Parsimonious numerical modelling of deep geothermal reservoirs

Numerical modelling has been undertaken to help improve understanding of a deep geothermal system being considered for development in the vicinity of Eastgate (Weardale, County Durham, UK). A parsimonious numerical modelling approach is used, which allows the possibility to develop a workable formal framework, rigorously testing evolving concepts against data as they become available. The approach used and results presented in this study are valuable as a contribution to a wider understanding of deep geothermal systems. This modelling approach is novel in that it utilises the mass transport code MT3DMS as a surrogate representation for heat transport in mid-enthalpy geothermal systems. A three-dimensional heat transport model was built, based on a relatively simple conceptual model. Results of simulation runs of a geothermal production scenario have positive implications for a working geothermal system at Eastgate. The Eastgate Geothermal Field has significant exploitation potential for combined heat and power purposes; it is anticipated that this site could support several tens of megawatts of heat production for direct use and many megawatts of electrical power using a binary power plant

A Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of Adaptive Filter Algorithms, Spectral Kurtosis and Linear Prediction in Detection of a Naturally Degraded Bearing in a Gearbox

Diagnosing bearing faults at the earliest stages is critical in avoiding future catastrophic failures. Many techniques have been developed and applied in diagnosing bearings faults; however, these traditional diagnostic techniques are not always successful when the bearing fault occurs in gearboxes where the vibration response is complex; under such circumstances, it may be necessary to separate the bearing signal from the complex signal. In this paper, an adaptive filter has been applied for the purpose of bearing signal separation. Four algorithms were compared to assess their effectiveness in diagnosing a bearing defect in a gearbox, least mean square (LMS), linear prediction, spectral kurtosis and fast block LMS. These algorithms were applied to decompose the measured vibration signal into deterministic and random parts with the latter containing the bearing signal. These techniques were applied to identify a bearing fault in a gearbox employed for an aircraft control system for which endurance tests were performed. The results show that the LMS algorithm is capable of detecting the bearing fault earlier in comparison with the other algorithms

The New Zealand Osteopathic Profession’s Understanding of Continuing Professional Development

Continuing professional development (CPD) is commonly accepted as the process for improving the competency, and enhancing the knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA’s) of health professionals. Within the last few decades CPD has become an expected requirement of maintaining the right or licence to continue practice. The aim of this research was to investigate the beliefs and understanding of the New Zealand osteopathic profession in relation to CPD; how they decided what CPD to undertake, what they saw as the perceived benefit of completing CPD, and whether they had any barriers accessing CPD. A survey was sent to all 632 registered osteopaths in New Zealand. The survey asked questions about CPD and also gathered general and professional demographic information. The survey was completed by 48% (n=303) of all registered osteopaths, 67% (n=203) of whom held an annual practicing certificate. Findings demonstrated that over 82% (n=234) of respondents completed CPD because it was a requirement of recertification, but 90% (n=256) also felt motivated to complete CPD because it assisted with clinical practice and improving their knowledge, skills and attitudes. Just over half of respondents 52% (n=139) stated they chose CPD based on their clinical focus and particular interests. Practitioners believed theoretical and practical skills and communication skills improved following CPD completion. Barriers to CPD were time (n=212, 71%), cost (n=170, 59%), availability (n=213, 74%), and maintaining a work life balance (n=210, 73%). For 73% (n=191) of respondents, attendance at conferences was the preferred CPD activity, with a further 32% (n=84) preferring informal peer contact and attendance at peer group meetings being very favoured by 37% (n=97). Blogging was the least favoured CPD activity, with 92% (n=240) indicating they did not prefer this as a CPD activity. Male respondents work longer hours in a clinicalsetting, when compared to females, and spent more money on CPD than the female respondents. Findings from this study have shown that osteopaths engaged with CPD for both legislative requirements and also personal reasons. Barriers to CPD include time, cost, availability and work-life balance. This seems to be magnified for female respondents

First Amendment Rights at Fairs, Expositions and Auditoriums

Enclosed is a document concerning the responsibilities of fairs under the First Amendment. This paper was prepared by Charles Getz, IV, at the request of Ester Armstrong, Assistant Director of Fairs & Expositions, Department of Food & Agriculture. This document is intended for the use of the Boards of Directors in formulating a first amendment policy. It is general in nature and is not issued as a mandate that fairs are required to follow. Rather it is intended to provide quidance to fairs in this area and to be updated as the information changes

First Amendment Rights at Fairs, Expositions and Auditoriums

Enclosed is a document concerning the responsibilities of fairs under the First Amendment. This paper was prepared by Charles Getz, IV, at the request of Ester Armstrong, Assistant Director of Fairs & Expositions, Department of Food & Agriculture. This document is intended for the use of the Boards of Directors in formulating a first amendment policy. It is general in nature and is not issued as a mandate that fairs are required to follow. Rather it is intended to provide quidance to fairs in this area and to be updated as the information changes

Bloodstain classification methods: A critical review and a look to the future

Classifying bloodstains is an essential part of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. Various experts have developed methods. Each method considers the same basic bloodstain pattern types. These use either terminology based on the observable characteristics or the mechanistic cause of the bloodstains as part of the classification process. This review paper considers ten classification methods from fourteen sources, which are used to classify bloodstain patterns. There are fundamental differences in how the bloodstains are classified, how differentiated the classification is, and whether the classification process uses clear, unambiguous criteria, and is susceptible to contextual bias. Experts have also reported issues with classifying bloodstains that have indistinguishable features. These differences expose key limitations with current classification methods: mechanistic terminology is too heavily relied on, and the classification process is susceptible to contextual bias. The development of an unambiguous classification method, based on directly observable characteristics within bloodstain patterns is recommended for future work

Picturing the future-conditional: montage and the global geographies of climate change

A growing body of work has explored the effects of visual imagery on shifting forms of environmental consciousness and politics. Circulating images of, for example, the ‘whole Earth’ have been ascribed agency in the emergence of new forms of planetary awareness and political globalism. This essay identifies a new form of global environmental image, in the shape of photographic montage depictions of future places transformed by the effects of climate change. Montage enables artists and designers to import the spatial formations of distant places into more familiar locations, in the process producing novel renderings of the interconnections of global environmental change. The future-conditional –‘if x, then y’– has become a key register of scientific and artistic engagement with climate change, and practices of visual montage have offered means of reconciling the transformations of space and time in the imagination of putative futures. The essay situates such images within a longer lineage of depictions of the tropical and the ruined, and focuses on contemporary montage depictions of climate-change-induced migration. It argues that many of these ‘global montages’ problematically reinforce extant notions of geographical otherness. Yet montage, as a technique, also renders visible the choices, cuts, juxtapositions and arguments which lie behind any representation, thus offering the seed of a more reflexive mode of future-conditional image-making

Geographic variation in the aetiology, epidemiology and microbiology of bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a disease associated with chronic progressive and irreversible dilatation of the bronchi and is characterised by chronic infection and associated inflammation. The prevalence of bronchiectasis is age-related and there is some geographical variation in incidence, prevalence and clinical features. Most bronchiectasis is reported to be idiopathic however post-infectious aetiologies dominate across Asia especially secondary to tuberculosis. Most focus to date has been on the study of airway bacteria, both as colonisers and causes of exacerbations. Modern molecular technologies including next generation sequencing (NGS) have become invaluable tools to identify microorganisms directly from sputum and which are difficult to culture using traditional agar based methods. These have provided important insight into our understanding of emerging pathogens in the airways of people with bronchiectasis and the geographical differences that occur. The contribution of the lung microbiome, its ethnic variation, and subsequent roles in disease progression and response to therapy across geographic regions warrant further investigation. This review summarises the known geographical differences in the aetiology, epidemiology and microbiology of bronchiectasis. Further, we highlight the opportunities offered by emerging molecular technologies such as -omics to further dissect out important ethnic differences in the prognosis and management of bronchiectasis.NMRC (Natl Medical Research Council, S’pore)MOH (Min. of Health, S’pore)Published versio