Implications of territory size for the measurement and prediction of salmonid abundance in streams

Information about territory size is useful for both the measurement and prediction of salmonid abundance. Percent habitat saturation (PHS), the percentage of the stream area occupied by the territories of salmonid fishes, is a better measure of abundance than population density because the former integrates the effects of (a) several age-classes or species in a stream, and (b) variation in growth rate or sampling date. "Effective density" or "effective PHS," calculated by weighting crude density (no.·m-2) or PHS by the number of organisms in the sampling unit, more accurately reflects density from the organism's point of view than does crude density or PHS. Effective density and PHS of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Catamaran Brook, New Brunswick, increased by 0.4 fish per m2 and 4%, respectively, for each order of magnitude decrease in the area of the sampling unit. Literature data suggested that territory size is inversely related to food abundance and can be used to predict changes in salmonid abundance that accompany changes in food abundance. The allometry of territory size was a better predictor of the decline in density of a cohort of Atlantic salmon in Catamaran Brook than the allometry of metabolic requirements

Mathematical practice, crowdsourcing, and social machines

The highest level of mathematics has traditionally been seen as a solitary endeavour, to produce a proof for review and acceptance by research peers. Mathematics is now at a remarkable inflexion point, with new technology radically extending the power and limits of individuals. Crowdsourcing pulls together diverse experts to solve problems; symbolic computation tackles huge routine calculations; and computers check proofs too long and complicated for humans to comprehend. Mathematical practice is an emerging interdisciplinary field which draws on philosophy and social science to understand how mathematics is produced. Online mathematical activity provides a novel and rich source of data for empirical investigation of mathematical practice - for example the community question answering system {\it mathoverflow} contains around 40,000 mathematical conversations, and {\it polymath} collaborations provide transcripts of the process of discovering proofs. Our preliminary investigations have demonstrated the importance of "soft" aspects such as analogy and creativity, alongside deduction and proof, in the production of mathematics, and have given us new ways to think about the roles of people and machines in creating new mathematical knowledge. We discuss further investigation of these resources and what it might reveal. Crowdsourced mathematical activity is an example of a "social machine", a new paradigm, identified by Berners-Lee, for viewing a combination of people and computers as a single problem-solving entity, and the subject of major international research endeavours. We outline a future research agenda for mathematics social machines, a combination of people, computers, and mathematical archives to create and apply mathematics, with the potential to change the way people do mathematics, and to transform the reach, pace, and impact of mathematics research.Comment: To appear, Springer LNCS, Proceedings of Conferences on Intelligent Computer Mathematics, CICM 2013, July 2013 Bath, U

Extension and Replacement of Asphalt Cement with Sulfur - Executive Summary

DOT-FH-11-8799The potential shortage of asphalt cement and oversupply of sulfur make it advantageous to reduce to dependence of the paving industry upon asphalt cement while utilizing readily available sulfur. This report presents the results of an investigation of the use of elemental sulfur as a partial replacement and/or extender of asphalt cement in highway paving mixtures. Physical properties of numerous combinations of sulfur-asphalt emulsions were determined. Various aggregates, asphalt cements, and sulfur were tested in a series of laboratory screening tests utilizing nine independent design variables. Characterization tests were performed on selected combinations of aggregate, asphalt and sulfur utilizing three different mixing methods. The resulting relationships between response characteristics, mixture compositions, and design variables were programmed into the Texas FPS-BISTRO and VESYS IIM design programs. Texas FPS-BISTRO screened a number of design combinations to find the optimum combinations. VESYS IIM was used to evaluate performance of selected optimum pavements. The studies indicate that the addition of sulfur to asphaltic concrete can produce pavements which are more economical with performance characteristics equal or superior to conventional asphaltic concrete pavements

Opportunities and challenges of China’s inquiry-based education reform in middle and high schools: Perspectives of science teachers and teacher educators

Consistent with international trends, an emergent interest in inquiry-based science teaching and learning in K-12 schools is also occurring in China. This study investigates the possibilities for and the barriers to enactment of inquiry-based science education in Chinese schools. Altogether 220 Chinese science teachers, science teacher educators and researchers (primarily from the field of chemistry education) participated in this study in August 2001. Participants represented 13 cities and provinces in China. We administered two questionnaires, one preceding and one following a 3-hour presentation by a US science educator and researcher about inquiry-based teaching and learning theories and practices. In each of three sites in which the study was conducted (Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing), questionnaires were administered, and four representative participants were interviewed. Our coding and analysis of quantifiable questionnaire responses (using a Likert scale), of open-ended responses, and of interview transcripts revealed enthusiastic interest in incorporating inquiry-based teaching and learning approaches in Chinese schools. However, Chinese educators face several challenges: (a) the national college entrance exam needs to align with the goals of inquiry-based teaching; (b) systemic reform needs to happen in order for inquiry-based science to be beneficial to students, including a change in the curriculum, curriculum materials, relevant resources, and teacher professional development; (c) class size needs to be reduced; and (d) an equitable distribution of resources in urban and rural schools needs to occur.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42933/1/10763_2005_Article_1517.pd

PERAN CITRA MEREK DAN KESADARAN MEREK SEBAGAI MEDIASI PENGARUH DIGITAL MARKETING TERHADAP KEPUTUSAN PEMBELIAN PADA KOPI TUNI MALUKU

AbstractsThis research stems from the existence of phenomena in the research object and research gaps in previous studies. This research also has an update of brand image and brand awareness variables which act as mediating variables. On that basis, researchers develop a theoretical approach to fill the research gap and are expected to have a contribution to the development of science, especially management. The location of this research is located at the Maluku Coffee Foundation as the manager of Maluku Tuni Coffee. The data collection technique used purposive sampling by distributing questionnaires to 190 respondents. The data analysis technique used in this study is Amos' Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of this study indicate that brand image and brand awareness as mediation have an indirect positive and insignificant effect on purchasing decisions, digital marketing has a direct positive and significant effect on brand image and brand awareness. Meanwhile, digital marketing has a negative and insignificant effect on purchasing decisions. Other results of brand image and brand awareness have a direct and not significant positive effect on purchasing decisions.Keywords: Digital Marketing, Brand Image, Brand Awareness and Purchase Decision AbstrakPenelitian ini bermula dari adanya fenomena pada objek penelitian dan research gap pada penelitian sebelumnya. Penelitian ini sekaligus memiliki pembaharuan dari variabel citra merek dan kesadaran merek yang berperan sebagai variabel mediasi. Atas dasar itu, Peneliti mengembangkan suatu pendekatan teatrikal guna untuk mengisi research gap tersebut dan diharapkan memiliki kontribusi terhadap perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan khususnya Manajemen. Lokasi penelitian ini bertempat pada Yayasan Kopi Maluku selaku pengelola Kopi Tuni Maluku.Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan purposive sampling dengan menyebarkan kuesioner kepada 190 responden. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah  Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Amos. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa citra merek dan kesadaran merek sebagai mediasi berpengaruh tidak langsung secara positif dan tidak signifikan terhadap keputusan pembelian, digital marketing berpengaruh langsung secara positif dan signifikan terhadap citra merek dan kesadaran merek. Sementara digital marketing berpengaruh negatif dan tidak signifikan terhadap keputusan pembelian. Hasil lainnya citra merek dan kesadaran merek secara langsung berpengaruh positif dan tidak signifikan terhadap keputusan pembelian.Kata kunci: Digital Marketing, Citra Merek, Kesadaran Merek, Keputusan Pembelia