Students’ Perceptions of the Barriers to and Benefits From Service-Learning

With the increased use ofservice-learning (SL) experiences across disciplines, researchers have considered challenges and benefits for various stakeholdersto the use of SL as a pedagogical strategy in the classroom. Primarily, the challenges have been framed from the faculty’s perspective, and the benefits measured have been for undergraduate students. We address the gap in the literature by examining student perceptions of both barriers and benefits in a graduate program. Our results indicate that perceptions of benefits and barriers vary by a few student characteristics, but after participating in the SL experience, all students rated both benefits and barriers as less likely. From these results, we offer recommendations to improve SL experiences, especially at the graduate level

Performance Models for Split-execution Computing Systems

Split-execution computing leverages the capabilities of multiple computational models to solve problems, but splitting program execution across different computational models incurs costs associated with the translation between domains. We analyze the performance of a split-execution computing system developed from conventional and quantum processing units (QPUs) by using behavioral models that track resource usage. We focus on asymmetric processing models built using conventional CPUs and a family of special-purpose QPUs that employ quantum computing principles. Our performance models account for the translation of a classical optimization problem into the physical representation required by the quantum processor while also accounting for hardware limitations and conventional processor speed and memory. We conclude that the bottleneck in this split-execution computing system lies at the quantum-classical interface and that the primary time cost is independent of quantum processor behavior.Comment: Presented at 18th Workshop on Advances in Parallel and Distributed Computational Models [APDCM2016] on 23 May 2016; 10 page

Participation of Women for the Development of Civil Society: A Study among Women Representatives in Local Governance

Political Participation and grass root democracy have been strengthened considerably by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments that have created new democratic institutions for local governance by giving the opportunity to women in the local administration. Indian Government raised reservation for women in all tiers of the panchayat raj system from 33 to 50 percent. An elected women representative needs the requisite social space in order to effect and experience the changes that she desires. The involvement of women in the development process is not merely a matter of equality but a necessity too. This study attempted to assess the involvement of women representatives to the development of weaker sections of society, especially women and children. This study was conducted in village panchayats under Cherpu and Ollukkara blocks in Thrissur district. Simple random sampling technique was adopted for selecting the sample of fifty elected women representatives and data collected through structured Questionnaire Method

Increased alpha 1(I) procollagen gene expression in tight skin (TSK) mice myocardial fibroblasts is due to a reduced interaction of a negative regulatory sequence with AP-1 transcription factor.

The TSK mouse, a model of fibrosis, displays exaggerated connective tissue accumulation in skin and visceral organs including the heart. To study the mechanisms of myocardial fibrosis in TSK mice, we established several strains of TSK mice myocardial fibroblasts in culture and examined the regulation of collagen gene expression in these cells. These strains displayed increased collagen gene expression in comparison with myocardial fibroblasts established from normal mice. On an average, the TSK myocardial fibroblast cultures showed a 4-fold increase in collagen synthesis and 4.4- and 3.6-fold increases, respectively, in alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) collagen mRNA steady state levels. The increased alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) collagen mRNA levels were mainly due to increased transcription rates (3.4- and 3.8-fold higher, respectively) of the respective genes. Furthermore, we showed that the up-regulation of alpha 1(I) procollagen gene transcription in TSK mice myocardial fibroblasts was due to the lack of the strong inhibitory influence of a regulatory sequence contained in the promoter region encompassing nucleotides -675 to -804. Nuclear extracts from TSK mice myocardial fibroblasts showed lower DNA binding activity to oligonucleotides spanning the mapped regulatory sequence as well as to a consensus AP-1 sequence, but not to a consensus SP-1 sequence, and supershift experiments with an AP-1 antibody confirmed the interaction of these oligonucleotides with AP-1 protein. These observations indicate that a strong negative regulatory sequence contained within -0.675 to -0.804 kilobase of the alpha 1(I) procollagen promoter binds AP-1 transcription factor and mediates inhibition of gene transcription in normal murine myocardial fibroblasts. The TSK mice myocardial fibroblasts lack this inhibitory control, due to lower available amounts and/or decreased binding activity to this inhibitory sequence, and hence display increased alpha 1(I) procollagen gene expression

Selective Breeding to Improve Productive and Reproductive Performances and Survivability of Indigenous Sakini Chicken

Indigenous chickens are quite popular in Family Poultry Production System (FPPS) in Nepal, but are constrained with their low productive performance. The present study evaluated the productive and reproductive performance of Sakini chicken in different filial generations and sexes. In addition, research also aimed at understanding the effect of generations on above performances. Initially, base populations (G-0) of Sakini were maintained by collecting eight weeks old birds from different agro-ecologial zones of Nepal. Performance of the birds of G-0 was evaluated based on weekly body weight (12-24 weeks), laying performance, fertility, hatchability, hatch weight and survivability. Selected birds of base population (G-0) were used to produce first (G-1), second (G-2) and third (G-3) generations through selective breeding in each generation. Similarly, body weights at hatching, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 week and 24 weeks were significantly (p<0.001) improved from G0 to G3 and were also significantly (p<0.001) differ for sex (males were always heavier than females). Likewise, there was significant (p<0.05) improvement in egg production (per hen per year), age at first lay (days), body weight at sexual maturity, egg number and egg weight at 90 days of laying in progressive generations. Fertility, hatchability and survivability significantly (p<0.05) improved in selected generations in comparison to base population, whereas, no significant difference was obtained within the different selected population. Thus, indigenous Sakini chicken under this experiment performed better with respect to survivability, fertility and hatchability in later generations that provides ample scope of advancing selective breeding activities within the indigenous population in order to bring significant improvement in the overall productive performance of Sakini chicken in Nepal

Histopathological spectrum of salivary gland lesions in Ajmer region, Rajasthan, India

Background: There is a wide spectrum of salivary gland lesions with morphological and clinical diversity which makes it a difficult task for histopathological interpretation. Tumours of salivary glands are uncommon accounting for 3-10% of the total tumors of head and neck region and less than one percent of all tumours. The aim of this study was to recognize various histomorphological patterns of salivary gland lesions, their frequency, age, gender and site wise distribution.Methods: This study was carried out from June 2015 to May 2018 in the department of Pathology, JLN Medical College and associated Group of Hospitals, Ajmer. Total 121 cases of salivary gland lesions were included. Specimens were processed and stained by Hematoxylin and Eosin stain followed by histopathological examination.Results: Out of total 121 cases, 43.8% were non-neoplastic and 56.2% were neoplastic. In non-neoplastic lesions predominant was chronic sialadenitis (50.9%) followed by mucocele (28.3%) which commonly seen in submandibular gland (47.17%). Among neoplastic cases, 79.4% were benign and 20.6% were malignant lesions. Neoplastic lesions commonly were seen in parotid (75%). Pleomorphic adenoma was the commonest benign tumour (81.4%). Mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most common malignant salivary tumour. Benign tumours were common in third and fourth decades, whereas malignant tumours were more common in fifth and sixth decades. Male predominance was seen in overall salivary gland lesions.Conclusions: Histopathological examination is mandatory in the diagnosis of salivary gland lesions because of their wide spectrum of histomorphology

Microbial populations associated with fixed- and floating-bed reactors during a two-stage anaerobic process

Microbial populations associated with methanogenic fixed- or floating-bed bioreactors used for anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic waste were investigated. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to characterize microorganisms in samples obtained from different heights in the reactors, which were operated in a semi-continuous manner (feeding and mixing once every 2 days). The FISH results showed that Methanosaeta concilii cells were most numerous at the bottom of both reactors. M. concilii cells were more abundant in the fixed-bed reactor (FXBR), which performed better than the floating-bed reactor (FLBR). Species of the Methanosarcina genera (mainly M. barkeri and M. mazei) were also observed in the FLBR but rarely in the FXBR. Methane production in each of the reactors ranged from 0.29 to 0.33 m3 CH4/kgCODrem (chemical oxygen demand removed). The removal of volatile fatty acids (VFA; 70–75 h) in the FXBR was more efficient than in the FLBR. [Int Microbiol 2007; 10(4):245-251

Analysis of Direct Torque Control using Space Vector Modulation for Three Phase Induction Motor

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the suitability of a Direct Torque Control of three phase Induction motor. It is considered as an alternative to the field oriented control (FOC) or vector control technique. They aim to control effectively the torque and flux. Direct Torque Control (DTC) uses an induction motor model to predict the voltage required to achieve a desired output torque. By using only current and voltage measurements, it is possible to estimate the instantaneous stator flux and output torque. An induction motor model is then used to predict the voltage required to drive the flux and torque to the demanded values within a fixed time period. This calculated voltage is then synthesized using Space Vector Modulation (SVM). Torque control of an induction machine based on DTC strategy has been developed and a comprehensive study is described. The performance of this control method has been demonstrated by simulations performed using a versatile simulation package, Matlab

Probing the Dark Dimension with Auger data

[Abridged] By combining swampland conjectures with observational data, it was recently noted that our universe could stretch off in an asymptotic region of the string landscape of vacua. In this framework, the cosmological hierarchy problem can be resolved by the addition of one mesoscopic (dark) dimension of size $\sim \lambda \, \Lambda^{-1/4} \sim 1~\mu{\rm m}$. The Planck scale of the higher dimensional theory, $M_{\rm UV} \sim \lambda^{-1/3} \Lambda^{1/12} M_{\rm Pl}^{2/3} \sim 10^{10}~{\rm GeV}$, is tantalizingly close to the energy above which the TA and Auger collaborations found conclusive evidence for a sharp cutoff of the flux of UHECRs. It was recently suggested that since physics becomes strongly coupled to gravity beyond $M_{\rm UV}$, universal features deep-rooted in the dark dimension could control the energy cutoff of the source spectra. Conversely, in the absence of phenomena inborn within the dark dimension, we would expect a high variance of the cosmic ray maximum energy characterizing the source spectra, reflecting the many different properties inherent to the most commonly assumed UHECR accelerators. A recent analysis of Auger and TA data exposed strong evidence for a correlation between UHECRs and nearby starburst galaxies, with a global significance post-trial of $4.7\sigma$. Since these galaxies are in our cosmic backyard, the flux attenuation factor due to cosmic ray interactions en route to Earth turns out to be negligible. This implies that for each source, the shape of the observed spectrum should roughly match the emission spectrum, providing a unique testing ground for the dark dimension hypothesis. Using Auger data, we carry out a maximum likelihood analysis to characterize the shape of the UHECR emission from the galaxies dominating the anisotropy signal. We show that the observed spectra could be universal only if $\lambda \lesssim 10^{-3}$.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure