Experimental investigation of flow over a backward facing step-progress report

The sizes and arrangement of the wind tunnel used for the experimentation are described. The specifications for the cold-wire anemometers, hot-wire anemometers, cold-wire rakes, and miniature 3-wire probe are proveded. The results of the experiment are briefly discussed

Educational and Child Psychology Research Using a Foucauldian-Informed Approach and Analysis

This paper explores the utility of Foucauldian-informed thinking, methodology and analysis as part of educational and child psychology professional doctorate research. It is based on the experience of a researcher who undertook mixed-methods emancipatory and exploratory research with 14 children (11–15 years old) attending pupil referral units (PRUs) in one local authority setting. The researcher was interested in the label ‘behavioural, emotional and social difficulties’ (BESD),1 exclusions and PRUs and, importantly, how the characteristics and constructions of children attending PRUs were made possible through historical, social and political influences and practices

Study of the integration of wind tunnel and computational methods for aerodynamic configurations

A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of using a low-order panel code to estimate wind tunnel wall corrections. The corrections were found by two computations. The first computation included the test model and the surrounding wind tunnel walls, while in the second computation the wind tunnel walls were removed. The difference between the force and moment coefficients obtained by comparing these two cases allowed the determination of the wall corrections. The technique was verified by matching the test-section, wall-pressure signature from a wind tunnel test with the signature predicted by the panel code. To prove the viability of the technique, two cases were considered. The first was a two-dimensional high-lift wing with a flap that was tested in the 7- by 10-foot wind tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. The second was a 1/32-scale model of the F/A-18 aircraft which was tested in the low-speed wind tunnel at San Diego State University. The panel code used was PMARC (Panel Method Ames Research Center). Results of this study indicate that the proposed wind tunnel wall correction method is comparable to other methods and that it also inherently includes the corrections due to model blockage and wing lift

Communications satellite systems capacity analysis

Analog and digital modulation techniques are compared with regard to efficient use of the geostationary orbit by communications satellites. Included is the definition of the baseline systems (both space and ground segments), determination of interference susceptibility, calculation of orbit spacing, and evaluation of relative costs. It is assumed that voice or TV is communicated at 14/11 GHz using either FM or QPSK modulation. Both the Fixed-Satellite Service and the Broadcasting-Satellite Service are considered. For most of the cases examined the digital approach requires a satellite spacing less than or equal to that required by the analog approach

Autonomous propulsion of carbon nanotubes powered by a multienzyme ensemble

Covalent attachment of the enzymes glucose oxidase and catalase to carbon nanotubes enables the tandem catalytic conversion of glucose and H2O2 formed to power autonomous movement of the nanotubes.

Expenditure elasticities for rural households in the Embo ward, Umbumbulu, KwaZulu-Natal

Household consumption patterns were investigated to determine the impact of an income shock on household expenditure and to establish the potential for demand-led growth in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal. Household consumption data were collected from sample households in the Embo ward of Umbumbulu, KwaZulu-Natal during October 2004 and March 2005. Budget shares and expenditure elasticities were estimated for household consumption categories for the two study periods, allowing for a comparison of expenditure elasticities between the two seasons. Results suggest that expenditure elasticities for consumer expendables, durables and transport were highly elastic, while expenditure elasticities for the aggregate food category were negative (October) and highly inelastic (March). Analysis of the expenditure categories of tradable and non-tradable goods and services showed expenditure on tradable non-farm goods and services to have the greatest potential for demand-led growth with expenditure elasticities of 2.88 and 2.91, respectively. The category of non-tradable non-farm goods and services was not statistically significant for both periods and the category non-tradable farm goods and services was not statistically significant for October. A seasonal difference in expenditure patterns was apparent, suggesting that responses to income changes vary at different times of the year.Expenditure elasticities, demand-led growth, Umbumbulu region, KwaZulu-Natal, Consumer/Household Economics,

Predicting and facilitating upward family communication as a mammography promotion strategy

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death amongst Australian women. Regular screening mammography is the best way to facilitate early detection of breast cancer, which in turn increases the chances of survival. Although BreastScreen Australia offers free biennial mammograms to women aged 40 and above (particularly targeting women between the ages of 50-69), many eligible women fail to attend for regular mammography. Mass media campaigns that have aimed to promote mammography to eligible women have not been sufficient to raise the mammography screening rate from the current 57.1% to the target 70%. The central premise of this thesis is that interpersonal influence may complement the mass media approach to mammography promotion, and serve to increase the national screening rate. In particular, in light of previous research that has identified the family has as a potential vehicle for delivering health promotion messages, the potential role that a daughter could play in influencing her mother’s health behaviour was given particular attention in the current project. Everyday interpersonal communication initiated by the daughter directed at the mother is referred to as ‘upward family communication’ in this thesis. Upward family communication about mammography is a novel approach to mammography promotion, and the purpose of the research presented in this thesis was to explore the viability of this strategy. Family Communication Patterns theory describes four family types based on two dimensions: the conversation orientation and the conformity orientation. This theoretical framework is used in the current project to inform predictions about upward family communication about mammography, particularly in relation to identifying which mother-daughter dyads are likely to engage in such communication effectively. The Revised Family Communication Patterns (RFCP) instrument, used to classify families according to type, was modified as part of the current project for use specifically with mother-daughter dyads. Tailoring the instrument for use specifically with mother-daughter dyads has not previously been attempted, and the data from this project indicate that the internal consistency of the instrument was not compromised in this process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight mother-daughter pairs to explore the nature of existing communication patterns within this relationship, and the modified RFCP instrument was able to differentiate between mother-daughter dyads with different communication patterns. The data from these interviews indicate that while upward family communication about health is commonplace within these dyads, mammography is not likely to be a spontaneous topic of conversation initiated by daughters. Thus, two daughter-targeted interventions were piloted that aimed to predict and facilitate upward family communication about mammography. With the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) providing the theoretical background, a volitional intervention using implementation intentions and a motivational intervention using counterfactual thinking were piloted with independent samples. These studies represent the first attempts at using the TPB to predict and facilitate upward family communication about mammography and at applying implementation intentions and counterfactual thinking to this communication behaviour. Young women who participated in the implementation intention (volitional) intervention were significantly more likely to have initiated a conversation with their mothers about mammography within an eight-week period than controls (N = 116). In contrast, young women who participated in the counterfactual thinking (motivational) intervention were no more likely to have initiated the specified conversation than controls (N = 131). In both studies, the TPB variables predicted both intention and behaviour with some accuracy, thus contributing to the body of knowledge about the utility of this theoretical model. Notably, in both studies, young women reported that initiating a conversation about mammography with their mother had positive consequences, such as increases in knowledge, and an elevated likelihood that their mother would have a mammogram. This result provided evidence for daughters’ willingness to engage in an upward family communication mammography promotion strategy, and for the effectiveness of this novel approach. The primary contribution of the project presented in this thesis is the provision of convergent evidence for the viability and effectiveness of an upward family communication strategy to promote mammography to target women. The current project has also presented a means for identifying mother-daughter dyads most amenable to this novel mammography promotion approach using the predictions of Family Communication Patterns Theory. Further, the results of this project have demonstrated that the TPB model has utility for predicting upward family communication about mammography, and has potential for guiding interventions aimed at facilitating this behaviour