The Bowl Championship Series: A Mathematical Review

We discuss individual components of the college football Bowl Championship Series, compare with a simple algorithm defined by random walks on a biased graph, attempt to predict whether the proposed changes will truly lead to increased BCS bowl access for non-BCS schools, and conclude by arguing that the true problem with the BCS Standings lies not in the computer algorithms, but rather in misguided addition.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Notices of the AM

Multi-filter spectrophotometry simulations

To complement both the multi-filter observations of quasar environments described in these proceedings, as well as the proposed UBC 2.7 m Liquid Mirror Telescope (LMT) redshift survey, we have initiated a program of simulated multi-filter spectrophotometry. The goal of this work, still very much in progress, is a better quantitative assessment of the multiband technique as a viable mechanism for obtaining useful redshift and morphological class information from large scale multi-filter surveys

Solving Non-homogeneous Nested Recursions Using Trees

The solutions to certain nested recursions, such as Conolly's C(n) = C(n-C(n-1))+C(n-1-C(n-2)), with initial conditions C(1)=1, C(2)=2, have a well-established combinatorial interpretation in terms of counting leaves in an infinite binary tree. This tree-based interpretation, which has a natural generalization to a k-term nested recursion of this type, only applies to homogeneous recursions, and only solves each recursion for one set of initial conditions determined by the tree. In this paper, we extend the tree-based interpretation to solve a non-homogeneous version of the k-term recursion that includes a constant term. To do so we introduce a tree-grafting methodology that inserts copies of a finite tree into the infinite k-ary tree associated with the solution of the corresponding homogeneous k-term recursion. This technique can also be used to solve the given non-homogeneous recursion with various sets of initial conditions.Comment: 14 page

Children’s experiences of domestic violence and abuse: siblings’ accounts of relational coping

This article explores how young people see their relationships, particularly their sibling relationships, in families affected by domestic violence, and how relationality emerges in their accounts as a resource to build an agentic sense of self. The ‘voice’ of children is largely absent from domestic violence literature, which typically portrays them as passive, damaged and relationally incompetent. Children’s own understandings of their relational worlds are often overlooked, and consequently existing models of children’s social interactions give inadequate accounts of their meaning-making-in-context. Drawn from a larger study of children’s experiences of domestic violence and abuse, this paper uses two case studies of sibling relationships to explore young people’s use of relational resources, for coping with violence in the home. The paper explores how relationality and coping intertwine in young people’s accounts, and disrupts the taken for granted assumption that children’s ‘premature caring’ or ‘parentification’ is (only) pathological in children’s responses to domestic violence. This has implications for understanding young people’s experiences in the present, and supporting their capacity for relationship building in the future

Partial cloning and estimation of the Culex pipiens (SELAX strain) B2 amplicon

The mechanism of resistance towards organophosphate insecticides in Culex complex mosquitoes has been shown to be associated with amplification of the structural esterase gene. The cloned portion of the SELAX strain A2-B2 amplicon was compared to that of the B1 amplicon which had been partially characterized. Fragments of known sizes from clones were used as probes to estimate the length of the B2 amplicon in the SELAX strain of mosquitoes. The two types of clones that were isolated and designated as N4 and N6, differed from each other by their size of inserts. Both clones hybridized with the 1.8 kb A2 probe and the 1.3 kb B1 probe; revealing that both N4 and N6 clones contained A2 and B2 esterase genes. Restriction enzyme digests of the clones suggested that the cloned portion of the B2 amplicon was 16 kb

The effectiveness of the Penn Resiliency Programme (PRP) and its adapted versions in reducing depression and anxiety and improving explanatory style: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mental health promotion in schools is a key priority for national governments. The aim of this meta-aggregation is to synthesise the findings from universal, depression and/or anxiety, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and/or Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)-based, programmes implemented in schools, which are focused on reducing depression and anxiety in student populations aged 8-17 years. Electronic databases were searched for published original qualitative studies which assess students’ perceptions and experiences from participating in universal, school-based, depression and/or anxiety, prevention programmes. Extraction and synthesis of findings was assisted by NVivo qualitative data analysis software. The Joanna Briggs Institute-Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Interpretative and Critical Research was used for assessing methodological quality of the included studies. The confidence of synthesised qualitative findings (ConQual) approach was followed for assessing the confidence in the estimates of syntheses output. Five studies from Australia, Sweden, and UK met the inclusion criteria. Modification in the structure and mode of implementation of universal prevention programmes is required in order to enhance programmes’ applicability and impact. The study provides key practical recommendations to stakeholders and policy makers about the content, delivery, and implementation of school-based, universal, prevention programmes

Investigation into use of double-layer grid structures as frequency selective surfaces for buildings

A simple Double–Layer Grid plane wave filter structure is proposed that can provide multiple transmission bands for cellular phone frequencies but with a reflection band for WLAN signals. The approach offers ease of construction making it applicable to building applications. A parametric study using simulation supported by simple experimental data investigates the proposed, novel desig