Effects of sterilization and vacuum exposure on potential heat shield materials for unmanned Mars mission

Sterilization and vacuum exposure effects on potential heat shield materials for unmanned Mars mission

The permeabilities of three porous graphites Final report

Permeability measurements of porous graphites measured from room temperature to 1000 deg F in gaseous nitrogen and heliu

An investigation of the mechanisms of heat transfer in low-density phenolic-nylon chars

Conductive heat transfer mechanisms in low density phenolic-nylon char

An investigation of some thermal and mechanical properties of a low-density phenolic-nylon ablation material Final report

Thermal and mechanical properties of phenolic nylon ablation material

Thermophysical properties of a low-density phenolic-nylon ablation material

Thermophysical properties of nondegradated and thermally degradated low density phenolic-nylon ablating materia

Symbols in Wittgenstein's Tractatus

This paper is concerned with the status of a symbol in Wittgenstein’s Tractatus. It is claimed in the first section that a Tractarian symbol, whilst essentially a syntactic entity to be distinguished from the mark or sound that is its sign, bears its semantic significance only inessentially. In the second and third sections I pursue this point of exegesis through the Tractarian discussions of nonsense and the context principle respectively. The final section of the paper places the forgoing work in a secondary context, addressing in particular a debate regarding the realism of the Tractatus

Late Quaternary evolution of a lowland anastomosing river system: Geological-topographic inheritance, non-uniformity and implications for biodiversity and management

Lowland multiple-channel rivers are characterised by floodplain-corridor heterogeneity, high ecological and heritage value, and can be in quasi-stable states. This holistic study of a surviving temperate zone example (Culm, UK) uses geomorphological mapping, 14C, direct sediment dating (OSL, fallout radionuclides), and palaeoecology. This reveals the evolution of a channel-floodplain system from an initial braided state in the Late Pleistocene to its late Holocene anastomosing state. After the Pleistocene Holocene transition the reduced channel system incised into its braid-plain, only able to rework gravels locally due to reduced competence in relation to inherited bounding sediment calibre. This resulted in the creation of terrace islands, palaeochannels, and a stable anastomosing pattern dominated by channel junctions, bifurcations and palaeochannel intersections. Survey, coring and excavation reveal a persistence of mid-channel bars and riffles at channel junctions, and where channels crossed palaeochannel fills. In common with most other European lowland rivers this system evolves in the later Holocene due to both climate and catchment changes with a major hydrological critical transition in the mid-Holocene (c. 5300 BP). However, in the case of the Culm, the increase in fine sediment supply often seen in lowland catchments in the Middle-Late Holocene, occurred later, and was insufficient to convert the system to a single medium-low sinuosity channel-floodplain. This allowed the persistence of high heterogeneity and biodiversity (including the persistence of riffle beetles) as part of multiple-scales of non-uniformity. Indeed the pool-riffle persistence is an example of this system’s non-uniformity, being due, at least in part, to the effects of previous channel history. This paper reveals why this river survived in a multichannel state, and by implication, why others did not. These results are being used in the bespoke eco-heritage management of the Culm, but could also inform the restoration of other former multi-channel lowland temperate river systems worldwide

Eliciting Co-Creation Best Practices of Virtual Reality Reusable e-Resources

Immersive experiential technologies find fertile grounds to grow and support healthcare education. Virtual, Augmented, or Mixed reality (VR/AR/MR) have proven to be impactful in both the educational and the affective state of the healthcare student’s increasing engagement. However, there is a lack of guidance for healthcare stakeholders on developing and integrating virtual reality resources into healthcare training. Thus, the authors applied Bardach’s Eightfold Policy Analysis Framework to critically evaluate existing protocols to determine if they are inconsistent, ineffective, or result in uncertain outcomes, following systematic pathways from concepts to decision-making. Co-creative VR resource development resulted as the preferred method. Best practices for co-creating VR Reusable e-Resources identified co-creation as an effective pathway to the prolific use of immersive media in healthcare education. Co-creation should be considered in conjunction with a training framework to enhance educational quality. Iterative cycles engaging all stakeholders enhance educational quality, while co-creation is central to the quality assurance process both for technical and topical fidelity, and tailoring resources to learners’ needs. Co-creation itself is seen as a bespoke learning modality. This paper provides the first body of evidence for co-creative VR resource development as a valid and strengthening method for healthcare immersive content development. Despite prior research supporting co-creation in immersive resource development, there were no established guidelines for best practices

Monitoring coral reefs within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program: final report of the coral reef expert group

[Extract] The Coral Reef Expert Group (CREG) was one of eight expert groups, which all followed a prescribed process to recommend a design for their thematic component. The tasks of the expert groups included: • Synopsis of the theme, to include discussion on current state, primary drivers, pressures and responses using DPSIR framework. • Review of all current monitoring and modelling activities relevant to the expert group theme. • Identify candidate indicators that can be monitored and would provide information about trend, status or forecasting of value or the system. • Evaluation of the adequacy and confidence of current monitoring and modelling of candidate indicators, determined by their ability to meet the objectives of the RIMReP and management needs provided by the Authority. • Identification and discussion of gaps and opportunities in current monitoring and modelling of such indicators. • Evaluation of new monitoring technologies for their potential to increase efficiency or statistical power and their compatibility with long-term datasets. • Recommendations for monitoring design including consideration of primary indicators, continuity of data sets, how the design addresses management needs, modification to existing programs, costing and transition strategies.An accessible copy of this report is not yet available from this repository, please contact [email protected] for more information

Novice Learner Experiences in Software Development: A Study of Freshman Undergraduates

This paper presents a study that is part of a larger research project aimed at addressing the gap in the provision of educational software development processes for freshman, novice undergraduate learners, to improve proficiency levels. With the aim of understanding how such learners problem solve in software development in the absence of a formal process, this case study examines the experiences and depth of learning acquired by a sample set of novice undergraduates. A novel adaption of the Kirkpatrick framework known as AKM-SOLO is used to frame the evaluation. The study finds that without the scaffolding of an appropriate structured development process tailored to novices, students are in danger of failing to engage with the problem solving skills necessary for software development, particularly the skill of designing solutions prior to coding. It also finds that this lack of engagement directly impacts their affective state on the course and continues to negatively impact their proficiency and affective state in the second year of their studies leading to just under half of students surveyed being unsure if they wish to pursue a career in software development when they graduate