The Adoption of Cryptocurrency Technology into the US Banking Infrastructure

This thesis examines the possibility of using Blockchain technology to permanently change the payment structure of the US banking system. First, I examine the current technology that dominates the banking sector. I introduce the most frequently used payments methods including Automatic Clearing House transfers and wire transfers, both domestically and internationally. In addition, I highlight the major players controlling these transactions. Under the current system, frictions between senders and receivers cause billions of dollars in losses each year. Next, I examine Blockchain’s roots along with some similar cryptocurrency technology, namely Distributed Ledger Technology and Smart Contracts. The transparency, security, and efficiency offered by the technology behind many cryptocurrencies demonstrates the possibility for rethinking decades-old payment networks. Finally, to tie together the new and old, I examine case studies that have proven to be successful, within the US and abroad. There have been many projects in testing stages that have shown the possibility of implementing this new tech to the world. As consumer pressure on major payment providers continues, the financial world will continue to adapt and grow, leading to a more connected and optimized payment environment

Saint Vincent de Paul: Windows on His Vision

https://via.library.depaul.edu/vincentian_ebooks/1007/thumbnail.jp

Saint Vincent’s Legacy: Prayer, The Soul of Ministry

For Vincent de Paul, prayer, the motivation for action, was necessary for community life and ministry. His thoughts on and method for prayer are expressed in the Rules for the Congregation and the Daughters of Charity. Prayer is the soul’s seeking of God, during which God shows the soul what to do. It provides strength for ministry and a means of measuring how well one is living according to God’s will. As experiences of God, prayer and action can sometimes be the same. Major “fruits of prayer,” characteristic attitudes of Vincentians and Daughters of Charity, are Interiority, the Presence of God, the Maxims of Christ, and Divine Providence

The role of advanced glycosylated end products in the stimulation of signaling pathways in fibroblast apoptosis and the proposed association with the formation of type II diabetes mellitus complications

Thesis (MSD)--Boston University, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 2007 (Endodontics).Includes bibliographical references: leaves 77-92.BACKGROUND Advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in multi-organ diabetic complications including artherosclerosis, nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and decreased wound healing. AG Es aggregate as a result of increased glycation modifications, which occur during chronic hyperglycemic states such as diabetes. Accumulation of these by-products consequently allows for the formation of free radicals, which is believed to contribute to apoptotic events that lead to tissue destruction and thus systemic complications seen in diabetic patients. The goal of this study was to investigate signaling pathways by which AGE induced fibroblast apoptosis occurs and the proposed association with type II diabetes mellitus wound healing complications. [TRUNCATED

Assessment of an automated IoT-biofloc water quality management system in the Litopenaeus vannamei’s mortality and growth rate

Climate change greatly influenced aquaculture in the Philippines and the deteriorating water quality; in effect, fish production reduced drastically. Thus, fish farmers and aquaculture researchers have been searching for innovative technologies to address these issues. One technology is the biofloc systems. This technology uses a zero-water exchange and accumulates microorganisms that serves as a food source. In the biofloc, water quality management is highly recommended. This study aimed to assess the technical and operational effect on the shrimp growth and survival of the developed automated water quality management internet of things (IoT) system in a biofloc system. The hardware prototype comes with a mobile application which has features namely: account management, fish/shrimp profile, water quality management, auto feeding and manual controls. This study conducts experimental research which assessed the impact of an indoor pond biofloc with the developed prototype on the Litopenaeus vannamei’s growth and survival rates. Results were favorable to the biofloc system with the developed prototype, having a 10% higher survival rate and 3.2% higher growth rate, compared to the traditional recirculating aquaculture systems. Adapting the biofloc and the IoT prototype, a fish farmer may earn P78,300 pesos for each white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) harvesting period

Analysis, modelling and design of a groin as coastal protection structure at Lido di Dante, Ravenna

An analysis and a subsequent solution is here presented. This document is about a groin design able to contrast the erosion actions given by waves in Lido di Dante. Advantages will be visible also for Fiumi Uniti's inlet, in the north side of the shoreline. Beach future progression and growth will be subjected to monitoring actions in the years after groin construction. The resulting effects of the design will have a positive impact not only on the local fauna and environment, but also, a naturalistic appeal will increase making new type of tourists coming not only for recreational purposes. The design phase is focused on possible design alternatives and their features. Particular interest is given to scouring phenomena all around the groin after its construction. Groin effects will impact not only on its south side, instead they will cause an intense erosion process on the downdrift front. Here, many fishing hut would be in danger, thus a beach revetment structure is needed to avoid any future criticality. In addiction, a numerical model based on a generalized shoreline change numerical model, also known as GENESIS, has been applied to the study area in order to perform a simplistic analysis of the shoreline and its future morphology. Critical zones are visible in proximity of the Fiumi Uniti's river inlet, where currents from the sea and the river itself start the erosion process that is affecting Lido di Dante since mid '80s, or even before. The model is affected by several assumptions that make results not to be interpreted as a real future trend of the shore. Instead the model allows the user to have a more clear view about critical processes induced by monochromatic inputed waves. In conclusion, the thesis introduce a wide analysis on a complex erosion process that is affecting many shoreline nowadays. A groin design is seen as a hard solution it is considered to be the only means able to decrease the rate of erosion

Seforta, an integrated tool for detecting the signature of selection in coding sequences

Background: The majority of amino acid residues are encoded by more than one codon, and a bias in the usage of such synonymous codons has been repeatedly demonstrated. One assumption is that this phenomenon has evolved to improve the efficiency of translation by reducing the time required for the recruitment of isoacceptors. The most abundant tRNA species are preferred at sites on the protein which are key for its functionality, a behavior which has been termed “translational accuracy”. Although observed in many species, as yet no public domain software has been made available for its quantification. Findings: We present here Seforta (Selection for Translational Accuracy), a program designed to quantify translational accuracy. It searches for synonymous codon usage bias in both conserved and non-conserved regions of coding sequences and computes a cumulative odds ratio and a Z-score. The specification of a set of preferred codons is desirable, but the program can also generate these. Finally, a randomization protocol calculates the probability that preferred codon combinations could have arisen by chance. Conclusions: Seforta is the first public domain program able to quantify translational accuracy. It comes with a simple graphical user interface and can be readily installed and adjusted to the user's requirements

The Perceptions of Private Special Education School Leaders Regarding Their Role in Promoting Self-Care and Renewal Practices for Themselves and Their Teachers

This qualitative study examined the perceptions of private special education school leaders regarding their role in promoting self-care and renewal. There is limited research on self-care and renewal in schools. Data were gathered through surveys and interviews that addressed three guiding research questions: (a) Do school leaders consider self-care and renewal practices to be important for themselves and their teachers? (b) What are the various ways school leaders report they promote self-care and renewal practices for themselves and their teachers? (c) What do school leaders believe to be the factors and conditions that inhibit and foster their efforts to implement self-care and renewal practices for themselves and their teachers? The data analysis process uncovered the following: (1) school leaders believe self-care and renewal practices are more important for their teachers than themselves, (2) importance of self-care and renewal practices that school leaders expressed does not correlate to the amount of time they spend promoting self-care and renewal practices for themselves or their teachers, (3) school leaders and their teachers would likely benefit from specific, tailored plans developed to address the area of self-care and renewal, (4) school leaders should share their self-care and renewal practices with their teachers, (5) school leaders should promote self-care and renewal practices in a routine way built into the school culture, (6) school leaders could benefit from practicing mindful leadership and reflective practices, (7) time constraints limit school leaders and teachers to promote self-care and renewal activities, (8) learning the importance of taking care of yourself comes with age. The implications of these findings, future research, and recommendations are outlined

O ensino de geografia e sua contribuição para construção da cidadania

Monografia (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Educação, 2014.O presente trabalho é resultado de uma pesquisa, instigada a ser feita nas aulas de Educação em Geografia, tendo como principal objetivo verificar os conteúdos relacionados à Geografia e de que maneira os mesmo têm sido trabalhados no 4º ano do Ensino Fundamental. Acreditamos que o ensino de geografia possa contribuir na construção da cidadania das crianças, partindo da crença de que o objetivo da educação seja “formar gente capaz de se situar corretamente no mundo e de influir para que se aperfeiçoe a sociedade humana como um todo” (SANTOS, 1987, p. 126). Para isso utilizamos nessa pesquisa a observação não participativa e também, a observação participativa através da regência em sala de aula. As aulas serviram como fundamento de nossa pesquisa e através da análise das mesmas verificaremos se ao trabalhar conteúdos que constam no programa oficial da Secretaria de Educação podemos também participar na construção da cidadania das crianças