The biological importance of changes in RNA expression is reflected by the wide variety of tools available to characterise these changes from RNA-seq data. Several tools exist for detecting differential transcript isoform usage (DTU) from aligned or assembled RNA-seq data, but few exist for DTU detection from alignment-free RNA-seq quantifications. We present the RATs, an R package that identifies DTU transcriptome-wide directly from transcript abundance estimates. is unique in applying bootstrapping to estimate the RATs reliability of detected DTU events and shows good performance at all replication levels (median false positive fraction < 0.05). We compare to RATs two existing DTU tools, & using two publicly available DRIM-Seq SUPPA2, simulated RNA-seq datasets and a published human RNA-seq dataset, in which 248 genes have been previously identified as displaying significant DTU. RATs with default threshold values on the simulated Human data has a sensitivity of 0.55, a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.71 and a false discovery rate (FDR) of 0.04, outperforming both other tools. Applying the same thresholds for results in a higher sensitivity (0.61) but poorer SUPPA2 FDR performance (0.33). RATs and DRIM-seq use different methods for measuring DTU effect-sizes complicating the comparison of results between these tools, however, for a The authors present a new method for detection of DTU from RNA-seq data, which uniquely leverages quantification uncertainty in the form of inferential replicates. I am not aware of other methods specifically designed to detect DTU as opposed to change in total expression level of the gene, which take into account quantification uncertainty. It is therefore a useful contribution to the methods literature. The authors have taken some length to assess their method against other popular methods on real and simulated datasets, and investigating individual genes with qRT-PCR validation in detail. I have some concerns about the conclusions from the evidence provided in the article, and additionally have requests for further details about the methods, which should be presented in the article itself. presented here a new tool, RATS, for the identification of differential transcript usage et al. from transcript abundance estimates. RATs was benchmarked and compared to the existing tools DRIM-Seq and SUPPA2 across four different datasets. False positive rate, false negative rate, sensitivity and Matthews correlation coefficient were all measured. When considered as a whole, RATs was found to outperform the other tools. Differing results due to the version of the reference genome used are also discussed. This is a nicely presented manuscript, with well thought out comparisons. The tool will make a good addition to existing RNA sequencing analysis pipelines, especially as the field moves towards alignment free methods.


The objective of this study is to design and implement a common-gateway oriented mediator to solve the health data interoperability problems that exist among heterogeneous health information systems. The proposed mediator has three main components: (1) a Synonym Dictionary (SD) that stores a set of global metadata and terminologies to serve as the mapping intermediary, (2) a Semantic Mapping Engine (SME) that can be used to map metadata and instance semantics, and (3) a DB-to-XML module that translates source health data stored in a database into XML format and back. A routine admission notification data exchange scenario is used to test the efficiency and feasibility of the proposed mediator. The study results show that the proposed mediator can make health information exchange more efficient.


The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between severity of disability and factors such as rehabilitation fees, length of stay and efficiency for hospitalized stroke patients. One hundred and seven first-time stroke patients were studied consecutively for this study. They were recruited from a rehabilitation ward in a university medical center during 1997. Functional ability was evaluated using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) instrument on admission and discharge. Stroke patients who presented with similar degrees of disability were put together using the admission FIM score (FIM Function-Related Groups, FIM-FRGs) for further analysis. Twenty-eight (26.2%) patients examined were categorized as severely disabled (scored 18-36), 48 (44.8%) moderately disabled (scored 37-72) and 31 (29.0%) mildly disabled (scored 73-126). The average expense on rehabilitation fees, for the average rehabilitation length of stay (LOSR) of 34.7 +/- 16.7 days, was NT$ 27,645 +/- 13,812. The FIM score improved from 56.8 +/- 24.2 on admission to 76.6 +/- 26.2 at discharge, with a rehabilitation efficiency index (EIR) of 0.7 +/- 0.7. Further analysis indicated that there were significant differences among the three disability groups on rehabilitation fees and LOSR while EIR was unaffected. The findings of this study suggest that FIM-FRGs can differentiate different rehabilitation needs in terms of rehabilitation fees and LOSR; therefore, a prospective case payment system based on FIM-FRGs is suggested for stroke rehabilitation reimbursement scheme in the future.


Abstract The floral and vegetative anatomy of the small Australian genus Aphanopetalum were studied. Wood is described for the first time and is characterized by predominantly solitary pores, scalariform vessel element perforation plates with low bar numbers, imperforate tracheary elements with distinctly bordered pits, sparse axial parenchyma, and a combination of homocellular and heterocellular rays. Starch occurs in both axial and ray parenchyma of the wood. Stems possess unilacunar, one-trace nodes and the uncommon feature of an endodermis with well-defined Casparian strips. Leaves have anomocytic stomata, a bifacial mesophyll and semicraspedodromous venation or a combination of semicraspedodromous and brochidodromous venation. The tetramerous flowers are apetalous or have minute petals. The compound, half-inferior gynoecium consists of essentially totally united carpels. The pattern of floral vascularization resembles different Saxifragaceae sensu lato in that the compound sepal-plane and petal-plane traces give rise to staman bundles as well as sepal, petal, and carpel wall venation in their respective planes. The ventral ovarian bundles are fused into a single ventral complex that subdivides at the top of the ovary to form ventral bundles and to supply the one ovule in each locule. Vegetative and floral features provide compelling evidence to suggest that Aphanopetalum has its nearest relatives among the Saxifragaceae sensu lato rather than Cunoniaceae. The genus is probably best treated as forming its own subfamily (or family) among the saxifragaean alliance.


Thin-film polycrystalline CdTe photovoltaic devices were studied using electrical and material characterization methods to understand the effects of hydrogen plasma passivation treatment. Devices were fabricated using sublimation and were exposed to hydrogen plasma for 10, 20 and 30 minutes. Current density vs voltage measurements were performed to measure the performance of the devices. Capacitance vs voltage graphs showed that dopants are active and the device behaved like a CdCl2 passivated device. Microscopic characterization was performed using SEM and (S)TEM that showed larger grains and more homogenous film coverage as compared to films without passivation suggesting grain growth during H2 passivation.


Recent works indicated that the regulatory function of RBPs showed context dependent manners, but the details of the regulatory function of most RBPs and importance are unknown. Here we integrated hundreds of eCLIP-seq and RNA-seq from ENCODE project and used RBP-position combinations on events to predict if the events are spliced out or not and the results showed that only a small of them can regulate the alternative splicing process in a degree. We observed SRSF1, LIN28B, FMR1, SRSF7, RBM22, PRPF8, SF3B4, TIA1 and hnRNP M are important features by binding the exon or intron region respectively. SF3B4 and RBM22 show opposite regulatory function when binding exons downstream and upstream intron. This supports the asymmetric exon decision model that state the exon exclusion pathway compete with the exon inclusion pathway to regulate splicing. We also observed that some peaks locate in exon-exon junction regions and indicate some splicing related RBPs also bind on mRNAs.


Current practices were examined for calibrating and/or determining biases for the principal nuclear material measurement systems in use by the nuclear industry: uranium gravimetry, uranium determination by reduction-oxidation titrimetry, plutonium determination by amperometric titration, isotopic analysis by mass spectrometry, isotopic-dilution assay of iron and plutonium, uranium fluorometry, iron spectrophotometry, mass measurements, volume measurements, flow measurements, nondestructive assays, and holdup measurements. A number of frequently used methods are described in this report. The principles, procedures, apparatus, applications, and calibration for each are discussed. The sources of measurement bias are identified, also the expected magnitudes of errors associated with the methods.


The objective of this work is to demonstrate the P Profile application in the measurement of superficial texture of the cone seat of the synchronization ring gear of a Mechanical Transmission. It is known that this superficial texture is an essential factor for the good performance and durability of a Mechanical Transmission, since the variation of this texture is directly linked to the synchronization failure, premature wear of the synchronization ring coupling guides, gear and sleeve.


A study was conducted to determine the impact of exposure to dust in the cattle load-out area in feedyards on pathogen contamination of cattle hides. A total of 250 cattle hides were sampled during summer and fall months, which are associated with elevated prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 in West Texas. Animals were removed from their home pens and restrained in a chute and sampled prior to exposure to dust generated as a result of a simulated loading exercise. The cattle hides were sampled again after exposure to the loading dust to determine total numbers of pathogens on cattle hides on leaving their home pen (before loading) and on cattle hides after exposure to the dust in the loading area. Air and dirt samples from the home pens and the cattle load-out area were also collected. The presence of E. coli O157 and Salmonella was determined in all the samples, and when a positive sample was identified, the total numbers of these bacteria present were enumerated. The total numbers of pathogens increased after dust exposure; Salmonella counts increased from 1.09 log most probable number (MPN)/cm2 to 1.74 log MPN/cm2 after exposure, and E. coli O157 counts increased from 0.80 to 2.35 log MPN/cm2 after sampling. E. coli O157 and Salmonella were recovered from the air samples during dust generation at 6.66 and 11.1%, respectively. Salmonella and E. coli O157 prevalence was not changed and was not associated with the exposure to the dust. Results indicate airborne dust generated as a result of cattle movement and loading could be an important determining factor in total numbers of pathogens recovered on cattle hides.


In the present study, a focused library of (Z)-acrylonitrile analogues (library A & B) were synthesized, which were typically accessed via a facile Knoevenagel condensation between p-nitrophenylacetonitrile and appropriately substituted aromatic aldehydes (1a–i) and 3-formyl chromones (3a–c). This new synthetic eco-friendly approach resulted in a remarkable improvement in the synthetic efficiency (83–92% yield), high purity, minimizing the production of chemical wastes without using highly toxic reagents for the synthesis and, more notably, it improved the selectivity for (Z)-acrylonitrile derivatives. By performing DFT calculations, it was found that the (Z)-isomer of compound 2b is stabilized by 2.61 kcal mol−1 more than the (E)-isomer. All of the compounds were tested for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. Compounds 2a and 4c, displayed the strongest inhibition, with IC50 values of 0.20 μM and 0.22 μM respectively. The methoxy group at the para-position of phenyl ring A was found to be essential for AChE inhibition.


Investment Climate Survey data are now available for several member countries of the World Bank, including eight in Sub-Saharan Africa. These reports and the surveys that underpin them have generated very large quantities of data on many dimensions of the business environment. This paper is an attempt to synthesize some of the key, commonly available indicators in a comparative framework, focusing on Africa and using countries such as China, India, Morocco, and Bolivia as international reference points. From indicators in the areas of macroeconomic stability, finance, market structure, infrastructure, skills, customs procedures, labor regulations, business regulations, corruption, and security, it is evident that most African business environments still have serious shortcomings compared with their international competitors. Although more analysis is needed to quantify the impact of different dimensions of the business environment on firm-level productivity, in some cases the direct costs of poor business environments to firms are quantifiable, and the results are striking. The results suggest that improved competitiveness in Africa will require lower costs of doing business and higher productivity, not lower real wages, which are not the main obstacle.


Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, a new class of oral hypoglycemic agents, augment glucose-dependent insulin secretion and suppress glucagon levels through enhancement of the action of endogenous incretin by inhibiting DPP-4, an incretin-degrading enzyme. DPP-4 inhibitors are generally well tolerated because of their low risk of hypoglycemia and other adverse events. Moreover, with their potential to improve beta cell function, a core defect of type 2 diabetes, DPP-4 inhibitors are becoming a major component of treatment of type 2 diabetes. Alogliptin benzoate is a newly developed, highly selective DPP-4 inhibitor which has been approved in many countries throughout the world. Once-daily administration of alogliptin as either monotherapy or combination therapy with other oral antidiabetic drugs or insulin has a potent glucose-lowering effect which is similar to that of other DPP-4 inhibitors, with a low risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain. The cardiovascular safety of this drug has been confirmed in a recent randomized controlled trial. This review summarizes the efficacy and safety of alogliptin, and discusses the role of DPP-4 inhibitors in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.


The bandwidth of a gyrotron traveling wave amplifier (gyro-TWT) has been significantly increased by partially filling the interaction waveguide with dielectric to reduce the circuit's dispersion. The proof-of-principle experiment was designed for X-band, and employs the fundamental mode of rectangular waveguide loaded with dielectric slabs along the narrow sidewalls. The amplifier yields a peak output power of 55 kW with 11% efficiency, 27 dB saturated gain, and an unprecedented untapered gyro-TWT constant-drive bandwidth of 11% and saturated bandwidth exceeding 14%. The single-stage amplifier is completely zero-drive stable. The 95-kV 5-A electron beam was produced by a single-anode magnetron injection gun with p/sub /spl perp////spl upsi//sub z/=0.6, as determined by the EGUN code, and /spl Delta//spl upsi//sub z///spl upsi//sub z/=4%, determined as the best fit to the gyro-TWT large-signal simulation data. Simulation studies predict that by lowering the velocity spread to /spl Delta//spl upsi//sub z///spl upsi//sub z/=2%, the amplifier performance will be further enhanced to a constant-drive bandwidth of 20% with 15% efficiency.


A flux of silver atoms reevaporation from the copper and nickel targets during deposition of silver was measured as a function of the target temperature during spontaneous cooling from 1150 K and during heating the target with deposited several silver monolayers from room temperature to 1150 K. Differences in the measured dependences for both targets give the evidence of competition between reevaporation of silver atoms from the copper surface and their dissolution in the copper bulk and are in accordance with the lack of silver dissolution in nickel. Thus, the role of silver dissolution in the copper surface layer during silver adsorption at elevated temperatures is experimentally evidenced. Activation energy for silver dissolution in the copper substrate was estimated to be equal to 1.7-2.4 eV/atom.


The Joint Specialty Committee for Genitourinary Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians has produced guidance on chaperoning in response to the General Medical Council (GMC) guidance on doctors performing intimate examinations.1

The definition of intimate examinations includes examination of the breasts, genitalia, or rectum. It recommends that all patients undergoing such an examination be offered a chaperone, who may be a friend or relative. The GMC guidance is predominantly concerned with the comfort and protection of patients, while also serving a secondary role to protect doctors from false allegations. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has published its own updated guidelines based on the GMC recommendations.2

Doctors have a duty to protect patients, and implementation of the GMC guidelines could also protect staff undertaking such examinations who might otherwise find themselves accused of inappropriate behaviour. Even if allegations are totally unfounded it is difficult, if not impossible, to refute them if a chaperone was not present. Genitourinary medicine clinics cannot ignore the national recommendations and the issue of insufficient funding should not influence best practice.

Potentially, there may be far reaching implications for the specialty not only for working practices but also for cost/staffing issues. However, patients may …


In the last decade star clusters have been found in the centers of spiral galaxies across all Hubble types. We here present a spectroscopic study of the exceptionally bright (106-108 L☉) but compact (re ~ 5 pc) nuclear star clusters in very late type spirals with the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph at the VLT. We find that the velocity dispersions of the nine clusters in our sample range from 13 to 34 km s-1. Using photometric data from the Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 and spherically symmetric dynamical models, we determine masses between 8 × 105 and 6 × 107 M☉. The mass-to-light ratios range from 0.2 to 1.5 in the I band. This indicates a young mean age for most clusters, in agreement with previous studies. Given their high masses and small sizes, we find that nuclear clusters are among the objects with the highest mean surface density known (up to 105 M☉ pc-2). From their dynamical properties we infer that, rather than small bulges, the closest structural kin of nuclear clusters appear to be massive compact star clusters. This includes such different objects as globular clusters, "super star clusters," ultracompact dwarf galaxies (UCDs), and the nuclei of dwarf elliptical galaxies. It is a challenge to explain why, despite the widely different current environments, all different types of massive star clusters share very similar and structural properties. A possible explanation links UCDs and massive globular clusters to nuclear star clusters through stripping of nucleated dwarf galaxies in a merger event. The extreme properties of this type of cluster would then be a consequence of the clusters' location in the centers of their respective host galaxies.


Genetic transformation is considered as one of the most promising options for improvement of crop traits. Current transformation methods for sweetpotato depend on plant regeneration through organogenesis or somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration at a high frequency has been restricted to a few sweetpotato varieties. Three auxins namely: 2,4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA) and 4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) were investigated in this study for enhancing somatic embryogenesis from various plant organs of recalcitrant African sweetpotato cultivars. 2,4-D was found to be the best (p ≤ 0.05) for induction of embryogenic callus. Cultivar Bwanjule had the highest (20.2%) embryogenic callus frequency among the five African cultivars tested. The highest number of plants in this study was regenerated from the non-African cultivar variety Jonathan on media supplemented with 0.2 mg Zeatin. The emergence of roots from callus of recalcitrant Ugandan cultivars and the comparable high embryogenic responses in this work demonstrate the potential for regenerating plants from African cultivars that have not been regenerated before. The regeneration of roots in this work could be useful for the initiation of root cultures. The most important application of this work is in genetic transformation of sweet potato, particularly for improvement of resistance to weevils.


We propose a novel coin-flipping physically unclonable function (CF-PUF) that significantly improves the resistance against machine-learning attacks. The proposed physically unclonable function utilizes the strong nonlinearity of the convergence time of bistable rings (BRs) with respect to variations in the threshold voltage. The response is generated based on the instantaneous value of a ring oscillator at the convergence time of the corresponding BR, which is running in parallel. SPICE simulations show that the prediction accuracy of support-vector machine (SVM) on the responses of CF-PUF is around 50%, which means that SVM cannot predict better than random guesses.


The article discusses how companies interact with target audiences when promoting goods and services in consumer markets based on effective approaches and technologies. Empirical and digital marketing contributes to the establishment of long-term relationships and strong relationships with consumers. Empirical marketing focuses on the emotional experience and consumer experiences, and digital marketing provides targeted and mobile communications with target audiences of companies. Digital technology and the digital environment have significantly transformed business space and consumer life. Together with empirical marketing, digital technologies are actively bringing together the seller and the consumer. More and more manufacturers and service companies are thinking about what kind of experience a consumer will get by interacting with their product or service. This plays a decisive role in the modern process of acquiring products of a particular brand. Researchers of consumer behavior note that consumers often endow many value-asserting products with some kind of "spiritual status". Marketers also note new trends in consumer behavior. The article shows the differences between the key characteristics of empirical and traditional marketing, which is confirmed by a number of examples. Based on the studies, models of the formation of consumer loyalty to a product or brand are proposed, as a result of which it can be argued that the impact of the seller on the emotional sphere of the consumer leads to sustainable consumer loyalty to the product / brand, even in times of crisis. Together with empirical marketing, digital technologies are actively bringing together the seller and the consumer. To assess the impact of digital technologies on the marketing activities of companies and, in particular, its communication system, it is important to determine the changes and preferences of consumers at the stages of the purchase process. This is also confirmed by the results of the study.


This study reports carbon isotopic ratios (Δ(14)C and δ(13)C) of dissolved humic and fulvic acids in the Tokachi River system, northern Japan. These acids have a refractory feature and they represent the largest fraction of dissolved organic matter in aquatic environments. The acids were isolated using the XAD extraction method from river water samples collected at three sites (on the upper and lower Tokachi River, and from one of its tributaries) in June 2004 and 2005. δ(13)C values were -27.8 to -26.9 ‰ for humic and fulvic acids. On the other hand, the Δ(14)C values ranged from -247 to +26 ‰ and the average values were -170 ± 79 ‰ for humic acid and -44 ± 73 ‰ for fulvic acid. The difference was attributed to the residence time of fulvic acid in the watershed being shorter than that of humic acid. The large variation suggested that humic substances have a different pathway in each watershed environment.


Abstract We detected herpesvirus infection in a male yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes) and male agile antechinus (Antechinus agilis) during the period of postmating male antechinus immunosuppression and mortality. Histopathologic examination of tissues revealed lesions consistent with herpesvirus infection in the prostate of both animals. Herpesvirus virions were observed by transmission electron microscopy in the prostate tissue collected from the male yellow-footed antechinus. Herpesvirus DNA was detected in prostate, liver, lung, kidney, spleen, and ocular/nasal tissues using a pan-herpesvirus PCR targeting the viral DNA polymerase. Nucleotide sequencing identified a novel herpesvirus from the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily that we have tentatively designated dasyurid herpesvirus 1 (DaHV-1).


The focus of this paper is the issue of assurance of different sustainability, social, environmental or governance sections of companies' annual reports, which fall under the umbrella of integrated reports. The main research questions are: which are the sections assured; to what extent are the accounting and audit professionals involved in the assurance process of integrated reports; and which are the standards used in the assurance missions. We explore the integrated reports issued in 2014 by 98 companies included in the International Integrated Reporting Council's Pilot Programme. Our main conclusions are that most of the companies obtain assurance only for a part of the information disclosed in the integrated reports, most of the reports are assured by the accountancy companies and the most used standard is ISAE 3000. The article is important for the accounting practitioners as it presents new opportunities for the development of the profession. From the academic point of view, the discrepancy between our results and the results of the studies based on sustainability reports proves that the assurance of the integrated reports is a specific theme, which should be studied separately.


An understanding of the effect of cumulative radiation damage on the integrity of ceramic wasteforms for plutonium and minor actinide disposition is key to the scientific case for safe disposal. Alpha recoil due to the decay of actinide species leads to the amorphisation of the initially crystalline host matrix, with potentially deleterious consequences such as macroscopic volume swelling and reduced resistance to aqueous dissolution. For the purpose of laboratory studies the effect of radiation damage can be simulated by various accelerated methodologies. The incorporation of short-lived actinide isotopes accurately reproduces damage arising from both alpha-particle and the heavy recoil nucleus, but requires access to specialist facilities. In contrast, fast ion implantation of inactive model ceramics effectively simulates the heavy recoil nucleus, leading to amorphisation of the host crystal lattice over very short time-scales. Although the resulting materials are easily handled, quantitative analysis of the resulting damaged surface layer has proved challenging. In this investigation, we have developed an experimental methodology for characterisation of radiation damaged structures in candidate ceramics for actinide disposition. Our approach involves implantation of bulk ceramic samples with 2 MeV Kr+ ions, to simulate heavy atom recoil; combined with grazing incidence X-ray absorption spectroscopy (GI-XAS) to characterise only the damaged surface layer. Here we present experimental GI-XAS data acquired at the Ti and Zr K-edges of ion implanted zirconolite, as a function of grazing angle, demonstrating that this technique can be successfully applied to characterise only the amorphised surface layer. Comparison of our findings with data from metamict natural analogues provide evidence that heavy ion implantation reproduces the amorphous structure arising from naturally accumulated radiation damage.


The facet heating behavior of AlGaAs double‐heterojunction (DH) lasers was measured as a function of injection current using Raman microprobe spectroscopy. The result from the DH lasers is compared to AlGaAs ridge‐waveguided single quantum‐well (SQW) lasers. A clear discontinuity in the facet temperature rise was found below and above the lasing threshold for the DH lasers, indicating a substantial contribution to facet heating by the photon flux. This is in contrast to the facet heating behavior of SQW lasers in which photon flux has been shown to play only a minor role. The data suggest a large difference in the facet absorption of the lasing photons between the two types of lasers. This is further supported by the effect of argon laser probe beam induced facet heating on the diode laser's output power.


The obesity epidemic (with the associated co-morbidities) poses a major health-care challenge for the 21st Century [1]. A 'Westernised' lifestyle (calorie dense diets and reduced physical activity) fuel this epidemic, on the background of genetic susceptibility [2, 3]. Therapeutic options for clinically significant weight-loss and weight-loss maintenance are currently limited. Whilst appropriate public–health measures need instigated to reduce the obese burden, the development of new anti-obesity agents is much awaited.

In Caucasians a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 represents overweight, a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 is defined as obese. The aim of treatment of the obese patient is to cause a satisfactory maintained weight-loss, with the improvement of either biochemical markers (e. g. glucose tolerance or improved lipid profile) or physical conditions associated with obesity (e. g. hypertension or sleep apnoea). Treatment is not aimed at causing merely 'cosmetic' weight-loss. The first-line of treatment for the obese patient is lifestyle intervention (i. e. a reduced calorie intake, with increased daily exercise underpinned by long-term behaviour-change). If this lifestyle intervention does not cause medically significant weight-loss, it can be supplemented by drugs, usually now either the pancreatic lipase inhibitor orlistat or the centrally acting monoamine uptake inhibitor sibutramine. These agents typically produce a modest weight-loss (1 year mean pooled weight loss for orlistat 2.89 kg and sibutramine 4.45 kg [4, 5]) which is often insufficient to satisfactorily treat the more severely obese patient.

Bariatric surgery is the definitive treatment for the morbidly obese patient. In the UK NICE recommend bariatric surgery (which includes gastric band insertion, sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB)) for patients with BMI >35 kg/m2 with co-morbidities or BMI >40 kg/m2 with evidence of previous significant attempts of weight-loss [6]. In addition, NICE recommends bariatric surgery as first-line treatment option for patients with BMI >50 kg/m2 [6]. The evidence for bariatric surgery provision is compelling, as it causes a maintained clinically significant weight-loss (up to 25% in some series [7]). Studies have shown that bariatric surgery can lead to a significant reduction in co-morbidities (which includes diabetes, sleep apnoea, dyslipidaemia and hypertension) and mortality [7].

This edition of the journal provides a timely overview of the subject of obesity and its future management. The aim of this edition is to provide an understanding of potential developments in this important field of medicine. A long-term challenge is to replace the need for bariatric surgery with improved medical therapies.

The understanding of the pathophysiology behind the development of obesity is essential for the development of preventative and treatment options. Family and twin studies have shown that genetic factors contribute up to 40–70% to the interindividual variation in common obesity [8]. Whilst some rare monogenetic causes of obesity have been reported [9], the understanding of the genetics behind the aetiology of common obesity is less well known. In this Journal, Ruth Loos provides an important review on the genetics of common obesity by discussing the discovery of obesity susceptibility loci, and their potential impact on public health and clinical practice [10]. This review describes how the use of genome-wide association has revolutionised the field of genetic epidemiology and has recently led to the discovery of 15 loci associated with obesity-related; one such gene being fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO), the first gene associated with common obesity. Whilst these advances do provide important insights into the pathophysiological development of obesity, to date, the established loci in combination explain <2% of interindividual variation in BMI and the review outlines the great challenges that thus remain in this field.

An understanding of current pharmacological therapy for obesity is essential. Li and Cheung provide a detailed review here of currently available anti-obesity agents [11]. This review highlights the fact that although only modest weight-loss is achieved by these agents, such weight-loss is clinically significant with regards to relevant biochemical markers and hypertension. This review is complimented by the paper of current paediatric prescribing by Viner et al., which provides an insight into the challenging area of paediatric obesity management [12]. Both of these papers do outline the need for long-term studies investigating efficacy and safety of anti-obesity agents in most age ranges, as obesity does affect all ages.

The development of new therapeutic agents is crucial. Body-weight maintenance is achieved by careful regulation of appetite and energy expenditure. Our better understanding of these homeostatic mechanisms is leading to the development of new anti-obesity drugs. Sargent and Moore provide a clear overview of the centrally acting therapies that are in current development [13]. Predominantly these agents act via hypothalamic nuclei, although future agents may act via either the brainstem or higher centres. What this review highlights is the difficulties that have been encountered with the centrally-acting drug development with regards to untoward side-effects and lack of efficacy. One approach to improve drug efficacy, as outlined in this review, is to use combinations of agents (e.g. bupropion and naltrexone). What is clear, however, is that further research is required to develop more efficacious centrally therapeutic agents with less side-effects.

The investigation into the underlying mechanisms that mediates the weight loss achieved by bariatric surgery potentially may provide novel therapeutic agents. Field et al. in their review provide a clear overview of this subject and highlight the potential for gut-peptides (or gut-peptide analogues) as future obesity therapies [14]. Gut peptides (notably peptide YY3–36, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and oxyntomodulin) are elevated in gastric bypass surgery. These peptides act at higher centres (hypothalamus and hind-brain) to apparently cause decreased appetite [15]. These three peptides are all anorectic when administered to healthy lean and obese volunteers [15]. The authors rightly stress that the gut hormones thus present great opportunities for novel obesity agents and that they probably currently have less non-specific side-effects than centrally acting drugs. The review discusses the progress in the treatment of type 2 diabetes with the successful development of GLP-1 analogues (e.g. exenatide or liraglutide); this is as direct a consequence of gut peptide research. The paper also puts forward the intriguing prospect that combinations of these anorectic gut peptides may be used in combination (thus at lower individual doses) thereby reducing potential side-effects (predominantly nausea and vomiting). The papers by Doogue et al. and by Lim et al. both build on previous gut hormone research.

The regulatory hurdles that exist for licensing of novel therapeutic agents have to be recognised. Heal et al here provide a detailed review of the history of such regulation, (including how previous adverse events have influenced these regulatory barriers) and outlines the potential difficulties that may be encountered in drug development [16]. The review highlights the requirement by the regulatory authorities for the primary efficacy endpoint of >5% placebo subtracted weight-loss maintained for 1 year, with secondary improvements in cardiovascular risk factors being prerequisite. The review underlines the fact that 'Metabolic Syndrome' is not recognised as a discreet disease by the regulatory bodies and hence these agencies will not licence drugs for treatment of 'Metabolic Syndrome'. Ultimately, the review thus stresses how the regulatory landscape may be changed for anti-obesity drugs and the spectrum of conditions for which they are approved, if positive data is obtained from the forthcoming publication of the phase IV SCOUT trial (Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcome).

Obesity is a major international health problem. This edition of the Journal reviews some aspects of the pathophysiology underling obesity and describes how novel obesity agents may be discovered. The Journal also reviews the regulatory hurdles that have to be overcome for these new drugs to be licensed. In the future, such new anti-obesity agents may either be used with traditional lifestyle interventions, or perhaps in conjunction with more aggressive weight-loss strategies (e. g. low energy liquid diets). This though will all take time. The hope has to be that such advances will significantly reduce the need for bariatric surgery and that together with public health initiatives, reduce the burdens of obesity on our societies.


Achieving a mechanistic explanation of brain function requires understanding causal relationships among regions. A relatively new technique to assess effective connectivity in fMRI data is Dynamic Causal Modeling (DCM). As DCM is more frequently used, it becomes increasingly important to further validate the technique and understand its limitations. With DCM, Bayesian Model Selection (BMS) is used to select the most likely causal model. We conducted simulations to test the degree to which BMS is robust to two types of challenges when applied to DCMs, those inherent to data (Category 1) and those inherent to model space (Category 2). Category 1 challenges tested properties of the data (low signal-to-noise, different response magnitudes and shapes across regions) that could either blur the distinction between models or potentially bias model selection. These challenges are impossible or difficult to measure and control in real data, so investigating their effect upon BMS through simulation is critical. Category 2 challenges tested properties of model space that create subsets of confusable models. Our results suggest that given data that conform to the prior assumptions of DCM, BMS is robust to challenges from Category 1. However, in the face of Category 2 challenges (when a more homogenous model space was tested) the false positive rate rose above an acceptable level. We show that such errors are neither trivial nor easily avoided with existing approaches. However, we argue that it is possible to detect Category 2 challenges, and avoid inappropriate interpretations by conducting simulations prior to applying DCM. Acronyms DCM Dynamic Causal Modeling BMS Bayesian Model Selection fMRI functional magnetic resonance imaging BOLD blood oxygen level dependent FMC Family Model Comparison HRF hemodynamic response function ROI region of interest SNR signal to noise ratio R1 region 1 R2 region 2 U1 input 1


This paper discusses a new perspective for the application of game theory to wireless relay networks, namely, how to employ it not only as an analytical evaluation instrument, but also in constructively deriving practical network management policies. We focus on the problem of medium sharing in wireless networks, which is often seen as a case where game theory just proves the inefficiency of distributed access, without proposing any remedy. Instead, we show how, by properly modeling the agents involved in such a scenario, and enabling simple but effective incentives towards cooperation for the users, we obtain a resource allocation scheme which is meaningful from both perspectives of game theory and network engineering. Such a result is achieved by introducing throughput redistribution as a way to transfer utilities, which enables cooperation among the users. Finally, a Stackelberg formulation is proposed, involving the network access point as a further player. Our approach is also able to take into account power consumption of the terminals, still without treating it as an insurmountable hurdle to cooperation, and at the same time to drive the network allocation towards an efficient cooperation level.


Entrepreneurship manifests itself in economy in a variety of ways. The development of the entrepreneurial space among future employees is fundamental towards a healthy economic growth, as well as a compulsory condition for a durable local and regional development. Transversal competences such as creativity, initiative and entrepreneurial spirit help the future employee develop its critical and creative thinking, innovate in its own field of activity. They also lead to an increase in his productivity, flexibility, in his autonomy at the workplace. Moreover, these also aid the individual in managing a project in terms of personal competences and obtain the expected results. In broad terms, any future employee has to have access to entrepreneurial education through all types of education and training, disregarding their level. The current research represents the most important findings regarding identifying the key competences that support an entrepreneurial culture in the initial training period. The data obtained is the result of applying a survey on a representative sample of teachers in pre-university educational system in Dâmbovița county, teachers who carry out their activity in theoretical and vocational high schools. This has served to outline an overview on the role and the importance of entrepreneurial education in the initial training of future employees.


Abstract
Macrocyclic compounds with pendant-arms are designed with two principal aims: modification of the coordinating properties of the parent ligand, and introduction of the ancillary groups in order to provide a specific application in a particular area of scientific research such as bioinorganic chemistry [1], anionic receptors [2], contrast agents in medicine [3], and so forth.The synthesis of a new trans-substituted organic ligand with methylpyridine groups stemming from a precursor with secondary amines, allows to optimize its ability to coordinate to transition metals and lanthanide ions [4].
References
[1] D. E. Fenton, "Biocoordination Chemistry", Oxford University Press. 1993.
[2] J. K. Lee, J. Na, T. H. Kim, Y.-S. Kim, H. Won, T. S. Lee, "Synthesis of polyhydroxybenzoxazole-based colorimetric chemosensor for anionic species", Materials Science and Engineering, 2004, 24, 261.
[3] M. Botta, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2000, 399.
[4] K. P. Wainwright, Adv. Inorg. Chem., 2001, 52, 293.
Acknowledgements
This work was made possible thanks to the financial support received from the Xunta de Galicia (Galicia, Spain) under the Grupos de Referencia Competitiva Programme (Project GRC2015/009). F.L.−M. thanks the Spanish Ministry of Education (grant FPU13/05014).


The current opioid epidemic remains an ongoing challenge, exacerbated by the extreme potency of synthetic opioids (e.g., fentanyl and fentanyl analogues), leading to an increase in adulterated heroin-related deaths. The increasing prevalence of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues in mixtures with heroin and other adulterants, excipients, and bulking agents has placed an emphasis on trace analysis methods for their detection from complex drug mixtures. Here, gradient elution moving boundary electrophoresis (GEMBE), a robust and miniaturized electrophoretic separation technique, was employed for the separation and detection of fentanyl and nine (9) fentanyl analogues from mixtures. GEMBE incorporated a short capillary (5 cm × 15 μm i.d.) for the electrophoretic separation of analytes with an opposing bulk counterflow. As the velocity of the counterflow was varied, analytes with differing electrophoretic mobilities entered the separation channel at different times and were analyzed as moving boundaries by contactless conductivity detection. The continuous injection of sample, driven by a controlled and variable pressure, both provided selectivity of the analytes and prevented contaminants or particulate within the sample from entering the separation capillary. Fentanyl was successfully separated and detected down to 2.5 μmol/L and demonstrated only 50% to 60% signal suppression in dilute binary mixtures with heroin and other common adulterants and excipients at 30:1 (compound/fentanyl) concentration ratios. In addition, GEMBE was successfully applied to a few adjudicated case samples of fentanyl-related mixtures exhibiting dyes and visible particulate. The short capillaries, contactless detection format utilized here, and continuous injection of sample allow for a small footprint platform that is easy-to-use for forensic analyses.


Ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopy measurements for CO adsorption on the (2×2)-Cs precovered Ru (0001) surface were performed. The Cs 5p (5p3/2) level (Cs state) locates at 11.3 eV in binding energy for the (2×2)-Cs overlayer on Ru (0001). Upon the CO adsorption, a new peak, which is associated with the Cs 5p state for the Cs adatoms influenced by the neighbouring CO adsorbed (the Cs+CO state), appears at the lower binding energy side of the Cs state. This new peak is at 10.8 eV for the CO saturation where the (2×2)-Cs+2CO compound layer is formed. This result gives clear evidence for local interaction of Cs and CO on the Ru (0001) surface. PACS: 73. 20. At, 82. 65. My, 68. 35. Bs


This study discusses about how to evaluate the implementation of occupational health and safety (OHS) on batik small and medium sized enterprises in Madura. Successful implementation of OHS is influenced by worker behavior and then is measured by a score of worker safety through the intervention program. Intervention program is designed by using behavior-based safety approach that is based on the identification of hazards and risks at workplace. Intervention program is conducted by the provision of personal protective equipment, work standard setting, supervision and understanding improvement of the OHS. The results show that interventions can improve worker safety score from 34% to 56%.


The objective of the research was to study the relationship between Reading Comprehension Ability, Self-Learning, The Utilization of Learning Resources with IPS Learning Outcome. The study was carried out at Open Junior High School DKI Jakarta. The study utilized the survey method. The sample size was 90 taken Multi Stage Sampling from the population. The data were collected using instrument in form of test and questionnaire. The data were analyzed using multiple regression and statistical correlation technique. The research concludes that there is a positive correlation between: 1) Reading Coprehension Ability with IPS Learning Outcome, 2) Self Learning with IPS Learning Outcome, 3) The function of Learning Resources with IPS Learning Outcome. Furthermore, the research finds out that there is a positive correlation between those three independent variables with IPS Learning Outcome. Therefore to improve IPS Learning Outcome can be carried out by improving Reading Comprehension Ability, Self-Learning and The Utilization of Learning Resources.


Radiocarbon dating and analyses of fossils contained in peat cliffs establish the history of peatland formation and development at the northern edge of Point Escuminac, New Brunswick. A 532 cm radiocarbon-dated mineral sediment and peat sequence, the oldest of four sections studied, yielded pollen and macrofossils that record bog development from 11 000 BP. The earliest landscape was open Juniperus shrubland. Picea was the first tree to move into the area, forming woodland communities by 10 200 BP and closed coniferous forests with Abies by 9200 BP. An early counterpart of the modern Acadian forests was in place by 6500 BP and was fully developed by 2900 BP when Fagus spread through the area. Shallow freshwater, open wetland communities acted as nuclei for the development of fen near the centre of the peninsula. Transformation into an ombrotrophic bog started around 6500 BP and was completed by 4700 BP, after which time the bog spread laterally by paludification onto higher parts of the peninsula.


Banking Sector has been facing challenges due to the wave of liberalization, privatization and globalization of Indian Economy. Banks in India are under pressure in today's explosive market place. Tough competition, globalization, increase in customer demand forced the bank to find out the new way to earn profit. Bank should able to manage the customer data effectively. As a result they can able to create and retain the existing customer. Proper management paves the way for success as well as to know the valuable customer. Success or failure of an organization is depends on the customer so they are in a position to satisfy them. Customers are the important factor for success of the concern so they should have a proper knowledge about their customers. It can be made possible with the use of CRM. It acts as effective Marketing tool in an organization to promote their business and to generate revenue. Banks has to face challenges like customer retention, minimizing transaction cost, managing risk etc. In such scenario Banks use CRM as a tool for their sustainment in the market. This study focus on importance of CRM in Bank to carry out their operation.


Nanometer-sized alloys composed of more than one element, namely nanoalloys, exhibit unique properties, which depend on their compositions and elemental distributions. In this paper, the author focuses on a simultaneous reduction of metal ions in a liquid phase to produce well mixed solid-solution nanoalloys. For the efficient production of ordered type nanoalloys where constituting elements are regularly arranged in a lattice, a thermal treatment of nanoalloys in a hydrogen atmosphere (TTH) is introduced. An applicability range of the TTH is quantitatively discussed based on a structural transformation rate determined by time-dependent XRD measurements for nanoalloys using a synchrotron diffraction technique. Finally, the author shows novel applications of prepared nanoalloys to catalytic reactions which contribute to reduction of CO 2 emission in chemical processes.


Abstract Danish manufacturing firm data reveal that 1) industries differ in within-firm worker skill (= wage) dispersion, and 2) within-firm skill dispersion positively correlates with firm productivity in industries with higher average skill dispersion. We argue that these patterns reflect technological differences between industries: firms in the "skill complementarity" industries profit from hiring similarly able workers, while the "skill substitutability" firms thrive on skill differences. Our study produces a robust, data-driven and theoretically validated classification of industries into the complementarity and substitutability groups, unveils hitherto unnoticed technological heterogeneity between industries within the same economy, and illustrates its importance through simulations.


Many therapeutic drugs are difficult to reach the central nervous system (CNS) from the systemic blood circulation because the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) form a very effective barrier which prevents most molecules from passing through. To bypass BBB, drugs can be delivered through olfactory region for nose-to-brain targeting. Peptide and protein drugs have been developed for the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases. Drug delivery of these therapeutic proteins is facing several challenges because of the instability, high enzymatic metabolism, low gastrointestinal absorption, rapid renal elimination, and potential immunogenicity. New genetically engineered biotechnology products, such as recombinant human nerve growth factor, human VEGF, and interferons, are now possible to be delivered into the brain from the non-invasive intranasal route. For gene therapy, intranasal route is also a promising alternative method to deliver plasmid DNA to the brain. This review provides an overview of strategies to improve the drug delivery to the brain and the latest development of protein, peptide, and gene intranasal delivery for brain targeting.


The chromatically adapting cyanobacterium, Fremyella diplosiphon, when grown in cool white fluorescent light, contains phycoerythrin as its predominant phycobiliprotein. When grown on agar plates with cool white illumination, mutant colonies deficient or devoid of phycoerythrin can be visibly distinguished from the wild type. A total of 25 anomalously pigmented strains were isolated and examined for their ability to chromatically adapt. Based on absorption spectra of cell extracts and on fluorescence emission spectra of intact filaments, we assigned each mutant to one of three classes. In green mutants (16 strains), the photoinduction of phycoerythrin synthesis by green light was lost or impaired, whereas the photorepression of phycocyanin synthesis by green light still functioned as in the wild type. In blue mutants (eight strains), both the ability to photoinduce phycoerythrin synthesis and the ability to photorepress phycocyanin synthesis were lost or impaired. Filaments of blue mutants exhibited a high fluorescence emission at 660 nm. A black mutant (one strain) exhibited partial induction of phycoerythrin and partial repression of phycocyanin in both red and cool white light. From the data, we suggest that in information transduction for chromatic adaptation, early events are common to both phycoerythrin and phycocyanin regulation and that blue mutants possess lesions in these early events. The lesions in green mutants occur in a subsequent branch of the information transduction pathway which is specific for phycoerythrin photoinduction.


This study assessed the occupational hazards and injuries associated with frozen fish marketers in Abeokuta metropolis, Ogun State of Nigeria. A two-stage sampling procedure was adopted in sampling 150 fish marketers from 10 popular markets within the study area. Data were elicited with the aid of an interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) analytical tools. Results obtained showed that the mean age of the fish marketers was 37.96±11.04 years, the majority were females (87.9%), married (83.2%), and had a mean household size of 9.00±4.00 persons. Also, 54.4% and 42.3% of the fish marketers had secondary and tertiary education, respectively. In terms of safety measures adopted, all the fish marketers used pain relievers after work, while higher proportions usually use hand gloves (76.5%), wear nose masks (86.6%), wear an apron (80.5%), use plaster in cases of cuts (53.7%) and do regular medical check-up (49.7%). Most (60.4%) of the fish marketers were found to be in good/safe working conditions, while more than half (53.0%) of them were exposed to a high level of hazard. A significant negative relationship existed between working conditions and the level of hazard experienced by the fish marketers (r = –0.721, p ≤ 0.01). It was concluded that occupational hazards are associated with frozen fish marketing. The study recommended that fish marketers should operate from shops to avoid dirty, dusty, and noisy environments to improve their working conditions.


Destruction of tidal wetlands has led to a growing interest in the restoration and creation of new wetland habitat. However, while natural stands of vegetation have been successfully duplicated, less is understood about the establishment of faunal communities in created or restored tidal marshes. Infauna, which may form an important link between detrital production and commercially important finfish and decapods, have received limited attention in vege- tated marsh habitats. We examined the infauna, changes in vegetation composition, and selected physical parameters in created marshes of different ages. Infauna were sampled using standard core sampling techniques. Vegetation compo- sition and changes in relative abundance were observed using plot-point techniques. Vegetation plots indicated ongoing replacement of Spartina alterniflora by Schoenoplectus robustus, a pattern supported by comparisons of vegetation at one of the sites to that reported in a previous study. Infauna exhibited significant differences between sites of different ages, with the intermediate-age site having intermediate densities for several taxa. These results suggest that both infauna and vegetation in created marshes undergo long-term change (ongoing after 10-20 yr), with both the plant and infaunal communities having qualitatively similar overall species composition to natural marsh areas.


Applying an external electric field over a polarizable electrode or object within microchannels can induce an electric double layer (EDL) around channel walls and create induced-charge electrokinetics (ICEK) within channels. The primary consequence of the induced charge is the generation of micro-vortices around the polarizable electrode or object, presenting great potential for various microfluidic applications. This review presents the advances in theoretical, numerical and experimental studies on the physics and applications of ICEK within microfluidics. In particular, the characteristics and performance of ICEK-based microfluidic components in active micromixers, micropumps, and microvalves are critically reviewed, followed by discussing the applications of ICEK in electrophoresis and particle/cell manipulation within microfluidics. Furthermore, the opportunities and challenges of ICEK-based microfluidic devices are highlighted. This work facilitates recognizing deliverable ICEK-based microfluidic technologies with unprecedented functionality for the next generation of biomedical applications with predictable manufacturability and functionality.


New major-element, trace-element, and Sr-, Nd-, Pb-, and O-isotope data are presented for <0.75-m.y.-old diabase dikes recovered during Leg 153. Diabase dikes encountered at Site 920 have MgO contents ranging from 13 to 15 wt%, along with high Ni and Cr and low concentrations of most incompatible trace elements. However, concentrations of most major elements and some mobile trace elements have been strongly modified by hydrothermal alteration, leading to enrichment in MgO and Sr, and to depletions in CaO, FeO, and TiO2. Sr isotopes indicate that the fluids responsible for alteration of the diabase at Site 920 had low 87Sr/86Sr compared with seawater; these low values are thought to be typical of the fluid composition during the earliest stages of alteration, not only of the diabase dikes, but also of the peridotite section they crosscut. Depletion in 18O (+4.9 to +5.2%c) relative to average mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) is consistent with hydrothermal alteration involving seawater at moderate temperatures (250°-300°C). Estimates of the original composition of the Site 920 diabase before alteration suggest they contained ~ll wt% MgO and were remarkably similar to the primary melt compositions proposed by Sullivan (1991) for the Mid-Atlantic Ridge south of the Kane Fracture Zone (MARK) area. In contrast, diabase dikes at Site 921 are similar in composition to recent MARK basalts (MgO ~8 wt%), but have slightly higher CaO and A12O3 and lower incompatible trace-element contents at a given MgO. Trace-element modeling is consistent with the diabase from Site 920 being generated as a pooled melt by <15% melting of mantle peridotite in the spinel facies (i.e., shallow depths of melting). Recent MARK basalts and diabase from Site 921 were generated by slightly larger degrees of melting. Lower 143Nd/144Nd ratios (0.51313) and flatter REE patterns (Ce/Yb = ~l) are consistent with a less-depleted source for the Site 920 diabase than for that giving rise to the majority of MARK gabbros (0.51318-0.51322) and recent MARK basalts (0.51314-0.51318; Ce/Yb = 0.9). The average isotopic composition of the mantle source supplying the MARK magma system has changed over a period of <l m.y., becoming more radiogenic in Pb, but less radiogenic in its Nd-isotope composition with time. This indicates that, on average, the present mantle source is less depleted than that -750,000 yr earlier. However, the contemporaneity of rocks derived from relatively depleted sources (i.e., Sites 921924 gabbros and Site 921 dikes) and those from significantly less depleted sources (i.e., Site 920 diabase and amphibolitized microgabbro) supports a mixing model in which the proportion of enriched to depleted mantle components changes with time, rather than a gradual compositional shift of a homogeneous source.


Background: Bronchial asthma is a disease characterized by aberrant leukocyte trafficking and allergic inflammation. This study investigated the distribution of the various leukocyte subsets and some erythropoietic indices in asthma patients on inhaled corticosteroids.Methodology: This is a comparative cross‒sectional study involving 108 adult asthmatic patients on inhaled corticosteroids and 108 healthy adults. Socio‒demographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Four milliliters of blood sample was collected from each study participant for hematological analysis. Full blood count and differential leukocyte count were done using an automated hematology analyzer. The mean and standard deviation of the measured parameters were calculated and inter-group comparison was made. The significance level was set at p‒value ≤ 0.05.Result: The absolute and relative counts of neutrophils, eosinophil and, basophil were significantly elevated in asthmatic patients compared to control group. On the other hand, relative and absolute counts of monocytes and lymphocytes were significantly lower in asthmatic patients compared to the normal healthy control. The packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC) and hemoglobin concentration (Hb) were significantly low in asthmatic patients compared to the control group.Conclusion: Asthma patients on corticosteroids have altered hematological parameters compared to apparently healthy controls


Science, notoriously, progresses amoeba-like, thrusting out pseudopods in unpredictable directions and dragging in the rest of the body after or, occasionally, retreating in disorder. This review attempts to shine a narrow and not unprejudiced beam of light on areas of astrophysics where the author believes that something interesting happened in 1991. Length scales range from the kilometers of comets to the gigaparsecs of cosmology, and time scales from milliseconds upward. Eight self-contained sections discuss the surface of Venus, late activity in comet Halley, convective overshoot, blue stragglers, new examples and kinds of X-ray binaries and recycled pulsars, hard X- and gamma-rays from the galactic center region, microlensing, and biased cold dark matter. The last two sections contain very short descriptions, with references, of a number of items that did not fit into the main sections but seemed a shame to leave out.


Rationale: COPD is one of the most prevalent causes of death worldwide and is associated with an ongoing destruction of pulmonary structures that finally lead to the development of emphysema. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are a part of the innate immune system. The AMP CRAMP is the murine homologue to the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (hCAP-18/LL-37). It plays an important role in angiogenesis, cancer and chemotaxis. This work will show that CRAMP is important for tissue regeneration in an elastase induced model of lung destruction.

Methods: Lung destruction was initiated by two times intratracheal administration of elastase. Ten days after the last administration lung function was measured. Cytokines in BAL were measured by ELISA. The lungs were resected and fixed for stereological analysis. Lung tissue was also used for immunohistological staining and RNA-extraction.

Results: Elastase treated CRAMP-ko animals had significantly higher neutrophil influx, more IL1-β and TNF-α in their BAL as the controls. 30 days after the first elastase treatment CRAMP-ko had a higher mean linear intercept and a significantly decreased pulmonary system resistance and elastance. MMP-9 expression and activity was increased and the concentration of VEGF was decreased in the elastase treated CRAMP-ko as compared to the elastase treated wildtype mice.

Conclusion: This work shows that the antimicrobial peptide CRAMP has a protective function in a model of elastase induced lung destruction. CRAMP-ko animals showed more inflammation, a higher degree of lung destruction as well as a higher expression and activity of MMP-9. The concentration of VEGF was significantly lower in the elastase treated ko animals.


The U.S. Constitution makes no mention of political parties, yet parties began to form shortly after its ratification. Today, American democracy would not work without them. In Political Parties and Constitutional Government, Sidney Milkis explores the uneasy relationship between the Constitution and the party system to advance a novel argument: political parties arose as part of a deliberate program of constitutional reform. Forged on the anvil of Jeffersonian and Jacksonian democracy, parties initially formed as decentralized political associations that engaged the attention of ordinary citizens and held presidents accountable to local constituencies. But as the power of the presidency and the federal government grew, parties shifted their attention from building political support in the states and localities to vying for control over national administration and, in the process, lost their vital connection to the electorate. In the past thirty years, partisan disputes have more often than not involved confrontations between the president and Congress that have undermined the public's respect for American political institutions. With the decline of localized parties, Milkis concludes, there has arisen an administrative politics of rights and entitlements that belittles the efforts of Democrats and Republicans alike to define a collective purpose. Ending with a discussion of possible methods of revitalization and reform, this timely book does much to explain the reasons behind Americans' disenchantment with parties and the party system.


This document provides results for new OMP candidates to be considered in the development of a revised OMP for the Tristan rock lobster fishery at Inaccessible island. These OMPs take into account both the commercial CPUE and the biomass survey data in the TAC setting formula. A choice of Itar=5.0 kg/trap remains the preferred choice for this revised OMP for Inaccessible.


Exploring time loyalty. The interweaving of time and loyalty in faculty administrator's work strategies
This article has an exploring and theorizing approach and aims to explore the function of the notion of time together with the concept of loyalty. The notion of acceleration of time and the new "flexible" working life has created a duality where bureaucratic and administrative systems exist side by side with a more flexible organization, within which people can organize and plan their work themselves. That creates unregulated spaces, where administrators have to navigate and manage conflicting loyalties and uncertain responsibilities, creating further uncertainty, putting questions about one's use of time and loyalties in focus. We explore this development by using the concept time loyalty and use that connection to analyze interviews with administrative staff within a university.
This article concludes that there are ongoing negotiations regarding what to do, for whom, and when as well as legitimizing actions to justify fail responses to loyalty claims.


In parallel with the rapid increase of environmental problems today, discussions about the effect of this on our daily lives and how to prevent problems have become a priority issue in many countries. In our country, especially in Science Curriculums of 2013 and afterwards, raising science literate individuals with high environmental awareness and sustainable development awareness is among the important topics. The aim of the study carried out in this context is to examine the effects of the out-of-school nature education science camp on the attitudes and perceptions of middle school students towards the environment. One-group experimental design was used in the study. The study was carried out with 28 students in the 6th and 7th grade studying in different public secondary schools in the Aegean Region. The study was carried out with the same study group as a ten-day nature education science camp in total, five days in two separate periods. During the study process, theoretical and applied field trainings on basic science subjects and nature art activities were given to the students by field experts. In the study, data were collected with the attitude scale towards the environment and the perception scale towards the environment. Data were collected before, during and after the experimental application of this study. As a result of the analysis of the data collected, it was determined that students' attitudes towards the environment and their perceptions towards the environment improved after experimental application. In this context, it can be said that the nature education science camp is an effective learning method in developing students' attitudes and perceptions towards the environment.


Clustering spatial data has various applications. Several clustering algorithms have been proposed to cluster objects in spatial databases. Spatial object distribution has significant effect on the results of clustering. Few of current algorithms consider the distribution of objects while processing clusters. In this paper, we propose an adaptive density-based clustering algorithm, ADBC, which uses a novel adaptive strategy for neighbor selection based on spatial object distribution to improve clustering accuracy. We perform a series of experiments on simulated data sets and real data sets. A comparison with DBSCAN and OPTICS shows the superiority of our new approach.


The pollination biology of two kernel apricot varieties showed that flowering stage of Longwangmao was in accordance with Youyi and had little difference in different year. The complete flower ratio on different fruit branches was different, bouquet spur and short pod-branch was higher than medium branch and long branch. From the self-pollinating, natural-pollination and cross-pollination test, we ound that both Longwangmao and Youyi have high pollination compatibility and they can be pollinate with each other.


This article investigates how environmental trade‐offs are handled in life‐cycle assessment (LCA) studies in some Nordic companies. Through interviews, the use and understanding of weighting methods in decision making was studied. The analysis shows that the decision makers require methods with which to aggregate and help interpret the complex information from life‐cycle inventories. They agreed that it was not their own values that should be reflected in such methods, but they were found to have different opinions concerning the value basis that should be used. The analysis also investigates the difficulties arising from using such methods. The decision makers seemed to give a broader meaning to the term weighting, and were more concerned with the comparison between environmental and other aspects than the weighting of different environmental impacts. A conclusion is that decision makers need to be more involved in modeling and interpretation. The role of the analyst should be to interpret the information needs of the decision maker, and help him or her make methodological choices that are consistent with these needs and relevant from his or her point of view. To achieve this, it is important that decision makers do not view LCA as a highly standardized calculation tool, but as a flexible process of collecting, organizing, and interpreting environmental information. Such an approach to LCA increases the chances that the results will be regarded as relevant and useful.


Cast stainless steels of the CF grades (19Cr, 9Ni), which find widespread application in the chemical, petrochemical, and power generating industry, were subjected to intergranular corrosion tests (Huey) and stress-corrosion tests (vapor phase of aqueous 875-ppm sodium chloride (NaCI) solution at 477 K [400°F]) to evaluate the effect of ferrite in the range of 0 to 40 ferrite numbers, in the solution-annealed and in the sensitized condition. The intergranular corrosion tests demonstrated beneficial effects of ferrite for all the alloys tested in the solution-annealed condition and for the molybdenum-free cast steel grades in the sensitized condition. Ferrite increased the sensitization effects on intergranular corrosion for the molybdenum-bearing grades. Highest corrosion rates in Huey tests, based upon weight loss measurements, do not necessarily mean deepest intergranular attack. Intergranular attack was found to terminate at ferrite-austenite grain boundaries. The intergranular corrosion test results would indicate that ferrite numbers exceeding 10 offer greater operating safety for cast, corrosion resistant grades, CF-3, CF-3M, CF-8, and CF-8M in the solution-annealed condition and also, in the event of sensitization, for cast corrosion-resistant grades CF-3 and CF-8. Significantly increased resistance to stress-corrosion cracking with increasing ferrite content was observed for cast steels in the solution-annealed and in the sensitized condition. These stress-corrosion cracking tests would indicate that ferrite numbers of 10 or more offer greater operating safety for cast corrosion-resistant CF grades in the solution-annealed as well as in the sensitized condition.


Probiotics are commonly defined as mono or mixed cultures of live microbes that when applied to an animal or human, posses a beneficial effect on the health of host possibly by improving the balance of the indigenous microflora. The field of probiosis has emerged as a new science with applications in farming and aquaculture as alternatives to antibiotics as well as prophylactics in humans. Probiotics are being developed commercially for both human uses, primarily as novel foods or dietary supplements and in animal feeds for the prevention of gastrointestinal infections, with extensive use in the poultry and aquaculture industries. This review summarizes the commercial applications of probiotics.


The extent to which psychological and contextual factors (locus of control, self-concept and parenting styles) correlate with internet addiction among undergraduates in University of Ibadan was examined in this study. Survey design of correlational type was adopted to execute the study. Simple random sampling technique was utilized to draw four hundred and forty-two (Male: 247=female=195) undergraduates with age range of 16 to 26 year ( x =1.44; SD=.49) from University of Ibadan. The Data source was four self-report questionnaire namely; Young (1996) internet Addition Test; Darling and Toyokawa (1997) Parenting Style Inventory; Levenson (1974) Locus of Control scale and Robinson (1989) self concept questionnaire. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression were used to analyze data at 0.05 level of significance. Result show that the hypothesized variables have significant correlation with internet addition. The composite contribution of the independent variables to the prediction of internet addition was significant. It jointly contributed for about 20% of the variance in the prediction of internet addition of the respondents. Locus of control was the most potent (β=0.128; t =2.554; P<0.05) while self concept had the least contribution to the prediction of internet addition. The outcome has implications for parents, psychologists, educators and policy makers.


The aim of this article is to present a novel lidar technique, based on supercontinuum laser sources, for aerosol remote sensing. Precisely, we show the feasibility of such supercontinuum lidar aerosols measurements. For that, a novel simulator of the supercontinuum lidar is proposed, as complete as possible, that takes into account different characteristics of an instrument. It simulates different observations and predicts how a lidar signal will behave in various situations. Measurements with a supercontinuum lidar that we have designed are presented. Experimental and numerical results are compared; they show good agreement between them. In particular, it is shown that an aerosol plume can be observed (sounded) with a good temporal and radial resolution. Furthermore, it is discussed how some information on the aerosol size distribution and the optical index could be obtained. Although the present results are limited to short-range measurements, we think that this constraint will be relaxed by technological progress. For this reason, the present study can be considered an initial step in the field of supercontinuum lidar simulations.


A new method is described for surface modification of ITO with an electroactive organic monolayer. This procedure was done to enhance hole injection in an electronic device and involves sequential formation of a monolayer of a pi-conjugated organic semiconductor on the indium tin oxide (ITO) surface followed by doping with a strong electron acceptor. The semiconductor monolayer is covalently bound to the ITO, which ensures strong adhesion and interface stability; reduction of the hole injection barrier in these devices is accomplished by formation of a charge-transfer complex by doping within the monolayer. This gives rise to very high current densities in simple single layer devices and double layer light emitting devices compared to those with untreated ITO anodes.


The paper examines critical issues in web-based distance education including the changing role of faculty and students, instructional design for quality education, outcomes assessment, and administrative support. The premise of the paper is that educational excellence in online instruction requires institutional commitment to a learner-centered approach rather than a teacher-centered approach of education. Recommendations are made for quality measures and faculty development in adapting to methods of online teaching that facilitate a learner-centered education.


This paper presents a terminal voltage control of a wind turbine Self Excited Induction Generator (SEIG). The wind turbine induction generator system is proposed to supply an isolated static load under widely varying conditions. The terminal voltage had been regulated by adapting the value of the excitation capacitance from Static VAR Compensator (SVC) using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) controller. The wind turbine operates over a wide range of operating conditions, which means that the terminal voltage of the induction generator is not constant. Changing the value of excitation capacitance by controlling the firing angle of SVC under different operating conditions can handle this problem. It is proved that SVC in the form of Fixed Capacitor –Thyristor Controlled Reactor (FCTCR) is used not only provide capacitive excitation for the isolated induction generator, but also it controls its terminal voltage at all different loads with variable speeds of the windmill prime-mover. ANN is used for on-line prediction of the suitable firing angles required to control the terminal voltage of the system under different operating conditions.


HTLV III and LAV, retroviruses which have recently been described in the United States and France and which seem to be different isolates of the same virus, are closely associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS). Sera from male homosexuals from the Federal Republic of Germany with AIDS or LAS were examined for antibodies to HTLV III (anti-HTLV III) by means of the enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) and by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. 53% of the patients were anti-HTLV III positive as were 20% of symptomless homosexual men.


Onrubia A., Muñoz A.-R., Arroyo G.M., Ramírez J., de la Cruz A., Barrios L., Meyburg B.-U., Meyburg C. & Langgemach T. 2011. Autumn migration of Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina in the Strait of Gibraltar: accidental or regular? Ardea 99: 113–116. The Lesser Spotted Eagle (LSE) migrates to its winter quarters via the eastern Mediterranean corridor. During 1998 to 2009, 47 LSEs have been registered in the Strait of Gibraltar during a monitoring program of bird migration. All observations were made between 6 August to 12 October (mean 16 September, median 12 September). Of thirteen age-identified LSEs, ten birds were nonjuveniles. Six out of 86 LSEs fitted with a satellite transmitter at the western limit of its distribution followed the western route. Three of those birds reached Africa via the Strait of Gibraltar. The presence of LSE in our study area, albeit in small numbers, indicates the existence of a minor migration route across the Iberian Peninsula.


Abstract The primary aim of this paper was to assess the relevance of high-frequency ultrasound examination in qualifying patients for either surgical or conservative treatment of post- traumatic peripheral neuropathies. The study was conducted in a group of 47 patients aged 16–65 (mean age 33) who in 2009–2011 were referred to ultrasound examinations due to a clinical suspicion of posttraumatic peripheral neuropathies. The group included 30 females and 17 males. The patients examined presented with neuropathies of the following peripheral nerves: median, ulnar, common peroneal, digital, cutaneous in the deltoid area, mental, PIN and RSNR. In 21 patients, nerve injuries were partial, and in 24 – complete. In 2 cases, the nerve was entrapped between bony fragments. 17 of 21 patients with partial nerve injuries (80.95%) underwent an EMG examination. No functional tests were conducted in the cases of complete injuries when ultrasound imaging had confirmed the result of the clinical examination. All patients underwent the interview, physical examination and ultrasound examination. Ultrasound examinations were performed with EsaoteMyLab 50 and MyLab 60 systems using high-frequency broadband linear transducers: 6–18MHz. The nerves were evaluated in the gray-scale and in the power Doppler mode in longitudinal and transverse sections for localization, morphology and the grade of injury as well as for possible anatomic variants of the nerve trunk and pathologies of the adjacent tissues. Moreover, a dynamic examination was performed, and it was attempted to induce pain or paresthesia by palpation at the site of the visualized pathology. Additionally, the motor and sensory–motor nerves were assessed indirectly based on the images of the skeletal muscles innervated by these nerves. The analyses of the collected material were performed by means of descriptive statistics. The results of clinical and surgical verification were consistent with ultrasound findings in 100% of cases. The results obtained indicate that high-frequency ultrasonography is a valuable method in qualifying patients for various types of treatment of peripheral neuropathies resulting from trauma.


This book presents a thorough review of the state-of-knowledge and recent innovations in the synthesis of pure and improved grades of fly ash zeolites (FAZ). Addressing improvements to conventional methods, it also showcases a novel technique for the synthesis of high cation exchangers from fly ash and detailed characterization techniques for the products obtained. In addition, it examines in detail various areas of specific applications of fly ash zeolites. Over the years, several methods such as hydrothermal, fusion prior to hydrothermal, microwave assisted hydrothermal and molten salt techniques for producing FAZ have been developed. However, one-step and two-step reactions between the fly ash and alkali usually generate alkaline wastes that may cause environmental contamination. In addition, the separation of FAZ from the partially activated fly ash (the impurities) remains a major concern for researchers and industrialists alike. In view of these challenges, this book presents a novel technique for three-step activation (TSA), which focuses on recycling the fly ash-NaOH-water reaction by-products until zeolitic residue is formed. The FAZ (the final residue after third step reactions) synthesized in this manner exhibits exceptionally high cation exchange capacity, specific surface area and pore area. This book offers a comprehensive compendium of reading material on fly ash and its recycled product, the zeolites. Students at both undergraduate and graduate levels, researchers, and practicing engineers will all find this book to be a valuable guide in their respective fields


Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of wood is a method of identifying wood quality without damaging the samples and its eliminate the tedious specimen preparation in order to determine the mechanical properties of wood. Wood properties can be determined rapidly by in situ inspection during its service life or measured directly from standing trees without reducing the economic value of its timber. This study assess the feasibility of free-free flexural vibration method, one of NDE techniques for estimating the wood stiffness of plantation species namely Acacia mangium, Hevea brasiliensis and Paraserianthes mOluccanaJ The specific objective of this study were (i) determine the dynamic modulus of elasticity (DMOE) on the three plantation species, (ii) establish the relationship between DMOE obtained from nondestructive and modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), Young's modulus
(E) and maximum crushing strength (MCS) obtained from destructive test, (iii) evaluate the effects of tension wood on DMOE, MOE and MaR, and (iv) analyze the relationship between anatomical properties and mechanical properties. For this purpose, wood specimens with dimension 20 mm (T) x 10 mm (R) x 340 mm (L) were prepared for non-destructive test according to tension wood and opposite wood to determine DMOE. The results from the nondestructive test were compared with destructive tests namely three-point bending and compression parallel to grain where the samples were .prepared according to the British Standard. The DMOE was also compared with MOE and MOR obtained from three-point bending test using the non-destructive test's samples. Results showed that tension wood recorded greater DMOE mean values than opposite wood. A. mangium recorded higher DMOE in both tension and opposite wood followed by H brasiliensis and P. moluccana. Destructive tests also showed that A. mangium recorded the highest mean MOE and MaR
III
values followed by H brasiliensis and P. moluccana as determined by three-point bending test. Regression analyses showed that strong relationship were observed between DMOE and MOE detennined from non-destructive samples (ND samples) in both of tension (r= 0.92) and opposite wood (r2=0.79). However, DMOE and MOE obtained from British Standard samples (BS samples) were not correlated. In order for DMOE to be meaningful and able to predict MOE, correction factor has to be introduced to DMOE. Following inclusion of correction factor (CF), DMOE' was significantly correlated with MOE in A. mangium (R=0.80 and 0.88) and H brasiliensis (R=0.85 and 0.90) in tension and opposite wood, respectively. However, it did not successfully determined DMOE' in P. moluccana due to its low density that yielded large CF values. Between DMOE and MOR, only tension wood recorded good relationship (r2=0.70) compared to opposite wood (r2=0.46) in all species combined from ND samples. Anatomically, tension wood is characterized by thicker fibre wall, longer fibre, larger fibre diameter, smaller vessel diameter and small microfibril angle (MFA). The relationship between anatomical properties and mechanical properties showed
that fibre wall thickness gave significant effect on DMOE in all individual species in both of tension and opposite wood. The fibre wall thickness significantly effect the MOE and MOR in all individual species in tension wood but only A. mangium and P. moluccana in opposite wood. For all species combined, fibre length was significantly correlated with DMOE, MOE and MOR in tension wood but only correlated to MOR in opp


The authors provide an overview of the current research and development directions in knowledge and data engineering. They classify research problems and approaches in this area and discuss future trends. Research on knowledge and data engineering is examined with respect to programmability and representation, design tradeoffs, algorithms and control, and emerging technologies. Future challenges are considered with respect to software and hardware architecture and system design. The paper serves as an introduction to this first issue of a new quarter. >


Spectral imaging is a ubiquitous tool in modern biochemistry. Despite acquiring dozens to thousands of spectral channels, existing technology cannot capture spectral images at the same spatial resolution as structural microscopy. Due to partial voluming and low light exposure, spectral images are often difficult to interpret and analyze. This highlights a need to upsample the low-resolution spectral image by using spatial information contained in the high-resolution image, thereby creating a fused representation with high specificity both spatially and spectrally. In this paper, we propose a framework for the fusion of co-registered structural and spectral microscopy images to create super-resolved representations of spectral images. As a first application, we super-resolve spectral images of retinal tissue imaged with confocal laser scanning microscopy, by using spatial information from structured illumination microscopy. Second, we super-resolve mass spectroscopic images of mouse brain tissue, by using spatial information from high-resolution histology images. We present a systematic validation of model assumptions crucial towards maintaining the original nature of spectra and the applicability of super-resolution. Goodness-of-fit for spectral predictions are evaluated through functional R 2 values, and the spatial quality of the super-resolved images are evaluated using normalized mutual information.


Current synthesis of cobalt (II) complexes of sulfonated binucleating Schiff base ligands requires the reaction be run under nitrogen.1 This research introduces a novel process in which the complex can be prepared in open air. The cobalt (II) complexes are prepared with synthesized 5sulfosalicylaldehyde, and then analyzed by IR and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Introduction Since the discovery of the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin, metal complexes have gained enormous attention from many scientists for their therapeutic applications. After considerable research, numerous metal complexes, including complexes of a binucleating Schiff base ligand or bis-salphen ligand, were found to have many different applications such as a treatment for cancer, antibacterial agents, antifungal agents, catalysts for reactions, and for chemical analysis.2•3•4 The binucleating ligand describes the class ofpolydentate chelating ligands which can bind simultaneously with two metal ions. These metal ions are covalently bound to two deprotonated phenolic oxygen atoms and two nitrogens. One of the better known bis-salphen ligands is tetrasalicylideneaminobenzene or TSAB (Figure 1) and its solubility is very low in almost all solvents except in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) because it contains a large number of carbons. As large percentages of living beings are composed of water, medical applications of drugs are more efficient and safe when they dissolve in water; consequently, applications and formations of complexes ofTSAB which only dissolve in DMSO are limited. Therefore, increased solubility of this ligand can aid the formation of these complexes and would allow a wider range of solvent choices for better synthesis and broader applications. Thus, the experiment is performed to synthesize the complexes ofbis-salphen ligand for better solubility in water or other possible solvents. The bis-salphen ligand is synthesized from 5-sulfosalicylaldehyde instead of salicylaldehyde and the cobalt complex made to compare with reference standards.• The combination of the aromatic and planar characteristics of the compound, together with the unique properties of metal ions, indicates this metal complex may be able to intercalate rapidly replicating


Symbiotic associations with the soil microbiota, particularly with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), might ameliorate the effects of environmental stress on plants, and this capacity may be different for resident and alien species. In a growth room pot experiment we tested if imposed water deficit leads to greater growth reduction in the absence of AMF than in the presence of AMF for two non-invasive resident (Danthonia alpina, Chrysopogon gryllus) and two invasive (Calamagrostis epigejos, Cynodon dactylon) grass species from semiarid temperate grasslands in Hungary. Both deficit watering and soil sterilization decreased biomass accumulation, but the non-invasive Danthonia and Chrysopogon performed better when grown in intact soil containing AMF than in sterilized soil. In contrast, the invasive Calamagrostis and Cynodon displayed mostly no difference in growth and biomass accumulation between intact and sterilized soil when subjected to water deficit. When plants were grown well-watered but deprived of AMF symbionts, both Danthonia and Chrysopogon achieved poorer growth than in AMF containing soil, while neither Calamagrostis nor Cynodon displayed any reduction. These results indicate that the influence of deficit watering was ameliorated by the presence of AMF in the soil for the resident non-invasive species, while not for the invasive species.


Part I. Introduction: 1. Personal epistemology in the classroom: a welcome and guide for the reader Florian C. Feucht and Lisa D. Bendixen Part II. Frameworks and Conceptual Issues: 2. Manifestations of an epistemological belief system in preschool to grade twelve classrooms Marlene Schommer-Aikins, Mary Bird and Linda Bakken 3. Epistemic climate in elementary classrooms Florian C. Feucht 4. The integrative model of personal epistemology development: theoretical underpinnings and implications for education Deanna C. Rule and Lisa D. Bendixen 5. An epistemic framework for scientific reasoning in informal contexts Fang-Ying Yang and Chin-Chung Tsai 6. Who knows what and who can we believe? Epistemological beliefs are beliefs about knowledge (mostly) to be attained from others Rainer Bromme, Dorothe Kienhues and Torsten Porsch Part III. Students' Personal Epistemology, its Development, and its Relation to Learning: 7. Stalking young persons' changing beliefs about belief Michael J. Chandler and Travis Proulx 8. Epistemological development in very young knowers Leah K. Wildenger, Barbara K. Hofer and Jean E. Burr 9. Beliefs about knowledge and revision of knowledge: on the importance of epistemic beliefs for intentional conceptual change in elementary and middle school students Lucia Mason 10. The reflexive relation between students' mathematics-related beliefs and the mathematics classroom culture Erik De Corte, Peter Op 't Eynde, Fien Depaepe and Lieven Verschaffel 11. Examining the influence of epistemic beliefs and goal orientations on the academic performance of adolescent students enrolled in high-poverty, high-minority schools P. Karen Murphy, Michelle M. Buehl, Jill A. Zeruth, Maeghan N. Edwards, Joyce F. Long and Shinichi Monoi 12. Using cognitive interviewing to explore elementary and secondary school students' epistemic and ontological cognition Jeffrey A. Greene, Judith Torney-Purta, Roger Azevedo and Jane Robertson Part IV. Teachers' Personal Epistemology and its Impact on Classroom Teaching: 13. Epistemological resources and framing: a cognitive framework for helping teachers interpret and respond to their students' epistemologies Andrew Elby and David Hammer 14. The effects of teachers' beliefs on elementary students' beliefs, motivation, and achievement in mathematics Krista R. Muis and Michael J. Foy 15. Teachers' articulation of beliefs about teaching knowledge: conceptualizing a belief framework Helenrose Fives and Michelle M. Buehl 16. Beyond epistemology: assessing teachers' epistemological and ontological worldviews Lori Olafson and Gregory Schraw Part V. Conclusion: 17. Personal epistemology in the classroom: what do research and theory tell us and where do we need to go next? Lisa D. Bendixen and Florian C. Feucht.