Developing Ocean Color Algorithm using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Sensor for Shallow Coastal Water Bodies

This study analyses the spatial and temporal variability of chlorophyll-a in Chesapeake Bay; assesses the performance of Ocean Color 3M (OC3M) algorithm; and develops a novel algorithm to estimate chlorophyll-a for coastal shallow water. The OC3M algorithm yields an accurate estimate of chlorophyll-a concentration for deep ocean water (RMSE=0.016), but it failed to perform well in the coastal water system (RMSE=23.17) of Chesapeake Bay. A novel algorithm was developed which utilizes green and red bands of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor. The novel algorithm derived the chlorophyll-a concentration more accurately in Chesapeake Bay (RMSE=4.20) than the OC3M algorithm. The study indicated that the algorithm that uses red bands could improve the satellite estimation of chlorophyll-a in the coastal water system by reducing the noise associated with bottom reflectance and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM

THE PLIGHT OF PRACTICUM INCHINESE TEACHER EDUCATION: A CASE OF A NORMAL UNIVERSITY

The study explored the value and the status of practicum in Chinese undergraduate teacher education (CTE) and identified the challenges of practicum in order to layout ways of improvement. The study investigated the problems with reference to international perspective and was delimited to only Chinese undergraduate pre-service teacher education (TE) programme. Using concurrent mixed method design a survey was distributed to 75 student teachers (STs), 50 mentor teachers, and five supervisors. Among participants, 15 STs and 10 mentors were selected using simple random sampling technique from each cooperating school. All the five supervisors, who were assigned supervising duty during practicum in those five schools, were included in the sample. In this way the response rate of STs, mentors, and supervisors was 96% (72), 90% (45), and 100% respectively. Interview was conducted with 10 STs, five supervisors, and five mentor teachers. For collecting qualitative data, STs and mentors were selected using purposive sampling technique. The time and timing of practicum was found inappropriate. The practicum doesn't have due importance in the education, and the mode of practicum being followed is outdated. The application of test development, administering, and scoring skills was being totally ignored during the practicum. Dividing practicum into different phases and active role of faculties and ministry of education in recognizing and communicating the significance of practicum has been suggested

Patient-Centric Decision-Making Health Information System (PDM-HIS) Adoption Framework

Hospital Information Systems (HIS) are implemented to support the provision of high-quality patient- centered care. Yet, there is little evidence about how to achieve meaningful involvement of patients in the decision-making process for the adoption of HIS. Furthermore, there is little known whether particular HIS adoption decision-making frameworks in which patients are involved are employed in hospitals. To address this gap, we conducted a study allowing us to gain insight on how to practically and meaningfully involve patients in this process. A synthesis of literature and case studies have indicated that there is no single, optimal approaches of involving the patients in the adoption decision-making process. In this article, we present evidence from 15 semi-structured patient interviews to understand the phenomenon of involving patients in the decision-making for the adoption of HIS. Extending the DECIDE model, we consider the key HIS adoption factors found in the literature and interviews and present a Patient-Centric Decision-Making HIS (PDM-HIS) framework. The key contribution of this research is twofold. First, we extend the DECIDE model within a HIS context and explain the importance of adopting a patient-centric approach to HIS adoption. Secondly, we offer hospitals guidance about how to involve patients and in which specific activities of the adoption decision-making they can be involved. These research recommendations will form the basis of a future study

Methodology for Validating Mechatronic Digital Twin

The market place is changing rapidly along with the increasing requirements of the clients. To meet up these challenges, there is need for new and efficient methods for the identification and visualization of the problem. Additionally, these methods should allow users in designing and finding alternative solutions to achieve the desired working. In this thesis, studies related to mechatronic model was performed and an approach was presented for the validation of mechatronic digital twin. The concept of digital twin is one of the core concepts of modern industrial revolution. Digital twin can be defined as the digital representation of a physical system, which behaves exactly as actual hardware. A mechatronic digital twin of Festo MPS 500 system was modeled using Siemens NX Mechatronics Concept Designer. The methodology was implemented which involved storing the process parameters of the operation of actual hardware. The stored information was passed to the mechatronic model for verification and validation purpose. Several engineering tools were used for the implementation of the system. These tools were integrated with each other to provide the proof of concept of the methodology. The developed approach can be used with the mechatronic models of existing systems. This enables the user to test and observe different scenarios and alternative solutions in the mechatronic model before implementing it to actual hardware. The proposed methodology can be used for the troubleshooting purpose by re-playing the stored data of the operation of actual hardware in the mechatronic model. By this way, user can visualize the whole operation and identify the problem easily

Impact of Accreditation, Services Quality, Green Standards and Product Superiority on Customer Loyalty: A Case of Healthcare Quality in Hospitals of Pakistan

This study comprehends the association of quality services, product superiority, accreditations and green environment of hospitals; with corporate brand image, patient trust and loyalty.  Respondents of the research study were from seven different healthcare organizations including private, charitable and naval sectors in four major cities (Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi) of Pakistan.  Questionnaires were disseminated to 580 participants, and 447 responses were received.  The data analysis was processed in SPSS 20 and SmartPLS 3.0.  Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to examine the inference for significant and insignificant associations between constructs. The outcomes specify that hospital accreditation positively and significantly impacts the customer loyalty through mediating effects of corporate brand image and customer trust.  Similarly quality of services positively and significantly impacts the customer loyalty through mediating effects of corporate brand image. However rest of the relationships in this study were not found significant through mediating effects of customer trust and brand image. The hospitals management in Pakistan is recommended to instrument the accreditation of healthcare standards in its true spirit and should introduce innovations in healthcare technologies in institutions for unveiling more high-quality and superior health products and services to build strong corporate image and patient trust on rock-hard foundations to establish the satisfied and loyal patients

Satellite Estimation of Chlorophyll-a Using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Sensor in Shallow Coastal Water Bodies: Validation and Improvement

The size and distribution of Phytoplankton populations are indicators of the ecological status of a water body. The chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration is estimated as a proxy for the distribution of phytoplankton biomass. Remote sensing is the only practical method for the synoptic assessment of Chl-a at large spatial and temporal scales. Long-term records of ocean color data from the MODIS Aqua Sensor have proven inadequate to assess Chl-a due to the lack of a robust ocean color algorithm. Chl-a estimation in shallow and coastal water bodies has been a challenge and existing operational algorithms are only suitable for deeper water bodies. In this study, the Ocean Color 3M (OC3M) derived Chl-a concentrations were compared with observed data to assess the performance of the OC3M algorithm. Subsequently, a regression analysis between in situ Chl-a and remote sensing reflectance was performed to obtain a green-red band algorithm for coastal (case 2) water. The OC3M algorithm yielded an accurate estimate of Chl-a for deep ocean (case 1) water (RMSE = 0.007, r2 = 0.518, p \u3c 0.001), but failed to perform well in the coastal (case 2) water of Chesapeake Bay (RMSE = 23.217, r2 = 0.009, p = 0.356). The algorithm developed in this study predicted Chl-a more accurately in Chesapeake Bay (RMSE = 4.924, r2 = 0.444, p \u3c 0.001) than the OC3M algorithm. The study indicates a maximum band ratio formulation using green and red bands could improve the satellite estimation of Chl-a in coastal waters

Peptide‐Based Coacervate‐Core Vesicles with Semipermeable Membranes

Coacervates droplets have long been considered as potential protocells to mimic living cells. However, these droplets lack a membrane and are prone to coalescence, limiting their ability to survive, interact, and organize into higher-order assemblies. This work shows that tyrosine-rich peptide conjugates can undergo liquid–liquid phase separation in a well-defined pH window and transform into stable membrane-enclosed protocells by enzymatic oxidation and cross-linking at the liquid–liquid interface. The oxidation of the tyrosine-rich peptides into dityrosine creates a semipermeable, flexible membrane around the coacervates with tunable thickness, which displays strong intrinsic fluorescence, and stabilizes the coacervate protocells against coalescence. The membranes have an effective molecular weight cut-off of 2.5 kDa, as determined from the partitioning of small dyes and labeled peptides, RNA, and polymers into the membrane-enclosed coacervate protocells. Flicker spectroscopy reveals a membrane bending rigidity of only 0.1kBT, which is substantially lower than phospholipid bilayers despite a larger membrane thickness. Finally, it is shown that enzymes can be stably encapsulated inside the protocells and be supplied with substrates from outside, which opens the way for these membrane-bound compartments to be used as molecularly crowded artificial cells capable of communication or as a vehicle for drug delivery

Peptide-Based Coacervate-Core Vesicles with Semipermeable Membranes

Coacervates droplets have long been considered as potential protocells to mimic living cells. However, these droplets lack a membrane and are prone to coalescence, limiting their ability to survive, interact, and organize into higher-order assemblies. This work shows that tyrosine-rich peptide conjugates can undergo liquid–liquid phase separation in a well-defined pH window and transform into stable membrane-enclosed protocells by enzymatic oxidation and cross-linking at the liquid–liquid interface. The oxidation of the tyrosine-rich peptides into dityrosine creates a semipermeable, flexible membrane around the coacervates with tunable thickness, which displays strong intrinsic fluorescence, and stabilizes the coacervate protocells against coalescence. The membranes have an effective molecular weight cut-off of 2.5 kDa, as determined from the partitioning of small dyes and labeled peptides, RNA, and polymers into the membrane-enclosed coacervate protocells. Flicker spectroscopy reveals a membrane bending rigidity of only 0.1kBT, which is substantially lower than phospholipid bilayers despite a larger membrane thickness. Finally, it is shown that enzymes can be stably encapsulated inside the protocells and be supplied with substrates from outside, which opens the way for these membrane-bound compartments to be used as molecularly crowded artificial cells capable of communication or as a vehicle for drug delivery.publishedVersio

MicroRNA319-mediated gene regulatory network impacts leaf development and morphogenesis in poplar

MicroRNA319 (miR319) has been implicated in leaf development in a number of plant species. Here we study the roles of miR319a and its regulated network in leaf development in poplars. Over-expression of miR319a in Populus alba × Populus glandulosa caused dwarf statures, narrow leaf blades and serrated leaf margins. The vascular bundles and bundle sheaths in transgenic leaves had more layers of cells than those in the leaves of control plants, indicating enhanced lignification in these cells. Among the 93 putative targets of miR319a predicted with the psRNATarget tool, only three genes, TCP (TEOSINTE BRANCHED1, CYCLOIDEA, and PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN BINDING FACTOR), were differentially expressed in the leaves of MIR319a-over-expression transgenic lines. With the RNA-seq data sets from multiple MIR319a over-expression transgenic lines, we built a three-layered gene regulatory network mediated by miR319a using Top-down graphic Gaussian model (GGM) algorithm that is capable of capturing causal relationships from transcriptomic data. The results support that miR319a primarily regulates the lignin biosynthesis, leaf development and differentiation as well as photosynthesis via miR319-MEE35/TCP4, miR319-TCP2 and miR319-TCP2-1 regulatory modules