Tissues from adult Sprague-Dawley rats fixed by perfusion with buffered aldehydes for a combined study of the vascular system of the brain are described in light and electron microscopy. In these preparations lack of shrinkage prevents the formation of perineuronal and perivascular spaces. However, connective tissue stains indicate restricted tissue space along the course of small arteries and veins. In fine structure this space is found within the walls of the vessels. It consists of a tubular extension of tissue space bounded inwardly by the endothelial boundary (basement) membrane and outwardly by the neural boundary membrane. Between these boundaries the formed elements of the media and the adventitia are found. The media consists of a thin layer of smooth muscle cells; each cells being enclosed in its own boundary membrane. The adventitia consists of cells and fibrous elements of the connective tissues which are derived, near the surface of the brain, from the intermingling of pial and vascular leptomeninges. This "neural" portion of the tissue space extends from the depths of the capillary bed (where it is obliterated by the fusion of boundary membranes), along the course of the blood vessels, through the subarachnoid space and into the general tissue space of the body.


The study aimed to explore the processes people go through when diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood from a psychological perspective. ADHD has recently been recognised as affecting adults. Limitations exist in the breadth and depth of qualitative research into the experiences of those receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. Existing research is largely descriptive, with a prominent focus on pharmacological treatment. As such, psychological processes have not been sufficiently explored. Without ADHD-specific models of adjustment, the literature on identity, cognitive adaptation and stigma is examined.

A qualitative methodology was employed taking a critical realist perspective. A purposive sample of twelve participants was recruited through adult mental health services. Each participant took part in one digitally recorded, semi-structured interview where experiences were explored. A mixed inductive-deductive thematic analysis of the transcribed interviews was conducted following the Braun and Clarke (2006) six-stage methodological process.

Three master themes were identified with subthemes: (1) Looking back: different, faulty; relief and regret; reframing; (2) Looking inwards (with acceptance); and (3) Looking outwards: labelling: disability, stigma and social comparisons. The study highlighted participants' attempts to make sense of their past experiences considering the diagnosis, reflect on the effect the diagnosis had on their sense of self and identity and consider the positives and negatives of sharing their diagnosis. Participants also compared themselves with others and some reflected on ADHD being a shared experience within families.

The current research has highlighted the contradictory nature of the diagnosis; that an ADHD diagnosis was necessary to access support and acknowledge people's experiences (and potentially attribute past behaviours and experiences to ADHD rather than personal failure) but there remains a struggle with the sense of self, the way people are viewed by others (e.g. feeling stigmatised) and the permanence of being or having ADHD forever. This highlights the importance of supporting people to understand their interpretation of the diagnosis and target intervention in the adjustment process. Pre- and post-diagnostic support and contact with others who have been through the process would be beneficial. The study also highlights the need for further anti-stigma campaigns.

A number of methodological limitations is discussed. Future research is necessary to explore models of attribution and interventions about the interpretation of the diagnosis and self-concept. The thesis ends with a personal reflection about my research journey and a discussion about diagnosis.


Much research looks at why customers switch service organizations but there has been less focus on why customers do not switch service organizations, even though they have seriously considered doing so. In light of this, we present an analysis of the literature and develop a list of potential switching barriers. These switching barriers are then empirically tested within two financial services industries. Results from over 400 consumers enable us to ascertain not only the importance of each switching barrier but also to develop a more parsimonious understanding of these barriers, through factor analysis. The results reveal similar patterns in the two industries in respect to switching barriers. The first of the four factors contains reasons related to apathy, the second factor contains negative reasons for customers staying with their current service provider, the third factor relates to relationship variables and the final factor relates to service recovery. Results clearly indicate that the first two factors are far more important than the latter two in terms of why customers stay even when they seriously considered leaving.


The nrdB gene of bacteriophage T4 contains a group I intron which is autocatalytic in water solutions containing salts. The group I intron self-splicing reaction consists of two consecutive transesterfication steps. The first step is the attack of an external guanosine on phosphor at the 5'-splice site. The external guanosine becomes covalently attached via its 3'-hydroxyl to the phosphor of the 5'-splice site. The second step follows where the hydroxyl of the 3'-end of the upstream exon attacks the phosphor at the 3'-end of the intron. The intron is liberated with a covalently attached guanosine and a functional messenger RNA is produced. The core of the nrdB group I intron was used in computer modelling. The 3D arrangement was according to a model by Kim and Cech originally proposed for the Tetrahymena group I intron. Our model consisted of three helices where a binding site for the cosubstrate guanosine and inhibitor arginine was located between the helix P1 and helix P7. Molecular dynamics simulation forced the cosubstrate guanosine closer to the splice site at the 5'-end of the intron. 2'-Amino-2'-deoxyguanosine was found to be a cosubstrate of the nrdB group I intron self-splicing reaction. The catalytic efficiency for 2'-amino-2'-deoxyguanosine was 22-fold lower compared to guanosine catalysed self-splicing in the reaction of the wild type premessenger RNA of the nrdB gene. The wild type premessenger RNA was reconstructed and the splicing of the new shortened nrdB pre-mRNA was investigated by analysing splicing products, and the pH dependence for guanosine and 2'-amino-2'-deoxyguanosine. The study supported that the self-splicing reaction of the shortened nrdB pre-mRNA was amenable to kinetic analysis and that the chemical cleavage step was monitored under certain reaction conditions. The 2'-amino-2'-deoxyguanosine was susbsequently used to probe metal ion interaction with the cosubstrate in group I intron self-splicing. The rate of the cleavage step, catalysed by 2'-amino-2'-deoxyguanosine or guanosine, was examined in presence of different divalent metal ions or mixtures thereof. It could be demonstrated that 2'-amino-2'-deoxyguanosine becomes a better cosubstrate in presence of Mn2+ or Mg2+ and Zn2+ compared to Mg2+ alone. The increase in rate for 2'-amino-2'-deoxyguanosine was 35-fold for mixtures of Mg2+ and Zn2+ while the rate for guanosine was not affected. The results are the first experimental evidence that support the proposed two-metal-ion mechanism for group I introns.


In this paper, we consider the optimal control of semilinear fractional PDEs with both spectral and integral fractional diffusion operators of order 2s with s ∈ (0, 1). We first prove the boundedness of solutions to both semilinear fractional PDEs under minimal regularity assumptions on domain and data. We next introduce an optimal growth condition on the nonlinearity to show the Lipschitz continuity of the solution map for the semilinear elliptic equations with respect to the data. We further apply our ideas to show existence of solutions to optimal control problems with semilinear fractional equations as constraints. Under the standard assumptions on the nonlinearity (twice continuously differentiable) we derive the first and second order optimality conditions.


The search for the neural correlates of consciousness has gained momentum recently. Several of them have been hypothesized and subsequently strengthened by evidences from functional imaging and electrophysiological studies, although none is able to explain on its own the complex phenomenon of consciousness. Nevertheless, thalamocortical connections may be implicated in part in the generation of consciousness. Future studies need to be designed in such ways that they explain the dynamic nature of consciousness.


Perturbation differential equations of motion of a general nonholonomic system subjected to the ideal nonholonomic constraints of Chetaev's type are established, and the equation of variation of energy is deduced by using the perturbation equations of the system. A criterion of the stability is obtained and an example is given to illustrate the application of the result.


This paper proposes new types of a water hydraulic motor and a valve to control its speed which will be applied to the robots soaked in water. The big advantage of this motor is that it can be driven by such low pressure as tap water with high performance. The key of their mechanism is that the working fluid is completely wrapped by the soft tube and their machine moving parts contact the fluid indirectly. In other words, the deformation of the tube drives the motor, and reversely the valve makes the tube deformed to control the motor, which removes the risk of leakage without also requiring a seal. In addition, the valve to control the rotational speed is designed which can be driven by fluid power signal without using electricity. The motors can be used in places where electricity cannot be used safely, such as bathroom, sink, workshop over water, under water, etc. The basic driving principle and characteristics of the theoretical torque, the rotational speed, and the efficiency are described here with the results of the experiment.


Around 2008 N. Kawazumi and S. Zhang introduced a new fundamental numerical invariant for compact Riemann surfaces. One way of viewing the Kawazumi-Zhang invariant is as a quotient of two natural hermitian metrics with the same first Chern form on the line bundle of holomorphic differentials. In this paper we determine precise formulas, up to and including constant terms, for the asymptotic behavior of the Kawazumi-Zhang invariant for degenerating Riemann surfaces. As a corollary we state precise asymptotic formulas for the beta-invariant introduced around 2000 by R. Hain and D. Reed. These formulas are a refinement of a result Hain and Reed prove in their paper. We illustrate our results with some explicit calculations on degenerating genus two surfaces.


The environmental impact of OPC is significant because its production emits large amount of CO2. Utilization of industrial soil waste or secondary materials has been encouraged in construction field for the production of cement and concrete because it contributes for reducing the consumption of natural raw materials as resources. The volume of wastes generated in the world has increased over the years due to increase in population, socioeconomic activities and social development. One of the most attractive options of managing such wastes is to look into the possibility of waste minimization and re-use. The cost of cement used in concrete works is on the increase and unaffordable, yet the need for housing and other constructions requiring this material keeps growing with increasing population, thus the need to find alternative binding materials that can be used solely or in partial replacement of cement. Agricultural waste material, in this case, coconut shells, which is an environmental pollutant, are collected and burnt in the open air (uncontrolled combustion) for three hours and that product is incinerated in muffle furnace at 800 o C for 6 hrs to produce coconut shell ash (CSA), which in turn was used as pozzolana in partial replacement of cement in concrete production. Concrete mortar cubes were produced using replacement levels of 0 and 5 percent of OPC with CSA. The Coconut Shell ash is used for the partial replacement of cement. Further, use of coconut shell ash as a value added material as in the case of binary blended cement concrete, reduces the consumption of cement. Reduction of cement usage will reduce the production of cement which in turn cut the CO2 emissions. The time has come for the review of progress made in the field of development of binary blended cement concrete.


The increasing transnational mobility of athletes is accompanied by the growing presence of naturalised athletes in national teams, raising questions about the implications for nationalism and national identity in sports. Hong Kong offers a unique context to examine these issues as a Special Administrative Region of China which has its own representative ('national') team despite its non-sovereign status. Using in-depth interviews with 24 informants (fans, players, coaches, etc.), this paper examines how naturalised players from overseas and Mainland China are perceived by stakeholders of Hong Kong football. We found that informants articulated an 'instrumental-plus' discourse about these players, and a 'civic-plus' conception of nationality. Implications for sport and nationalism in the Hong Kong–China context and beyond are discussed.


Single cell electrophysiology remains one of the most widely used approaches of systems neuroscience. Real-time feedback during electrophysiology experiments is important to guide experimental decisions that eventually determine the quality of recording, duration of the project and value of the collected data. We present an open-source tool that enables flexible online visualization of action potential alignment to external events, called the peri-event or peristimulus time histogram (OPETH). Based on the Open Ephys open source data acquisition system, we developed a Python interface for real-time plotting of neuronal spike times and evoked waveforms with respect to external events represented by digital logic signals. These digital inputs may signal photostimulation time stamps for in vivo optogenetic identification of cell types or the times of behaviorally relevant events during in vivo behavioral neurophysiology experiments. Therefore, OPETH allows real-time identification of genetically defined neuron types or behaviorally responsive populations. By allowing 'hunting' for neurons of interest, OPETH may significantly increase the efficiency of experiments that combine in vivo electrophysiology with behavior or optogenetic tagging of neurons.


Glial activation and neuroinflammation play significant roles in apoptosis as well as in the development of cognitive and memory deficits. Neuroinflammation is also a critical feature in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases. Previously, hesperetin has been shown to be an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. In the present study, in vivo and in vitro analyses were performed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of hesperetin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, neuronal apoptosis and memory impairments. Based on our findings, LPS treatment resulted in microglial activation and astrocytosis and elevated the expression of inflammatory mediators such as phosphorylated-Nuclear factor-κB (p-NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the cortical and hippocampal regions and in BV2 cells. However, hesperetin cotreatment markedly reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines by ameliorating Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4)-mediated ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1/glial fibrillary acidic protein (Iba-1/GFAP) expression. Similarly, hesperetin attenuated LPS-induced generation of reactive oxygen species/lipid per oxidation (ROS/LPO) and improved the antioxidant protein level such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Haem-oxygenase (HO-1) in the mouse brain. Additionally, hesperetin ameliorated cytotoxicity and ROS/LPO induced by LPS in HT-22 cells. Moreover, hesperetin rescued LPS-induced neuronal apoptosis by reducing the expression of phosphorylated-c-Jun N-terminal kinases (p-JNK), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein (Bax), and Caspase-3 protein and promoting the Bcl-2 protein level. Furthermore, hesperetin enhanced synaptic integrity, cognition, and memory processes by enhancing the phosphorylated-cAMP response element binding protein (p-CREB), postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), and Syntaxin. Overall, our preclinical study suggests that hesperetin conferred neuroprotection by regulating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway against the detrimental effects of LPS.


— This work reports the outcome of an experiment carried out by using milled glass (MG) of varying percentages (20%, 40% and 60% by weight)of cement in concrete making. MG was sourced for and milled to required fineness. The concrete was batched with mix ratio of 1 ։ 2 ։ 4. Concrete Cube specimens produced were allowed to cure for 7-28 days and compressive strength, slump and setting time tests were carried out and were compared with those of conventional concrete (0% MG). Results obtained showed that compressive strength of the concrete increased with increase in length of curing age, but decreased as the percentage of MG increased. However, the strength still remained in the allowable range of workability for concrete in line with British standard. MG replacement of 20% was found to be the most suitable mix considering the strength and safe use of the concrete. It was concluded that MG replacement of 20% showed no significant loss in strength compared to the control sample and is stable and could be acceptable in most concrete. At the long run. Waste glass that currently constitutes waste concern in built environment in Nigeria can best be managed through alternative use in concrete production.


In today's world two narrations are vital for understanding human bonds: the account of reciprocal recognition, the Covenant, as told in the book of A"GenesisA", extended in the works of G.H. Mead, dialogical personalism and discourse ethics; and the Contract, as this is expounded in Hobbes' A"LeviathanA", which continues to be seen in all kinds of hues in the liberal tradition. The Aristotelian account of the republic, of the political community "prior" to any other form of community would seem to be connected with these. Covenant, Republic and Contract would thus become the three formulae for understanding human bonds. Israel, Athens (or the Italian renaissance republics) and London would be their countries of origin. Modern republicanism nevertheless turns liberal and opts for the contract between independent beings as A"fiatA" of the political world. But the contract is not self-sufficient, since anyone who looks back to their roots will come to the narration of reciprocal recognition. The Covenant falls similarly short, as those who forget the parable of independence may well have a disregard for justice. In a dialogue with the most relevant philosophical currents of the age, the book proposes an articulation of politics, ethics and religion appropriate for our own time, starting from the contract between independent beings and from the reciprocal recognition of those who know themselves to be human. Adela Cortina is Professor for Ethics and Political Philosophy at the University of Valencia (Spain) and Director of the Foundation ETNOR (for Business Ethics and Ethics of the Organizations). She is author of many books, including A"Etica minimaA" (1986), A"Etica aplicada y democracia radicalA" (1993), A"Etica de la empresaA" (1994), A"Ciudadanos del mundoA" (1997), A"Por una etica del consumoA" (2002).


Background Accurate estimation of burn depth is crucial for correct treatment decision making. Bromelain-based enzymatic debridement (ED) may improve clinical assessment of burn depth. Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) provides a valuable indicator of burn depth by analyzing microcirculation within tissue beds. This study aimed to evaluate bromelain-based enzymatic debridement combined with laser Doppler imaging and healing of 42 wounds in 19 patients with mixed second- and third-degree thermal burns. Material/Methods We included 42 wounds in 19 patients with mixed deep dermal and full-thickness thermal burns. All patients were treated with eschar-specific removal agent for ED. The perfusion of each wound after ED was assessed using LDI. Healing time was estimated by 2 experienced burn surgeons and marked by the observation of epithelization. The usefulness of the LDI performed after ED in predicting healing time was estimated. The findings were analyzed to determine a cut-off value for LDI that indicates if a burn will heal spontaneously. Results We observed that burn wounds with higher mean perfusion healed faster. The analysis showed a strong relationship between perfusion after ED and healing time (Spearman rank correlation coefficient=−0.803). A mean perfusion greater than 296.89 indicated that the wound could heal spontaneously and does not require skin grafting. Conclusions LDI examination of an already debrided wound allows for a reliable assessment of perfusion at an early stage of treatment. The use of a safe and effective debridement method in conjunction with a non-invasive diagnostic tool could improve burn management.


In vitro antidiabetic effects of seven Turkish and five Sri Lankan black tea (Camelia sinensis) samples collected from Turkish market were investigated through enzyme inhibition assays. Foreign matter, non-oxidized particles, water soluble matter, loss on drying and total ash values were determined and compared with the Turkish Food Codex-Tea Notification and found to be compliant with the standards. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents, caffeine, gallic acid and rutin amounts of tea samples were measured. Ultra-pressure liquid chromatography with time of flight mass spectroscopy (UPLC-TOF-MS) was used to compare the major compounds of tea samples. All tea samples had potent inhibition against alpha glucosidase (>100-97.86% at 3 mg/ml). Water soluble matters of Sri Lankan teas are higher than them of Turkish samples (except TL1). Caffeine amount of the Sri Lankan tea samples were approximately twice of Turkish black tea samples. Sixteen common compounds were identified in tea samples by UPLC-TOF-MS.


We assayed methyl-p-hydroxyphenyllactate esterase (MeHPLAase) activity in 48 cases of primary breast cancer. MeHPLAase activity did not show significant correlation with estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor levels. No significant relationship was found between enzymatic activity and tumor diameter, lymph node status, mitotic activity, degree of nuclear differentiation, and proportion of the S-phase fraction. During the follow-up period (median, 18.8 months; range, 6-69 months), recurrences were observed in 18 of 48 (37%) cases. The Weibull survival regression model using the enzymatic activity as a continuous covariate showed that levels of enzymatic activity were directly associated with the risk of recurrence (P = 0.02). Assuming the mean value of enzymatic activity as the cutoff value, we found a statistically significant relationship between high MeHPLAase activity and shorter recurrence-free survival. On multivariate analysis, MeHPLAase activity proved to be an independent factor for predicting a short period of recurrence-free survival.


This research paper explores the relationship between eating-out and online identity formation, to better understand the role that dining experiences play in presenting a desired identity to others. Existing literature has outlined the development of identity, self-promotion, and surrounding symbolism. However, research specifically devoted to the relationship between dining-out choices and identity on social media platform Instagram, is sparse. A significant proportion of previous research focuses on identity, social media and food choices as detached subject areas. The sample for this study is young female professionals aged 22-30. Semi- structured in-depth interviews were used to explore participants' use of Instagram in portraying online identity through eating-out images. Findings reveal that participants use eating-out experiences to portray their identity through sharing the events that appear the most visually attractive and in the most exclusive locations; and that participants often use Instagram as a social reputation reviewing tool for dining-out. Researching dining locations prior to visiting, so they can anticipate how impressive the experience will be. Finally, findings revealed that dining locations develop a commonly shared symbolic meaning, much like consumer goods would. Enabling participants to transfer common associations with dining categories, such as posting a high-end dining experience image onto their Instagram


Background: Happiness is one of the indicators of mental health that originates from the cognitive and emotional assessment of individuals from their lives. Happiness is believed to evolve from the comparison of the current circumstances related to achievement. However, gerontological literature has been limited to happiness in the elderly. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine happiness status and examine the relationship between happiness and some variables among Iranian elderly. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 411 elderly people (60 75 years old) in Hamadan, west of Iran, in 2016, by using multistage random sampling method. Two instruments were used in this study including a demographic questionnaire and Oxford happiness questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation, independent t-test, and One-way ANOVA. Results: The mean score of happiness was 41.17 (± 15.2), which was evaluated at a moderate level. There was no significant difference between male and female elderly in happiness status. All 5 dimensions of happiness had a positive significant correlation with each other (P < 0.01). Results from T-Test and ANOVA indicated that there was a significant relationship between happiness and some socio-demographic characteristics such as age (P = 0.002), educational level (P = 0.001), and income status (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Life satisfaction, financial status, and educational level contributed to the positive feeling in the perception of happiness in the elderly. Thus, adopting programs to increase happiness in the elderly could be useful as one of the strategies to improve all dimensions of health such as physical, mental, and social aspects.


The extended girth is one of the few important and obvious symptoms in lizards (Sauria). Radiological examination proved to be the most important method in the clinical diagnostic procedure. Standard and contrast images using oral and cloacal application of barium sulphate or iodophoric contrast media were frequently indicated. Based on 442 X-rays from 162 lizards out of 20 genus the significant radiological, physiological and pathological findings are described. Frequent findings were dystocia in oviparous and viviparous lizards (18.5%), gastritis and enteritis (12.3%), ascites (9.3%), fractures of the spine and osteodystrophia (9.3%), obstipation (6.2%), foreign bodies (4.9%), neoplasia (4.3%) and enteroliths (4.3%). Pneumonia (3.7%), was as frequent as the physiological lung tympany (3.7%). Pregnancy was the most frequent physiological finding (8%). The radiological findings, are described in detail, especially in regard to differentiation between physiological and pathological conditions.


Background: Cervical incompetence is a major cause of second trimester miscarriage. Recurrent pregnancy loss in the second trimester is associated with significant distress. However, there should be a justifiable indication before a cerclage is inserted. There is no documentation of the indication of cervical cerclage and pregnancy outcome in Yenagoa, southsouth Nigeria. Objectives: This paper focuses on documenting the indication and obstetric outcome following cervical cerclage insertion at the Federal Medical Center Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Methodology: A 5 year retrospective study was carried out in women who had cervical cerclage for cervical incompetence in the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa. The study was conducted from the 1 st of January 2014 to 31st of December 2018. All the case files of patients who had cervical cerclage were retrieved and reviewed. Results: A total of 41 patients had cervical cerclage. The commonest indication for cervical cerclage insertion was history indicated cerclage 59.4%. This was followed by ultrasound indicated cerclage 28.1% and rescue cerclage accounting for 12.5%. All patients employed McDonald's method of cervical cerclage. The position of the knot wasin 12 0' clock position in 53.1% of the patients and in the 6 0'clock position for 46.9% of the patients. The success rate following insertion of cerclage was 79.3%. The mode of deliveries was vaginal in 90.6% of the patients and 9.4% had caesarean section. Conclusion: There may be concern about the diagnosis of cervical incompetence. However, findings from this study clearly showed that the application of cervical cerclage is associated with good obstetric outcome.


In the athletic population, reproducible imaging of cartilage damage is vital for treatment considerations. With appropriate pulse sequencing, magnetic resonance imaging has been shown to be an accurate noninvasive method for the evaluation of articular cartilage injuries and for evaluating postoperative changes following chondral repair. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging does not utilize ionizing radiation, has direct multiplanar capabilities, and allows high-resolution imaging of soft-tissue structures. The purposes of the present review are to update orthopaedic surgeons on the applications and techniques for magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage in the athletic population, to define the normal magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of articular cartilage, to illustrate the spectrum of articular cartilage lesions that are detectable with magnetic resonance imaging, and to review normal and abnormal magnetic resonance imaging findings following cartilage repair.

After reviewing this article, the reader should (1) have a basic understanding of pulse sequences and terminology for cartilage-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging, including proton-density-weighted high-resolution fast-spin-echo sequences; (2) be able to identify normal and abnormal articular cartilage in the hip, knee, elbow, shoulder, and ankle; and (3) be able to identify normal and abnormal findings on postoperative magnetic resonance images after chondral repair techniques.

An understanding of the structure of articular cartilage is crucial in order to understand the magnetic resonance imaging appearance of normal and abnormal cartilage morphology and is also the basis for the development of new imaging techniques. Articular cartilage is a viscoelastic material composed of chondrocytes (approximately 1%) embedded in an organized extracellular matrix composed primarily of water (65% to 80%), collagen, and proteoglycan. The predominant collagen is type II (95%), although smaller amounts of other collagen types (types IV, VI, IX, X, and XI) have been identified1. Collagen provides the structural framework and tensile strength of articular cartilage. Chondroitin and keratin sulfates …


One-dimensional mono- or few-atomic chains were successfully fabricated in a variety of two-dimensional materials, like graphene, BN, and transition metal dichalcogenides, which exhibit striking transport and mechanical properties. However, atomic chains of black phosphorus (BP), an emerging electronic and optoelectronic material, is yet to be investigated. Here, we comprehensively considered the geometry stability of six categories of infinite BP atomic chains, transitions among them, and their electronic structures. These categories include mono- and dual-atomic linear, armchair, and zigzag chains. Each zigzag chain was found to be the most stable in each category with the same chain width. The mono-atomic zigzag chain was predicted as a Dirac semi-metal. In addition, we proposed prototype structures of suspended and supported finite atomic chains. It was found that the zigzag chain is, again, the most stable form and could be transferred from mono-atomic armchair chains. An orientation dependence was revealed for supported armchair chains that they prefer an angle of roughly 35°–37° perpendicular to the BP edge, corresponding to the [110] direction of the substrate BP sheet. These results may promote successive research on mono- or few-atomic chains of BP and other two-dimensional materials for unveiling their unexplored physical properties.


Modern programming languages and operating systems provide software mechanisms to support the execution of multithreaded applications. These multithreaded applications are executed, commonly, on high speed superscalar processors that in general do not provide spe-cial support to manage multiple contexts. In this paper the e(cid:11)ect that multithreading has on the performance of modern superscalar processors is studied. A simulation environment, designed speci(cid:12)cally, to trace the execution of multithreaded programs is described. Simulation results that show the dynamic behavior of software multithreading and its impact on the performance of a superscalar processor are presented.


Trade Union utility functions with discontinuities have started to gain popularity in the last few years. The main reason for this is the search for more embracing union utility functions. The choice of the appropriate union utility function has important implications for analysing the problem of unemployment and wages in unionized labour markets. This paper attempts to pro vide the choice theoretical foundations of such functions thereby widening their relevance and facilitating their application to other areas. The foundations can also be used as a basis for mod eling sequential multi-objective union utility functions (JEL Classification Number: J5).


In this study, as a teacher-researcher, I explored the ways in which a pedagogy (based in part on the Connected Mathematics Project, a curriculum development project involving problem-centered materials) aligned with current mathematics education reforms played out with a socioeconomically diverse group of 18 seventh-grade students in 1 class. This article's focus is on students' experiences with whole-class discussions, with particular attention to the cases of 6 girls. Data, which were collected across 1 school year, included 3 interviews with students, student survey responses, student work, daily audio recordings, and my teaching journal. Analyses showed that, although high-socioeconomic status (SES) students generally viewed the discussions as a helpful forum for exchanging ideas, more lower-SES students said they became confused by conflicting ideas and preferred more teacher direction. Additionally, lower-SES students more often focused on giving correct answers to specific, contextualized problems, whereas higher-SES students seemed to approach discussions with an eye toward the underlying, abstract mathematical ideas. I examined critical links between current reforms and literatures on social class, which suggested that some characteristics of discussion-intensive mathematics classrooms might be more aligned with middle-class cultures.


Abstract. Rapid increase in road traffic density results into a serious problem of Traffic Congestion (TC) in cities. During peaks hours TC is very high and hence public search least congested path for their journeys in order to minimize ravel time and hence transportation cost. In this study, a new empirical model was developed to estimate congestion levels using real time road Traffic Parameters (TPs) such as vehicle density, speed, class and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) gap. These real time road TPs were collected using latest generation Inductive Loop Detector (ILD) technology. Further, a WebGIS based Road Traffic Information System (RTIS) for Dehradun city was developed for real time TD analyses and visualisation. This RTIS is very useful for public and user departments for planning and decision making processes. No other such system is available in India, which handles multiple traffic parameters simultaneously to provide solution of day-to-day problems.


Rickettsia is a genus of intracellular bacteria that causes a variety of diseases in humans and other mammals and associates with a diverse group of arthropods. Although Rickettsia appears to be common in ticks, most Rickettsia-tick relationships remain generally uncharacterized. The most intimate of these associations is Rickettsia species phylotype G021, a maternally and transstadially transmitted endosymbiont that resides in 100% of I. pacificus in California. We investigated the effects of this Rickettsia phylotype on I. pacificus reproductive fitness using selective antibiotic treatment. Ciprofloxacin was 10-fold more effective than tetracycline in eliminating Rickettsia from I. pacificus, and quantitative PCR results showed that eggs from the ciprofloxacin-treated ticks contained an average of 0.02 Rickettsia per egg cell as opposed to the average of 0.2 in the tetracycline-treated ticks. Ampicillin did not significantly affect the number of Rickettsia per tick cell in adults or eggs compared to the water-injected control ticks. We found no relationship between tick embryogenesis and rickettsial density in engorged I. pacificus females. Tetracycline treatment significantly delayed oviposition of I. pacificus ticks, but the antibiotic's effect was unlikely related to Rickettsia. We also demonstrated that Rickettsia-free eggs could successfully develop into larvae without any significant decrease in hatching compared to eggs containing Rickettsia. No significant differences in the incubation period, egg hatching rate, and the number of larvae were found between any of the antibiotic-treated groups and the water-injected tick control. We concluded that Rickettsia species phylotype G021 does not have an apparent effect on embryogenesis, oviposition, and egg hatching of I. pacificus.


Cancer Testis Antigens (CTAs) are proteins that are normally expressed only in the male germ cells. These proteins are not expressed in other normal somatic tissues but are aberrantly upregulated in a variety of cancers like lung and melanoma. The expression of CTA genes is known to be regulated by promoter methylation. Using an integrative epigenetic screening approach, we have previously shown that CTAs are upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by promoter hypomethylation. Although it is now well accepted that CTAs are regulated by promoter methylation, the regulatory mechanisms of these genes remains unclear. Transcription factor BORIS (Brother Of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites) or CTCFL has been implicated in the regulation of two CTAs, mageA1 and NY-ESO-1. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of BORIS in a cohort of 16 melanoma tissues using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. BORIS expression was detected in ∼70% of the tissues analyzed. Taking into account the evidence that BORIS regulates the expression of at least two CTAs, we also analyzed the expression of four CTAs, mageA1, mageA2, mageA3 and mageA4, in these tissues to assess the correlation between BORIS and CTA gene expression. We found that expression of mageA1, A2 and A3 correlated significantly with that of BORIS. We also analyzed two publicly available melanoma gene expression datasets and found that BORIS expression correlated with all four mageA genes analyzed. In our cohort as well as in the published gene expression datasets, the expression of the mageA genes tightly correlate with each other. Analysis of the methylation status of the mageA genes in our cohort showed that the methylation levels of mageA1, A2 and A3 genes also correlated with each other significantly. These observations support the phenomenon of coordinated CTA expression in solid tumors. We also found inverse correlation between the methylation and expression levels of these genes in some of the tissues analyzed. These results indicate that coordinated transcriptional regulation of the mageA genes may occur via promoter methylation dependent as well as independent mechanisms. Given the role of BORIS in the derepression of mageA1 gene via promoter demethylation, we also evaluated the correlation between BORIS expression and CTA promoter demethylation. We found that BORIS expression and mageA gene demethylation correlated in a subset of the tissues analyzed. The association between expression of BORIS and the mageA genes supports a role for BORIS as an effector in the upregulation of these genes. Also, the coordinated expression of the mageA genes suggests a common transcriptional mechanism for their regulation and our study presents evidence that implicates BORIS as a common regulator of the CTAs. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5001. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5001


Simultaneous measurements with 10 MHz bandwidth at 2.5, 3.5 and 5.8 GHz were performed in a rural/semi-rural environment in the UK. The measurements were processed to generate power delay profiles to estimate the root mean square delay spread of the channel. The frequency range of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol bandwidth that has dropped below a predefined level, termed herein as average fade bandwidth, and the corresponding level crossing are employed to quantify the severity of frequency selectivity. The channel data were used to estimate the bit error rate, for the 256 carrier-OFDM IEEE802.16 standard using a frequency domain channel simulator especially designed for the study. It was found that the performance of quasi-stationary wireless broadband systems depends mainly upon the frequency selectivity and the channel coding rate with 1/2 rate coding giving a superior performance to 3/4 rate coding. Puncturing was found to weaken the capability of forward error correction coding in the presence of series of deep fades in the channel transfer function.


was the size of a pinpoint. The ophthalmologist who referred the patient to us stated that he had first examined her one year previously, when she presented glaucoma simplex of the right eye and absolute hemorrhagic glaucoma of the left eye. The left eye was removed, and she was instructed to use 3 drops of a solution containing J4 grain (0.03 Gm.) of physostigmine salicylate to the ounce (28 cc.) of distilled water in the right eye. The tension in the eye was 35, and vision was 20/40. This condi¬ tion was controlled by this medication. Suspecting physostigmine salicylate as a causative factor, we instructed the patient to supplant its use with that of a 1 per cent solution of pilocarpine and to apply a modification of calamine lotion locally. In a few days she was well. Patch tests with the physostigmine salicylate and the pilocarpine solution showed


User interfaces are a key factor for the success of any computer application and assume an enormous importance in the case of applications used in critical and emergency conditions, as real time applications in control centers. The introduction of intelligent applications in these centers, makes more obvious the need of better user interfaces, presenting more intelligent and adaptive behaviour. These new generation of user interfaces makes use of full-graphics displays but also of artificial intelligence concepts. Knowledge bases are used in order to provide the user interface with the required knowledge about the computer application and its users. This paper deals with the evolution of the user interface of SPARSE, an expert system for alarm processing and operator assistance in service restoration developed for the Portuguese transmission network. The architecture of this interface is presented and the results obtained are discussed.


Risky behaviors increase the likelihood of premature death, long-term disability, and poor mental health outcomes. Most current measures of risky behavior only assess behaviors within a single domain, fail to evaluate affective triggers for engaging in these behaviors, do not index the consequences of these behaviors, and are often limited to a narrow developmental period. The present study developed and evaluated a new 38-item questionnaire-based measure, the Risky, Impulsive, and Self-Destructive Behavior Questionnaire (RISQ), designed to address each of these limitations by expanding the breadth and depth of previous questionnaires. A bifactor model with a general factor and eight domain-specific factors (measuring drug use, aggression, self-harm, gambling, risky sexual behavior, impulsive eating, heavy alcohol use, and reckless behavior) best fit the RISQ, and indicators of internal consistency, as well as, construct validity were strong. Results provide initial validation for the RISQ as a broad, yet relatively brief, measure that quantifies and qualifies risky behaviors by assessing the severity, chronicity, and triggers for a range of harmful behaviors.


The risk of occupational infection by blood-borne pathogens has been well evaluated. However, a low perception of this risk among health care workers (HCWs) and a low compliance to infection control measures has been documented by several studies. During a meeting of gynecologists of Southern Italy, a survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices (K.A.P.) on HIV and other blood-borne viral infections was conducted among 143 obstetricians-gynecologists. 133 (93%) HCWs answered the questionnaire. 81% of them recalled almost one occupational exposure during their career and 54% almost two in the past year. Our data suggest a low knowledge about HIV and the other blood-borne viral infections and Universal Precautions (UP): only 16% of HCWs knew the rate of vertical transmission of HIV, less than 15% knew the rate of seroconversion after occupational exposure to HBV and HCV, and finally only 33% knew to which body fluids apply UP. Moreover, 93.7% of HCWs believed that HIV antibody screening of all patients is an effective strategy to reduce the risk of occupation HIV infection. More than 90% of gynecologists used to request HIV-antibodies to pregnant women, 21% after the first trimester. Although HCWs interviewed can not be considered representative of Italian gynecologists, our data suggest the need of an intensive training to increase gynecologists' knowledge about HIV, other blood-borne pathogens and the risk of occupational infections also in order to modify attitudes and practices.


Throughout the years, many authors have distilled different economic, political, legal, and moral aspects of Father Jaime Balmes's thought. But we would do little justice to Balmes's thinking if we were not to stress also his ideas' continued relevance in our own day. Let us therefore open the time capsule and see what treasured lessons and advice Balmes has for our politicians—particularly those in the making. Ignacio Ibanez, "Jaime Balmes: Seven Lessons and Three Pieces of Advice for Today's Politicians," Journal of Markets & Morality 23, no. 1 (2020): 209-213.


The introduction of thio and seleno functional groups to the 4-position of a sydnone ring was successfully attempted using 4-lithiosydnones (2) and 4-bromosydnones (3) as starting compounds. The reaction of 2 with tetraalkylthiuram disulfides, bis[alkoxy(thiocarbonyl)] disulfides, and bis[alkylthio(thiocarbonyl)] disulfides provided 4-sydnonyl dithiocarbamates, O-alkyl S-(4-sydnonyl) dithiocarbonates, and dialkyl 4-sydnonyl trithiocarbonates, respectively in good yields. In addition, treatment of 2 with thiocyanogen and selenocyanogen gave rise to bis(4-sydnonyl) sulfides (11) and bis(4-sydnonyl) selenides (12), respectively. These products, 11 and 12 were also formed by the reaction of 3 with potassium thiocyanate and selenocyanate, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that 3 reacted with selenourea and potassium O-ethyl dithiocarbonate under heating to provide 12 and 11, respectively. It was also found that the reactivity of these sydnone compounds 2 and 3 was quite different in many cases from that ...


The potential of biochar as a soil conditioner has been approved by scientists worldwide due to its large surface area, high water retention capacity, slow nutrient releasing nature and liming ability; and it might also help to get desirable crop yield in problem soil like acidic soil. Hence, an experimental field trial was operated at the research field of the Department of Agroforestry and Environmental Science, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet to evaluate the performance of banana peel biochar (BB) and orange peel biochar (OB) in the growth and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill.) and country bean (Lablab purpureus) under acidic soil conditions. In case of tomato, plant height (PH), number of leaves plant-1 (NLP), leaf length (LL), and stem diameter (SD) in treatments having different levels of biochar were significantly higher than the control. The maximum PH (72.20 cm), NLP (21), LL (35.66 cm), SD (9.05 cm), and total leaf chlorophyll content (TLCC) (50.56 µmol m-2) of tomato were found in T7 (3% OB w/w + CF) followed by T4 (3% BB w/w + CF) whereas in country bean, the PH (373 cm), NLP (34), branch number (BN) (3), and TLCC (36.65 µmol m-2) were also recorded in T7 followed by T4. The root length (RL) (43.5 cm) and fresh root weight (FRW) (14 g) of country bean were the maximum at T7, followed by T5 (1% OB w/w + CF). According to the results, positive effects of BB and OB application were observed on all the yield parameters of country bean and tomato. The number of pod plant-1 (NPP) (384), individual pod weight (IPW) (5.78 g), total pod weight plant-1 (TPWP) (2220 g), and pod length (PL) (10.57 cm) of country bean were also found to be highest in T7, followed by the T4. Similarly, the highest NFP (37), IFW (55 g), and TFWP (1980 g) of tomato were noted in T7, followed by T4. After the cultivation of country bean and tomato, a significant increase in the soil pH was noticed at T3 (2% BB w/w + CF), T4, T6 (2% OB w/w + CF) and T7 in respect of the control. Therefore, the findings of the study suggest that both BB and OB could have a positive impact on growth and yield components of tomato and country bean by altering soil pH of acidic soil.


The dynamics of Rayleigh envelope solitons propagating along the surface of a uniform isotropic elastic half-space coated with a thin layer of a nonlinear anharmonic material are investigated. A variant of an asymptotic procedure for finding an approximate analytical solution for such solitons is proposed.


ABSTRACT Effects of blending of PCC manufactured with emission gas occurred at mill on the characteristics of coating color, optical and printing properties of coated paper were investigated in order to evaluate the possibility of its use as a raw material for producing environmentally friendly coated paper. Low shear viscosity and water retention va lue of ground PCC 1(d50 = 6.303 ㎛) were higher than those of ground PCC 2(d50 = 3.149 ㎛). Ink set properties of ground PCC 1 and ground PCC 2 were inferior to that of PCC 3. Thus, the reducing of particle size was required in order to overcome the inferior ink set properties. Ground PCC 1 had a similar properties to clay, and it showed the possibility that ground PCC 1 could be used to produce matte grade coated papers. However, it was required to improve the stabil-ity(particle shape, particle size, and compatibility with chemicals used in coating color formulation) in the case of blending with GCC in order to keep the qualities of coated paper


Background/Aims This study was to evaluate the clinical significance of infusion-related reaction (IRR) of rituximab in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients who received R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) as a first-line chemotherapy. Methods The medical records of 326 patients diagnosed with DLBCL were re trospectively analyzed. Both doctor's progress records and nursing records were reviewed. IRR was graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria. Results IRR was not associated with overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) of DLBCL patients as compared to those who did not have IRR (OS: median 78.0 months vs. 69.0 months, p = 0.700; PFS: median 65.4 months vs. 64.0 months, p = 0.901). IRR grade did not affect OS or PFS. B symptoms was independently associated with IRR (hazard ratio [HR], 1.850; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.041 to 3.290; p = 0.036). Further, bone marrow involvement was independently associated with re-IRR (HR, 4.904; 95% CI, 0.767 to 3.118; p = 0.029). Conclusions Our study shows that IRR of rituximab is not associated with OS or PFS of DLBCL patients who received R-CHOP. Furthermore, our study suggests a need for more careful observation for IRR in patients with B symptoms or bone marrow involvement.


This article discusses the processes typically underlying the Indian government's technological choices in the mid 1950s, with a case study of the pharmaceutical industry. It argues that questions of the future development of India's pharmaceutical industry were impacted by debates over placing it in the public or private sector, and over securing finance from the government's own budget, from transnational corporations, or through Soviet aid. A close scrutiny of the trajectory of these debates reveals how the highly contested conception of the required scope of the production process finally emerged. This scope then determined why, when faced with an offer from the USSR for an integrated pharmaceutical complex also manufacturing dye intermediates; and from the German conglomerate Bayer for a standalone plant for chemical intermediates, both for drugs and dyes, the Indian government decided to accept the Bayer proposal.


The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy addresses the diseases most prevalent in infancy, the reception of the child and family, and the comprehension the problem and effective procedures. The aim was to identify, between 1998 and 2008, publications relating to the IMCI strategy focusing on the caregiver. This study is an Integrative literature review in the Pubmed, Lilacs and Scielo databases. The caregivers knew one or more warning signs for acute respiratory infection, but not for diarrhea. Pneumonia was perceived as a serious childhood disease. Communication skills among health professionals trained in the IMCI strategy were different to those in untrained professionals. The follow-up of the health of the child is higher according to the education level of the caregiver, and according to the medications supplied in the consultation and in the follow-up. Regarding the health of the child it is relevant to focus on the IMCI strategy, favoring experiences that include the family in the care.


While research on adjustment to divorce has been extensive, the paucity of studies assessing stress before and after divorce has kept the relation between psychological stress and martial dissolution unclear. Conflicting findings cast some doubt on the utility of using a crisis model to study divorce. Analysis of three-wave panel data from a national sample of persons married in 1980 indicates that the crisis model is appropriate for understanding adjustment to divorce. Comparisons of divorced persons with married persons show a predivorce rise in stress which then returns to levels comparable to those reported by married individuals. No evidence was found supporting the idea that a high level of psychological stress is a general cause of divorce or that dissolution resulted in more or less permanent elevation of psychological stress. Findings support the hypothesis that predivorce resources and outlooks influence the amount of stress experienced in the two years immediately following divorce. Below median family incomes, no post-high school experience, and wife not in the labor force put divorcing individuals at a disadvantage. Individuals reporting few premarital troubles and beliefs in the immorality of divorce also appear to experience heightened stress in the two years following divorce.


The correlation between rock minerals composition and porosity evolution is essential to black shale oxidation,chemical and biological effects may act different roles which is unclear. In present study, the acid solution and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was applied to simulate the chemical and biological effects, the total organic carbon (TOC), pyrite and clay minerals content, porosity characteristics, micro-surfacemorphologyof black shale sampleswere employed to analyze the minerals-porosity correlation. Results showed that the chemical effect led to a greaterdecrease of pyrite and increase of clay minerals content than biological effect, which accompanied by a higherspecific surface areas and pore volume. These difference may attribute to the TOCcontent, which decreasedby acid erosion and led to the increase of macropores in chemical group, then promoted the minerals reactions; whereas the TOC content increased byattached and dead bacteria cell bodies on rock surface, led to the increase of micropores and less minerals reactions in biological group. It suggests that the correlation between minerals composition and porosity evolution is different in chemical and biological effects, is mainly due to the different alter trends of TOC content.


BACKGROUND
Family physicians may have the main role in managing patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with early nephropathy. It is therefore important to determine the clinical competence of family physicians in preserving renal function of patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention on family physicians' clinical competence and subsequently determine the impact on kidney function of their patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

STUDY DESIGN
Pilot study for a cluster-randomized trial.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS
Primary health care units of the Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Mexico. The study group was composed of 21 family physicians from 1 unit and a control group of 19 family physicians from another unit. 46 patients treated by study physicians and 48 treated by control physicians also were evaluated.

INTERVENTION
An educative strategy based on a participative model used during 6 months in the study group. Allocation of units to receive or not receive the educative intervention was randomly established.

OUTCOMES
Clinical competence of family physicians and kidney function of patients.

MEASUREMENTS
To evaluate clinical competence, a validated questionnaire measuring family physicians' capability to identify risk factors, integrate diagnosis, and correctly use laboratory tests and therapeutic resources was applied to all physicians at the beginning and end of educative intervention (0 and 6 months). In patients, serum creatinine level, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and albuminuria were evaluated at 0, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS
At the end of the intervention, more family physicians from the study group improved clinical competence (91%) compared with controls (37%; P = 0.001). Family physicians in the study group who increased their competence improved renal function significantly better than physicians in the same group who did not increase competence and physicians in the control group (with or without increase in competence): change in estimated glomerular filtration rate, 0.9 versus -33, -21, and -16 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (P < 0.05); and change in urinary albumin excretion of -18 versus 226, 142, and 288 mg/d, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared with other groups, study family physicians with clinical competence also controlled systolic blood pressure significantly better and were more likely to increase the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and statins and to discontinue nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

LIMITATIONS
Our analysis did not adjust for clustering. Physicians in only 2 units were randomly assigned; thus, it is not possible to distinguish the effect of the intervention from the effect of the unit.

CONCLUSIONS
Educative intervention to primary physicians is feasible. Our data may be the basis for additional prospective studies with a cluster-randomized trial design and larger numbers of centers, physicians, and patients.


Internal stresses are those stresses found in a body when this is stationary and in equilibrium with its surroundings (Withers & Badeshia, 2001). These stresses can arise at different length scales within a microstructure ranging from the size of the analysed body down to the atomic scale. Multiphase materials are prone to develop internal stresses due to the different mechanical and physical properties usually found between the phases that form these materials. This is essential for composites because the distribution and magnitude of the internal stresses may determine their mechanical/physical behaviour. Neutron diffraction has become an essential tool to determine internal stresses nondestructively in metal-based composite materials. The present chapter gives a thorough description of the state of the art of the technique and its use to determine internal stresses developed in lightweight metal matrix composites under mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical loading.


A wood-rot fungus was isolated and investigated for its laccase production in submerged cultures. Based on sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rDNA genes with reference taxa, the wild-type strain HLS-2 with high laccase production was identified as Psathyrella candolleana with GenBank Accession no. HQ215597. The production of laccase by P. candolleana HLS-2 can be enhanced by adding several agricultural wastes to the medium. Among them, wheat bran had the most significant effect and the highest laccase activity of nearly 12000 U/L. Extracellular laccase formations by this fungus can also be induced by veratryl alcohol, guaiacol, vanillic acid, coumaric acid, 2-2'-azinobis(3-ethyl- benzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), and copper sulfate. The maximal laccase activity, approximately 23000 U/L, was obtained from the shake-flask culture containing 1 mM Cu2+ without phenolic or aromatic inducers. Laccase activity of the extracellular liquid was stable at pH 8.0 and retained over 90% activity at 4 °C after 40 days.


The demand for minority representation in video games often focuses on proving that members of marginalized groups are gamers. In turn, it is asserted that the gaming industry should focus on appealing to these players via targeted content. Being targeted as a gamer, however, does not a gamer make. Identity as a gamer intersects with other identities like gender, race, and sexuality. Negative connotations about gaming lead people to not identify as gamers, and even to not play video games. This article concludes, based on interview data, that those invested in diversity in video games must focus their attention on the construction of the medium, and not the construction of the audience as such. This shift in academic attention is necessary to develop arguments for representation in games that do not rely on marking groups as specific kinds of gaming markets via identifiers like gender, race, and sexuality.


Colias myrmidone is extinct in most European countries of its historic range, and few populations remain in Poland, Slovakia, and Romania. In Romania, this butterfly occurs in traditional farming landscapes of Transylvania dominated by high nature value (HNV) grassland. Parts of these landscapes were recently designated as Natura 2000 areas. In this article, we share insights from our engagement in these Natura 2000 areas, in which agricultural intensification as well as abandonment threaten the survival of Colias myrmidone. We unravel which factors hinder the effective conservation of this rare farmland and ecotone species despite the legally binding nature of Natura 2000 and financial support for HNV grassland in Romania through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Firstly, current financial incentives to maintain low-intensity agricultural practices are insufficient to avert land-use intensification or abandonment. Secondly, a lack of knowledge of the wider landscape beyond target areas limits our understanding of population dynamics and dispersal, which impedes the ability to inform conservation management adequately. Thirdly, the target areas have unclear governance arrangements regarding responsibilities and powers, which prevents transparent collaboration and management structures. To improve support for the HNV systems that are crucial for the conservation of endangered species of traditional agricultural landscapes at the local level, we recommend greater collaboration in conservation governance with small-scale farmers, co-development of management plans, and a shift toward results-based payments for conservation actions. At the EU level, we recommend adapting the CAP to genuinely support small-scale farming and to establish a pan-European monitoring scheme for indicator species of HNV farmland such as Colias myrmidone.


In food animal production medicine (FAPM), the success of control programs for infectious diseases that have serious animal health and economic consequences frequently rely on the veterinarian's effective communication and producer adherence to veterinary recommendations. However, little research has been conducted on communication skills of practicing FAPM veterinarians. During this study, we developed a communication training workshop intervention to support the Atlantic Johne's Disease Initiative. Seventeen FAPM veterinarians across 10 clinics practicing within Maritime Canada participated in a pre-post intervention study design. Communication skills were evaluated utilizing 3 assessment tools; an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE), standardized client feedback, and an instrument designed for veterinary participants to assess their self-efficacy. Study results showed that before training, communication skills of participating veterinarians had limitations, including skill deficits in communication tasks strongly associated with increased adherence to veterinary recommendations. Based on the 3 assessment tools, communication skills of participating veterinarians improved with the training provided. Significant increases were detected in pre- to postintervention self-efficacy percentage scores, OSCE percentage and global scores from expert raters, and OSCE percentage and global scores from standardized client feedback. These improvements emphasize the importance of communication skills training specific to FAPM.


Abstract Although studies have examined the relationship between HIV-related stigma and HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding whether sexual minority stigma and HIV testing are associated. The purpose of this study was to identify the association between sexual minority- and HIV-related stigmas with HIV-testing behavior. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Hunan Province of China. After controlling for covariates, the multivariate analyses showed that high internalized sexual minority stigma was negatively associated with HIV testing behavior in the previous year. However, anticipated sexual minority- and HIV-related stigmas were not associated with HIV-testing behavior. Findings suggest that internalized sexual minority stigma should be addressed in health care settings to encourage MSM to seek HIV testing services, especially considering the continuing HIV epidemic among MSM in China.


Vagal postganglionic neurons to sinoatrial (SAN) and atrioventricular (AVN) nodal regions of the canine heart have been localized surgically around the right pulmonary vein-atrial fat pad and in the fat pad overlying the epicardium at the inferior vena cava-inferior left atrial junction, respectively. Local ganglionic blocking doses (total of 5 mg per injection) of hexamethonium were injected into the pulmonary vein-atrial fat pad to block selectively right and left vagal inputs to the SAN region without interrupting vagal inputs to AVN. Conversely, hexamethonium injected into the inferior vena cava-inferior left atrial pad selectively blocked vagal control of arteriovenous conduction without interfering seriously with vagal control of SAN function. Vagal ganglia situated in pulmonary vein-atrial fat pad also exercise moderate but incomplete control of right atrial contractile force. Lesser vagal control of atrial inotropism is localized in the inferior vena cava-inferior left atrial fat pad. Ganglia situated in a large fat pad on the dorsal epicardial surface of the left atrium (left atrial fat pad) appear to play little or no role in SAN or AVN regulation, although some left preganglionic axons may pass through it en route to the AVN region. Vagal stimulation is associated with prompt and profoundly negative chronotropic and dromotropic responses, but in response to the same stimulation, a negative change in atrial contractile force is much slower in development and is much longer lasting. Such precise anatomical localization and differentiation of the intrinsic vagal regulation of SAN, AVN and contractile force opens new avenues of research on the neural regulation of cardiac performance.


How do women reject the feminine in postfeminist working life, and to what effects? Organisational scholars have long argued that the feminine is discouraged or reconfigured in neoliberal, postfeminist organisations that value masculine-oriented traits. But what the feminine encompasses, how it is rejected and to what effects is less clear. In this article, we draw on feminist post-Jungian theory, which understands the feminine as archetypal, emerging over thousands of years of human history and characterised by paradox, circularity, being and descent. Feminist Jungian thinkers agree that the archetypal feminine is neglected, if not denigrated, in neoliberal, capitalist cultures, much to our detriment. Reflecting on data from a qualitative, longitudinal study on early career formation and work experiences with 15 young women, we reflexively discuss how in postfeminist working life, disavowing the archetypal feminine manifests by: adhering to ascensionist ideals to the detriment of slowness and inactivity; engaging linear thinking to the detriment of cyclical, paradoxical being; and avowing rational objectivity to the detriment of embodied instinct. This engenders both collusion with postfeminist power structures and psychic effects such as dis-ease and anxiety, which we argue can be ameliorated by recognising and embracing the archetypal feminine within.


Professionalism has been studied from many perspectives. However, only Styles (1982) has focused on the individual nurse and professionalism. She states professionhood is the reflection of individual nurses and that collective professionhood becomes professionalism. Styles identified three factors associated with professionhood, social significance, ultimacy of performance, and collegiality and collectivity. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine if professionhood could be applied to Japanese nurses and the factors of their professionhood are the same as the factors described by Styles. A semi structured interview guideline was developed and conducted with a convenience sample of 21 nurses. Age, work experience and work place for the nurses varied. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Data revealed five factors associate with professionhood of Japanese nurses. Each factor also had two to six subfactors. The five main factors were social significance, ultimacy of performance, collegiality and collectivity, self-realization and protection of moral and ethical norms. The major focus of the five factors is as follows. Social significance describes wanting to be useful to the patients and the families and to be recognized by them as being useful. Ultimacy of performance describes providing the best care possible by integrating all the knowledge, skill and experience of the nurses. Collegiality and collectivity describes mutual support and sense of cohesion with colleagues that strengthen the power of nursing. Self-realization describes nursing as self-development. Protection of moral and ethical norms describes a sense of respect for human beings. Data from this study are currently being analyzed to determine what if any is the relationship among the five factors.


This paper has as its prime objective to analyze the performance of a static excitation system in function of the type of load applied to the synchronous generator. This is seen through how the magnitude, the power factor and the load variation rate influence the working of the excitation system in the restoration of the generator's terminal voltage. Also shown is the influence of the non-linear load in this type of excitation system.


Root Zone Wastewater Treatment (RZWT) is an option of natural wastewater treatment widely studied throughout the world, being a technology based on physical, chemical and biological processes. However, there are some attributes in effluent that occasionally are not eliminated by RZWT. In this context, the use of ozone may contribute to mineralization, disinfection, detoxification, and, especially, color and turbidity removal. Ozone is an excellent oxidant, with great potential to reduce color, turbidity and other attributes in liquids, such as in wastewater treatment. This paper evaluated the effect of different ozone exposure times (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 minutes) and the application of different dosages of ozone (0, 4, 10, 17, 25 and 35 mg L-1 of O3) on Hydrogeonic Potential (pH), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Dissolved Oxygen (OD), Total Alkalinity (Alk.), Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) in domestic sewage effluent treated by the RZWT. Different exposure times and ozone dosages did not influence the attributes Potassium, Sodium, Ammonia and Total Solids. Color and turbidity decreased, while pH, Alkalinity and Dissolved Oxygen increased at all exposure times and O3 dosages in relation to the non-ozonized effluent.


The basic principle of a small wind turbine in the isolated location is to produce electricity with a simple design. Be-fore installing a wind turbine The knowledge of the wind climate is very important for the reason to optimize the performance of wind turbines, it is necessary to study the intensity, speed, frequency and direction of the wind. In this context that we will evaluate the wind resource of Annaba - Algeria of the region in order to establish small wind turbine. Hence a Weibull method fit to determine wind energy potential and predict extreme wind in our re-gion. The first part in this paper is to study the estimation of the two Weibull parameters of the wind speed distribu-tion function namely, shape parameter k and the scale parameter c. The suitable values for both shape and scale parameters of weibull distribution of weibull are without forgetting to study the direction, from which the wind comes, appears as very primordial steps important for selecting location of installing wind turbine generator. For 10 years were computed from the wind speed averages data measured hourly at 12 meteorological stations located at "Algiers Airport". The region concerned in this study named: Annaba. After analysing the behaviour of the wind in this region and find out the average speed in order to study the possibility of installing small wind turbine in the region, as well as knowledge of energy that can output we must hold aerodynamic study to learn and to improve the wind blade shape. The study uses Element Momentum and the axial flow theory, the lift and drag forces acting on the two blade types the torque and the power generated can be determined for our both blade, we concluded the real effect of variation of the length chord and the absence or presence of the twist angle on the performance of a small wind blade. Finally, therefore, this paper treat the techniques applicable to data sets in a defined area for implanted a small wind turbine with best yield, we concluded that a small wind turbine. We put attention on the region of Annaba. Can installer in this region despite the low wind speed through good wind blade shape. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.mech.20.6.7504


This essay examines the tension between religious and social imperatives in Charlotte Lennox's 1758 novel, Henrietta. It suggests that Lennox both defends her heroine's claims to liberty of conscience in the face of social persecution and satirizes her religious zeal. This tension highlights a larger eighteenth-century cultural quandary: how to reconcile the independence granted women by religious conviction with the subordination required by dominant sexual and social codes. When set against the backdrop of Protestant discourses that emphasize spiritual autonomy, the companionate marriage and the plot conventions that instantiate it appear deeply compromised.


A prospective study was set up to evaluate a one-visit apicectomy technique. Calcium hydroxide cement was used as the root canal filling material. The calcium hydroxide cement set rapidly and clearly revealed the position, size and outline form of the root canals at the level of resection. This facilitated preparation of the apical cavities to a depth of 3 mm. Each cavity was varnished before placement of the amalgam. Sixty-eight patients (93 teeth) were included in the study. Five patients (8 teeth) were lost to follow-up. The success rate, based on clinical and radiographic examination after a minimum of 2 years, was 91.8 per cent.


Previously, we identified the expression of a prostate-specific form of T cell receptor gamma chain (TCRgamma) mRNA in the human prostate and demonstrated that it originates from epithelial cells and not from infiltrating T lymphocytes. Here, we show that this prostate-specific transcript is also expressed in three breast cancer cell lines and breast cancer tissues. Analysis of the cDNA sequence predicts that this transcript can encode two protein products of 7 and 13 kDa, and in vitro translation experiments showed that both proteins were made. The longer ORF encodes a 13-kDa truncated version of TCRgamma, whereas the shorter alternative reading frame encodes a 7-kDa protein with five leucine residues in heptad repeats followed by a basic region. Studies with specific antibodies against each protein product revealed that both prostate and breast cancer cells contain only the 7-kDa protein, which is located in the nucleus. We have named this protein TCRgamma alternate reading frame protein (TARP). These results demonstrate that an alternative protein product is encoded by the TCRgamma locus in cells other than T lymphocytes.


This paper details the developments to date of an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) based on a standard size 60 model helicopter. The design goal is to have the helicopter achieve stable hover with the aid of an INS and monocular vision. The focus of this paper is on the development of an artificial neural network that makes use of this data to generate hover command, which are used to directly manipulate the flight servos. Current results show that a mapping can be learnt for the training data, but generalisation to unseen data has been poor with current training sets.


Many inhabitants of rural areas in developing countries lack adequate and affordable access to transport infrastructure and services. Improving rural people's access to essential services requires better mobility through transport infrastructure and services as well as the location, price, and quality of facilities. This report focuses on improving rural mobility by facilitating the provision of affordable means of transport and transport services. To deliver significant economic and social benefits, investment in transport must take an integrated approach. Rather than focusing solely on expanding road networks, it should also pay attention to smaller roads, paths, and tracks; the use of private and commercial means of transport; and the importance of transport hubs and markets. Transport planners need to take a holistic approach that involves all stakeholders in a participatory process of assessing needs within a clear policy framework based on the interdependence and complementarity of different means of transport. In addition, favorable policies and operating environments can enable the private sector and nongovernmental organizations to play important roles in new initiatives. Pilots can be used to promote lower technology, intermediate means of transport. The needs of women and disadvantaged groups should be considered during planning. Monitoring and evaluation involving stakeholders are also important.


Various waterborne anthropogenic contaminants disrupt the endocrine systems of wildlife and humans, targeting reproductive pathways, among others. Very little is known, however, regarding the occurrence of endocrine disruptive activity in South African freshwater ecosystems, and coastal ecosystems have not been studied in this regard. In a first attempt to investigate endocrine disruptive activity in South African coastal waters, surface water samples collected from harbours, river mouths and estuaries in three metropolitan municipalities, eThekwini (which includes Durban), Nelson Mandela (specifically Port Elizabeth Harbour) and City of Cape Town, were screened for (anti) oestrogenicity and (anti)androgenicity using recombinant yeast bioassays. Moreover, levels of the female hormone 17β-(o)estradiol (E2) were determined in all samples, as well as a selection of hydrocarbons in the eThekwini samples. A high proportion of samples collected from eThekwini were oestrogenic, whereas none from Port Elizabeth Harbour and only a single river mouth sampled in the City of Cape Town were oestrogenic. E2 was detected in all the samples tested, but at higher concentrations at the eThekwini and City of Cape Town localities than Port Elizabeth Harbour. In addition, the recombinant yeast assays revealed that anti-androgenicity was widespread, being detected in the majority of samples screened apart from those representing Port Elizabeth Harbour. Conversely, no anti-oestrogenic or androgenic activity was detected. Anti-androgenicity did not associate with hydrocarbon loads, providing evidence that other anti-androgens were responsible for the observed activity. The present data suggest potential reproductive disruption in marine and estuarine fauna inhabiting the eThekwini and City of Cape Town regions.


The study examined changes in active ageing among 65/66-and 75/76- year-olds in northern Sweden and western Finland. Data were retrieved from a repeated cross-sectional survey conducted in 2005 and 2016. Logistic regression was used to estimate the probability of ageing actively in terms of employment, social and political participation, confidence in healthcare, economic situation, self-rated health and social contacts. The results showed no significant changes in employment, social participation or economic situation. However, the level of political participation and self-rated good health was significantly higher in 2016 compared with 2005, whereas confidence in healthcare and social contacts was lower. Considering that the implementation of active ageing policies relies heavily on municipal and/or regional level in our study region, our results could be used as a framework for regional policymaking


MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small and non-coding RNAs displaying aberrant expression in the tissue and plasma of cancer patients in comparison to healthy individuals. In past decades, accumulating data proposed that miRNAs could be diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cancer patients. It has been identified that miRNAs can act either as oncogenes through silencing of tumor inhibitors or tumor suppressor via targeting oncoproteins. MiR-144 is located in chromosomal region 17q11.2 that was widely destroyed in many types of cancers. Several studies revealed that miR-144 has different target genes including rapamycin, zonula occludens1, SFRP1, and ANO1. MiR-144 acts as a tumor suppressor or oncogene by targeting specific genes. In this review, we define the role of miR‐144 and its targets in different cancers and provide understanding in tumor proliferation, migration, and apoptosis.


Primer-dependent transcription by E. coli RNA polymerase on T7 promoter A2 has been studied. Synthetic deoxyribonucleotides complementary to the promoter over the region -8...+2 were taken as primers. A ribonucleoside residue was present at the 3'-end of some of these oligonucleotides. The octanucleotide complementary to the region -8...-1 appeared to be an active primer. Oligonucleotides having lengths from 3 to 6 nucleotide residues complementary to the promoter over the region -4...+2 also exhibited primer activity. The latter was some 5-10 times greater in the case of oligonucleotides having a ribonucleoside residue at the 3'-end. Oligonucleotides which on complementary binding do not reach the center of phosphodiester bond synthesis, as well as the decanucleotides (-8...+2) and octanucleotides (-6...+2) of both the ribo- and deoxyribo-series were inactive as primers.


It is a fundamental goal in many modalities of cardiac imaging to measure the global and regional function of the left ventricle through wall motion, thickening and strain, in an effort to isolate the location, severity and extent of ischemic or infarcted myocardium. However, proper characterization of the heart complex motion still remains an open and challenging research problem. Optical flow (OF), the velocity vector field corresponding to the observed motion of brightness patterns in sequences of images, is an important quantity in a variety of problems in computer vision. In magnetic resonance images of the heart this field may provide diagnostic information concerning cardiac muscle motion. A common basic problem in estimating OF concerns how to compute derivative approximations from discrete data. It is, however, well known that derivative estimation is not a well-posed problem. Derivative estimators usually enhance the noise and some sort of smoothing in the data is necessary. This work describes a method to compute OF in 3D using the scale-space approach. The method was applied to cine MR images. A set of ten normal subjects was analyzed in terms of myocardial kinetic energy and ejection fraction.


The knowledge of fish reproduction is the most important in freshwater management continously. The research was done from February-July 2013, was aiming to describe information on reproductive aspects of belida fishes (Notopterus notopterus),i.e. sex ratio, gonado somatic stages, gonado somatic index, first size of maturity, fecundity, and spawning type. The fish Samples was taken by gill net which had many sizes such as 2, 2.5, 3, and 4 cm. Each gill net has length 30 m and width 2 m. Belida fishes have caught during research amounted 497 ind, which consisted of: 237 male and 260 female. Sex ratio male and female fish were relatively balance. The maturity gonad of male fish is faster than female fish. Featherback do spawn every month for each observation during the research. The spawning type of Featherback is partial pattern (step by step). The first size of maturity gonad from male fish was in length 135 mm and female fish was in length 162 mm. Fecundity of Featherback was in range 1.051-6.057 eggs. Fecundity is not influenced by length or weight body. For the sake to keep Featherback population needed a regulation, such as: the mesh size regulation of gillnet have to 30 mm or equal with 1.5 inci.


This paper explains an object-based geographic information system (GIS) developed for tourism planning on Maracaibo, Venezuela. In order to establish a better way to manipulate georeferenced data, this system is migrating its structure from a fouryears- old relational database, incorporating distributed storage on a comprehensive catalog. A combination of operating system, SQL server and Map server, is being implemented to substitute a static web site for a real-time application to easily manipulate maps through a web browser. This work not only creates answers to implementing urban information systems, also it will facilitate their incorporation on collaborative geographical networks in the entire world.


Author(s): Vilan, Andrea | Advisor(s): Johns, Leslie N | Abstract: After ratifying a human rights treaty, all states are required to incorporate the treaty's standards into domestic law. However, the incorporation of treaty standards varies widely around the world. Why have some states changed their laws to incorporate treaty standards while others have not? I argue that to understand this variation it is necessary to consider how domestic politics affects treaty incorporation. As in other domains of international law, incorporation reflects the strength of rival interest groups in society. I contend that treaty incorporation creates supporters and opponents because human rights treaties can have distributional effects and generate conflict among competing moral values. When groups that oppose incorporation are strong, they can hinder treaty incorporation. I test this argument by examining legislation adopted in Latin America against child labor and child marriage. Making use of two original datasets and over 60 semi-structured interviews with civil society leaders, legislators, and representatives of international organizations in six Latin American countries, I show that groups that oppose human rights treaties can undermine their incorporation. This is important as it suggests a previously unexplored reason for some states' failure to incorporate human rights treaties: governments' response to domestic political pressure. As incorporation is often a first step towards compliance, this dissertation contributes theoretically and empirically to the analysis of the causal mediating steps between treaty ratification and compliance.


Introduction The prevalence of chronic low back pain (LBP) increases with age and older adults are more vulnerable to develop chronic LBP. A recent Swiss study has shown that 78% of community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years experienced chronic LBP. Similarly, a study in Hong Kong found that approximately 30% of people aged above 60 years experienced chronic LBP. The aim of this collaborative research project was to illuminate older adults' experiences of living with chronic LBP and its implication on older adults' daily life in Western and Eastern cultures. Methods Twenty-five older people experiencing chronic LBP living in Switzerland or Hong Kong were recruited through health professionals or community centres. Using semi-structured interviews, participants shared their experiences regarding chronic LBP and its implications on their daily life. The interviews were recorded and transcribed "ad verbatim" in the original language. An inductive thematic analysis was used, using a qualitative data analysis software program (NVivo) and a shared code book in English. The Swiss and Hong Kong research teams engaged in collaborative analysis until a consensus was established, taking into consideration of cultural specificities. Ethical approval was obtained from the local ethic committees in both regions. Results Themes were related to negative perceptions/experiences: (1) interferences of daily function; (2) pessimistic attitudes toward their conditions/prognosis; and (3) self-perceived burden related to families. Conversely, four themes revealed attributes to social roles: (1) maintaining their roles in families; (2) experiencing supports from family and friends; (3) being content despite LBP; and (4) enjoying social activities. Cultural differences between Switzerland and Hong Kong were related to social circles and offers from the healthcare system, influencing individual experiences and perceptions. Discussion Although chronic LBP may negatively impact older adults, individual approaches as well as social and health system supports influence older adults' attitude toward their pain and self-management strategies. Developing effective and culturally sensitive interventions for an elderly population with chronic LBP can be challenging but essential for the development of innovative healthcare services tailored to the population's needs. The methodological approach used for this research project establishes the framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions.


This paper describes an algorithm that improves 3D reconstruction result using a multi-sensor fusion disparity map. We can project LRF (Laser Range Finder) 3D points onto image pixel coordinatesusing extrinsic calibration matrixes of a camera-LRF (, ) and a camera calibration matrix (K). The LRF disparity map can be generated by interpolating projected LRF points. In the stereo reconstruction, we can compensate invalid points caused by repeated pattern and textureless region using the LRF disparity map. The result disparity map of compensation process is the multi-sensor fusion disparity map. We can refine the multi-sensor 3D reconstruction based on stereo vision and LRF using the multi-sensor fusion disparity map. The refinement algorithm of multi-sensor based 3D reconstruction is specified in four subsections dealing with virtual LRF stereo image generation, LRF disparity map generation, multi-sensor fusion disparity map generation, and 3D reconstruction process. It has been tested by synchronized stereo image pair and LRF 3D scan data.


The adhesion of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) rubber is largely improved by oxygen plasma surface treatment. The thickness of the silica-like surface layer is characterized by performing transmission electron microscopy imagery on microtome slices of welded plasma treated surfaces. The specific double layer contrast can be considered as equal to twice the thickness of the silica-like layer. The thickness measurements combined with strain-induced elastic buckling instability analysis gives an estimate of the elastic modulus of the silica-like layer equal to 1.5 GPa.


Endophytic bacteria are microorganisms that thrive in plant tissue without causing any negative effects to the host plants. The purpose of this study was to apply endophytic bacteria that have the potential to produce IAA hormones as biological agents in rice seeds. This research was conducted by testing IAA hormone using a spectrophotometer, testing HCN production using filter paper, biochemically identification of the isolate, and applicating endophytic bacteria into rice seeds. Endophytic bacteria have different abilities in producing IAA hormone. Based on the results of the study, the highest IAA concentration (57 ppm) was obtained from KSB1 (Potassium Solubilizing Bacteria) isolates and followed by KSB3 isolate with 56 ppm. All the endophytic bacteria isolates were unable to produce HCN. Results of the study showed that KSB1 and KSB3 isolate were able to influence the growth of root length by 5.62 cm and 6.70 respectively as well as the canopy height by 8.56 cm and 8.30 cm respectively. Based on observations of colony morphology, cell morphology and biochemical tests, KSB1 was presumably belong to the genus Staphylococcus. In this study, new information about endophytic bacteria that can increase the growth of Ciherang variety rice can be obtained. This study provides information that the application of environmentally friendly bacteria is important to preserve the environment and agriculture sustainability in Indonesia without reducing the productivity of rice.


It is now generally accepted that the birth of new neurons occurs in brain areas such as hippocampus throughout the lifespan. The waning and waxing of neurogenesis in hippocampus is proposed as a key factor in the decent into and recovery from depression. If hippocampal neurogenesis was blocked, antidepressant would lose its behavioral effects in behavioral models of depression. Long-term, but not short-term, treatment with different classes of antidepressant could stimulate neurogenesis in the hippocampus remarkably. As the regulation of adult neurogenesis continues to be identified, it will provide novel avenues of studying the mechanism and developing pharmacological agents for depressive disorder.


A convergent mixed methods research study was used to investigate whether or not undergraduate students who participated in a problem-based learning (PBL) laboratory environment improved their self-efficacy beliefs in chemistry. The Chemistry Attitude and Experience Questionnaire (CAEQ) was used as a pre- and post-test to determine changes in students' self-efficacy beliefs in general chemistry laboratories at a Midwestern University in the USA. Interviews were used to augment the quantitative data. Paired sample t-tests were used to determine the difference in means between pre- and post-tests. Analysis of variance was used to determine the influence of confounding variables. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the interview data. There was an observed improvement in students' self-efficacy beliefs using both qualitative and quantitative data. Interviews with the participants indicated that students had higher self-efficacy beliefs in chemistry for conducting chemistry experiments and for participating in undergraduate research after the PBL laboratory experience than they had before it. Students felt that PBL provided them with autonomy while exploring phenomena and allowed them to take more responsibility for their own learning. This study is significant in that it adds knowledge to research on the effects of PBL instruction and strengthens existing information on the relationship between PBL and the affective domain. Results from this study may also be informative to chemistry laboratory instructors on what PBL has to offer with regard to student outcomes.