Measurements of Transient Phenomena with Digital Oscilloscopes

In this paper, the effects of sampling upon rise time measurements with a digital oscilloscope are considered. In particular, the use of linear interpolation for estimating signal rise times is discussed, and its effects are analyzed for various step signals. A simple expression is derived, which accurately models the sampling and linear interpolation contributions to the overall rise time measurement error. Using these results, a correction formula is proposed, and its applicability is discussed

Kinetics of the reduction of metalloproteins by chromous ion

The reduction of Cu(330) in Rhus vernicifera laccase by chromous ion is 30% faster than reduction of Cu(614) at room temperature [pH 4.8, µ = 0.1 (NaCl)], and two parallel first-order paths, attributed to heterogeneity of the protein, are observed at both wavelengths. The reactions of stellacyanin, spinach and French-bean plastocyanins, and cytochrome c with chromous ion under similar conditions are faster than that with laccase by factors of 102 to 104, and are first order in protein concentration. Comparison of rates and activation parameters for the reduction of "blue" copper in laccase, stellacyanin, and the two plastocyanins indicates that reduction of the Cu(614) site in laccase may occur by intramolecular electron transfer from one of the Cu(330) sites. Our value of ΔH (17.4 kcal/mol) for the chromous ion reduction of cytochrome c is consistent with a mechanism in which major conformational changes in the protein must accompany electron transfer

A critical appraisal and development of assessment strategy

Factors effecting student motivation are important and must be considered if the performance of future student cohorts is to be improved. Theories regarding the interaction of ‘expectancy and value’ have been set out. Because the relationship is multiplicative it is necessary to ensure that both ‘expectancy and value’ are present within the psyche of each and every student for each and every task assigned. This work critically appraises the delivery of a level 5 module over two successive academic years and demonstrates the application of ‘expectancy-value’ theory in module improvement. A formative course work was modified to align the outcomes with the summative coursework which resulted in significantly improved student motivation due to the addition of previously lacking ‘value’. Ideas are presented for the final summative coursework which could also bring significant benefits. However, these have not yet been adopted due to the real difficulties associated with group working. Both ‘value’ and ‘expectancy’ were initially lacking from different course works and were resulting in reduced student motivation

A consultation on the proposal to exempt student loans from individual voluntary arrangements

"The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on the proposal by the Department for Employment and Learning (the Department) to bring forward legislation to exempt publicly funded student loans from Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), ensuring consistency in the treatment of student loans with that for bankruptcy." - introduction

Інноваційні резерви підвищення продуктивності інтелектуальної праці в Україні

The major macroeconomic influencing factors on development country effectiveness by innovative model have been determined in the article. By analyzing the supporting of development country by innovative model regulatory framework the weaknesses and reasons for the low level of Ukrainian innovation development have been determined. Suggested measures are aimed for the improvement of innovative situation and pave the way for the effectiveness development country by innovative model have been proposal in the article. Метою статті є визначення інноваційних факторів, що впливають на рівень розвитку інтелектуальної праці, та пошук резервів їх покращення. У статті визначено основні макроекономічні фактори, що впливають на ефективність розвитку країни за інноваційною моделлю. В основі даних факторів лежить ефективна державна політика, що ґрунтується на сильній нормативно-правовій. На основі проведеного аналізу нормативно-правової бази щодо підтримки розвитку країни за інноваційною моделлю визначено слабкі сторони та причини низького рівня інноваційного розвитку України, а також запропоновано заходи, спрямовані на оздоровлення інноваційної ситуації в крані та створення підґрунтя для ефективного розвитку країни за інноваційною моделлю. Як підсумок визначено, що в Україні створено нормативно-правове поле для ефективної реалізації інноваційного потенціалу країни, однак практичне невиконання та колізія деяких нормативних актів гальмує розвиток країни за інноваційною моделлю. Тому, запропоновані у статті заходи сприятимуть вирішенню визначених проблем

Conceptualizing gratitude and appreciation as a unitary personality trait

Gratitude and appreciation are currently measured using three self-report instruments, the GQ6 (1 scale), the Appreciation Scale (8 scales), and the GRAT (3 scales). Two studies were conducted to test how these three instruments are interrelated, whether they exist under the same higher order factor or factors, and whether gratitude and appreciation is a single or multi-factorial construct. In Study 1 (N = 206) all 12 scales were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis. Both parallel analysis and the minimum average partial method indicated a clear one-factor solution. In Study 2 (N = 389) multigroup confirmatory factor analysis supported the one-factor structure, demonstrated the invariance of this structure across gender, and ruled out the confounding effect of socially desirable responding. We conclude gratitude and appreciation are a single-factor personality trait. We suggest integration of gratitude and appreciation literatures and provide a clearer conceptualization of gratitude

Ordered samples control charts for ordinal variables

The paper presents a new method for statistical process control when ordinal variables are involved. This is the case of a quality characteristic evaluated by an ordinal scale. The method allows a statistical analysis without exploiting an arbitrary numerical conversion of scale levels and without using the traditional sample synthesis operators (sample mean and variance). It consists of a different approach based on the use of a new sample scale obtained by ordering the original variable sample space according to some specific ‘dominance criteria' fixed on the basis of the monitored process haracteristics. Samples are directly reported on the chart and no distributional shape is assumed for the population (universe) of evaluations. Finally, a practical application of the method in the health sector is provided

Popular Ensemble Methods: An Empirical Study

An ensemble consists of a set of individually trained classifiers (such as neural networks or decision trees) whose predictions are combined when classifying novel instances. Previous research has shown that an ensemble is often more accurate than any of the single classifiers in the ensemble. Bagging (Breiman, 1996c) and Boosting (Freund and Shapire, 1996; Shapire, 1990) are two relatively new but popular methods for producing ensembles. In this paper we evaluate these methods on 23 data sets using both neural networks and decision trees as our classification algorithm. Our results clearly indicate a number of conclusions. First, while Bagging is almost always more accurate than a single classifier, it is sometimes much less accurate than Boosting. On the other hand, Boosting can create ensembles that are less accurate than a single classifier -- especially when using neural networks. Analysis indicates that the performance of the Boosting methods is dependent on the characteristics of the data set being examined. In fact, further results show that Boosting ensembles may overfit noisy data sets, thus decreasing its performance. Finally, consistent with previous studies, our work suggests that most of the gain in an ensemble's performance comes in the first few classifiers combined; however, relatively large gains can be seen up to 25 classifiers when Boosting decision trees

Non-uniqueness results for entropy two-phase solutions of forward-backward parabolic problems with unstable phase

This paper study the well--posedness of the entropy formulation given by Plotnikov in [{Differential Equations}, 30 (1994), pp. 614--622] for forward-backward parabolic problem obtained as singular limit of a proper pseudoparabolic approximation. It was proved in [C. Mascia, A. Terracina, and A. Tesei, {Arch.\ Ration.\ Mech.\ Anal.}, 194 (2009), pp. 887--925] that such formulation gives uniqueness when the solution takes values in the stable phases. Here we consider the situation in which unstable phase is taken in account, proving that, in general, uniqueness does not hold