Detecting Bee Hive Behavioral Changes Through Frequency And Signal Analysis Of Audio Files

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are among the most important organisms in the world. The pollination they provide is crucial to the survival of many economically-significant plants, but since the late 1990s, beekeepers around the world have reported significant declines in domestic honey bee populations. In response, researchers have developed new methods of analysis to track the health of their hives, and one such method involves analyzing the sounds produced by a colony. Honey bees communicate through sound signals that occur within specific frequency ranges and signify different behaviors, and by determining the signals that are being produced, the behavior of a colony can be better understood. As a part of this research, software was developed to plot the spectra of audio recordings from domestic hives. For each individual audio recording analyzed, the software computed the average magnitude throughout multiple frequency ranges along with the change in average magnitude between specific frequency ranges and exported this data to a spreadsheet for further analysis. These values were used individually and together to quickly identify audio recordings that stood out from a quantitative perspective, and these recordings were then individually analyzed in order to locate instances of strange honey bee behavior

The development and validation of the leadership versatility index for students (LVI-S)

Directed by Dr. James M. Benshoff and Dr. Craig S. Cashwell pp. 350 According to Bass' (1990) summary of fifty years of research and nearly thirty dichotomy-based theories, leaders influence people through autocratic use of power (task-oriented) or through democratic use of power (people-oriented). Each style produces unique tensions and tradeoffs, but versatile leaders can incorporate strategies from both sides of the dichotomy, depending on situational needs (Kaplan, 1996). Versatile leaders avoid overusing strengths to the point of weakness--a frequently overlooked leadership flaw (Kaplan & Kaiser, 2006). The versatile leader concept shares much with synergistic supervision, a student affairs supervision model (Winston & Creamer, 1997; 1998). Synergistic supervisors blend strengths from autocratic and democratic approaches, creating synergistic relationships with those they lead (Winston & Creamer, 1997; 1998). Synergy and versatility may be considered different sides of the same coin. Until the Leadership Versatility Index--Student (LVI-S), no quantitative, multi-rater measure of leadership versatility was available for campus leaders. The LVI-S was derived from the executive-focused Leadership Versatility Index® (Kaplan and Kaiser, 2006). Participants were recruited from departments of housing and residence life across seven institutions in the Southeastern United States, including staff from small private colleges through large public universities. Resident Advisor supervisees (n = 262) rated leadership characteristics of their Hall Directors (n = 52); the study averaged 4.9 raters-per-leader. Convergent validity was tested using the Student Leadership Practices Inventory© (SLPI) (Kouzes & Posner, 2003); predictive validity was tested through a global effectiveness measure derived from Tsui's (1984) effectiveness research. LVI-S scale alphas exceeded .80 and scales offered compelling evidence of convergent and predictive validity. A strong predictive relationship was found between versatility and effectiveness (R = .60, Adj. R = .31, F = 7.72, p < .01). Results validated the LVI-S for use in residence life settings and validated behavioral aspects of synergistic supervision. Applications for the LVI-S were discussed as well as avenues for future research

The development and evaluation of selected instructional materials for teaching percussion instruments in the beginning band class

The purposes of the study were to investigate the current status of beginning percussionists in selected schools in Eastern North Carolina; to develop a book which would supplement the beginning snare drum method often found in the public schools; and to examine experimentally the effect of: 1) this book, 2) piano background, 3) the student's sex, and 4) instrument grouping on the musical development of these beginning percussionists. Documentation indicates the need for a supplementary book to parallel the basic drum method book used in the beginning band class. From the beginning, this book should call for a variety of commonly used percussion instruments and a variety of techniques for playing them. Through the use of such a supplemental book, young drummers may better prepare to play the band and orchestra literature and the growing body of percussion ensemble materials. The book Flexible Percussion Ensembles was written by the author to meet these needs of the beginning percussionist

The morphological effects of infant- and adult-onset monocular paralysis on cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus

This experiment has investigated the morphological effects of infant- and adult-onset monocular paralysis on cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). For comparison, normal adult cats were also studied. These conditions permitted an assessment of the importance of age of onset in the response of the LGN to monocular paralysis. In the cats monocularly paralyzed as adults, cells were found to be smaller throughout much of the binocular segment of the laminae innervated by the paralyzed eye. This pattern of results was comparable to that seen after infant-onset monocular visual deprivation. The effects of rearing cats with monocular deprivation, however, had been attributed to a putatively developmental mechanism. To the extent that the pattern of effects defines the causal mechanism, one must conclude that the mechanism posited to account for the consequences of infant-onset monocular deprivation is not simply a developmental process

Reducible Configurations and So On: The Final Years of the Four Color Theorem

The Four Color Theorem is in a set of mathematical questions that are very simple to state but amazingly complex to answer. It goes as follows, "given any map, are any more than 4 colors required to color the map in such a way that no two areas which share a border also share a color?"(2). It was thought to be proven by Alfred Kempe for nearly a decade using a unique but unsuccessful process later referred to as Kempe chains. It wasn't until 1913, with George Birkhoff's treatment of reducibility, was true progress from the "proof" of Kempe to be made. From here, Heinrich Heesch explored reducibility with an improvement on the established A, B, and C-reducibilities, finding something algorithmically sound in D-reducibility and his subsequent discharging methods. Then Karl Durre introduced the first, somewhat rudimentary, computer program of D-reducibility. From here the extensive use of the super computers of the era helped seal the fate of the long unfinished theorem, with Wolfgang Haken and Kenneth Appel at the helm. We seek to examine the history of this theorem from the proof of Kempe to the utilization of reducible configurations and discharging methods of Durre and Heesch and into the eventual proof of the theorem itself

Development of the French drama of the eighteenth century

The dramatic literature of the seventeenth century was characterized by the psychological study of man from either the tragic or the comic point of view; of man taken as a psychological unit and considered only in the permanent manifestations of the soul and therefore universal; of man to the exclusion of anything that was not a study of character, that is to say, man in relation to professions and social conditions. Tragedy and comedy were rigorously kept apart, each in its own particular object of study. Thus Corneille had specialized in questions of honor, patriotism and religion; Racine, in problem of love; Molière, although bringing on the stage a collection of bourgeois and servants, taken from the middle class, because one could not laugh at kings or the nobility, made fun of vices which are quite universal and eternal

ANALISA PEMBAGIAN BEBAN PADA INSTALASI LISTRIK TIGA PHASA KAPAL PENANGKAP IKAN STUDI KASUS PADA KM. SUMBER REZEKI

Energi listrik saat ini telah menjelma menjadi kebutuhan pokok bagi para penggunanya. Dalam suatu kapal penangkap ikan, energi listrik selain dibutuhkan dalam kegiatan navigasi juga dibutuhkan sebagai alat bantu dalam proses penangkapan ikan dimana dalam proses  penangkapan ikan tersebut menggunakan lampu sorot atau flood light untuk memancing kehadiran ikan tangkapan mendekati kapal. Pada umumnya system instalasi listrik tiga phasa dapat dikatakan baik bila system pembagian beban pada system tersebut seimbang. Penelitian ini memiliki tujuan untuk mencari nilai presentase ketidakseimbangan arus listrik pada instalasi listrik tiga phasa pada kapal penangkap ikan KM. Sumber Rezeki. Selain itu penelitian ini juga memiliki tujuan untuk mencari nilai rata-rata presentase pembebanan arus listrik pada setiap phasa pada generator tersebut dan juga mencari nilai efisiensi generator pada KM. Sumber Rezeki. Dari hasil perhitungan didapatkan bahwa presentase ketidakseimbangan instalasi listrik tiga phasa KM. Sumber Rezeki pada saat generator beroperasi maksimal berada pada angka 6,5%. Dari hasil perhitungan juga didapatkan bahwa rata-rata presentase pembebanan pada generator listrik KM. Maradona adalah senilai 68,6% dengan nilai arus rata-rata sebesar 68 Ampere. Berbanding lurus dengan nilai arus rata-rata, nilai daya semu rata-rata KM. Sumber Rezeki berada pada angka 45,5 kVA dengan rata-rata nilai efisiensi generator sebesar 70,06%

Content analysis of Advance Directives completed by patients with advanced cancer as part of an Advance Care Planning intervention : insights gained from the ACTION trial

Purpose Writing an Advance Directive (AD) is often seen as a part of Advance Care Planning (ACP). ADs may include specific preferences regarding future care and treatment and information that provides a context for healthcare professionals and relatives in case they have to make decisions for the patient. The aim of this study was to get insight into the content of ADs as completed by patients with advanced cancer who participated in ACP conversations. Methods A mixed methods study involving content analysis and descriptive statistics was used to describe the content of completed My Preferences forms, an AD used in the intervention arm of the ACTION trial, testing the effectiveness of the ACTION Respecting Choices ACP intervention. Results In total, 33% of 442 patients who received the ACTION RC ACP intervention completed a My Preferences form. Document completion varied per country: 10.4% (United Kingdom), 20.6% (Denmark), 29.2% (Belgium), 41.7% (the Netherlands), 61.3% (Italy) and 63.9% (Slovenia). Content analysis showed that 'maintaining normal life' and 'experiencing meaningful relationships' were important for patients to live well. Fears and worries mainly concerned disease progression, pain or becoming dependent. Patients hoped for prolongation of life and to be looked after by healthcare professionals. Most patients preferred to be resuscitated and 44% of the patients expressed maximizing comfort as their goal of future care. Most patients preferred 'home' as final place of care. Conclusions My Preferences forms provide some insights into patients' perspectives and preferences. However, understanding the reasoning behind preferences requires conversations with patients

Socially sensitive lactation: Exploring the social context of breastfeeding

Many women report difficulties with breastfeeding and do not maintain the practice for as long as intended. Although psychologists and other researchers have explored some of the difficulties they experience, fuller exploration of the relational contexts in which breastfeeding takes place is warranted to enable more in-depth analysis of the challenges these pose for breastfeeding women. The present paper is based on qualitative data collected from 22 first-time breastfeeding mothers through two phases of interviews and audio-diaries which explored how the participants experienced their relationships with significant others and the wider social context of breastfeeding in the first five weeks postpartum. Using a thematic analysis informed by symbolic interactionism, we develop the overarching theme of ‘Practising socially sensitive lactation’ which captures how participants felt the need to manage tensions between breastfeeding and their perceptions of the needs, expectations and comfort of others. We argue that breastfeeding remains a problematic social act, despite its agreed importance for child health. Whilst acknowledging the limitations of our sample and analytic approach, we suggest ways in which perinatal and public health interventions can take more effective account of the social challenges of breastfeeding in order to facilitate the health and psychological well-being of mothers and their infants

Clinical pharmacokinetic assessment of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), a botanical product with opioid-like effects, in healthy adult participants

Increasing use of the botanical kratom to self-manage opioid withdrawal and pain has led to increased kratom-linked overdose deaths. Despite these serious safety concerns, rigorous fundamental pharmacokinetic knowledge of kratom in humans remains lacking. We assessed the pharmacokinetics of a single low dose (2 g) of a well-characterized kratom product administered orally to six healthy participants. Median concentration-time profiles for the kratom alkaloids examined were best described by a two-compartment model with central elimination. Pronounced pharmacokinetic differences between alkaloids with the 3S configuration (mitragynine, speciogynine, paynantheine) and alkaloids with the 3R configuration (mitraciliatine, speciociliatine, isopaynantheine) were attributed to differences in apparent intercompartmental distribution clearance, volumes of distribution, and clearance. Based on noncompartmental analysis of individual concentration-time profiles, the 3S alkaloids exhibited a shorter median time to maximum concentration (1–2 vs. 2.5–4.5 h), lower area under the plasma concentration-time curve (430–490 vs. 794–5120 nM × h), longer terminal half-life (24–45 vs. ~12–18 h), and higher apparent volume of distribution during the terminal phase (960–12,700 vs. ~46–130 L) compared to the 3R alkaloids. Follow-up mechanistic in vitro studies suggested differential hepatic/intestinal metabolism, plasma protein binding, blood-to-plasma partitioning, and/or distribution coefficients may explain the pharmacokinetic differences between the two alkaloid types. This first comprehensive pharmacokinetic characterization of kratom alkaloids in humans provides the foundation for further research to establish safety and effectiveness of this emerging botanical product