Quasi-generalized variables

The numerical solution of a system of differential and algebraic equations is difficult, due to the appearance of numerical instabilities. A method is presented here which permits numerical solutions of such a system to be obtained which satisfy the algebraic constraint equations exactly without reducing the order of the differential equations. The method is demonstrated using examples from mechanics

Vitamine in Fischen

Vitamins are organic substances which are present in minute amounts in natural foodstuffs and which are essential for normal physiological functions. The short review gives an overview on the vitamin content in fish and discusses the influence of industrial production and household cooking. The vitamin contents in fish depend on the species and vary considerably. Fish is a rich source of vitamin D and B12. Some species contain also considerable amounts of niacin, vitamin B6 and vitamin E

Socioscientific decision making in the science classroom: the effect of embedded metacognitive instructions on students' learning outcomes

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of cooperative training strategies to enhance students' socioscientific decision making as well as their metacognitive skills in the science classroom. Socioscientific decision making refers to both “describing socioscientific issues” as well as “developing and evaluating solutions” to socioscientific issues. We investigated two cooperative training strategies which differed with respect to embedded metacognitive instructions that were developed on the basis of the IMPROVE method. Participants were 360 senior high school students who studied either in a cooperative learning setting (COOP), a cooperative learning setting with embedded metacognitive questions (COOP+META), or a nontreatment control group. Results indicate that students in the two training conditions outperformed students in the control group on both processes of socioscientific decision making. However, students in the COOP+META condition did not outperform students in the COOP condition. With respect to students' learning outcomes on the regulation facet of metacognition, results indicate that all conditions improved over time. Students in the COOP+META condition exhibited highest mean scores at posttest measures, but again, results were not significant. Implications for integrating metacognitive instructions into science classrooms are discussed

New narratives for the digital age (Polis Summer School guest blog) #PolisSS

The New York Times’ interactive feature article Snow fall has won all the accolades but it’s just one of the many new ways that this very traditional newspaper is reinventing story-telling. Polis Summer School student Billy Ostermeyer reports on a talk by Digital Strategy Editor Aron Pilhofer (@pilhofer)

Permanent atrial fibrillation ablation surgery in patients with advanced age

Background: Even if permanent atrial fibrillation (pAF) is a frequent concomitant problem in patients undergoing open heart surgery and particularly in those with advanced age, data of pAF ablation surgery in older aged patients are scarce. This study was performed to assess early and late results of combined open heart surgery and pAF ablation procedures in patients with advanced aged, compared to young patients. Material and Methods: A selective group of 126 patients (Group A: age ≥70 [76.4±4.8] years, n=70; Group B: age <70 [62.0±6.2] years: n=56) with pAF (≥6 months) underwent either monopolar (Group A, B: n=51 vs. n=44) or bipolar (Group A, B: n=19 vs. n=12) radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedures concomitant to open heart surgery. Regular follow-up was performed 3 to 36 months after surgery to assess survival, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and conversion rate to stable sinus rhythm (SR). Results: Early mortality (<30 days) was 2.9% in Group A (Group B: 0%), cumulative survival at long-term follow up was 0.78 vs. 0.98 (p=0.03) and NYHA-class improved significantly in both groups, particularly in cases with stable SR. At 12-months follow-up 73% of Group A patients were in stable SR (Group B 78%). Conclusions: Concomitant mono- and bipolar RF ablation surgery represents a safe option to cure pAF during open heart surgery with a very low risk, even in patients with advanced age

The Politics Over Medicare

Aaron Ostermeyer is a History major and has served as a Student Success Coach in the Mastodon Advising Center in Kettler Hall since the school year began. In this position he helps fellow students with varying issues such as test anxiety, social support, and consulting probation students. He also helps students with finding the resources they may need across campus. During spring break he was chosen to be part of the IPFW Career Services Externship Program where he served as an extern with the Allen County Superior Court and shadowed Judge Wendy Davis. Recently, he was chosen to be part of the IPFW Student Life’s Orientation Assistant team over the summer where he will be assisting incoming students and their families in becoming more familiar with our campus

30. Jahrestagung der "WestEuropean Fish Technologists' Association" in Torshavn, Faroer

In der West European Fish Technologists’ Association (WEFTA) arbeiten zahlreiche europäische Institute zusammen, die sich mit Fisch als Lebensmittel oder mit Fischtechnologie befassen. Ziel der WEFTA ist es, einen Austausch von Informationen über Forschung und ihre Ergebnisse europaweit möglich zu machen. Die Jahrestagungen sind eine gute Gelegenheit, Einblick in die Arbeiten anderer Institutionen zu erhalten und europäische Kontakte zu knüpfen. Die Tagungen sind besonders interessant für junge Wissenschaftler, die hier ihre Ergebnisse einem grösseren Publikum vorstellen konnen

GAP-Reformvorschläge der EU-Kommission: Was sind die Auswirkungen einer Kappung der Direktzahlungen?

Mit der Reform der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik nach 2013 sollen Direktzahlungen innerhalb der EU unter Berücksichtigung der neuen Mitgliedsstaaten angeglichen und gegenüber dem Steuerzahler besser begründbar werden. Im Oktober 2011 stellte die EU-Kommission konkrete Reformvorschläge vor. Sie enthalten u.a. die Teilung der Direktzahlungen in eine Basis- und eine Ökologisierungskomponente (Greening) sowie die Einführung einer betrieblichen Obergrenze für Direktzahlungen unter Anrechnung gezahlter Lohnkosten (Kappung). Am IAMO durchgeführte Simulationsrechnungen zeigen exemplarisch die Auswirkungen der Legislativvorschläge für Betriebe in der Region Altmark im Norden Sachsen-Anhalts. Demnach verlieren selbst in dieser großbetrieblich strukturierten Region nur wenige Betriebe infolge der Kappung Direktzahlungen und das auch nur in beschränktem Maße. Teilweise basiert dies auf betrieblichen Anpassungsreaktionen, wie dem Ausbau arbeitsintensiver Verfahren. Allerdings bremst die Kappung das längerfristige Wachstum betroffener Betriebe, so dass im Zeitablauf die agrarstrukturellen Effekte der Kappung zunehmen. Beides führt zu Ineffizienzen sowie zu Wettbewerbsverzerrungen. Über diese Simulationsergebnisse hinausgehend sprechen weitere ökonomische und agrarstrukturelle Aspekte gegen eine Kappung von Direktzahlungen

Simulation Results of AgriPoliS about Diminishing Capital Subsidies and Restrictions. Factor Markets Working Document No. 55, June 2013

This paper investigates the impacts of high interest rates for borrowed capital and credit restrictions on the structural development of four European regions. The method used is the model AgriPoliS which is a spatial-dynamic agent-based model. It is able to provide aggregated results at the regional level, but very individual results as well by considering farms as independent entities. Farms can choose between different investment options during the simulation. Several scenarios with different interest rates for borrowed capital on the one hand as well as with different levels of credit restrictions on the other hand are tested and compared. Results show that higher interest rates have less impact on declining production branches than on expanding ones. If they have the possibility farms invest in the most profitable production branch which relative profitability might have changed with high interest rates. Credit restrictions lead farms to choose smaller and cheaper investments than expensive and large ones. Results also show that income losses in both cases due to under-investment compared to the reference situation are partially compensated by lower rental prices. The impacts on structural change also differ depending on the region and the initial situation. In summary, credit subsidies or imperfections on credit markets might have indirect impacts on the type of dominant investment and therefore on the whole regional agricultural sector as well

Herstellung und Zusammensetzung von asiatischen Fischsaucen

Abstract Fish sauce belongs to the most important condiments in Southeast Asian cuisine. It is a clear, amber to reddish liquid with an intensive smell. Fish sauce is used instead of salt for nearly each meal. Asian fish sauce is made from anchovies and other small fish. For the traditional process whole fresh fish are mixed with salt in the ratio 1:1 to 6:1 in wooden, clay or concrete tanks at tropical temperatures for 6 to 18 months. The liquefaction of the fish tissue is due to the action of endogenous enzymes in fish and exogenous enzymes from bacteria. During the fermentation amino acids, peptides and a lot of other substances are built, which are responsible for the characteristic aroma and flavour of these sauces. You can buy pure fish sauce, diluted fish sauce and fish sauce made from other types of animals like mussels, prawns and squids. In single Asian countries there are different national standards for the quality of fish sauces. In order to get a general idea of these products we have bought 16 fish and two oyster sauces from the retail trade in Hamburg and analyzed them with physical, chemical, sensory and microbiological methods. Kurzfassung Fischsauce gehört zu den wichtigsten Würzsaucen in der südostasiatischen Küche. Es ist eine klare, bernsteinfarbene bis rötlichbraune, sehr intensiv riechende Flüssigkeit. Sie wird anstelle von Salz verwendet und daher fast zu jedem Essen gereicht. Zur Herstellung von Fischsaucen werden hauptsächlich Anchovis und ähnliche kleine Fische verwendet. Bei der traditionellen Herstellung werden die ganzen Fische mit Meersalz in einem Holzfass, Tongefäß oder Betontank im Verhältnis 1:1 bis 6:1 gemischt. Während der anschließenden 6 – 18 Monate dauernden Lagerung bei tropischen Temperaturen bauen sich die Gewebeproteine durch fischeigene Enzyme und Mikroorganismen ab. Bei diesem mehrmonatigen Fermentationsprozess entstehen die für den Geschmack wichtigen Aminosäuren, Peptide und Aromastoffe. Es gibt neben reiner Fischsauce, auch verdünnte Fischsauce und Fischsaucen aus anderen Tieren wie Muscheln, Garnelen und Tintenfische. In den einzelnen asiatischen Ländern gibt es unterschiedliche nationale Qualitätsstandards. Um diese Produktgruppe näher kennen zu lernen, haben wir 16 Fisch- und 2 Austernsaucen aus dem Einzelhandel (Hamburg) mit physikalischen, chemischen, sensorischen und mikrobiologischen Verfahren untersucht