Mexico has undergone a drastic reform in financial markets that transformed
the system from financial repression to financial liberalisation and yet, a
large percentage of enterprising households, particularly at the bottom-end
of the income distribution, remain excluded from institutional financing. In
2001, the Mexican government launched the National Programme for
Financing the Microentrepreneur with the explicit objective of expanding
access of poor households to credit, through capital subsidisation of
microfinance organisations. The intervention was based on the proposition
that the impacts of credit on income and well-being are positive and
significant. In this thesis we test such a proposition in the context of urban
poverty.
One of the main challenges in analysing the impacts of credit emerges from
the problems of self-selection and endogeneity that are related to the choice
of borrowing. The very few studies that control for these estimation
constraints employ methodologies that are restricted to rural areas. We
propose an alternative quasi-experimental research methodology specifically
designed to work in the urban context, where a large percentage of
microfinance organisations in the developing world actually operate. We
collected primary data from 148 households, members of three microfinance
organisations that operate in shanty towns located to the Eastern periphery
of the Metropolitan area of Mexico City.
Although we find that credit has positive impacts on income poverty, the
magnitude of the impacts is marginal and only significant at the upper
thresholds of human deprivation, where the moderate poor are located. We
find no evidence of impacts on extreme poverty. The empirical evidence
reveals that rigid screening, incentive and enforcement devices that
microfinance organisations exploit to mitigate moral hazard and adverse
selection, generate a significant and increasing utility cost of borrowing that
undermine the potential effects on poverty and well-being. We also find that
these devices exacerbate micro-rationing in credit markets, leading to
constrained Pareto inefficiency. In this sense, government interventions that
go beyond the objective of expanding access to credit, and facilitate, through
temporal subsidisation, technological and financial innovations, could
improve market efficiency and benefit both lenders and borrowers.


To clarify and characterize the fundamental physical mechanisms active in the dynamical formation of three-dimensional (3D) arrays of cells and dendrites under diffusive growth conditions, in situ monitoring of series of experiments on transparent model alloy succinonitrile - 0.24 wt% camphor was carried out under low gravity in the DECLIC Directional Solidification Insert on-board the International Space Station. These experiments offered the very unique opportunity to in situ observe and characterize the whole development of the microstructure in extended 3D patterns. The experimental methods will be first briefly described, including in particular the observation modes and the image analysis procedures developed to quantitatively characterize the patterns. Microgravity environment provided the conditions to get quantitative benchmark data: homogeneous patterns corresponding to homogeneous values of control parameters along the whole interface were obtained. The sequence of microstructure formation will be presented as well as the evolution of the primary spacing which is one of the most important pattern characteristic. Time evolution of this primary spacing during the microstructure development will be analysed to identify the mechanisms of spacing selection and adjustment; the importance of the macroscopic interfacial curvature will be pointed out.


SBDART is a software tool that computes plane-parallel radiative transfer in clear and cloudy conditions within the earth's atmosphere and at the surface. All important processes that affect the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation fields are included. The code is a marriage of a sophisticated discrete ordinate radiative transfer module, low-resolution atmospheric transmission models, and Mie scattering results for light scattering by water droplets and ice crystals. The code is well suited for a wide variety of atmospheric radiative energy balance and remote sensing studies. It is designed so that it can be used for case studies as well as sensitivity analysis. For small sets of computations or teaching applications it is available on the World Wide Web with a user-friendly interface. For sensitivity studies requiring many computations it is available by anonymous FTP as a well organized and documented FORTRAN 77 source code.


HeLa cell La antigen, an RNA-binding protein, was characterized by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Eight isoelectric forms (pI 6 to 7) were observed, many containing phosphate. An in vitro translation product similar in size and antigenicity was identified. The HeLa cell protein purified by using an assay based on ribonucleoprotein reconstitution with adenovirus VA RNAI also comprised several isoelectric forms.


The creep property of cement grouted joint is studied based on creep test and theoretical analysis. Firstly, the multi-stage shear creep test under constant normal stress, joint roughness and cement filled thickness is carried out to obtain the creep deformation. Then the conventional linear Nishihara model is used to fit the test results. Due to the big deviation of the theoretical results from the test, the instantaneous elastic shear stiffnesses under different loading stages are calculated. It is found that they vary with the shear stress. The reasons for the nonlinearity are analyzed. Finally the parameters of the Nishihara model are modified to be nonlinear and fit with the test results showing good coincidence between them. These researches release the creep property of the cement grouted joint, and will provide a good basis for further research considering more influencing factors such as normal stress, joint roughness and cement filled thickness.


(1) Various glycolytic and Krebs-cycle intermediates and pyridine nucleotides were measured in the livers of anti-insulin serum treated (i.e., acute insulin deprivation) and alloxan diabetic rats (i.e., chronic insulin deprivation). (2) Acute insulin deprivation of three-hour duration resulted in significant changes in the concentration profile of the various glycolytic intermediates suggesting marked impairment of glycolysis at the phosphofructokinase step, activation of glycogenolysis, and decreased hexosemonophosphate shunt activity. The tissue levels of citrate and malate were not elevated under these conditions. (3) Insulin deficiency of forty-eight hours' duration produced changes in the hepatic levels of glycolytic and Krebs-cycle intermediates which differed in several important aspects with those seen in acute insulin deficiency. The accumulation of P-pyruvate and 3-P-glycerate in forty-eight hour alloxan diabetic rats, when gluconeogenesis is accelerated, suggests that the rate limiting step in this system resides at some step between the conversion of 3-P-glycerate and dihydroxyacetone-P. (4) Acute insulin deficiency of three-hour duration produced no significant changes in the levels of oxidized and reduced pyridine nucleotides. Chronic insulin deficiency (48hr. alloxan diabetic rats) did not alter the content of TPN, TPNH or DPN but did cause a significant decrease (32 per cent) in the level of DPNH.


En anglais : High deposition rates on large areas are industrial needs for mass production of microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H) solar cells. This doctoral work aims at exploring the usefulness of Matrix Distributed Electron Cyclotron Resonance (MDECR) plasmas to process the intrinsic layer of μc-Si:H p-i-n solar cells at high rates. With the high dissociation of silane achieved in MDECR plasmas, deposition rates as high as 6nm/s and 2. 8nm/s have been demonstrated in our lab for amorphous and microcrystalline silicon respectively, without hydrogen dilution. This technique is also promising because it can be easily scaled up on large areas, just by extending the matrix of elementary microwave applicators. This subject was a unique opportunity to cover the whole chain of this field of research : A new MDECR reactor has been specially designed and assembled during this project. Its maintenance and its improvement have been important technical challenges : for example, the addition of a load-lock enabled us to lower the oxygen concentration in our films by a factor of 10. The impact of the deposition parameters (e. G. The ion energy, the substrate temperature, different gas mixtures, the microwave power) has been explored in extensive parametric studies in order to optimize the material quality. Great efforts have been invested in the characterization of the films. Our strategy has been to develop a wide range of diagnostics (ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy, SIMS, FTIR, XRD, electrical characterizations etc. ). Finally, p-i-n cells have been processed with the selected interesting materials. The successive successful improvements in the material quality (e. G. Diffusion lengths of holes parallel to the substrate as high as 250 nm) did unfortunately not result in high efficiency solar cells. Their limited performance is in particular due to a very poor response in the red part of the spectrum resulting in low current densities. Consequently, the potential sources of limitation of the reactor, the material and the device have been studied : e. G. The presence of "cracks" prone to post-oxidation in the highly crystallized materials and the risk of deterioration of the ZnO substrate or of the p-doped layer by a too high process temperature or by hydrogen diffusing from the plasma.


We report the detection of the Lyman continuum (LyC) radiation of the compact star-forming galaxy (SFG) J1154+2443 observed with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. This galaxy, at a redshift of z=0.3690, is characterized by a high emission-line flux ratio O32=[OIII]5007/[OII]3727=11.5. The escape fraction of the LyC radiation fesc(LyC) in this galaxy is 46 per cent, the highest value found so far in low-redshift SFGs and one of the highest values found in galaxies at any redshift. The narrow double-peaked Lya emission line is detected in the spectrum of J1154+2443 with a separation between the peaks Vsep of 199 km/s, one of the lowest known for Lya-emitting galaxies, implying a high fesc(Lya). Comparing the extinction-corrected Lya/Hb flux ratio with the case B value we find fesc(Lya) = 98 per cent. Our observations, combined with previous detections in the literature, reveal an increase of O32 with increasing fesc(LyC). We also find a tight anticorrelation between fesc(LyC) and Vsep. The surface brightness profile derived from the COS acquisition image reveals a bright star-forming region in the centre and an exponential disc in the outskirts with a disc scale length alpha=1.09 kpc. J1154+2443, compared to other known low-redshift LyC leakers, is characterized by the lowest metallicity, 12+logO/H=7.65+/-0.01, the lowest stellar mass M*=10^8.20 Msun, a similar star formation rate SFR=18.9 Msun/yr and a high specific SFR of 1.2x10^-7 yr^-1.


Limit order books (LOBs) have generated big financial data for analysis and prediction from both academic community and industry practitioners. This article presents a benchmark LOB dataset from the Chinese stock market, covering a few thousand stocks for the period of June to September 2020. Experiment protocols are designed for model performance evaluation: at the end of every second, to forecast the upcoming volume-weighted average price change and volume over 12 horizons ranging from 1 second to 300 seconds. Results based on a linear regression model and deep learning models are compared. A practical short-term trading strategy framework based on the alpha signal generated is presented. The data and code are available on Github (github.com/HKGSAS). Key Findings ▪ There is a gap between benchmarking a high-frequency LOB dataset and model for researchers to objectively assess prediction performances, which this article serves to bridge. ▪ A more practically effective set of features is proposed to capture both LOB snapshots and periodic data. The prediction target is similarly too simplistic in the published literature—mid-price direction change for the next few events, which is not suitable for a practical trading strategy. The authors propose to predict the price change and volume magnitude over 12 short-term horizons. ▪ This article proposes comparing the performance of baseline linear regression and state-of-the-art deep learning models, based on both accuracy statistics and trading profits.


Histochemical fibre types classified in sections stained for succinic dehydrogenase (sdh) and myosin ATPase at pH 9.4, were found to be distributed in a consistent manner within the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and 4 soleus muscles of the adult rat. Simple morphometric techniques applied to complete transverse sections of both muscles showed that the relative distributions and proportions of fibre types along their deep to superficial, and medial to lateral, axes varied accoording to the histochemical method used for fibre typing. Similar differences occurred when the relative ranges of size exhibited by each fibre type were compared in sections stained for SDH and ATPase, and the discrepancies in fibre classification were confirmed by an analysis of individual fibres in serial sections. The findings are discussed in relation to those previosly reported for the EDL and soleus muscles of the rat.


The increasing prevalence of disinformation has led to a growing interest in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for detecting and combating this phenomenon. This article presents a thematic analysis of the potential benefits of automated disinformation detection from the perspective of information sciences. The analysis covers a range of approaches, including fact checking, linguistic analysis, sentiment analysis, and the utilization of human-in-the-loop systems. Furthermore, the article explores how the combination of blockchain and AI technologies can be used to automate the process of disinformation detection. Ultimately, the article aims to consider the integration of AI into journalism and emphasizes the importance of ongoing collaboration between these fields to effectively combat the spread of disinformation. The article also addresses ethical considerations related to the use of AI in journalism, including concerns about privacy, transparency, and accountability.


Assessment of student learning requires the use of techniques for measuring student achievement. Assessment is more than a collection of techniques, however. It is a systematic process that plays a significant role in effective teaching. It begins with the identification of learning goals, monitors the progress students make toward those goals, and ends with a judgment concerning the extent to which those goals have been attained. In the literature, the integration of technological tools into the  assessment process is expressed by the "e-assessment" concept. Assessment using ICT has come to be known as e-assess-ment, which includes the entire assessment process, from designing assignments to storing the results with the help of ICT. The most of the researches related to the e-assessment focused on how to transfer the examinations in paper-pencil environment to the electronic environment. In addition to those studies, in the research about the integration of computer assisted assessment tools to the mathematics instruction, the participant pre-service teachers use these tools in favor of the formative assessment. In a similar study, pre-service teachers prepared lessons and home works using technological tools such as dynamic geometry software and thus it is shown that those tools can be used in the process of assessment. In the literature, there is numerous studies concerning technology supported mathematics instruction. But none of them is related to the assessment dimension of the mathematics teaching. In particular, it is highly recommended to conduct researches about the use of technology in that dimension. The aim of this study is to determine question types that can be used for assessment of computer based mathematics instruction. Case study is considered as the methodology of the research. The reason is that a case study investigates a contemporary phenomenon in depth and within its real-life context when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident. 15 pre-service mathematics teachers have participated to the study of 6 weeks (3 hours per week). Every pre-service teacher worked individually on totally 26 geometry questions of different types. At the same time, they explained their approaches to solve problems by filling out a paper. In addition, a screen capture program is used to grab the video of what is seen on the computer screen. Meanwhile the researchers observed pre-service teachers' work on computers. The findings of the study are revealed via the analysis of each video, of their comparison with the written explanations and of the researchers' observations. Based on the findings, the most significant result of the study is that open-ended geometry problems reflect students' knowledge better than other types of questions. Moreover, all types of questions should be used in order to assess students' learning performance.


T cells require at least two signals for activation and clonal expansion. The first signal conferring specificity is initiated by interaction of the T cell receptor with antigenic peptides in the context of MHC molecules. The second, costimulatory signal can be provided by cell surface molecules on APCs such as B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86), which interact with their counter-receptors on T cells. The absence of costimulatory signals presents one possible mechanism for tumor cells to escape immune surveillance. In experimental models transfection of B7 genes into tumor cells can result in T cell-dependent tumor rejection. We have developed a novel approach to direct the costimulatory B7-2 molecule to the surface of target cells. Our approach is based on a chimeric fusion protein that consists of the extracellular domain of human B7-2 fused to a single-chain Ab domain (scFv) specific for the ErbB2 protein, a type I growth factor receptor overexpressed in a high percentage of human adenocarcinomas. This B7-2(225)-scFv(FRP5) molecule expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris and purified from culture supernatants is functionally active and binds to B7 counter-receptors and to ErbB2. B7-2(225)-scFv(FRP5) localizes specifically to the surface of ErbB2-expressing target cells, thereby providing a costimulatory signal that results in enhanced proliferation of syngeneic T cells. Our results suggest that effective tumor vaccines for cancer immunotherapy could be created by targeting such chimeric ligands to the surface of tumor cells.


The kinetics of the acylation of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol was investigated using lipase as a catalyst. The main parameters were temperature, reaction atmosphere, different acyl donors, and different amounts of acyl donor as well as the presence of some additives in the reaction mixture. The initial reaction rate increased with increasing temperature and with a decreasing amount of an acyl donor. The activated esters, such as isopropenyl- and vinyl acetate, exhibited very high acylation rates for R-1-phenylethanol, whereas low rates were obtained with ethyl acetate and 2-methoxyethyl acetate. The addition of water and acetophenone decreased the acylation rate. A kinetic model was developed based on a sequential step mechanism, in which enzyme was reacting in the first step with an acyl donor followed by the reaction of a modified enzyme complex with the reactant, R-1-phenylethanol. Comparison with experimental data obtained at different temperatures allowed simplification of this model, leading to a kinetic equation with just one apparent parameter. The influence of the amount of acyl donor, ethyl acetate, could be quantitatively described by taking into account the competitive inhibition of the ethanol produced. The rate constants and apparent activation energy for experiments performed under different temperatures and the amounts of acylation agent were determined. The apparent activation energy was 24.5 kJ/mol. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 629–639, 2010


Applying the techniques of molecular genetics to the study of inherited diseases has made significant progress in recent years. The goal of this review is to update the clinical neurologist on the current state of progress in neurogenetic research. This progress has been primarily in the field of gene mapping--assigning a disease to its chromosomal locus. More recent advances have been in the cloning and study of the involved proteins in disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The techniques are powerful and predictable in outcome. Knowledge in the field of genetic disorders will continue to expand rapidly. Many neurologic disorders have a genetic origin. As progress continues in the study of neurogenetic diseases, the clinical neurologist will have increasing options for diagnosis and counseling. Eventually, it is anticipated that therapeutic interventions will be available for some disorders. The clinical neurologist is a key worker in both research as well as the practical application of research advances. This review will focus initially and briefly on the basic methods of molecular genetic research. After the introduction to these methods, the remainder of the review will discuss recent advances in several neurogenetic disorders by the clinical neurologist. Gene therapy will also be briefly discussed.


Imiquimod, the lead compound of the imidazoquinoline family of nucleoside analogues, has shown good efficacy against a variety of tumors of different origin. The mode of action of imiquimod and related compounds, which we have begun to understand in some detail in recent years, is complex and interesting inasmuch as it appears to comprise several presumably mutually enhancing components. Predominant amongst its actions is the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines through agonistic activity towards Toll-like receptor (TLR)-7 and TLR-8, and consecutively, activation of the central transcription factor NF-kappaB. This activity stimulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and other mediators resulting in activation of antigen-presenting cells and the mounting of a profound Th1-weighted antitumoral cellular immune response. In addition, there are a number of secondary effects on the molecular and cellular level that can be explained through the activation of NF-kappaB. The pro-inflammatory activity of imiquimod appears to be augmented by suppression of a negative regulatory feedback mechanism which normally limits inflammatory responses. This is achieved independent of TLR-7 and TLR-8 through interference with adenosine receptor signaling pathways, particularly the A(2A) subtype, and receptor-independent reduction of adenylyl cyclase activity. Finally, at higher, albeit therapeutically relevant concentrations, imiquimod exerts a pro-apoptotic activity against tumor cells. Induction of apoptosis by imiquimod appears to be dependent on Bcl-2 proteins and involves caspase activation. The combination of multiple, presumably synergistic anti-tumoral functions by a single compound represents an interesting principle of pathogenesis-oriented, anti-neoplastic therapy.


Introduction: dental surgeons may be subject to responsibilities that encompass penal, civil, ethical and administrative obligations during the practice of their profession. As such, if results are verified to have been harmful to the patient – either by imprudence, ineptitude or negligence – the dental surgeon will be subject to the penalties set forth in the Brazilian Civil Code, which include repairing the damage and compensating the victim according to the harm caused. In civil lawsuits, the parties can hire technical experts to provide scientific and technical information on the issue at hand to their respective attorneys. Objective: to inform on the importance of technical experts in civil lawsuits, giving the parties a better understanding of the technical, ethical and legal aspects in these proceedings. Conclusion: there is need for greater knowledge on the part of dentistry professionals of the ethical and legal aspects that guide their profession.


The tomato is a crop of great economical importance, however it is susceptible to a large number of pests and diseases, including viral disease for which the best control strategy is genetic resistance. The disease, caused by Pepper yellow mosaic virus (PepYMV) has become a recent problem. Consequently, the idea of this work was to screen 376 accessions of Lycopersicon sp. to find possible sources of resistance to PepYMV. Out of 355 accessions of L. esculentum inoculated with PepYMV, 52 did not express symptoms. However, the virus reached high concentration in the tissues as measured by indirect ELISA, and therefore they were not considered as safe sources of resistance. Among 21 accessions of wild Lycopersicon species, one of L. hirsutum was shown to be resistant, with no observed symptoms. A low concentration of the virus was detected as measured by indirect ELISA. This accession seems to be suitable for breeding programs aiming at incorporating resistance for this disease into commercial tomato cultivars.


There is strong evidence of a seasonal pattern in Dutch house prices; prices tend to increase stronger in the second quarter of the year. This is reported both in popular reports from banks (e.g. Rabobank, the largest mortgage supplier of the Netherlands) and in academia (e.g. De Wit & Van der Klaauw, 2010). One of the potential explanations for this pattern is that households are timing their purchase of a new house before the summer holiday, such that they can move in (and do some DIY) during the summer holiday. By planning the move in a holiday the transition from one house to the next should be as smooth as possible: plenty of time to pack and move, do refurbishing et cetera. More specifically, by moving in the summer holiday kids are able to enter gently into their new schools. This argument leans on a large body of scientific research that proves that certain predictable changes in lifeis course trigger residential mobility (e.g. Clark & Huang, 2003). Alternative explanations have been suggested as well, such as Ngai et. al. (2009) market matching explanation. In this study we seek if we can explain the commonly reported Q2-peak in transaction prices of residential housing according to the life course hypothesis. We specifically focus on the potential influence of the summer holiday on the housing market. Especially to households with children it is beneficial to purchase a new house before the start of the summer holiday: households without children are less stringently tied to the summer holiday. Moreover, households without children are less stringently tied to house types (or at least to size). These two results of the life course hypothesis therefore leads us to expect that housing that is not suited for households with children (i.e. small multi-family dwellings) displays less seasonality. We use the database of the Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Experts (henceforth: NVM) for our study. This database contains roughly 70% of all residential housing transactions in the Netherlands from 1985 onwards. The information we have on transactions includes dates (on and off the market), price and numerous characteristics. In the Netherlands schools are free to set most holidays. The summer holiday is the only holiday prescribed by the government. In setting the dates of the summer holiday the government distinguishes three regional areas for spreading holiday peaks (thus seeking to avoid congestion on roads and lengthening the holiday season for e.g. the catering industry). The summer holiday starts and ends at different dates for each area with a time gap of 3 weeks between the early and the late area. Our initial analysis focuses on the general holiday season and national patterns of seasonality using the common hedonic and seasonality dummy approach. We will then try to further exploit our extensive database and venture into a natural experiment where we try to find small shifts in seasonal patterns given the above described holiday spreading policy.


We present a sector-based resource allocation scheme for broadband fixed wireless networks. For SIR requirements of about 12 to 14 dB, the scheme can deliver an effective reuse factor of one, while permitting a given spectrum to be re-used in every sector of every cell. The scheme also offers flexible sector planning, easy capacity growth, and addresses irregular cell layout and non-uniform traffic density.


The test for pulmonary vascular reactivity in the fetus compares changes in branch pulmonary artery Doppler flow patterns with the mother breathing room air with maternal hyperoxygenation. A normal response to oxygen is to increase the pulmonary flow patterns and is seen in fetuses greater than 30 weeks' gestation. Fetuses with severe growth restriction have redistribution of cardiac output to the brain, coronary and adrenal circulations. In fetuses greater than 30 weeks' gestation with absent or reversed diastolic flow in the free loop of the umbilical artery and increased diastolic flow in the middle cerebral artery, the pulsatility of the flow in the branch pulmonary artery did not change with maternal hyperoxygenation. This indicates a fixed pulmonary vasoconstriction similar to what is seen in fetuses with pulmonary hypoplasia, yet these fetuses had normal respiratory function for gestational age after delivery. In fifteen fetuses hospitalized for growth less than 10% of prediction for age with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler flow patterns, the hyperoxygenation test was offered to mothers after obtaining consent. The results from these studies were compared to 15 fetuses whose mothers were hospitalized for pre-eclampsia, premature rupture of the membranes and abruption. Those fetuses whose growth biometry was within normal limits had normal pulmonary vascular response to the maternal hyperoxygenation test while those with severe growth restriction did not. Of those fetuses who had received antenatal steroids prior to the hyperoxygenation test, there was no effect on pulmonary vasodilatation in those with severe growth restriction but those fetuses with normal growth appeared to have an exaggerated positive response.


Claude Debussy's Trois chansons de Bilitis, as with many of his works, evade traditional tonal-harmony analysis. Unlike the composers of earlier years, Debussy's works utilize scales containing modal mixture, strings of parallel fifths, and several other previously unorthodox techniques. The three songs, "La flûte de Pan", "La chevelure", and "Le tombeau des naiades" all contain several musical ideas unique to the impressionist age of composition, and the following analyses aspire to display directly these ideas as they appear within these pieces.


ABSTRACT Introduction: There are multiple choices of agents for the acute management of migraine available. Patient-specific factors such as associated symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and gastroparesis are important considerations. Oral administration may often be the patient-preferred route of delivery because of comfort or convenience but when it is important to bypass gut absorption then either parenteral or intranasal administration may be appropriate delivery approaches. A new formulation of a low-dose sumatriptan intranasal powder administered via a novel breath-powered delivery device may be a viable option Areas covered: Our search of the available literature pertaining to the topic of intranasal sumatriptan powder yielded pharmacokinetic studies and randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (including The TARGET Study, The COMPASS study) published between 2010 and 2015. Expert commentary: A new formulation of a low-dose sumatriptan intranasal powder administered via a novel breath-powered delivery device appears to be a safe and efficacious option for the acute management of a migraine ideally suited for this situation. It appears to have superior efficacy to sumatriptan 100 mg oral tablets with superior pain freedom by 15 minutes and pain relief over the initial 30 minutes post-dose.


This autobiographical essaytakes cultural studies personally', drawing on experience, identity and the personal to indicate how and why the author is proponent of and is working on developing a model of cultural studies as social justice praxis despite the constraints academia in general and of the university as an institution in particular. The paper travels roughly from the author's student and teacher days in Sierra Leone through his graduate student days in Canada to his current role as university teacher in the USA. He selectively concentrates on his experience as a teacher of literature (and African multi-role utilitarianism), education and cultural studies (using one of his cultural studies courses and students' questions about the utility of cultural studies as example), his shifting and overlapping racial/ethnic identities (African/black) and the politics of identity, and his thoughts on the place of theory in cultural studies and a black approach to theory (black ambivalent elaboration) as contributory factors. While this account acts in its own way as an argument for conceptualizing cultural studies as praxis, the primary focus is more modestly on my own autobiographical account as a specific case. In fact, an autobiographical approach is employed precisely to be specific and in the attempt to avoid the pitfalls of over- generalization and the authority of authenticity.


In any pre-service mathematics teacher education classroom, multiple identities are co-constructed simultaneously through the practices in which such classrooms engage. These multiple identities, which are interrelated and in constant interaction, include becoming a teacher of mathematics, becoming learners of mathematics, becoming learners of mathematical practices and becoming proficient English users for the purpose of teaching/learning mathematics and, finally, in multilingual contexts, becoming teachers of mathematics in multilingual classrooms. In this paper, I explore how classroom engagement supports the development of these interacting identities within pre-service teacher education classrooms. I use a developing framework, which I describe in this paper, to delineate each of these identities in four pre-service teacher education classrooms in two universities in South Africa. A notable finding was that, even though the teacher educators in the study were aware of their context of teaching, the identities that were projected through their classroom practices were mostly those that inducted the pre-service teachers (PSTs) into becoming learners of mathematics content. There were very limited practices aimed at inducting pre-service teachers into becoming teachers of mathematics and even more limited opportunities for the development of the identity of becoming teachers of mathematics in multilingual classrooms. Recommendations are made for the design of pre-service teacher education programmes.


Background: Music and auditory beat stimulation (ABS) in the theta frequency range (4-7 Hz) are sound-based anxiety treatments that have been independently investigated in prior studies. Here, the anxiety-reducing potential of calm music combined with theta ABS was examined in a large sample of participants. Method: Participants taking anxiolytics (n = 318) were randomly assigned to a single session of sound-based treatment: combined (music & ABS), music-alone, ABS-alone, or pink noise (control). Pre- and post-intervention somatic and cognitive state anxiety measures were collected along with trait anxiety, personality measures and musical preferences. Results: Among participants with moderate trait anxiety, we observed reductions in somatic anxiety that were greater in combined and music-alone conditions than in the pink noise condition; and reductions in cognitive state anxiety that were greater in the combined condition than in the music-alone, ABS-alone, and pink noise conditions. While we also observed reductions in somatic and cognitive state anxiety in participants with high trait anxiety, the conditions were not well differentiated. Conclusions: Sound-based treatments are effective in reducing somatic and cognitive state anxiety. For participants with moderate trait anxiety, combined conditions were most efficacious.


The conditions for nucleation of abnormal grain growth have been investigated using a 2D vertex simulation allowing for the presence of pinning centers. The topological characteristics of an "almost pinned" structure, compared to the classical grain growth with no pinning force, show a striking correlation between the grain size and the size of the neighbors of this potential abnormal grain. The main finding of this contribution is to stress the crucial importance of pinning particles, and to point to the stochastic nature of the nucleation event in abnormal grain growth.


In visual effects it is usually required to process multiple film plates in order to reproduce the performance of real actors using a digital 3D character. One of the most challenging aspects of this process is the complexity of facial animation. Motivated by the work required to capture and digitally augment the performances for the 2019 film Cats [Cats 2019], we created FaceLab, a system that drives the animation of a 3D facial rig by optimizing its blendshape targets' weights and the head transformation matrix to match the reference plate. The system is designed to scale across different scenarios with varying complexity and produced tangible savings on the show.


Based on the observation result, the learning system applied in SMK Negeri 1 Darul Kamal Aceh Besar, is more dominated by conventional learning. Therefore, the student activity tends to be passive. However, in the process of learning the student is less understanding the material provided by the teacher. One of the alternatives to solving the problem is by offering a PBI learning method. The purpose of this research is to know the improvement of student learning motivation after learning by using PBI learning method. This research was carried out on November 13-15, 2017. The design of this research uses a real experimental research design. The population in this study is all students of SMKN 1 Darul Kamal which amount to 198 students, while the sample in this research is 22 students of class X Electronics. Technique of collecting data used observation and motivation questionnaire. Observation results showed significant improvement using RPP I, RPP II and RPP III, both observing the ability of teachers to manage learning and student activity observation. Teacher observation results at first meeting with total value of 80.62%, at second meeting with 81.85% and third meeting result increasing up to 85%. Similarly, student activity observation result from 76.42%, to 79.28%, even up to 84.28%. The result of the research by using motivation questionnaire shows that the average value of experimental class is 87,4%. Based on the result of the research, it can be concluded that the use of learning method of PBI can increase students' motivation to learn "resistor value measurement" in class X Electronic SMKN 1 Darul Kamal Aceh Besar.


This guide is designed to help ESL students at YSU to find resources to help improve their English language skills.


Literature about lipase (EC 18.104.22.168) , immobilized enzyme, alginate and chitosan are presented in thi s thesis. Thi s study involved the use of free and immobilized Iipases to catalyse esterification reaction of short chain fatty acid and alcohol to produce short chain ester. Generally , it involved the optimization of conditions of esterification reaction of acetic acid and n-butanol and followed by comparison of properties of immobilized enzyme with those of free enzyme. Results showed that 14.3 mg lipase , 80 umol n-butanol , 160 umol acetic acid and 3.0 days reaction time at a temp erature of 40 DC were the optimum conditions for lipase - CAB in terms of enzyme loading , immobilized enzyme concentration, temperature, substrate concentration and reaction time respectively. Meanwhile, 0.8% w/v of chitosan solution was chosen for the stabilized calcium alginate beads. Results showed that product conversion increased by increasing the temperature up to 50 DC for Lipase CAB and Lipase - CCAB but not for free lipase. Thermal stability test showed that Lipase - CAB and Lipa se - CCAB remained stable against temperature up to 60 DC compared to free lipase which had the highest activity at 30°C. The studies of effects of n-buta nol concentrations showed that increased in concentration of n-butanol above 40 umol decreased the conversion of product for Lipase - CCAB and free lipase. Meanwhile, conversion of product was affected by increasing concentration of n-butan ol to 80flmol and above for Lipase - CAB . In the study of effect of acetic acid, it was found that increasing concentration of acetic acid abovel60 umol decreased the product conver sion for Lipase - CAB and free lipase. However , Lipase - CCAB was not affected by high concentration of acetic acid up to 200 umol, Kinetic param eters , Km & Vmax of immobilized lipases for n-butanol were lower in values when compared with Km & Vmax values for acetic acid . Results showed that there were no stati stically significant different specific activities among the three systems studied. Operational stability test was important for repeated applications in batch or in a continuous reactor. It was demon strated that the enzyme was still active for at least 5 cycle s. Thus it was proven that immobilized lipase and free lipase were able to catalyse synthesis of short chain esters under the condition s studied. Continuous proce sses studies showed immobilized lipase had potential for such synthes is but need further studies . Several recommendations for further studies have also been suggested.


Dihydroxyanthraquinone, 1,4-dihydroxy-5,8-bis(( (2-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]ethyl)amino))-9,10-anthracenedione (NSC 279836), was observed to alter the cell cycle kinetics of a variety of mammalian cell lines as monitored by flow cytometry. Continuous exposure of Friend leukemia, L1210, and Chinese hamster cells to the drug in vitro at concentrations of 1.0 to 10 ng/ml resulted in the accumulation of cells in G2 by 24 hr in culture. When cells were exposed to dihydroxyanthraquinone for 30 min, washed free of drug, and cultured in fresh medium for 24 hr, a 10 times higher drug concentration was required to produce a G2 block identical to that observed during continuous exposure. Stimulation of human lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin could be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by brief pretreatment of cells with the drug. However, while previously stimulated but as yet noncycling lymphocytes were profoundly affected by much lower concentrations, proliferating lymphocytes were refractory to treatment with the drug up to a concentration of 1 microgram/ml. Exposure to the drug for 24 hr, at concentrations as low as 3.2 ng/ml, inhibited colony formation of exponentially growing Chinese hamster cells by 50%, whereas stationary culture required an 8-fold higher concentration to produce the same results. Drug concentrations in the range of 0.3 to 0.8 micrograms/ml over a period of 24 hr reduced the viability of Friend leukemia and L1210 cells by 50% as measured by trypan blue dye exclusion. In contrast, human lymphocyte viability was only mildly affected following 24 hr incubation with up to 5.0 micrograms dihydroxyanthraquinone per ml. There was a marked effect on cellular RNA content in two of the cell lines tested. Friend leukemia and L1210 cells blocked in G2 by the drug manifested a 140 and 70% increase in RNA content, respectively, when compared to control cells. In addition, though suboptimal concentrations of the drug resulted in a transient accumulation of cells in G2, optimal drug concentrations not only blocked cells in G2 but in the case of Friend leukemia and L1210 cells led to an increase in the proportion of cells with greater than 4C amounts of DNA. The results obtained with dihydroxyanthraquinone were compared to those obtained previously with a nonhydroxylated analog, anthracenedione (NCS 287513).


Machine learning algorithms designed to characterize, monitor, and intervene on human health (ML4H) are expected to perform safely and reliably when operating at scale, potentially outside strict human supervision. This requirement warrants a stricter attention to issues of reproducibility than other fields of machine learning.
In this work, we conduct a systematic evaluation of over 100 recently published ML4H research papers along several dimensions related to reproducibility. We find that the field of ML4H compares poorly to more established machine learning fields, particularly concerning data and code accessibility. Finally, drawing from success in other fields of science, we propose recommendations to data providers, academic publishers, and the ML4H research community in order to promote reproducible research moving forward.


Since over three decades, computers have been widely used for processing and displaying images. The ability to process visual information from a super resolution image can enhance the information present in the image. The motivation is from a human eye which takes in raw images (noisy, blurred and translated) and constructs a super resolution image. An image with improved resolution is desired in almost all of the applications to enhance qualitative features and is reported to be achieved by Super Resolution Image Reconstruction (SRIR). Some low resolution images of same scene which are usually rotated, translated and blurred are taken to form a super resolution image. The image registration operation orients translated, scaled and rotated images in similar way to that of source image. Lifting Wavelet Transform (LWT) with Daubechies4 coefficients is applied to color components of each image due to its less memory allocation compared to other techniques. Further Set Portioning in Hierarchical Trees (SPIHT) algorithm is applied for image compression as it possess lossless compression, fast encoding/decoding, adaptive nature. The three low resolution images are fused by spatial image fusion method. The noise component is removed by dual tree Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and blur is removed by blind deconvolution or iterative blind deconvolution. Finally, the samples are interpolated to twice the number of original samples to obtain a super resolution image. The structural similarity for each intermediate image compared to source image is estimated via objective analysis and high structural similarity is observed for image constructed by the proposed method.


An evaluation of fluocinolone acetonide applied topically in the treatment of discoid lupus erythematosus is presented. Bilateral comparison of 0.025% fluocinolone acetonide cream to the cream base alone demonstrated the effectiveness of this program. In 59 patients an attempt was made to control this disease with topical fluocinolone acetonide as their only treatment. Forty three patients could be controlled in this fashion. Eleven patients responded partially, but for optimal response required a systemic supplement. Five patients did not show any improvement following topical fluocinolone acetonide applications. Noteworthy, is a group of 37 patients followed through two summer seasons. Twenty-four of these patients could be controlled with topical applications but reapplication the following summer was required. Three patients in this group cleared and remained clear. Six patients followed through two summers required a systemic supplement, while four in this group did not respond to therapy.


This paper reports on the authors' latest parabolic-flight experiments (November 1996) of spray cooling. Water and FC-72 (perfluorocarbon) were employed alternately as a test liquid sprayed from a single full-cone nozzle onto a Cr-plated surface of an electrically heated copper block (transient cooling experiments) or onto a transparent In2O3-coated surface of a glass block (steady state experiments in a relatively low superheat region). Each experimental run was accomplished during some 15 seconds through which a reduced gravity condition (∼0.01 times the terrestrial gravity) or an elevated gravity condition (∼2 times the terrestrial gravity) was maintained in the laboratory used — the cabin of an MU-300 aircraft. Cooling curves over a wide range of wall-superheat were obtained with water sprayed at significantly different volume fluxes and with FC-72 sprayed at rather low volume fluxes. It is demonstrated that the gravity dependency of the spray cooling characteristics varies with the spray volume flux and the impinging droplet velocity. Qualitative interpretations of the observed gravity dependency are provided.


This paper presents a new method for the generation of cross-scale laser interference patterns and the fabrication of moth-eye structures on silicon. In the method, moth-eye structures were produced on a surface of silicon wafer using direct six-beam laser interference lithography to improve the antireflection performance of the material surface. The periodic dot arrays of the moth-eye structures were formed due to the ablation of the irradiance distribution of interference patterns on the wafer surface. The shape, size, and distribution of the moth-eye structures can be adjusted by controlling the wavelength, incidence angles, and exposure doses in a direct six-beam laser interference lithography setup. The theoretical and experimental results have shown that direct six-beam laser interference lithography can provide a way to fabricate cross-scale moth-eye structures for antireflection applications.


Thick (up to 5 mm) Ni electrodeposits were produced by the pulsed electrodeposition (PED) technique. The PED-Ni was investigated in planar and cross-sections using high resolution scanning electron microscopy. Grain size and local texture were studied by electron backscatter diffraction. Thermal stability and grain growth behaviour were investigated using in-situ annealing in the transmission electron microscope. It is observed that columnar grains are present in the material and that the orientation of grains is not uniform. Textures and in-situ annealing behaviour are compared to previous data on nanocrystalline PED-Ni and Ni-Fe, where a subgrain coalescence model adopted from recrystallization is used to describe the occurrence of abnormal grain growth upon annealing and where twinning was found to be responsible for the texture development.


ABSTRACT Effects of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) addition on the electrical conductivity and optical absorbance of poly(methyl methacrylate)/graphene nanoplatelet (PMMA/GNP) composite films were studied. Optical absorbance and two point probe resistivity techniques were used to determine the variations of the optical and electrical properties of the composites, respectively. Absorbance intensity, A, and surface resistivity, Rs, of the composite films were monitored as a function of GNP mass fraction (M) at room temperature. Absorbance intensity values of the composites were increased and surface resistivity values were decreased by increasing the content of GNP in the composite. Electrical and optical percolation thresholds of composite films were determined as Mσ = 27.5 wt.% and Mop = 26.6 wt.%, respectively. The conductivity and the optical results were attributed to the classical and site percolation theories, respectively. Optical (βop) and electrical (βσ) critical exponents were calculated as 0.40 and 1.71, respectively.


No one likes paying taxes, much less the process of filing tax returns. For years, would-be reformers have advocated replacing the return-based mass income tax with a flat tax, federal sales tax, or some combination thereof. Congress itself has commissioned studies on the feasibility of a system of exact withholding. But might the much-maligned return-based taxation method serve an important yet overlooked civic purpose? In Learning to Love Form 1040 , Lawrence Zelenak argues that filing taxes can strengthen fiscal citizenship by prompting taxpayers to reflect on the contract they have with their government and the value—or perceived lack of value—they receive in exchange for their money. Zelenak traces the mass income tax to its origins as a means for raising revenue during World War II. Even then, debates raged over the merits of consumption-based versus income taxation, as well as whether taxes should be withheld from payroll or paid at the time of filing. The result is the income tax system we have today—a system whose maddening complexity, intended to accommodate citizens in widely different circumstances, threatens to outweigh any civic benefits. If sitcoms and political cartoons are any indication, public understanding of the income tax is badly in need of a corrective. Zelenak clears up some of the most common misconceptions and closes with suggestions for how the current system could be substantially simplified to better serve its civic purpose.


Background Studies have shown the effectiveness and user acceptance of mobile health (mHealth) technologies in managing patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, incorporating mHealth technology into the standard care of patients with CKD still faces many challenges. To our knowledge, there are no reviews on mHealth interventions and their assessments concerning the management of patients undergoing dialysis. Objective This study provided a scoping review on existing apps and interventions of mHealth technologies in adult patients undergoing chronic dialysis and identified the gaps in patient outcome assessment of mHealth technologies in the literature. Methods We systematically searched PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases, as well as gray literature sources. Two keywords, "mHealth" and "dialysis," were combined to address the main concepts of the objectives. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) mHealth interventions, which are on a smartphone, tablet, or web-based portals that are accessible through mobile devices; and (2) adult patients (age ≥18 years) on chronic dialysis. Only English papers published from January 2008 to October 2018 were included. Studies with mHealth apps for other chronic conditions, based on e-consultation or videoconferencing, non-English publications, and review papers were excluded. Results Of the 1054 papers identified, 22 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most studies (n=20) were randomized controlled trials and cohort studies. These studies were carried out in 7 countries. The main purposes of these mHealth interventions were as follows: nutrition or dietary self-monitoring (n=7), remote biometric monitoring (n=7), web-based portal (n=4), self-monitoring of in-session dialysis-specific information (n=3), and self-monitoring of lifestyle or behavioral change (n=1). The outcomes of the 22 included studies were organized into five categories: (1) patient satisfaction and acceptance, (2) clinical effectiveness, (3) economic assessment, (4) health-related quality of life, and (5) impact on lifestyle or behavioral change. The mHealth interventions showed neutral to positive results in chronic dialysis patient management, reporting no to significant improvement of dialysis-specific measurements and some components of the overall quality of life assessment. Evaluation of these mHealth interventions consistently demonstrated evidence in patients' satisfaction, high level of user acceptance, and reduced use of health resources and cost savings to health care services. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating safety, organizational, sociocultural, ethical, and legal aspects of mHealth technologies. Furthermore, a comprehensive cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis of adopting mHealth technologies was not found in the literature. Conclusions The gaps identified in this study will inform the creation of health policies and organizational support for mHealth implementation in patients undergoing dialysis. The findings of this review will inform the development of a comprehensive service model that utilizes mHealth technologies for home monitoring and self-management of patients undergoing chronic dialysis.


In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) image registration scheme along with fusion tools is developed and incorporated within a model simulating tumor growth and response to radiotherapy. This biosimulation model attempts to predict and visualize in three dimensions the in vivo tumor behavior. The necessary information for the initialization and the adjustment of the model can be provided from different medical examinations. The present study focuses on the development and evaluation of a technique that enables input information provided from different medical imaging modalities to be efficiently exploited by tumor growth simulation algorithms through the registration and fusion of computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.


Until the building of the Karakorum Highway (1958–78), the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, was extremely isolated, thus preserving distinct cultural traits. The few tourists accessing the area were primarily experienced mountaineers. The highway was established to provide a land link with China, principally as a result of turbulent geo-political rivalry. Once built, however, the road created a connexion to the outside world and allowed for many more visitors to the region. Whilst the road was not built with tourism in mind, it allowed easier access for tourists and necessitated the development of a service sector to provide for those using the road. As a consequence, a once subsistence and self-reliant economy became monetised, and modern consumer goods were introduced to the region. Increased access and mobility has facilitated change in the Gilgit-Baltistan, contributing to a degree of social inclusion not previously possible. Whilst there are multiple drivers of change observed here, tourism has provided an important means by which some of the more profound changes have occurred. Local people have adapted their livelihoods to the new, monetary economy resulting in a decline in traditional agricultural practices. More importantly, however, tourism has enabled the outside world to enter into the consciousness of local people. Visitors have become conduits of change and the world is now viewed via technologies made possible by the spoils of tourism. The road has also allowed for much easier movement of local people out of and back to Gilgit-Baltistan, thereby facilitating increased social inclusion with the wider world.


As a very substantial aspect of vehicle dynamics and vibrational controlling, it is essential to ascertain the role of tyre-obstacle collision kinetics. Ride comfort assessments are pivotal in predicting the non-linear deformation, particularly when traversing large road obstacles. The present study focuses on the assessment of tyres travelling over different obstacles using a well-equipped soil bin facility and a single-wheel tester. The vertically and longitudinally oriented load cells were responsible for measuring the vertical and longitudinal force variations. Additionally, a finite element tyre model was developed specially for this purpose using explicit integration in ABAQUS ™. It was found that with the increase of the resonant amplitude of spindle force response as well as the tyre deformation becomes greater in both longitudinal and vertical directions. It was revealed that the new proposed model can serve as a functional alternative to classical modelling tools for the prediction of nonlinear wheel dynamics.


Advances in robotics have led to the development of autonomous platforms
capable of exploring regions that are inaccessible for humans. These
regions range from extra-terrestrial surfaces, such as Mars and Titan, to the
bottom of our oceans. In addition to robotics there have also been advances
in sensor technologies in areas such as power consumption, size, weight, and
communications. The combination of field robotics with novel sensing capabilities
provides exciting science opportunities. Autonomous measurement
of phenomena present in the environment offers an alternative to expensive,
time-consuming manual measurements.
This thesis investigates the novel use of a miniaturised X-Ray Fluorescence
(XRF) spectrometer sensor system as part of the scientific payload on
an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). This will allow the automated
in situ semi-quantitative analysis of heavy metal contamination present in
marine sediments. Heavy metal contamination of sediments is particularly
important because of its potential impact on associated ecosystems and human
health.
To achieve this capability the XRF system has been integrated with the
AUV using a custom housing that enables the sensor to be operated safely
underwater. A landing behaviour has been developed for the AUV that enables
the vehicle to land on the seabed, without signicantly disturbing the
sediment layer, and to then remain in a stationary position for the duration
of the measurement. Automated data analysis using genetic algorithms
was performed on the XRF data on-board the vehicle. This would enable
the AUV control system to make informed decisions based on the results of
measurements facilitating adaptive sampling strategies.
A total of 21 in situ measurements have been performed in the Derwent
estuary region, located in south-east Tasmania, Australia. The results show
significantly higher relative heavy metal concentrations in areas of industrial
activity. This demonstrates the developed system can perform in situ measurements that can be used to observe spatial variations in heavy metal
contamination. The resulting data from these measurements can guide further
comprehensive environmental monitoring missions by supporting site
selection or assisting with the remediation of contaminated sediments.
The research contribution presented in this thesis has been the development
of the capability to autonomously and intelligently perform in situ
measurements and data analysis of marine sediments using an AUV equipped
with a miniaturised XRF spectrometer. The next stage of this research will
aim to increase the scientific return of measurement missions by the realtime
inclusion of scientific sensor data in decision-making processes to enable
adaptive sampling.


The paper undertakes a study of animal metaphors in the Yoruba language with a view to highlighting the stylistic and communicative potentials of these metaphors.
To achieve the set objective, the animals – domestic and wild – involved in metaphors and their individual distinctive characteristic features that motivate their metaphorical interpretations are highlighted. The paper also discusses the sources of animal metaphors, which are said to be located in three areas, namely: the Yoruba naming culture, animal characteristic habits and behaviour, and the Yoruba poetry.
In discussing the metaphorical processes involved in the interpretation of animal-related metaphors, a two-dimensional approach is adopted: stylistic and cultural. In the first, the semantic features of animals involved in metaphors are decomposed into semantic markers that are of two types. The first is the High Priority Semantic Markers (HPSM), which determine the cognitive/conceptual meaning of the metaphors, and the second is the Low Priority Semantic Markers (LPSM), which determine the secondary metaphorical interpretation. Animal metaphors involve transference of meanings, and whatever meanings or interpretations are assigned to a particular animal metaphor, are culture and context dependent.
The paper concludes with stylistic and communicative functions of animal metaphors, with the submission that stylistically animal metaphors contribute to aesthetics and poetic elegance of literary texts through their lexical tones, which can be stylistically manipulated. They are also being used as a new or additional mode of expression in both literary and routine communication.


In male-to-female trans-sexuals in whom the hormonal treatment has not resulted in sufficient growth of the breasts, augmentation mammaplasty may be considered. Mammaplasty is performed in two-thirds of our patients who have had vaginoplasties. We present our experience of 201 patients operated on at the Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam up to 1997. The patients' mean age was 34 years (range 17-76) and the mean follow-up was four years (range 2 weeks to 16 years). In keeping with our protocol, most patients had had oestrogen therapy and a successful real-life experience for a minimum of 1.5 years. The mean size of implants has nearly doubled over the years. Male-to-female trans-sexuals often request large breasts and repeated augmentation mammaplasties were required, mainly in cases where the result of initial augmentation was not outspoken.


Abstract Purpose: Purinergic receptors play a key role in the function of the lacrimal gland (LG) as P1 purinergic receptors A1, A2A, and A2B, P2X1–7 receptors, and many of the P2Y receptors are expressed. Methods: This review examines the current knowledge of purinergic receptors in the LG as well as the signaling pathways activated by these receptors. Results: These receptors are expressed on the acinar, ductal, and myoepithelial cells. Considerable crosstalk exists between the pathways activated by P2X7 receptors with those activated by M3 muscarinic or α1D adrenergic receptors. The mechanism of the crosstalk between P2X7 and M3 muscarinic receptors differs from that of the crosstalk between P2X7 and α1D adrenergic receptors. Conclusions: Understanding purinergic receptors and how they modulate protein secretion could play a key role in normal and pathological responses of the LG.


Surface and subsurface geologic data have led to the recognition of granitic ring complexes in the 1.5-b.y.-old St. Francois terrane of southeastern Missouri. The distinctive rock association of the ring complexes comprises alkaline silicic rocks with minor quartz monzonite, trachyte, and basalt. Three periods of granite emplacement are recognized: sub-volcanic granite massifs were emplaced below comagmatic rhyolites and ash-flow tuffs, quartz monzonite and associated hypabyssal rocks were intruded along ring fractures in cauldron-subsidence structures, and central plutons were emplaced in resurgent cauldrons. Similar magmatic complexes in the buried Precambrian basement of the Midcontinent indicate a period of widespread anorogenic magmatism that may have been induced by intraplate hot-spot activity. The post-Precambrian geologic record of the region suggests that recurrent, but localized and less intense, hot-spot activity was responsible for emplacements of alkaline ultramafic rocks, for tectonic adjustments, and for increased geothermal gradients that created favorable ore-concentrating environments in the sedimentary rocks.


It is very important to understand interstitial carbon behaviors in cold rolled steel to get the good formability as well as the high strength. In low carbon steel, most of carbons are consumed by the formation of grain boundary cementite during cooling. During heating and holding between Ae1 and Ae3, cementite is dissolved and consequently carbon enriched austenite is formed. By controlled cooling, retained austenite as well as bainite and martensite are formed. In this study, the effect of silicon, intercritical annealing, isothermal bainite transformation on the formation of ferritic bainite, cementite and retained austenite are modeled by nucleation and growth, diffusion and dissolution. In addition, the formation of retained austenite and their carbon contents are modeled and compared with experimental data.


The present study compares concentrations of medicinally important isoflavones in seeds versus seedlings of 20 selected peanut genotypes derived from widely different geographic sources and compares the total isoflavone concentrations in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) with those present in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and kudzu [Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr.]. Results of analyses of 20 different peanut genotypes showed that wide variation occurs in isoflavone concentrations both in peanut seeds and peanut seedlings; that peanut seedlings possess 0.8-fold to 27-fold higher concentrations of isoflavones than peanut seeds; that peanut seeds and seedlings possess little or no genistein; that peanut seeds contain one-half the concentrations of isoflavones as soybean seeds, and soybean seedlings contain four times higher concentrations of isoflavones than peanut seedlings; and that kudzu seeds and seedlings, in contrast, contain significantly higher concentrations of isoflavones than either peanut or soybean seeds and seedlings. In conclusion, because peanut seedlings and sprouts are better sources of isoflavones than peanut seeds, we recommend that the former be grown as a vegetable so as to use them in our diet as a good source of isoflavones. Furthermore, the wide variation in isoflavone concentrations in different peanut genotypes, as shown in this study, could be exploited by plant breeders as an easy and reasonable production strategy.


The paper presents a formal approach to prototyping of products in virtual reality environments. Virtual prototyping of products is considered as a consistent simulation and visualization process mapping the source product model into its target visual representations. The approach enables to interrelate formally the product and visual information models with each other by defining mapping rules, to specify a prototyping scenario as a composition of map instances, and then to explore particular product models in virtual reality environments by interpreting the composed scenario. Having been realized, the proposed approach provides for the strongly formalized method and the common software framework to build virtual prototyping applications. As a result, the applications gain in expressiveness, reusability and reliability, as well as take on additional runtime flexibility. Being oriented on STEP family standards for the computerinterpretable representation and exchange of product data throughout the whole life cycle, both the presented general approach and the developed software framework allow a lot of potential applications for different industry branches. These domain-unified solutions are illustrated by the applications developed for virtual construction and geophysical exploration purposes. The applications enable users to analyze complex multi-disciplinary information in virtual reality environments. The work is supported by RFBR (grant 04-01-00527) and Russian Foundation for Science Support (http://www.sciencesupport.ru).


Philosophers and linguists have suggested that the meaning of a concept can be represented by a rule or function that picks out examples of the concept across all possible worlds. We turn this idea into a computational model of concept learning, and demonstrate that this model helps to account for two aspects of human learning. Our first experiment explores how humans learn relational concepts such as "taller" that are defined with respect to a context set. Our second experiment explores modal inferences, or inferences about whether states of affairs are possible or impossible. Our model accounts for the results of both experiments, and suggests that possible worlds semantics can help to explain how humans learn and use concepts.


One of the latest and, perhaps, the most important roles counseling is facing today, and increasingly will face in the twenty-first century, is that of providing services in the aftermath of various crises and disasters. Providing mental health services to disaster and trauma victims has emerged as a much needed professional endeavor. The role of mental health counselors providing services in the aftermath of disasters and crises is a critical call today and, in all likelihood, will be a role that will be played even more in future. It is imperative for the field of counseling to respond to the need for those experiencing psychological trauma as a result of disasters and crises. Counseling must respond to the increased need for a role of this type in the twenty-first century. Crises and disaster counseling is becoming a subspecialty within the broader field of counseling. Its importance must be verified by university preparatory programs for counseling and accreditation agencies need to respond by including this in their course-work and as a training requirement. The response of mental health counseling as a field of study and individual mental health counselors' response to factors prior to, during and after disasters and crises, to meet the needs of the population at large and the individual person, is one of great importance today and will be increasingly so in the future. Psychotramatology, the study of psychological trauma and the factors before, during and following psychological trauma (Everly, 1993, Everly and Lating, 1995, Mitchell and Everly, 1995), presents one of the greatest challenges to the field of counseling in the twenty-first century. Increasingly, worldwide mental health counselors are being called upon to provide services in the aftermath of disasters and traumatic crises, whether natural or man-made. Naturally occurring disasters include earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, floods, fires and tsunamis. Man-made disasters include riots, war, ethnic cleansing, building/structural collapse, attacks on medical/food sources, chemical attacks/discharge, and space-related exploration. A traumatic stressor is the threat or display of an act that is chaotic and seemingly uncontrollable in nature that persons view as putting themselves or those they love at risk of harm or injury. Thus, not only are the acts, themselves, causing psychological trauma, but the threat that they could occur is causing psychological trauma on a large scale to the many civilians who work in office buildings, ride the subways/buses/trains, attend public events, receive mail, and any other number of events or circumstances in which the average person finds himself on a daily basis. This is causing people across the globe to view themselves as vulnerable. Perhaps, some of the greatest psychological trauma stems from man-created disasters and man's inhumanity to man. The latter is a man-created disaster and points to a tragic event made even more tragic because it may have been preventable, in contrast to an act of God. Across the globe, civilians are exposed to psychological trauma as a result of experiencing the effects of disasters and crises, either firsthand or vicariously through the experiences of friends and family. The number of disasters and crises, together with the numbers of people experiencing them, and exposure through the media, psychological trauma and its rippling circles all create an atmosphere crying out for mental health response. The primary victims are those directly involved. For each of these directly involved victims, there are other indirect victims who also suffer varying degrees of trauma. These include relief workers, loved ones involved in crisis/disaster, others in the immediate or distant community, and even those watching or listening to the media. Recent literature has addressed the role of mental health counseling (Dingman, 1995; Shelby and Tredinnick, 1995; Freedy, Kilpatrick and Resnick, 1993; Rosse, 1993; Dyregrov and Mitchell, 1992; Donoval, 1991; Paton, 1990, Pennebaker and Beall, 1986). …


Objective: This research aims at formulating a method to categorise a given class of objects by obtaining a weighted matrix computed as explained below. Methods/Analysis: The method deployed can be branched into two phases: Training and Testing . In the first phase, a set of images of the concerned objects are taken. By set of images, one can refer to images of different objects, or different positions of the same object. The features are then, extracted for these input images and stored in the database as vectors. Any computation hence forth, is performed using these vectors. In testing stage, the algorithm uses its knowledge to identify the input image to a specified class. Findings: Our method is computationally inexpensive since all the calculations are performed on the basic grounds of matrix operations. This method is not just limited to the domain of object recognition alone. Any real-time entity that can be statistically represented in a vector form can be deployed. All that is required of the application is that the range of vectors is defined so as to obtain the minimum components and maximum components, individually. Once this is obtained, the algorithm will be sufficient to identify any input and will accordingly determine the category to which it belongs. The only challenge identified is that the range of vectors obtained from the input data for various categories must not overlap. That being the case will result in multiple hits or in simpler words, will give an incorrect result. Further work can be implemented on how to make the algorithm independent of this dependency. Also, the algorithm improves the results through various illumination and scaling conditions and this has been discussed in results and analysis section.Even with the existing methods to recognize an object, this algorithm can be combined to categorize or classify objects. Conclusion/Application: The proposed algorithm successfully classifies the input image into one of the trained categories by identifying the features followed by computing these obtained features as prescribed the given algorithm.


BACKGROUND
Models of cognition propose a hierarchical structure for human cognitive processes, in which the sequences of human action are organized into parts or subunits of analysis that can be grouped into progressively more complex, inclusive higher-order functions. This organizational structure from partial to whole may be reflected in the neural representations that underlie human behaviour, and in its genetic underpinnings. The objective of the present study was to explore a putative hierarchical organization of the genetic influences underlying cognitive domains.

METHOD
Thirty four studies of the heritability of cognition on population-based samples were reviewed, which included measures of intelligence, verbal and performance abilities, memory, working memory and processing speed.

RESULTS
Specific cognitive domains showed diverse proportions of genetic underpinnings such that higher-order cognitive functions present high heritability estimates, whereas lower-order functions respond to small/moderate heritability estimates.

CONCLUSIONS
Based on current understanding of the developmental processes of the neurobiological substrates of human cognition, the genetic contributions to cognitive abilities seem to be organized in line with the ontogenic maturation of the brain. We discuss the large genetic control of the combinatory capacity of basic cognitive functions, and its interaction with environmental influences.


This article proposes a path of reasoning capable of showing how history can become personal inasmuch as it produces the experience of anguish. To attain this goal, based on two concrete personal experiences during the current political context of Brazil, it will take the following steps: history becomes personal, first as it helps build one's personality (as asserted in Johann Gustav Droysen's Historik ), by the ability of historical knowledge — produced by research or received by its readers — has to be morphological ; in other words, via its ability to find unity in what, at first glance, seems to be dispersed. Secondly, history can become personal as it produces empathy, considered under Dominick LaCapra's concept of empathic unsettlement . Finally, since LaCapra indicates that Primo Levi's concept of gray zone contains certain possibilities in terms of empathic unsettlement, the final section of this article carries out an exercise about this notion to show that this type of experiences — limited to two specific cases in this study — invite us to think that history becomes personal in as much as it produces anguish, a notion that permeates The Drowned and the Saved (1986) — book that contains Primo Levi's classic chapter on the gray zone.


The most important strategic issue which concerns top managers in the 1990s is quality. Quality is defined as the relative absence of defects and is measured by the degree of customer satisfaction with a products' characteristics and features. American businessmen must find a balance between quick-fix approach of the past and a real level of quality in the manufacturing and service sectors. There is a strong correlation between quality and profitability. The benefits in the marketplace include stronger customer loyalty, repeat purchases, less vulnerability to price wars, lower marketing costs, and share improvements. The authors discuss global competition, quality education, quality in the automobile industry, and management philosophies, in particular, total productive maintenance.


The domain name service (DNS) plays an important role in the operation of the Internet, providing a two-way mapping between domain names and their numerical identifiers. Given its fundamental role, it is not surprising that a wide variety of malicious activities involve the domain name service in one way or another. For example, bots resolve DNS names to locate their command and control servers, and spam mails contain URLs that link to domains that resolve to scam servers. Thus, it seems beneficial to monitor the use of the DNS system for signs that indicate that a certain name is used as part of a malicious operation. In this paper, we introduce EXPOSURE, a system that employs large-scale, passive DNS analysis techniques to detect domains that are involved in malicious activity. We use 15 features that we extract from the DNS traffic that allow us to characterize different properties of DNS names and the ways that they are queried. Our experiments with a large, real-world data set consisting of 100 billion DNS requests, and a real-life deployment for two weeks in an ISP show that our approach is scalable and that we are able to automatically identify unknown malicious domains that are misused in a variety of malicious activity (such as for botnet command and control, spamming, and phishing).


This work was carried out to optimize the conditions for highly effective embryogenic callus induction from mature seeds, plantlet regeneration and genetic transformation of Citrus sinensis L. by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 (pCAMBIA 1305.1). Embryogenic calli could be successfully induced from mature seeds employing the MT medium supplemented with 500 mg/l malt extract. The percentage of embryogenic callus induction was 85. With the same medium, the high proliferation rate of embryogenic callus was achieved. The liquid MT medium containing 500 mg/l malt extract in combination with 50 mg/l lactose could be used as the embryoid development medium. Somatic embryos, however, could be regenerated with normal shoots and roots in the MS medium, with the regeneration percentage of 60. The delivery of an antisense ACC oxidase gene into the species C. sinensis mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 105 was successful by co-cultivating explants with the strain EHA 105 for 10 min, following that by eliminating the bacterium with 200 mg/l cefotaxime, and subsequently selecting transformed embryoid with 20 mg/l hygromycin. Verified histochemically by GUS assay, putative transformants showed the percentage of gus gene expression of 100. Molecular analysis using PCR confirmed the integration of the antisense ACC oxidase gene into plant genome.


Assuming a positive outcome of the parliamentary procedure for laws and, thus, the transformation of the official cadastre for buildings and land into a soil cadastre (urban, extra-urban and cadastre for the conservation of natural or semi-natural soil diversity) would start a new era for pedology. Finally, after many decades of activity to expand soil culture in Italy, almost all Italian families would be in contact with a soil specialist. Land use and redefined plots would be handled with greater care and responsibility. Experts in agricultural and forestry and biodiversity conservation would have a new impetus in their activity. Furthermore, economists will also have to address new issues. The aim of this work was to analyse how to meet the needs of a future Cadastre with respect to soil information both from a descriptive (Cadastral Certificate) and a cartographic point of view and to outline a practical guideline for future technicians who will be in charge of maintaining and updating the soil information system. To this end, we used the area of Caccamo (Sicily) and its soilscape as an example to put this concept into practice. On the one hand, this contribution aims at stimulating the start of a scientific-technical debate and, on the other hand, to give practical indications for the solution of the problem.


The effect of solvent-biopolymer interactions is hardly negligible. Whereas the ideal (non-interacting) polymer consisting of N monomers in an ideal solvent is expected to have the terminal ends of its chain with a root-mean-squared (rms) end-to-end separation distance ( rms ) proportional to the square root of N , real interactions of a rms polymer both with itself and with the solvent often tend to strongly perturb rms . In rms poor solvent, the biopolymer can collapse into a small globule much smaller than the ideal rms due to excluding solvent. In good solvent, the biopolymer can swell to a size much larger than the ideal r due to favoring solvent. These effects require rms corrections to an ideal polymer equation. We have been developing the cross linking entropy (CLE) model in this series. The model attempts find the maximum entropy of a folded polymer by taking into account the correlation caused by bonding and other interactions of the structure. In RNA, this mostly occurs in the stems. Here we adapt CLE model to handle polymer swelling and collapse for RNA molecules both in good and in poor solvent. This work is intended to introduce this type of study and to allow its systematic application in problems of RNA folding and structure prediction. The current study suggests that there may be some tendency for RNA to behave as a polymer in poor solvent and that this collapse may happen in sequences longer than 50 nt.


The 2014-15 peace negotiations in Havana between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla movement are expected to end the long conflict between these two armed actors. The accords reached thus far reiterate a commitment to human rights and development in neglected rural areas, but do not prioritise the dire situation faced by regional medium-sized cities in conflict zones. Millions of victims have sought refuge in these cities and are likely to remain there. This report argues that achieving urban integration, strengthening institutions and increasing productivity in urban settings are fundamental to peace. All cities have suffered in multiple ways from the massive influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Medium-sized cities are growing faster than the largest cities, having received the highest percentage of conflict victims in relation to their pre-existing local populations. Today they are largely unable to integrate IDPs living in their jurisdictions either administratively or economically. New infrastructure, stronger institutions and extended public services are badly needed. Taking two Colombian cities as illustrations, the report examines efforts to improve the well-being of IDPs and other victims, focusing on the urban resources and regional development that will be needed in post-conflict Colombia.


Autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis, HT) still represents an unresolved problem of modern endocrinology, since its etiology and pathogenesis are yet unclear. Cytokines play an important role in the regulation of immune and inflammatory response, therefore, some gene variants encoding them, are considered as potential risk risk factors for autoimmune thyroid diseases. We have genotyped 298 women from the Republic of Tatarstan (RT, control group, 137 persons; HT patients, 161) for the following gene polymorphisms: interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) +3953 C/T (rs 1143634); interleukin 4 (IL-4) -590C/T (rs 2243250), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) -174C/G (rs 1800795), using allele-specific PCR. The results showed a significantly increased frequencies of C allele (P = 0.0003) and CT genotype (P = 0.048, OR = 6.05, 95%CI 2.59-2.97) of +3953 C/T of IL-1β in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, as compared with control group. The latter


Numerical investigation of wave propagation in a cellular solid with closed cells configuration and entrained fluid showed an existence of two types of pressure waves, which have opposite polarization and have different phase and group velocities. This is in agreement with the Biot's theory, unless that the slow pressure wave appears beyond the first resonant frequency of the skeleton members. In order to explain this fact we propose an analytical machro-mechanical model and study dynamical modes contribution.


Scientific and technological advances, changes in the social environment of doctor's activities have caused a lot of changes in medicine during recent years. The perioperative period is emotionally stressful for patients because of their fears about anesthesia. The anesthesist's duty is to guide the patient through this period by managing his fears, establishing the confidence. The patient also has to be aware of the possible risks related to anesthesia. According to the consent process, the patient should be supplied with comprehensive information before the invasive procedures: risks and benefits, all possible alternatives. This enables the patient to make a conscious choice and increases the participation in his own care. Information about postoperative pain treatment would be helpful as the pain relief is influenced by patient's knowledge and beliefs. In this regard, regional anesthesia can provide a safer alternative to general anesthesia and prolonged postoperative analgesia. Continuous infusion, which is the actual clinical standard, allows to adjust the rate of infusion and concentration of drugs according to patient's response and to maintain a constant drug level over time. New techniques of the needle tip guidance under ultrasound imaging reduce the fears about the nerve damage as a smaller volume of local anesthetic can be placed at very precise points of the targeted nerve. Continuing professional education is obligatory for good medical practice and professional standards. It includes the development of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the techniques, communication, teaching, management and clinical responsibilities.


Background This study was situated in Singapore, which aims to achieve engaged learning in P–12 schools with the use of educational technology. One of the foci of study among Singaporean educational researchers on a computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environment that emphasizes collaboration among learners for the co-construction of knowledge. Although there is some evidence that CSCL enhances students' learning, an identified gap in the field of CSCL is documented accounts of how knowledge building happens. Knowledge of how to facilitate sustained and in-depth knowledge-building discourse among teachers has also been identified as a gap in understanding in teacher education. Purpose This case study aims to gain insights into how negotiation and co-construction of knowledge occurs among eachers during their participation in a knowledge-building community. Participants It involves 7 Singaporean teachers who enrolled in an 18-month Advanced Diploma program. Intervention Three consecutive modules were conducted to develop the participants' competencies in and dispositions toward facilitating student-centered learning in a computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environment. The modules engaged the teachers as coc-onstructors of knowledge in a knowledge-building community. Research Design This is a case study in which the first author, as a participant observer, acted as the facilitator for the modules. Data Analysis The main source of data was the teachers' notes in Knowledge Forum, a CSCL environment. The teachers' patterns of online interactions were analyzed through social network analysis and the interaction analysis model (IAM). Findings Our findings indicate that the teachers formed a socially cohesive community and participated rather actively, writing an average of 3.7 notes and 425 words per week. Further analysis of the notes using IAM shows a healthy distribution of notes at various phases of knowledge construction. Conclusion We conclude that the teacher knowledge-building community was successful in engaging the teachers in collaborative knowledge building, leading to a deep understanding among them about learning in a CSCL environment. We suggest the following factors as contributors to this advancement: (1) having a group of committed teachers as participants, (2) engaging the teachers to work on authentic problems faced in schools, (3) empowering the teachers with the agency to solve problems and reflect on their learning, (4) allocating adequate time for teachers to link theories to practice and to reflect on their implementation, and (5) having a facilitator who is experienced in facilitating this form of learning and in using a pedagogical model that is built on appropriate learning theories.


It is demonstrated that the performance of a satellite network can be optimized by changing its facilities. A mesh-connected, circuit-switched satellite communication network is shown to perform better by adaptively reconfiguring the network by using simulated annealing to suit the current traffic conditions. Proper allocation of link capacities and placing an optimal reservation scheme for the network are crucial in this scheme. Routing is performed dynamically. Simulation results confirm these characteristics.<<ETX>>


The construction of The Engineering Materials Diffractometer, TAKUMI of J-PARC has been finished on March 2009, and the commissioning has been started from September 2008 being parallel with the final stage of the construction. In the commissioning, after checking the validity and the stability of the detectors and the data acquisition system, powder diffraction data of an austenitic steel alloy with 10 mm diameter without beam collimation (high intensity mode) was measured, and the resolution Δd/d of 0.4% was confirmed, as designed. Further commissioning was done also with 2 mm diameter of annealed piano wire with combination of beam collimation (high resolution mode), and the resolution Δd/d of less than 0.2% was confirmed to be achieved. TAKUMI adopted an event mode data recording method. It was found that the recording method is very useful to manipulate data as we like, for instance, detector range, time of flight binning width and time resolved data, even the experiment has been finished.


SYNOPSIS: Prior research contends that financial misreporting has a spillover effect on the outcomes of peer firms within the same industry through investment decisions, information risk, and shareholder wealth. We predict and confirm a higher level of audit fees for peer firms when serious misreporting by other firms is announced in the industry. We find this effect is limited to peers that exhibit poor internal control quality. In addition, we observe higher audit fees for peers of industry prominent misreporting firms and for peers of firms announcing restatements with larger negative market reactions. Overall, our results suggest that financial misreporting in the industry has a spillover effect on audit fees of non-misreporting peer firms. Data Availability: All data are from public sources identified in the manuscript.


Stability of Na+, K+-ATPase (EC 220.127.116.11) of the brain microsomal fraction towards thermoinactivation was studied under the effect of surfactants--alkyl sulphates with the C8-C15 chain length of a hydrocarbon radical, desoxycholate, triton X-100, twin-80 and digitonin. It is shown that NaCl treatment of the enzyme before thermoinactivation, and also in the presence of surfactants, increases its resistance to the effect of temperature (octyl and decyl sulphates are an exception, in their presence transport ATPase preincubated with NaCl is completely inactivated). In the presence of most surfactants used in the maximum activating concentrations the activity of Na+, K+-ATPase remained at a considerably high level (80-110% of the initial one) and did not change essentially under NaCl pretreatment of the enzyme. Besides octyl and decyl sulphate, desoxycholate, was also an exception, in the presence of NaCl it inhibited sharply the Na+, K+-ATPase activity. An interrelation is found between the ability of surfactants to decrease the activity of transport ATPase and to solubilize proteins and lipids from the microsomal fraction.