Charmonium Options for the X(3872)

In this paper we consider all possible 1D and 2P ccbar assignments for the recently discovered X(3872). Taking the experimental mass as input, we give numerical results for the E1 radiative widths as well as the three principal types of strong decays; open-charm, ccbar annihilation and closed-charm hadronic transitions. We find that many assignments may be immediately eliminated due to the small observed total width. The remaining viable ccbar assignments are 3D3, 3D2, 1D2, 2 3P1 and 2 1P1. A search for the mode J/psi pi0 pi0 can establish the C-parity of the X(3872), which will eliminate many of these possibilities. Radiative transitions can then be used to test the remaining assignments, as they populate characteristic final states. The 3D2 and 1D2 states are predicted to have large (ca.50%) radiative branching fractions to chi_1 gamma and h_c gamma respectively. We predict that the 3D3 will also be relatively narrow and will have a significant (ca.10%) branching fraction to chi_2 gamma, and should also be observable in B decay. Tests for non-ccbar X(3872) assignments are also discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 5 tables. typos corrected, references and discussion adde

Attenuation and Effectiveness of Triclopyr and 2,4-D Along Alaska Highway Rights-of-Way in a Continental and a Coastal Subarctic Environment

INE/AUTC 09.1

Budget Management That Counts: Recent Approaches to Budget and Fiscal Management in New Zealand

Budget management in New Zealand altered substantially with the implementation of the Public Finance Act 1989 and the Fiscal Responsibility Act 1994. The paper sets out the evolution of fiscal and budget management over the last ten years, in response to the fiscal policy and financial management framework. It focuses on the top-down management of spending aggregates and how this has evolved into the “fiscal provisions” framework. The paper concludes with an illustration of the challenges facing the provisions framework. Work is currently underway to consider the challenges that have arisen through its operation over the last five years. This paper is a companion paper to Treasury Working Paper 01/25 New Zealand’s Fiscal Policy Framework: Experience and Evolution by John Janssen.Fiscal provisions, fixed nominal baselines

Variations of Soil Qualities in Urban and Rural Areas

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variations of soil characteristics under different management practices in rural soils versus urban soils. In this study, soil samples from rural areas in Kentucky were collected from a woodland plot, a no-till plot, and a tilled plot. The soil samples from the rural were taken from two depths in order to better evaluate the effect of tillage on the soil. A shallow depth of 0-7cm and a deep depth of 7-15cm were used. Soil samples were also taken from urban plots in Memphis, TN. The sampled plots included were an animal shelter, a middle school, and a high school. The soils from the urban area were maintained for aesthetics only. In the urban area, samples were taken from the A Horizon. All the soil samples were analyzed for organic carbon, particulate organic matter, aggregate stability, pH, water holding capacity, field capacity, and macroporosity. The results show that various soil management practices and urban development significantly affect soil properties, however the magnitude of the effect differs

The Effectiveness of Two Methods of Prescribing Load on Maximal Strength Development: A Systematic Review

Background: Optimal prescription of resistance exercise load (kg) is essential for the development of maximal strength. Two methods are commonly used in practice with no clear consensus on the most effective approach for the improvement of maximal strength. Objective: The primary aim of this review was to compare the effectiveness of percentage 1RM (% 1RM) and repetition maximum targets (RM) as load prescription methods for the development of maximal strength. Methods: Electronic database searches of MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and CINAHL Complete were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies were eligible for inclusion if a direct measure of maximal strength was used, a non-training control group was a comparator, the training intervention was > 4 weeks in duration and was replicable, and participants were defined as healthy and between the ages of 18–40. Methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using a modified Downs and Black checklist. Percentage change (%) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all strength-based training groups were calculated. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was reported from each study. Results: Twenty-two studies comprising a total of 761 participants (585 males and 176 females) were found to meet the inclusion criteria. 12 studies were returned for % 1RM, with 10 for RM. All studies showed statistically significant improvements in maximal strength in the training groups (31.3 ± 21.9%; 95% CI 33.1–29.5%). The mean quality rating for all studies was 17.7 ± 2.3. Four studies achieved a good methodological rating, with the remainder classified as moderate. Conclusions: Both % 1RM and RM are effective tools for improving maximal strength. % 1RM appears to be a better prescriptive method than RM potentially due to a more sophisticated management of residual fatigue. However, large heterogeneity was present within this data. Lower body and multi-joint exercises appear to be more appropriate for developing maximal strength. Greater consensus is required in defining optimal training prescriptions, physiological adaptations, and training status

Investigating teacher perceptions of teaching ICT in Wales

Regardless of what is intended by government curriculum specifications and advised by educational experts, the ICT competencies or skills taught and learned in and out of classrooms can vary considerably. In this paper, we explore how we can investigate the perceptions that individual teachers have of ICT as a subject, and how these and other factors may influence students’ learning. We report small-scale multiple case study research which examines ICT teaching as an activity system and identifies contradictions within the teaching of ICT, highlighting issues concerning the object of the curriculum, the roles of the participants and the cultures of schools. We discuss how these contradictions may be resolved and the emerging variations in the teacher’s perceptions of ICT as a subject and their practice within the classroom. Finally we discuss how these variations may impact on future suggested changes to the curriculum in Wales for ICT and Computing, particularly how differences in perception and practice between teachers may impact on pupil experience and the development of the subject

“Is it a slow day or a go day?”: The perceptions and applications of velocity-based training within elite strength and conditioning

Velocity-based training (VBT) is a contemporary prescriptive, programming, and testing tool commonly utilised in strength and conditioning (S&C). Over recent years, there has been an influx of peer-reviewed literature investigating several different applications (e.g. load-velocity profiling, velocity loss, load manipulation, and reliability of technology) of VBT. The procedures implemented in research, however, do not always reflect the practices within applied environments. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the perceptions and applications of VBT within elite S&C to enhance contextual understanding and develop appropriate avenues of practitioner-focused research. Fourteen high-performance S&C coaches participated in semi-structured interviews to discuss their experiences of implementing VBT into their practices. Reflexive thematic analysis was adopted, following an inductive and realist approach. Three central organising themes emerged: Technology, applications, and reflections. Within these central themes, higher order themes consisting of drivers for buying technology; programming, testing, monitoring, and feedback; and benefits, drawbacks, and future uses also emerged. Practitioners reported varied drivers and applications of VBT, often being dictated by simplicity, environmental context, and personal preferences. Coaches perceived VBT to be a beneficial tool yet were cognizant of the drawbacks and challenges in certain settings. VBT is a flexible tool that can support and aid several aspects of S&C planning and delivery, with coaches valuing the impact it can have on training environments, objective prescriptions, tracking player readiness, and programme success.publishedVersio