Energy consumption and cooperation for optimal sensing

The reliable detection of environmental molecules in the presence of noise is an important cellular function, yet the underlying computational mechanisms are not well understood. We introduce a model of two interacting sensors which allows for the principled exploration of signal statistics, cooperation strategies and the role of energy consumption in optimal sensing, quantified through the mutual information between the signal and the sensors. Here we report that in general the optimal sensing strategy depends both on the noise level and the statistics of the signals. For joint, correlated signals, energy consuming (nonequilibrium), asymmetric couplings result in maximum information gain in the low-noise, high-signal-correlation limit. Surprisingly we also find that energy consumption is not always required for optimal sensing. We generalise our model to incorporate time integration of the sensor state by a population of readout molecules, and demonstrate that sensor interaction and energy consumption remain important for optimal sensing.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, Forthcoming in Nature Communication

RECONSTRUCTION ON DEVELOPING TEACHER CREATIVITY THROUGH TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

This study aims to find, analyze, and describe information about internal and external factors that contribute to teacher creativity development, alternative strategies that can be determined, and priority strategies that can be applied in teacher creativity development at Senior High School. This research a field research using descriptive-analytic method. Data obtained from observation, literature study, key informants, and experts involved in teacher creativity development at Senior High School. The result of this study indicates three things. First, the internal factors are having an interesting and inspiring vision, but it is inadequate in the availability of infrastructure. External factors are the government's commitment but need to accommodate the increasing demands and expectations of the community towards improving teacher competence. Second, alternative strategies for developing teacher creativity are implementing integration strategies. Third, priority strategies are teacher empowerment-based development blueprints, program synchronization through partnership, enhancing cooperation and partnerships to increase principal managerial competencies and skills, as well as the fulfillment of teachers' facilities and needs

Pushing architectural quality further

In this paper, the intentions thriving the implementation of computational modeling of building physics as it is approached in the Architectural engineering courses at Ghent University are discussed. During the bachelor degree, courses focus mainly on integration of basic building physics feasibility in the architectural conceptualization. During the final bachelor year, students program their own simplified 2D models for internal condensation and thermal bridges in a spreadsheet, based on realistic detailing from buildings they studied in other courses. These models are intentionally kept both simplified and strongly mathematically based to nurture thorough comprehension of the physical background of problematic design options. Additionally, evaluation of energy performance with official EPB-software is incorporated in the courses because of its high relevance as a legal benchmark. All these models, including EPB, are (semi)static and thus offer only limited but nevertheless useful information on physical, legal, hygienic… viability of different options at reasonable complexity. Furthermore, they induce basic modeling skills as a basis for further development. During the master’s degree, the focus shifts from taxation of the feasibility of design decisions towards energetic performance as one of the starting points and validation criteria of the design process. For students who wish to specialize in the matter, elective courses and master’s thesis projects on optimization, innovative techniques, passive building standards etc. are offered in which advanced dynamic modeling is used. These models offer an important input for this specific design process as they enable precise, nuanced validation of the robustness and sensitivity for certain parameters of different strategies in a given, very complex, situation. By developing both innovative, more precise models for the master classes besides more powerful integration of modeling with design software (BIM) and robust predesign templates for the bachelor courses with master’s student cooperation, the research team supports these courses in achieving output of the highest possible quality

Exploration on the Internationalization of Basic Education From the Perspective of Globalization

Globalization is a factor which is objective and an orientation in the process of world development, in which the internationalization of education has become the trend of the times.Besides, the economic development, which is fast and the highly developed information and deeply knowledge in the current era have made the internationalization of basic education an important direction for future development and an important reference for realizing educational cooperation, exchange and sharing. In the view of globalization and the situation of continuous collision, interchange and integration of education stick to the tide of internationalization of education, contraposing the internationalization of basic education putting forward specific strategies to standardize, guide the internationalization of basic education over the long haul to provide referable suggestions

CUSTOMER PREFERENCES FOR MICHIGAN APPLES: A CASE EXAMPLE OF A MARKET RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR A COMMODITY INDUSTRY

A series of market-research studies on Michigan apples are discussed in this paper. They provide a case example of a continuing program of market research to aid this industry. These include studies on changing preferences, needs, perceptions, practices and buying behavior for major customer segments of this industry, including consumers and grocery retailers, as well as mid-chain customer segments such as shippers and processors. While this market research program includes several component studies, the overall integration of the information from the various component studies is especially important for the development of the industry's marketing strategies. The component studies which comprise the overall market research program to date include the following interrelated phases: 1. An initial survey of apple shippers as key mid-chain firms - emphasizing overview information on customer needs and preferences as well as priorities for needed market research information. 2. A consumer focus group study. 3. A large-sample consumer telephone survey on consumer preferences, behavior and attitudes. 4. Consumer taste tests emphasizing fruit firmness and taste. 5. Consumer visual test regarding purchase preferences for fruit size and color. 6. A survey of consumers using an in-store taste and sampling program. 7. A follow-up survey of shippers that concentrated on apple varieties preferred for current and future markets. 8. A similar survey of apple processors on apple varieties preferred for processed apple markets. 9. A survey of grocery trade customers on their needs and preferences for fresh apples. 10. Integrative analyses comparing and contrasting preference information obtained from the studies listed in 1-9. The market research was done as part of broad-scope industry efforts to analyze, target and develop major strategic directions intended to position the industry for high performance and success in the future. These identified strategic directions have the goal of improving the industry's overall performance, including effectively meeting the needs of their consumer and trade customers in order to improve industry's competitiveness and economic viability. The specific types of information, priority questions and customer targets for each of the component market-research studies were developed in close cooperation with industry leaders and major industry organizations such as the industry's generic promotional commission. The industry has used the information from these market-research studies to develop their evolving strategies to most effectively serve their customer needs and hence to compete in the changing markets for their industry.Consumer/Household Economics,

Model Management for Quality of Service Support

Quality of Service (QoS) management strategies have been first introduced in distributed multimedia systems to decide whether and controlling how multimedia streams can be delivered to the user within the given delay, cost or quality constraints. With the recent advances in the development of large-scale distributed applications where different services are provided to a large number of users, QoS management becomes and end-to-end functionality requiring the cooperation of all the system components. That leads to consider system components interoperability, management information integration and distributed execution of QoS activities. In this paper we examine modelling and meta-modelling issues for QoS management. More specifically we propose a meta-model for QoS management and we illustrate how such a meta-model is used for mapping QoS requirements to system constraints

Engaging Universities in the Regional Integration Project in Southern Africa

The aim of this paper is to explore the potential for engaging universities in promoting greater regional integration in the southern African region, with the intention of prompting further conversation and debate around the role of universities in supporting regional initiatives

Regional health governance: a comparative perspective on EU and ASEAN. EU Centre in Singapore Policy Brief No. 4, June 2012

Globalisation has led to new health challenges for the 21st Century. These challenges have transnational implications and involve a large range of actors and stakeholders. National governments no longer hold the sole responsibility for the health of their people. These changes in health trends have led to the rise of Global Health Governance as a theoretical notion for health policy-making. The Southeast Asian region is particularly prone to public health threats and it is for this reason that this brief looks at the potential of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a regional organisation to take a lead in health cooperation. Through a comparative study between the regional mechanisms for health cooperation of the European Union (EU) and ASEAN, we look at how ASEAN could maximise its potential as a global health actor. Regional institutions and a network of civil society organisations are crucial in relaying global initiatives for health, and ensuring their effective implementation at the national level. While the EU benefits from higher degrees of integration and involvement in the sector of health policy making, ASEAN’s role as a regional body for health governance will depend both on greater horizontal and vertical regional integration through enhanced regional mechanisms and a wider matrix of cooperation