Identity and affect in design cognition

Much Design Research effort has been afforded to investigating how designers think and what they do; often in the form of protocol analysis. These investigations have mainly focused on how designers influence material culture however, little attention has been paid to another line of enquiry; that is how the act of designing affects the individual undertaking the work and the role of social psychological phenomena e.g. attitudes, evaluations, emotions, impressions, motivations and social behaviour - on design activity. This interplay of affect between design activity and a designer’s social psychological behaviour is a complex two way process that warrants further investigation. Our research agenda focuses on the individual undertaking design activity and asks how does designing affect the designer and their behaviour? In this paper two issues are addressed: 1. The immediate effects of design activity on the designer 2. The role of self-concept in design cognition These two issues are investigated through a series of experiments carried out under semi-controlled conditions using several forms of observation and novel self-concept inventories. This paper draws attention to the need to consider self-concept and affect in design cognition and introduces the idea of design identity, which is uniquely different to the concept of design experience often quoted in the literature. This is an area of the ongoing research agenda within the Department of Design and Technology, Loughborough University, UK. Keywords: Design Activity; Design Behaviour; Psychology of Design; Self-Concept; Immediate Effects</p

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A measurement of the tau lifetime in e+e- annihilations at high energies

Imperial Users onl

Avenues of future research in homotransplantation of the liver with particular reference to hepatic supportive procedures, antilymphocyte serum, and tissue typing

Three general areas of research which bear on the developing field of liver transplantation are reviewed. These are: (1) the prospects of obtaining better immunosuppression with particular reference to heterologous antilymphocyte serum; (2) the possible use of antigen matching technics as an advanced indicator of donorrecipient histocompatibility; (3) a simlified system of extracorporeal transplntation designed to provide teporary hepatic support. © 1966

Survey of ultrasound practice amongst podiatrists in the UK

Background: Ultrasound in podiatry practice encompasses musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging, vascular hand-held Doppler ultrasound and therapeutic ultrasound. Sonography practice is not regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), with no requirement to hold a formal qualification. The College of Podiatry does not currently define ultrasound training and competencies. This study aimed to determine the current use of ultrasound, training received and mentorship received and/or provided by podiatrists using ultrasound. Methods: A quantitative study utilising a cross-sectional, on-line, single-event survey was undertaken within the UK. Results: Completed surveys were received from 284 podiatrists; 173 (70%) use ultrasound as part of their general practice, 139 (49%) for musculoskeletal problems, 131 (46%) for vascular assessment and 39 (14%) to support their surgical practice. Almost a quarter (n=62) worked for more than one organisation; 202 (71%) were employed by the NHS and/or private sector (n=118, 41%). Nearly all (93%) respondents report using a hand-held vascular Doppler in their daily practice; 216 (82%) to support decisions regarding treatment options, 102 (39%) to provide diagnostic reports for other health professionals, and 34 (13%) to guide nerve blocks. Ultrasound imaging was used by 104 (37%) respondents primarily to aid clinical decision making (n=81) and guide interventions (steroid injections n=67; nerve blocks n=39). Ninety-three percent stated they use ultrasound imaging to treat their own patients, while others scan at the request of other podiatrists (n=28) or health professionals (n=18). Few use ultrasound imaging for research (n=7) or education (n=2). Only 32 (11%) respondents (n=20 private sector) use therapeutic ultrasound to treat patients presenting with musculoskeletal complaints, namely tendon pathologies. Few respondents (18%) had completed formal post-graduate CASE (Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education) accredited ultrasound courses. Forty (14%) respondents receive ultrasound mentorship; the majority from fellow podiatrists (n=17) or medical colleagues (n=15). Over half (n=127) who do not have ultrasound mentorship indicated they would like a mentor predominantly for ultrasound imaging. Fifty-five (19%) report they currently provide ultrasound mentorship for others. Conclusions: Understanding the scope of ultrasound practice, the training undertaken and the requirements for mentorship will underpin the development of competencies and recommendations defined by the College of Podiatry to support professional development and ensure safe practice.</p

Synthesis and characterisation of a radioligand for positron emission tomography imaging of the 5-HT 1A receptor

PhD ThesisDysfunction of the central 5-HT system has been implicated in affective disorders such as anxiety and depression. However, one factor which has restricted the progress of investigations into possible changes in brain levels of 5-HT in affective disorders is the limited tools available to estimate in vivo 5-HT levels in the human brain. The in vivo imaging technique Positron Emission Tomography (PET) could address this issue. This thesis describes the chemical synthesis and biological characterisation of the 5-HT1A receptor PET ligand 4-(2’-methoxy-)phenyl-1-[2’-(N-2”-pyridinyl-)4-[18F]fluorobenzamido-]ethyl piperazine (4-[18F]MPPF), with the aim of determining whether this might be a suitable ligand to estimate in vivo 5-HT levels in the brain. Development of a routine radiosynthesis starting with low activity was performed. Successful 4-[18F]MPPF production was achieved using a combination of the Eckert and Zielgler ModularLab and a microwave reactor via a fluorodenitration reaction of 4-(2’-methoxy-)phenyl-1-[2’-(N-2”-pyridinyl-)4-nitrobenzamido-]ethyl piperazine (4-MPPNO2) with fluorine-18. A radiochemical yield of 33.5% was achieved with a total synthesis time of 60 minutes. PET and autoradiography studies in rats revealed 4-[18F]MPPF specifically bound in areas rich in 5-HT 1A receptors and binding could be blocked by pre-treatment with cold 4-MPPF. The ability of the 5-HT releasing agent fenfluramine to increase the concentration of endogenous 5-HT in the brain and displace radioligands from the 5-HT 1A receptor was examined in parallel with PET, in vitro and ex vivo autoradiography, and microdialysis studies. The microdialysis studies revealed that fenfluramine (3 mg/kg) increased 5-HT levels to approximately 400% of basal levels, reaching a maximum concentration of 1 x 10-8 M 5-HT (in hippocampus). PET and autoradiography studies indicated that 4-[18F]MPPF was not displaced using this dose of fenfluramine. These studies demonstrate that the Eckert and Zielgler ModularLab is an effective radiosynthesis platform for the synthesis of 4-[18F]MPPF for use in PET and 4-[18F]MPPF is a suitable PET ligand for the examination of the distribution of 5-HT 1A receptors in the rat brain. However, this study suggests that 4-[18F]MPPF may not be suitable for use in examining possible changes in 5-HT in the brain in affective disorders.EPSRC for sponsoring my project and the Professional Aids Council for providing me with a grant

A Critical Historical Examination of Tracking as a Method for Maintaining Racial Segregation

Using a Critical Race Theory framework, this manuscript examines the scholarly literature on the intersection of tracking and its historical use as a method for establishing and maintaining racial segregation in American public schools. I begin by exploring accounts of tracking in American public educational institutions as researched by historians of education. Then, I examine contemporary manifestations of tracking in American public schools beginning in the 20th century by sociologists of education. Within the discussion of contemporary tracking, I explore the use of tracking through magnet schools in order to circumvent federal legislation aimed at desegregating American public schools. Overall, the intersection of these bodies of literature argues that the problematic roots of tracking continue to maintain historical racial and ethnic segregation in American public schools

Farm management optimization.

Horse farmers make yearly decisions concerning the management of feeding horses. These decisions are affected by the cost to grow hay, the cost to buy hay, the cost associated with selling hay, the expected crop yield under various weather conditions, and the likelihood of different weather conditions. Most farmers produce their own hay ranging from hundreds to thousands of bales of hay, but also buy hay from other farmers because they either need a different cutting of hay or they need more hay than they can produce. The current method of buying and selling hay is based on the expected value of random factors. A lot of decisions are based on tradition within a farm or how things were done the year before. Because of the way horse farms are currently run, farmers encounter many problems when approaching a new hay season. First, there is often too much hay left over from the previous season. This hay is sold at a reduced price right before a new hay season because the storage area needs to be cleared in preparation for the new and better hay. Hay that has been sitting for an entire winter loses a lot of its nutrients. After a poor hay season, some farmers do not keep enough hay to feed their horses until the next season. They are hopeful for better hay early in the next year and this typically leads to having to purchase higher priced hay before the new hay season. Therefore, it can be seen that, mathematically, taking the expectation as the realization will lead to practically poor solutions. The paper presents a linear programming model to address the current issues with farm management feeding programs. The model will determine how many acres of hay a farm should harvest for their own horses\u27 consumption, as well as how much hay to purchase and sell each period of the season. Solutions are generated for real world parameters provided by a Kentucky horse farmer and a sensitivity analysis is performed. Using the parameters provided, the model concluded that the case study farm is operating with a cost, as opposed to a desired profit, on a yearly basis. The selling price of hay does not help the farm to overcome yearly costs of producing hay. Also, the model shows that the current method of planting all available farming acres is not optimal. This is causing the farm increased cost due to excess inventory. Planting fewer acres means holding inventory for multiple periods to meet demand late in the year. All hay that is not used to meet demand is sold to other farms

A Rhythmic Transcription and Spectral Analysis of Luciano Berio\u27s Thema (Omaggio A Joyce)

Thema (Omaggio A Joyce), composed by Luciano Berio resides within a tempo of 80 beats per minute. The discovery of a constant tempo allowed for a precise rhythmic transcription to be created which found musical structures including large formal sections, subsections, phrases, rhythmic and melodic motives, layers, and dialogue. Analysis of the rhythmic phrases shows that electroacoustic music can have a controlled structure and that these structures earned Thema an enduring legacy of masterpiece. The transcription provides a road-map to compare and contrast different elements that reoccur throughout Thema. The work was composed with a well thought-out and planned structure that enabled Berio to create, “constant and controlled transformations.” The transcription also reveals events that are specifically composed and events that Berio composed as whole structures rather than each individual note. Having been inspired by James Joyce’s “experimental use of language and exploration of new literary methods” in Ulysses, Berio extends Joyce’s exploration of subject, counter-subject (fugal counterpoint), development, sibilants and plosives, and white noise