5,380 research outputs found

    PUCM 2 Survey Results 2001-2002

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    This Report contains the results from a survey of resource management consultants and resource consent applicants carried out during 2001-2002 to gain factual and attitudinal information about the plan implementation processes of respective councils. It drew on the experiences of 277 applicants and consultants representing a diversity of stakeholders, and provided a valuable check on the quality of processes and procedures of councils with respect to plan implementation and compliance

    Views from the Ohio manufacturing index

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    An introduction to the experimental Ohio Manufacturing Index and a brief examination of the recent patterns of manufacturing growth occurring in the state.Manufactures - Ohio ; Ohio ; Economic indicators - Ohio

    Bimetallic Effects on Ethylene Polymerization in the Presence of Amines: Inhibition of the Deactivation by Lewis Bases

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    Dinickel complexes supported by terphenyl ligands appended with phenoxy and imine donors were synthesized. Full substitution of the central arene blocks rotation around the aryl–aryl bond and allows for the isolation of atropisomers. The reported complexes perform ethylene polymerization in the presence of amines. The inhibiting effect of polar additives is up to 250 times lower for the syn isomer than the anti isomer. Comparisons with mononuclear systems indicate that the proximity of the metal centers leads to the observed inhibitory effect on the deactivation of the catalysts

    The Interactive Child Distress Screener: development and preliminary feasibility testing

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    Background Early identification of child emotional and behavioral concerns is essential for the prevention of mental health problems; however, few suitable child-reported screening measures are available. Digital tools offer an exciting opportunity for obtaining clinical information from the child’s perspective. Objective The aim of this study was to describe the initial development and pilot testing of the Interactive Child Distress Screener (ICDS). The ICDS is a Web-based screening instrument for the early identification of emotional and behavioral problems in children aged between 5 and 12 years. Methods This paper utilized a mixed-methods approach to (1) develop and refine item content using an expert review process (study 1) and (2) develop and refine prototype animations and an app interface using codesign with child users (study 2). Study 1 involved an iterative process that comprised the following four steps: (1) the initial development of target constructs, (2) preliminary content validation (face validity, item importance, and suitability for animation) from an expert panel of researchers and psychologists (N=9), (3) item refinement, and (4) a follow-up validation with the same expert panel. Study 2 also comprised four steps, which are as follows: (1) the development of prototype animations, (2) the development of the app interface and a response format, (3) child interviews to determine feasibility and obtain feedback, and (4) refinement of animations and interface. Cognitive interviews were conducted with 18 children aged between 4 and 12 years who tested 3 prototype animated items. Children were asked to describe the target behavior, how well the animations captured the intended behavior, and provide suggestions for improvement. Their ability to understand the wording of instructions was also assessed, as well as the general acceptability of character and sound design. Results In study 1, a revised list of 15 constructs was generated from the first and second round of expert feedback. These were rated highly in terms of importance (mean 6.32, SD 0.42) and perceived compatibility of items (mean 6.41, SD 0.45) on a 7-point scale. In study 2, overall feedback regarding the character design and sounds was positive. Children’s ability to understand intended behaviors varied according to target items, and feedback highlighted key objectives for improvements such as adding contextual cues or improving character detail. These design changes were incorporated through an iterative process, with examples presented. Conclusions The ICDS has potential to obtain clinical information from the child’s perspective that may otherwise be overlooked. If effective, the ICDS will provide a quick, engaging, and easy-to-use screener that can be utilized in routine care settings. This project highlights the importance of involving an expert review and user codesign in the development of digital assessment tools for children

    Dinickel Bisphenoxyiminato Complexes for the Polymerization of Ethylene and α-Olefins

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    Dinuclear nickel phenoxyiminato olefin polymerization catalysts based on rigid p-terphenyl frameworks are reported. Permethylation of the central arene of the terphenyl unit and oxygen substitution of the peripheral rings ortho to the aryl–aryl linkages blocks rotation around these linkages, allowing atropisomers of the ligand to be isolated. The corresponding syn and anti dinickel complexes (25-s and 25-a) were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These frameworks limit the relative movement of the metal centers, restricting the metal–metal distance. Kinetics studies of isomerization of a ligand precursor (7-a) allowed the calculation of the activation parameters for the isomerization process (ΔH^‡ = 28.0 ± 0.4 kcal × mol^(–1) and ΔS^‡ = −12.3 ± 0.4 cal mol^(–1) K^(–1)). The reported nickel complexes are active for ethylene polymerization (TOF up to 3700 (mol C_2H_4) (mol Ni)^(−1) h^(–1)) and ethylene/α-olefin copolymerization. Only methyl branches are observed in the polymerization of ethylene, while α-olefins are incorporated without apparent chain walking. These catalysts are active in the presence of polar additives and in neat tetrahydrofuran. The syn and anti isomers differ in polymerization activity, polymer branching, and polymer molecular weight. For comparison, a series of mononuclear nickel complexes (26, 27-s, 27-a, 28, 30) was prepared and studied. The effects of structure and catalyst nuclearity on reactivity are discussed

    Epicentres [The Tetley]

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    Epicentres is a series of computer-generated images that indicate the position of earthquakes in remote locations, in this case, Alaska in winter. Tremors that are low on the Richter scale might only be sensed by seismological recording equipment rather than be felt by humans. Twenty-four of these images were collected in a softback publication, produced as part of 'The Editions', by Guerilla Writers, edited by Sharon Kivland. The research is part of a wider inquiry into the devolution of the experience of noticing external phenomena to digital sensing equipment. Here, technology pays attention to this visceral geological event so we don’t have to; data is silently gathered, quantified, and visualised, and everyday life remains uninterrupted by these events. It might be said that the sensing apparatus constructs the real through an automated mediation of it, by determining what constitutes a seismological ‘event to be noticed’. The utilitarian aesthetic qualities of these images, whose diagrammatic form reveals almost nothing about the physically unsettling affective experience they refer to, further distances the event from the realm of the subjective. Collecting the images in a book could be seen as an attempt to reclaim some humanness, or relatable materiality, from this automated sensing system, while the form of the book also invites the type of focused human attention that is often claimed to be eroded by digital technologies

    Factors Influencing Net Primary Production in Red Spruce

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    Management of forest resources, even when practiced at the scale of ecosystems, is implicitly based on managing photosynthetic acquisition of carbon by trees. This thesis examines several aspects of carbon balance at the scale of individual trees, using red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) as a model species. Age-related declines in net primary productivity have been described for many species, including red spruce. A potential explanation is that ontogenetic changes in meristems lead to lower photosynthetic rates, which was confirmed here for red spruce. A grafting study used scions from juvenile, 6Oy, and 120~ trees to demonstrate that age-related morphological and physiological trends were retained in the grafts after 3 growing seasons, providing evidence that those age-related trends are inherent in meristems. In contrast with the stomatal limitations to gas exchange indicated by research on conifers in western North America, gas exchange results from both field populations and grafted scions suggested that age-related declines in photosynthetic rates are caused by other factors in red spruce. Indirect evidence hints at feedback limitations to photosynthesis from reduced sink strength for carbohydrates in old trees. A further study evaluated the effects of temperature (T) and leaf-to-air vapor pressure deficit (VFD) on net photosynthesis in sapling red spruce. VPD responses were investigated in a field population and were found to have significant influence on stomatal conductance and photosynthesis above a threshold of 2 kPa. As VPD and T are highly correlated, a subsequent study employed growth chambers to separate their influences. Those results demonstrated that red spruce has a substantially broader T range for maximum photosynthetic rates than has been previously reported, and the effects of T and VPD are additive. These findings have implications for understanding the response of red spruce to silvicultural treatments and climate change. The relative importance of potential environmental stresses and their influence on in situ photosynthesis were tested using data collected from micrometeorological stations in three contrasting silvicultural systems and a seasonally integrative carbon gain model, VPD proved to be the most significant limiting factor, followed by T. Integrated photosynthethic carbon gain was roughly equal in clearcut and shelterwood systems, but was light-limited in selection stands
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