1,284 research outputs found
Enriching the tactical network design of express service carriers with fleet scheduling characteristics
No full textExpress service carriers provide time-guaranteed deliveries of parcels via a network consisting of nodes and hubs. In this, nodes take care of the collection and delivery of parcels, and hubs have the function to consolidate parcels in between the nodes. The tactical network design problem assigns nodes to hubs, determines arcs between hubs, and routes parcels through the network. Afterwards, fleet scheduling creates a schedule for vehicles operated in the network. The strong relation between flow routing and fleet scheduling makes it difficult to optimise the network cost. Due to this complexity, fleet scheduling and network design are usually decoupled. We propose a new tactical network design model that is able to include fleet scheduling characteristics (like vehicle capacities, vehicle balancing, and drivers' legislations) in the network design. The model is tested on benchmark data based on instances from an express provider, resulting in significant cost reductions
RANTES/CCL5 and risk for coronary events: results from the MONICA/KORA Augsburg case-cohort, Athero-Express and CARDIoGRAM studies.
No full textThe chemokine RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted)/CCL5 is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in mice, whereas less is known in humans. We hypothesised that its relevance for atherosclerosis should be reflected by associations between CCL5 gene variants, RANTES serum concentrations and protein levels in atherosclerotic plaques and risk for coronary events. We conducted a case-cohort study within the population-based MONICA/KORA Augsburg studies. Baseline RANTES serum levels were measured in 363 individuals with incident coronary events and 1,908 non-cases (mean follow-up: 10.2±4.8 years). Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, metabolic factors and lifestyle factors revealed no significant association between RANTES and incident coronary events (HR [95% CI] for increasing RANTES tertiles 1.0, 1.03 [0.75-1.42] and 1.11 [0.81-1.54]). None of six CCL5 single nucleotide polymorphisms and no common haplotype showed significant associations with coronary events. Also in the CARDIoGRAM study (>22,000 cases, >60,000 controls), none of these CCL5 SNPs was significantly associated with coronary artery disease. In the prospective Athero-Express biobank study, RANTES plaque levels were measured in 606 atherosclerotic lesions from patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. RANTES content in atherosclerotic plaques was positively associated with macrophage infiltration and inversely associated with plaque calcification. However, there was no significant association between RANTES content in plaques and risk for coronary events (mean follow-up 2.8±0.8 years). High RANTES plaque levels were associated with an unstable plaque phenotype. However, the absence of associations between (i) RANTES serum levels, (ii) CCL5 genotypes and (iii) RANTES content in carotid plaques and either coronary artery disease or incident coronary events in our cohorts suggests that RANTES may not be a novel coronary risk biomarker. However, the potential relevance of RANTES levels in platelet-poor plasma needs to be investigated in further studies
The effects of digital game-based learning on performance and motivation for high school students
No full textMelek, Ceren Gülra (Arel Author)The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of digital game-based learning on the performance and motivation of high school students in computer science education. A simple matching game was designed using the ARCS Model which is wellknown in instructional design, and can be implemented to various aspects of game-based learning. The game content was identified by reviewing the exact course content used at national schools. An experiment was conducted to examine the students’ achievements through an exam and the learning motivations by The Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). One hundred and fifty two (152) tenth grade students participated in the users study, and were separated into two groups: one is the experimental group that used game-based learning, and the other is the control group which used the traditional face-to-face approach. The quantitative data was collected and the scores in both learning groups were compared. The results show that students who studied by a gamebased learning model performed better than those who studied using traditional teaching sessions. The same users demonstrated positive attitudes toward the use of educational matching games. © ICIC Internationa
Youth development through intercultural performance: A case study from Wesbank Arts and Culture Group, South Africa
No full textMagister Artium - MAThe research took place while the author worked as a volunteer theatre practitioner with the Arts and Culture Group in Wesbank township near Kuils River, Cape Town, South Africa. This organisation was founded in 2002 and was the result of one woman's efforts to keep the children of Wesbank off the streets, by keeping them busy through dance, song and drama. This study investigated the impact of basic theatre training, working towards performance and the performative act itself on the psyche of the drama group participants. More specifically, the study investigated in what ways being involved in a performance can help children and young people in an underprivileged community of Wesbank to develop confidence, a sense of competence, self-reliance, creative thinking, responsibility and the ability to work as an ensemble. The research was to a great extent focused on cross-cultural communication. How could the "Cape Coloured" and Xhosa members of the group overcome cultural barriers and express their cultural uniqueness equally through taking part in multicultural theatre performance.South Afric
Rooted in all its story, more is meant than meets the ear : a study of the relational and revelational nature of George MacDonald's mythopoeic art
No full textScholars and storytellers alike have deemed George MacDonald a great mythopoeic writer, an exemplar of the art. Examination of this accolade by those who first applied it to him proves it profoundly theological: for them a mythopoeic tale was a relational medium through which transformation might occur, transcending boundaries of time and space. The implications challenge much contemporary critical study of MacDonald, for they demand that his literary life and his theological life cannot be divorced if either is to be adequately assessed. Yet they prove consistent with the critical methodology MacDonald himself models and promotes. Utilizing MacDonald’s relational methodology evinces his intentional facilitating of Mythopoesis. It also reveals how oversights have impeded critical readings both of MacDonald’s writing and of his character. It evokes a redressing of MacDonald’s relationship with his Scottish cultural, theological, and familial environment – of how his writing is a response that rises out of these, rather than, as has so often been asserted, a mere reaction against them. Consequently it becomes evident that key relationships, both literary and personal, have been neglected in MacDonald scholarship – relationships that confirm MacDonald’s convictions and inform his writing, and the examination of which restores his identity as a literature scholar. Of particular relational import in this reassessment is A.J. Scott, a Scottish visionary intentionally chosen by MacDonald to mentor him in a holistic Weltanschauung. Little has been written on Scott, yet not only was he MacDonald’s prime influence in adulthood, but he forged the literary vocation that became MacDonald’s own. Previously unexamined personal and textual engagement with John Ruskin enables entirely new readings of standard MacDonald texts, as does the textual engagement with Matthew Arnold and F.D. Maurice. These close readings, informed by the established context, demonstrate MacDonald’s emergence, practice, and intent as a mythopoeic writer
Using Technology and English in Accounting Subjects Case Study: Principles of Accounting
No full textNowadays, technology and the English language are crucial in business. The National Information Technology Committee launched a policy emphasizing the importance of information technology as the driving instrument for the country’s development, both social and economic. Therefore, if a University wants to produce graduates qualified to meet market needs, it should establish policies that enable instructors to use technology and English for teaching. The School of Accountancy, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, has encouraged instructors to use programs for teaching, such as Microsoft Excel, SAP, Express, ACL and Yahoo Group to enable students to appropriately and effectively apply technology in accounting. The School of Accountancy also encourages the inclusion of English Language in class, and to have exercises in English for students to try. In addition, the school has initiated a project called “Star of Accountancy” specifically for students who choose to study accounting using English Textbooks. The author believes the students who join this program would be skillful and able to benefit from knowledge acquired in the future. The author therefore applied to teach Fundamentals of Accounting to first year for accountancy students during the first semester of the academic year 2008/2009. Fifty students chose to join this project. The book chosen was Financial Accounting (6th Edition) by Jerry J. Weygandt, Paul D. Kimmel and Donald E. Kieso, and published by John Wiley &Sons. It was selected for its updated content and including a website (www.wileyplus.com) for teaching material. Furthermore, the author uses Yahoo Group to make it convenient for students to download materials and to submit their work on-line. As a result of using technology and English together for this subject, most students believed they received a good grounding in addition to other skills
Using Technology and English in Accounting Subjects Case Study: Principles of Accounting
No full textNowadays, technology and the English language are crucial in business. The National Information Technology Committee launched a policy emphasizing the importance of information technology as the driving instrument for the country’s development, both social and economic. Therefore, if a University wants to produce graduates qualified to meet market needs, it should establish policies that enable instructors to use technology and English for teaching. The School of Accountancy, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, has encouraged instructors to use programs for teaching, such as Microsoft Excel, SAP, Express, ACL and Yahoo Group to enable students to appropriately and effectively apply technology in accounting. The School of Accountancy also encourages the inclusion of English Language in class, and to have exercises in English for students to try. In addition, the school has initiated a project called “Star of Accountancy” specifically for students who choose to study accounting using English Textbooks. The author believes the students who join this program would be skillful and able to benefit from knowledge acquired in the future. The author therefore applied to teach Fundamentals of Accounting to first year for accountancy students during the first semester of the academic year 2008/2009. Fifty students chose to join this project. The book chosen was Financial Accounting (6th Edition) by Jerry J. Weygandt, Paul D. Kimmel and Donald E. Kieso, and published by John Wiley &Sons. It was selected for its updated content and including a website (www.wileyplus.com) for teaching material. Furthermore, the author uses Yahoo Group to make it convenient for students to download materials and to submit their work on-line. As a result of using technology and English together for this subject, most students believed they received a good grounding in addition to other skills
Diversification of Pakistani Amelogenin-Y-Null Male Haplotypes
No full textAmelogenin is a common sex typing marker encountered in forensic case work. Phenotypically normal males have been reported in the literature who exhibit anomalous amelogenin allele. These males express only a single amelogenin peak representing AMEL-X and are called as AMEL-Y-null males. Gender misclassification of such individuals is an obvious consequence of this mutation, as a male sample would falsely appear to be a female sample. This study was aimed to attribute the AMEL-Y-null male DNA profiles encountered in forensic casework in the Pakistani population to appropriate phylogenetic clade based on shared ancestry. A total of 18 null AMEL-Y males were screened out of the sample pool of 5000 male individuals, reflecting mutational frequency of 0.36%. A common phylogenetic ancestor is suggested for 17 individuals, based on computational analysis of the Y-STR haplotypes, shown to be belonging to the J haplogroup while only one sample belonged to the R group. The samples in J groups showed homology with subclades J2b2a M241 and J2b2a PH1648, while R group individual showed 100% homology with R1a. Data are reported after haplotype network development of AMEL-Y-null Pakistani males using Network 10.0 for the study of evolutionary distances and emergence of nodes
Search Engine Optimisation in UK news production
No full textThis is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Journalism Practice, 5(4), 462 - 477, 2011, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/17512786.2010.551020.This paper represents an exploratory study into an emerging culture in UK online newsrooms—the practice of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), which assesses its impact on news production. Comprising a short-term participant observational case study at a national online news publisher, and a series of semi-structured, in-depth interviews with SEO professionals at three further UK media organisations, the author sets out to establish how SEO is operationalised in the newsroom, and what consequences these practices have for online news production. SEO practice is found to be varied and application is not universal. Not all UK news organisations are making the most of SEO even though some publishers take a highly sophisticated approach. Efforts are constrained by time, resources and management support, as well as off-page technical issues. SEO policy is found, in some cases, to inform editorial policy, but there is resistance to the principal of SEO driving decision-making. Several themes are established which call for further research
Youth development through intercultural performance: A case study from Wesbank Arts and Culture Group, South Africa
No full textMagister Artium - MAThe research took place while the author worked as a volunteer theatre practitioner with the Arts and Culture Group in Wesbank township near Kuils River, Cape Town, South Africa. This organisation was founded in 2002 and was the result of one woman's efforts to keep the children of Wesbank off the streets, by keeping them busy through dance, song and drama. This study investigated the impact of basic theatre training, working towards performance and the performative act itself on the psyche of the drama group participants. More specifically, the study investigated in what ways being involved in a performance can help children and young people in an underprivileged community of Wesbank to develop confidence, a sense of competence, self-reliance, creative thinking, responsibility and the ability to work as an ensemble. The research was to a great extent focused on cross-cultural communication. How could the "Cape Coloured" and Xhosa members of the group overcome cultural barriers and express their cultural uniqueness equally through taking part in multicultural theatre performance.South Afric
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