The Theological Message of Revelation in Light of Selected Apocalyptic Symbols

The many divergent interpretations of the book of Revelation seem to create a problem concerning the understanding and appreciation of it. Many Christians are disturbed at their seeming inability to understand Revelation, and skeptics use this evidence in order to attack the validity of the Bible

Characteristics of temporal fluctuations in the hyperpolarized state of the cortical slow oscillation

We present evidence for the hypothesis that transitions between the low- and high-firing states of the cortical slow oscillation correspond to neuronal phase transitions. By analyzing intracellular recordings of the membrane potential during the cortical slow oscillation in rats, we quantify the temporal fluctuations in power and the frequency centroid of the power spectrum in the period of time before “down” to “up” transitions. By taking appropriate averages over such events, we present these statistics as a function of time before transition. The results demonstrate an increase in fluctuation power and time scale broadly consistent with the slowing of systems close to phase transitions. The analysis is complicated and limited by the difficulty in identifying when transitions begin, and removing dc trends in membrane potential

An Analysis of Innovate Training with Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland conducted a training program in 2014 to develop a gestural command for their dolphins called “innovate”. This training paradigm was developed to resemble the seminal research by Pryor, Haag and O’Reilly (1969), as well as more recent efforts of Braslau-Schneck (1993) and Kuczaj and Eskelinen (2014) of training dolphins to offer “creative” behaviors not developed through conventional methods of behavioral modification, such as shaping. The goal of the present study was to observe records taken during the National Aquarium’s training procedure as well as data collected ~3 years after said training in order to analyze and observe training practices and resulting learning of the task among the trainers and dolphins. All subjects developed an understanding of the task “do something different” and exhibited patterns in the learning process similar to those reported by Pryor, Haag and O’Reilly (1969), as well as strategies used to complete this task similar to those reported by Kuczaj and Eskelinen (2014)

IMPACTS OF THE MICRO ENVIRONMENT ON AIRLINE PERFORMANCES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA: MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine the impacts of the micro environment on airline performances in southern Africa. A mixed method research design was followed. Questionnaires were distributed at selected airlines to 154 key airline personnel. Factor analysis was used to identify the dimensions of micro environmental factors impacting on airline performances. The results indicated that competitive rivalry, the bargaining power of suppliers and customers significantly impacted (p<0.05) negatively on the aviation industry. Consequently, the high number of LCCs has created overcapacity and several suppliers can squeeze airlines, something that has stifled the region’s tourism prospects

Probing Quasar Viewing Angle with the Variability Structure Function

Given the anisotropic emission from quasar accretion discs, their viewing angle affects estimates of the quasar luminosity, black-hole mass and Eddington ratio. Discs appear overluminous when viewed pole-on and underluminous when viewed at high inclination. In radio-quiet quasars, the viewing angle is usually unknown, although spectroscopic indicators have been proposed. Here, we use a recently discovered universality in the variability structure function (SF) of quasar light curves (LCs), where all quasars show the same SF when clocks run in units of orbital timescale. As an offset from the mean relation can be caused by incorrect orbital timescales and thus incorrect luminosities, we correlate these offsets with suggested inclination indicators. We derive SFs from NASA/ATLAS LCs spanning $\sim 6$ years of observation, using a sample of 183 luminous quasars with measured H$\beta$ lines as well as 753 quasars with CIV and MgII lines. Starting from the proposed orientation indicators, we expect quasars with narrower H$\beta$ lines and with more blueshifted CIV lines to be viewed more pole-on and thus appear overluminous. In contrast, our SF analysis finds that presumed pole-on discs appear underluminous, consistently for both line indicators. We discuss possible explanations for the behaviour of quasars with highly blueshifted CIV lines irrespective of inclination angle, including dusty outflows that might render the accretion disc underluminous and flatter disc temperature profiles with longer orbital timescales than in thin-disc models but reach no satisfying conclusion.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Seasonal patterns of habitat use by insectivorous bats in a subtropical African agro-ecosystem dominated by macadamia orchards

We report on acoustic surveys of insectivorous bats conducted during seven months of the year using ANABAT recordings in two habitats (macadamia orchards and adjacent riparian bush) in a subtropical agroecosystem in northern South Africa. We defined two functional foraging groups of bats based on their echolocation calls: (i) open-air foragers (family Molossidae) having narrow-band, low-frequency, low duty cycle calls; and (ii) clutter-edge foragers (families Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae), having broad-band, higher frequency, low duty cycle calls. Bat activity (number of bat passes) was not significantly influenced by habitat. Total bat activity and activity of both functional groups varied significantly between seasons, being highest in summer and autumn (coinciding with annual peaks in numbers of Twin spotted (Bathycoelia natalicola) and Green (Nezara spp) Stinkbugs, order Heteroptera, family Pentatomidae, and Macadamia Nut Borer moths, Cryptophlebia ombrodelta) and lower in winter and spring. No significant effect of moon phase was detected, either on total activity or activity of the two functional groups. We postulate that the significant pattern of seasonality of commuting and/or foraging activity of bats in macadamia orchards (which is more marked in open-air foragers) may be driven by the seasonal abundance of pest insects such as stinkbugs and Macadamia Nut Borer moths.The study was funded by a Niche-Area Grant of the University of Venda as well as a National Research Foundation (NRF) Grant for Incentive Funding of Rated Researchers.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2028hb2014Zoology and EntomologyMammal Research Institut

Judicial Review, Irrationality, and the Legitimacy of Merits-Review

The definition of the irrationality ground of judicial review recognises the constitutional principle of the separation of powers, in allowing for judicial control of the executive only very rarely. The author in a previous article in this study found that the courts, on occasions, had intervened in circumstances where administrative decisions arguably were not irrational. To this end, the purpose of this article is to assess the constitutionality of these seemingly low standards of irrationality. The author does so by reference either to the manner of review employed—the use of the proportionality principle, for example—or the context of the administrative decision under scrutiny, such as the infringement of the applicant’s fundamental rights. The author finds that the cases from the previous article where low standards of irrationality were arguably adopted were, in fact, legitimate according to these chosen methods of evaluation. However, this is an interim conclusion because, for reasons of word length, the author is unable to complete a full assessment here. It is therefore proposed that a subsequent article will continue to examine the constitutionality of these cases. Furthermore, the author will also try and establish a zone of executive decision-making, for reasons of democracy, where the courts are excluded from irrationality review. If the author is unsuccessful in this regard, the final conclusion of this study will inevitably be that low standards of judicial intervention exist without limit—a clear assault on the constitutional principle stated above

The relationship between grade 9 teacher's and learner's perceptions and attitudes with their mathematics achievement

The study investigated the relationship between South African Grade 9 teachers’ and learners’ perceptions and attitudes with their mathematics achievement. The study used a secondary analysis of the TIMSS 2015 mathematics data, guided by the conceptual framework model of Scheerens (2000). The quantitative data collected through teachers’ and learners’ responses to the questionnaire included teachers’ and learners’ attitudes and perceptions on mathematics achievement. Multi-level modelling was done using HLM software. The study revealed that learners that like learning mathematics and value mathematics outperform those who don’t like it and who don’t value it. It was also found that leaners that are confident in mathematics outperformed those who are not confident. An interesting finding was that teacher job satisfaction has no influence on the mathematics achievement of their learners. Another curious finding was that the level of learner engagement in the mathematics lesson also had no influence on their performance.https://www.e-iji.netpm2020Science, Mathematics and Technology Educatio