Changes in soil chemical properties and their spatial distribution after logging and conversion to oil palm plantation in Sabah (Borneo)

Conversion of primary forest into oil palm plantations is common in tropical countries, affecting soil properties, ecosystem services and land-use management. However, little is known about the short-range spatial soil distribution that is important for soil scientists, ecologists, entomologists, mycologists or microbiologists. In this study, seven soil properties (pH, EC (mu S/m), P (mg/kg), NO3- (mg/kg), N%, C% and C:N) were measured to quantify the spatial autocorrelation across primary forest, selectively logged forest and oil palm plantation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Local variograms were calculated (range similar to 5 m) to determine the short-range variation, and a decision tree as well as principal component analysis were implemented to determine if the overall (global) mean differed between land uses. As hypothesised, oil palm soils deviated the most from primary forest soils, which had more fluctuating variograms and in general, a shorter range. Oil palm plantations also showed a difference in the global mean except for electrical conductivity. Selectively logged forests also differed in their short-range spatial structure; however, the global mean and variance remained similar to primary forest soil with the exception of labile phosphorus and nitrate. These results were attributed to initial plantation development, removal of topsoil, fertiliser application and topography

The Effect of Kindergarten Attendance on Later School Experiences

Problem It is estimated that about one-half of our nation\u27s six-year-olds receive their initial formal education when entering first grade. Many authorities in the field of education feel that an early childhood educational experience may be a causative factor in a child\u27s later academic and social adjustment in school. The purpose of this study was to: (1) compare the academic achievement and social adjustment of first-grade children who have had kindergarten experience and first grade children who have not had kindergarten experience; and (2) compare the academic achievement and social adjustment of fourth grade children who have had kindergarten experience and fourth grade children who have not had kindergarten experience to find if there is a significant difference which has an effect as late as fourth grade. Method One-hundred-seventy-two children from public schools were used for this study: ninety-three from the Osceola School and seventy-nine from the Moran School. Each child was given the SRA Primary Mental Abilities Test and the California Test of Personality. Each first grade child was given the Metropolitan Readiness Test. All of the children in both first and fourth grade participated in the composition of a sociogram for their individual rooms. Each student in both the first grade and the fourth grade was given a character trait rating and also a rating for achievement academically in the areas of reading, Writing and mathematics. These ratings were teacher opinion ratings. Results It was found in this study that there is a significant difference in the readiness of children entering first grade, the difference being in the favor of the child who has had kindergarten experience. There was varied evidence for the comparison of mental abilities of children entering first grade. However, all comparisons of achievement for both first and fourth grades were of no significance. All comparison of social adjustment for children having had kindergarten experience and children not having had kindergarten experience was of no significance, with the exception of a few categories on the sociogram. This was true for the first grade children tested as well as the fourth grade children who were tested. Conclusions This research indicated that the extent to which school beginners had developed in the skills and abilities that contribute to readiness for first grade instruction was greater for those children who had had kindergarten experiences. However, the advantage of those having kindergarten experience was not maintained through the fourth grade

Mishpacha in the American Diaspora: An Exploratory Study of Highly-Involved Jewish Families

Both family and religion are important to a large majority of the population in the United States. In the last few decades, research on religious families has significantly increased. Empirical research on Jewish families, however, is scant. The purpose of this study is to explore contemporary American Jewish family life in relation to Judaism, both cultural and religious. Specifically, the two primary objectives of this study are 1) to examine how Jewish culture and religion may influence and shape Jewish family life; and 2) to examine how family relationships may influence observance of Jewish cultural or religious traditions. This reciprocal dynamic between family and Jewish culture and religion was examined by focusing on involvement in the Jewish community, the espousal of particular Jewish beliefs, and participation in certain Jewish practices, all in relation to the family. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with thirty highly involved Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and secular Jewish families from seven states. Grounded theory methods were employed to analyze the data. Five major themes that emerged from the data were presented: 1) Family Influences Jewish Community Involvement; 2) Community Involvement Influences Family Life, 3) Jewish Religious Beliefs and the Family, 4) Family Influences on Jewish Observance in the Home, and 5) Sabbath Observance in the Home. Implications for theory, research, and practice relating to both Jewish families and non-Jewish families in the United States are also discussed

Sheet Formation by Cells of an Ascites Tumour in vitro

IN the course of a study of the behaviour in vitro of cells from an ascites epithelioma of the mouse, it was noticed that the cells could aggregate into sheets of varying stability. This paper describes the phenomenon and some of the factors by which it is influenced. MATERIALS AND METHODS The cells to be described are from one of several ascites lines derived by deliberate selection from a murine epithelioma. This tumour arose on the back of an untreated male C/57 black mouse 2- years old. It has been maintained since 1955 by serial grafting in mice of that strain to which it is specific. It is designated "Epithelioma 255 "; the details of its changing histology following different selective grafting procedures will be described elsewhere by one of us (DT). The ascites line concerned in this account is designated "B1 ". All ascites lines are maintained by serial intraperitoneal passage of peritoneal exudate diluted in phosphate saline to a degree depending on a rough visual estimate of cellularity, usually between 1 in 3 and 1 in 20

Entangled Landscapes: Designing With a Multi-Species Perspective in the Post-Industrial Syracuse Inner Harbor

Pollinator species are extremely important for food security and drive the agricultural economy, but are in decline primarily due to habitat fragmentation and the effects of climate change. Rust Belt cities like Syracuse have suffered from social and economic decline, and the primarily post-industrial landscapes lack pollinator habitat. By understanding the entanglements of economy, technology and species interactions, it’s possible to see cities like Syracuse playing a key role in developing a productive green economy. How can analyzing landscapes from pollinators’ perspective give insight into how to rethink the way landscape architects design for the benefit of multiple species? And how can this lead to the creation of landscapes that benefit both people, other species and the environment? Designers must move away from the typical anthropocentric design methods and explore new techniques for altering the landscape. This thesis is experimenting new methods of site analysis and design with the goal of embracing the entanglements and allowing for multi-species engagements to create a sustainable and productive landscape

Control of Drives in Biomass Combustion Process

Import 23/07/2015Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá návrhem řídicího procesu dopravy paliva při výrobě elektrické energie. Jedná se o reálnou technologii pro průmyslovou praxi, která je součástí zakázky společnosti Polycomp, a.s. Práce popisuje celý proces a zaměřuje se na dopravu paliva z provozního zásobníku paliva do spalovací komory řízením dvou šnekových dopravníků a turniketu paliva. Pro řízení těchto pohonů je společností zvolen programovatelný PLC automat Siemens Simatic S7-1200, jehož konfigurace a popis jeho vlastností jsou v práci popsány. Pro tento proces byly navrženy tři řídicí programy, které v době realizace této práce nebylo možné vyzkoušet na reálné zakázce, a proto byly simulovány na simulační desce s PLC automatem Siemens Simatic S7-200.This thesis deals with a design control process of transportation of fuel during the production of electrical energy. Real technology for industrial practice is concerned, that is a part of a contract of a company Polycomp, a. s. The thesis describes the whole process and focuses on transportation of fuel from fuel reservoir to furnace by controlling of two screw conveyors and a fuel turnstile. To control those drives, it is chooses a programmable PLC automat Siemens Simatic S7-1200, whose configuration and description of its features are described in this thesis. For this process, three controlling programs were designed, that were not possible to test on real contract at the time of realization of this thesis and that is why they were simulated on a simulation desk with the automat Siemens Simatic S7-200.352 - Katedra automatizační techniky a řízenívelmi dobř