The tidal and subtidal variations in the transverse salinity and current distributions across a coastal plain estuary

The transverse structure in the current and salinity distributions across the mouth of Delaware Bay are examined over the tidal and subtidal time scales. Results show that the across-estuary variation in bathymetry, in the form of a channel-shoal configuration, has a very significant impact on the characteristics of transverse variability. The mean current over the channel is characterized by a strong outflow of low salinity water in the upper layer and a strong inflow of high salinity water in the lower layer, consistent with the density-induced gravitational circulation. The mean flow pattern in the shallow waters over the shoals is marked by transverse rather than vertical variation. The subtidal current and salinity fluctuations are primarily driven by the effect of local atmospheric forcing. The subtidal current fluctuations in the upper layer of the channel are frictionally coupled to the local wind, resulting in downwind currents. The subtidal current fluctuations in the lower layer of the channel, however, flow in the direction of local setup and against the wind. With a wind blowing down the estuary, the wind-induced current tends to reinforce the two-layer structure of the gravitational circulation and substantially enhance the vertical shear and surface to bottom salinity difference. The reverse occurs with a wind in the up-bay direction. The subtidal currents in the shallow areas to the right of the channel exhibit largely depth-independent response to the effect of local wind, with downwind currents at both the surface and the bottom. At tidal frequencies the currents show only a modest variation across the bay mouth. Tidal currents are highly deterministic, but the characteristics of the tidal variability in salinity exhibit significant changes over long time scales. These long-term changes in the intratidal salinity variability are caused by the nonlinear interactions between the tidal and subtidal motions. The residual salt flux through the bay mouth shows significant subtidal fluctuations. The leading factor responsible for producing such subtidal fluctuations is the advection of salt by the wind-induced subtidal currents, but the effect of tidal pumping also contributes significantly to the overall residual salt flux into the estuary

LAPTOP OWNERSHIP AND USE AMONG EDUCATORS: REFLECTIONS FROM SCHOOL TEACHERS IN MALAYSIA

This research explored the experiences of owning and using laptops among three secondary school teachers in Malaysia. They were granted personal laptops by the Ministry of Education through the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English, or known as Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) programme. This document has no comments. PPSMI was aimed at enhancing the teaching of these subjects in English with the aid of technology. The research adopted a case study qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews. Three in-depth interviews were audio recorded in the teachers’ schools, transcribed and analysed. Several themes related to the benefits and challenges of owning and using laptops emerged from these interviews. This paper, therefore, also seeks to discuss these themes in detail

Laptop use and its antecedents among educators : a review of the literature.

The rapid growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has enabled the creation of mobile technology that can be used to enhance the instructional process. One of the recent mobile devices introduced in classroom instruction is the laptop. Indeed, schools around the globe are using laptops for educational purposes with increasing frequency. Based on a review of the literature, this paper explores how educators use the laptop. It then explores the antecedents of laptop use among the educators

Exploring the relationship between attitude towards laptop usage and laptop utilisation: a preliminary study among Malaysian science and mathematics teachers

Realising the importance of ICT in the education system, the Malaysian Ministry of Education introduced the laptop initiative to integrate ICT into the students’ learning environment. The laptop provides a unique feature which allows the integration of ICT into the education at anytime and anywhere. Based on the review of literature, teachers’ attitude is seen as one of the significant indicators in influencing teacher’s laptop utilisation. The objectives of this study were to explore the teachers’ levels of laptop utilisation in terms of teaching and learning processes (TLP), lesson preparation and planning (LPP); teachers’ level of attitude towards laptop usage; and also to examine the relationship between teachers’ attitude towards laptop usage and laptop utilisation. Survey questionnaires were administered to 38 secondary school Mathematics and Science teachers. The results reported that the teachers’ laptop utilisation was at the moderate level (TLP: M = 3.13, S.D. = 5.56 and LPP: M = 3.09, S.D. = 4.68) and these teachers showed positive attitude towards the laptop (M = 3.84, S.D. = 13.04). Furthermore, the findings also revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between teachers’ attitude towards laptop usage and laptop utilisation (TLP: r = .69 and LPP: r = .44)

Relative Contributions of Geographic, Socioeconomic, and Lifestyle Factors to Quality of Life, Frailty, and Mortality in Elderly

Background: To date, few studies address disparities in older populations specifically using frailty as one of the health outcomes and examining the relative contributions of individual and environmental factors to health outcomes. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using a data set from a health survey of 4,000 people aged 65 years and over living in all regions of Hong Kong, we examined regional variations in self-rated health, frailty, and four-year mortality, and analyzed the relative contributions of lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and geographical location of residence to these outcomes using path analysis. We hypothesize that lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and regional characteristics directly and indirectly through interactions contribute to self-rated physical and psychological health, frailty, and four-year mortality. District variations directly affect self-rated physical health, and also exert an effect through socioeconomic position as well as lifestyle factors. Socioeconomic position in turn directly affects self-rated physical health, as well as indirectly through lifestyle factors. A similar pattern of interaction is observed for self-rated mental health, frailty, and mortality, although there are differences in different lifestyle factors and district associations. Lifestyle factors also directly affect physical and mental components of health, frailty, and mortality. The magnitude of direct district effect is comparable to those of lifestyle and socioeconomic position. Conclusions/Significance: We conclude that district variations in health outcomes exist in the Hong Kong elderl

The Deep Water Abundance on Jupiter: New Constraints from Thermochemical Kinetics and Diffusion Modeling

We have developed a one-dimensional thermochemical kinetics and diffusion model for Jupiter's atmosphere that accurately describes the transition from the thermochemical regime in the deep troposphere (where chemical equilibrium is established) to the quenched regime in the upper troposphere (where chemical equilibrium is disrupted). The model is used to calculate chemical abundances of tropospheric constituents and to identify important chemical pathways for CO-CH4 interconversion in hydrogen-dominated atmospheres. In particular, the observed mole fraction and chemical behavior of CO is used to indirectly constrain the Jovian water inventory. Our model can reproduce the observed tropospheric CO abundance provided that the water mole fraction lies in the range (0.25-6.0) x 10^-3 in Jupiter's deep troposphere, corresponding to an enrichment of 0.3 to 7.3 times the protosolar abundance (assumed to be H2O/H2 = 9.61 x 10^-4). Our results suggest that Jupiter's oxygen enrichment is roughly similar to that for carbon, nitrogen, and other heavy elements, and we conclude that formation scenarios that require very large (>8 times solar) enrichments in water can be ruled out. We also evaluate and refine the simple time-constant arguments currently used to predict the quenched CO abundance on Jupiter, other giant planets, and brown dwarfs.Comment: 42 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables, with note added in proof. Accepted for publication in Icarus [in press

Factors influencing students' behavioral intention to use an online learning portal

The widespread introduction of Information Technology and the Internet is reshaping the landscape of the learning environment, namely online education. It is important to note that, to achieve a successful online education, it is important to understand the determinants of online learning among students. Therefore, this research study aims to explore the factors that can influence students' behavioral intention to use an online learning portal. In view of that, a comprehensive search of the literature was carried out. The literature review reveals that gender, students' attitude, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, motivation and social interaction influence an individual's intention to use an online learning portal. Indeed, online learning has changed the learning culture forever

Ginseng and Anticancer Drug Combination to Improve Cancer Chemotherapy: A Critical Review

Ginseng, a well-known herb, is often used in combination with anticancer drugs to enhance chemotherapy. Its wide usage as well as many documentations are often cited to support its clinical benefit of such combination therapy. However the literature based on objective evidence to make such recommendation is still lacking. The present review critically evaluated relevant studies reported in English and Chinese literature on such combination. Based on our review, we found good evidence from in vitro and in vivo animal studies showing enhanced antitumor effect when ginseng is used in combination with some anticancer drugs. However, there is insufficient clinical evidence of such benefit as very few clinical studies are available. Future research should focus on clinically relevant studies of such combination to validate the utility of ginseng in cancer