Perceptions of Bark Beetle Landscape Disturbance Effects on Natural Resources and Drinking Water: Assessing Communication and Knowledge Exchange in the Rocky Mountain Region, USA

Widespread changes to forested watersheds affected by the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) epidemic across western North America raised concerns about the effects of this climate-induced disturbance on drinking water and natural resources. Effective communication and knowledge exchange across scientists and stakeholders (i.e., drinking water managers) is essential for constructively responding to such landscape scale disturbances, providing improved adaptive capacity through knowledge sharing. An assessment of stakeholder knowledge levels, information needs, primary concerns, and suggested communication strategies were conducted via an online elicitation survey and World Science Café workshops. Knowledge levels, assessed via a survey of local water managers and experts, were relatively low with approximately half of the respondents reporting little to no knowledge of the effects of mountain pine beetle on drinking water quality and quantity, thereby indicating limited knowledge exchange between scientists and drinking water stakeholders. Increased accessibility and dissemination of research findings pertinent to the mountain pine beetle epidemic’s effects on drinking water quality and quantity is necessary for natural resource management. Recommendations for improved communication among scientists and drinking water stakeholders in particular and forest health in general include dispersal of non-academic research summaries, information exchange through existing media and community resources, demonstration projects, and information clearinghouses. This information provides a better understanding of the challenges, concerns, and first-hand experience of stakeholders of a landscape disturbance issue to apply this knowledge to enhance land management practice and how researchers on this overall project enhanced science communication efforts.

The Correlation Between Note Features and Consecutive Interpreting Quality for English Majors

Note-taking skill is a necessary component in interpreter training programs,and previous research has yielded findings such as note-taking training methods or features of interpreter trainees’notes.However,little research has been done to investigate the changes in note features and correlations between note features and interpreting quality concerning Chinese students’C-E(Chinese-English)and E-C(EnglishChinese)interpreting.Using the framework of Daniel Gile’s Effort Model and Interpretive Theory of Translation,this paper examined how 45 English Majors’notes develop within one semester(seventeen weeks)and the relationship between note features(quantity,form,and language choice of notes)and consecutive interpreting quality.The participants of this study were all beginner interpreting trainees,and the note-taking training was introduced in Week 6.The study employed note manuscripts,interpreting tests,and semi-structured interviews to track the features and changes in students’notes.Correlation analyses and T-tests showed that(a)after the note-taking training,the number of notes increased from Week 8 to Week 17,and it was positively correlated with interpreting quality(fidelity and delivery)for both C-E and E-C interpreting;(b)as for forms of notes,participants primarily employ single Chinese words and the percentages of abbreviations and symbols rose prominently from Week 8 to Week 17 for C-E interpreting.Besides,correlation analyses show that interpreting quality improves with fewer single Chinese words and more abbreviations and symbols.For E-C interpreting,notes were mainly in English,especially single English words and abbreviations.The percentages of single Chinese words and abbreviations ascended whereas those of single English words and symbols decreased.Furthermore,results show that the more abbreviations and symbols,the better target-text fidelity,and fewer abbreviations,the better the targettext delivery;(c)concerning language choice,notes were mainly in source language for both C-E and E-C interpreting and the percentage of target language notes went up significantly for C-E interpreting.Consequently,the percentage of target language notes was positively correlated with interpreting quality.Interviews indicate that most participants do not pay much attention to language selection in the first stage,and if the source text a familiar topic with little difficult vocabulary,he or she records the target language.Otherwise,it was safer to use the source language.

Water quantity-quality combined evaluation method for rivers＇ water requirements of the instream environment in dualistic water cycle： A case study of Liaohe River Basin

In this article the meaning of the quantity and quality of environmental flows of river in dualistic water cycle is discussed, and compared with the meaning of unitary water cycle. Based on the analysis of the relationship between environmental flows of river requirements, the efficiency of water resource usage, the consumption coefficient, and the concentration of waste water elimination, the water quantity and water quality calculation method of the environmental flows of river requirements in dualistic water cycle is developed, and the criteria for environmental flows of river requirements are established, and therefore the water quantity-quality combined evaluation of natural river flows requirements are realized Taking the Liaohe River as a model, the environmental flows of river requirements for Xiliao River, Dongliao River, mainstream Liaohe River, Huntai River and northeast rivers along the coasts of the Yellow and Bohai seas in unitary water cycle are calculated, each taking up 39.3%, 63.0%, 43.9%, 43.3% and 43.5% of runoff respectively. Evaluated according to Tennant recommended flow, the results show that： except Xiliao River is ＂median＂, the rest are all upon ＂good＂, the Dongliao River is even ＂very good＂. The corresponding results in dualistic water cycle are that, the proportion of natural flows for each river is 57.5%, 74.1%, 60.8%, 60.3% and 60.4%; while the combined evaluation results show that： considering ＂quantity＂, except Xiliao River, the rest rivers can all achieve the ＂quantity＂ criteria of the en- vironmental flows of river requirements, but if considering the aspect of ＂quality＂, only Dongliao River can reach the ＂quality＂ standard. By water quantity-quality combined evaluation method, only Dongliao River can achieve the criteria. So the water quality is the main factor that determines whether the environmental flows can meet the river ecosystem demands.

Feasibility and acceptability of wrist actigraph in assessing sleep quality and sleep quantity: A home-based pilot study in healthy volunteers

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of actigraphy to monitor sleep quality and quantity in healthy self-rated good sleeper adults at home-based settings. Method: Sixteen healthy volunteers (age > 18) were invited to participate. Each participant was provided with a wrist actigraph device to be worn for 24-hour/day for seven consecutive days to monitor their sleep-wake patterns. Actigraphy data were downloaded using-proprietary software to generate an individual-sleep report. Participants also completed a set of self-reported Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) using WHO (five) Well Being Index (WBI) questionnaires. Results: Actigraphy was well accepted by all participants. Only 43.8% of the participants achieved normal total sleep time (TST) and 62.5% had a mean sleep efficiency value below the normal range. Despite a reduced quality of sleep among the participants, the self-reported HRQOL scores produced by the WHO-5 WBI showed a “fair” to “good” among the participants. Conclusions: To maintain healthy well-being, it is vital to have efficient and quality sleep. Insufficient and poor sleep may contribute to various health problems and hazardous outcomes. People often believe they have normal and efficient sleep, not realising they may be developing poor sleep habits. This study found that actigraphy can be easily utilized to monitor sleep-wake patterns at home-based settings. We proposed that actigraphy could be adapted for use in the primary care settings (e.g. community pharmacy) to improve the sleep health management in the community.

Improvement of Physical and Biological Quality of Soil in a Sugarcane Plantation through the Management of Organic Matter Input

Changes in soil quality of sugarcane plantation as a result of changes in land management can not be measured directly, but must be demonstrated by measuring the change in the properties of the ecosystem as an indicator. This research aimed to study the effect of the addition of various quality and quantity of organic matter on soil biology （earthworms） and physical quality （aggregate stability, macroporosity and infiltration rate）. There were i 5 treatment combinations tested. The first factor is the type of organic matter： （1） cattle manure （CM）, （2） filter cake （FC）, （3） sugarcane trash （ST）, （4） a mixture ofCM ＋ FC and （5） a mixture of CM ＋ ST. The second factor is the application dose of organic matter, which consists of three levels-5, l0 and 15 Mg/ha. The treatments were arranged in a factorial randomized block design with three replicates and one control treatment （without organic matter input）. The result of this research showed that the highest population density of earthworms was found in the treatment of ST （78 individuals/m2） and a mixture of CM ＋ ST （84 individuals/m2）. The type of organic matter with C/N ratio ranged from 15.5 to 34.7 and cellulose content in 33.3%-40.1% gave better growth of earthworm. The effect of increase in earthworm growth on soil physical improvement is more apparent in the treatment of mixture of low quality and high quality organic matter. The increase of earthworm density and biomass enhanced soil macroporosity （from r = 0.683 to r = 0.606） and infiltration rate （from r = 0.669 to r = 0.756）. The results of this study suggest a mixture of CM ＋ ST or ST alone as organic matters, which is recommended to improve soil physical and biological quality of sugarcane land, with the dose application ranged from 10 Mg/ha to 15 Mg/ha.

Export Competition Between China and Other Asian Economies： Vying for Quantity, Quality or Variety？

China and some other Asian economies are the main providers of manufactured goods to the world. Similar geographical distribution, endowment structure and level of economic development mean that there is ferce competition among Asian economies in the international market. In an effort to understand thoroughly the model of export competition of Asian economies, this paper breaks the trade flow data into the quantity, variety and quality. The main conclusions are as follows： First, the export competition of the Asian economies takes place at the several levels of quantity, quality and variety, and the competitive advantage of different countries and regions lies in different aspect,＂ second, the variety and quality of exports are closely related to the economic development level; third, there are strong trade ties among the Asian economies competing in the world commodity market;fourth, bigger countries export more produets in terms of quantity;fifth, the change from quantity competition to quality and variety competition is the only way for China to achieve sustainable export growth.

Hydrological Systems in the Greater Virunga Landscape: Water Quality around Mikeno Sector

Monitoring of environmental parameters is one of the highest priorities in the evaluation of environmental status of water resources and in environmental protection policy. The main objectives are to understand and evaluate the water quantity and quality in order to provide water of appropriate quality to various water users. The water quantity was assessed by the measurement of runoff or discharge at specific river cross sections using floating method for surface water and bucket and stopwatch method for springs and boreholes. The quality of river water and spring was identified in terms of its physical, chemical, and biological parameters. The analyzed data were compared with standard values recommended by WHO. Macroinvertebrates were collected in the rivers using a plankton nets and 10 minutes of sampling. Identification was made at the laboratory of Malacology. Results revealed that the quality of water obtained from sampling points is generally good to use for different domestic purposes except the Idanta River and Rwembwe borehole, which need an appropriate treatment before use. All sampling points are located far from houses and latrines, which can contribute to fecal contamination. On the different sampling points, bathing and washing clothes were observed and could constitute the source of pollution of drinking water. In Idanta and Kamira Rivers animals used water for drinking while also people use this water for domestic and drinking. In the two sampling points high values of Escherichia coli were found. No pollutant-taxa tolerant were found in the two monitored rivers for macroinvertebrates. Since water quality and quantity remain a major challenge in rural areas, the government should provide safe water to the population around Mikeno sector after treatment using suitable techniques.

Issues of Access, Equity, and Quality in Early Childhood Development Programmes in Zimbabwe

The paper sought to explore issues of access, equity, and quality in the early childhood development （ECD） sub-sector in Zimbabwe. The massive expansion of ECD services prompted the author to undertake the study. Data were collected using focus group discussions, individual interviews, document analysis, and observations. Information from literature, research reports, policies, and practices was also analyzed in order to establish the state of affairs in the provision of ECD. The data were analyzed using theme identification methods to solicit emerging issues. Generally, it was found that on issues of access, equity, and quality in ECD in Zimbabwe, there is a quality-quantity dilemma with qualitative progress less conspicuous than quantitative progress. The resultant specific challenges include： large teacher-child ratio; lack of parental involvement, lack of trained ECD specialists with expertise in using a play-based curriculum; and shortage of equipment, material resources, and age appropriate infrastructure. In most ECD settings, there were inadequate health and nutrition provisions. Water, sanitation and health （WASH） facilities were found to be insufficient in most centres. The study recommended that there is need for： equal access to quality early childhood education; provision of infrastructure, provision of ability and age appropriate resources; and health, sanitation, and nutrition services especially in rural settings. Overall, ECD programmes in Zimbabwe should strive to attain quality more than quantity services. The need to train more early childhood specialists who would drive the ECD sub-sector is emphasized.

Short-Term Financing of Economic Order Quantity （EOQ） Inventory Model With Probabilistic Quality

In this paper, the classical economic order quantity （EOQ） inventory model assumption that all items of a certain product received from a supplier are of perfect quality is relaxed. Another basic assumption that the payment for the items is made at the beginning of the inventory cycle when they are received is also eased. We consider an inventory situation where items received from the supplier are of two types of quality, perfect and imperfect, and a short deferral in payment is allowed. The split between perfect and imperfect quality items is assumed to follow a known probability distribution. Both qualities of items have continuous demands, and items of imperfect quality are sold at a discount. A mathematical model is developed using the net present value of all cash flows involved in the inventory cycle. A numerical method for obtaining the optimal order quantity is presented, and the impact of the short-term financing is analyzed. An example is presented to validate the equations and illustrate the results.

Adapting Grice's maxims in the teaching of writing

Grice's maxims,which define the conditions for efficient spoken communication,can be adapted to the teaching of writing by providing both teachers and writers with a way of understanding successful and unsuccessful written correspondence in mono-and cross-cultural settings.A survey of lay readers' responses to a sample letter which show that,while there are individual differences in the way these maxims are interpreted,readers expect clarity,brevity,and sincerity,and writing which fails to meet these expectations will be unfavorably received.Also discussed are the issues of contrastive rhetoric,and ways of helping writers to position themselves in relation to their real or imagined reader.

Coupling Effect of Water and Phosphate on Economic Traits of Sugarcane

[Objective] The aim was to study the coupling effect of water and phosphate on economic traits of sugarcane. [Method] Taking sugarcane variety ROC22 as tested material,coupling effects of different levels of water supply quantity and different levels of phosphorus fertilizer on the yield and quality of sugarcane were studied. Among them,water supply quantity had 3 levels,that was,the water supply quantity per 10 days from the early tillering stage of sugarcane to the end of elongation was 199.5 m3/hm2 (A1),400.5 m3/hm2 (A2) and 600.0 m3/hm2 (A3),respectively; Phosphorus fertilizer as basic fertilizer had 4 levels:P2O5 0 kg/hm2 (B1),120 kg/hm2 (B2),240 kg/hm2 (B3) and 360 kg/hm2 (B4). [Result] Treatment A3B2 in water-fertilizer coupling was more suitable to improve economic traits of sugarcane. [Conclusion] The research results provide theoretical basis for the efficient utilization of water and phosphorus fertilizer in production of Guangxi sugarcane and the cultivation of high-yield and high-glucose sugarcane.

Design of Trinity Framework for Cultivated Land Protection

Starting with the goals and tasks of quantity,quality and ecological protection in different scales,this paper constructs a"trinity"framework of cultivated land protection system,and puts forward the key points of cultivated land protection in different scales.Finally,a preliminary evaluation is made on the quantity,quality and ecological protection of cultivated land on a macro scale in China.

Impact of Workspace Design in Indian Context on Occupant＇s Behavior, to Enhance Efficiency and Comfort

The environmental psychology ofa workspace is a rich and diverse field of study that is growing fast and gaining popularity. The indoor environmental factors in workspaces should follow functional as well as behavioral requirements as the spaces are designed as per the user＇s requirements, needs and aspirations. These play a major role in achieving behavioral impact on the user, as sense of well-being in the environment and physical comfort in the space enhances the productivity and efficiency of the user of the space. The slow and gradual importance of this issue in workspace design with Indian context, post occupancy evaluation can be adjudged as a permanent tool for improving indoor environment in buildings. Occupants should be used as a benchmark of evaluation, showing correlation of physical measurements and subjective parameters. It also suggests recommendations to improve quality of indoor environment in office buildings with analytical study, an important step in post occupancy evaluation. The objective of the paper is to inquire how people experience environmental psychology of the workspace as the determinants are efficiency, productivity and comfort. The success of any design depends upon the degree to which it creates an interface between the user and the environment.

China's Garment Industry——A Leap from Quantity to Quality

The civilization ofChina’s dress andadornment has a distantsource and a long stream.In recent years,motivatedby both the internationaland domestic markets,China’s garment industryshows a rapid growthtrend.Authoritativepersonnel points out thatfollowing the initialformation of moderngarment industry system,and garment developmentmechanism which meetwith market economyoperation law,China’sgarment industry hasdeveloped from anexpansion ofquantity to a leapof quality.

Meaning in the Holy Quran： A Text Analysis of the ＂Surah Livestock＂ （＂A1-An＇am＂） Within the Framework of Grice＇s Theory of Implicature

The Holy Quran （1982） is the Holy Book of the Moslems and the most understandable aspect of its eloquence. One of the most interesting aspects found in different languages is the use of implicatures or implied meaning. How and why such implicatures are generated and are discussed in pragmatics？ In this study, a list of conversations （direct and indirect） from ＂Surah Livestock＂ （＂A1-An＇am＂）, the sixth Chapter of the Holy Quran, and the implicatures implied in the conversations are analyzed through a pragmatic theory： CP （Cooperative Principle）. The present study shows that in most cases, the non-observance of Grice＇s （1975） maxims is found in the maxim of Quantity and the least in Manner. Grice＇s CP and its contributory maxims have not been observed in the ＂Surah Livestock＂ in this study. All maxims of Grice have been flouted in This Surah （1982） and there is no difference among Gricean maxims as far as flouting in the Surah is concerned.

Fundamental Research on Comprehensive Exploitation and Utilization of Paragenetic Fluorite in Bayan Obo deposit of Inner Mongolia,China

Bayan Obo deposit in Inner Mongolia,China is not only the largest Iron-LREE-niobium deposit known in the world but also a giant fluorite deposit.Banded and streaky fluorite-rich REE-iron ores,bastnasiteapatite -pyroxene-fluorite ores,high-Fe,REEs,and fluorite ores,monazite(bastnaesite)-fluorite(low-Fe, high REE) ores etc.are widely disseminated in the Main and the East ore bodies.In 1985,proven

Post-Harvest Constraints: Fungi and Insects Responsible for Rice (Oryza spp) Losses during Storage in Cameroon

The magnitude of rice grain losses during storage is huge and warrants critical attention. We investigated the diversity of fungi and insect contamination related to losses of domestic and imported rice from local mills and markets, stored under room conditions for 10 weeks in Cameroon. The highest percentage discolored grain was on imported milled white rice (3.5%), 10 weeks after storage. In general, imported rice samples contained the highest fungal load with a proportion of 65.90% compared to 34.3% for domestic samples. Weight loss due to insect damage was up to 19.9% in white milled domestic rice. Among the 67 isolated fungi strains, the genus Aspergillus had the highest prevalence (63.8%). From all the samples, 877 insects were collected with 719 (81.9%) of Sitophilus. It is urgent to develop sustainable and affordable storage methods to limit insect and fungi infestation on rice in Cameroon.

Repetitive administration of cultured human CD34+cells improve adenine-induced kidney injury in mice

BACKGROUND There is no established treatment to impede the progression or restore kidney function in human chronic kidney disease(CKD).AIM To examine the efficacy of cultured human CD34+cells with enhanced proliferating potential in kidney injury in mice.METHODS Human umbilical cord blood(UCB)-derived CD34+cells were incubated for one week in vasculogenic conditioning medium.Vasculogenic culture significantly increased the number of CD34+cells and their ability to form endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming units.Adenineinduced tubulointerstitial injury of the kidney was induced in immunodeficient non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice,and cultured human UCB-CD34+cells were administered at a dose of 1×106/mouse on days 7,14,and 21 after the start of adenine diet.RESULTS Repetitive administration of cultured UCB-CD34+cells significantly improved the time-course of kidney dysfunction in the cell therapy group compared with that in the control group.Both interstitial fibrosis and tubular damage were significantly reduced in the cell therapy group compared with those in the control group(P<0.01).Microvasculature integrity was significantly preserved(P<0.01)and macrophage infiltration into kidney tissue was dramatically decreased in the cell therapy group compared with those in the control group(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Early intervention using human cultured CD34+cells significantly improved the progression of tubulointerstitial kidney injury.Repetitive administration of cultured human UCB-CD34+cells significantly improved tubulointerstitial damage in adenine-induced kidney injury in mice via vasculoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.

Quality Over Quantity

China＇s current agricultural system needs green development to bring rural improvement