Cultivation of the intertidal brown alga Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura: mass production of zygote-derived seedlings under commercial cultivation conditions, a case study experience

Mariculture of the brown alga Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura as an export-oriented human food has been there more for than 20 years in China. It is now one of the five major farmed algal species along the Chinese coast. Stable and sufficient supply of young seedlings for scaling up the cultivation has been a problem throughout the farming history of this species due to the unique dioecious life cycle and relatively short time window of sexual reproduction in nature. These two factors led to a practical difficulty in obtaining zygotes at identical developmental stage in viable amounts for seedling production. A key solution to this problem is to control the synchronization of the receptacle development and to realize the simultaneous discharge of male and female gametes, such that the fertilization rate could be greatly enhanced. Focusing on one of the farmed populations in this report, we present our results on mass production of seedlings using the synchronization technique on a large scale performed in 2007. Totally 5.5 hundred million embryos were obtained from 100 kg female sporophytes. The seedlings were raised up to 3.5 mm in length in greenhouse tanks over a month and were further grown in open sea for over 3 months at two experimental sites. The success of mass production of seedlings in this alga helped to lay the basis for future trials in other species in the genus of Sargassum that have identical life cycle.

Composition, Abundance, and Diversity of the Peracarida on Different Vegetation Types in the Qi'ao-Dan'gan Island Mangrove Nature Reserve on Qi'ao Island in the Pearl River Estuary, China

Chang-Fu Wang, Xian-Qiu Ren, and Run-Lin Xu (2010) Composition, abundance, and diversity of the Peracarida on different vegetation types in the Qi'ao-Dan'gan Island Mangrove Nature Reserve on Qi'ao Island in the Pearl River estuary, China. Zoological Studies 49(5): 608-615. Almost nothing is known about the Peracarida in the Pearl River estuary. This is the 1st report to study the composition, abundance, and diversity of the Peracarida in the Qi'ao-Dan'gan I. Mangrove Nature Reserve on Qi'ao I., in the Pearl River estuary, southern China. Bimonthly samplings were carried out in 3 representative vegetation types (mangrove arbor, emergent plants, and seaweed) for 2 yr. Using a Peterson grab, 1940 individuals (id.) were collected in total, including 11 species of 6 genera, 5 families, and 3 orders (Amphipoda, Isopoda, and Tanaidacean). Discapseudes mackiei Bamber 1997 was the dominant species with the highest density of 1,432 incl./m(2). The effect of temperature on the abundance of Peracarida was significant (p < 0.01), and the optimum temperature was 22-23 degrees C in both the mangrove arbor and seaweed. The results showed that the abundance of the Peracarida was higher in the mangrove arbor, while the diversity, especially Amphipoda diversity, was higher in the seaweed. In contrast, emergent plants provided no suitable habitats for the Peracarida. http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/49.5/608.pdf

Comparative study by infrared spectroscopy and microcalorimetry of the CO adsorption over supported palladium catalysts

The adsorption of CO on Al(2)O(3), ZrO(2), ZrO(2)-SiO(2), and ZrO(2)-La(2)O(3) supported Pd catalysts was studied by adsorption microcalorimetry and infrared (TR) spectroscopy. Some interesting and new correlations between the results of microcalorimetry and IR spectroscopy have been found. The CO is adsorbed on palladium catalysts in three different modes: multibonded (3-fold), bridged (2-fold), both on Pd(lll) and (100) planes, and linear (1-fold) adsorbed species. The corresponding differential adsorption heats lie in the field of high (210-170 kJ/mol), medium (140-120 kJ/mol), and low (95-60 kJ/mol) values, respectively. The nature of the support, the reduction temperature, and the pretreatment conditions affect the surface structure of the Pd catalysts, resulting in variations in the site energy distribution, i.e., changes in the fraction of sites adsorbing CO with specific heats of adsorption. Moreover, the CeO(2); promoter addition weakens the adsorption strength of CO on palladium. Based on the exposed results, a correctness factor, which considers the percentages of various CO adsorption states, must be introduced when one calculates the Pd dispersion using CO adsorption data.

In situ study of carbon nanotube formation by C2H2 decomposition on an iron-based catalyst

The properties and formation of nanotubes have been extensively studied, but very few deal with the catalytic production mechanism of nanotubes. Two different techniques, thermogravimetric analysis and UV-Raman, have been applied to analyse the carbon deposition by catalysed decomposition of acetylene over an iron-based catalyst. The nature of the produced carbon materials depends on reaction temperature. Also, TEM allows identification of carbon nanotubes, encapsulated particles, and other nanostructures, while UV-Raman confirms its graphitic and graphite-like nature. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Choices of approaches in e-moderation: conclusions from a grounded theory study

Much has been published in recent years about the desirable nature of facilitated interactions in on-line discussions with educational purposes. However little has been reported about the roles which tutors actually adopt in real life learning contexts, how these range between ‘tutoring, ‘managing’ and ‘facilitating’, and what the distinctions between these three roles may be. In this paper choices of priorities in e-moderation, which were made in three naturalistic (real life) case studies by three higher education practitioners, are identified and discussed. These contrasting approaches were captured and analysed using grounded theory principles. The paper also discusses these occasions when the facilitation was less effective than might have been desired. It finally summarises the potential of various approaches within e-moderation – and some of the attendant risks. The finding is that principles and practices developed for face-to-face support of student-directed learning were found equally applicable in e-moderated online group work, despite several significant differences between the two types of setting. Keywords: higher education, e-learning, e-moderation, asynchronous discussions, learning outcomes, grounded theory

Moving to manage: A mixed methods study of later life relocation into supported housing.

This study describes relocation experiences of older people moving to supported housing in Scotland focusing on the nature of support. Using mixed methods, Phase one involved a Scottish cross-sectional survey of all people aged 65 and over moving into Coburg (Scotland) Housing Association supported accommodation during the first six months of 2008. A total of 122 respondents were included in the survey (59% response rate). People moved locally at advanced ages with moderate disability levels to achieve more manageable housing and support, suggesting ‘assistance migration’. Expectations were high, with many seeing it as a new start in life and generally positive views of moving were reported. In Phase two, five in-depth multiple-perspective longitudinal case studies were conducted to explore the experience of relocation into supported housing. In each case an older person, primary carer and the housing manager - all women – were interviewed over six months following relocation. Analysis was undertaken using a thematic framework approach (Ritchie et al., 2003). Findings suggested older women acted with agency to adapt to their new lives; recreating ‘normality’ through organising space and routines. It is argued that returning to normality formed the overarching objective of the older women as they sought to feel ‘in place’. Responsibilities for meeting assistance needs were often implicit, contested and shifting, leading to fragile, uncertain and transitory arrangements. Drawing on recent advances in developmental psychology it is argued ‘longings’ of older people, and others, to achieve an optimal life can relate and motivate towards actions such as relocation. Yet, personal ‘longings’ can be prioritised differently and may result in disputes over goal setting and ways needs are met. Further, utopian ideals must be reconciled with the reality of daily life. Policy and practitioners could adopt broader, dignity based objectives to assist older people to identify ways of aiding such reconciliation.

An Empirical Study of the Use of Relevance Information in Inductive Logic Programming

Srinivasan, A., King, R. D. and Bain, M.E. (2003) An Empirical Study of the Use of Relevance Information in Inductive Logic Programming. Journal of Machine Learning Research. 4(Jul):369-383

A study of information literacy initiatives between secondary schools and universities in the UK

Lonsdale, R. E. & Armstrong, C. (2006). A study of information literacy initiatives between secondary schools and universities in the UK. In A.B. Martins, A.P. Falcao, E. Conde, I. Andrade, M.B. Nunes, M.J. Vitorino (Eds.), Proceedings of 35th Annual conference of the International Association of School Librarianship, Lisboa (Portugal). The Multiple Faces of Literacy: Reading, Knowing, Doing: Selected papers from the 35th Annual Conference of IASL [CD-ROM: PDF version] Lisbon, Portugal 2006 Sponsorship: JISC

From privatisation to governed nature. Old and new approaches to rural commons in Spain

Recent decades have witnessed a shift in the studies on Spanish rural commons, in line with the changes in the international literature as a whole. The focus in the 1970s was on the land privatization process referred to as disentailment (Desamortización), being considered one of the essential dimensions of the transition to capitalism. The recent revival of interest in rural commons has focused less on privatization than on the real functioning of the commons and the social relations articulated around them. A further focus of interest is the interaction between rural society and the State, mainly through the study of forestry policy and its effects on different regions. A third field of interest is the emergence of conflicts around rural commons; not only those of a distributive nature but also environmental and political ones. Accordingly, these new approaches go beyond the old image of a fatal destiny in order to profoundly analyze the environmental and social interactions of rural commons dynamics.

On the Fractal Nature of WWW and Its Application to Cache Modeling

The World Wide Web (WWW or Web) is growing rapidly on the Internet. Web users want fast response time and easy access to a enormous variety of information across the world. Thus, performance is becoming a main issue in the Web. Fractals have been used to study fluctuating phenomena in many different disciplines, from the distribution of galaxies in astronomy to complex physiological control systems. The Web is also a complex, irregular, and random system. In this paper, we look at the document reference pattern at Internet Web servers and use fractal-based models to understand aspects (e.g. caching schemes) that affect the Web performance.

A mechanistic study of anodic formation of porous InP

When porous InP is anodically formed in KOH electrolytes, a thin layer ~40 nm in thickness, close to the surface, appears to be unmodified. We have investigated the earlier stages of the anodic formation of porous InP in 5 mol dm-3 KOH. TEM clearly shows individual porous domains which appear triangular in cross-section and square in plan view. The crosssections also show that the domains are separated from the surface by a ~40 nm thick, dense InP layer. It is concluded that the porous domains have a square-based pyramidal shape and that each one develops from an individual surface pit which forms a channel through this near-surface layer. We suggest that the pyramidal structure arises as a result of preferential pore propagation along the <100> directions. AFM measurements show that the density of surface pits increases with time. Each of these pits acts as a source for a pyramidal porous domain, and these domains eventually form a continuous porous layer. This implies that the development of porous domains beneath the surface is also progressive in nature. Evidence for this was seen in plan view TEM images. Merging of domains continues to occur at potentials more anodic than the peak potential, where the current is observed to decrease. When the domains grow, the current density increases correspondingly. Eventually, domains meet, the interface between the porous and bulk InP becomes relatively flat and its total effective surface area decreases resulting in a decrease in the current density. Quantitative models of this process are being developed.

Behind the paravent: a study of Konrad Bayer's dramatic texts

This thesis is a study of Konrad Bayer's dramatic texts. It has evolved out of various attempts to read those texts, some filed and some more successful. It does not claim to be authoritative or complete, since the nature of Bayer's texts, as will become clear in the course of the ensuing chapters, means that they resist such an interpretation. To accept this was an important prerequisite for the writing of this thesis, but a difficult one to fulfill because for the Bayer commentator it constitutes a certain acceptance of defeat even before one begins. Chapter 1 will begin by providing some introductory information about Konrad Bayer, including details of his life and his membership of the Wiener Gruppe, a formative phase in his development as a writer. It will also consider the historical and cultural climate of 1950s Austria that provided the backdrop for Bayer's literary work. The phenomenon of the Wiener Gruppe will then be examined against the background of preceding experimental movements, for the purpose of situating Bayer's work historically and artistically. The aim of this historical and artistic survey is to prepare for the confrontation with Bayer's texts that makes up the other chapters of the thesis. Chapter 2 will constitute a close textual study of one of Bayer's dramatic texts using criteria from the field of text linguistics. Such a study will offer an entry point into Bayer's texts and will supply material which will form the basis for the interpretative investigations of the chapters that follow it. Chapter 3 will consider the influence of language and the individual. In chapter 4 the figure of the Lion of Belfort, a recurring figure in Bayer's dramatic texts, is discussed. The final chapter of this thesis will examine the recurring motifs of violence and cannibalism and will consider them in terms of the findings of preceding chapters.

The impact of new public management on the roles of elected councillors, management and the community sector in Irish local government: a case study of Cork County Council

The fundamental aim of this thesis is to examine the effect of New Public Management (NPM) on the traditional roles of elected representatives, management and community activists in Irish local government. This will be achieved through a case study analysis of one local authority, Cork County Council. NPM promises greater democracy in decision-making. Therefore, one can hypothesise that the roles of the three key groupings identified will become more influenced by principles of participatory decision-making. Thus, a number of related questions will be addressed by this work, such as, have the local elected representatives been empowered by NPM? Has a managerial revolution taken place? Has local democracy been enhanced by more effective community participation? It will be seen in chapter 2 that these questions have not been adequately addressed to date in NPM literature. The three groups identified can be regarded as stakeholders although the researcher is cautious in using this term because of its value-laden nature. Essentially, in terms of Cork County Council, stakeholders can be defined as decision-makers and people within the organization and its environment who are interested in or could be affected directly or indirectly by organizational performance. This is an all-embracing definition and includes all citizens, residents, community groups and client organizations. It is in this context that the term 'stakeholder' should be understood when it is occasionally used in this thesis. In this case, the perceptions of elected councilors, management and community representatives with regard to their changing roles are as significant as the changes themselves. The chapter begins with a brief account of the background to this research. This is followed by an explanation of the methodology which is used and then concludes with short statements about the remaining chapters in the thesis.

Experimental study of quantum dot and dash lasers

Quantum dashes are elongated quantum dots. Polarized edge-photovoltage and spontaneous emission spectroscopy are used to study the anisotropy of optical properties in 1.5μm InGaAsP and AlGaInAs-based quantum dash lasers. Strain, which causes TM-polarized transitions to be suppressed at the band edge, coupled with carrier confinement and dash shape leads to an enhancement of the optical properties for light polarized along the dash long axis, in excellent agreement with theoretical results. An analysis of the integrated facet and spontaneous emission rate with total current and temperature reveals that, in both undoped and p-doped InGaAsP-based quantum dash lasers at room temperature, the threshold current and its temperature dependence remain dominated by Auger recombination. We also identify two processes which can limit the output power and propose that the effects of the dopant in p-doped InGaAsP-based lasers dominate at low temperature but decrease with increasing temperature. A high threshold current density in undoped AlGaInAs-based quantum dash laser samples studied, which degrade rapidly at low temperature, is not due to intrinsic carrier recombination processes. 1.3μm GaAs-based quantum dots lasers have been widely studied, but there remains issues as to the nature of the electronic structure. Polarized edge-photovoltage spectroscopy is used to investigate the energy distribution and nature of the energy states in InAs/GaAs quantum dot material. A non-negligible TM-polarized transition, which is often neglected in calculations and analyses, is measured close to the main TE-polarized ground state transition. Theory is in very good agreement with the experimental results and indicates that the measured low-energy TM-polarized transition is due to the strong spatial overlap between the ground state electron and the light-hole component of a low-lying excited hole state. Further calculations suggest that the TM-polarized transition reduces at the band edge as the quantum dot aspect ratio decreases.

Symptom burden in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease: a mixed methods study

To investigate the symptom burden experiences of individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). An explanatory sequential mixed methods study was conducted. A cross-sectional, correlational survey was first undertaken. Symptom burden was measured using a modified disease specific version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, which was administered to a consecutive sample of individuals with IBD (n = 247) at an IBD Outpatients department in one urban teaching hospital in Ireland. Disease activity was determined using clinical disease activity indices, which were completed by the consulting physician. A sequential qualitative, descriptive study was then conducted aimed at explaining noteworthy quantitative findings. A criterion-related purposeful sample of seven participants from the quantitative study was recruited. Semi-structured face to face interviews were conducted using an interview guide and data were analysed using content analysis. Findings revealed that participants experienced a median of 10 symptoms during the last week, however as many as 16 symptoms were experienced during active disease. The most burdensome symptoms were lack of energy, bowel urgency, diarrhoea, feeling bloated, flatulence and worry. Total symptom burden was found to be low with a mean score of 0.56 identified out of a possible range from 0 to 4. Participants with active disease (M = 0.81, SD = 0.48; n = 68) had almost double mean total symptom burden scores than participants with inactive disease (M = 0.46, SD = 0.43; n = 166) (p < 0.001). Mean total psychological symptom burden was found to be significantly greater than mean total physical symptom burden (rho = 0.73, n = 247, p < 0.001). Self-reported disease control, gender, number of flare ups in the last two years, and smoking status was found to be significant predictors of total symptom burden, with self-reported disease control identified as the strongest predictor. Qualitative data revealed tiredness, pain, bowel symptoms, worry and fear as being burdensome. Furthermore, symptom burden experiences were described in terms of its impact on restricting aspects of daily activities, which accumulated into restrictions on general life events. Psychological symptom burden was revealed as more problematic than physical symptom burden due to its constant nature, with physical and psychological symptoms described to occur in a cyclical manner. Participants revealed that disease control was evaluated not only in terms of symptoms, but also in terms of their abilities to control the impact of symptoms on their lives. This study highlights the considerable number of symptoms and the most burdensome symptoms experienced by individuals with IBD, both during active and inactive disease. This study has important implications on symptom assessment in terms of the need to encompass both physical and psychological symptoms. In addition, greater attention needs to be placed on psychological aspects of IBD care.