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Reading-comprehension abilities are inextricably linked to student success in academic contexts where reading serves as a primary means for conveying course content and displaying content learning (Anderson, 2015). The scarcity of studies on reading English for academic purposes in Vietnam, generally, and the reading habits of Vietnamese university students, more specifically, created the impetus for the research reported here. The study focused on the reading habits of Vietnamese university students in English-related majors, with particular attention paid to text medium (print/digital) and text language (Vietnamese/English) preferences. Data were collected with an online survey sent to a representative sampling of public universities across Vietnam. A total of 836 students, at 17 public universities, completed the survey. Findings provide an initial snapshot of Vietnamese university English majors’ reading habits. Of particular interest are how often students consult the Web to complete university assignments, despite their preference for print materials when reading for academic purposes; what challenges students encounter when reading on the Web; how much reading is assigned for university classes; and how reading habits change across years of study. Findings suggest numerous steps that can be taken to improve EAP reading instruction in Vietnam (and elsewhere).

Products today can contain tens of billions of devices with hundreds of millions of unique layout contexts. The electrical performance of these transistors (e.g. Idsat, Vth, etc.) are highly sensitive to Layout Dependent Effects (LDE). This paper describes a novel and high-performance flow to identify a representative sampling of devices for LDE parameter extraction and simulation. Common and outlier devices can be chosen for process control monitoring. This can reduce the gap between models and silicon.

Reports of college students experiencing food insecurity (FI), defined as inadequate access, availability, adequacy, and stability of food, have sparked national calls for alleviation and prevention policies. However, there are a wide variety of FI rates reported across studies and even among recent literature reviews. The current scoping review aimed to develop a weighted estimated prevalence of FI among US students using a comprehensive search approach. In addition, study characteristics that may be related to the high variability in reported FI prevalence were explored. To address these aims, the peer-reviewed and gray literature on US college student FI was systematically searched to identify 12,044 nonduplicated records. A total of 51 study samples, across 62 records, met inclusion criteria and were included in the current review. The quality of the included studies was moderate, with an average rate of 6.4 on a scale of 0-10. Convenience (45%) and census (30%) sampling approaches were common; only 4 study samples were based on representative sampling strategies. FI estimates ranged from 10% to 75%. It was common for very low security to be as prevalent as, or more prevalent than, low food security. The surveying protocols used in the studies were related to the FI estimates. The USDA Short Form Food Security Survey Module (FSSM; 50%) and the USDA Adult FSSM (40%) prevalence estimates were larger than for the full USDA Household FSSM (13%). When these surveys referenced a 12-mo period, FI estimates were 31%. This was a lower FI estimate than surveys using reference periods of 9 mo or shorter (47%). The results indicate that FI is a pressing issue among college students, but the variation in prevalence produced by differing surveys suggests that students may be misclassified with current surveying methods. Psychometric testing of these surveys when used with college students is warranted.

To estimate realistic exposure to a chemical, the aggregate exposure from multiple consumer products should be considered. A receptor-based aggregate exposure assessment was conducted according to individuals' exposure factors and simultaneous use patterns including co-use and non-use. A product-based aggregate exposure assessment was conducted by product usage rates of population and users’ exposure factors. Two aggregate exposure assessments were compared. Exposure factors for 31 cosmetic products were collected by face-to-face interviews with 1001 members of the Korean population through national representative sampling. The concentrations of phthalates in 214 cosmetic products were analyzed by GC-MS-MS. The average aggregate exposure dose (AED) determined by the receptor-based method for di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) were 0.68 ± 0.87, 1.08 ± 5.71, and 2.47 ± 9.05 μg/kg/day, respectively. The cosmetics that contributed most to the receptor-based AED were skin care and body care products for DEHP, nail care products for DnBP, and fragrance and hair care products for DEP. The young female group showed the highest exposure. The product-based aggregate exposure assessment method underestimated high exposure but overestimated average exposure for DnBP and DEP. The receptor-based aggregate exposure assessment method would be used to determine high exposure groups.

Background Abnormal nodal disease is radiologically defined by a short axis (SA) dimension of ≥10 mm, and is the basis of NICE recommendations for sampling using EBUS. We routinely sample nodes down to 5 mm. We examined the utility of this. Method We retrospectively assessed EBUS nodal diagnoses for all patients referred (including suspected cancer and non-cancer diagnoses). Procedures were performed under light-moderate sedation in ˜98% of cases. A systematic nodal examination was performed prior to sampling, and nodes with a SA of ≥5 mm were sampled when thought to be clinically relevant for decision-making. Samples were obtained using 4 needle passes with an EBUS-22G-O Cook needle. Samples were placed directly into formalin and processed as cell blocks. Samples were defined as non-representative (no lymphoid or diagnostic material), borderline (Pauci-lymphoid material) and representative (good nodal sampling ±diagnostic material). Results Between November 2014 and June 2018, 763 EBUS were performed, of which 487 (64%) were for suspected primary lung cancer. Of 1553 nodes sampled, the overall non-representative, borderline and representative sampling was seen in 122 (7.9%), 86 (5.5%) and 1344 (86.5%) respectively. In 764 (49%) nodes a positive result was obtained. Nodal short axis measurements were recorded in 1459 (94%) nodes with a median size of 13 mm (interquartile range 10–20 mm). Of 361 (24.7%) nodes Across size difference In the 487 patients with a suspected primary lung cancer 245/1017 (24%) nodes sampled were Conclusions Systematic examination and nodal sampling of ≤10 mm lymph nodes provides representative tissue in 80% of patients, while in lung cancer patients, 1 in 6 demonstrated malignant change.

Aim Detecting and diagnosing youth mental health issues can be challenging for General Practitioners (GPs) who are often the first to encounter them. One aim of this study was to understand the challenges GPs faced in identifying, treating and referring young people with mental health issues in Melbourne, Australia. A second aim was to identify gaps in GP knowledge and service provision in order to design a service and training program for GPs that addresses those gaps. Method A representative sampling method was used to invite GPs in south-east Melbourne to complete the study survey. Seventy-seven GPs completed the questionnaire consisting of 10 questions in 3 sections. Results The results showed that GPs who consulted with young people more often had greater levels of confidence in identifying and treating their mental health issues but not referring. Forty-four percent identified the need for training in regards to youth mental health. GPs considered that the most effective care was provided in youth-friendly spaces but tended to primarily refer young people to private providers. Conclusion GPs need access to ongoing professional development and education programs on youth mental health, in particular more severe issues such as psychosis. Specialist youth mental health services such as CYMHS/CAMHS and headspace can offer GPs support in managing mental health issues in young people. However, there is a need to strengthen the link between GPs and specialist youth mental health service. Stronger links between services will ensure young people have timely and increased access to treatment.

Grade control in underground mines aims to deliver quality tonnes to the process plant via the accurate definition of ore and waste. It comprises a decision-making process including data collection and interpretation, local estimation, development and mining supervision, ore and waste destination tracking, and stockpile management. The foundation of any grade control programme is that of high-quality samples collected in a geological context. The requirement for quality samples has long been recognised, where they should be representative and fit-for-purpose. Once a sampling error is introduced, it propagates through all subsequent processes contributing to data uncertainty, which leads to poor decisions and financial loss. Proper application of the Theory of Sampling reduces errors during sample collection, preparation, and assaying. To achieve quality, sampling techniques must minimise delimitation, extraction, and preparation errors. Underground sampling methods include linear (chip and channel), grab (broken rock), and drill-based samples. Grade control staff should be well-trained and motivated, and operating staff should understand the critical need for grade control. Sampling must always be undertaken with a strong focus on safety and alternatives sought if the risk to humans is high. A quality control/quality assurance programme must be implemented, particularly when samples contribute to a reserve estimate. This paper assesses grade control sampling with emphasis on underground gold operations and presents recommendations for optimal practice through the application of the Theory of Sampling.

Objective To determine the prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis-related symptoms in the United States. Study Design Cross-sectional analysis of a national database. Setting Representative sampling of the US adult population. Subjects and Methods The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data set, taste and smell supplement 2013-2014 was analyzed for sinonasal question responses regarding discolored nasal mucus, nasal blockage, sinus pain, and dysosmia. The individual prevalences as well as the prevalence of 2 or more of these symptoms (which would be compatible with a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis) were determined for the US population. Results After excluding adults with an intercurrent head cold, 113.5 million adults (mean age 58.2 years; 52.6% female) were analyzed. Individual symptom prevalences were dysosmia (9.17 million, 8.1%), nasal blockage (6.9 million, 6.0%), sinus pain (2.37 million, 2.1%), and discolored mucous (1.28 million, 1.1%). Overall, 14.8 million (13.0%) adults had exactly 1 sinonasal symptom, and 2.37 million adults (2.1%) responded with 2 or more cardinal symptoms for chronic rhinosinusitis. With respect to sex, 1.9% of males reported 2 or more symptoms compatible with chronic rhinosinusitis vs 2.2% of females ( P = .690), which is not statistically significant. Conclusion Of US adults, 2.1% meet symptom criteria for the potential diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis at any given time. Further objective corroboration with a physical exam and determination of duration of symptoms would be required to determine the true prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis, but this point prevalence represents the potential population at risk for chronic rhinosinusitis in the United States.

To promote digital transformation, equal emphasis needs to be placed on digital skills development as to infrastructure development. Integral to investment in digital skills development is the subsequent management and evaluation of digital training programmes. This paper assesses mechanisms to ensure digital training programmes are adequately managed using a standardized data collection framework to measure an internationally accepted digital literacy index. Such an index requires an agile definition of digital literacy, responsive to the fluid nature of the digital economy. The paper also explores the extent to which a G20 advisory body may inform a nationally representative data collection strategy within the context of a data collection process that is cognizant of the evolving demands of businesses and users alike.

Cardiac therapies are commonly tested preclinically in small-animal models of myocardial infarction. Following functional evaluation, post-mortem histological analysis is essential to assess morphological and molecular alterations underlying the effectiveness of treatment. However, non-methodical and inadequate sampling of the left ventricle often leads to misinterpretations and variability, making direct study comparisons unreliable. Protocols are provided for representative sampling of the ischemic mouse heart followed by morphometric analysis of the left ventricle. Extending the use of this sampling to other types of in situ analysis is also illustrated through the assessment of neovascularization and cellular engraftment in a cell-based therapy setting. This is of interest to the general cardiovascular research community as it details methods for standardization and simplification of histo-morphometric evaluation of emergent heart therapies. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Aim. We studied quality of life indicators in the city of Kizilurt (Republic of Dagestan) by representative sampling of 1,354 people aged from18 to 86 years (785 women and 569 men). Methods . The study was performed using the SF-36 Health Survey in accordance with the requirements of the International Quality of Life Assessment Project. Results. As the study showed, with age there is a decrease in quality of life among both male and female population. The most marked age-related decline of population quality of life is marked by physical functioning scale. The average values of life quality indicators, studied for 8 scales SF-36, ranged from 59.4 (the scale of general health) to 80.5 (the scale of physical functioning). Quality of life of the male population is higher than that of the female on all rating scales of the survey. Thus, we revealed the biggest gender differences on the physical functioning scale, while the smallest on the social functioning scale. Conclusion . These population-based studies of life quality made possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of various medical and social and economic programs aimed at improving the quality of life and well-being. They can serve as indicators of the environmental component, significantly complementing the overall picture of environmental research.

An unprecedented on its scale Ebola fever epidemic, caused by Zaire ebolavirus, has been registered in the territory of West Africa in 2014-2015. The virus quickly spread from the Republic of Guinea into the neighboring countries. Presented are the results of comparative analysis between three Zaire ebolavirus genomes, the complementary DNA of which was obtained from the samples from Ebola fever patients in the Republic of Guinea in 2014. The nucleotide sequences of the genomes received have allowed for identification of phylogenetic affinity to certain references, displayed in the database of NCBI GenBank. General phylogenetic analysis by means of representative sampling has revealed two trends of genome evolutionary development from one and the same ancestral form. The first branch of evolution is represented by a relatively small number of Zaire ebolavirus isolates, disseminated in Guinea. The second one, the most numerous trend, is generated by four variants of Zaire ebolavirus genome, which have been identified starting from May - early June, 2014 in Sierra-Leone, but within a short period of time they have won the whole territory of the country and the neighboring Guinea and Liberia.

Quantitative macro-Raman spectroscopy was applied to the analysis of the bulk composition of pharmaceutical drug powders. Powders were extracted from seven commercial lactose-carrier-based dry-powder inhalers: Flixotide 50, 100, 250, and 500 μg/dose (four concentrations of fluticasone propionate) and Seretide 100, 250, and 500 μg/dose (three concentrations of fluticasone propionate, each with 50 μg/dose salmeterol xinafoate). Also, a carrier-free pressurized metered-dose inhaler of the same combination product, Seretide 50 (50 μg fluticasone propionate and 25 μg salmeterol xinafoate per dose) was tested. The applicability of a custom-designed dispersive macro-Raman instrument with a large sample volume of 0.16 μL was tested to determine the composition of the multicomponent powder samples. To quantify the error caused by sample heterogeneity, a Monte Carlo model was developed to predict the minimum sample volume required for representative sampling of potentially heterogeneous samples at the microscopic level, characterized by different particle-size distributions and compositions. Typical carrier-free respirable powder samples required a minimum sample volume on the order of 10−4 μL to achieve representative sampling with less than 3% relative error. In contrast, dosage forms containing non-respirable carriers (e.g., lactose) required a sample volume on the order of 0.1 μL for representative measurements. Error analysis of the experimental results showed good agreement with the error predicted by the simulation.

Election forecasts have traditionally been based on representative polls, in which randomly sampled individuals are asked for whom they intend to vote. While representative polling has historically proven to be quite eective, it comes at considerable nancial and time costs. Moreover, as response rates have declined over the past several decades, the statistical benets of representative sampling have diminished. In this paper, we show that with proper statistical adjustment, non-representative polls can be used to generate accurate election forecasts, and often faster and at less expense than traditional survey methods. We demonstrate this approach by creating forecasts from a novel and highly non-representative survey dataset: a series of daily voter intention polls for the 2012 presidential election conducted on the Xbox gaming platform. After adjusting the Xbox responses via multilevel regression and poststratication , we obtain estimates in line with forecasts from leading poll analysts, which were based on aggregating hundreds of traditional polls conducted during the election cycle. We conclude by arguing that non-representative polling shows promise not only for election forecasting, but also for measuring public opinion on a broad range of social, economic and cultural issues.

Estimates of the distribution, migration, and accumulation of trace elements using mosses as bioindicators have successfully been used in biomonitoring studies since at least the 1970s. Chemical analysis of moss samples is also an important tool for assessing concentrations of elements in analyzed material at a given time. To achieve satisfactory accuracy in environmental studies, the best sampling approach must be used. Methods for the estimation of uncertainty derived from analytical procedures are well recognized, but the errors generated as a result of sampling are very often overlooked. Sampling uncertainty can be managed by a judicious selection of the sampling method, the amount of samples collected, and by following appropriate type of sampling protocols. The sampling protocol generally contains information about location of sampling sites, time of sampling (e.g., season), the species collected, type of sample (single, sub-sample), and monitored parameters (e.g., climate, analyzed substances). Information about seasonal variability; topographic, climatic, edaphic, and hydrologic conditions (type and amount of precipitation, rosewind); age; and part of plant that was collected is often ignored. There is no precise information on how these factors affect the sampling step and overall uncertainty over what procedures must be followed to reduce errors derived from plant sampling. This information is necessary when long-range and comparative studies are conducted. In this paper, we review how individual factors, such as (i) type of sampling strategy, (ii) representative sampling, (iii) seasonal variability, and (iv) which part of the plant is collected, may influence the concentration of trace elements in moss tissues and the level of uncertainty associated with sampling. In addition, we also discuss plant sample preparation techniques and how this may cause an uncontrolled element loss.

The drug abuse is one of the most important medical and social problems of the youth. The problems with illegal and dangerous using of psychoactive drugs of different chemical categories by schoolchildren are caused by common social and psychological risk factors. Thus, in many research studies, all drugs and solvent substances are covered by general concept of "narcotic substances". The study purpose is to develop an evidence database related to efficiency of common prevention measures and to development of sound recommendations of its management. The study included sociological survey of representative sampling of 445 schoolchildren aged from 14 to 17 years. The relationship between participation in preventive activities (factorial sign) and development of objective concepts about harm of drug abuse and possibilities of narcology (resulting sign) are studied using calculation of relative risk and its confidence interval. The study proves the positive effect of lecturing of specialists, psychological lessons and trainings, review of thematic video materials. The involvement of schoolchildren into development of agitation materials concerning healthy life-style and into reading of special literature is considered as effective in case of their implementation after target group received initial knowledge about problems of drug abuse and toxicomania. The study proved the negative effect of independent search of information about drugs in Internet, fabrication agitation materials about harm of drugs by adolescents, discussions based on opposite opinions and all forms of communication with patients with drug addiction. The necessity of widespread implementation of target advanced training of managers of preventive measures application.

One of the main problems that arise in the assessment of air quality in an area is to estimate the number of representative sampling points of each microenvironment within it. We present a new model that reduces the variability and increases the quality of the comparison of the sampling points. The study is based on the comparison between a city in eastern Spain, Vila-real, a macro city in Mexico, Monterrey and the Piemonte region regarding the assessment of PM10 in microenvironments. Vila-real is located in the province of Castellon. This province is a strategic area in the framework of European Union (EU) pollution control. On the other hand, Monterrey in Mexico, located in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, has several problems with particulate material in the atmosphere produced by the extraction of building materials in the hill that surround the city. Finally, the Piemonte region, which is located in the north of Italy, has to be in consideration due to higher concentrations of PM10 in the Po river basin. In the case of Vila-real the PM10 samples were collected by a medium volume sampler according to European regulations. Particle concentration levels were determined gravimetrically (EN 12341:1999). In the case of Monterrey the PM10 concentrations were determined by Beta Ray Attenuation according to US-EPA regulations. In the Piemonte region, the average concentration of PM10 was also obtained by means of the Beta Ray Attenuation as well as using gravimetric instruments. The methodology carried out in this paper is a useful tool for developing future Air Quality Plans in other industrialised areas.

Representative sampling and adequate sample preparation are key factors for successful performance of further steps in foodomic analyses, as well as for correct data interpretation. Incorrect sampling and improper sample preparation can be sources of severe bias in foodomic analyses. It is well known that both wrong sampling and sample treatment cannot be corrected anymore. These, in the past frequently neglected facts, are now taken into consideration, and the progress in sampling and sample preparation in foodomics is reviewed here. We report the use of highly sophisticated instruments for both high‐performance and high‐ throughput analyses, as well as miniaturization and the use of laboratory robotics in metabolomics, proteomics, peptidomics, and genomics.

MOOCs have attracted a large number of learners with different education background all over the world. Despite its increasing popularity, MOOCs still suffer from the problem of high drop-out rate. One important reason may be due to the difficulty in understanding learning demand and user interests. To helper users find the most suitable courses, personalized course recommendation technology has become a hot research topic in e-learning and data mining community. One of the keys to the success of personalized course recommendation is a good user modeling method. Previous works in course recommendation often focus on developing user modeling methodology which learns latent user interests from historic learning data. Recently, interactive course recommendation has become more and more popular. In this paradigm, recommender systems can directly query user interests through survey tables or questionnaires and thus the learned interests may be more accurate. In this paper, we study the user interest acquisition problem based on the interactive course recommendation framework (ICRF). Under this framework, we systematically discuss different settings on querying user interests. To reduce performance-cost score, we propose the ICRF user interest acquisition algorithm that combines representative sampling and interest propagation algorithm to acquire user interests in a cost-effective way. With extensive experiments on real-world MOOC course enrollment datasets, we empirically demonstrate that our selective acquisition strategy is very effective and it can reduce the performance-cost score by 30.25% compared to the traditional aggressive acquisition strategies.

Legionella spp. represent a significant health risk for humans. To ensure hygienically safe drinking water, technical guidelines recommend a central potable water hot (PWH) supply temperature of at least 60°C at the calorifier. In a clinic building we monitored whether slightly lowered temperatures in the PWH system led to a systemic change in the growth of these pathogens. In four separate phases we tested different scenarios concerning PWH supply temperatures and disinfection with chlorine dioxide (ClO2). In each phase, we took 5 sets of samples at 17 representative sampling points in the building's drinking water plumbing system. In total we collected 476 samples from the PWH system. All samples were tested (culture-based) for Legionella spp. and serogroups. Additionally, quantitative parameters at each sampling point were collected, which could possibly be associated with the presence of Legionella spp. (Pseudomonas aeruginsoa, heterotrophic plate count at 20°C and 36°C, temperatures, time until constant temperatures were reached, and chlorine dioxide concentration). The presence of Legionella spp. showed no significant reactions after reducing the PWH supply temperature from 63°C to 60°C and 57°C, as long as disinfection with ClO2 was maintained. After omitting the disinfectant, the PWH system showed statistically significant growth rates at 57°C. PWH temperatures which are permanently lowered to less than recommended values should be carefully accompanied by frequent testing, a thorough evaluation of the building's drinking water plumbing system, and hygiene expertise.

Ambient bacteria and endotoxins are components of bioaerosols, which are abundant in ambient air. Exposure to ambient bacteria and endotoxins has been associated with respiratory symptoms. We monitored the spatiotemporal distributions of ambient bioaerosols in the Greater Taipei area by using multisite sampling and developed regression models for ambient bacterial and endotoxin concentrations. Forty-four representative sampling sites were selected from the Greater Taipei area. Samples were collected in 4 seasons throughout a 1-y study period. Ambient bacteria were quantified using acridine orange staining, and endotoxins were analyzed using Limulus amebocyte lysate assays. Land-use types and major determinants of the bioaerosols were used to develop regression models. Ambient bacteria ranged from < limit of detection (LOD) to 1.68 × 105 cells/m3, whereas endotoxins ranged from < LOD to 20.62 EU/m3. Significant seasonal variations were observed for both bioaerosols, with the highest concentrations observed in spring. Regression analyses revealed temperature, relative humidity, and particulate matter as the major predictors of ambient bacteria and endotoxins. No land-use type was correlated with any of the bioaerosols. The number of schools and gas stations was positively associated with both bioaerosols. The leave-one-out cross-validation R2 of the final models for ambient bacteria and endotoxins were 0.11 and 0.31, respectively. The results of this study revealed high spatiotemporal variations in the distributions of ambient bacteria and endotoxins in the Greater Taipei area. Additional potential predictors should be included in future studies to develop better predictive models for ambient bacteria and endotoxins.

The general principles for safety and nutritional evaluation of foods and feed and the potential health risks associated with hazardous compounds are described as developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and further elaborated in the European Union-funded project Safe Foods. We underline the crucial roleof sampling in foods/feed safety assessment. High quality sampling should always be applied to ensure the use of adequate and representative samples as testmaterials for hazard identification, toxicologicaland nutritional characterization of identified hazards, as well as for estimating quantitative and reliable exposure levels of foods/feed or related compoundsof concern for humans and animals. The importance ofrepresentative sampling is emphasized through examples of risk analyses in different areas of foods/feedproduction. The Theory of Sampling (TOS) is recognized as the only framework within which to ensure accuracy and precision of all sampling steps involved inthe field-to-fork continuum, which is crucial to monitor foods and feed safety. Therefore, TOS mustbe integrated in the well-established FAO/WHO risk assessment approach in order to guarantee a transparent and correct frame for the risk assessment and decisionmaking process.

Virtual reality (VR) has been proposed as a methodological tool to study the basic science of psychology and other fields. One key advantage of VR is that sharing of virtual content can lead to more robust replication and representative sampling. A database of standardized content will help fulfill this vision. There are two objectives to this study. First, we seek to establish and allow public access to a database of immersive VR video clips that can act as a potential resource for studies on emotion induction using virtual reality. Second, given the large sample size of participants needed to get reliable valence and arousal ratings for our video, we were able to explore the possible links between the head movements of the observer and the emotions he or she feels while viewing immersive VR. To accomplish our goals, we sourced for and tested 73 immersive VR clips which participants rated on valence and arousal dimensions using self-assessment manikins. We also tracked participants' rotational head movements as they watched the clips, allowing us to correlate head movements and affect. Based on past research, we predicted relationships between the standard deviation of head yaw and valence and arousal ratings. Results showed that the stimuli varied reasonably well along the dimensions of valence and arousal, with a slight underrepresentation of clips that are of negative valence and highly arousing. The standard deviation of yaw positively correlated with valence, while a significant positive relationship was found between head pitch and arousal. The immersive VR clips tested are available online as supplemental material.

South Africa, a multicultural society, has many different family structures. This chapter elaborates on the husband/father in the white Afrikaner family. The Afrikaner paterfamilias was the patriarch of his family. With the re-emergence of feminism in the 1960s and 1970s, however, more and more white Afrikaner women became involved in bringing about equality between men and women. Due to the qualitative and explorative nature of the research and the small number of cases, representative sampling was not attempted. In trying to assess what the respondents' perceptions of their family roles and their involvement in family life are, the focus fell on two relationships, the father-child, and the husband-wife. In the light of the historical overview given of the Afrikaner husband/father with his strong religious convictions, it is important to conclude this discussion of the present-day Afrikaner man by referring to the respondents' views on religion.

Introduction Poor-quality artemisinin-containingantimalarials (ACAs), including falsified and substandardformulations, pose serious health concerns in malariaendemic countries. They can harm patients, contributeto the rise in drug resistance and increase the public?smistrust of health systems. Systematic assessment of drugquality is needed to gain knowledge on the prevalence ofthe problem, to provide Ministries of Health with evidenceon which local regulators can take action.Methods We used three sampling approaches topurchase 677 ACAs from 278 outlets on Bioko Island,Equatorial Guinea as follows: convenience surveyusing mystery client (n=16 outlets, 31 samples), fullisland-wide survey using mystery client (n=174 outlets,368 samples) and randomised survey using an overtsampling approach (n=88 outlets, 278 samples). Thestated active pharmaceutical ingredients (SAPIs) wereassessed using high-performance liquid chromatographyand confirmed by mass spectrometry at threeindependent laboratories.Results Content analysis showed 91.0% of ACAs wereof acceptable quality, 1.6% were substandard and7.4% falsified. No degraded medicines were detected.The prevalence of medicines without the SAPIs washigher for ACAs purchased in the convenience surveycompared with the estimates obtained using the fullisland-wide survey-mystery client and randomised-overtsampling approaches. Comparable results were obtainedfor full island survey-mystery client and randomisedovert. However, the availability of purchased artesunatemonotherapies differed substantially according to thesampling approach used (convenience, 45.2%; fullisland-wide survey-mystery client, 32.6%; random-overtsampling approach, 21.9%). Of concern is that 37.1%(n=62) of these were falsified.Conclusion Falsified ACAs were found on Bioko Island,with the prevalence ranging between 6.1% and 16.1%,depending on the sampling method used. These findingsunderscore the vital need for national authorities to trackthe scale of ineffective medicines that jeopardise treatmentof life-threatening diseases and value of a representativesampling approach to obtain/measure the true prevalenceof poor-quality medicines. Fil: Kaur, Harparkash. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Reino Unido Fil: Allan, Elizabeth Louise. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Reino Unido Fil: Mamadu, Ibrahim. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Reino Unido Fil: Hall, Zoe. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Reino Unido Fil: Green, Michael D. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados Unidos Fil: Swamidos, Isabel. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados Unidos Fil: Dwivedi, Prabha. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados Unidos Fil: Culzoni, Maria Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina Fil: Fernandez, Facundo M.. Georgia Institute of Technology; Estados Unidos Fil: Garcia, Guillermo. Bioko Island Malaria Control Project, Medical Care Development International; Guinea Ecuatorial Fil: Hergott, Dianna. Bioko Island Malaria Control Project, Medical Care Development International; Guinea Ecuatorial Fil: Monti, Feliciano. Bioko Island Malaria Control Project, Medical Care Development International; Guinea Ecuatorial

Knowing whether or not a food contains gluten is vital for the growing number of individuals with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Questions have recently been raised about whether beef from conventionally-raised, grain-finished cattle may contain gluten. To date, basic principles of ruminant digestion have been cited in support of the prevailing expert opinion that beef is inherently gluten-free. For this study, gluten analysis was conducted in beef samples collected using a rigorous nationally representative sampling protocol to determine whether gluten was present. The findings of our research uphold the understanding of the principles of gluten digestion in beef cattle and corroborate recommendations that recognize beef as a naturally gluten-free food.

A new low-flow-rate (0.5L/min) single-nozzle impactor for the concentration of dilute aerosol particles with selected pharmaceutical applications is described in this paper. The impactor can be configured up to 11 stages with a wide range of cutoff diameters from 0.6μm to 21.1μm, enabling convenient sampling of inhalable drug particles from inhalation devices and drug production processes. Its unique single-nozzle design and removable impaction plate allow direct sample transfer for subsequent compositional, morphological, solid-state, and other analysis. Agreement between the measured size distribution of fluticasone propionate particles actuated from commercial pMDI Flixotide® 250 Evohaler® and reported data in the literature verified that the impactor stages have accurate cutoff diameters as designed. The multi-stage configuration of the impactor allows rapid separation of polydisperse aerosol particles into different size classes for further characterization. Overlapping of the Raman spectra of the double-component powders from the Seretide® 250 pMDI collected using two different methods demonstrated the applicability of the impactor for a representative sampling of multi-component aerosol particles for bulk composition analysis. A time-dependent and size-dependent stability study was conducted consuming only a single sample canister with 80mg of amorphous indomethacin particles suspended in HFA-134a. It was found that amorphous indomethacin particles converted to the γ crystalline polymorph upon storage at 45°C and that the crystallization rate is strongly size dependent. With its highly effective aerosol collection capability and accurate cutoff diameters for aerosol classification, the impactor will have various applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

Bu çalışmada, aile-bireyetkileşimi sunularak toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri, aile içi şiddet ve kadınınproblem çözme becerileri incelenerek, bu durum ve tutumların kadınlarınebeveynlik öz-yeterlik algılarına ve cezaya dayalı ebeveynlik davranışlarınaolan etkisi araştırılmıştır. Türkiye genelinde, temsili bir örneklem ile rassalyöntemle seçilmiş, 2-8 yaş arası çocuğu olan, kentsel ve kırsal yerleşim bölgelerinden 810 kadın ile görüşülmüştür. Sonuçlargöstermiştir ki, kırsal bölgelerde yaşayan, sosyo-ekonomik ve eğitim düzeyleridüşük olan anneler hem daha geleneksel cinsiyetçi tutumlara sahipler, hem deeşlerinden daha fazla şiddet görmekteler. Sosyo-ekonomik düzey kontrol edilerekyapılan yordayıcı analizlerin sonuçlarına göre de, daha geleneksel cinsiyetçitutumlara sahip, eşinden fiziksel ve duygusal şiddet gören veçaresiz hisseden anneler, çocuklarına karşı daha çok cezaya dayalı disiplindavranışlarını göstermektedirler., In the current study, the family and individualinteraction was presented by examining the gender role attitudes, within familyviolence and problem solving abilities of women. In addition, the associationof these attitudes with the parental self-efficacy and harsh parentingbehaviors in women was examined. A representative sample with a probabilityproportional to size was composed of 810 women who had children aged 2-8, andthe women were randomly recruited in the study. The results showed that, women who lived in rural areas and who had loweducation and socio-economic status had traditional gender role attitudes,experienced more violence from their husbands. The regression analysesindicated that mothers who had traditional gender role attitudes, experiencedmore physical and emotional violence from their husbands and felt desperate,displayed higher levels of harsh parenting behaviors towards their children.

Background Negative public attitudes toward stuttering have been widely reported, although differences among countries and regions exist. Clear reasons for these differences remain obscure. Purpose Published research is unavailable on public attitudes toward stuttering in Portugal as well as a representative sample that explores stuttering attitudes in an entire country. This study sought to (a) determine the feasibility of a country-wide probability sampling scheme to measure public stuttering attitudes in Portugal using a standard instrument (the Public Opinion Survey of Human Attributes–Stuttering [ POSHA–S ]) and (b) identify demographic variables that predict Portuguese attitudes. Methods The POSHA–S was translated to European Portuguese through a five-step process. Thereafter, a local administrative office-based, three-stage, cluster, probability sampling scheme was carried out to obtain 311 adult respondents who filled out the questionnaire. Results The Portuguese population held stuttering attitudes that were generally within the average range of those observed from numerous previous POSHA–S samples. Demographic variables that predicted more versus less positive stuttering attitudes were respondents’ age, region of the country, years of school completed, working situation, and number of languages spoken. Non-predicting variables were respondents’ sex, marital status, and parental status. Conclusion A local administrative office-based, probability sampling scheme generated a respondent profile similar to census data and indicated that Portuguese attitudes are generally typical.

Author Summary: Proper execution of representative sampling and laboratory mass reduction procedures are critical for the validity and reliability of chemical analyses of highly heterogeneous biomass fuels. In the study reported by Thy et al., it was demonstrated that faulty sampling had resulted in apparent ash compositions that differed from the true compositions by factors of two to three for many major oxides. Analytical results based on non-representative samples may thus not be representative for the specific fuel and processes being studied. Despite the general acceptance that accurate and representative compositions is a critical prerequisite for understanding reactions and elemental fractionation, the biomass energy community appears largely to have ignored the critical issues surrounding representative primary sampling. This can have resulted in misleading or faulty conclusions and may have restricted reliable predictive modelling.First published in TOS Forum Issue 1, 7 (2013)

Most of the available analytical techniques do not comply with the need for direct trace element analysis of samples of mass exceeding the order of grams. Instead sub-sampling methods are used to obtain representative sampling of the studied material. Large Sample Neutron Activation Analysis (LSNAA) is a powerful technique, which can fulfill this need in a non-destructive way, free of sample size restrictions due to the high penetrating properties of neutrons and gamma rays in matter. However, corrections are required in order to obtain quantitative analysis results. Due to its distinct advantage to allow for the analysis of whole objects, LSNAA has found successful applications in diverse fields of science and technology. In the present study, the LSNAA method and applications representative of the capabilities of the technique are presented. Moreover, recent developments and future perspectives of the technique are discussed.

Real-world evidence (RWE) provides a potential rich source of additional information to the body of data available from randomized clinical trials (RCTs), but there is a need to understand the strengths and limitations of RWE before it can be applied to clinical practice. To gain insight into current thinking in clinical decision making and utility of different data sources, a representative sampling of US cardiologists selected from the current, active Fellows of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) were surveyed to evaluate their perceptions of findings from RCTs and RWE studies and their application in clinical practice. The survey was conducted online via the ACC web portal between 12 July and 11 August 2017. Of the 548 active ACC Fellows invited as panel members, 173 completed the survey (32% response), most of whom were board certified in general cardiology (n = 119, 69%) or interventional cardiology (n = 40, 23%). The survey results indicated a wide range of familiarity with and utilization of RWE amongst cardiologists. Most cardiologists were familiar with RWE and considered RWE in clinical practice at least some of the time. However, a significant minority of survey respondents had rarely or never applied RWE learnings in their clinical practice, and many did not feel confident in the results of RWE other than registry data. These survey findings suggest that additional education on how to assess and interpret RWE could help physicians to integrate data and learnings from RCTs and RWE to best guide clinical decision making.

The method of input accountancy for a used oxide fuel reprocessing plant has been based on the sampling of a homogenized liquid stream of dissolved used oxide fuel. This article presents an alternative sampling strategy where samples are taken directly from solid oxides. The strategy is to obtain a representative sample while not requiring the homogenization of the input materials. A theoretical derivation is given to determine the sample quantity for satisfying the sampling error requirement.

Though productivity of an organisation is influenced by many factors like skill set, wages, qualification, etc. personality trait of an employee is an important contributor. The present research attempts to identify the significance of relationship between the demographic factors of the employees and the productivity in the office of architects with and without the consideration of personality traits of employees. The survey for the study was carried out in 80 architects' offices located in Iran and India. The data was collected through a self-administered survey questionnaire using random sampling method on the basis of representative sampling. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS ver. 20. Chi-square test was used to test association between demographic factors and productivity. The study shows that there is a significant influence of demographic factors on employees' productivity while taking into consideration the different personality types.

Based on the representative sampling of experimental data and processing of the obtained results, a method of determination of the service life of the instrument for cold sheet s is developed. The method is based on correlation between the magnetic, mechanical and physical-chemical (chemical composition, thermal processing mode, plastic deformation, micro- and macrostress, positioning of dislocations, etc.) properties of the die tool materials.

Purpose: Innovation in a firm is performed in social contexts. Innovation is embedded in a network of relations around the firm, at micro-level, and in society, at macro-level. Innovation benefits from networking, but innovation, networking, and benefit of networking are hypothesized to differ between China and the rest of the world. Method: A fairly representative sample of 24,937 firms around the world, including 706 in China, reported on networking and innovation in Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2012. These data on firms in many countries are analyzed by hierarchical mixed-linear models. Findings: Networking and innovation are as extensive in China as abroad, and networking benefits innovation considerably, but the benefit in China is significantly less than in the rest of the world. Value: This study seems the first to ascertain benefit of networking for innovation in China compared to elsewhere, using representative sampling so findings generalize to China and the World.

Representativeness of sampling has often been neglected for heterogeneous discrete materials such as biomass or products there from, potentially leading to inaccurate and non-reproducible/imprecise results. Here, we investigate how elemental and PAH concentrations in specimen non-probabilistically selected from a 750 kg biochar lot by grab sampling after initial mixing differ from those obtained from presumably probabilistically gathered samples by iterative mass reduction with fractional shoveling and repeated mixing. To assess reproducibility/precision, the concentration dependent relative standard deviations (RSD) are compared with the empirical Horwitz function, describing the within-laboratory RSD for multiple analyses, and by an F-test. While the precision was generally better for the samples, it was still satisfactory (RSD within 10%) for elemental concentrations in the specimen. However, replicates of specimen varied by 37% for PAHs. This number could be reduced to 4% in presumably representative samples. Accuracy as assessed by t-tests of specimen and samples revealed significant, but overall minor differences for some elements.

Confidence of monitoring data is dependent on their variability and representativeness of sampling in space and time. Whereas variability can be assessed as statistical confidence limits, representative sampling is related to equidistant sampling, considering gradients or changing rates at sampling gaps. By the proposed method both aspects are combined, resulting in balanced results for examples of total nitrogen concentrations in the German Bight/North Sea. For assessing sampling representativeness surface areas, vertical profiles and time periods are divided into regular sections for which individually the representativeness is calculated. The sums correspond to the overall representativeness of sampling in the defined area/time period. Effects of not sampled sections are estimated along parallel rows by reducing their confidence, considering their distances to next sampled sections and the interrupted gradients/changing rates. Confidence rating of time sections is based on maximum differences of sampling rates at regular time steps and related means of concentrations.

Plastic has emerged as a common pollutant in marine environments. The majority of the plastic debris in oceans originate from river streams. Some of these debris will end up being accumulated in estuaries. This study aimed to investigate the seasonal variation of plastic debris accumulation in the estuary of Wonorejo River in Surabaya, Indonesia. This research focused on the amount of visible plastic debris (VPD) accumulated along the seashore of Madura Strait during the dry and rainy seasons. Three representative sampling points (SPs) were chosen in the Wonorejo River Estuary area. Data normality was tested using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and resulted in normally distributed data. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the correlation between seasonal variation and the accumulation of VPD in all SPs. Tukey’s honest significance test was used to further analyze the significance of the accumulated VPD in each season. Result showed that the accumulation of VPD was significantly higher during the rainy season compared to dry season (p

Material sampling is a critical component in mining and mineral processing industries. Nonetheless, sampling is often considered to be a simple matter and, as such, non-rigorous sampling protocols are often applied. The use of inappropriate methods produces inferior, non-representative estimates of sampling target composition. To address weaknesses in sampling protocols and evaluate the representativeness of collected samples, we performed a feasibility study of the ability of handheld X-ray fluorescence (HHXRF) to achieve a satisfactory characterization of a raw material lot at a pyrometallurgical ferrosilicon plant. Using composite and grab samples, we determined the various sampling error manifestations stemming from the fundamental sampling error, grouping and segregation error, as well as increment delimitation, increment extraction, and increment preparation errors), and performed a first foray determination of optimal sample mass, and estimated the heterogeneity within the sampling target. HHXRF results were compared with the results obtained using laboratory XRF. A first estimate of optimized sample mass for HHXRF was 10 kg, given the large size of crushed quartz blocks used in ferrosilicon plants—roughly cubic, 10 cm per side; accuracy improved with increased sample mass (18% error with a 10 kg sample versus 35% error when using a 1 kg sample). A 10 kg sample is also the mass a technician can realistically transport from the sampling site to the preparation facilities. The main contribution to the global estimation error is from primary sampling. Variographic analysis illustrated a sill equal to the nugget effect, indicating that two adjacent samples are no more similar than two samples separated by larger distance; this suggests equal spatial heterogeneity at all scales larger than the increment mass in the sampling target. Analytically, the HHXRF and desktop XRF results compared very well. Overall, the error associated with our first attempt at field composite sampling was half of that obtained via grab sampling for both the HHXRF and desktop XRF protocols. Relative to conventional analysis based on grab sampling and analysis via desktop XRF, the use of handheld XRF coupled with composite sampling would appear to be a feasible approach for an improved sampling protocol for obtaining fit-for-purpose characterizations of industrial quartzite.

Grade control aims to deliver adequately defined tonnes of ore to the process plant. The foundation of any grade control programme is collecting high-quality samples within a geological context. The requirement for quality samples has long been recognised, in that these should be representative and fit-for-purpose. Correct application of the Theory of Sampling reduces sampling errors across the grade control process, in which errors can propagate from sample collection through sample preparation to assay results. This contribution presents three case studies which are based on coarse gold-dominated orebodies. These illustrate the challenges and potential solutions to achieve representative sampling and build on the content of a previous publication. Solutions ranging from bulk samples processed through a plant to whole-core sampling and assaying using bulk leaching, are discussed. These approaches account for the nature of the mineralisation, where extreme gold particle-clustering effects render the analysis of small-scale samples highly unrepresentative. Furthermore, the analysis of chip samples, which generally yield a positive bias due to over-sampling of quartz vein material, is discussed.

The article studies on the basis of empirical material embracing sociological research made in Zaporizhzhya – one of Ukrainian industrial centers – the problem of state and type of responsibility among citizens particularly and in Ukrainian society in general. Research method: questioner survey on the basis of representative sampling among adults. Research results: the information set demonstrates the people’s reflection of their attitude to their responsibility in a society. Empirical results are supported by theoretical interpretation and generalizations.

O presente trabalho investigou a associação entre a capacidade funcional e utilização de serviços de saúde entre idosos residentes na Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Participaram do estudo 1.624 idosos (≥ 60 anos) selecionados por meio de amostra probabilística. A variável dependente foi a utilização de serviços de saúde, baseada em três descritores: número de consultas médicas, consultas domiciliares e hospitalizações. A variável independente de interesse foi a capacidade funcional, medida pelo relato de dificuldade em realizar atividades instrumentais (AIVD) e básicas (ABVD) de vida diária. A primeira esteve associada apenas à hospitalização (RP = 1,62; IC95%: 1,16-2,26) e a segunda apresentou-se associada à hospitalização (RP = 1,73; IC95%: 1,24-2,42) e à consulta domiciliar (RP = 8,54; IC95%: 4,22-17,27). Os resultados mostraram maior utilização de serviços de saúde, sobretudo aqueles mais onerosos, entre idosos com incapacidade funcional, e que a dimensão funcional não tem sido balizadora da atuação dos serviços, ainda condicionada à presença de doenças. This study focused on the association between disability and use of health services among elderly individuals in Greater Metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The study included 1,624 elderly patients (≥ 60 years) selected by representative sampling. The dependent variable was use of health services, based on three descriptors: number of physician visits, home consultations, and hospitalizations. The target independent variable was disability, including difficulty in performing activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). IADL was only associated with hospitalization (PR = 1.62; 95%CI: 1.16-2.26), while ADL was associated with hospitalization (PR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.24-2.42) and home consultations (PR = 8.54; 95%CI: 4.22-17.27). The findings show increased use of health services (especially more costly ones) among older adults with disabilities, and that functional health dimensions have not oriented health services, still largely conditioned on the presence of diseases. Este estudio investigó el patrón de asociación entre la capacidad funcional y el uso de los servicios de salud entre los ancianos que viven en el área metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil. El estudio incluyó a 1.624 pacientes ancianos (≥ 60 años), seleccionados por muestreo aleatorio. La variable dependiente fue el uso de los servicios de salud, sobre la base de tres descriptores: número de visitas al médico, visitas a domicilio y hospitalizaciones. La variable independiente fue la capacidad funcional, definida por la dificultad informada en la realización de actividades básicas de la vida diaria (ABVD) y actividades instrumentales de la vida diaria (AIVD). La dificultad en la realización de AIVD sólo se asoció con la hospitalización (RP = 1,62; IC95%: 1,16-2,26), mientras que la limitación funcional en actividades de la vida diaria se presenta asociada a la hospitalización (RP = 1,73; IC95%: 1,24-2,42) y a la consulta en casa (RP = 8,54; IC95%: 4,22-17,27). Estos resultados apuntan una mayor utilización de los servicios de salud entre los adultos mayores con limitaciones funcionales, especialmente en los más caros, como la hospitalización y consulta en casa, y que la dimensión funcional no ha guiado estos servicios, aún condicionados por la presencia de enfermedades.

To find representative sampling sizes and units, adult numbers and distributions inside 2700 kg wheat were generated by a computer program. The generated densities of insects with uniform or clumped distributions inside the grain mass were: 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 adults/kg of grain (A/kg). The grain mass was artificially sampled by the computer program using different combinations of sampling sizes and units. The simulated sampling sizes (number of samples in one sampling set) were: 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 100. The simulated sampling units were: 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 13.5 kg. When 100 sampling size and a 13.5 kg sampling unit were applied, 50% of the total grain was sampled. Simulation results revealed that more samples were required to detect clumped distributed insects than uniformly distributed insects. Both sample size and unit should be increased with the decrease of insect densities. When insect density was 0.1 A/kg, using 2.5–7.5 kg sampling units would sample less grain mass than that using other sample units to detect insects. To estimate insect density with certain accuracy, sampling size and unit should be properly selected. Using sampling method to estimate insect densities with less than 60% of percent relative variance might not be practical when insect densities were less than 1.0 A/kg. Insect distribution could be incorrectly characterized when sampling size and unit were not chosen correctly. When insect densities were ≤0.5 A/kg, ≥100 sampling sizes with ≥10.0 kg sampling unit were required to accurately characterize insect distribution.

Author Summary: July 2013 saw the conclusion of a five-year project, design, development and quality assurance of a new generic sampling standard: DS 3077 Horizontal. DS 3077 Horizontal is published by the Danish Standardisation Authority (DS). Development of this standard was carried out by task force DS F-205. This contribution summarises the history of this endeavour, focuses on a few salient highlights and pays tribute to the taskforce and to a group of external collaborators responsible for initial proof-of-concept and the final practical quality assurance. DS 3077 describes the minimum Theory of Sampling (TOS) competence basis upon which any sampler must rely in that sampling can be documentable as representative, both with respect to accuracy and reproducibility. It represents a consensus based on industry, academe, official regulatory bodies, professionals, students and other interested individuals.

The discipline of process mineralogy developed through the recognition that metallurgical flowsheets could be optimised by thorough characterisation of the precursor ore mineralogy, mineral associations, grain size and textures. In a procedure analogous to process mineralogy it is shown here that effective characterisation of mine wastes for Acid Rock Drainage and Metal(loid) Leaching (ARDML) potential must follow a similar set of robust practices which include: (i) representative sampling; (ii) static/screening level geochemical tests and qualitative mineralogical assessment; (iii) longer-term kinetic geochemical tests and quantitative mineralogical assessment; and (iv) quantitative numerical modelling to assess source term chemistry associated with the mine facilities and thereby determine potential impacts to receptors. This process is dependent on a sufficiently robust drill core database and a detailed mine plan through which an assessment of mine wastes is possible. Such detailed characterisation may be limited by insufficient budgets, however omission of a thorough mineralogical investigation may lead to a lack of understanding of the primary geochemical controls on mine waste behaviour. In turn, this can lead to over- or under-engineering of mine facilities, which can have financial and/or environmental implications. Several case studies are presented to illustrate how mineralogy can be applied to solve problems in ARDML prediction and mitigation, specifically within waste rock assessment.

In risk assessment of aquatic sediments, much attention is paid to the difference between acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) as indicators of metal bioavailability. Distribution of AVS and SEM (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined in 20 representative sampling sites collected along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. Total SEM concentration [ΣSEM] ranged from 0.012 to 0.241 μmoleg−1. AVS concentrations were much more variable, showing significant spatial variations. The values ranged from 0.015 to 31.326 μmoleg−1. The different relationships between AVS and SEM to establish mechanical models such as the ratio of ΣSEM and AVS [ΣSEM/AVS], the difference between the ΣSEM and AVS [ΣSEM–AVS], or the organic carbon normalised difference between SEM and AVS [ΣSEM-AVS]/foc models were used as parameters to evaluate potential bioavailability. Considering SEM/AVS model, sediments at the Western Harbour, Eastern Harbour, Ras El-Burr, El-Gamil East, and Port Said stations are occasi...

There is a dearth of news on religion in Philippine media, and there is no religion beat. Instead there is a church beat, which focuses on the dominant Roman Catholic Church and its religious leaders. Although this beat has been in place for many years, no study has been conducted on its emergence and practice. Through in-depth interviews with journalists, religious leaders and academics, and a representative sampling of newspaper articles, this article explores how the church beat is being practised, including the biases of and corruption among journalists covering the beat. This article also examines the need to establish a religion beat and how to improve the reporting of religion news in the Philippines.