The Development and Implementation of a Multimedia Program that Uses Analogies in Senior High School Chemistry to Enhance Student Learning of Chemical Equilibrium

In this thesis, you will find a review the development process of a multimedia presentation designed to assist the teaching of chemical equilibrium using analogies. The objective of this thesis is to report on the process of designing animated analogies and the subsequent employment of these analogies in a teaching program for grades 11 and 12 students. This thesis describes a case study in the effective use of technology in the classroom based on established research in the field of analogical thinking. The work begins with a review of relevant literature from the fields of constructivism, collaborative learning and multimedia in education. The design phase of the research sought to discover if analogies for chemical equilibrium could be successfully transferred to a multimedia presentation on a computer. The subsequent testing of the software endeavoured to discover the most appropriate teaching strategies and if the use of such a program could enhance the learning process for students. The work resulted in a completed CDROM with full teaching program included which you will find attached to this thesis. The results indicate that the experience was a positive one and that there is some evidence to show increased ability in the students in their attempts to understand a conceptually difficult area of chemistry theory

Predicting weld distortion in the design of automotive components

This project was set up in order to investigate whether it may be valid to use a simplified approach to weld distortion prediction in order to make an assessment of the distortions occurring in a welded structure. Distortion may manifest as problems associated with production, which increase costs and reduce profit. In order to validate the proposed prediction approach an experiment was developed to gain detailed information about distortions occurring in a series of simple welded joints. The joints and the parameters used for the experiment were based on the processes and applications of the case study company. The experiment was set up with the aim of evaluating the general magnitude and directions of distortion in bead on plate and butt weld joints to develop a database of distortion. The method for inspection of the experimental samples was to scan the parts using a 3D laser scanner to collect a detailed resolution point cloud that could be analysed. From the experimental results a number of key factors relating to the welded joints were found relating to material thickness, weld speed and penetration for the four different modes of distortion occurring. The experimental results were compared with the published data and equations presented by other authors, and some general agreements found, however, some differences were evident. In order for a designer to adjust the shape and form of a components design to counteract the distortions to achieve a nominal tolerance, based on these results, it was necessary to develop some new models specific to the materials and process variables of the case study company. Using an approach based on DoE software techniques, response surfaces for the experimental results were generated. This allowed equations to be developed for each distortion mode, which a designer could use to make predictions in the design phase to reduce risk from distortion

A study of the somatic cell count (SCC) of Irish milk from herd management and environmental perspectives

End of project reportThe objective of this study was to investigate the herd management practices associated with somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacteria count (TBC), to geographically analyse SCC on a national basis, to investigate cow factors associated with SCC and to estimate the milk loss associated with high SCC across parities. From the 400 farms surveyed during farm visits throughout spring and winter, a profile of herd management was developed and the associations between management practices and milk SCC and TBC were established. Management practices associated with low SCC included the use of dry cow therapy, participation in a milk recording scheme, the use of teat disinfection post-milking, a higher frequency of cleaning and increased farm hygiene. Management practices associated with low TBC included the use of heated water in the milking parlour, participation in a milk recording scheme, tail clipping of cows at a frequency greater than once per year and increased farm hygiene. The spatial analysis showed that the south of the country had the greatest density of milk-recording herds. Approximately 60% of all herds in the study were from four counties (Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary). Average bulk tank SCC increased from 110,264 cells/mL in 2003 to 118,782 cells/mL in 2005, followed by a decrease to 108,454 cells/mL in 2007. Spatial clustering of high SCC scores was not observed (i.e., SCC on one farm was not related to SCC on other farms), which is consistent with mastitis being a herd problem as opposed to an area-based problem. SCC increased with parity from 97,000 cells/mL in parity 1 to 199,000 cell/mL in parity 6. SCC decreased between the period 5 to 35 days in milk (DIM) and 36 to 65 DIM, and increased thereafter. Cows calving in the months of January and September were associated with lower average 305 day SCC. The rate of increase in SCC from mid to late lactation was greatest in older parity animals. There was a test day milk loss of 1.43, 2.08, 2.59, 2.56 and 2.62 litres (parities 1 to 5, respectively) associated with an increase of SCC category from 400,000 cells/mL. When SCC was adjusted (test day SCC/dilution estimate, and test day SCC + (-ß)(test day milk yield)) to account for milk yield, similar trends in milk loss were observed. Alternatively, adjusting SCC (SCC*test day milk yield/mean test day milk yield) to account for milk yield showed an increase in test day milk with increasing SCC category. The results from this study highlight that adherence to best milking/farming practice will help reduce SCC and TBC on farms. The results contribute to the knowledge relating to SCC through increasing the accuracy of milk loss due to SCC and management practices associated with SCC. The results in the study can also be used in the development of strategies to reduce SCC on farms

Occupant-Centric Simulation-Aided Building Design Theory, Application, and Case Studies

This book promotes occupants as a focal point for the design process

Photonic crystal fibre source of photon pairs for quantum information processing

We demonstrate two key components for optical quantum information processing: a bright source of heralded single photons; and a bright source of entangled photon pairs. A pair of pump photons produces a correlated pair of photons at widely spaced wavelengths (583 nm and 900 nm), via a $\chi^{(3)}$ four-wave mixing process. We demonstrate a non-classical interference between heralded photons from independent sources with a visibility of 95%, and an entangled photon pair source, with a fidelity of 89% with a Bell state.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Essays on chief executive officers compensation

Dissertation supervisor: Dr. John Howe.Includes vita.The two essays of my dissertation examine issues concerning CEO compensation. First, I examine the use of relative performance evaluation (RPE), asymmetry in pay for skill/luck, and compensation benchmarking for a sample of firms involved in a spinoff. The spinoff affects firm characteristics that influence the use of these compensation practices. I find that RPE is used for post-spinoff CEOs, but not pre-spinoff CEOs. This result is consistent with RPE being more prevalent as performance benchmark firms are easier to identify. Post-spinoff CEOs are also paid asymmetrically for luck where they are rewarded for good luck but not punished for bad luck. Both pre- and post- spinoff CEOs receive similar levels of compensation benchmarking. Second, I study the role of reference points in CEO compensation. Using two samples, I identify multiple reference points and link the reference points to the behavioral phenomena of prospect theory and anchoring-and-adjusting. In a sample of CEOs who move from one company to another (mover sample), I estimate the CEOs' expected gain or loss in compensation as a result of the move, but do not find the effects of the expected gain or loss to be consistent with prospect theory preferences. Also in the mover sample, I find evidence of anchoring-and-adjusting where the compensation of the incoming CEO's predecessor (anchor) affects the compensation of the incoming CEO. Lastly, I find evidence that fiscal year high and low prices act as reference points where drops from the fiscal year high price to the fiscal year end price result in larger decreases in compensation than increases in compensation from the fiscal year low price to the fiscal year end price, consistent with prospect theory.Includes bibliographical references (pages 75-83)

Spin-coating on nanoscale topography and phase separation of diblock copolymers

CRANN researchers are interested in mathematical modelling of all aspects of the process of spin-coating of diblock copolymers, with the aim of removing expensive trial and error design cycles. Of particular interest is the flow of the polymer during spin-coating, and also during the subsequent annealing process. Also of considerable interest is the chemical process of phase-separation and self-assembly of the diblock copolymer. Existing models in the literature rely heavily on computationally expensive Monte-Carlo simulation methods. The modelling work performed during the study group in summarized in this report. The report is split into four main sections, with discussion and suggestions for experiments in the concluding section. The content of the sections is as follows: Section 0.2: Mathematical modelling of spin-coating onto a flat substrate; no annealing considered. Section 0.3: Modelling of spin-coating onto a substrate with topography (i.e. trenches); no annealing considered. Section 0.4: Flow of polymer during annealing. Section 0.5: Models for self-assembly of polymers into nanostructures. Sections 0.2 to 0.4 are focussed on the fluid flow problems for the polymer, and go some way to providing useful answers to Problem 1. On the other hand, Problem 2 was found to be extremely challenging, and the efforts described in section 0.5 represent only a relatively modest impact on this problem