MESSAGES FROM THE ASSEMBLY

Heavenly Father, we give You thanksgiving for these who have dedicated themselves to serve the citizens of Nevada through the Seventy-third Legislative Session. Give to each one the wisdom and compassion that they will need to accomplish their task in the days ahead. Help these Senators to lead with their minds and hearts throughout this new session. I pray that You will give special guidance to the Senate leadership as they guide this Senate. Give strength for the days ahead to Lieutenant Governor Hunt, Majority Leader Raggio and Minority Leader Titus. Thank You for hearing and answering prayer. In the Name of my wonderful Lord and Savior, I pray. AMEN. Pledge of allegiance to the Flag. Senator Raggio moved that further reading of the Journal be dispensed with, and the President and Secretary be authorized to make the necessary corrections and additions. Motion carried

A max-cut approximation using a graph based MBO scheme

© 2019 American Institute of Mathematical Sciences. All rights reserved. The Max-Cut problem is a well known combinatorial optimization problem. In this paper we describe a fast approximation method. Given a graph G, we want to find a cut whose size is maximal among all possible cuts. A cut is a partition of the vertex set of G into two disjoint subsets. For an unweighted graph, the size of the cut is the number of edges that have one vertex on either side of the partition; we also consider a weighted version of the problem where each edge contributes a nonnegative weight to the cut. We introduce the signless Ginzburg–Landau functional and prove that this functional Γ-converges to a Max-Cut objective functional. We approximately minimize this functional using a graph based signless Merriman–Bence–Osher (MBO) scheme, which uses a signless Laplacian. We derive a Lyapunov functional for the iterations of our signless MBO scheme. We show experimentally that on some classes of graphs the resulting algorithm produces more accurate maximum cut approximations than the current state-of-the-art approximation algorithm. One of our methods of minimizing the functional results in an algorithm with a time complexity of O(|E|), where |E| is the total number of edges on G

Bt maize for small scale farmers: A case study

The role of biotechnology in small holder agricultural systems has been the subject of much debate in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region as a whole. The debate has centered on the suitability of biotechnology crops in small holder agricultural systems. In South Africa, genetically modified (GM) white maize was approved for commercial production in 1998. To educate and inform small-scale farmers and to give them the opportunity to evaluate GM white maize for themselves, six demonstration plots were planted at strategic locations. This communications presents the results obtained from these six demonstration plots. In all plots it was found that GM maize gave higher yields and had less stalk borer damage than the comparable non GM variety. GM white maize can be beneficial to small scale farmers located in areas where maize stalk borer is a majorproduction factor. However, it is important that the authorities provide an effective extension service and financial support in order that the full potential of GM white maize can be experienced

The Effect of Self-Regulated Practice on Motor Learning Using Tasks of Varying Complexity

Increasing evidence indicates that giving individuals control over their practice schedule facilitates motor learning (Titzer, Shea, & Romack, 1993; Wu & Magill, 2004, 2005). A recent study within cognitive psychology (Son, 2004) found that individuals massed practice on tasks they judged as hard but spaced practice on tasks they judged as easy. The purpose of this experiment was to examine how self-regulated practice impacts motor learning and the strategies used by individuals as a function of task complexity. Participants were required to move a mouse-driven cursor through a pattern of coloured squares, pausing only long enough in each square to make an appropriate button press (white square=left button, black square=right button). Task complexity (4 easy and 4 hard patterns) was determined by the combined effects of the arrangement of the grid of squares and the hand used to manipulate the mouse (easy =dominant hand, hard=non-dominant hand). Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight groups: blocked, random, self-regulated, and yoked to self-regulated, performing either the easy or hard tasks. The number of switches between patterns were recorded as well as temporal and accuracy measures. The self-regulated groups were ineffective in acquisition, but showed the most stable and improved performance in retention, irrespective of task difficulty. Moreover, although switch strategies of the self-regulated groups differed between and within task complexity, the motor learning advantage was generalized. Taken together, these results reveal that an individual's strategic approach to practice may change as a function of task complexity, with no detriment to motor learning and adds to the growing body of literature that suggests self-regulated practice is an important variable for effective motor learning.ThesisMaster of Science (MSc

Meso-Biliverdin IXα Production by Conversion of Cyanobacteria-Derived Phycocyanobilin​

Meso-biliverdin IXα (MBV) is a valuable bioproduct with antioxidant and cytoprotective properties that is of great interest and importance forthe medical industry as an anti-inflammatory, agricultural industry as a livestock feed additive, and other commercial applications. MBV is aheme-derivedbilinthat can be synthesized by chemical conversion of cyanobacterial phycocyanobilin (PCB). Phycocyanin (PC) is an abundantpigment composed of protein complexed with PCB and responsible for harvesting light for photosynthesis by cyanobacteria. Logan LagoonsCyanobacteria 2 (LLC2) is a novel strain of cyanobacteria recently discovered in Logan, Utah that produces PC in appreciable amounts. LLC2 iscapable of growing with shale/oil extraction-derived produced water as a substrate, making it a lucrative target for the production of MBV in thescope of a waste-to-value bioprocess. A prototype bioprocess is already commercially available for MBV production from another strain of cyanobacteria, Limnospirafusiformis. Here, we aim to develop a parallel but environmentally sustainable and commercially viable bioprocessfor MBV production using oil/shale waste produced water and LLC2. The bioprocess will adhere to an array of standards and constraints. Lead levels within LLC2 growths cannot exceed a maximum value of 15 µg per amount of MBV consumed daily, and there must be no detectable BMAA levels. Additional economic and manufacturing constraints include wastewater processing to eliminate any potential toxins as well asscale-up to commercial-level production on rotating algal biofilm reactors (RABRs). This project highlights the bioprocess development processfrom initial culture, algal biomass growth on laboratory scale RABRs, scale-up to a greenhouse scale RABR, PCB extraction, and conversion toMBV. This project concludes that MBV production is possible from LLC2 dervied PCB, with both lead and BMAA levels within the given tolerances.​

Especial Skills

Considerable controversy exists about how motor skills come to be represented in memory as a product of practice. One line of research advocates specificity effects, whereby skills are considered highly specific to the conditions under which they are learned. An alternative view suggests that motor control is flexible and non-specific; that motor skills are represented in a more general manner, whereby the representation is an abstraction of the products ofpractice. Although experimental findings exist that support both specificity and generality of motor skills, such evidence has emerged from very different experimental conditions and paradigms, making direct comparisons difficult. An important and interesting question then is what would happen if both specificity and generality effects could be documented within a single paradigm? And what could be said about motor control theory if such effects co-exist? The possibility that a single memory representation may be developed for an entire class of skills (i.e., generality), but that performance of one member of that class may be distinguished from the rest (i.e., showing specificity effects) was examined. The basketball set shot (characterized by the feet remaining planted on the floor during execution) performed by highly-skilled players represents such a class of skills. Skilled performers have massive numbers of practice attempts of the set shot, however taken predominantly at 15-ft. (free-throws from the foul-line), with only minimal practice at other locations (in front of and behind the foul-line or at different angles to the basket). The six experiments presented here examined the nature of learned memory representation of the basketball set shot in highly skilled players. In an initial series of experiments, skilled basketball players were required to perform a series of shots from several target locations spanning 9-to 21-ft. in line with the basket, including the foul-line at 15-ft. This task was completed using two different types of basketball shots (set shots; Experiments 1and2,jump shots; Experiment 3). Results revealed that set shot performance at the 15-ft. location was significantly better than predicted by a regression equation based on the performance at the other locations in Experiment 1 and replicated in Experiment 2. However, the superior performance at the foul line was not found in novice players (Experiment 2b) or when individuals performed jump shots (in Experiment 3). Instead, performance was accurately predicted by the regression equation. We suggested that a massive amount of practice accrued over many years of basketball shooting establishes the free throw as an especial skill -one that represents a highly specific capability among the general class of set-shot skills. In a follow-up series of experiments, we examined potential mechanisms underlying the emergence of the especial free throw skill with an attempt to reconcile our findings with theories of motor control. In Experiments 4 and 5 two possible explanations for the specificity effect were examined: the visual-context hypothesis (unique visual context including the visual distance and visual angle to the basket) vs. the learned-parameters hypothesis (over learned specifications for the parameterizations of the set shot at 15 ft). In Experiment 4, skilled players performed set shots from the foul line (15 ft) and locations that were equidistant (15ft) but at different angles to the basket (15°, 30°, 45° to the left and right of the foul line). Performance of the set shot at the foul line was superior to the other locations, which is consistent with our previous specificity findings. In Experiment 5, players performed set shots and jump shots at the foul line and at player-chosen "favorite" locations on the court. A double dissociation was found: performance of the set shot was superior to the jump shot at the foul line but was inferior to jump shot performance at the players' favorite locations. These results are contrary to the learned-parameters hypothesis, but consistent with the visual-context hypothesis. In our last experiment, invariance in the timing structure of set shot execution of skilled players was examined to determine if the free throw was represented by the same or a distinct generalized motor program. Results revealed that the especial free throw is not represented in memory by a separate motor program compared to other set shot skills. Overall, these experiments provided evidence that the free-throw is an especial skill, one which, as a result of massive amounts of practice, has a special status within a generalizable class of motor skills, and which is distinguished by its enhanced performance capability relative to the other members of the same class. The co-existence of skills represented by both specificity and generality effects have theoretical and practical implications which are discussed and warrant further investigation. ThesisDoctor of Philosophy (PhD

Applying partial differential equations on networks to approximate the Max-Cut and Max-K-Cut problems

The Max-Cut and Max-K-Cut problems are well known combinatorial optimization problems. In this thesis we produce fast approximation methods for these problems by applying methods from partial differential equations on networks. Given a graph G, a cut is a partition of the vertex set of G into two disjoint subsets, and a K-cut is a partition of the set into K disjoint subsets. For an unweighted graph, the size of the cut or K-cut is the number of edges which are connected by nodes belonging to distinct subsets in the partition. We introduce the signless Ginzburg–Landau and multiclass signless Ginzburg–Landau functionals, proving that these functionals G-converge to a Max-Cut objective functional and a Max-K-Cut objective functional respectively. We approximately minimize these functionals using graph based signless Merriman–Bence–Osher schemes, which use a signless Laplacian. We show experimentally that on some classes of graphs, the resulting algorithms produce more accurate maximum cut and maximum K-cut approximations than the current state-of-the art approximation algorithms. In this thesis, we also prove that the graph diffusion operators of graphs G1 and G2 are isomorphic, if and only if graphs G1 and G2 are isomorphic. An isomorphism of graphs G1 and G2 is a bijection from the vertex set of G1 to the vertex set of G2, such that the bijection from the vertex sets of G1 and G2 preserves the edges of G1 and G2

Method of Matching Performance of Compressor Systems with that of Aircraft Power Sections

A method is developed of easily determining the performance of a compressor system relative to that of the power section for a given altitude. Because compressors, reciprocating engines, and turbines are essentially flow devices, the performance of each of these power-plant components is presented in terms of similar dimensionless ratios. The pressure and temperature changes resulting from restrictions of the charge-air flow and from heat transfer in the ducts connecting the components of the power plant are also expressed by the same dimensionless ratios and the losses are included in the performance of the compressor. The performance of a mechanically driven, single-stage compressor in relation to the performance of a conventional air-cooled engine operating at sea-level conditions is presented as an example of the application of the method

The development of plant-parasitic nematode infestations on micro-propagated banana plants following field control measures in Côte d'Ivoire

Des essais au champ ont été menés en Côte d'Ivoire pour évaluer les possibilités d'utilisation de plants de bananiers micropropagés indemnes de nématodes après utilisation de méthodes de lutte chimique et culturales pour le contrôle des nématodes. Les objectifs de cette étude ont été : la comparaison des populations de nématodes sur adventices sous bananiers ou en jachère, l'observation des variations de populations de nématodes sous bananiers après jachère d'adventices, inondation et traitement chimique, et d'évaluer comment les avantages des plantations de vitroplants micropropagés indemnes de nématodes dépendent du degré de désinfection du so