Learning Difficulties in Chemistry: An Overview

Chemistry is often regarded as a difficult subject, an observation which sometimes repels learners from continuing with studies in chemistry. This paper seeks to bring together the general findings obtained from research over the past few decades for both school pupils and university students in an attempt to suggest the key reasons for this difficulty. Suggestions are made on ways to minimise the problems based on understandings of attitudes and motivation as well as the psychological understandings of how learning takes place

Packet Scheduling Algorithms in LTE/LTE-A cellular Networks: Multi-agent Q-learning Approach

Spectrum utilization is vital for mobile operators. It ensures an efficient use of spectrum bands, especially when obtaining their license is highly expensive. Long Term Evolution (LTE), and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) spectrum bands license were auctioned by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to mobile operators with hundreds of millions of dollars. In the first part of this dissertation, we study, analyze, and compare the QoS performance of QoS-aware/Channel-aware packet scheduling algorithms while using CA over LTE, and LTE-A heterogeneous cellular networks. This included a detailed study of the LTE/LTE-A cellular network and its features, and the modification of an open source LTE simulator in order to perform these QoS performance tests. In the second part of this dissertation, we aim to solve spectrum underutilization by proposing, implementing, and testing two novel multi-agent Q-learning-based packet scheduling algorithms for LTE cellular network. The Collaborative Competitive scheduling algorithm, and the Competitive Competitive scheduling algorithm. These algorithms schedule licensed users over the available radio resources and un-licensed users over spectrum holes. In conclusion, our results show that the spectrum band could be utilized by deploying efficient packet scheduling algorithms for licensed users, and can be further utilized by allowing unlicensed users to be scheduled on spectrum holes whenever they occur

Managing rangelands: learning from institutional experience in order to promote Bedouin participation in the Badia of Jordan

This study investigates institutional experience in managing rangeland in order to promote Bedouin participation in the Badia of Jordan, particularly in the area of the Jordan Badia Research and Development Programme (BRDP). It also investigates the attitudes of livestock owners towards the concept of managing the rangeland and their awareness of the importance of this concept to their life. In addition to secondary data which were available to this study, visits were made to some projects to improve the rangelands productivity and conserve nature. Discussions were held with local communities and personnel responsible. The most significant finding of this study is that the projects and trials of managing rangeland which did not involve local communities in setting objectives and implementing activities through prior consultation and negotiation, faced major difficulties in management and, therefore, in achieving their goals. On the other hand, those projects and trials, based on effective participation from local people including prior negotiation and consultation, had less difficulties in their management and, relatively, achieved their goals. In the light of learning from experience of a number of institutions in managing rangeland, trial demonstrations to integrate livestock owners in the BRDP area are presented in the concluding chapter

The ‘parents’ choice’: the recent perceptual changes in special education law in israel and its implementation in the field

The Israeli educational system is dealing intensively for the last two decades in the assimilation of the inclusion approach of student with special needs (SwSN) in general education. The first part of the article presents the historical development of special education in Israel as a background to the presentation of the new amendment of Special Education Law – Amendment 11 (2018). The current stage of the Eleventh Amendment implementation aims to ensure the inclusion of SwSN in the general education by an allocation of budget for his needs according to a standard assessment of his functioning level, in addition to his disability. The SwSN parents’ will decide about their child placement according to the model of “The Parents’ Choice”, and the student’s budget will be transferred to the chosen educational framework according to the “Funding Follows the Child” principle. The second part of the article presents a case study of special education school in Israel for students with intellectual developmental disabilities that gradually assimilate the spirit of the law amendment from both aspects – standard assessment of the students functioning and parental partnership, as part of professional work processes carried out at school in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) field.The Israeli educational system is dealing intensively for the last two decades in the assimilation of the inclusion approach of student with special needs (SwSN) in general education. The first part of the article presents the historical development of special education in Israel as a background to the presentation of the new amendment of Special Education Law – Amendment 11 (2018). The current stage of the Eleventh Amendment implementation aims to ensure the inclusion of SwSN in the general education by an allocation of budget for his needs according to a standard assessment of his functioning level, in addition to his disability. The SwSN parents’ will decide about their child placement according to the model of “The Parents’ Choice”, and the student’s budget will be transferred to the chosen educational framework according to the “Funding Follows the Child” principle. The second part of the article presents a case study of special education school in Israel for students with intellectual developmental disabilities that gradually assimilate the spirit of the law amendment from both aspects – standard assessment of the students functioning and parental partnership, as part of professional work processes carried out at school in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) field

The concept of the pre-lecture

This article reviews previously published work demonstrating how pre-lecture support for students can help improve end of year examination performance

Numerical Prediction of the Efficacy of Treated Wastewater Recharge to Impede Seawater Intrusion in the Coastal Aquifer of Gaza – Palestine

Water Resources Planning and Managemen

A case of IgA nephropathy and amyloidosis in patient with ankylosing spondylitis

Department of Internal Medicine Rheumatology and Nephrology, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, The 8th International Medical Congress for Students and Young Doctors, September 24-26, 2020Background. IgA nephropathy is considered the most common cause of glomerulonephritis. Traditionally it presents with gross hematuria after an upper airway infection. However, there is a considerable population presenting asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. Patients with SpA are believed to be more affected by IgA nephropathy than the general population, as the two conditions share common etiopathogenic pathways. This mechanism might involve the decreased expression of the receptor responsible for the clearance of IgA 1 and its immune complexes on the surface of monocytes and neutrophils. Another frequent association for patients with systemic inflammatory diseases is renal amyloidosis. Case report. Male patient B, 49 y.o., was admitted to the Republican Clinical Hospital in Apr 2017 with hypotension (75/50 mmHg), profuse edema of lower limbs up to inguinal area and confusional state. Patient was known with a history of Ankylosing Spondylitis since the age of 14, with IV x-ray stage of sacroiliitis, coxofemural and spine involvement. Since 1991 the patient followed regularly NSAIDs and intermittently corticosteroids in small doses. For a period of 6 years intermittent microscopic hematuria and mild proteinuria were noticed. The patient repeatedly tested with increased levels of serum IgAs, however refused kidney biopsy. In December 2016 he was admitted with fever, myalgia and arthralgia and HTA to a local intensive care unit. Upon that admittance the patient displayed oliguria, microscopic hematuria, mild proteinuria, and accelerated ESR, with a creatinine of 249 mcmol/L. Musculoskeletal complaints prompted increased doses of NSAIDs and corticosteroids (Prednisone 40 mg, and Aceclofenac 100mg x 2 /day), considering his main disease, despite the modified pattern of myalgia and peripheral arthralgia. A week after he was discharged he developed profuse edema that consequently led to his admittance to the republican hospital. Hematology revealed severe anemia, leucocytosis and accelerated ESR. Urinalysis showed normal SD, with leucocyturia up to 27 HPF, microscopic hematuria up to 80 RBCs HPF, with a proteinuria of 30 g/24h. Serum chemistry showed hypoproteinemia (32 g/L) and hypoalbuminemia (8.6 g/L), and elevated creatinine – 409 mcmol/L. Kidney biopsy was performed revealing moderate amyloid deposits. Despite initiated hemodyalisis, the patient died within 1 month from multiorgan insufficiency.Conclusions. long standing AS favored the development of IgA nephropathy in the given patient; most likely the co-occurrence of newly depicted high levels of creatinine, with hematuria and modified pattern on musculoskeletal complaints spoke about acute tubulointerstitial nephritis due to use extensive use of NSAIDs precipitating loss of kidney function particularly considering pre-existing amyloid deposits