Remote Sensing of Terrestrial Water Storage with GRACE and Future Gravimetry Missions

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) has demonstrated that satellite gravimetry can be a valuable tool for regional to global water cycle observation. Studies of ice sheet and glacier mass losses, ocean bottom pressure and circulation, and variability of water stored on and in the land including groundwater all have benefited from GRACE observations, and the list of applications and discoveries continues to grow. As the mission approaches its tenth anniversary of launch on March 12,2012, it has nearly doubled its proposed lifetime but is showing some signs of age. In particular, degraded battery capacity limits the availability of power in certain orbital configurations, so that the accelerometers must be turned off for approximately one month out of six. The mission managers have decided to operate the spacecrafts in a manner that maximizes the remaining lifetime, so that the longest possible climate data record is available from GRACE. Nevertheless, it is not unlikely that there will be a data gap between GRACE and the GRACE Follow On mission, currently proposed for launch in 2016. In this presentation we will describe recent GRACE enabled science, GRACE mission health, and plans for GRACE Follow On and other future satellite gravimetry missions

Processing and Weathering of Sol-Gel Clearcoats for Coil-Coated Steel

Clearcoats provide long-term aesthetics and protection for underlying coating systems, increasing product lifetimes. However, organic clearcoats are predominantly produced using fossil-fuel feedstocks. In search of a sustainable alternative, an experimental investigation was conducted on the development of glass-like clearcoats produced using the sol-gel process. The processing of sol-gel clearcoats over a pigmented polyurethane coating was studied by modifying the sol-gel solution pH, aging, curing, precursor chemistry, and deposition techniques. Under optimal formulation and processing conditions, defect-free sol-gel clearcoats were produced that have potential to be scaled up to a coil-coating line using existing technologies. Mechanical testing demonstrated the coatings had excellent adhesion, hardness, and flexibility. Furthermore, accelerated laboratory weathering tests revealed the sol-gel coatings had superior degradation resistance compared to the organic coatings tested, resulting in negligible colour changes and higher gloss retention after 4000 hours of exposure. The durability and environmental benefits of sol-gel clearcoats highlight their potential as a replacement for traditional organic clearcoats in a variety of applications

Model for the structure function constant for index of refraction fluctuations in Rayleigh-Benard turbulence

A model for the structure function constant associated with index of refraction fluctuations in Rayleigh-Benard turbulence is developed. The model is based upon the following assumptions: (1) the turbulence is homogeneous and isotropic at or near the mid-plane, (2) the rate of production is in balance with the rate of dissipation, (3) an inertial region exists, and (4) estimates for the rate of dissipation of temperature fluctuations and of turbulent kinetic energy can be made by assuming that the large-scale turbulence is dissipated in one eddy turnover time. From these assumptions, the dependence of the structure function on the geometry, heat flux, and the properties of the fluid is obtained. The model predicts that the normalized structure function constant is independent of the Rayleigh number. To verify the model, numerical simulations of Rayleigh-Benard turbulence were performed using two different approaches: an in-house code based on a pseudo-spectral method, and a finite volume code which employs a model for the smallest scales of the turbulence. The model was found to agree with the results of the simulations, thereby lending support for the assumptions underlying the theory.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures, 1 tabl

Designing data driven persuasive games to address wicked problems such as climate change

This paper considers the increasing utilisation of games design as an approach to encouraging behavioural change through design. In particular it considers how to address issues that cannot be reduced to easily actionable personal goals such as climate change and are often termed ‘wicked problems’ by designers due to their innate complexity. This paper presents a research through design approach that focuses on rhetoric within the design of a mobile phone game - Cold Sun. Thus the aim is not to examine the utility or usability of the game but rather offer it as an example of a design approach we believe is desirable and productive for future practice. Cold Sun provides an example that illustrates how scientific and real world data can be integrated into game mechanics to enhance the rhetoric of the game by engaging the player at a more personal level. Thus Cold Sun allows players to effectively rehearse issues of climate change that will affect their plausible futures, and thus develop a greater understanding of some of these complex issues and consider ways to respond

Perceptive media:adaptive storytelling for digital broadcast

Storytelling techniques within traditional broadcast media have not made major advances in recent years due to the linear and relatively rigid approach to narrative despite advances in the technology that delivers the content. This research proposes the concept of ‘perceptive media’ in which the content creators have at their disposal different tools and sensors to allow for the subtle adaption of the narrative without any direct interactions from the audience members. The concept is demonstrated through the creation of a ‘perceptive radio’ that is able to play specially designed content that adapts to the physical and social context in which the radio resides

Understanding labour productivity as an emergent property of individual and crew interactions on a construction site.”

ABSTRACT The construction site is a complex system composed of interactions in space between individual crewmembers and crews. Congestion often leads to lowered productivity. Lean construction research has shown that effective work flow management can improve construction labour performance, and labour flow contributes to lean work flow. The existing body of research in the study of construction labour productivity has primarily used a top-down approach to modelling and understanding the impacts of space congestion on labour productivity. In this paper, we propose a bottom-up approach and explore whether labour productivity on a construction site can be treated as an emergent property resulting from interactions between individual crewmembers and different crews. We present our pilot implementation and initial results depicting the relative value of various areas of space and the effect of the number of available tasks on congestion. KEY WORDS Agent Based Modelling, Productivity, Space Allocation INTRODUCTION Research in lean construction and the allied field of labour productivity has shown a strong dependence between work flows on a job-site and labour flow (Ballard and Howell 1998) and identified that variability in labour productivity can be reduced by appropriately matching labour resources to the available work to be performe

The Presence of Charge Transfer Defect Complexes in Intermediate Band CuAl1−pFepS2

Despite chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) being one of the oldest known copper ores, it exhibits various properties that are still the subject of debate. For example, the relative concentrations of the ionic states of Fe and Cu in CuFeS2 can vary significantly between different studies. The presence of a plasmon-like resonance in the visible absorption spectrum of CuFeS2 nanocrystals has driven a renewed interest in this material over recent years. The successful synthesis of CuAl1−pFepS2 nanocrystals that exhibit a similar optical resonance has recently been demonstrated in the literature. In this study, we use density functional theory to investigate Fe substitution in CuAlS2 and find that the formation energy of neutral [FeCu]2++[CuAl]2− defect complexes is comparable to [FeAl]0 antisites when p≥0.5. Analysis of electron density and density of states reveals that charge transfer within these defect complexes leads to the formation of local Cu2+/Fe2+ ionic states that have previously been associated with the optical resonance in the visible absorption of CuFeS2. Finally, we comment on the nature of the optical resonance in CuAl1−pFepS2 in light of our results and discuss the potential for tuning the optical properties of similar systems

What is the Evidence for the Effectiveness of Scapulothoracic Strengthening Exercises in Individuals with Neck Pain: A Systematic Review

Neck pain is a highly prevalent issue, ranked as the fourth greatest issue worldwide in terms of overall disease burden, and consequently, places a substantial impact upon the healthcare system. Scapulothoracic exercises appear as a promising avenue for the treatment of neck pain amongst the various treatment options currently available. However, there is uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness and clinical application of this approach. Purpose: The aim of this review was to establish the evidence surrounding the clinical application and effectiveness of scapulothoracic strengthening exercises to reduce neck pain. Methods: A systematic search of four electronic databases, including Ovid Medline, Scopus, Ovid Embase and The Cochrane Library was conducted by two independent reviewers (EW, GW). Studies of adult participants who were receiving scapulothoracic strengthening exercises to reduce neck pain and improve functioning were included. Inclusion criteria were set to exclude participants with neck pain related to headaches or as a result of surgery, trauma, physiological abnormalities or neurological conditions. A total of 2,665 articles were evaluated for inclusion in this systematic review, with 39 included in a full-text screen and five included in the final review. Methodological quality was evaluated by three independent reviewers (AZ, HW, LO) using the PEDro critical appraisal tool and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) hierarchy of evidence was used to determine included studies. Results: Five randomised controlled trials, encompassing a total of 329 participants, were included in this systematic review. Four of the studies investigated strength training for the non-painful scapulothoracic muscles, and one study included exercises targeting the painful upper trapezius muscle. Scapulothoracic intervention duration ranged from 20-90 minutes, with a varying frequency of 3-5 times per week. All five studies demonstrated some improvements in neck pain, with two included studies revealing short-term positive influences on activities of daily living and the neck disability index. One study showed significant improvements in neck range of motion and similarly, maximal voluntary contraction of cervical musculature improved in another study. Overall, analysis of the five included studies provided evidence that scapulothoracic strength exercises may be effective in alleviating neck pain. Conclusion: A limited number of studies have investigated the effect of scapulothoracic strengthening exercises as a primary modality in the treatment of neck pain. Scapulothoracic strengthening exercises could be considered in the treatment of neck pain, although the evidence is variable. Scapulothoracic strength training may have positive impacts across subjective and objective parameters including pain, and sequentially, activities of daily living, neck range of motion, and strength. However, the current literature base is limited by considerable diversity in intervention and outcome measures, and limited long-term follow up

Student Perspectives on the Purpose of Peer Evaluation During Group Game Development Projects

Being able to work well in a team is valued in industry and beyond. As such, many university educators strive to help their students to collaborate effectively. However, it is typically the case that more than ad-hoc experience is needed to master teamwork. Often, students need to become reflective practitioners who learn from their experiences and enact change. Self and peer evaluation can help evoke such reflection. However, the facilitating conditions for effective learning from peer evaluation during group projects in computing are not yet well-defined. This research is an initial step in identifying these conditions. In this study, students engaged in a long-term multidisciplinary software engineering project in which they produced a digital game. They completed regular exercises in which they reflected upon and wrote about their contributions to the project as well as those of their peers. Thematic analysis of 200 responses to an open-ended question about the purpose of these exercises illustrated the student perspective: giving and receiving feedback; prompting personal reflection and improvement; supporting supervision; aiding marking; informing project planning and management; coming to a shared understanding of the status and progress of the project; exploring and reshaping group dynamics; improving project outputs; providing a system to hold group members accountable; and giving a sense of safety to raise issues without repercussion. Giving consideration to these differing perceptions will help educators to address concerns about group projects and lay the foundations for a model of effective learning from peer evaluation during student collaborations

Shaping the development of the UKCEH UK-SCAPE Data Science Framework. Workshop report

UKCEH held an event to share progress on the development of the UK-SCAPE Data Science Framework (DSF), explore community expectations for the DSF and get feedback from the participants on whether the DSF will meet their needs. Participants were able to offer feedback through interactive voting sessions, breakout groups and a feedback form