform proposals was associated with four ideational frames. These frames built on the idea of âprogressâ in responding to existing problems; the idea of âprevailing policyâ in forming part of a bricolage of ideas within institutional contexts; the idea of âprescriptionâ as top-down structural change at odds with local contexts; and the idea of âprofessional disputesâ in challenging the notion of clinical engagement across professional groups. The article discusses the implications of these ideas in furthering our understanding of policy change, conflict and continuity across healthcare settings
Lesbian and bisexual women's experiences of sexuality-based discrimination and their appearance concerns
Lesbian and bisexual women frequently experience sexuality-based discrimination, which is often based on others' judgements about their appearance. This short article aims to explore whether there is a relationship between lesbian and bisexual women's experiences of sexuality-based discrimination and their satisfaction with the way that they look. Findings from an online survey suggest that discrimination is negatively related to appearance satisfaction for lesbian women, but not for bisexual women. It is argued that this difference exists because lesbian appearance norms are more recognisable and distinctive than bisexual women's appearance norms
- âŠ