The Ecology of Stray Dogs: A Study of Free-Ranging Urban Animals

This readable contribution should be in the hands of any city or state agency dealing with dog problems or with public health problems. The book should also be of considerable interest to all ecologists, behaviorists, and biologists. This is a unique book in which the ecologist\u27s methods are applied to understanding and possibly solving one of our urban problems. This fascinating small monograph is the work of a man who-armed with camera, tape recorder and thermometer and driving not a Land-Rover but a used sedan-studied free-ranging dogs among the bricks of Baltimore.https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/purduepress_ebooks/1002/thumbnail.jp

Blockchain out of the Box – Where is the Blockchain in Blockchain-as-a-Service?

Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) is increasingly discussed as a way for companies to get started with blockchain projects. Different BaaS offerings are available, but a systematic categorization of what BaaS comprises is missing. In this research, we analyze the service offerings of BaaS providers based on available online information and identify a number of common characteristics in the BaaS offerings related to the use of service types, distributed ledger technology (DLT) systems, consensus mechanisms, and pricing models. These characteristics are then further analyzed in the light of available literature on BaaS, as well as conducted expert interviews. The objective of this research is to provide an overview of the BaaS landscap,e as well as a taxonomy that provides guid-ance for researchers and practitioners alike interested in BaaS

Tropical Geometry and the Motivic Nearby Fiber

We construct motivic invariants of a subvariety of an algebraic torus from its tropicalization and initial degenerations. More specifically, we introduce an invariant of a compactification of such a variety called the "tropical motivic nearby fiber." This invariant specializes in the schon case to the Hodge-Deligne polynomial of the limit mixed Hodge structure of a corresponding degeneration. We give purely combinatorial expressions for this Hodge-Deligne polynomial in the cases of schon hypersurfaces and smooth tropical varieties. We also deduce a formula for the Euler characteristic of a general fiber of the degeneration.Comment: 27 pages. Compositio Mathematica, to appea

Chiral Sulfinamide/Achiral Sulfonic Acid Cocatalyzed Enantioselective Protonation of Enol Silanes

The application of chiral sulfinamides and achiral sulfonic acids as a co-catalyst system for enantioselective protonation reactions is described. Structurally simple, easily accessible sulfinamides were found to induce moderate-to-high eeʼs in the formation of 2-aryl-substituted cycloalkanones from the corresponding trimethylsilyl enol ethers.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

Retention and dropout rates for a sample of national higher certificate students in the school of accounting

Higher Education retention rates in South Africa are among the lowest in the world. At the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, a trend has been noted for National Higher Certificate (NHC) students within the Faculty of Business and Economic Science’s School of Accounting. Dropout rates have increased and graduation rates have declined for students studying NHC programmes. Retention and dropout studies have rarely been undertaken for accounting students in higher certificate or diploma programmes, which provided the motivation for this study. The study aimed to determine the dropout and retention rates of NHC students and to identify the demographic and other characteristics of dropout students relative to those who persist with their studies. Furthermore, the study identified potential barriers to academic success in the sample. An exploratory descriptive research approach was adopted to achieve the general and specific aims of the study. Data were obtained from Management Information Services about NHC dropout students and students continuing with their studies for the period 2005 to 2009. Furthermore, information was gathered for separate samples from a Language Questionnaire and the Learning Enhancement Checklist (LEC) regarding barriers to student success. High dropout rates were found in that more than half of the students dropped out. Correspondingly, the retention rates were low. The findings for the gender, cultural and language groups were interesting but no definitive conclusions could be reached regarding trends related to student dropout and retention in relation to these biographical variables. Performance in Financial Accounting I and II yielded interesting trends. Students at risk for dropping out obtained a mark of 50 percent or less on average for Financial Accounting I and 40 percent or less for Financial Accounting II. The analysis conducted to determine barriers to student success revealed that students did not prepare adequately for lectures; experienced certain difficulties in lectures, tests and VIII exams; found it difficult to manage their studies and time; and experienced financial and psychological problems. The findings of the study can be used to identify students who might drop out at an early stage. Furthermore, the findings can guide the nature of the development and support that NHC students need to succeed. The limitations of the study are noted and suggestions are made for further research into the factors related to student dropout and retention in the field of accounting

Multilevel correlates of domain-specific physical activity among rural adults - A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Increasing physical activity (PA) in rural communities is a vital prevention tactic in multiple chronic diseases; however, little is known on the multilevel correlates of PA rural areas. A better understanding of domain-specific PA adds context for promoting PA in rural communities. The current study sought to determine factors associated with domain-specific and overall moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in rural communities. METHODS: Surveys were conducted across 14 rural mid-Western communities, with the final analytical sample including 1241 adults (ages 19-96, M = 57.0 [SD = 16.7], 67.8% female, 83.8% white). Generalized linear models with negative binomial distributions examined the relation between demographics, trail use, and perceptions of the neighborhood environment, with domain-specific and overall MVPA, measured via the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. RESULTS: Rural residents reported an average of 617 total minutes of weekly MVPA (SD = 1141), with 58.5% meeting MVPA guidelines. Higher age, female gender, and higher educated individuals had lower levels of overall and occupational MVPA. Females, higher education, and perceived indoor recreational access were associated with lower levels of transportation-related MVPA, while trail use was associated with increased transportation MVPA. Higher age and female gender respondents had lower levels of recreational MVPA, while trail users and those who perceived favorable indoor recreational access had higher levels of recreational MVPA. CONCLUSIONS: PA primarily occurred in the occupational domain among this sample of rural mid-Western adults. Findings highlight the need for multilevel interventions to address PA across multiple domains in rural communities, especially among females and older adults

A cross-sectional comparison of physical activity during COVID-19 in a sample of rural and non-rural participants in the US

Physical activity (PA) pre-COVID-19 was lower in rural areas compared to non-rural areas. The purpose of this study was to determine COVID-19\u27s impact on PA in rural and non-rural residents. A cross-sectional study consisting of a convenience sample of 278 participants (50% rural, 50% non-rural) from 25 states completed an online survey describing their PA behaviors and perceptions during COVID-19. The global physical activity questionnaire was used to determine PA in various domains and summed to determine if the participant met the PA guidelines. Rural participants had a significantly higher body mass index, lower income, and a lower educational attainment. Conversely, non-rural participants reported more barriers to PA. There was no difference in the perception of COVID-19\u27s impact on PA, specifically; however, rural participants were significantly less likely to meet cardiorespiratory PA recommendations compared to non-rural participants. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the continued disparity in PA between rural and non-rural residents, despite the supposition of COVID-19 being less impactful in rural areas due to sparse populations. Efforts should be pursued to close the PA gap between rural and non-rural residents