Minimum Requirements Research Articles

Metabolic perturbation studies using a Nash Equilibrium model of liver machine perfusion: modeling oxidative stress and effect of glutathione supplementation

The current clinical standard of Static Cold Storage (SCS) which involves preservation on ice (about +4°C) in a hypoxic state limits storage to a few hours for metabolically active tissues such as the liver and the heart. This period of hypoxia during can generate superoxide and other free radicals from purine metabolism, a well-established component of ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Machine perfusion is at the cutting edge of organ preservation, which provides a functional, oxygenated preservation modality that can avoid/attenuate IRI. In clinical application, perfusion usually follows a period of SCS. This presentation of oxygen following hypoxia can lead to superoxide and hydrogen peroxide generation, but machine perfusion also allows manipulation of the temperature profiles and supply of antioxidant treatments, which could be used to minimize such issues. However, metabolomic data is difficult to gather, and there are currently no mathematical models present to allow rational design of experiments or guide clinical practice. In this article, the effects of a gradual warming temperature policy and glutathione supplementation to minimize oxidative stress are studied. An optimal gradual warming temperature policy for mid-thermic machine perfusion of a liver metabolic model is determined using a combination of Nash Equilibrium and Monte Carlo optimization. Using this optimal gradual warming temperature policy, minimum GSH requirements to maintain hydrogen peroxide concentrations in the normal region are calculated using a different Monte Carlo optimization methodology. In addition, the dynamic behavior of key metabolites and cofactors are determined. Results show that the minimum GSH requirement increases and that the ratio of GSH/GSSG decreases with increasing hydrogen peroxide concentration. In addition, at high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide it is shown that cytochrome C undergoes dysfunction leading to a decrease in useful oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis from the electron transport chain and an overall reduction in the energy charge for the liver cells.

Protected Time for Program Administration among Nephrology Program Leadership in the United States.

In 2022, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education reduced minimum program director protected time for program administration from 10 to 8 h/wk, with no core faculty requirement. We surveyed program leaders regarding the effect of these changes. This is an anonymous, online survey of all US adult nephrology program directors (March 2023), who forwarded core faculty/associate program director (APD) surveys. The questions included protected time in 2022-2023 and 2021-2022, whether it was sufficient, estimated time needed, and two validated single-item burnout measures (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization). The analysis was descriptive. Program directors: Their response was 62% (92/149), with geographic distribution/approved fellow positions similar to those nationally. Overall, protected time slightly increased from 2021 to 2022, largely in >6-fellow programs, but 42% (13/31) of these were still not meeting minimum requirements. Only 37% (30/81) agreed that they had sufficient protected time. Those with ≤6 fellows estimated needing 11±4 h/wk (15±4 h/wk with >6 fellows). Twenty-five percent (20/81) reported high levels of emotional exhaustion. Core faculty: 57 of 149 program directors (38%) forwarded the link to 454 faculty. Ninety-four percent of APDs (49/52) responded, reported 3±3 h/wk protected time (42% had none), and estimated needing 6±3 h/wk, regardless of program size. Sixty-seven of 402 core faculty (17%) responded, reported 2±3 h/wk (50% had none), and estimated needing 5±3 h/wk, regardless of program size. ≥85% of APDs and core faculty precepted clinical rotations, gave lectures, evaluated fellows, mentored scholarly work, and participated in recruitment. The majority assisted in fellow remediation. Thirty-four percent (15/44) of APDs and 21% (13/61) of core faculty reported high levels of emotional exhaustion. Program leaders estimated minimum necessary program administration times (on the basis of program size) that exceeded the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requirements. APDs/core faculty contributed substantially to nonclinical training. Thirty-four percent of APDs and 25% of program directors had a high likelihood of burnout.

MAGANG STUDI INDEPENDEN BERSERTIFIKAT WEBSITE APLIKASI ONLINE PMB DI PT ARKATAMA MULTI SOLUSINDO

PT Arkatama Multi Solusindo is an experienced company in IT consulting services and application development. Certified Independent Study Database Programming is one of the independent study programs at PT Arkatama Multi Solusindo. The series of activities in the separate database programming study program includes individual learning; participants will take part in a synchronous learning process (delivery of material by the trainer via Zoom meeting) and asynchronous (study of the material provided in the form of teaching modules/teaching videos/practical materials). At each learning meeting, participants will be given a pre-test, post-test, and written or practical assignments to test their understanding of the learning provided by the teacher. The Certified Independent Database Programming Study aims to enable participants to become competent Database Programmers in data management systems. Certified independent study database programming has minimum graduation requirements (SKM), namely, Creating a web-based database application with case studies that have been determined by the trainer to display data in intuitive graphic form and published using a domain and hosting. The final project given was creating a web application for new student admissions using the Codeigniter framework, Bootstrap, and the Highcharts plugin.

Phenylalanine requirements using the direct amino acid oxidation technique, and the effects of dietary phenylalanine on food intake, gastric emptying, and macronutrient metabolism in adult cats.

Despite Phe being an indispensable amino acid for cats, the minimum Phe requirement for adult cats has not been empirically defined. The objective of study 1 was to determine the minimum Phe requirement, where Tyr is in excess, in adult cats using the direct amino acid oxidation (DAAO) technique. Four adult male cats were used in an 8 × 4 Latin rectangle design. Cats were adapted to a basal diet for 7 d, top dressed with Phe to meet 140% of the adequate intake (NRC, 2006. Nutrient requirements of dogs and cats. Washington, DC: Natl. Acad. Press). Cats were randomly assigned to one of eight experimental Phe diets (0.29%, 0.34%, 0.39%, 0.44%, 0.54%, 0.64%, 0.74%, and 0.84% Phe in the diet on a dry matter [DM] basis). Following 1 d of diet adaptation, individual DAAO studies were performed. During each DAAO study, cats were placed into individual indirect calorimetry chambers, and 75% of the cat's daily meal was divided into 13 equal meals supplied with a dose of L-[1-13C]-Phe. Oxidation of L-[1-13C]-Phe (F13CO2) during isotopic steady state was determined from the enrichment of 13CO2 in breath. Competing models were applied using the NLMIXED procedure in SAS to determine the effects of dietary Phe on 13CO2. The mean population minimum requirement for Phe was estimated at 0.32% DM and the upper 95% population confidence limit at 0.59% DM on an energy density of 4,200 kcal of metabolizable energy/kg DM calculated using the modified Atwater factors. In study 2, the effects of a bolus dose of Phe (44mg kg-1 BW) on food intake, gastric emptying (GE), and macronutrient metabolism were assessed in a crossover design with 12 male cats. For food intake, cats were given Phe 15min before 120% of their daily food was offered and food intake was measured. Treatment, day, and their interaction were evaluated using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS. Treatment did not affect any food intake parameters (P > 0.05). For GE and macronutrient metabolism, cats were placed into individual indirect calorimetry chambers, received the same bolus dose of Phe, and 15min later received 13C-octanoic acid (5mg kg-1 BW) on 50% of their daily food intake. Breath samples were collected to measure 13CO2. The effect of treatment was evaluated using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS. Treatment did not affect total GE (P > 0.05), but cats receiving Phe tended to delay time to peak enrichment (0.05 < P ≤ 0.10). Overall, Phe at a bolus dose of 44mg kg-1 BW had no effect on food intake, GE, or macronutrient metabolism. Together, these results suggest that the bolus dose of Phe used may not be sufficient to elicit a GE response, but a study with a greater number of cats and greater food intake is warranted.

The relationship between the ratio of midwives and antenatal care coverage in Central Kalimantan in 2020-2022

Introduction : Antenatal care (ANC) is a healthcare service for pregnant women. The quality of health services is heavily influenced by the performance of the health workers, including midwives. In Central Kalimantan, in 2021, the first ANC coverage (K1) achieved 98.15%, while the fourth coverage (K4) was at 88.14%. Four districts/cities in Central Kalimantan had public health centers with midwife ratios below the minimum requirement (130 midwives per 100,000 population). The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between the ratio of midwives and the ANC coverage in Central Kalimantan in 2020–2022.Methods : The data was analyzed using the cross-sectional study design. The dependent variable was the ANC coverage in Central Kalimantan in 2020–2022, while the independent variable was the ratio of midwives in Central Kalimantan in 2020–2022.Results : In Central Kalimantan, 10 (71.4%) districts had achieved the target midwife ratio, while 4 (28.6%) had not. There had been a yearly decrease from K1 to K4. Despite positive growth in midwife ratios, there was no significant correlation between midwife ratios and ANC coverage for both K1 and K4.Conclusion : The ratio of midwives had not significantly contributed to the coverage of ANC K1 and K4 in Central Kalimantan. Various factors that could impact the ANC coverage, aside from human resources, must be taken into account. It is crucial for the government to expand its involvement.

Fishery waste-driven piezo-capacitor as unprecedented energy conversion and storage for real-time monitoring device

The single-device mechanism of energy conversion and storage is highly needed for continuously running electronic devices. It is not only for the conversion and storage of mechanical energy into electricity; it gives a solution for environmental problems. The development of the integrated device has attracted much attention due to its minimum space requirement, zero energy loss, and cost in power management. Here we analyzed the integrated function of simultaneous mechanical energy harvesting and storage devices using treated fish bones as an electrode and fins with scales as a piezo separator. This method it makes possible to benefit from the conductive network of the integrated device. The excessively fast self-charging properties of the device were analyzed by a mechanical-driven modulator. The smart capacitor delivers excellent specific capacitance, fast charging, and good cyclic stability at a continuous mechanical pressing (500 s) and it reaches 1.32 V in 10 s, with an outstanding current output of 7 mA. Moreover, impressive charging for mobile phones and smart watches can be achieved from the assembled 7 devices at a shoe heal. This work delivers an innovative approach to developing a comfortable, sustainable energy storage device for continuous monitoring sensors.

Challenges and opportunities for minority students at police academies: A national sample

This article examines institutional factors influencing graduation rates for police trainees of different races and ethnic groups. The study is based on the Census of Law Enforcement Training Academies data collected in 2013 and 2018. It uses both analysis of variance and ordinary least squares regressions to analyze the data. Overall, the article reports a statistically significant improvement for Hispanic trainees’ graduation rates when comparing 2013 and 2018. However, the same was not true for Black students at the police academies who continued to trail in 2018 compared with both White and Hispanic students. Our findings show that the length of the program and the location of the academy in the South were negatively influencing the graduation rates for all groups of cadets in both datasets. Other findings show that minority trainees were more likely to succeed where minimum education requirements for the instructors were in place, academies were affiliated with academic institutions, field training was the preferred mode of instruction, and where dormitories were not present.

ANALYZING THE AVIATION SECURITY KNOWLEDGE TEST ITEMS TO EVALUATE CADET PROFICIENCY ACROSS DIVERSES LEVEL OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

Assessments are vital tools in education, shaping dynamic learning experiences and contributing significantly to overall learner development. In AVSEC training, mandatory tests for license acquisition are a prerequisite for both job applicants and active duty officers contingent upon achieving satisfactory scores. Potential test takers vary in level of formal vocational education with a minimum educational requirement of a high school for job applicants. This study scrutinizes the quality of the AVSEC test, evaluating elements like difficulty index (DIF), discrimination index (DI), and distractor efficiency (DE). Serving as a comprehensive evaluative tool, it provides valuable feedback on proficiency and areas for improvement. &#x0D; In AVSEC item analysis, findings indicate that retaining a low category of Differential Item Functioning (DIF) may be justifiable based on item purpose. The influence of test-taker backgrounds and nuances in classical formal education is reflected in the low Discrimination Index (DI), emphasizing the need for considerations beyond intrinsic item characteristics. Challenges emerge in questions about regulations due to their overly straightforward construction, rendering the substitution of suboptimal distractors impractical. To address potential drawbacks, the training school may contemplate replacing items with similar topics, maintaining the test's purpose while enhancing item quality. This study underscores the delicate balance required in crafting effective assessments within the distinctive context of AVSEC.

Sustaining livestock: minimum technical requirements and quality standards for Angus Grade - Black Cattle in Sragen Regency in supporting livestock preservation

This research focuses on establishing the minimum technical requirements and quality standards for Angus Grade - Black Cattle, to promote sustainable livestock practices and support the preservation of genetic resources. The absence of standardized quality measures for Angus Grade - Black Cattle necessitates the use of data from field surveys in Sragen Regency as a baseline for initial quality standards until national standards are established. The study defines the minimum technical requirements for Angus Grade - Black Cattle breeding, with a special emphasis on sustainable production, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative criteria. the minimum requirements (in centimeters) of chest circumference, shoulder height, body length for male candidates aged 24-36 months are: Class 1 - 191, 139, 140; Class 2 - 187, 138, 137; Class 3 - 182, 137, 135, for female candidates aged 18-24 months are: Class 1 - 170, 127, 129; Class 2 - 168, 125, 126; Class 3 - 165, 124, 124, female candidates aged 24-36 months are: Class 1 - 178, 130, 131; Class 2 - 174, 129, 128; Class 3 - 170, 128, 126, respectively. These stringent requirements aim to select high-quality Angus Grade - Black Cattle for breeding, ensuring sustainable livestock production, genetic preservation, and overall productivity.

Integrating Smart Computility for Subflow Orchestration in Remote Virtual Services.

The burgeoning domain of the metaverse has sparked significant interest from a diverse array of industries, including healthcare services. However, the metaverse and its associated applications present various challenges. This could strain the comprehensive capacity of existing networks. In this paper, we have investigated vital network demands of healthcare services within the metaverse. First, to meet the increasing demands of the metaverse, there is a need for enhanced bandwidth, reduced latency, and improved packet loss control. Furthermore, the transmission mechanism should exhibit flexibility to automatically adapt to the diverse hybrid needs of different healthcare services. Considering the aforementioned challenges, a transmission paradigm tailored for the metaverse-based healthcare services is developed. Multipath transmission has the potential to effectively enhance network performance in multiple aspects. Significantly, we devise an orchestration framework to reconcile edge-side subflow management with diverse healthcare applications. Using machine learning techniques, the framework can produce near-optimal subflow adjustment strategies for client nodes and miscellaneous services. Comprehensive experiments are performed on applications with diverse requirements to validate the adaptability of the framework to the application needs. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method enables the network to autonomously adapt to changing network conditions and service requirements. This includes applications' preferences for high throughput, low delay, and high stability. Moreover, the test results show that the proposed approach can notably decrease the occurrences of network quality falling below the minimum requirement. Given its adaptability and impact on network quality, this work paves the way for future metaverse-based healthcare services.

Health systems' capacity in availability of human resource for health towards implementation of Universal Health Coverage in Kenya.

Kenya faces significant challenges related to health worker shortages, low retention rates, and the equitable distribution of Human Resource for Health (HRH). The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kenya has established HRH norms and standards that define the minimum requirements for healthcare providers and infrastructure at various levels of the health system. The study assessed on the progress of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) piloting on Human Resource for Health in the country. The study utilized a Convergent-Parallel-Mixed-Methods design, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study sampled diverse population groups and randomly selected health facilities. Four UHC pilot counties are paired with two non-UHC pilot counties, one neighboring county and the second county with a geographically distant and does not share a border with any UHC pilot counties. Stratification based on ownership and level was performed, and the required number of facilities per stratum was determined using the square root allocation method. Data on the availability of human resources for health was collected using a customized Kenya Service Availability and Readiness Assessment Mapping (SARAM) tool facilitated by KoBo ToolKitTM open-source software. Data quality checks and validation were conducted, and the HRH general service availability index was measured on availability of Nurses, Clinician, Nutritionist, Laboratory technologist and Pharmacist which is a minimum requirement across all levels of health facilities. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 27 and comparisons between UHC pilot counties and non-UHC counties where significance threshold was established at p < 0.05. Qualitative data collected using focus group discussions and in-depth interview guides. Ethical approval and research permits were obtained, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The study assessed 746 health facilities with a response rate of 94.3%. Public health facilities accounted for 75% of the sample. The overall healthcare professional availability index score was 17.2%. There was no significant difference in health workers' availability between UHC pilot counties and non-UHC pilot counties at P = 0.834. Public health facilities had a lower index score of 14.7% compared to non-public facilities at 27.0%. Rural areas had the highest staffing shortages, with only 11.1% meeting staffing norms, compared to 31.8% in urban areas and 30.4% in peri-urban areas. Availability of health workers increased with the advancement of The Kenya Essential Package for Health (KEPH Level), with all Level 2 facilities across counties failing to meet MOH staffing norms (0.0%) except Taita Taveta at 8.3%. Among specific cadres, nursing had the highest availability index at 93.2%, followed by clinical officers at 52.3% and laboratory professionals at 55.2%. The least available professions were nutritionists at 21.6% and pharmacist personnel at 33.0%. This result is corroborated by qualitative verbatim. The study findings highlight crucial challenges in healthcare professional availability and distribution in Kenya. The UHC pilot program has not effectively enhanced healthcare facilities to meet the standards for staffing, calling for additional interventions. Rural areas face a pronounced shortage of healthcare workers, necessitating efforts to attract and retain professionals in these regions. Public facilities have lower availability compared to private facilities, raising concerns about accessibility and quality of care provided. Primary healthcare facilities have lower availability than secondary facilities, emphasizing the need to address shortages at the community level. Disparities in the availability of different healthcare cadres must be addressed to meet diverse healthcare needs. Overall, comprehensive interventions are urgently needed to improve access to quality healthcare services and address workforce challenges.

Sample size determination for conducting a pilot study to assess reliability of a questionnaire.

This article is a narrative review that discusses the recommended sample size requirements to design a pilot study to assess the reliability of a questionnaire. A list of various sample size tables that are based on the kappa agreement test, intra-class correlation test and Cronbach's alpha test has been compiled together. For all calculations, type I error (alpha) was set at a maximum value of 0.05, and power was set at a minimum value of 80.0%. For the kappa agreement test, intra-class correlation test, and Cronbach's alpha test, the recommended minimum sample size requirement based on the ideal effect sizes shall be at least 15, 22, and 24 subjects respectively. By making allowances for a non-response rate of 20.0%, a minimum sample size of 30 respondents will be sufficient to assess the reliability of the questionnaire. The clear guideline of minimum sample size requirement for the pilot study to assess the reliability of a questionnaire is discussed and this will ease researchers in preparation for the pilot study. This study provides justification for a minimum requirement of a sample size of 30 respondents specifically to test the reliability of a questionnaire.

Approach Maximizes Marginal Field Value by Going Back to Basics

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 32379, “Marginal Field Value Maximization by Going Back to Basics With Design-to-Value Enhancement,” by Yen P. Chan, Muhammad Y.S.M. Yasin, and Ahgheelan S. Thurai, Petronas, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2023 Offshore Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission. _ Value is defined by a quantum of functions or returns received from resources invested. In extremely marginal oil and gas fields, returns hardly meet invested resources profitably. Stranded, widely scattered resources add to the complication. The complete paper shares an approach to notional well- and facility-development concept generation for such fields by shifting emphasis to designing for value to improve project viability rigorously. Problem Statement Based on Case Study Case study Field X, located offshore Asia, is one of many oil resources in the region with virgin reservoir pockets and layers that are marginal in volume yet can provide a considerable recoverable volume if developed collectively. However, being horizontally scattered and shallow, with a reservoir true vertical depth (TVD) of less than 2000 m, the field was designed initially with up to 12 wells to maximize reach, thus requiring a large wellhead platform (WHP) at the surface. Gas lift was required from the first day of production, leading to two pipelines at a minimum. Given the number of wells and surface facilities required, this led to a highly negative economic outcome. To quantify the extent of cost reductions and increase the recoverable targeted resources required to meet targeted economic indicators for a business case, the project team performed a series of sensitivity analyses. Despite efforts to phase out field development, minimize surface facilities, and simplify well design where possible, the project remained negative in net present value because reducing the number of wells and facilities will lead to a dramatically lower estimated ultimate recovery (EUR), which is the key driver in any oil and gas development. The project team thus was presented with an almost unworkable situation where scope and cost reduction to satisfy economic returns simply meant that installation of neither wells nor facilities was viable. The authors refer to the approach they describe in the complete paper as “going back to basics.” This approach, coupled with a design-to-value (D2V) approach, was effective in countering seemingly irreversible economic results. This approach is a systematic way to develop an optimal concept for maximum value realization because the agile approach questions every aspect of concept development to achieve minimum technical requirements while providing better clarity in cost/risk tradeoff through concept evaluation in a staircase manner. The process of executing D2V for marginal field development while managing technical risks is detailed in the following subsections for both well design and in facility-concept design.

On the effectiveness of Reynolds-averaged and subgrid scale models in predicting flows inside car cabins

The aim of the present study is to analyze the performances of unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) and large eddy simulation (LES) approaches in predicting the airflow patterns inside car cabins and to give insight in the design of computational fluid dynamics simulations of a real car cabin. For this purpose, one eddy viscosity-based turbulence model (shear stress transport k–ω) and two subgrid scale models (wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity and dynamic kinetic energy) were tested, and numerical results were compared with particle image velocimetry measurements carried out on a commercial car. The URANS model exhibited great accuracy in predicting the mean flow behavior and was appreciably outperformed by the LES models only far from the inlet sections. For this reason, it was deemed suitable for conducting further analyses, aimed at characterizing the airflow patterns in winter and summer conditions and performing a thermal comfort analysis. The thermal regime was found to have a very little effect on the air flow patterns, once the quasi-steady state regime is achieved; in fact, both in winter and in summer, the temperature field is fairly uniform within the car cabin, making the contribution of buoyancy negligible and velocity fields to be very similar in the two seasons. Findings also reveal that thermal comfort sensation can be different for passengers sharing the same car but sitting on different seats; this aspect should be considered when designing and operating the ventilation system, since the minimum comfort requirements should be met for all the occupants.

Student’s Acceptance and Actual Use of E-Learning System in a Post-COVID Era Through Technology Acceptance Model

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the transition of learning activities in universities into distance learning. This leads to extensive use of e-learning, which became one of key things to sustain the ongoing teaching and learning activities during the pandemic. With the return of classroom learning, the actual use, and students’ intentions on using e-learning system is unknown, and it could affect e-learning system’s effectiveness. Based on the problem, a quantitative research and analysis is conducted on students’ acceptance, use intentions, and actual use of e-learning system using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with three adopted external constructs of Learnability, Self-efficacy, and Social Norm. The questionnaire result processing is conducted by utilizing Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings are students’ perception of e-learning system’s usefulness, ease of use, and students’ attitude towards the e-learning system affects their behavior intentions, and actual use of e-learning system. This finding also resulted on two proposed suggestions on adding minimum content requirements and standard operational procedure in course content management with the aim to increase its learnability and students’ attachments and adding a user tour feature with the aim to increase both learnability and ease of use of e-learning.

An Exploratory Case Study: Examining the Design of Clinical Immersion from the Preceptors’ Perspective

Context The clinical immersion experience is a key part of the socialization of the professional athletic training student. Clinical immersion offers the student the chance to experience the totality of the role of the athletic trainer. Programmatic autonomy allows many athletic training educators the opportunity to be creative in the implementation of clinical immersion(s). Objective Examine clinical immersion from the preceptors’ perspective to understand their opinions regarding the structure of the experience and preferences they may have surrounding clinical immersion structure. Design Qualitative exploratory case study design. Setting Individual one-on-one video-conference interview. Patients or Other Participants Eight athletic training preceptors (6 female, 2 male) completed one-on-one interviews and were 38 ± 6 years old with 10 ± 3 years of experience as a preceptor and 14 ± 7 years of experience as a certified athletic trainer. Data Collection and Analysis Semistructured interviews were conducted with all preceptors. Interviews were recorded and transcribed using a video-conferencing software. An iterative approach with principles of phenomenological research was used to code the data. Data saturation guided recruitment and cessation of new interviews. Basic member checks, reflexivity, and multiple analyst triangulation were used to determine trustworthiness. Results The following four major themes emerged: (1) preceptors prefer the clinical immersion experience to be longer than the minimum accreditation requirement, (2) preceptors prefer to supervise second-year students in the immersion experience, (3) immersion allows for meaningful relationship development between the preceptor and student, and (4) preceptors treat immersions as a transition to practice mechanism. Conclusions Preceptors perceived the clinical immersion experience to be a facilitator of strong preceptor-student relationships and a facilitator of transition to practice. They believed that the clinical immersion should be longer than 4 weeks and occur late in the athletic training curriculum.

Joint mode selection and resource allocation to flexibly guarantee quality of service for downlink MISO-NOMA systems

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) with successive interference cancellation (SIC) detection, knownas SIC NOMA, enjoys higher spectral efficiency (SE), but suffers increased processing complexity and additional error propagation compared to Non-SIC NOMA,in whichthe receivers directly detect their own signalsfrom thesuperposed signalwithout SIC detection. We propose a joint Mode Selection and Power Allocation (MSPA) scheme that can flexibly realize different kinds of tradeoffs while guaranteeing minimum rate requirements (MRRs) for two-user MISO-NOMA downlink. Specifically, we first obtain rate region boundaries that guarantee two users’ MRRs for two candidatemodes: maximum-ratio transmission (MRT)/SIC NOMA and minimum mean square error beamforming (MMSE-BF)/Non-SIC NOMA. We then construct an expression of power allocation factors (transmit power factors) that can satisfy the two users’ MRRs for MRT/SIC NOMA (MMSE-BF/Non-SIC NOMA) by introducing a parameter λ. Finally, we achieve outer boundary of the union ofthe two modes' rate regionsby mode selection and derive expected users' rates on it. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed MSPA can improve SE and flexibly achieve different kinds of tradeoffs by adjusting λ, while guaranteeing the two users’ MRRs simultaneously for high signal to noise ratio (SNR) scenario and alternately guaranteeing the two users’ MRRs for low SNR scenario.

Investigation of the Performance of Zero Energy Homes in Hot Climates

Globally, the rate at which buildings use resources and energy has been rising. Due to population growth, rise in living standard, and global warming, strategies for energy conservation have been adopted lately in zero energy buildings. Over the past decade, the energy consumption in constructions has increased at an unprecedented rate. Therefore, it is of great importance to mandate energy rationalization in building construction. This research investigates the impact of applying zero energy concept in homes in Egypt. The study begins by analysing the current situation of the energy sector and existing buildings in Egypt, the NZEB concept is defined and its different aspects are highlighted. Energy simulation by DesignBuilder simulation software is used to evaluate energy performance for a residential single family house model after applying Passive and Active design strategies. A number of energy saving strategies have been examined to optimize the building envelope with minimum energy requirements. The building energy consumption was reduced when various energy efficient strategies were combined. Besides utilizing energy efficient HVAC systems. a solar PV system is installed to meet the reduced energy. The case study was transformed into a zero-energy house. Results show that passive and active techniques can be dependable for steady energy production in buildings in hot dry regions.

Length-weight relationships of farmed major carps (Cattla cattla, Labeo rohita and Cirhinus mrigala) fed with different sources of protein in an intensive polyculture.

The present findings provide information regarding the length-weight relationships (LWRs) of Indian major carps viz Cattla cattla, Labeo rohita and Cirhinus mrigala in an intensive polyculture system. Much work has been done in Pakistan with respect to fish LWRs, much of such work has been ignored. Carps were fed with twelve different formulated diets containing four different sources of protein i.e. fish meal (FM), all parts chicken meal (APCM), corn gluten (CGM) and soybean meal (SBM). Each type of protein is used at inclusion level of 25, 35 and 45% into the formulated diets to evaluate the minimum requirement of that ingredient for optimal growth of in-hand species. The values of slope "b" ranged from 2.20 to 4.90 for these species of carps which showed a strong healthy relationship among variables (level of protein and months).

Analysis of Maggot Nutrition in Various Farming Periods and Organic Wastes as a Growth Medium

Undoubtedly, the bioconversion of organic waste into maggots is an innovation to reduce organic waste generation. Nonetheless, maggot cultivators only use available organic waste as feed, without adjustments, which makes the nutritional value of maggot produced inconsistent. The current study aims to determine appropriate organic waste and farming periods based on the nutritional value of maggots. This research was conducted using a field-scale experimental method for 21 days. A total of 9 experimental variations of organic waste type and farming period were observed, i.e., kitchen waste, rotten vegetables, and a mixture of both (50:50, w/w) for 7, 14, and 21 days of farming, respectively. The results showed that the appropriate organic waste for maggot farming is kitchen waste, with a farming period of 14 days. During the 14-day farming process, maggot weight increased 1,750 times to 3,500 grams, with protein and fat content of 38.28% and 28.47%, respectively. The protein content in maggot meets the minimum requirements for fish and poultry use as an alternative feed.