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Standards for Learning, Education and Training A Proposal for an Improved Process
No full textThe standard setting process within the Learning, Education and Training domain needs to be improved to strengthen the legitimacy of these standards. When new work items are proposed in the domain alternative methods to technical solutions are seldom discussed. This is shown in a small case study presented in this paper. To guide a methods discussion the authors propose a new framework for LET standardisation with constructs from four ontologies and a four-step process. The model is meant as a toolbox to be used to ensure that issues related to both the process and product legitimacy of standards setting are addressed
Development of advanced personal protective equipment fabrics for protection against slashes and pathogenic bacteria: Part 2: Development of antimicrobial hygiene garments and their characterization
No full textKnife is the most commonly used single weapon in the UK and studies reveal that majority of the knife inflicted wounds were slash type that could be disfiguring or life threatening. Currently available stab resistant armours do not protect the arms, neck and face as they are rigid to be worn comfortably for everyday use. The main objectives of this research programme are; a) to develop and characterise a novel cut resistant and slash proof material that is lightweight, comfortable and efficient; and b) to integrate barrier properties in such garments which would incorporate suitable antimicrobial and other suitable chemicals to provide protection against a range of micro organisms. The design and development of novel slash proof materials for the police, armed forces, children and the public, that is lightweight, comfortable and efficient was discussed in Part 1 of this series.This part discusses the application and study of antimicrobial properties on this novel two-layered weft knitted slash resistant fabric that has only 13.6% of its fibres effectively available for incorporation of antibacterial agents. The anti-bacterial formulation was applied at different concentrations onto the fabric using pad-dry-cure method. Antimicrobial properties of the treated fabrics were evaluated using modified AATCC Test method 147-1998 against common pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. It was found that the formulation with 10% concentration showed optimum antimicrobial property with good washing fastness. The durability of the antimicrobial agents were evaluated, both with and without cross-linking agents, for up to 10 washes and better washing fastness was achieved with a cross-linking agent on the face knitted with the composite WF 528 yarn
Player typology in theory and practice
No full textPlayer satisfaction modeling depends in part upon quantitative or qualitative typologies of playing preferences, although such approaches require scrutiny. Examination of psychometric typologies reveal that type theories have—except in rare cases—proven inadequate and have made way for alternative trait theories. This suggests any future player typology that will be sufficiently robust will need foundations in the form of a trait theory of playing preferences. This paper tracks the development of a sequence of player typologies developing from psychometric type theory roots towards an independently validated trait theory of play, albeit one yet to be fully developed. Statistical analysis of the results of one survey in this lineage is presented, along with a discussion of theoretical and practical ways in which the surveys and their implied typological instruments have evolved
Generalised Butterworth-Van Dyke equivalent circuit for thin-film bulk acoustic resonator
No full textA generalised Butterworth-Van Dyke (GBVD) equivalent circuit model for a thin-film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR), especially for a FBAR with a high electromechanical coupling constant (k(t)(2)), is presented. The derivation starts from the ideal impedance formula for the FBAR, then acoustic loss, dielectric loss, and electrode electrical loss are introduced step by step. Results show that the widely used modified Butterworth-Van Dyke (MBVD) model is a special case of a GBVD model using a low k(t)(2) approximation
Storyworld: the Bigger Picture, investigating the world of multi-platform/transmedia production and its affect on storytelling processes
No full textMy investigations into transmedia and multi-platform production practices reveal that writers for film and TV could soon need to become content creators (directors or producers or craftspeople in addition to being writers), blurring the distinctions between concept, creation, production and post-production. This article explores this phenomenon of multi-platform/transmedia production, mostly in the United Kingdom, and in particular its storytelling processes through a study of a small but successful company, Bellyfeel, based in Manchester, United Kingdom. Bellyfeel have given me complete access to their work and established an online environment where I can study their practice/writing. I will contextualize the creative practice of the company with the work of Henry Jenkins, and suggest that, in the contemporary marketplace, it may be necessary for the writer to be focused on the production process and the technological aspects of this process in order to understand how product is created and functions in this new environment
A combined linguistic and medical approach to improve written and verbal communication skills for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)
No full textFlame retardant challenges for textiles and fibres: New chemistry versus innovatory solutions
No full textAlmost 50 years ago, the 1950-1960 period witnessed the development of the chemistry underlying most of today’s successful and durable flame retardant treatments for fibres and textiles. In today’s more critical markets in terms of environmental sustainability, chemical toxicological acceptability, performance and cost, many of these are now being questioned.“Are there potential replacements for established, durable formaldehyde-based flame retardants such as those based on tetrakis (hydroxylmethyl) phosphonium salt and alkylsubstituted, N-methylol phosphopropionamide chemistries for cellulosic textiles?” is an oftenasked question. “Can we produce char-forming polyester flame retardants?” and “Can we really produce effective halogen-free replacements for coatings and back-coated textiles?” are others.These questions are addressed initially as a historical review of research undertaken in the second half of the twentieth century which is the basis of most currently available, commercialised flame retardant fibres and textiles. Research reported during the first decade of the twenty first century and which primarily addresses the current issues of environmental sustainability and the search for alternative flame retardant solutions, the need to increase char-forming character in synthetic fibres and the current interest in nanotechnology is critically discussed. The possible roles of micro- and nano-surface treatments of fibre surfaces and their development using techniques such as plasma technology are also reviewed
BrainHex: preliminary results from a neurobiological gamer typology survey
No full textThis paper briefly presents a player satisfaction model called BrainHex, which was based on insights from neurobiological findings as well as the results from earlier demographic game design models (DGD1 and DGD2). The model presents seven different archetypes of players: Seeker, Survivor, Daredevil, Mastermind, Conqueror, Socialiser, and Achiever. We explain how each of these player archetypes relates to older player typologies (such as Myers-Briggs), and how each archetype characterizes a specific playing style. We conducted a survey among more than 50,000 players using the BrainHex model as a personality type motivator to gather and compare demographic data to the different BrainHex archetypes. We discuss some results from this survey with a focus on psychometric orientation of respondents, to establish relationships between personality types and BrainHex archetypes
Stability and deterioration of a shape memory polymer fabric composite under thermomechanical stress
No full textFibres and fabrics are often used to reinforce shape memory polymers (SMPs) to improve their mechanical strength and properties, and such composites have been widely used in engineering. However incorporation of fibres and fabrics in SMPs is often accompanied with the deterioration of thermomechanical properties and shape memory effect. The thermomechanical properties and deterioration mechanisms of a shape memory polymer composite (SMPC) under repeated mechanical stress were investigated. Up to 100% extension, the SMPCs showed good shape memory effect with excellent shape recovery ratio, recovery stress and mechanical properties; while beyond that the recovery ratio and recovery stress of the composites deteriorated rapidly due to the significant delamination and debonding of fibres and fabrics from the SMP resin and accumulation of broken fibres
Automated mechanism design for B2B e-commerce models
No full textBusiness-to-business electronic marketplaces (B2B e-Marketplaces) have been in the limelight since 1999 with the commercialisation of the Internet and subsequent “dot.com” boom [1]. Literature is indicative of the growth of the B2B sectors in all industries, and B2B e-Marketplace is one of the sectors that have witnessed a rapid increase. Consequently, the importance of developing the B2B e-Commerce Model for improved value chain in B2B exchanges is extremely important for SMEs to expose to the world marketplace. There are three research objectives (ROs) in this study; first (RO1) to critical review the concepts of the B2B e-Marketplace including their technologies, operations, business relationships and functionalities; second (RO2) to design an automated mechanism of B2B e-Marketplace for Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs); and third (RO3) to propose a conceptual B2B e-Commerce model for SMEs. The proposed model is constructed by the analytical findings obtained from the contemporary B2B e-Marketplace literature