JogoMan : a prototype using multi-agent-based simulation and role-playing games in water management : [Preprint]

JogoMan is a simplification of the real phenomena of interaction between the several actors, and it is used as a means of learning (environment education) and analysis. This prototype involves, specifically, land and water management problems in different cities with urbanization pressure, in order to better understand the problems in the scope of the Negowat Project. The focus of this paper is to present all the steps carried on to develop this prototype: UML model, Cormas implementation (some scenarios) and result analysis. In JogoMan, players decide their actions, during a RPG session, and MABS processes these actions. This paper is organized in 7 sections. In Section 2, Peri-Urban Catchments are briefly presented. In Sections 3 and 4, we show a brief review about RPG and MABS, respectively. In section 5 the use of RPG and MABS in water management is described. Section 6 presents how we structure our prototype, JogoMan, as well as the first preliminary results of its use. Finally, conclusions are presented in Section 7. (Résumé d'auteur

The Utilization of Waste Raisin Seeds

Excerpt from the report Summary: In the preceding pages it has been shown that four important commodities, namely, sirup, fixed oil, tannin extract, and meal, are capable of being made from the large quantities of grape and raisin seeds which result from the seeding of raisins and the manufacture of wine and grape juice in this country

Peach, Apricot, and Prune Kernels as By-Products of the Fruit Industry of the United States

Excerpts from p. 539 of the Experiment Station Record, Vol. XX, 1908-1909: The present commercial supply of almond oils is derived from European countries and is manufactured, not alone from almonds, but to a great extent from apricot, and in some cases, peach kernels. This bulletin contains the results of an investigation conducted to obtain information as to peach, apricot, and prune kernels, with special reference to their similarity to sweet and bitter almonds and to compare chemically the fixed and volatile oils obtainable from them. The methods of extracting these oils are discussed in detail and consideration is given to their commercial uses. The investigation shows that the fixed and volatile oils which can be derived from peach, apricot, and prune kernels compare very favorably as to their physical and chemical properties and in some cases are almost identical with the commercial oils obtained from sweet and bitter almonds. The oils from these kernels are at the present time substituted for the rarer almond oils and can be used for the same purposes. Peach, apricot, and prune kernels are cheaper and furnish a more available raw material than bitter almonds. Hence their increased use might sufficiently reduce the price of these oils and create a greater demand for them. Owing to the ready saponification of these oils they should find a demand in the toilet-soap industry, and their production in the United States is suggested on account of the large amount of raw material available. The processes of extracting and distilling fruit- kernel oils are not particularly complex and could be carried on in establishments such as canneries already equipped with steam or other power at comparatively small expense. It is suggested that the press cake, owing to its high content of nitrogenous matter, might be employed either as a stock food or as a fertilizer

Wild Volatile-Oil Plants and Their Economic Importance: I.–Black Sage; II.–Wild Sage; III.–Swamp Bay

Excerpts from p. 612 of the Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXVI, 1912: Following a discussion of the present production of volatile oils from wild plants native to the United States and their importance, this bulletin contains analyses of 3 heretofore unutilized plants, black sage (Ramona stachyoides) from California, wild sage (Artemisia frigida) from South Dakota, and swamp bay (Persea pubescens) from Florida. These plants are deemed of economic importance on account of the oils which they contain and the camphoraceous constituents which are contained in the oils themselves. Particular stress is laid upon the fields (medicine, arts, etc.) in which the above oils and their components may be used

Commercial Utilization of Waste Seed from the Tomato Pulping Industry

Contents: Profitable Utilization of Waste Materials --- Nature and Source of Tomato Waste --- Distribution and Quantity of Tomatoes Pulped Annually --- Quantity of Seed Available --- Commercial Products Obtainable from Tomato Seed -- Procedure in Handling Tomato Waste --- The Use of Exhaust Steam Compared with Live Steam --- Extracting the Oil from Tomato Seed --- Refining and Deodorizing the Oil --- Oil Cake and Meal --- Commercial Procedure for Utilizing Tomato Wastes --- Cost of Handling the Waste --- Possible Returns and Net Profits from Oil, Cake, and Meal --- Summary

Factors influencing acceptance and resistance to elearning in small-to medium-sized enterprises.

The increased sophistication of telecommunications technology during the past decade, especially with the incorporation of the use of the Internet into the mainstream of Canadian society, has resulted in a convergence of focus for the training and business sectors. The purpose of this study was to investigate what influences acceptance and resistance to a corporate elearning initiative provided by X Company to its dealer network to identify the factors affecting participation. The research used a survey design to gather both qualitative (interview instrument) and quantitative (questionnaire instrument) data to examine the factors affecting learner interest in, and resistance to, training and elearning. The results provided insight into the attitudes and perceptions of X Company employees about the training and identified areas for further attention to facilitate a ‘best practices’ approach for increasing participation. The research question explored was: “What barriers and enticers emerge regarding elearning in a group of employees offered an elearning training opportunity.” Lewin’s Force Field Theory was used to examine the driving and restraining forces that influence an individual’s ‘fields’ and was used as the framework to apply the findings to gain a clearer understanding of the factors that supported or detracted from participation in this elearning initiative. Lewin suggests that consideration of what encourages learners to embrace new methods for learning is important but equally, the factors that cause resistance to learning must be thoroughly examined. If an employee, in this instance, is motivated to try new methods of learning then participation will be high however, if they are resistant to learning their level of participation will be low. Supporting factors for elearning in this study indicated appreciation for being provided with work related training, with increased product knowledge and stronger customer service skills that were formally recognized by the employer, being the others. Detractors which appeared to cause resistance were insufficient time to complete the lessons, insufficient coaching and support, incentives that did not hold meaning and, in some cases, lack of remuneration for lesson completion. Additional detractors were inadequate technology (server freezes, incompatible plug-ins, inaccessible links to testing, inability to access using dial-up connections) and no practical assessments of learning on the store floor after lessons were completed

Analysis of Attitudes and Approaches to Problem Solving: Gender Differences and Education Levels

The main problem in this research is the low ability of students to solve physics problems. Students' attitudes and approaches to problem-solving are allegedly related to the way they study physics and their success in solving physics problems. This study demonstrated student attitudes and approaches to solving physics problems using Attitudes and Approaches to Problem Solving (AAPS) survey questions using quantitative methods. Data were collected from 1045 students. Data analysis was carried out by grouping the data by gender and education level. The t-test was used to see the differences in each group. The result showed no statistically significant differences between men and women (t = -1,65 dan Sig. = 0,098 > 0,05).  In addition, there was a significant difference in the level of education between collect students with junior and senior high school education levels (p < 0.05). The implications for practice, and the directions for future research are discussed

Takin\u27 It to the Web : Updating Operations Manuals for Today\u27s Techno-Realities

Inspired by Chelle Batchelor\u27s Training Technologies A-Zed presentation from the 2010 NWILL conference, Kathleen Spring was determined to update the out-of-date operations manual for Linfield College\u27s interlibrary loan (ILL) department while simultaneously morphing it into a more user-friendly training tool and moving it to a web-based system. For those who haven\u27t yet made the leap to web-based training tools for ILL, this presentation offers one example of what you can do to improve the training experience for your employees. Using Blackboard Learn as the content management system to house materials, this presentation demonstrates: how to leverage existing content from other departments to maximize efficiency how to use web-authoring tools like Softchalk™ to create interactive learning materials that reinforce concepts and also serve as reference materials for those less-frequent processes how to incorporate wikis, short videos/screencasts, and evaluation mechanisms

Creative Creation Printing / Marissa Lyn Rabak Francis Oscar ... [et al.]

The name of our company is CC Printing. The business is in form of partnership which consists of four members. Each partner contributes a difference amount of capital as agreed in agreement. The main activity business is designing and printing service based on our customer’s demand and choice. We are providing service such as smartphone case printing, shirt printing, cards, and others. We had agreed that Nurul Farrah ‘Ain Binti Abdul Aziz as our Chief Executive Officer and Administration Executive. Khairun Sofea Binti Ahmad Daud as the Marketing Executive, Siti Safina Binti Abdullah as the Operation Executive, and Marissa Lyn Rabak Ak Francis Oscar as our Financial Executive in our company. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible in planning, leading, controlling and organizing the business. The Marketing Executive will responsible to create the marketing plan, identifying the customer's demand and competitors, target market size and forecast the futures market. The Operation Executive is responsible to the entire job that related to the operation and will be supervised and coordinate the operation in the business. Next, the financial manager will manage the financial matters in the company such as preparing the budget and financial statement for expenses of each department and controlling the flow of money of the organization. We expect to increase the number of customers and gain our company profit. Our aim is to be one of the top ranking printing service companies in Sarawak and the other places. We hope in the future we will have an excellent record in our sales and tend to open up more branches in other states