In this study, an equivalent circuit model is presented to emulate the behavior of a metamaterial-based wireless power transfer system. For this purpose, the electromagnetic field simulation of the proposed system is conducted in ANSYS high frequency structure simulator. In addition, a numerical analysis of the proposed structure is explored to evaluate its transfer characteristics. The power transfer efficiency of the proposed structure is represented by the transmission scattering parameter. While some methods, including interference theory and effective medium theory have been exploited to explain the physics mechanism of MM-based WPT systems, some of the reactive parameters and the basic physical interpretation have not been clearly expounded. In contrast to existing theoretical model, the proposed approach focuses on the effect of the system parameters and transfer coils on the system transfer characteristics and its effectiveness in analyzing complex circuit. Numerical solution of the system transfer characteristics, including the scattering parameter and power transfer efficiency is conducted in Matlab. The calculation results based on numerical estimation validates the full wave electromagnetic simulation results, effectively verifying the accuracy of the analytical model.


Abstract: The mass media industry since the reform era has changed significantly, freedom of press had been widely opened, furthermore with technological advances and the birth of social media. Competitiveness in the mass media industry is tougher in market dominance. Media owners in Indonesia are competing to penetrate the market and secure their business positions by joining the politics, even the media itself is allegedly used by the owner as a commodity that can gain profit and become a propaganda's tool for certain political interests. MNC Media Group is a media owned by Hary Tanoesoedibjo, a businessman and politician from the Perindo Party. Then, how does Hary Tanoesoedibjo commodify the MNC Media Group? Theory of Political Economy of Media, Vincent Moscow (1996) discusses the concept of commodification, explaining how the process of transforming goods and services with their use value into a policy that has an exchange rate in the market. The analysis by the author is to see at the relationships behind the production, consumption and distribution processes carried out by the MNC Media Group. Commodification of MNC Media Group is carried out through three types of commodification, namely; commodification of contents, audiences and workers. Commodification is made using the economy and politics by its owner, Hary Tanoesoedibjo which is carried out in the form of an integrated business unit, or a synergy between all business units, raising and builing a positive image for the owner by using legitimacy of the power relations. Keywords:  Mass Media, Commodification, Power Relations


AIMS
The aim of the study was to examine whether differences in average diameter of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles were associated with total and cardiovascular mortality.

METHODS AND RESULTS
We studied 1643 subjects referred to coronary angiography, who did not receive lipid-lowering drugs. During a median follow-up of 9.9 years, 398 patients died, of these 246 from cardiovascular causes. We calculated average particle diameters of LDL from the composition of LDL obtained by β-quantification. When LDL with intermediate average diameters (16.5-16.8 nm) were used as reference category, the hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors for death from any cause were 1.71 (95% CI: 1.31-2.25) and 1.24 (95% CI: 0.95-1.63) in patients with large (>16.8 nm) or small LDL (<16.5 nm), respectively. Adjusted HRs for death from cardiovascular causes were 1.89 (95% CI: 1.32-2.70) and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.06-2.12) in patients with large or small LDL, respectively. Patients with large LDL had higher concentrations of the inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein than patients with small or intermediate LDL. Equilibrium density gradient ultracentrifugation revealed characteristic and distinct profiles of LDL particles in persons with large (approximately even distribution of intermediate-density lipoproteins and LDL-1 through LDL-6) intermediate (peak concentration at LDL-4) or small (peak concentration at LDL-6) average LDL particle diameters.

CONCLUSIONS
Calculated LDL particle diameters identify patients with different profiles of LDL subfractions. Both large and small LDL diameters are independently associated with increased risk mortality of all causes and, more so, due to cardiovascular causes compared with LDL of intermediate size.


The conventional network coding based multicast schemes usually do not consider the influence of interference of nodes. However, in practical systems, the interference in wireless ad-hoc networks (WANETs) plays an important role on the performance of multicast schemes. By addressing this issue, this paper proposes a partial network coding based interference-aware (PNCIA) multicast scheme for real-time multicast services over WANETs. The core idea is to use a kind of interference measure criterion for multicast routing schemes. On the one hand, the proposed scheme uses partial network coding technique for guarantying real-time transmissions. On the other hand, it will select the path with less interference for the final data transmission. The simulation results show that, compared with traditional network coding based schemes, the proposed scheme can achieve higher throughput and better robust performances.


To investigate the efficacy of three different vitamin E preparations for optimizing vitamin E status in cystic fibrosis (CF patients long-term, 29 patients (aged 0.7-29.8 y) were randomly assigned to receive 400 IU of either RRR-alpha-tocopherol (A: 268 mg, n = 10) or all rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate as a fat-soluble (B: 400 mg, n = 10) or water-miscible preparation (C: 400 mg, n = 9) and were followed for 6 wk. In the whole study group, plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations increased from baseline (10.5 +/- 4.6 micromol/L) to 3 wk (25.7 +/- 6.5 micromol/L; P < 0.001), but not further between 3 and 6 wk; concentrations at 3 and 6 wk did not differ from those of age-matched control subjects (23.6 +/- 3.9 micromol/L). There was no significant difference in the increase from baseline to 6 wk among preparations A (17.75 +/- 8.43 micromol/L), B (14.0 +/- 9.4 micromol/L), and C (15.5 +/- 7.1 micromol/L). Because of differences in body weight, the dose administered ranged from 5.5 to 47.4 IU x kg-1 x d-1; it correlated positively with the increase in plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the increase in plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations between patients with CF-associated liver disease (n = 8) who received 10.2 +/- 3.8 IU x kg-1 x d-1 and those without liver disease taking comparable doses. We conclude that CF patients can be efficiently supplemented with 400 IU/d of any one of the three vitamin E preparations and plasma values of healthy control subjects can be achieved.


OBJECTIVE
To preliminarily investigate the expression and clinical significance of leptin and adiponectin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS
The expression of leptin and adiponectin in ESCC and normal esophageal mucosal tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining with tissue microarray. The correlation between leptin, adiponectin and clinicalpathological features was statistically analyzed.

RESULTS
The expression of leptin was significantly upregulated in the ESCC than in the normal esophageal mucosa tissue [65.6% (80/122) versus 27.5% (11/40), P < 0.001]. Expression of leptin was significantly correlated with lymph node involvement and advanced tumor stage (P = 0.009 and P = 0.043, respectively). Expression of adiponectin was significantly down-regulated in ESCC compared with that in normal esophageal mucosal tissue [22.1% (27/122) versus 47.5% (19/40), P = 0.002]. Expression of adiponectin was significantly correlated with lymph node involvement (P = 0.020). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the expression of leptin and lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (r = 0.235 and r = 0.183, respectively), and a negative correlation between the expression of adiponectin and lymph node metastasis (r = -0.229). There was no significant correlation between the expressions of leptin and adiponectin (P > 0.05), and between the body mass index and the expression of leptin and adiponectin, and lymph node metastasis (P > 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS
An imbalanced expression of adipocytokines exits in ESCC. The expression of leptin and adiponectin is correlated with lymph node metastasis and/or tumor stage. Therefore, imbalanced expression of leptin and adiponectin may have a potential role in the carcinogenesis and disease progression of ESCC.


For students to be educated as science-literate individuals; It is expected that they will be able to know the basic knowledge of science, transfer these knowledge to everyday life, and use them to solve issues / problems they encounter. At this point, there are great duties for prospective teachers, who are teachers of the future, to raise science-literate individuals. It is aimed to take the opinions of prospective science teachers about the process of associating science subjects with everyday life in this study. 106 prospective science teachers participated in the research carried out as a case study. Opinion form and semi-structured interview were used as data collection tools while descriptive and content analysis methods were preferred in analysis. According to the theme created from the findings, the prospective teachers defined association with daily life as the use of information in everyday life, the connection of information with everyday life, giving examples from everyday life. As a result, in the study, it was found that, in associating with daily life, prospective teachers focused on transfer of knowledge to everyday life whereas they emphasized less about feeling, seeing or understanding science in events or situations that they encounter in everyday life.


Nanotechnology is the technology relating to the synthesis and application of materials with nanometer sizes (nm). At the nanoscale, materials will have special features than traditional materials because their specific size is smaller than 100 nm, larger surface to volume ratio, crystalline structure, high reactivity potential, creating the effect of resonance Plasmon surface... Materials application process also potential risks to health and the environment. To evaluate the safety of nanomaterial in water environment, the experiments on aquatic organisms should be carried out to test the toxicological effects of nanomaterial. Duckweed used as a model organism because of unique difference characteristics from other plants as they could provide a new material source for the production of fuel and biogas, rapidly grow in a short time that requires little soil and nutrition. Duckweed is aquatic plants are widely used in the treatment of water pollution because it has the ability to absorb the nutrients of nitrogen and phosphorus. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of silver nanoparticles on growth of Lemna sp. The silver nanoparticles were synthesized by electrochemical and reduction method. Characterizations of these nanoparticles were Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV - VIS) methods. The weight of Lemna sp. was compared between the first day and the last day of the experiment period (7 th day of cultivation). The results showed that nano materials show growth inhibition against Lemna sp. At concentration of 1 and 5 ppm of silvernano solutions, a maximum anti- Lemna sp. activity was observed.


TIn our day-to-day life we know that how much electricity is important and necessary. For the production of electricity, power generation should be in a sufficient manner. Power station is playing the vital role to generate power by using various sources of energy and it should produce more power when compared to the earlier stages i.e., now we all are in a modern era so that new technology is essential to produce more power and the power quality is also an important factor. In this situation the researches investigates and conclude to bring a new concept named micro grid. Micro grid requires storage devices that increase the inertia and avoid instability of the system. Micro grid is designed, built and controlled by "Customers" based on the internal requirement subject to the technical economic and regulatory opportunities and constraints faced. Micro grid means distributed generators on small scale rather than centralized generation and centralized control may be through renewable energy sources. The problem nearly micro grids were not particularly reliable because only one power plant supplies all of the energy. The solution for this problem is interconnecting some systems to improve reliability. To bring an alternate solution smart grid concept originates for the generation of power. Smart grid uses new intelligent techniques and automatic control through communication. For cost reduction, rise in efficiency and reliability, energy saving etc. smart grid is advantageous than micro grid.


Background. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) promotes hand function using intensive unimanual practice along with restraint of the less-affected hand. CIMT has not been compared with a treatment with equivalent dosing frequency and intensity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Objectives. The authors report a randomized trial comparing CIMT and a bimanual intervention (hand-arm intensive bimanual therapy; HABIT) that maintains the intensity of practice associated with CIMT but where children are engaged in functional bimanual tasks. Methods. A total of 42 participants with hemiplegic CP between the ages of 3.5 and 10 years (matched for age and hand function) were randomized to receive 90 hours of CIMT or an equivalent dosage of functional bimanual training (HABIT) conducted in day-camp environments. A physical therapist blinded to treatment allocation tested hand function before and after treatment. The primary outcomes were changes in Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF) and Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) scores. Secondary measures included the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS). Results. Both the CIMT and HABIT groups demonstrated comparable improvement from the pretest to immediate posttest in the JTTHF and AHA (P < .0001), which were maintained at 6 months. GAS, however, revealed greater progress toward goals for the HABIT group (P < .0001), with continued improvement across test sessions for both groups (P < .0001). Conclusions. Both CIMT and bimanual training lead to similar improvements in hand function. A potential benefit of bimanual training is that participants may improve more on self-determined goals.


A rotor walk in a directed graph can be thought of as a deterministic version of a Markov Chain, where a pebble moves from vertex to vertex following a simple rule until a terminal vertex, or sink, is reached. The ARRIVAL problem, as defined by Dohrau and al., consists in determining which sink will be reached. While the walk itself can take an exponential number of steps, this problem belongs to the complexity class NP$\cap$co-NP without being known to be in P. Several variants have been studied where we add one or two players to the model, defining deterministic analogs of stochastic models (e.g., Markovian decision processes, Stochastic Games) with rotor-routing rules instead of random transitions. The corresponding decision problem address the existence of strategies for players that ensure some condition on the reached sink. These problems are known to be $NP$-complete for one player and $PSPACE$-complete for two players. In this work, we define a class of directed graphs, namely tree-like multigraphs, which are multigraphs having the global shape of an undirected tree. We prove that the different variants of the reachability problem with zero, one, or two players can be solved in linear time, while the number of steps of rotor walks can still be exponential. To achieve this, we define a notion of return flow, which counts the number of times the pebble will bounce back in subtrees of the graph.


Although the efforts of some who opposed removal and relocation were unquestionably inadequate and largely represented compromised positions, the activities of these supporters of Nikkei rights must be understood within their difficult political context. In combination with the submissions made to government officials, the pamphleteering, day-to-day ministering to the incarcerated, numerous petition campaigns, and letters to the editor embodied a creative and eventually effective opposition to the rigid antiJapanese racism of the day.1


Cultured allografts derived from neonatal foreskin provide a potent stimulus to wound healing in a wide variety of wounds. Their application is a simple outpatient procedure involving no discomfort for the patient. In contrast to autografting, no biopsy is necessary, and growth of newborn keratinocytes in cultures is more rapid than that of adult cells. Use of cultured allogeneic cells offers immediate graft availability and the possibility of stockpiling and preserving the graft for future use. Cultured epidermal allografts may be valuable in accelerating healing by second intention in surgical wounds, as well as being a helpful addition to chronic ulcer management. In venous disease, the outcome is at least comparable to other forms of skin grafting. Ulcers due to connective tissue disorders fared less well and deep chronic ulcers (down to fascia or tendon) were not significantly improved by cultured allograft application. Surprisingly, patient age did not influence outcome.


The convenience store sector evolved from the variety of small retailers operating in the 1950's and is still dominated (in store numbers) by SMEs operating smaller stores (usually smaller than 3,000 sq ft.); trading extended hours; with a base around confectionary, tobacco and news (CTN) and off licence. In the 1980s as more independent retailers adopted the new convenience format the convenience sector spread geographically to fill the increasing demand for local stores with extended hours. Once geographic saturation was reached the main independent supply chains within the convenience sector adopted either a broadly coordinated embedded network through voluntary symbol groups or a broadly cooperative supply chain through cash and carries and delivered wholesalers. Various writers have argued that networking and the building of social capital (as in the voluntary symbol groups) is vital for SME growth whilst Jack and Anderson (2002) have demonstrated that entrepreneurs embedding themselves within a network may be sacrificing their entrepreneurial capabilities.

Around 2000, the major retail multiples and the COOP entered the convenience sector. By using their extensive knowledge of Supply Chain Management (SCM) they were able to gain commercial advantage over the existing supply chains which focused these chains on the need for economic efficiency. This meant that the businesses within the voluntary groups had to choose between the mechanisms highlighted by Payan (2000) of economic efficiency with increased dependence on the centre and the mechanisms of social justice within the group that allowed independent actions within the group. Possibly because of these mechanisms, distinct differences in the types of relationships started to appear between suppliers and independent retailers within each of the voluntary groups. New (1997) highlighted the two opposing forces facing independent retailers operating within voluntary groups; the drive for profit for the whole group and the desire for a perceived fair share of that profit for individual members of the group.

This paper introduces work currently under way to investigate causal configurations of market forces and the social history of a sector that jointly dictate the relationship choices of SMEs within the supply chain. Envisaging a critical realist approach, the aim of the research is to develop understanding of current relationship choices and identify causal mechanisms that would explain how these choices affect independent retailers today.


Changing the algorithmic components of ATM equipment such as ATM switches, requires full access to the switch control software, which is not available in most commercial products. Hence, most researchers still resort to simulation in order to evaluate new traffic control algorithms. This paper presents the architecture of an ATM simulator that operates at the call level, exposes the power of such a tool in evaluating different control architectures for ATM networks, and presents the status of a prototype implementation. ATM simulators based on the proposed architecture include a Web-based component (Java applet) which acts as user interface. This component enables tele-training and dissemination of important simulation results to remote sites.


Phosphine (PH3) is a highly toxic grain fumigant to which there is significant human workplace exposure. To determine the in vivo cytogenetic effects of inhalation of PH3, male F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed to target concentrations of 0, 1.25, 2.5, or 5 ppm PH3 for 6 hr/day for 9 days over an 11 ‐day period. Approximately 20 hr after the termination of exposures, blood was removed from the mice and rats by cardiac puncture and the lymphocytes cultured for analyses of sister chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations in rats and mice, and micronuclei (MN) in cytochalasin B‐induced binucleated lymphocytes from mice. In addition, bone marrow (rats) and peripheral blood (mice) smears were made for the analysis of MN in polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocytes. No significant increase in any of the cytogenetic endpoints was found at any of the concentrations examined. These results indicate that concentrations of PH3 up to 5 ppm are not genotoxic to rodents when administered by inhalation for 9 days during an 11 ‐day period as measured by several cytogenetic assays. To evaluate the effects of PH3 on male germ cells, a dominant lethal test was conducted in male mice exposed to 5 ppm PH3 for 10 days over a 12‐day period and mated to groups of untreated females (2 females/male) on each of 6 consecutive 4‐day mating intervals. None of the 6 groups of females exhibited a significant increase in percent resorptions. These results indicate that exposure to 5 ppm PH3 by inhalation does not induce dominant lethality in male mouse germ cells at steps in spermatogenesis ranging from late differentiating spermatogonia/early primary spermatocytes through mature sperm. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Abstract

Pakistan is an emerging country ranked as the six crowded country in the world with a significant part of its population suffering from to hearing impairment beset with late identification to hearing loss (HL) more often seen in the age group of 19-24 months 48% equalled to 22% at 0-6 months. This is compounded by a fragile health care system which is not responsive enough to address the health problems of the people let alone pledge curative or management of the programs for hearing impaired children. The same has been point out by the  Tucci D et al. in their study and determined that "high prevalence of HL in developing world was due to a variety of factors, including lack of widespread inclusive immunization programs and medical care, and inadequate funds for intervention once HL is identified" Neonatal hearing screening (NHS) is a public health care initiative to identify and detect infants born with  the impaired hearing from birth to one month of age to identify the new borns with hearing loss. The purpose of NHS of new borns is to notice infants consuming hearing loss (HL) so as to appreciably bring down to the age of identification of HL in children for intervention to take place by six months of age in order to the provide better speech language development, education and quality of life 4 NHS is known in industrialized countries. However, different barriers have played negative role to stop the introduction and success of the programs in low and central income countries.

METHODS

This examining descriptive study was employed to purposive sampling technique and qualitative parameters was conducted in the Islamabad over a period of 18 months from June 2015 to January 2017 and  following approval of institutional research ethics committee. This was done as brand new hearing screening is required at the national level and for this policy needs to be expressed for enactment of legislature. Stake holders of  the disability policy and  the others were excluded from the study meanwhile disability policy concerns with  the children in future years, when hearing and speech disability has manifested. Meeting guide was developed and tested with the  policy maker bureaucrat (civil servant) to determine and how discussion was led by the formulated queries in the interview guide. It contained easily comprehendible queries with the flow modified and  the rearranged in a sequence including policy cover, legislative cover, fiscal resources, NHS in Pakistan ,linkage between external donor agencies and health care programs and awareness through social network and health. Further, the probes of each domain were built in to the related sections of the interview guide, which served to the steer the discussion into the domain areas without leading the respondents.

RESULTS

The thematic analysis of the data collected during in depth interviews with the policy makers revealed the themes that emerged within each domain of NHS and the fences to NHS. The outcomes drawn from the thematic analysis were Planning, Governing, Awareness, Funding, Size building (medical and technical), Administration, Policy development including Legislature Evaluation and Sustainability; The themes and connections of these themes to the emerging characteristics in the interviews.

DISCUSSION

Thematic analysis conducted to explore the Barriers and Priorities accorded to the neo-natal range screening at the government health policy level in the current study was consistent with other studies. In the current study, targeting the health policy makers, they discoursed that in Pakistan on account was non-availability of funds for NHS complemented by following remedial and restoration program, NHS programs are  the unlikely to see the light of the day.

It was worried repeatedly by the health policy makers that in order to the  market NHS the media awareness needs to be create which is only possible through the sensationalizing the negative influence of HI on society on the pattern of how external donor activities were sponsoring campaigns for the  communicable and non-communicable diseases like Dengue, Polio and Hepatitis and AIDs. In an Indian study by Baxipatra D, one block was identified as disability unresponsive attitude of the society and therefore the Laws and regulations however stringent can accomplish little unless there is a perceptible shift in the outlook of the public to the HI population unless if the media through its power of sensationalism and glamour makes a conducive atmosphere for NHS legislation by the positively influencing policy makers or legislators.

The absence of UNHS in Pakistan can be partially be credited to  the lack of interest on the part of the policy makers leading to non enactment of legislature in this particular field.

Except for the area of Sindh, the central governments and the other3 provinces have not legislated on NHS. In the USA as of 2012, 44 states have been passed legislation related to the NHS. A lack of integrated, holistic, national based on method to NHS coupled with the limited outreach of the healthcare structure and low occurrence of hospital births aggravates the fragile health care system.

CONCLUSION

Lack of awareness about the lifelong social and the financial impact of HI to an individual remains a difficult policy level barrier to the introduction of NHS in Pakistan and loom in the shape of the dire lack of financial resources or allocation by the central government towards the health sector impacting upon initiation of NHS programs. Furthermore lack of availability to updated and reliable data as to the amount of persons suffering from HI from birth is a stimulating policy level the barrier as is also the dearth of research on prevalence and the economic fallout of HI. Policy makers are not sensitized to characteristic the costs borne by a HI person from the birth and incurred in case of subsidies extended by the state. One evident barrier to priority accorded to the NHS at governmental health policy level is that HI unfortunately remains an invisible disability, needful a media blitz and the ensuing commotion of peripheral benefits accruing from the international health donor organizations.

Note: Joint Event on Global Public Health Congress & Annual Congress on Nutrition & Healthcare October 18-20, 2018 Paris, France


A novel photodegradable thin film of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composite was prepared by embedding modified TiO2 nanoparticles into the commercial PVC. The photocatalyst nanoparticles were modified with perchlorinated iron (II) phthalocyanine (FePcCl16) to improve their photocatalytic activity. Solid-phase photocatalytic degradation of the PVC-FePcCl16-TiO2 thin film was carried out under ultraviolet (UV) lamp or sunlight irradiation in atmosphere. The properties of composite films were compared with those of pure PVC film and poly(vinyl chloride)-TiO2 (PVC-TiO2) composite films through performing weight loss monitoring, scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated that the degradation efficiency of PVC-FePcCl16-TiO2 composite film was significantly higher than that of pure PVC film and PVC-TiO2 composite film under UV or sunlight irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism was discussed briefly. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011


The aim of this article is to introduce a new definition of domination number in graphs called hn-domination number denoted by . This paper presents some properties which show the concepts of connected and independent hn-domination. Furthermore, some bounds of these parameters are determined, specifically, the impact on hn-domination parameter is studied thoroughly in this paper when a graph is modified by deleting or adding a vertex or deleting an edge.


Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the impact of the strategic transformation of engineering to order company (ETO) at the level of the internal value-adding chain of operations on its position as a sub-supplier. The transformation is motivated and enabled by end-to-end business intelligence related to processes revolving around the product's design, configuration and engineering. The investigation builds on case-based research following the company's decision of converting its product portfolio to only one family of products, thus increasing process efficiency whilst at the same time enlarging its market reach by offering individualized and innovative products. By digitally integrating operations related to sales, product development and production preparation, the traditional trade-off between cost-effective solutions with high product variety and low lead-time is significantly reduced.

Design/methodology/approach
A design science research project has been conducted to create knowledge on the effects of integration across the value-adding chain of operations. Several design cycles illustrate how development based on business intelligence and available technological enablers for inter-operation integration influence the traditional approach towards supply chain pipeline selection strategies.

Findings
Relating to digital transformation, the consequences and means of adopting digital business intelligence for integrating several administrative and engineering operations in small-medium enterprises (SME) are studied. The product delivery performance of the SME is improved, thus, having ETO lead-time comparable to manufacturing to order company. The findings show how the adoption of state-of-the-art technological solutions for cross-operation digital integration challenges traditional supply chain, coordination models.

Research limitations/implications
The conclusions are drawn based on a single case. The limitations associated with case-based research call for further work to support generalization. Furthermore, the long-term influence of the effects of increased interoperability on supply chain coordination strategies requires further investigation.

Practical implications
As technological solutions evolve, new opportunities for supply chain management arise, which put into question the traditional understanding that complex supply chain pipeline characteristics should be handled by complexity reducing initiatives, which opens up new competitive opportunities for companies in high-cost countries.

Social implications
Enabling the use of human resources towards expanding the business (rather than running it only) are aligned with the current economic and political situation in high-cost countries like Denmark and potentially releases skilled employees from repetitive and low value-adding work and reengages them in business development.

Originality/value
By embracing flexibility and volatility as an opportunity, this publication exemplifies how to move beyond hedging the supply chain volatility, but systematically enable the supply chain to deal with complexity efficiently.


This study focuses on a secondary school in an Indian-African suburb of Merewent in KwaZulu-Natal, an example of a suburban school where English as a Home Language (EHL) is taught to a majority of non-native English learners from township schools. The EHL classrooms were investigated for 'communicativeness' and then compared to English as a Second Language (ESL) classrooms. It might be expected that EHL classrooms would exhibit an affinity with ESL classrooms. However, although non-native EHL has many aspects in common with ESL, there were significant differences between the two. The most important difference from the standpoint of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) was in the learning content selection, with the EHL settings using more literary works, and so focusing less on the direct teaching of grammatical forms. However, a disturbing pattern was the inability of the learners in both sets of settings to take full advantage of CLT, which suggested that the learners might not be at the appropriate level of language development. Keywords: English as Home Language (EHL), non-native English learners, township schools, English as a Second Language (ESL), Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), language development


In Computational Materials Design (CMD), it is well recognized that identifying key microstructure characteristics is crucial for determining material design variables. However, existing microstructure characterization and reconstruction (MCR) techniques have limitations to be applied for materials design. Some MCR approaches are not applicable for material microstructural design because no parameters are available to serve as design variables, while others introduce significant information loss in either microstructure representation and/or dimensionality reduction. In this work, we present a deep adversarial learning methodology that overcomes the limitations of existing MCR techniques. In the proposed methodology, generative adversarial networks (GAN) are trained to learn the mapping between latent variables and microstructures. Thereafter, the low-dimensional latent variables serve as design variables, and a Bayesian optimization framework is applied to obtain microstructures with desired material property. Due to the special design of the network architecture, the proposed methodology is able to identify the latent (design) variables with desired dimensionality, as well as capturing complex material microstructural characteristics. The validity of the proposed methodology is tested numerically on a synthetic microstructure dataset and its effectiveness for materials design is evaluated through a case study of optimizing optical performance for energy absorption. Additional features, such as scalability and transferability, are also demonstrated in this work. In essence, the proposed methodology provides an end-to-end solution for microstructural design, in which GAN reduces information loss and preserves more microstructural characteristics, and the GP-Hedge optimization improves the efficiency of design exploration.


Supervisory Committee Dr. Marion F. Ehrenberg (Department of Psychology) Supervisor Dr. Marsha Runtz (Department of Psychology) Co-Supervisor or Departmental Member Dr. Catherine Costigan (Department of Psychology) Departmental Member Dr. Jillian Roberts (Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies) Outside Member Despite the prevalence of remarriages and stepfamilies in North American society, there is a relative paucity of research regarding aspects of marital quality in stepfamilies relative to the abundance of empirical examination of first marriages. Related to the absence of clear norms and roles for remarried partners and stepfamily members, clinicians have noted that remarried individuals tend to hold beliefs and expectations of remarriage and stepfamily relations that are better suited to biologically-related nuclear families, as opposed to recognizing the unique and often complex circumstances of stepfamilies. As such, remarital quality may be particularly prone to disappointment due to unfounded expectations and beliefs that become problematic for adjustment of partners and their children. Similarly, the few guidelines for interactions between former spouses who continue to co-parent their shared children may lead to dissatisfaction for remarried parents attempting to manage these relationships. The current study aimed to predict two aspects of remarital quality – dyadic adjustment and relationship commitment – with a measure of the changes in one's beliefs over time about remarriage and stepfamilies, iv while also accounting for remarriage length and the self-reported well-being of the responding remarried parents. Changes in beliefs about co-parenting with one's former spouse were also assessed as potential predictors of co-parenting communication quality, which has sometimes been found to correlate with remarital quality. An online questionnaire was completed by 112 remarried mothers who shared parenting of their minor children with their former spouses. A small sample of 33 remarried fathers also participated, providing an initial comparison group with which to tentatively explore gender differences in changes in beliefs and their association with remarital and coparenting quality. Most respondents reported remarital satisfaction and average communication quality with former spouses, providing little evidence for the spillover of conflict that has been noted previously. Emerging as predictive of better current remarital quality included a reported decline over time in the beliefs that stepfamilies only have a slim chance of success, and a belief that stepfamilies are "second-best" compared to nuclear families. Mothers who recalled the greatest decreases in these beliefs over time also reported more positive remarital adjustment at present, compared to those whose beliefs did not change as much. The earlier that these beliefs changed, the greater the benefits were to remarital adjustment. Change in beliefs was also predictive of co-parenting communication, more so than individual well-being. Few sex differences were noted. These findings suggest that changes in beliefs regarding marital transitions and co-parenting relationships are important for adjustment in these relationships and have potential to act as targets for intervention to facilitate smooth transitions to remarriage and stepfamily life. Highlighting the need for remarrying couples and their children to have opportunities to develop positive beliefs and expectations about v stepfamilies, possible applications in terms of public policy, community education, peer support, and family resources are discussed.


The effect of cellulose crystallinity on in vitro digestibility (IVD) and fermentation kinetics was investigated in samples of meadow hay and barley, wheat and rice straws. A saturated solution of potassium permanganate was used to isolate the celluloses, and their crystallinity was evaluated in a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer as the ratio of the observed transmittance at two distinct wave frequencies . IVD was determined after 48 h of incubation, and the kinetics of fermentation was studied with fully automated gas production equipment. Despite significant differences (P <0.05), crystallinity showed low variation (0.30-0.42) among celluloses and correlated positively with IVD (P <0.05). Although positively correlated with maximal gas production (r = 0.91) and rates of fermentation, IVD (averaging 784 g kg-1 organic matter (OM)) was also low for all samples as compared with the usually referred values for isolated celluloses. The lowest means were observed for meadow hay and rice straw. The cumulative gas production profiles were well described by a monophasic model (r2 = 0.997, RSD (residual standard deviation) = 8.367), but all the curves had a lag phase varying from 3 to 6 h. Cellulose isolated from rice straw showed the lowest maximal gas production (366 ml g-1 OM) and highest times to reach half of the maximal gas production and maximal rate. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of two cellulose samples showing considerable gas production at highest rates as compared with cellulose isolated from rice straw that provided the lowest gas production at the lowest rate revealed generalised bacterial colonisation, the presence of glycocalyx fibres and cell erosion in all samples. Although samples collected after 12 h of fermentation appeared to present lower microbial attack as compared with those incubated for 24 h, TEM did not explain the observed differences in the data. Since crystallinity, IVD, gas production and rates of fermentation were shown to be associated with the nutritional availability of cellulose, further research dealing with extreme values of cellulose crystallinity may be important.


Industrial Tourism (IT) is a by-product of Cultural Tourism, and although it is a niche product it can contribute to attenuate seasonality, contributing to the tourist sustainability of the territories. Simultaneously, ITcan contribute to the competitiveness of the territories through their diversification and differentiation theyare able to offer. A benchmarking exercise on a global scale permits to identify good practices that demonstrate the positioning of this product within the sector of IT and that give operational and scientific credibility to the case study, the project "Sines - Sustainable Industrial Tourism" (SSIT), which operationalizes the IT concept in one of the most dynamic industrial and economic municipalities in the country. With one of the most important deep-water ports in Europe, refineries, one thermal power plant, highly specialized industries, it also benefits from a natural setting of rare beauty, with its beautiful beaches integrated in a Natural Park. IT come up itself as a complementary product to the main touristic product of this territory, the "Sun & Sea", maximizing the existing structures, making compatible two apparently antagonistic activities - Tourism and Industry - and taking advantage of the growing demand for different experiences for leisure in search of more knowledge and feedback from the general public, while contributing to blurring seasonality, one of the main threats to sustainability. This work aims to theoretically contextualize IT within the framework of a sustainable tourism development model and presents the project "Sines - Sustainable Industrial Tourism" in a diachronic logic, describing the process and presenting the results achieved from its beginning.


Objective: To observe the expressive changes of β1,4-GalT I mRNA in corresponding spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion after sciatic nerve injury. Methods: Real-time PCR was used to detect the expressive changes of β1,4-GalT I mRNA in corresponding spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion after sciatic nerve injury. The localization of β1,4-GalT I mRNA in corresponding spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion was explored by using in situ hybridization. Results: Real-time PCR re- vealed that, compared with the normal control group, the expressive levels varied after sciatic nerve injury. In situ hybridiza- tion showed that the expression of β1,4-GalT I in normal spinal cord was weak and mainly located in the grey matter of spinal cord, and the expression signals were enhanced in spinal cord after sciatic nerve injury and distributed in the grey and the white matter. β1,4-GalT I mainly located in neurons in dorsal root ganglion. Conclusion: β1,4-GalT I is present in nor- mal spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion, and it varies after sciatic nerve injury. These results indicate that β1,4-GalT I may play roles in peripheral nerve regeneration and degeneration after nerve injury.


Active orthotic devices require actuators with high torque, a free movement mode, high efficiency, and small size and weight. The FlexCVA is a new type of actuator that addresses these requirements in a unique way. It provides continuously varying torque through the use of two belts alternately deflected by cams. The belts alternate in supplying output torque with one belt pulling the output while the slack is removed from the other belt. The drive ratio is automatically adjusted in response to the load by varying the deflection distance of the belts. The resulting actuator prototype has been demonstrated to supply up to 34 Nm of output torque, and its free movement mode allows it to be backdriven at speeds greater than 400 deg/sec


The Coronavirus pandemic challenged most industries in ways unimaginable, forcing people to consider a variety of operational models which were previously unthinkable. UEP also adapted a Work-From-Home (WFH) model for its office-based staff to ensure operational continuity. A few months into the Pandemic, discussions at UEP were initiated to determine how the organization intends to manage office resumption once the Pandemic eases.
 A holistic strategy was devised to seek inputs of stake holders, research global and local trends to arrive at an informed decision. The findings indicated that while globally there were discussions around New Normal the local companies were generally not inclined in changing the way they work. UEP also sought feedback on the work-from-home setup from its employees via pulse survey and focus groups. Based on the results and multiple deliberations it was decided to move towards a hybrid model as the New Normal for UEP. A key focus area throughout the process was the impact on employees and the subsequent impact on Talent Management at UEP.
 This paper will discuss the series of events which led to the formalization of the "New Normal for UEP" and how it has impacted UEP's Talent Management. The paper will also briefly touch upon the post implementation feedback and lessons learnt from focus groups and highlight areas of improvement to fine tune the working model to what suits UEP best.


Spectroscopy was performed along three distinct crystallographic axes of a high refractive index contrast photonic crystal and the spectra were compared with theoretical calculations. Deep dips were observed in the experimental spectra at 2.1 and 3.2 μm and predicted by calculations. The photonic crystal was prepared through melt-imbibing of selenium into a self-assembled face-centered-cubic colloidal crystal template.


Abstract
Background: For thousands of years, and in many places around the world tattoos have been practiced, while it comes into existence spontaneously and practiced in cultural, geographic and climatic conditions completely.
Aim of the study: The study objected to assess perception of health-related risks and attitudes toward tattooing among institute students and faculty members in Mosul.
Methodology: Descriptive-Analytical study design was depended throughout the period "4th of March till 30th of April / 2018" among a female convenience sample of (283) students and faculty members from Technical Institute of Mosul. The researcher collected the intended information related to the topic of the study via an interview with each subject of the study by using structured anonymous questionnaire composed of three parts; demographic characteristics of the subjects, perception of health-related problems associated with tattoo and the attitudes toward it. The instrument was validated through opinions of (5) experts from the nursing field, while its reliability was measured through test-retest on (15) university female students, its result was (r=0.83). Data were presented through descriptive-analytical statistic.
Results: The sample had a weak level of perception with respect to health-related risks associated with the practices, from another side; religious obligations were the main limitation of being away from tattooing.
Conclusions: The study concluded that there was a clear ignorance of infectious diseases that could be transmitted through this practice. The study also concluded that the motives for the practice were very weak.
Recommendations: The study recommended on the need to raise the level of perception among the society about the health risks associated with the practice through the mass media. Also, in the event of its occurrence, obligations and commitments towards values, traditions, and religious beliefs must be respected.


ABSTRACT Identifying with more than one ethnicity is becoming increasingly common in New Zealand. It is therefore important that the methods of categorising ethnicity used by government agencies and researchers effectively account for diverse ethnic identities. The aim of this research was to assess the impact of using different methods of categorising ethnicity on understanding outcomes in New Zealand, using Census 2013 information about tobacco smoking among the population aged 15+ years as an illustration. Prioritised, total response and single/combination categorisation methods were compared. Prioritised and total response categorisation generally produced similar prevalence estimates and patterns for smoking status, although estimates diverged somewhat for Māori ethnic groups and to a lesser extent for Pacific Peoples and Asian ethnic groups. Single/combination categorisation indicated that combination ethnic groups tend to have smoking outcomes between those of the constituent groups. Categorisation method had a considerable impact on the size of some ethnic groups. Prioritised ethnicity categorisation may be inappropriate for use by government agencies and for policy-relevant research principally concerned with children, young people, Māori or Pacific Peoples. Single/combination categorisation is useful for understanding the associations between ethnicity and outcomes, however previous work suggests this method should be used with caution.


We evaluated the o-nitrobenzyl platform for designing photolabile protecting groups with red-shifted absorption that could be photolyzed upon one- and two-photon excitation. Several synthetic pathways to build different conjugated o-nitrobenzyl backbones, as well as to vary the benzylic position, are reported. Relative to the reference 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl group, several o-nitrobenzyl derivatives exhibit a large and red-shifted one-photon absorption within the near-UV range. Uncaging after one-photon excitation was studied by measuring UV-visible absorption and steady-state fluorescence emission on model caged ethers and esters. In the whole series investigated, the caged substrates were released cleanly upon photolysis. Quantum yields of uncaging after one-photon absorption lie within the 0.1-1 % range. We observed that these drop as the maximum wavelength absorption of the o-nitrobenzyl protecting group is increased. A new method based on fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) after two-photon excitation was used to measure the action uncaging cross section for two-photon excitation. The series of o-nitrobenzyl caged fluorescent coumarins investigated exhibit values within the 0.1-0.01 Goeppert-Mayer (GM) range. Such results are in line with the low quantum yields of uncaging associated with cross-sections of 1-50 GM for two-photon absorption. Although the cross-sections for one- and two-photon absorption of o-nitrobenzyl photolabile protecting groups can be readily improved, we emphasize the difficulty in enlarging the corresponding action uncaging cross-sections in view of the observed trend of their quantum yield of uncaging.


This article provides a brief, semi-technical history of factor analysis from 1904 to recent times. It begins with the pioneering work of Charles Spearman and finishes with the modern approach of covariance structure modeling, which has incorporated factor analysis into a larger statistical setting.

Keywords:

Spearman;
Maxwell;
Joreskog;
thurstone;
latent variables;
factor loadings;
covariance structure analysis


Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. While there is a major focus on the study of juvenile/adult DR, the effects of hyperglycemia during early retinal development are less well studied. Recent works in embryonic zebra�sh models of nutritional hyperglycemia revealed that hyperglycemia leads to decreased cell numbers of mature retinal cell types, which has been related to a modest increase in apoptotic cell death and altered cell differentiation (Singh et al. 2019; Titialii-Torres and Morris 2022). However, how embryonic hyperglycemia impacts cell proliferation in developing retinas remains still unknown. Here, we exposed zebra�sh embryos to 50 mM glucose from 10 hours postfertilization (hpf) to 5 days postfertilization (dpf). First, we con�rmed that hyperglycemia increases apoptotic death and decreases the rod and Müller glia population in the retina of 5 dpf zebra�sh. Interestingly, the increase in cell death was mainly observed in the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ), where most of the proliferating cells are located. To analyze the impact of hyperglycemia in cell proliferation, mitotic activity was �rst quanti�ed using pH3 immunolabeling, which revealed a signi�cant decrease in mitotic cells in the retina (mainly in the CMZ) at 5 dpf. A signi�cant decrease in cell proliferation in the outer nuclear and ganglion cell layers of the central retina in hyperglycemic animals was also detected using the proliferation marker PCNA. Overall, our results show that nutritional hyperglycemia decreases cellular proliferation in the developing retina, which could contribute signi�cantly to the decline in the number of mature retinal cells.


Information in networks is non-uniformly distributed, enabling individuals in certain network positions to get preferential access to information. Social scientists have developed influential theories about the role of network structure in information access. These theories were validated through numerous studies, which examined how individuals leverage their social networks for competitive advantage, such as a new job or higher compensation. It is not clear how these theories generalize to online networks, which differ from real-world social networks in important respects, including asymmetry of social links. We address this problem by analyzing how users of the social news aggregator Digg adopt stories recommended by friends, i.e., users they follow. We measure the impact different factors, such as network position and activity rate; have on access to novel information, which in Digg's case means set of distinct news stories. We show that a user can improve his information access by linking to active users, though this becomes less effective as the number of friends, or their activity, grows due to structural network constraints. These constraints arise because users in structurally diverse position within the follower graph have topically diverse interests from their friends. Moreover, though in most cases user's friends are exposed to almost all the information available in the network, after they make their recommendations, the user sees only a small fraction of the available information. Our study suggests that cognitive and structural bottlenecks limit access to novel information in online social networks.


A new dual-band 3-dB three-port power divider with arbitrary impedance terminations is presented in this paper. The structure is composed of a two-section transmission line transformer and an isolation resistor. The transmission line's electrical length is /spl pi//3 each at fundamental frequency, resulting in a 2/spl pi//3 total length. The proposed circuit's design equations and graph obtained from analytical results are also given. The technique is validated by the experimental results on 3-dB 900/1800 MHz power divider with Z/sub s/=100 /spl Omega/ and Z/sub L/=50 /spl Omega/. Good performances of the proposed power combiner/divider at both frequencies are obtained.


Among 205,322 limited liability firms in Sweden during 1997-2010, more than 10% did not hire new employees in any given 3-year period despite having high profits. Nearly one-third continued to have high profits in the next three-year period, but still no growth. Regression analysis indicates that these firms were not randomly distributed; rather they were small and young, did not belong to an enterprise group, had low own-capital as a share of total liabilities, and operated in local markets with high profit- opportunities and low competition. We conclude that it might be more beneficial to focus policy towards these firms instead of towards a few high-growth firms that, having just grown exponentially, may not be best positioned to grow further.


New observations with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2), combined with prior archival data, provide nearly complete coverage of the inner 30 Doradus Nebula in both nebular lines and continuum at 0.″1 resolution. The developing windblown cavity surrounding the massive first-generation, central cluster and its interface with the remanent molecular clouds, the site of second-generation, triggered star formation, are imaged in their entirety. Dithered Planetary Camera observations with 0.″03 resolution of Knots 1–3 reveal further structural details of the large dust pillars oriented toward the central cluster and the newborn, massive multiple systems of the second generation in those fields. The new data also provide the first WFPC2 coverage of the fields of two interesting, luminous infrared sources observed in our previous Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer program; comparisons of the high-resolution optical and IR images are illuminating. In addition, we have obtained Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph optical, long-slit observations of seven O-type multiple systems in the region, including those in Knots 1–3 and four representatives of the older generation. The spatially resolved spectrograms and classifications of the close pairs, with separations ranging from 0.″09 to 1.″18, are presented, as well as WFPC2 photometry of the individual components and the compact clusters of fainter stars associated with them. These new observations, and planned further analysis of them, offer significant new information about the intricate structure and evolution of the two-stage starburst in 30 Dor.


The slogan of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is 'Promoting excellence in family medicine', which it does through development of the MRCGP International (Int) exams. However, exporting certain assessment formats from the UK may sometimes be inappropriate. The MRCGP Int (Dubai) includes a video assessment of consultation skills similar to that of the 'old' MRCGP. This assessment uses the same performance criteria as those used in the UK exam, which have been criticised in the past. The majority of doctors who take this exam in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be consulting with Arab patients from a conservative Muslim background. Many of the female patients will be wearing a face veil. None of them (male or female) are used to the concept of being videoed. Few agree to being recorded. The models upon which the performance criteria are based were developed from research into a Western English-speaking population, whose culture and language are profoundly different from those of the UAE. Unfortunately, there is minimal research into communication skills within the Gulf region. It is uncertain how applicable the performance criteria from the UK are to the UAE context. Doctors here report that it is difficult to get patients to demonstrate these criteria. Many primary care doctors in this region have no postgraduate qualification and are desperate to get the MRCGP Int to enhance their professional and financial status. I have heard of candidates (some of whom have actually passed the MRCGP Int) who stage 'false' consultations with English-speaking colleagues/friends. Such practice has been alluded to in the UK. I would suggest that videoed consultations should be used only as a formative learning tool at present in this region. At the same time, the College could encourage and support its local partners to start their own qualitative research into communication skills. By introducing summative assessments that are inherently impractical, the College is partly responsible for resulting unprofessionalism.


This study evaluated the adequacy of an alternate a.m.-p.m. testing scheme for milk yield in comparison with the official test method based on weighing two milkings within 24 h. A total of 88,558 single test day milking weights from 15,670 Italian Friesian cows in 610 herds in the province of Milano (Italy) were collected between September 1991 and October 1992. Ratios were computed for daily milk yield to a.m. and p.m. milking weights (direct yield ratios) and ratios of a.m and p.m. milking weights to daily milk yield (inverse yield ratios). Analysis of variance indicated that the milking interval is the most important source of variation for yield ratios. Factors for estimating daily milk yield from single milking weights adjusted for milking intervals were derived through regression analysis of direct and inverse yield ratios on the length of the milking interval. Daily milk yield was estimated more precisely and accurately when adjustment factors were used than when single milking weights were doubled. The doubling of a.m. and p.m. milking weights overestimated and underestimated (5% on average) daily milk yield, respectively. For 305-d lactation yield, accuracies of these methods were comparable. In conclusion, alternate recording of a.m. and p.m. milking weights led to reliable estimates of milk yield. Effects of the alternate a.m.-p.m. testing scheme on estimates of milk components and genetic evaluations of dams of sires should be investigated.


We have recently shown that ketanserin, an antagonist of peripheral serotonin 5-HT2 receptors lowers blood erythropoietin (Epo) levels in some chronic hemodialysis patients. Based on this finding, a preliminary study was undertaken to investigate the effect of a 3-week oral ketanserin administration on serum Epo concentration and relevant hematological parameters in 4 renal allograft recipients with posttransplant erythrocytosis (PTE). We found a marked decrease in Epo concentrations following ketanserin administration, from 48% to 76% of the abnormally elevated pretreatment values with subsequent increases at 3 weeks after discontinuation of the drug in all patients studied. In 3 of them a corresponding decrease or no rise in the erythrocyte count were noted. During the 6-week study period, the need for monthly phlebotomies was eliminated in these patients. It is hypothesized that ketanserin diminishes erythropoietin synthesis and may become a new drug in the treatment of posttransplant erythrocytosis.


Abstract Owing to the realization of the harmful effect of cadmium on the environment and plants and as the plants are sessile organisms, they need to increase the protective mechanisms to cope with Cd stress. Inoculation the plant with soil microbes at the place of their growing is an important strategy to support the plants against stresses. In this study, trigonella plants were inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi under different CdCl2 concentrations (0, 2.25, and 6.25 mM). AM inoculation increased growth parameters, chlorophyll, and protein contents. Root colonization was significantly increased at low Cd concentration (2.25 mM) and decreased at high one (6.25 mM). Also, with AM fungal inoculation, the translocation factor of trigonella plants significantly decreased as compared to non-AM ones at both low and high Cd concentrations. In addition, it was clearly that malondialdehyde content of trigonella plants increased significantly at both Cd concentrations and with AM fungal inoculation its content decreased compared to those of non-AM ones. AM inoculation significantly increased antioxidant enzymes activities compared to non-AM ones. Consequently, this study showed a tolerance strategy of AM trigonella plants against Cd stress, thus mycorrhizal symbiosis becomes a promising and suitable as phytostabilizers of Cd stressed soil.


This paper considers the control design of a nonlinear distributed parameter system in infinite dimension, described by the hyperbolic Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) of de Saint-Venant. The nonlinear system dynamic is formulated by a Multi-Models approach over a wide operating range, where each local model is defined around a set of operating regimes. A Proportional Integral (PI) feedback was designed and performed through Bilinear Operator Inequality (BOI) and Linear Operator Inequality (LOI) techniques for infinite dimensional systems. The authors propose in this paper to improve the numerical part by introducing weight μi not only equal to {0,1}, but μi ∈ [0, 1].


The unique physical and chemical properties of graphene‐based nanomaterials (GNMs) have inspired a diverse range of scientific and industrial applications. The market value of GNMs is predicted to reach $US 1.3 billion by 2023. Common to many nanomaterials, an important and unresolved question is the environmental consequences of the increases in GNMs use. The current deficiencies in studies reporting ecotoxicology data for GNMs include differences in analytical methodologies for quantification, no standardized test guidelines, differences in morphology of GNMs, the lack of Chemical Abstract Service numbers, and the quality of the reported data. The assessment of potential adverse effects on aquatic organisms typically relies on guideline values based on species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) of toxicity data. We present preliminary water quality guideline values for graphene oxide NMs in freshwaters. Data include 10 species from 7 phyla (bacteria and fungi were not included). The most sensitive organism was found to be the freshwater shrimp Palaemon pandaliformis. The derived guideline values for 99, 95, 90, and 80% species protection were 350, 600, 830, and 1300 μg/L, respectively. These results will contribute to the regulatory derivations of future water quality guideline values for graphene‐based NMs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1340–1348. © 2018 SETAC


Bengkulu City is the center for almost all activities and has a high population growth rate. Because of the high population growth rate, human needs for space and land will increase. Land availability will continue to decline, while it cannot increase the existing area. This will impact the carrying capacity of the environment, so it needs predictions for land availability. This study used a spatial dynamics model which is an analysis of the dynamic system model and the suitability of the built-up area. The carrying capacity to reach excellent quality when the length of the built-up area is 30-70% of the total area that can be used. The results showed that the built-up area will reach 70% in 2030, which means it will exceed the environmental carrying capacity threshold. The results showed there were differences between the distribution patterns of built-up area in the spatial dynamics model and Spatial Planning Bengkulu City in 2032 at Kampung Melayu Subdistrict, Selebar Subdistrict, Singaran Pati Subdistrict, and Sungai Serut Subdistrict.


Soft tissue defects in the hand with exposed tendons, bones, or joints present difficult reconstructive challenges. A wide variety of highly sophisticated intrinsic flaps offer a wide range of therapeutic options of locoregional soft tissue coverage to achieve acceptable aesthetic and functional results. This article gives an overview of the various groups of flaps, indication, and their use in clinical situations based on the experience with more than 100 flaps over a 4-year period.


This study investigated the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) extraction of fat from ground beef and the effects of several factors on the gravimetric determination of fat. The use of ethanol modifier with the SC-CO(2) was not necessary for efficient fat extraction; however, the ethanol did increase the coextraction of water. This coextraction of water caused a significant overestimation of gravimetric fat. Oven-drying ground beef samples prior to extraction inhibited the subsequent extraction of fat, whereas oven-drying the extract after collection decreased the subsequent gas chromatographic fatty acid methyl ester (GC-FAME) fat determination. None of the drying agents tested were able to completely prevent the coextraction of water, and silica gel and molecular sieves inhibited the complete extraction of fat. Measurements of collection vial mass indicated that CO(2) extraction/collection causes an initial increase in mass due to the density of CO(2) (relative to displaced air) followed by a decrease in vial mass due to the removal of adsorbed water from the collection vial. Microwave-drying of the empty collection vials removes approximately 3 mg of adsorbed water, approximately 15-20 min is required for readsorption of the displaced water. For collection vials containing collected fat, microwave-drying effectively removed coextracted water, and the vials reached equilibration after approximately 10-15 min. Silanizing collection vials did not significantly affect weight loss during microwave-drying. SC-CO(2) can be used to accurately determine fat gravimetrically for ground beef, and the presented method can also be followed by GC-FAME analysis to provide specific fatty acid information as well.


The stabilization and immobilization of high‐level radioactive wastes in solid forms have become one of the most pressing industrial problems. Different crystalline mineral phases have been proposed as actinide‐bearing crystalline hosts for waste materials. Self‐ radiation damage from alpha‐decay of the incorporated actinides (such as U, Th) and other rare earth elements can lead to metamict state (amorphous state) and can affect the durability and long‐term performance of these actinide‐bearing phases. To investigate the impact of radiation on the nuclear waste forms and to obtain a better comprehen‐ sion of the damage process and amorphization mechanism are important. The issues of interactions between high‐energy particles and solids and radiation‐induced struc‐ tural modifications in crystalline‐to‐amorphous state are, in fact, an important and active area of fundamental researches. To study metamict state and metamictization is also important for geochemistry as the U‐Pb isotope system is commonly used for age dat‐ ing. Although radiation effect and naturally occurring radiation damage (the process is known as metamictization) have been the subject for many research investigations, there remain important and fundamental issues which need to be understood, for example, the structural changes at the atomic level caused by metamictization, the crystal structure of radiation‐induced amorphous phases, solubility and diffusion of radioactive elements in damaged host phases, the effect of pressure and temperature on metamictization process and interaction of water and fluids with nuclear waste forms. Raman spectros‐ copy is found to be a very powerful tool for study and analysis of the damage effect and metamictization. This chapter describes and reviews recent Raman applications in zircon and titanite, which are proposed for nuclear waste forms. These applications are focused on radiation effect and structural damage process caused by alpha‐decay process as well as recrystallization due to thermal annealing.


The Australian Government has funded the Teaching Teachers for the Future (TTF) project across all teacher preparation programs with the intention of enhancing the capabilities of graduate teachers for integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in their classrooms. Although the project has focused on the first four subjects of the national curriculum (English, Mathematics, Science, and History) it is expected that the changes made in those areas will spread across teacher preparation programs. This paper describes the evolution and revision of a subject within a teacher preparation program to reflect the TTF focus on developing graduates' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge.


Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study examines the effect of entrepreneurship seminar learning experience on entrepreneurial intention change of nascent entrepreneurs. This is necessary in order to gauge how participation and learning in short duration seminars may impact on nascent intentions to create a new venture- an important outcome for both the entrepreneur and policy makers. The study's results show that entrepreneurial intention does change significantly in the course of the short duration seminar. The study also shows a positive learning experience and elevated levels of new knowledge and information among the seminar participants. In spite of this, the study's results do not indicate that the learning experience has any significant impact on the intention change recorded. The findings contribute to the theories of planned behavior and entrepreneurial intention and have wider implications on the utilization of short duration seminars as a policy tool in nascent entrepreneur training and development.


Objective: To critically review contemporary theoretical models, diagnostic approaches, clinical features, and assessment findings in Functional Cognitive Disorder (FCD), and make recommendations for neuropsychological evaluation of this condition. Method: Narrative review. Results: FCD is common in neuropsychological practice. It is characterized by cognitive symptoms that are not better explained by another medical or psychiatric disorder. The cognitive symptoms are associated with distress and/or limitations in daily functioning, but are potentially reversible with appropriate identification and treatment. Historically, a variety of diagnostic frameworks have attempted to capture this condition. A contemporary conceptualization of FCD positions it as a subtype of Functional Neurological Disorder, with shared and unique etiological factors. Patients with FCD tend to perform normally on neuropsychological testing or demonstrate relatively weak memory acquisition (e.g. list learning trials) in comparison to strong attention and delayed recall performance. Careful history-taking and behavioral observations are essential to support the diagnosis of FCD. Areas of ongoing controversy include operationalizing "internal inconsistencies" and the role of performance validity testing. Evidence for targeted interventions remains scarce. Conclusions: Neuropsychologists familiar with FCD can uniquely contribute to the care of patients with this condition by improving diagnostic clarity, richening case formulation, communicating effectively with referrers, and leading clinical management. Further research is needed to refine diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.


When new pipelines are constructed, they often cross existing major infrastructure, such as railways. To reduce potential service disruption, it is a common practice to complete these crossings using trenchless technologies. Without proper methods and oversight in planning and construction, there may be serious safety and financial implications to the operators of the railways and the public due to unacceptable settlement or heave. If movement tolerances are exceeded, the schedule and financial loss to the railway operators could be in the millions of dollars per day.
 Recent construction of a new pipeline across the Canadian prairies implemented ground movement monitoring plans at 19 trenchless railway crossings in order to reduce the potential for impact to the track and railway operations. The specifics of the plan varied for each site and were based on the expected ground conditions, as well as permit requirements from the various railway operators, but typically included ground movement monitoring surveys, observation of the cuttings, recommendations for a soil plug at the leading edge of the bore casing, and frequent communication with both the railway operators and the contractors. For all crossings, the expected soil and groundwater conditions were obtained from pre-construction boreholes and confirmed during excavation of the bore bays. Based on the expected ground conditions, appropriate soil plug lengths, if required, were recommended. In general, fine-grained clay/silt-dominated soils needed minimal to no soil plug in order to minimize the potential for ground heave, while coarser-grained sand-dominated soils needed a longer soil plug in order to reduce the potential for "flowing soil" which would cause over excavation along the bore path. Prior to boring, surface monitoring points were established along the tracks to monitor for changes in the ground surface elevation. Additional subsurface points were installed for crossings where the potential for over excavation was higher. These monitoring points were surveyed before, throughout, and following completion of construction, and the frequency of the surveys was increased when the movement was nearing or exceeding specified tolerances. The effort to monitor and reduce the potential for ground movement was a coordinated effort between the geotechnical engineers, railway operators, and construction contractors.
 The purpose of this paper is to present the lessons learned from the 19 trenchless railway crossings, including the challenges and successes. Recommendations for ground movement monitoring are also provided to help guide railway operators, design and geotechnical engineers, and contractors during the construction of future trenchless pipeline crossings of railway infrastructure.


Activating mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and inactivating mutations in the natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) guanylyl cyclase both result in decreased production of cyclic GMP (cGMP) in chondrocytes and severe short stature, causing achondroplasia (ACH) and acrosomelic dysplasia type Maroteaux, respectively. Previously we showed that an NPR2 agonist BMN-111 (vosoritide) increases bone growth in mice mimicking ACH (Fgfr3Y367C/+), and that in control growth plate chondrocytes, FGFR3 signaling decreases NPR2 activity by dephosphorylating the NPR2 protein. Here we tested whether a phosphatase inhibitor (LB-100) could enhance bone growth in ACH. In ex vivo imaging experiments using a FRET sensor to measure cGMP production in chondrocytes of living tibias from newborn mice, LB-100 counteracts the FGF-induced dephosphorylation and inactivation of NPR2. In ex vivo experiments with Fgfr3Y367C/+ mice, LB-100 in combination with BMN-111 increases the rate of femur growth by ∼25% vs BMN-111 alone, restores chondrocyte terminal differentiation, increases the proliferative growth plate area of the femur, and reduces the activity of the MAP kinase pathway. Our results provide a proof of concept that a phosphatase inhibitor could be used together with an NPR2 agonist to enhance cGMP production as a therapy for ACH. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


CA125 is an antigenic determinant associated with human epithelial ovarian carcinoma. This study was undertaken to evaluate the distribution of serum CA125 levels and the effect of smoking on these levels among healthy individuals and clarify the relation of maternal serum CA125 level and pregnancy. Among 552 healthy individuals, the distribution of serum CA125 values was demonstrated to resemble logarithmic normal distribution. Analysis of variance about age and sex revealed apparent elevation of values for women under 49 years of age in comparison with those for women over 50 years of age and men. Values for these two groups were 143 units/ml for the former and 32 units/ml for the latter, with a 99.7% confidence limit. These values exclude 99.3% of the former and 99.7% of the latter. Serum CA125 values were not affected by smoking. The measurement of serum CA125 levels in 71 pregnant women disclosed a significant elevation during the first trimester in comparison with non-pregnant women under 49 years of age. These results indicate that CA125 values must be deliberatively evaluated in young women, especially during first trimester of pregnancy.


Apoptosis is a process by which cells carry out their own execution by activating an orderly set of genetic and biochemical program. A genetic pathway of apoptosis has been identified in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The ced-3 gene is required for all programmed cell death in C. elegans. Mammalian homolog of ced-3 has been identified as Ice family which is newly identified cysteine protease. Overexpression of Ice/ced-3 family gene can induce apoptosis in a variety of mammalian cells, and inhibitors of Ice/ced-3 family effectively prevent apoptosis induced by a variety of stimulus. Several housekeeping genes have been shown to be targets of Ice/ced-3 family gene, indicating that activation of Ice/ced-3 can induce irreversible fatal changes of cells.


This study was designed to produce rounded belt pattern and tight-skirt pattern drafting method, using 3D body scan data. Subjects were thirty women in their early twenties. In order to figure out the optimum cutting points, namely, where darts are made, using CAD program, curve ratio inflection points on the horizontal curve of waist, abdomen, and hip to find 1 point in the front, two points in the back part. The average length from center front point to maximum curve ratio was 7.7 cm(46.3%) on the waist curve; 7.9 cm(39.4%) on the abdomen curve. And the average length from center back point to maximum curve ratio point was 6.9 cm(39.0%) for first dart and 11.2 cm(63.3%) for second dart on the waist curve; 8.9 cm(35.8%) for first dart and 15.7 cm(63.3%) for second dart on the hip curve respectively. The cutting lines from were made up by connecting curve inflection points. After divided using rotting lines, each patch was flattened onto the plane and all the technical design factors related with patternmaking were measured, such as dart amount, lifting amount of side waist point, etc. Based on the results of correlation analysis among these factors, regression analysis was done to produce equations to estimate the variables necessary to draw up pattern draft method; F1=F8+1.1, F4=2.5×F2+0.9, F5=0.9×F4+1.0, F6=0.3×F4+0.4, B1=0.9×B8+2.3, B4=2.1×B2+1.3, B5=0.9×B4+3.5, and B6=0.3×B4+0.4.


Two very useful extensions to Prolog's computation model, dif and freeze were introduced with Prolog II. A method for their incorporation into the Warren Abstract Machine is presented. Under reasonable assumptions, the method does not incur any overhead on programs not using these extensions. The clause indexing mechanism is also discussed, as it is not unrelated to the freeze mechanism.


In this study, we propose an evaluation approach for web form usability. With the popularization of online activities, a web form is used as a means of intermediation between a company and users. It is a crucial problem to provide a user-friendly web form. Therefore, our aim is to investigate users ' feelings and behavior during the completion of a web form in different ways: a questionnaire, an electro-encephalogram (EEG), and eye tracking. Moreover, we quantify and visualize the evaluation results in order to easily understand a large amount of information at a glance. As a result, we were able to extract valuable information for web form usability from several angles. Thus, we have developed an overall evaluation approach in order to clearly comprehend web form usability.


Background Previous studies suggest that different metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor subtypes are potential drug targets for treating absence epilepsy. However, no information is available on mGlu3 receptors. Objective To examine whether (i) changes of mGlu3 receptor expression/signaling are found in the somatosensory cortex and thalamus of WAG/Rij rats developing spontaneous absence seizures; (ii) selective activation of mGlu3 receptors with LY2794193 affects the number and duration of spike-wave discharges (SWDs) in WAG/Rij rats; and (iii) a genetic variant of GRM3 (encoding the mGlu3 receptor) is associated with absence epilepsy. Methods Animals: immunoblot analysis of mGlu3 receptors, GAT-1, GLAST, and GLT-1; real-time PCR analysis of mGlu3 mRNA levels; assessment of mGlu3 receptor signaling; EEG analysis of SWDs; assessment of depressive-like behavior. Humans search for GRM3 and GRM5 missense variants in 196 patients with absence epilepsy or other Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy (IGE)/ Genetic Generalized Epilepsy (GGE) and 125,748 controls. Results mGlu3 protein levels and mGlu3-mediated inhibition of cAMP formation were reduced in the thalamus and somatosensory cortex of pre-symptomatic (25-27 days old) and symptomatic (6-7 months old) WAG/Rij rats compared to age-matched controls. Treatment with LY2794193 (1 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced absence seizures and depressive-like behavior in WAG/Rij rats. LY2794193 also enhanced GAT1, GLAST, and GLT-1 protein levels in the thalamus and somatosensory cortex. GRM3 and GRM5 gene variants did not differ between epileptic patients and controls. Conclusion We suggest that mGlu3 receptors modulate the activity of the cortico-thalamo-cortical circuit underlying SWDs and that selective mGlu3 receptor agonists are promising candidate drugs for absence epilepsy treatment.


Malaria is the most prevalent parasite-transmitted infectious disease in humans, with 300-500 million people infected and 3-5 million persons dying from the disease each year [1]. There is, however, surprisingly little knowledge of the parasite's biology and its evolutionary adaptations to cope with a life as an intracellular parasite within its vertebrate host. This article gives an overview of the parasite's developmental cycle and highlights aspects of the immune response in infected humans and the parasite's mechanisms of immune evasion. In addition, special features of the life cycle of the parasite are presented, especially the invasion process of merozoites into red blood cells. Putative mechanisms of drug action of synthetic antimalaria drugs are discussed as well as hypotheses explaining the development of drug resistance in a variety of parasite strains.


We sought a method to increase γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in sesame seeds. When water was added to the seeds and they were heated at 60°C for 15 min, the GABA content increased over 8-fold compared to the starting seeds. The amount of water added to the seeds affected the production of GABA, with the addition of more water leading to production of more GABA. GABA production occurred during the first 10 min of treatment at 60°C. Moreover, the addition of l-glutamate resulted in further GABA enrichment. The results indicate that our method using a short-duration heat treatment can form GABA-rich products from sesame seeds.


Harry Wellington's Interpreting the Constitution offers a highly readable, provocatively old-fashioned, and somewhat complacent account of constitutional decisionmaking by the Supreme Court. The book is the first in a projected series of discussions of legal topics for lay readers,' and the style is lucid and engaging. But Interpreting the Constitution, which provides brisk critiques of leading constitutional theories as well as an affirmative thesis that constitutional adjudication should adhere to a "common law method," also presents a challenge to much of the recent constitutional scholarship produced by academic lawyers for other academic lawyers. Wellington's critical arguments generally achieve their aims. He exposes flaws in the theories he discusses and reveals the dubious foundations of an entire genre of scholarship that calls upon Supreme Court Justices to cast themselves as political philosophers.


This paper introduces the microarchitecture of an application specific instruction set processor (ASIP) targeted for cell search functions in an UMTS-FDD mobile terminal. The suggested architecture is used for synchronization of the mobile terminal to the base transceiver stations and for calculating impulse response measurements to form channel estimates. The ASIP was modeled using LISA 2.0 architecture description language. The critical parts of the cell search functions were identified and the processor hardware and instruction set optimized accordingly. The ASIP is programmable in C. The functionality of the architecture was verified using a cycle-accurate instruction set simulator and VHDL simulator. Synthesizable VHDL code was automatically generated from the LISA description. The ASIP was evaluated based on the cycle count, operating frequency, area and power consumption. The performance was compared to real-time requirements. It is shown that the proposed architecture poses a programmable solution for implementing the computationally demanding algorithm.


The European Space Agency's Sentinel satellites have laid the foundation for global land use land cover (LULC) mapping with unprecedented detail at 10 m resolution. We present a cross-comparison and accuracy assessment of Google's Dynamic World (DW), ESA's World Cover (WC) and Esri's Land Cover (Esri) products for the first time in order to inform the adoption and application of these maps going forward. For the year 2020, the three global LULC maps show strong spatial correspondence (i.e., near-equal area estimates) for water, built area, trees and crop LULC classes. However, relative to one another, WC is biased towards over-estimating grass cover, Esri towards shrub and scrub cover and DW towards snow and ice. Using global ground truth data with a minimum mapping unit of 250 m2, we found that Esri had the highest overall accuracy (75%) compared to DW (72%) and WC (65%). Across all global maps, water was the most accurately mapped class (92%), followed by built area (83%), tree cover (81%) and crops (78%), particularly in biomes characterized by temperate and boreal forests. The classes with the lowest accuracies, particularly in the tundra biome, included shrub and scrub (47%), grass (34%), bare ground (57%) and flooded vegetation (53%). When using European ground truth data from LUCAS (Land Use/Cover Area Frame Survey) with a minimum mapping unit of <100 m2, we found that WC had the highest accuracy (71%) compared to DW (66%) and Esri (63%), highlighting the ability of WC to resolve landscape elements with more detail compared to DW and Esri. Although not analyzed in our study, we discuss the relative advantages of DW due to its frequent and near real-time data delivery of both categorical predictions and class probability scores. We recommend that the use of global LULC products should involve critical evaluation of their suitability with respect to the application purpose, such as aggregate changes in ecosystem accounting versus site-specific change detection in monitoring, considering trade-offs between thematic resolution, global versus. local accuracy, class-specific biases and whether change analysis is necessary. We also emphasize the importance of not estimating areas from pixel-counting alone but adopting best practices in design-based inference and area estimation that quantify uncertainty for a given study area.


Abstract:  Cupuladriid cheilostome bryozoans can make new colonies both sexually and asexually. Sexual (aclonal) colonies are derived from larvae while asexual (clonal) colonies result from the fragmentation or division of larger colonies. A number of specialised morphologies exist which either enhance or discourage clonality, and cupuladriids preserve these in their skeletons, meaning that it is possible to count the abundances of individual modes of reproduction in fossil assemblages, and thus measure the mode and tempo of evolution of life histories using fossil colonies. In this paper we categorise, illustrate and describe the various clonal and aclonal methods of propagation in cupuladriids through the Cenozoic. Sexual reproduction is the only aclonal method of propagation, while four clonal methods are described comprising: (1) mechanical fragmentation, (2) autofragmentation, (3) colonial budding and (4) peripheral fragmentation. The processes involved in each are discussed and we explain how their prevalence can be measured in the fossil record using preservable morphologies. Compiling a record of the occurrence and distribution of the various modes of propagation through time and space we discover a general trend of evolution towards more complex modes in all three cupuladriid genera, but a geologically recent extinction of some modes of propagation that has left the present‐day assemblage relatively depauperate. We see striking similarities in the general timing of expansion of modes of reproduction between the two most important genera, Cupuladria and Discoporella, although it is clear that Discoporella evolved a much wider range of special morphologies either to enhance or to discourage clonality than did Cupuladria.


In recent times, pathogen genome sequencing has become increasingly used to investigate infectious disease outbreaks. When genomic data is sampled densely enough amongst infected individuals, it can help resolve who infected whom. However, transmission analysis cannot rely solely on a phylogeny of the genomes but must account for the within-host evolution of the pathogen, which blurs the relationship between phylogenetic and transmission trees. When only a single genome is sampled for each host, the uncertainty about who infected whom can be quite high. Consequently, transmission analysis based on multiple genomes of the same pathogen per host has a clear potential for delivering more precise results, even though it is more laborious to achieve. Here we present a new methodology that can use any number of genomes sampled from a set of individuals to reconstruct their transmission network. We use simulated data to show that our method becomes more accurate as more genomes per host are provided, and that it can infer key infectious disease parameters such as the size of the transmission bottleneck, within-host growth rate, basic reproduction number and sampling fraction. We demonstrate the usefulness of our method in applications to real datasets from an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa amongst cystic fibrosis patients and a nosocomial outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae.


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to test a process model that assesses the relationship of sexual health knowledge and normative beliefs to sexual health behavioural intention, with sexual self-concept as a mediating variable. The model is intended to assist in the prediction of which adolescents would exhibit a lower intention to engage in protective sexual health behaviour.

BACKGROUND
Previous research has shown that sexual-related behaviours are associated with sexual self-concept, sexual health knowledge and perceived parental/peer approval of sexual behaviour.

DESIGN
This study is a cross-sectional research.

METHODS
This study was conducted with 545 adolescent girls, aged 12-15 years, from eight junior high schools in Taiwan. Participants were assessed using the Sexual Self-Concept Inventory, the Sexual Health Behavior Intention Scale, the Parental Approval of Sexual Behavior Scale (PASB), the Friends' Approval of Sexual Behavior Scale and the Sexual Health Knowledge Scale. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling, with the maximum likelihood estimate determined by the LISREL 8.52 program.

RESULTS
The model exhibited adequate fit (goodness-of-fit index = 0.96, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.94, normed fit index = 0.96, comparative fit index = 0.98, standardised root mean square residual = 0.049 and root mean square error of approximation = 0.048) and the findings indicate that sexual self-concept was a significant influence on the relationship of sexual health knowledge and normative beliefs to sexual health behavioural intention.

CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study revealed the importance of sexual self-concept for adolescent girls' sexual health behaviour.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
Evidence-based strategies that reinforce and clarify sexual self-concept as a mediating factor may aid in adolescent females' intention to engage in protective sexual health behaviour.


Arabidopsis contains 317 genes for defensin-like (DEFL) peptides. DEFLs have been grouped into different families based mainly on cysteine motifs. The DEFL0770 group contains seven genes, of which four are strongly expressed in roots. We found that the expression of these genes is downregulated in syncytia induced by the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii as revealed by RNAseq analysis. We have studied one gene of this group, At3g59930, in detail. A promoter::GUS line revealed that the gene is only expressed in roots but not in other plant organs. Infection of the GUS line with larvae of H. schachtii showed a strong downregulation of GUS expression in infection sites as early as 1 dpi, confirming the RNAseq data. The At3g59930 peptide had only weak antimicrobial activity against Botrytis cinerea. Overexpression lines had no enhanced resistance against this fungus but were more resistant to H. schachtii infection. Our data indicate that At3g59930 is involved in resistance to nematodes which is probably not due to direct nematicidal activity.