Balls up : the converse blank canvas project

Research background: For decades the Chuck Taylor All Star basketball shoe (first designed in 1921 by Converse, an American shoe company), has been an iconic item of fashion apparel, particularly for the youth oriented market - as a form of self expression and identify, adolescents have for generations been customising their Converse sneakers to create innovative and unique footwear. Although originally developed purely for sport, sneakers gradually crossed over into fashion and the majority of athletic shoes are now purchased for street fashion or leisure wear. Artisan Gallery (Brisbane), in conjunction with the exhibition Reboot: Function, Fashion and the Sneaker, a history of the sneaker, selected 20 designers to customise and re-design the classic Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars shoe and in doing so highlighted the diversity of forms possible for creative outcomes. As Artisan Gallery Curator Kirsten Fitzpatrick states “the ‘sports show’, designed to coincide with the Olympics, is also about exploring the sneaker as a platform for creativity... and (one) of the more bazaar creations was Dean Brough's deconstructed shoes to make men’s underwear.” The exhibition ran from 21 June – 16 August 2012: http://artisan-ideaskillproduct.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/converse-blank-canvas-project.html Research question: Even though the sneaker is a fashion item, it still is fundamentally used for foot protection and historically was aligned to ball sports, principally Basketball - as a fashion designers/practitioner how can I connect (in a whimsical manner) this history of usage for ball sports to the sneaker and re-design and re-use all the physical elements of the shoe to produce a unique wearable item of clothing - the selected medium for this challenge and experimentation was the classic archetypal men’s white boxer shorts. Artisan Statement BALLS UP - The Converse Sneaker, it’s almost impossible to imagine a better rounded item to maintain peak performance for all types of ball sports. Gentlemen, your other most precious balls also deserve this level of comfort and support to sustain the hard times – the Converse Boxer, balls up, bats out, get ready to play hard. Research contribution: The project highlighted some of the unique and diverse creative manifestations that are possible from the classic sneaker. From a fashion practitioners’ perspective, the design outcomes (men’s boxer short made from converse sneakers) demonstrated the strong association to iconic fashion apparel, and recognised the connection to wearability and comfort that is requisite in both footwear and men’s underwear. Research significance: The exhibition was viewed by in excess of 1000 people and generated exceptional media coverage and public exposure/impact. As Artisan Gallery Curator Kirsten Fitzpatrick states “20 of Brisbane's best designers were given the opportunity to customise their own Converse Sneakers, with The Converse Blank Canvas Project.” And to be selected in this category demonstrates the calibre of importance for design prominence.

Converse consumption : the converse blank canvas project

Research background For almost 80 years the Chuck Taylor (or Chuck T's) All Star basketball shoe has been an iconic item of fashion apparel. The Chuck T's were first designed in 1921 by Converse, an American shoe company and over the decades they became a popular item not purely for sports and athletic purposes but rather evolved into the shoe of choice for many subcultural groups as a fashion item. In some circles the Chuck Taylor is still seen as the "coolest" sneaker of all time - one which will never go out of fashion regardless of changing trends. With over 600 millions pairs sold all over the world since its release, the Converse shoe is representative of not only a fashion culture - but also of a consumption culture - that evolved as the driving force behind the massive growth of the Western economic system during the 20th Century. Artisan Gallery (Brisbane), in conjunction with the exhibition Reboot: Function, Fashion and the Sneaker, a history of the sneaker, selected 20 designers to customise and re-design the classic Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars shoe and in doing so highlighted the diversity of forms possible for creative outcomes. As Artisan Gallery Curator Kirsten Fitzpatrick states “We were expecting people to draw and paint on them. Instead, we had shoes... mounted as trophies.." referring to the presentation of "Converse Consumption". The exhibition ran from 21 June – 16 August 2012: Research question The Chuck T’s is one of many overwhelmingly commercially successful designs of the last century. Nowadays we are faced with the significant problems of overconsumption and the stress this causes on the natural ecosystem; and on people as a result. As an active member of the industrial design fraternity – a discipline that sits at the core of this problem - how can I use this opportunity to comment on the significant issue of consumption? An effective way to do this was to associate consumption of goods with consumption of sugar. There are significant similarities between our ceaseless desires to consume products and our fervent need to consume indulgent sweet foods. Artisan Statement Delicious, scrumptious, delectable... your pupils dilate, your blood pressure spikes, your liver goes into overdrive. Immediately, your brain cuts off the adenosine receptors, preventing drowsiness. Your body increases dopamine production, in-turn stimulating the pleasure receptors in your brain. Your body absorbs all the sweetness and turns it into fat – while all the nutrients that you actually require are starting to be destroyed, about to be expelled. And this is only after one bite! After some time though, your body comes crashing back to earth. You become irritable and begin to feel sluggish. Your eyelids seem heavy while your breathing pattern changes. Your body has consumed all the energy and destroyed all available nutrients. You literally begin to shut down. These are the physiological effects of sugar consumption. A perfect analogy for our modern day consumer driven world. Enjoy your dessert! Research contribution “Converse Consumption” contributes to the conversation regarding over-consumption by compelling people to reflect on their consumption behaviour through the reconceptualising of the deconstructed Chuck T’s in an attractive edible form. By doing so the viewer has to deal with the desire to consume the indulgent looking dessert with the contradictory fact that it is comprised of a pair of shoes. The fact that the shoes are Chuck T’s make the effect even more powerful due to their iconic status. These clashing motivations are what make “Converse Consumption” a bizarre yet memorable experience. Significance The exhibition was viewed by an excess of 1000 people and generated exceptional media coverage and public exposure/impact. As Artisan Gallery Curator Kirsten Fitzpatrick states “20 of Brisbane's best designers were given the opportunity to customise their own Converse Sneakers, with The Converse Blank Canvas Project.” And to be selected in this category demonstrates the calibre of importance for design prominence.

EMT and MET in carcinoma : clinical observations, regulatory pathways and new models

The articles collected here in this special edition Epithelial-Mesenchymal (EMT) and Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions (MET) in Cancer provide a snapshot of the very rapidly progressing cinemascope of the involvement of these transitions in carcinoma progression. Pubmed analysis of EMT and cancer shows an exponential increase in the last few years in the number of papers and reviews published under these terms (Fig. 1). The last few years have seen these articles appearing in high calibre journals including Nature, Nature Cell Biology, Cancer Cell, PNAS, JNCI, JCI, and Cell, signaling the acceptance and quality of work in this field.

Asymmetric price range effects on vertical extensions

Vertical line extensions, both step-up and step-down, are common occurrence in consumer products. For example, Timex recently launched its luxury high-end Valentino line. On the other hand, many companies use downscale extensions to increase the overall sales volume. For instance, a number of luxury watch brands recently introduced watch collections with lower price points, like TAG Heur’s affordable watch the Aquaracer Calibre 5. Previous literature on vertical extensions has investigated how number of products in the line (Dacin and Smith 1994), the direction of the extension, brand concept (Kim, Lavack, and Smith 2001), and perceived risk (Lei, de Ruyter, and Wetzels 2008) affect extensions’ evaluation. Common to this literature is the use of models based on adaptation-level theory, which states that all relevant price information is integrated into a single prototype value and used in consumer judgments of price (Helson 1947; Mazumdar, Raj, and Sinha 2005). In the current research we argue that, while adaptation-level theory can be viewed as a useful simplification to understanding consumers’ evaluations, it misses out important contextual influences caused by a brand’s price range. Drawing on research on range-frequency theory (Mellers and Cooke 1994; Parducci 1965) we investigate the effects of price point distance and parent brand’s price range on evaluations of vertical extensions. Our reasoning leads to two important predictions that we test in a series of three experiments...

The impact of socialisation on graduates’ public service motivation : a mixed method study

The need to attract and retain a high calibre cadre of public servants today has resulted in a renaissance of interest in public service motivation (PSM) within public management literature. This article outlines a study of PSM with graduate employees within an Australian public sector. The study extends our understanding of PSM by adopting a longitudinal, mixed method design, including surveys and individual interviews, to consider the effects of socialisation on levels of PSM. Results show an organisation's mission and values do not affect individual PSM while work type and communication style is vital and organisational socialisation can provide a negative influence.

Development of a new flexor tendon repair technique performed with bioabsorbable poly-L/D-lactide (PLDLA) suture

Sormen koukistajajännevamman korjauksen jälkeisen aktiivisen mobilisaation on todettu johtavan parempaan toiminnalliseen lopputulokseen kuin nykyisin yleisesti käytetyn dynaamisen mobilisaation. Aktiivisen mobilisaation ongelma on jännekorjauksen pettämisriskin lisääntyminen nykyisten ommeltekniikoiden riittämättömän vahvuuden vuoksi. Jännekorjauksen lujuutta on parannettu kehittämällä monisäieommeltekniikoita, joissa jänteeseen tehdään useita rinnakkaisia ydinompeleita. Niiden kliinistä käyttöä rajoittaa kuitenkin monimutkainen ja aikaa vievä tekninen suoritus. Käden koukistajajännekorjauksessa käytetään yleisesti sulamattomia ommelmateriaaleja. Nykyiset käytössä olevat biohajoavat langat heikkenevät liian nopeasti jänteen paranemiseen nähden. Biohajoavan laktidistereokopolymeeri (PLDLA) 96/4 – langan vetolujuuden puoliintumisajan sekä kudosominaisuuksien on aiemmin todettu soveltuvan koukistajajännekorjaukseen. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli kehittää välittömän aktiivisen mobilisaation kestävä ja toteutukseltaan yksinkertainen käden koukistajajännekorjausmenetelmä biohajoavaa PLDLA 96/4 –materiaalia käyttäen. Tutkimuksessa analysoitiin viiden eri yleisesti käytetyn koukistajajänneompeleen biomekaanisia ominaisuuksia staattisessa vetolujuustestauksessa ydinompeleen rakenteellisten ominaisuuksien – 1) säikeiden (lankojen) lukumäärän, 2) langan paksuuden ja 3) ompeleen konfiguraation – vaikutuksen selvittämiseksi jännekorjauksen pettämiseen ja vahvuuteen. Jännekorjausten näkyvän avautumisen todettiin alkavan perifeerisen ompeleen pettäessä voima-venymäkäyrän myötöpisteessä. Ydinompeleen lankojen lukumäärän lisääminen paransi ompeleen pitokykyä jänteessä ja suurensi korjauksen myötövoimaa. Sen sijaan paksumman (vahvemman) langan käyttäminen tai ompeleen konfiguraatio eivät vaikuttaneet myötövoimaan. Tulosten perusteella tutkittiin mahdollisuuksia lisätä ompeleen pitokykyä jänteestä yksinkertaisella monisäieompeleella, jossa ydinommel tehtiin kolmen säikeen polyesterilangalla tai nauhamaisen rakenteen omaavalla kolmen säikeen polyesterilangalla. Nauhamainen rakenne lisäsi merkitsevästi ompeleen pitokykyä jänteessä parantaen myötövoimaa sekä maksimivoimaa. Korjauksen vahvuus ylitti aktiivisen mobilisaation jännekorjaukseen kohdistaman kuormitustason. PLDLA 96/4 –langan soveltuvuutta koukistajajännekorjaukseen selvitettiin tutkimalla langan biomekaanisia ominaisuuksia ja solmujen pito-ominaisuuksia staattisessa vetolujuustestauksessa verrattuna yleisimmin jännekorjauksessa käytettävään punottuun polyesterilankaan (Ticron®). PLDLA –langan todettiin soveltuvan hyvin koukistajajännekorjaukseen, sillä se on polyesterilankaa venymättömämpi ja solmujen pitävyys on parempi. Viimeisessä vaiheessa tutkittiin PLDLA 96/4 –langasta valmistetulla kolmisäikeisellä, nauhamaisella jännekorjausvälineellä tehdyn jännekorjauksen kestävyyttä staattisessa vetolujuustestauksessa sekä syklisessä kuormituksessa, joka simuloi staattista testausta paremmin mobilisaation toistuvaa kuormitusta. PLDLA-korjauksen vahvuus ylitti sekä staattisessa että syklisessä kuormituksessa aktiivisen mobilisaation edellyttämän vahvuuden. Nauhamaista litteää ommelmateriaalia ei aiemmin ole tutkittu tai käytetty käden koukistajajännekorjauksessa. Tässä tutkimuksessa ommelmateriaalin nauhamainen rakenne paransi merkitsevästi jännekorjauksen vahvuutta, minkä arvioidaan johtuvan lisääntyneestä kontaktipinnasta jänteen ja ommelmateriaalin välillä estäen ompeleen läpileikkautumista jänteessä. Tutkimuksessa biohajoavasta PLDLA –materiaalista valmistetulla rakenteeltaan nauhamaisella kolmisäikeisellä langalla tehdyn jännekorjauksen vahvuus saavutti aktiivisen mobilisaation edellyttämän tason. Lisäksi uusi menetelmä on helppokäyttöinen ja sillä vältetään perinteisten monisäieompeleiden tekniseen suoritukseen liittyvät ongelmat.

Semi-empirical procedures for estimation of residual velocity and ballistic limit for impact on mild steel plates by projectiles

This paper deals with the development of simplified semi-empirical relations for the prediction of residual velocities of small calibre projectiles impacting on mild steel target plates, normally or at an angle, and the ballistic limits for such plates. It has been shown, for several impact cases for which test results on perforation of mild steel plates are available, that most of the existing semi-empirical relations which are applicable only to normal projectile impact do not yield satisfactory estimations of residual velocity. Furthermore, it is difficult to quantify some of the empirical parameters present in these relations for a given problem. With an eye towards simplicity and ease of use, two new regression-based relations employing standard material parameters have been discussed here for predicting residual velocity and ballistic limit for both normal and oblique impact. The latter expressions differ in terms of usage of quasi-static or strain rate-dependent average plate material strength. Residual velocities yielded by the present semi-empirical models compare well with the experimental results. Additionally, ballistic limits from these relations show close correlation with the corresponding finite element-based predictions.

Robust prediction of residual velocities and ballistic limits of projectiles for impact on thin aluminium plates

This paper deals with the simulation-driven study of the impact of hardened steel projectiles on thin aluminium target plates using explicit finite element analysis as implemented in LS-DYNA. The evaluation of finite element modelling includes a comprehensive mesh convergence study using shell elements for representing target plates and the solid element-based representation of ogivalnosed projectiles. A user-friendly automatic contact detection algorithm is used for capturing interaction between the projectile and the target plate. It is shown that the proper choice of mesh density and strain rate-dependent material properties is crucial as these parameters significantly affect the computed residual velocity. The efficacy of correlation with experimental data is adjudged in terms of a 'correlation index' defined in the present study for which values close to unity are desirable.By simulating laboratory impact tests on thin aluminium plates carried out by earlier investigators, extremely good prediction of experimental ballistic limits has been observed with correlation indices approaching unity. Additional simulation-based parametric studies have been carried out and results consistent with test data have been obtained. The simulation procedures followed in the present study can be applied with confidence in designing thin aluminium armour plates for protection against low calibre projectiles.

Ballistic Studies on TiB2-Ti Functionally Graded Armor Ceramics

The objective of this paper is to discuss the results of the ballistic testing of spark plasma sintered TiB2-Ti based functionally graded materials (FGMs) with an aim to assess their performance in defeating small-calibre armor piercing projectiles. We studied the efficacy of FGM design and compared its ballistic properties with those of TiB2-based composites as well as other competing ceramic armors. The ballistic properties are critically analyzed in terms of depth of penetration, ballistic efficiency, fractographs of fractured surfaces as well as quantification of the shattered ceramic fragments. It was found that all the investigated ceramic compositions exhibit ballistic efficiency (eta) of 5.1 -5.9. We also found that by increasing the thickness of FGM from 5 mm to 7.8 mm, the ballistic property of the composite degraded. Also, the strength of the ceramic compositions studied is sufficient to completely fracture the nose of the pointed projectile used. Analysis of the ceramic fragments (2 mu m-10 mm) showed that harder the ceramic, coarser were the fragments formed. On comparing the results with available armor systems, it has been concluded that TiB2 based composites can show better ballistic properties, except B4C. SEM analysis of the fragments obtained after testing with FGM showed formation of cleavage steps as well as presence of intergranular cracks, indicating that the FGM fractured by mixed mode of failure. It can be concluded that the FGM developed has lower ballistic properties compared to its monolith TiB2-20 wt.% Ti.

Quantitative interactions between the A-type K+ current and inositol trisphosphate receptors regulate intraneuronal Ca2+ waves and synaptic plasticity

Key points center dot Active calcium signal propagation occurs when an initial calcium trigger elicits calcium release through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) receptors. A high concentration of the calcium trigger in thin-calibre dendrites would suppress release of calcium through hippocampal inositol trisphosphate receptors (InsP3Rs). center dot Could the high-density expression of A-type K+ channels in thin-calibre dendrites be a mechanism for inhibiting this suppression, thereby restoring the utility of the ER as a substrate for active calcium propagation? center dot Quantitative analyses involving experimentally constrained models reveal a bell-shaped dependence of calcium released through InsP3Rs on the A-type K+ channel density, during the propagation of a calcium wave. center dot A-type K+ channels regulated the relative contribution of ER calcium to the induction of synaptic plasticity in the presence of model metabotropic glutamate receptors. center dot These results identify a novel form of interaction between active dendrites and the ER membrane and suggest that A-type K+ channels are ideally placed for inhibiting the suppression of InsP3Rs in thin-calibre dendrites. Abstract The A-type potassium current has been implicated in the regulation of several physiological processes. Here, we explore a role for the A-type potassium current in regulating the release of calcium through inositol trisphosphate receptors (InsP3R) that reside on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hippocampal pyramidal neurons. To do this, we constructed morphologically realistic, conductance-based models equipped with kinetic schemes that govern several calcium signalling modules and pathways, and constrained the distributions and properties of constitutive components by experimental measurements from these neurons. Employing these models, we establish a bell-shaped dependence of calcium release through InsP3Rs on the density ofA-type potassium channels, during the propagation of an intraneuronal calcium wave initiated through established protocols. Exploring the sensitivities of calcium wave initiation and propagation to several underlying parameters, we found that ER calcium release critically depends on dendritic diameter and that wave initiation occurred at branch points as a consequence of a high surface area to volume ratio of oblique dendrites. Furthermore, analogous to the role ofA-type potassium channels in regulating spike latency, we found that an increase in the density ofA-type potassium channels led to increases in the latency and the temporal spread of a propagating calcium wave. Next, we incorporated kinetic models for the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) signalling components and a calcium-controlled plasticity rule into our model and demonstrate thatthe presence of mGluRs induced a leftward shift in a BienenstockCooperMunro-like synaptic plasticity profile. Finally, we show that the A-type potassium current could regulate the relative contribution of ER calcium to synaptic plasticity induced either through 900 pulses of various stimulus frequencies or through theta burst stimulation. Our results establish a novel form of interaction between active dendrites and the ER membrane, uncovering a powerful mechanism that could regulate biophysical/biochemical signal integration and steer the spatiotemporal spread of signalling microdomains through changes in dendritic excitability.

Benjamín de Tudela y los motivos del viaje : la educación del judío y el encuentro con la propia identidad a través del otro

Resumen: El presente trabajo aborda un tema concreto: el motivo u objeto con que el maestro y erudito español Benjamín de Tudela (1130-1173) abandona momentáneamente su país, España, para realizar un viaje de más de diez años por el Mediterráneo, el Asia Menor, el Medio Oriente y, aunque es menos probable, el Lejano Oriente. El corpus a considerar es su Libro de viajes (1160-1173), uno de los más completos y didácticos cuadernos de bitácora de la literatura occidental. Esta obra, que ha tenido grandes incidencias en la educación judía de siglos posteriores, es considerada hasta hoy como uno de los primeros documentos demográficos de las comunidades judías de la diáspora. Una vez identificados los motivos que impulsaron un periplo de tal calibre, procederé a analizar básicamente dos. Por un lado, la misión didáctica que él mismo se ha atribuido en consonancia con el precepto que ordena la transmisión intergeneracional de la fe y sus valores. Por otro lado, infiero un motivo que califico como de origen divino o sobrenatural, y que comparo con el viaje de Abraham desde Ur de Caldea hasta la Tierra Prometida. Para desarrollar este punto parto de un fragmento de la Biblia denominado en la tradición judía Lej lejá (Génesis XII:1-XVII:27), del que tomo los dos versículos iniciales, y aplico un análisis hecho por la licenciada y rabina Silvina Chemen con motivo del diálogo interreligioso.

Evaluación de técnicas de defensa y de la densidad en el cultivo de una nueva hortaliza : Cucúrbita pepo var. vegetable spaghetti

El zapallo Spaghetti, cultivo vigoroso de clima templado, constituye una alternativa productiva interesante y novedosa para nuestro país. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del mulching y de la densidad sobre el rendimiento total, el peso medio y el calibre de los frutos. El estudio se llevó a cabo en Azul sobre un suelo Argiudol típico en camellones de 0,80 m de ancho con diferentes densidades de siembra. Se realizó una fertilización profunda en bandas de 0,80 m con fosfato diamónico, controlando las malezas en forma química, manual y mecánicamente, y las plagas haciendo aplicaciones preventivas de insecticidas y fungicidas. La siembra manual se efectuó el 2 de noviembre y los tratamientos fueron: densidades de siembra de 20, 15, 10 y 5 mil pl/ha (D1, D2, D3 y D4), con y sin mulching. Se trabajó con 32 parcelas y cada una tenía tres surcos de seis metros de longitud separados entre si por 2m. Se realizaron cuatro cosechas al llegar a la madurez completa (15/2, 29/2, 7/3 y 3/4). Los calibres evaluados fueron: (1) 2,2 kg, (2) 1,7 kg; (3) 1,3 kg y (4) 0,8 kg / fruto. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó un modelo de bloques completamente aleatorizados con parcelas sub-divididas. En la parcela principal se evaluó el efecto del mulching, en la subparcela la densidad y la interacción de mulching por densidad, y en la subsubparcelas las diferentes cosechas. La cosecha total mostró diferencias significativas para el efecto del mulching, obteniéndose 71,90 t/ha (a) (con mulching) y 62,02 t/ha (b) (sin mulching); para cada densidad se detectaron diferencias significativas para el efecto mulching: D1: 84,45 t/ha (a), D2: 76,47 t/ha (ab); D3: 65,14 t/ha (b) y D4: 61,55 t/ha (b). Se observaron diferencias significativas en el número de frutos cosechados: con mulching (51.667 frutos/ha) y sin mulching (44.167 frutos/ha), y para las diferentes densidades: D1: 54.167 (a); D2: 50.000 (ab); D3: 47.700 (ab) y D4: 40.833 (b) t/ha. La composición de calibres de frutos cosechados fue el mismo para todos los tratamientos y cosechas.

Armas de fogo : calibres exclusivos para as forças de segurança

Aborda a possibilidade de a legislação limitar o uso de determinados calibres de armas de fogo exclusivamente para as forças de segurança, aí incluídas, por extensão, as empresas de segurança privada. Analisa a legislação existente, inclusive algumas de direito comparado, bem como as proposições pertinentes apresentadas na Câmara dos Deputados. Discute quais seriam ou deveriam ser os critérios utilizados para a definição dessas armas de calibre de uso exclusivo, partindo dos pressupostos insertos no Estatuto do desarmamento e considerando os cenários de atuação das forças da União e dos Estados.

Investment opportunities in fish seed technology

An examination is made of the requirements for the commercial propagation of carp and tilapia in Nigeria. It is concluded that the operation of a successful Fish Hatchery and fry production system will depend on the following factors: 1) Correct initial planning for intended production (both species and intended numbers); 2) Design of the appropriate facilities to enable required production; 3) Selection of top calibre, dedicated and experienced hatchery staff; and, 4) The ethical responsibility taken by the hatchery management to produce only the highest quality seed under the best possible conditions. Purchasing farmers are dependent on this

Modelo de estudo do mecanismo de Gribov através de operadores locais compostos

O objetivo desta dissertação é apresentar uma conexão entre a condição de Gribov-Zwanziger para o gap de massa e o mecanismo de quebra espontânea de simetria, através do estudo de um operador composto introduzido numa maneira localizada. Para tornar esta relação mais clara, um modelo é apresentado e alguns aspectos quânticos são discutidos.