Abstract Advanced genomics and sequencing technologies are increasingly becoming critical for global health applications such as pathogen and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance. Limited resources challenge capacity development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with few countries having genomics facilities and adequately trained staff. Training research and public health experts who are directly involved in the establishment of such facilities offers an effective, but limited, solution to a growing need. Instead, training them to impart their knowledge and skills to others provides a sustainable model for scaling up the much needed capacity and capability for genomic sequencing and analysis locally with global impact. We designed and developed a Train-the-Trainer course integrating pedagogical aspects with genomic and bioinformatics activities. The course was delivered to 18 participants from 12 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A combination of teaching strategies culminating in a group project created a foundation for continued development at home institutions. Upon follow-up after 6 months, at least 40% of trainees had initiated training programs and collaborations to build capacity at local, national, and regional level. This work provides a framework for implementing a training and capacity building program for the application of genomics tools and resources in AMR surveillance.


OBJECTIVES
To assess the clinical effectiveness of positron emission tomography (PET) using 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) in breast, colorectal, head and neck, lung, lymphoma, melanoma, oesophageal and thyroid cancers. Management decisions relating to diagnosis, staging/restaging, recurrence, treatment response and radiotherapy (RT) planning were evaluated separately.

DATA SOURCES
Major electronic databases were searched up to August 2005 and a survey of UK PET facilities was performed in February 2006.

REVIEW METHODS
This assessment augments the systematic search undertaken in a previous review. Studies were limited to those using commercial dedicated PET or PET/computed tomography (CT) devices with FDG, in one of the eight cancers.

RESULTS
The new search identified six systematic reviews and 158 primary studies. An economic model for England showed that in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) FDG-PET was cost-effective in CT node-negative patients, but not in CT node-positive patients. A less robust model also showed that FDG-PET was cost-effective in RT planning for NSCLC. A model for Scotland showed that in late-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), FDG-PET was cost-effective for restaging after induction therapy. For staging/restaging colorectal cancer, FDG-PET changed patient management in a way that can impact on curative therapy. For detection of solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) there was also impact on patient management, but the resulting effect on patient outcomes was unclear. FDG-PET had an impact on patient management across paediatric lymphoma decisions, but further study of individual management decisions is required. For other cancer management decisions, the evidence on patient management is weak. FDG-PET was accurate in detecting distant metastases across several sites, but sensitivity was variable for detection of lymph-node metastases and poor in early stage disease where sentinel lymph-node biopsy would be used and for small lesions. There were 61 studies of treatment response. These were generally small and covered all cancers except melanoma. They showed that FDG-PET imaging could be correlated with response, in some cases, but the impact on patient management was not documented. There were 17 small studies of RT planning in four cancers; here, FDG-PET led to alteration of RT volumes and doses, but the impact on patient outcomes was not studied. FDG-PET improved diagnostic accuracy compared with alternatives in a number of other cancer management decisions, but more comparative evidence is needed. There were 23 studies of PET/CT in six cancers (excluding breast and melanoma). In these FDG-PET/CT generally improved accuracy by 10-15% over PET, resolving some equivocal images. The survey of PET facilities in the UK showed that PET and PET/CT are being used for a variety of cancer indications. PET facilities are not distributed evenly across the UK and use is inconsistent. Various research studies are underway in most centres, but only a few of these are collaborative studies. There is major variation in throughput and cost per scan (635-1300 pounds).

CONCLUSIONS
The strongest evidence for the clinical effectiveness of FDG-PET is in staging NSCLC, restaging HL, staging/restaging colorectal cancer and detection of SPN. Some of these may still require clinical audit to augment the evidence base. Other management decisions require further research to show the impact of FDG-PET on patient management or added value in the diagnostic pathway. It is likely that capital investment will be in the newer PET/CT technology, for which there is less evidence. However, as this technology appears to be slightly more accurate than PET/CT, the PET clinical effectiveness results presented here can be extrapolated to cover PET/CT. PET research could be undertaken on FDG-PET or FDG-PET/CT, using a standard cancer work-up process on typical patients who are seen within the NHS in England. For treatment response and RT planning, the need for larger studies using consistent methods across the UK is highlighted as a priority for all cancers. For all studies, consideration should be given to collaboration across sites nationally and internationally, taking cognisance of the work of the National Cancer Research Institute.


The ability to control and manipulate the state of polarisation of optical signals is becoming an increasingly desirable feature in numerous applications including integrated optical circuits, semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and optical communication systems.
This thesis introduces the design, optimisation, fabrication and operation of two novel integrated reciprocal single-section passive polarisation converter devices based upon mode-beating. The converter designs consist of asymmetric profiled waveguides, which were realised in a single reactive ion dry-etch process step. An in-situ custom built sample holder was utilised to place the samples at a predetermined angle to the incoming ions, which resulted in waveguide profiles with sloped sidewalls. This fabrication technique also allowed the incorporation of adiabatic taper sections within the device design.
The converter section waveguide profile of the first design consists of two sloped sidewalls. Devices realised on a GaAs/AlGaAs material structure achieved a converted transverse magnetic (TM) polarisation purity of 81.4% at a device length of 30 μm for a transverse electric (TE) polarised input signal at an operating wavelength of λ = 1064 nm. The convention used is that TE refers to light polarised in the plane of the wafer and TM refers to light polarised perpendicular to the plane of the wafer. The total optical loss imposed by this device was evaluated to be 1.72 dB. This design was also used for the monolithic integration of a passive polarisation converter incorporated within a Fabry-Perot semiconductor laser diode on an unstrained GaAs/AlGaAs double quantum well heterostructure material system. A predominantly TM polarised optical output from the converter facet of greater than 80% is demonstrated for a converter length of 20 μm at an emitting wavelength of 867.1 nm. The about 1.4 mm long fabricated device has a current threshold level of 100 mA and a side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of 25 dB.
The second converter design is based on the modification of an already existing stripe waveguide structure. The converter section is defined by applying the above mentioned angled dry-etch process on a certain length of the stripe waveguide. The fabricated asymmetric waveguide core profile consists of a sloped undercut. A TM polarisation purity of 90% at a device length of 55 μm for a TE polarised input signal at an operating wavelength of λ = 1064 nm was achieved at the output. The total optical loss imposed by this device was evaluated to be 0.47 dB.


James Joyce's Ulysses is probably the most famous-or notorious-novel published in the twentieth century. Its length and difficulty mean that readers often turn to critical studies to help them in getting the most out of it. But the vast quantity of secondary literature on the book poses problems for readers, who often don't know where to begin. This casebook includes some of the most influential critics to have written on Joyce, such as Hugh Kenner and Fritz Senn, as well as newer voices who have made a considerable impact in recent years. A wide range of critical schools is represented, from textual analysis to historical and psychoanalytic approaches, from feminism to post-colonialism. One essay considers the relation between art and life, nature and culture, in Ulysses, while another explores the implications of the impassioned debates about the proper editing of Joyce's great work. In an iconoclastic discussion of the book, Leo Bersani finds reasons for giving up reading Joyce. All the contributions are characterized by scrupulous attention to Joyce's words and a sense of the powerful challenge his work offers to our ways of thinking about ourselves, our world, and our language. Also included are records of some of the conversations Joyce had with his friend Frank Budgen during the composition of Ulysses in Zurich, and in an appendix readers will find a version of the schema which Joyce drew up as a guide to his book. Derek Attridge provides an introduction that offers advice on reading Ulysses for the first time, an account of the remarkable story of its composition, and an outline of the history of the critical reception that has played such an important part in our understanding and enjoyment of this extraordinary work.


The gyrotron traveling-wave tube (gyro-TWT) is a new type of millimeter amplifier which employs the electron cyclotron maser instability as a basis for the electron-electromagnetic wave interaction. A C-band gyro-TWT, employing the fundarnental cyclotron resonance interaction with the circularly polarized TE/sub 11/ dominant waveguide mode, has been constructed and tested. Initial power measurements yielded an output power of 50 kW at 60-kV beam voltage with 16.6-percent efficiency and 6-percent bandwidth. These measurements were recorded with a flat magnetic field. Subsequent experimental testing yieIded, for a magnetic field increasing in magnitude towards the output portion of the tube, 128-kW and 65-kV beam voltage at 24-percent electronic efficiency. The maximum efficiency was 26 percent at 120.5-kW peak power, with an instantaneous bandwidth of 7.25 percent as measured in a high-beam power mode (65 kV, 7 A). In the low-beam power mode (40 kV, 4 A), the efficiency was 9.8 percent at 18.8-kW peak power at 9.3-percent instantaneous bandwidth. Additional experimental results of AM and PM modulation coefficients, spectral purity, phase Iinearity, and noise figure are presented.


In regions experiencing multiple phases of extension, rift‐related strain can vary along and across the basin during and between each phase, and the location of maximum extension can differ between the rift phase. Despite having a general understanding of multiphase rift kinematics, it remains unclear why the rift axis migrates between extension episodes. The role pre‐existing structures play in influencing fault and basin geometries during later rifting events is also poorly understood. We study the Stord Basin, northern North Sea, a location characterised by strain migration between two rift episodes. To reveal and quantify the rift kinematics, we interpreted a dense grid of 2D seismic reflection profiles, produced time‐structure and isochore (thickness) maps, collected quantitative fault kinematic data and calculated the amount of extension (β‐factor). Our results show that the locations of basin‐bounding fault systems were controlled by pre‐existing crustal‐scale shear zones. Within the basin, Permo‐Triassic Rift Phase 1 (RP1) faults mainly developed orthogonal to the E‐W extension direction. Rift faults control the locus of syn‐RP1 deposition, whilst during the inter‐rift stage, areas of clastic wedge progradation are more important in controlling sediment thickness trends. The calculated amount of RP1 extension (β‐factor) for the Stord Basin is up to β = 1.55 (±10%, 55% extension). During the subsequent Middle Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous Rift Phase 2 (RP2), however, strain localised to the west along the present axis of the South Viking Graben, with the Stord Basin being almost completely abandoned. Rift axis migration during RP2 is interpreted to be related to changes in lithospheric strength profile, possibly related to the ultraslow extension (<1 mm/year during RP1), the long period of tectonic quiescence (ca. 50 myr) between RP1 and RP2 and possible underplating. Our results highlight the very heterogeneous nature of temporal and lateral strain migration during and between extension phases within a single rift basin.


The optimization of the water volume used to apply pesticides with airblast sprayers is key to reducing water footprint, costs, operational time and drift of pesticides. This study evaluated a new tool (CitrusVol) that adjusts the spray volume to the characteristics of the vegetation and the pesticide used to control the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae in clementine trees. This mite is one of the main citrus pests because it damages fruit before harvest. For this aim, a total of 20 applications against T. urticae were evaluated during two consecutive years in seven commercial orchards. In these orchards, we evaluated: (i) the distribution of the spray in tree canopies, (ii) pest density before and after the treatment, and (iii) fruit damage at harvest when conventional volumes and volumes adjusted with CitrusVol were applied. On average, CitrusVol reduced 36% the water volume used to control T. urticae in the 20 applications. This reduction in the spray volume involved a decrease in the coverage in some parts of the canopy. However, T. urticae density and fruit damage at harvest were similar in trees treated with the adjusted volume calculated with CitrusVol and the volume used by the owners of the orchard. Therefore, the spray volume recommended by CitrusVol is adequate to control T. urticae in clementines.


Abstract 60P2O5-40Fe2O3 glass was synthesized and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy study was presented. The main goal of the research was to investigate structural changes of local environment of iron ions during gradual crystallization of the glass. It was observed that some changes were evidenced at temperature of heat treatment higher than 400°C, above which content of tetrahedrally coordinated Fe3+ was increased in cost of octahedral sites. This led to formation of areas of nucleation of α-FePO4. Crystallization of α-Fe3(P2O7)2 and Fe2P2O7 was also observed.


Recently a new technique based on capacitive sensing has been developed and used to estimate the amount of moisture in polymers by means of the deviation of the dielectric constant. This technique is expected to be used for in-line monitoring of aggregate polymers. Despite its interest for industry, only a few papers have been published on modeling these systems in which the material has a granularity in the mm range. In this paper the problem of variability of the dielectric constant extracted in aggregate polymers was addressed. It was demonstrated that, while keeping the same average density of the material, the orientation of the elementary rod may be critical. In particular, assuming that rods can have two orientations, below a given population, the variance of the dielectric constant induced by random arrangement of rods could exceed the change in the dielectric constant arising from the content of water. In addition, guidelines were proposed to estimate the confidence interval for these CV-based humidity sensors.


Given the tolerance of the right heart circulation to mild regurgitation and gradient, we study the potential of using motionless devices to regulate the pulmonary circulation. In addition, we document the flow performance of two mechanical valves. A motionless diode, a nozzle, a mechanical bileaflet valve, and a tilting disk valve were tested in a pulmonary mock circulatory system over the normal human range of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). For the mechanical valves, regurgitant fractions (RFs) and transvalvular pressure gradients were found to be weak functions of PVR. On the low end of normal PVR, the bileaflet and tilting disk valves fluttered and would not fully close. Despite this anomaly, the regurgitant fraction of either valve did not change significantly. The values for RF and transvalvular gradient measured varied from 4 to 7% and 4 to 7 mm Hg, respectively, at 5 lpm for all tests. The diode valve was able to regulate flow with mild regurgitant fraction and trivial gradient but with values higher than either mechanical valve tested. Regurgitant fraction ranged from 2 to 17% in tests extending from PVR values of 1 to 4.5 mm Hg/lpm at 5 lpm and with concomitant increases in gradient up to 17 mm Hg. The regurgitant fraction for the nozzle increased from 2 to 23% over the range of PVR with gradients increasing to 18 mm Hg. The significant findings were: (1) the mechanical valves controlled regurgitation at normal physiological cardiac output and PVR even though they failed to close at some normal values of PVR and showed leaflet flutter; and (2) it may be possible to regulate the pulmonary circulation to tolerable levels using a motionless pulmonary valve device.


Considering the characteristics of spatial straightness error, this paper puts forward a kind of evaluation method of spatial straightness error using Geometric Approximation Searching Algorithm (GASA). According to the minimum condition principle of form error evaluation, the mathematic model and optimization objective of the GASA are given. The algorithm avoids the optimization and linearization, and can be fulfilled in three steps. First construct two parallel quadrates based on the preset two reference points of the spatial line respectively; second construct centerlines by connecting one quadrate each vertices to another quadrate each vertices; after that, calculate the distances between measured points and the constructed centerlines. The minimum zone straightness error is obtained by repeating comparing and reconstructing quadrates. The principle and steps of the algorithm to evaluate spatial straightness error is described in detail, and the mathematical formula and program flowchart are given also. Results show that this algorithm can evaluate spatial straightness error more effectively and exactly.


The use of behavioural models and electrophysiology are two commonly used approaches for studying the effects of the substance serotonin and serotonin-like drugs on the central nervous system. The behavioural tests were developed following the discovery that pharmacological manipulations resulted in an increase in serotonin concentration in the central nervous system and led to the production of a definable behavioural syndrome. However, this is a gross measure of central serotoninergic interactions in the brain since it does not provide any information on the precise location of the cerebral regions involved. The measurement of electrical activity has proved a powerful tool for directly measuring the functional activity of neurones and their responses to the micro-iontophoretic application of serotonin or serotonin- mimetic drugs. This technique is limited, in a practical sense, by the number of cells which can be measured in any one area of the brain and as an inevitable consequence of the use of anaesthesia in these preparations. In recent years, a more direct measurement of regional cerebral function in the conscious rat has been developed. As glucose is the sole energy substrate for the brain under non-pathological conditions, its measurement is a direct index of cerebral function. The method in question uses 14C-2 deoxyglucose to measure local cerebral glucose utilisation by quantitative autoradiography. It provides, due to the unique properties of 2 deoxyglucose, a measure of the integrated response of the central nervous system to pharmacological manipulation. The results of this thesis are presented in four parts. In the first, (Chapter III), serotonin, when administered, into the carotid artery of halothane anaesthetised rats was found to have no effect on glucose utilisation unless the animal was first treated with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, clorgyline. When these substances were combined, a number of regions were found to have decreased rates of glucose use, particularly in the cortex. The problem associated with this model will be discussed, particularly in relation to the depressive actions of halothane anaesthesia. The second part (Chapters IV and V) of this thesis deals with the actions of two structurally-differing sets of putative serotonin agonists on the local cerebral glucose utilisation, behaviour and cardiovasculature of conscious rats. Lysergic acid diethylamide and 5 methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine both contain indeleamine portions to their structures; as does serotonin itself. Quipazine and chloropiperazinylpyrazine contain piperazine moeities which make them structurally similar to tricyclic antidepressants. In the majority of brain areas studied, these two sets of putative serotonin agonists produced a depression in glucose use; and therefore functions. However, in a select number of structures in the anterior thalamus and in some extrapyramidal areas, the piperazine-containing compounds were capable of producing significant increases in glucose use. A pattern quite different from that produced by the indoleamine containing substances. The third section (Chapter VI) deals with the use of substances which have been suggested as serotonin antagonists in the central nervous system., These compounds, metergoline, methysergide and cyproheptadine, have all been shown to be potent antagonists at serotonin receptors in the periphery. In the present experiments they were found to produce decreases in local cerebral glucose utilisation at relatively high doses. These results have implications with regard to the "classical" concept of receptor antagonists . In the final section of results, (Chapters VII and VIII) data are provided on the actions of the four putative serotonin agonists following the pretreatment of metergoline and methysergide. The consequence of this combination of treatment was that some but not all agonist effects were inhibited. On the contrary, in certain cerebral areas the functional response to the serotonin agonist was either unaffected or potentiated by the pretreatment of metergoline or methysergide. Thus, the combination of "agonist" and "antagonist" produced a pattern of response which was very different from that produced by either set of compounds alone. In the subsequent discussion a synthesis of this information is attempted in the light of previous in vivo and in vitro information.


The serine/threonine kinase Mirk/dyrk1B is activated in several solid tumors where it mediates cell survival, but the mechanism by which Mirk is activated in tumors is unknown. We now demonstrate that Mirk is activated as a kinase by signaling from Rac1 to the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase MKK3. Rac is a Ras superfamily GTPase that, when activated, functions downstream of Ras oncoproteins to promote cell survival, transformation, and membrane ruffling. The constitutively active mutant Rac1QL activated Mirk in several cell types through MKK3, which in turn activated Mirk by phosphorylation. Dominant negative Rac1, dominant negative MKK3, and knockdown of MKK3 by RNA interference inhibited the kinase activity of co-expressed Mirk. E-cadherin ligation in confluent Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells is known to transiently activate Rac1. Mirk was activated by endogenous Rac1 following E-cadherin ligation in confluent MDCK epithelial cells, whereas treatment of confluent MDCK cells with an Rac1 inhibitor decreased Mirk activity. Disruption of cadherin ligation by EGTA or prevention of cadherin ligation by maintenance of cells at subconfluent density blocked activation of Mirk. Engagement of cadherin molecules on subconfluent cells by an E-cadherin/Fc chimeric molecule transiently activated both Rac1 and Mirk with a similar time course. Rac activity is up-regulated in many human tumors and mediates survival signals, which enable tumor cells to evade apoptosis. This study characterizes a new anti-apoptotic signaling pathway that connects Rac1 with a novel downstream effector, Mirk kinase, which has recently been demonstrated to mediate survival in human tumors.


Caffeine an adenosine like molecule has attracted interest of many researchers. More than eighty percent of world population consumes caffeinated products. The exponential growth of caffeine is due to its medicinal uses, its availability food products as beverages and other OTC products. More and more sports persons are using it as stimulant and energy booster. Caffeine is reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties and anti-oxidant activity. Many of the over the counter pain killers has caffeine as one of its active ingredient. It has also widely been reported and used for improving cognitive functions and memory. It has been reported that moderate caffeine consumption, i.e., 400 mg/day by a healthy adult is usually safe and does not have any side effects. It is most widely and frequently consumed pharmacologically active compound with variety of medicinal uses. Keeping its clinical significance in view, we review various medicinal uses of caffeine and scientific rationale behind those uses. Keywords: Caffeine, medicinal uses, neuromodulator, psychostimulant, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant Cite this Article Sarika Tyagi, Vivek, Rajesh Sehgal. A Review to Explore Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Potential of Caffeine Molecule. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmaceutical Science . 2020; 11(2): 1–8p.


Increased growth rate and carcass lean meat yield % are key profit drivers for the lamb industry, however redistributing lean tissue to more highly priced parts of the carcase will also increase its value. Faster growing lambs are known to be leaner and less mature at slaughter. Therefore we hypothesised that selection for growth using the Australian Sheep Breeding Value (ASBV) for greater post weaning weight (PWWT) would increase whole carcase lean weight, when animals are compared at the same carcase weight. Lamb carcases (n=1,218) from the Sheep CRC Information Nucleus were scanned in sections (fore, saddle, and hind) using Computed Tomography (CT) to determine fat lean and bone weights. Data was analysed using the log-linearised allometric equation logy = log a + b.logx. Fixed effects were site-year, sex sire type, birth-type rear-type and kill group within site-year, with random terms sire and dam by year. For the same carcass weight PWWT caused no composition differences, except in female lambs which had 3.3% more carcase lean (P<0.01) across the 25 unis PWWT range. Alternatively for the same fat, lean or bone weight these tissues were all proportionately heavier in the saddle region of the high PWWT lambs by 3%, 7%, and 16% across the PWWT range. Aligning with our hypothesis, PWWT was associated with increased total carcase lean, although only in females. Unexpectedly, PWWT caused a redistribution of carcass tissues to the saddle region, particularly for bone and lean, implying an altered conformation in these high growth lambs. Conflicting with the premise of our hypothesis, these effects appear to be independent of maturity as there was no whole body increase in bone weight. Furthermore loin muscle myoglobin concentration in the high PWWT lambs was increased (by 0.03±0.018 mg/g tissue) rather than decreased as would be expected in a less mature animal, In conclusion, PWWT redistributes carcase weight to the saddle region of lambs.


We construct a DGP-inspired braneworld model where induced gravity on the brane is modified in the spirit of $f(R)$ gravity and stringy effects are taken into account by incorporation of the Gauss-Bonnet term in the bulk action. We explore cosmological dynamics of this model and we show that this scenario is a successful alternative for dark energy proposal. Interestingly, it realizes the phantom-like behavior without introduction of any phantom field on the brane and the effective equation of state parameter crosses the cosmological constant line naturally in the same way as observational data suggest.


Purpose Young men who have sex with men (MSM) are at an increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Recent research has documented the importance of understanding the multidimensional nature of sexual risk behavior; however, little is known about how multidimensional patterns of sexual behavior among MSM may be associated with STIs. Method This study applies latent class analysis to data from a large, HIV− sample of 18- to 25-year-old MSM recruited from social and sexual networking Web sites (N = 5965; 76% white, 11% Latino, 5% black, 4% Asian, 4% other; 74% homosexual, 21% bisexual, 1% heterosexual, 3%, unsure/questioning 1% other) to uncover multidimensional patterns of past-year sexual behaviors, partner factors, and protective behavior and their associations with self-reported STI diagnosis. Results We selected a model with 8 classes, with nearly half of participants belonging to a class marked by multiple behaviors with more than 1 partner, and smaller numbers of individuals in classes with a smaller number of behaviors, romantic relationships, and sexual inactivity. Class membership was associated with recent STI diagnosis, with classes marked by no penetrative sex or receptive anal sex with consistent condom use having lower prevalence than those with inconsistent condom use, including those engaging in only insertive anal sex. Conclusions Findings suggest heterogeneity of behaviors within MSM and that prevention messages may be more effective if they are tailored to individuals' patterns of sexual behavior, as well as demographic and sociocontextual factors.


After a decade of promotion and education, legislation for mandatory helmet wearing by bicyclists in Victoria was introduced on 1 July 1990. The legislation was a world first. Comparison of 1710 bicyclist casualties wearing and not wearing helmets has demonstrated that wearing helmets certified to the Australian Standard reduces the head injury risk by at least 39% and lessens head injury severity. Simulated impact testing of helmets has shown that they provide protection in most impacts including collisions involving a motor vehicle. Legislation for mandatory helmet wearing in Victoria has led to increased wearing rates and marked reductions in bicyclist fatalities and head injuries. The Victorian experience gives substantial support to the introduction of legislation for mandatory helmet wearing by bicyclists.


Proceedings of the 3rd Building Enclosure Science & Technology (BEST3) Conference, Atlanta, USA, April 2-4, 2012. The thermal performance of two innovative pre-fabricated wood-frame wall systems was evaluated in comparison with a conventional 2x6 wood frame wall through one year's field monitoring on BCIT's Building Envelope Test Facility. Prefabricated wall system I has 4" Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) infill in the stud cavity with 1" additional EPS added on the interior side of 2x4 wood stud. Prefabricated wall system II has 4" EPS infill in the stud cavity only. The conventional 2x6 wood frame wall has 5-1/2" fiberglass insulation infill in the stud cavity. The effective thermal efficiency of these test walls is evaluated in terms of heat flux, effective in-situ R-values, and temperature distribution. The heat flux measurements show that, in comparison with the conventional 2x6 wood frame wall, prefabricated wall system I with 4" EPS infill in the stud cavity has 5.1% less heat loss and 16% less heat gain and the prefabricated wall system II with 1" extra EPS has 22.9% less heat loss and 37.5% less heat gain. The improvement of thermal efficiency in the prefabricated wall systems is mainly attributed to the significant improvement over the stud areas. Estimated effective R-values over the winter months from December 2008 to March 2009 show that the R-value over the stud area in prefabricated wall system I is improved by 32.7% while the R-value over the cavity area is reduced by 8.7%, resulting in a net improvement of effective wall R-value by 2.9%; and the R-value over the stud area in prefabricated wall system II is improved by 112.3% with only a 2.6% improvement in the R-value over the cavity area, resulting in a net improvement of effective wall R-value by 26.5%. Temperature measurements show that the interior surface temperatures over the stud area in the conventional wall fluctuate much more and are higher during the summer months and lower during the winter months compared to the prefabricated systems, due to the thermal bridging effect of the stud.


Starting from the coupled-wave equations, we have derived an alternative set of rate equations which are valid for most single-section distributed feedback (DFB) lasers. These rate equations are in many respects more useful than the conventional rate equations and have also been used to derive the influence of spatial hole burning on characteristics such as the chirp, the linewidth, or the harmonic distortion. Numerical results are presented for a DFB laser with both facets cleaved, AR-coated, and for a /spl lambda//4-shifted DFB laser.


Flutter frequency was determined and rotor vibratory amplitude and phase distributions during flutter were reconstructed from station-0 ary aerodynamic type measurements. A previously reported optical method for measuring blade-tip displacement during flutter was ex-tended by means of digital analysis. Displacement amplitudes and phase-' angles were determined based on this method. For selected blades, spectral results were also obtained from strain gage measurements. The results from these three types of measurement were compared and critically evaluated,


Mitigation of anthropogenic CO2 emissions possess a major global challenge for modern societies. Herein, catalytic solutions are meant to play a key role. Among the different catalysts for CO2 conversion, Cu supported molybdenum carbide is receiving increasing attention. Hence, in the present communication, we show the activity, selectivity and stability of fresh-prepared β-Mo2C catalysts and compare the results with those of Cu/Mo2C, Cs/Mo2C and Cu/Cs/Mo2C in CO2 hydrogenation reactions. The results show that all the catalysts were active, and the main reaction product was methanol. Copper, cesium and molybdenum interaction is observed, and cesium promoted the formation of metallic Mo on the fresh catalyst. The incorporation of copper is positive and improves the activity and selectivity to methanol. Additionally, the addition of cesium favored the formation of Mo0 phase, which for the catalysts Cs/Mo2C seemed to be detrimental for the conversion and selectivity. Moreover, the catalysts promoted by copper and/or cesium underwent redox surface transformations during the reaction, these were more obvious for cesium doped catalysts, which diminished their catalytic performance.


A perturbation solution is developed to study diffracted longitudinal membrane waves originating from the junction of two curved plates which are joined so that their tangent is continuous. It is shown that the diffracted longitudinal wave field in the plates is dependent upon or forced by a background solution which characterizes the acoustic interaction between two joined, flat plates and the surrounding fluid. Two forms of background wave fields are used: (1) a simple solution based on the acoustic diffraction from two massive plates, and (2) the solution of acoustic diffraction from two flat plates governed by the classical theory of flexure. Explicit expressions are shown for the longitudinal diffraction coefficients, associated with this fluid/structure interaction. The reciprocal problem of an incoming longitudinal wave to the joint is discussed. Numerical results of the diffraction coefficient will be shown. [Work supported by ONR.]


This article presents the findings of field research in Ghana in 2002 about internal displacement stemming from multiethnic violence in northern Ghana in 1994, known as the "Guinea Fowl War." Indigenous, gender-specific knowledge from displaced Ghanaian women is presented in the context of feminist perspectives on the consequences of regional wars on non-combatants. The research generated indigenous material for social work education about interethnic peace building and conflict resolution. The discussion includes first-person responses about warning signs, origins of conflict, immediate and long-term responses, social consequences, and an integration of findings with feminist perspectives on conflict resolution and policies that are designed to aid internally displaced women.


It is frequently mentioned that during economic crisis one of the key elements of strengthening SMEs is permanent renewal and capability of innovation. However, only some businesses are able to carry out classical product/service innovation (Schumpeter). We are of the opinion that observing the best practice, adoption and/or adaption – the imitation – should be given a higher function in everyday business life. From the point of view of business development, imitation can be more important than innovation. To find ideas worth imitating it is necessary to react and start to produce rapidly, at the right time and bring to the market the essentials of imitation. The aim of the paper is to give a theoretical overview of the interpretations of innovation and imitation. Sectoral features and regional differences determine the scope of development and renewal for existing enterprises. At the same time the knowledge of entrepreneurs regarding innovation is insufficient, thus a new paradigm is needed.


Small ruminants like sheep and goats are important for a larger part of the Indonesian rural population. The major breeds of goats found in Indonesia are the Kacang and Etawah goats. The biological and economic function of goats have long been recognised. Besides producing animal products, they also provide manure to maintain soil fertility. Goats are kept as an important component of farming activities, particularly by smallholders. The existing goat husbandry is normally the result of hundreds of years of tradition. Different systems of goat production have evolved in response to factors such as climate, need of the owner, economic environment, and level of technology available. The general aim in the management of goat production units is to increase the productivity. The biological productivity of goats is determined by the fundamental processes of reproduction, growth and development and death. Key production traits which should be considered for improving goats' productivity are adaptability and productivity conditions, reproductive rate, growth rate and carcass value. The objectives of this paper are to review the role and breeds of goats, current management systems and productivity for goats with particular reference to Indonesia, and to discuss the development strategies that may have specific applications in the Indonesian situation.


Molecular approaches have contributed to a drastic reconsideration of organisms' systematics and evolution especially in some groups of bivalves where high levels of phenotypic plasticity have hampered morphology-based assessments. However, these insights have rarely been integrated into taxonomy and classification due to the challenge of taxon description based on DNA data alone. In this study we used, for the first time, an approach based on ITS2 rRNA sequence-structure for the diagnosis and description of new oyster taxa identified based on multi-locus phylogenetic analyses including new molecular data for Striostrea Vialov, 1936. Phylogenetic analyses and diagnostic ITS2 sequence-structure characters supported Ostreidae Rafinesque, 1815 with four subfamilies: Crassostreinae Scarlato & Starobogatov, 1979 (including Crassostrea Sacco, 1897, Talonostrea Li & Qi, 1994, and Magallana gen. nov.), Saccostreinae subfam. nov. (including Saccostrea Dollfus & Dautzenberg, 1920), Striostreinae Harry, 1985 (including Striostrea) and Ostreinae Rafinesque, 1815 (including the remaining genera). We provide a formal description of the subfamily Saccostreinae subfam. nov. and the genus Magallana gen. nov., a diagnosis for the subfamily Striostreinae, and suggest the reclassification of Striostrea circumpicta (Pilsbry, 1904) and Crassostrea zhanjiangensis Wu, Xiao & Yu, 2013 as Ostrea circumpicta and Talonostrea zhanjiangensis comb. nov., respectively. This study demonstrates the suitability of ITS2 sequence-structure characters for taxonomic diagnosis and description. The advantages of such an approach in the context of DNA taxonomy of cryptic taxa are discussed.


Vimentin-containing cells (VCCs) are potential neural precursor cells in central nervous systems, Thus, we studied the alteration of VCCs proliferation, differentiation and migration in the cerebrum during different stages of Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice. It aims to search potential ways regulating the proliferation, differentiation and migration of endogenous VCCs, to enhance their neural repair function and to cure or prevent from the development of ALS. We observed and analyzed the proliferation, differentiation and migration of VCCs in different anatomic regions and cell types of cerebrum at different stages including the pre-onset (60-70 days), onset (90-100 days) and progression (120-130 days) of wild-type (WT) and Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice using the fluorescent immunohistochemical technology. Results showed that VCCs in the cerebrum were mostly distributed in the ventricular system, periventricular structures, the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex in WT mice. VCCs significantly reduced in the motor cortex and the cingulate cortex in Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice. All vimentin expressed in the extranuclear and almost all VCCs were astrocytes in WT mice and Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice. There were no significant difference in the number of Brdu and nestin positive cells in left and right brains of WT mice and Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice in the period of 60-130 days. Our data suggested that there existed extensively NPCs in the cerebrum of adult mice. In ALS-like Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice, VCCs in the motor cortex, the olfactory cortex and the cingulate cortex showed that no any proliferation and redistribution in neural cells of VCCs in the cerebrum occurred in all stages of ALS, might migrate to damaged regions.


Long-run stochastic stability is a precondition for applying steady-state simulation output analysis methods to a discrete-event stochastic system, and is of interest in its own right. We focus on systems whose underlying stochastic process can be represented as a Generalized Semi-Markov Process (GSMP); a wide variety of stochastic systems fall within this framework. A fundamental stability requirement for an irreducible GSMP is that the states be "recurrent" in that the GSMP visits each state infinitely often with probability 1. We study recurrence properties of irreducible GSMPs with finite state space. Our focus is on the "clocks" that govern the occurrence of events, and we consider GSMPs in which zero, one, or at least two simultaneously active events can have clock-setting distributions that are "heavy tailed" in the sense that they have infinite mean. We establish positive recurrence, null recurrence, and, perhaps surprisingly, possible transience of states for these respective regimes. The transience result stands in strong contrast to Markovian or semi-Markovian GSMPs, where irreducibility and finiteness of the state space guarantee positive recurrence.


Climate change will cause major physical, ecological, economic, social, and geopolitical adjustments. Arctic melting is providing new opportunities, not only to the five littoral states, but also to other major powers. However, Russia stands to gain most. Not only can it claim a major part of the Arctic, thus acquiring additional sovereign rights for the purpose of exploiting natural resources, but for the first time it will have unhindered access to the open seas and be in the position of controlling important sea routes. If exploitation of the Arctic and the use of new sea-lanes can be developed in a controlled manner, the Arctic need not become a region of confrontation. However, a long-term risk continues to exist of Arctic melting provoking a race for the North Pole area.


: Pathogenetic role of the neuroautoimmune reactions in dynamics of the experimental neurosis development has been investigated. Application of the dynamic approach in estimation of the pathological process has permitted analyzing changes in the immunological indices in dynamics of the experimental neurosis development. The results obtained testify to that maximum content of autoantibodies to the nervous tissue, circulating immune complexes and changes in the reaction of neutrophilic injury are observed in the beginning of the experimental neurosis development.


This paper describes a large collection of Quaternary fossil fauna from the Luangwa Rift Valley, Zambia. Stone Age artefacts have been recovered from stratified fluvial contexts, but no in situ fossil faunas have yet been recovered. We report on 500 fossil specimens collected from the surface of point bars exposed seasonally along the banks of the main Luangwa River channel. We used non‐destructive X‐ray fluorescence analysis of the fossils' chemical signatures to determine whether they derive from one or many primary contexts, and the relationship between chemical signature and state of preservation. Specimens are identified to taxon (genus) to reconstruct palaeoenvironments and biochronology. A relatively wide range of taxa is identified, including a fossil hominin talus, described here. None of the fossils is positively attributable to extinct species, except a femur of an extinct Theropithecus reported in 2003. Although no additional extinct taxa were identified, some of the remains were attributable to genera that are not currently found in this region. The results suggest that most of the assemblage derives from sediments which are Middle Pleistocene or later, and that past environments in the Luangwa Valley may have differed from the habitat availability found today.


Guanidinium chloride (4 M) containing proteinase inhibitors was used to extract proteins from porcine calvariae and long bones. The extracted proteins were separated on polyacrylamide slab gels and transferred electrophoretically to nitrocellulose strips. Proteins with cell-adhesion properties were identified by incubating the strips with cells and staining with Amido Black. In addition to binding to fibronectin, both bone cells and fibroblast-like cells adhered to proteins of Mr approximately 30 000 and approximately 14 000-17 000. 4 M-Guanidinium chloride extracts of porcine skin and gingiva yielded cell-binding proteins with similar Mr values. These data suggest that these low-Mr proteins may have a general cell-adhesion function in both soft and mineralized connective tissues.


Background Anecdotally emergency ambulance crews say they frequently encounter older people with dementia (OPWD) and it can be difficult to take history, assess pain and access suitable alternatives to the emergency department especially out of hours. With the current policy landscape of the NHS England Emergency & Urgent Care Review and the high profile of dementia care it is pertinent to ask what role emergency medical services (EMS) have in the urgent and emergency care of OPWD. Methods Aware that the research literature in this area was likely to be sparse we used systematic and iterative search techniques to identify relevant studies and documents. All databases available via NHS Evidence were searched and grey literature was included. Articles which made any reference to the pre-hospital role of EMS ambulance services/personnel in the urgent or emergency care of OPWD were included. Discharge roles were excluded. Results Nineteen relevant documents were included for review and synthesis, over half from the grey literature. Eight were specifically about EMS treating OPWD, six of those from the grey literature. The other documents, though mentioning the role, were not researching or evaluating that role. We identified three roles described in the literature; emergency transport, assess and manage, and a last resort/safety net role. This final role is alluded to in over one third of the documents but is not investigated. Conclusions and recommendations This review highlights a gap in our understanding and in the research literature about the role EMS play in the care of OPWD, particularly around the last resort/safety net role. We hope it will encourage researchers from EMS and dementia care disciplines to come together, particularly to look at: ▸ Better understanding the last resort/safety net role. ▸ Evaluating AND reporting in the research literature initiatives that are happening in EMS around caring for OPWD.


Autonomous physical science is revolutionizing materials science. In these systems, machine learning (ML) controls experiment design, execution and analysis in a closed loop. Active learning, the ML field of optimal experiment design, selects each subsequent experiment to maximize knowledge toward the user goal. Autonomous system performance can be further improved with the implementation of scientific ML, also known as inductive bias-engineered artificial intelligence, which folds prior knowledge of physical laws (e.g. Gibbs phase rule) into the algorithm. As the number, diversity and uses for active learning strategies grow, there is an associated growing necessity for real-world reference datasets to benchmark strategies. We present a reference dataset and demonstrate its use to benchmark active learning strategies in the form of various acquisition functions. Active learning strategies are used to rapidly identify materials with optimal physical properties within a compositional phase diagram mapping a ternary materials system. The data are from an actual Fe-Co-Ni thinfilm library and include previously acquired experimental data for materials compositions, X-ray diffraction patterns and two functional properties of magnetic coercivity and the Kerr rotation. Popular active learning methods along with a recent scientific active learning method are benchmarked for their materials optimization performance. Among the acquisition functions benchmarked, Expected Improvement demonstrated the best overall performance. We discuss the relationship between algorithm performance, materials search space complexity and the incorporation of prior knowledge, and we encourage benchmarking more and novel active learning schemes.


Objectives Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and degenerative disease of the brain that severely damages the thinking and memory functions of human beings. This disease is the most common form of dementia, which comprises a set of signs and symptoms such as loss of memory, judgment, and reasoning that subsequently changes the attitude, behavior, and communication ability. Taking care of people with Alzheimer's disease can become very stressful for their families. Group cognitivebehavioral therapy has played an important role in teaching how to use compatible coping strategies. Thus, this research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of group cognitive-behavioral therapy on strategies for coping with stress of family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods & Materials This research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design. The study sample comprised 32 voluntary caregivers as per Iran's Alzheimer Community Care in 2011. They were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. We used the questionnaire of coping inventory with stressful situations (CISS), which was completed before group therapy and after the treatment course in 3 stages of pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Data analysis was performed by analysis of covariance, multivariate analysis of covariance, and repeated measures. Results The results showed that the components of compatible strategies (problem-oriented and social enter tainment) in the experimental group were significantly increased compared to pretest and control group due to cognitive-behavioral therapy (P=0.001). However, the components of incompatible strategies (emotionoriented and attention processing) due to cognitive-behavioral therapy was significantly decreased in the ex perimental group compared to the pretest and control group (P=0.001). The results of repeated measuring plan between 3 stages of pretest, posttest, and follow-up showed that the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy on increasing compatible coping style (problem-oriented and social entertainment) and decreasing incompatible coping style (emotion-oriented and attention processing) as well as the effect of intergroup ac tions and repetition were significant. There was also a significant difference between experimental group and control group. Moreover, the time factor was ineffective in lowering the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy from posttest to follow-up period. Conclusion Based on the results, the group cognitive-behavioral therapy can increase the use of compatible strategies for coping with stress and decrease the use of incompatible strategies. This issue is related to factors such as complete understanding of Alzheimer's disease and its effects, creating an atmosphere for presenta tion and an opportunity for social interaction, understanding the importance of sport and allocating time for recreational activities, learning body relaxation in stressful situations, understanding life problems, solving problem techniques, feeling of control, and time management. Thus, we recommend using group cognitivebehavioral therapy as a low-cost treatment for family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's and patients with chronic diseases. A B S T R A C T


Purpose: To evaluate the clinical effects of magnesium sulfate in the treatment of diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Patients and methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou and Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai, two trauma center hospitals. A total of 128 patients suffered from DAI, with initial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores of 3–8. They were randomly divided into two groups: magnesium sulfate treatment (MST) group (n = 64) and control group (n = 64). The MST group received 250 µ mol/kg magnesium sulfate intravenously 20 minutes after admission, followed by 750 µ mol/kg magnesium sulfate intravenously daily for 5 days. The control group received standard management without MST. GCS scores and serum neuron-specific enolase values were measured and recorded at admission, and on days 3 and 7 after injury. Outcomes were determined by Glasgow outcome scale scores at discharge and at 3 months' follow-up, respectively. Results: After the 7-day treatment, patients in the MST group, compared with those in the control group, had a lower serum neuron-specific enolase level (25.40 ± 6.66 vs 29.58 ± 7.32, respectively, P = 0.001) and higher GCS score (8.23 ± 2.72 vs 7.05 ± 2.64, respectively, P = 0.016). Although the length of stay and mortality did not differ between the groups in the intensive care unit, Glasgow outcome scale score was significantly lower in the MST group at discharge (3.30 ± 1.35 vs 3.90 ± 1.10, P = 0.004) and 3 months after discharge (2.95 ± 1.48 vs 3.66 ± 1.44, P = 0.009). Conclusion: Early treatment with magnesium sulfate resulted in a significant improvement in DAI outcome. Further studies are needed to confirm the clinical significance of treatment of DAI patients with magnesium sulfate.


A range of chronic diseases have a significant influence on each other and share common risk factors. Comorbidity, which shows the existence of two or more diseases interacting or triggering each other, is an important measure for actuarial valuations. The main proposal of the study is to model parallel interacting processes describing two or more chronic diseases by a combination of hidden Markov theory and copula function. This study introduces a coupled hidden Markov model with the bivariate discrete copula function in the hidden process. To estimate the parameters of the model and deal with the numerical intractability of the log-likelihood, we use a variational expectation maximization algorithm. To perform the variational expectation maximization algorithm, a lower bound of the model's log-likelihood is defined, and estimators of the parameters are computed in the M-part. A possible numerical underflow occurring in the computation of forward–backward probabilities is solved. The simulation study is conducted for two different levels of association to assess the performance of the proposed model, resulting in satisfactory findings. The proposed model was applied to hospital appointment data from a private hospital. The model defines the dependency structure of unobserved disease data and its dynamics. The application results demonstrate that the model is useful for investigating disease comorbidity when only population dynamics over time and no clinical data are available.


The continued effectiveness and enforceability of the Law of Armed Conflict is highly dependent on whether the expressed rules remain definitive, understood, and accepted in today's complicated conflicts. Debates concerning indefinite detention at Guantanamo Bay, the use of drone aircraft, the required protections afforded civilian participants in warfare, and various other contentious topics highlight a troubling lack of unanimity in the international community concerning the Law of Armed Conflict. Increasingly, the treaties and customary laws of the past century that comprise the Law of Armed Conflict, while recognized as extremely meaningful, have proven incapable of satisfactorily resolving the myriad of legal issues arising from modern warfare.The hybridization of warfare is exacerbating already complicated regulatory problems and may ultimately render the Law of Armed Conflict irrelevant. If the trend toward viewing the Law of Armed Conflict as confusing, subjective, and ineffectual continues, conflict participants, as well as much of the international community, may begin to see this area of international law as more of an anachronistic nuisance than a legal imperative. As the law's authority diminishes, traditional legal prohibitions will be violated with impunity and only popular morality will remain to limit actions in war. State and non-state adversaries alike will deem abiding by these long-standing legal norms too significant a disadvantage to continue. This article argues that the international community must recognize that the effectiveness and practicality of the Law of Armed Conflict is increasingly questioned as the hybridization of warfare becomes the new norm. Ignoring this trend, and believing that current legal conditions are sufficient, expedites the increasingly ineffectual regulation of contemporary armed conflicts and continues to undermine confidence in the Law of Armed Conflict in the age of hybrid warfare.


The CDC's most recent autism prevalence estimates document the continued trend of higher prevalence among non-Hispanic white children compared to Hispanic children. The disproportionate underrepresentation of Latino children in the health, education and service systems is measurable, disadvantaging the child and family. This quantitative study identifies support needs and obstacles experienced by 96 Latina mothers of children with autism, active in Spanish-language parent groups in California. Study measures included the Family Needs Survey and the Caring for My Child Survey. To determine the significance of the results on the Family Needs Survey, an item-by-item chi-square analysis compared results to those of to a similar population from a different study that used the same measure. A high proportion of mothers reported substantial levels of unmet needs in their role as primary caregiver using the Family Needs Survey: all 35 survey items were unmet for at least 50% of mothers; 28 items were common needs. The level and number of unmet needs of mothers in the present study in areas such as social support and care services were significantly greater than the comparison group. On the Caring for My Child Survey, mothers identified multiple barriers personally encountered in obtaining assistance for their children including psychosocial, economic, political, and healthcare factors. Findings are relevant to improve access for Latinos in the health, education and service systems, and to establish a baseline for comparison.


Object-oriented framework technology has become a common reuse technology in object-oriented software development. As with all software, frameworks tend to evolve. Once the framework has been deployed, new versions of a framework cause high maintenance cost for the products built with the framework. This fact in combination with the high costs of developing and evolving an object-oriented framework make it important to have controlled and predictable evolution of the framework?s functionality and costs. We present three methods 1) Evolution Identification Using Historical Information, 2) Stability Assessment and 3) Distribution of Development Effort which have been applied to between one to three different frameworks, both in the proprietary and commercial domain. The methods provide management with information which will make it possible to make well-informed decisions about the framework?s evolution, especially with respect to the following issues; identification of evolution-prone modules, framework deployment, change impact analysis, benchmarking and requirements management. Finally, the methods are compared to each other with respect to costs and benefits.


This paper asks whether the Philippines should focus on ways of dealing with end-stage renal disease by getting more transplantable kidneys from the dead. Would it be more ethical to put the burden to donate on the dead (who have already lost their chance to consent) than on the living (who can consent)? Given the risks involved in undergoing nephrectomy and the lack of benefits arising from the procedure to donors, the dead should be the first to put their kidneys on the line. In the Philippines, unfortunately, living donors have had to bear the greater burden in this regard. Starting with a brief account of developments surrounding the impact of the Declaration of Istanbul on the situation in the Philippines as well as in other countries, the paper examines what the living have been expected to do, what they have actually done, and what lessons the experience with living donors offers for the understanding of cadaver transplants. The paper then looks at possible ways of increasing the sources of kidneys for transplantation and asks if these ways could be implemented successfully and ethically in the Philippines.


Objective: Abnormal event-related potentials (ERP) and slowing of the waking electroencephalographic (EEG) activity have been reported in patients with obstructive sleep apneas (OSA). This study aimed at evaluating whether an association exists between the severity of ERP abnormalities and EEG slowing in order to better understand cerebral dysfunction in OSA. Methods: Twelve OSA patients and 12 age-matched controls underwent an overnight polysomnographic recording, an EEG recording of 10 minutes of wakefulness and an auditory ERP protocol known to specifically measure attention. Amplitude and latency of each ERP component were measured as well as the spectral power in each frequency band of the waking EEG. Pearson's correlations were used to measure associations between ERP characteristics and EEG spectral power in OSA patients and control subjects. Results: A positive correlation between the late P300 amplitude and theta power in occipital region was observed in OSA subjects (p<0.01). A positive correlation was also found between P3a amplitude and beta 1 power in central region in OSA subjects (p<0.01). No correlation was observed for control subjects. Conclusions: ERP abnormalities observed in an attention task are associated with a slowing of the waking EEG recorded at rest in OSA.


The prevalence of hypertension in Indonesia was 25,8%. As much as 70% types of hypertensive patients were mild hypertension. There were some medicinal plants contain single formulation could be used for lowering blood pressure but not in a herbal formulation. This study determined the efficacy of antihypertension herbal formulation that consists of Indonesian bay leaves, Centella herbs, blady grass roots dan nutmeg seeds. This study was an experimental laboratory research with pre and post-test controlled design, used thirty Sprague-Dawley rats that were classified randomly into five groups (negative control group which didn't have treatment, positive control group which consumed captopril 0,25 mg, and three groups which consumed antihypertension herbal formulation with doses of 0,08 g; 0,16 g; and 0,32 g. The rats were induced by prednisone and NaCl 2,5 % for 21 days.  The data were analysed using ANOVA test with CI 95%. After two weeks observation, the results showed that the blood pressure in the negative control group increased,  but in the positive control and treatment groups decreased significantly (p=0,001). In conclusion, the herbal formulation could decrease rat's blood pressure.


This paper investigates factors associated with onset of vaginal or penetrative sex among nevermarried adolescents in Uganda. The investigations are based on data sourced from the Straight Talk Evaluation Survey comprising 2,133 records. The likelihood of sexual onset during adolescence was modeled using a logistic regression on adolescents, demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and behavioral factors. In the results, nearly one in eight adolescents (12.2%) had initiated sexual intercourse before age 19. The odds of sexual onset were higher among adolescents at later ages, male, out-of-school, those involved at large in activities that predispose risky behavior and adolescents with a relatively high level of knowledge on reproductive health and HIV issues. Further, reduced odds of sexual onset were noted among adolescents with a progressive attitude towards pre-marital sex. In light of the findings, early sex education focusing on clarification of core values related to pre-marital sex, control in exposure to risky behavior through increased parental involvement and prioritizing schooling particularly among girls were interventions suggested.


In this paper, I argue that animal domestication, speciesism, and other modern human-animal interactions in North America are possible because of and through the erasure of Indigenous bodies and the emptying of Indigenous lands for settler-colonial expansion. That is, we cannot address animal oppression or talk about animal liberation without naming and subsequently dismantling settler colonialism and white supremacy as political machinations that require the simultaneous exploitation and/or erasure of animal and Indigenous bodies. I begin by re-framing animality as a politics of space to suggest that animal bodies are made intelligible in the settler imagination on stolen, colonized, and re-settled Indigenous lands. Thinking through Andrea Smith's logics of white supremacy, I then re-center anthropocentrism as a racialized and speciesist site of settler coloniality to re-orient decolonial thought toward animality. To critique the ways in which Indigenous bodies and epistemologies are at stake in neoliberal re-figurings of animals as settler citizens, I reject the colonial politics of recognition developed in Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka's recent monograph, Zoopolis: A Political Theory of Animal Rights (Oxford University Press 2011) because it militarizes settler-colonial infrastructures of subjecthood and governmentality. I then propose a decolonized animal ethic that finds legitimacy in Indigenous cosmologies to argue that decolonization can only be reified through a totalizing disruption of those power apparatuses ( i.e. , settler colonialism, anthropocentrism, white supremacy, and neoliberal pluralism) that lend the settler state sovereignty, normalcy, and futurity insofar as animality is a settler-colonial particularity.


Introduction: Homicide is a legal term for any killing of a human being as a result of the conduct of another. There has been a global increase in homicide and it causes over 500,000 deaths per year worldwide. Throughout the world deaths due to firearm weapons have been increased tremendously. Depending on the circumstances of the death, homicides can be divided into murder, manslaughter, justifiable homicide, killing in war, euthanasia and execution. Objectives: To find out socio-demographic features of homicidal deaths in some part of Dhaka city. Materials and Methods: A record based cross-sectional study includes 506 cases of homicide out of the total of 3005 medico-legal autopsies conducted at Forensic Medicine Department of Dhaka Medical College during the year of March 2006 to February 2007. Data were collected using a pre-designed schedule from Post mortem registers and reports. The cases have been labeled as homicide on the basis of autopsy and police inquest report. All the data were collected in a predefined data collection sheet and necessary statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) software. Results: A total number of 3005 medico-legal autopsies were conducted, of them 1594 (53.04%) cases were accidents, 786 (26.15%) cases were suicide, 506 (16.84%) cases were homicide, undetermined cases were 88 (2.93%) and 31 (1.04%) cases were natural deaths. Of them 190 (37.55%) were caused by firearms. Other methods used for homicide were 97 (19.17%) cases by blunt weapons, 82 (16.21%) by sharp cutting weapons, 49 (9.68%) by stab injuries. Most of the victims 188 (37.15) were in the age group of 21-30 years followed by 110 (21.74%) in the age group of 31-40 years. In 447 (88.33%) cases the victims were male and 480 (94.86%) were Muslims. Conclusion: Homicide is a relatively rare offence than accidents or suicides but it is one of the most notifiable crimes in country as they are widely publicized by the media due to their severity and visibility. Homicidal deaths, mostly due to fire arms have increased substantially in the last decade. Strict measures should be taken to monitor and control the possession of illegal fire arms. Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.11(1) 2015: 30-33


IGCT is a kind of new type power electronic device which developed from GTO and IGBT . In this paper, Author based on analysis of the internal structure of GTO, shows how GTO development IGCT through technical methods.Through simulation of its off and on performance, the work curve and comparing results of the two devices are given. Then on two components of the inverter circuits are analyzed and compared. Thinking in large power AC drive locomotive, IGCT inverter is greatly simplifier than GTO inverter circuit, and superior performance,it will become the main converter for AC driving locomotive.


Case Details : A 49 years old male presented to casuality with 12 days history of high grade fever with cough with thick purulent expectoration . he was diagnosed as right upper lobe pneumonia with type II diabetes in another hospital and referred to us .At the time of admission pt was febrile with right ISA bronchial breathing with crepts .
Investigations : Blood investigations showed leuckocytosis with deranged sugar levels .CT THORAX done confirmed the right upper lobe lung consolidation with cavity with centrilobular nodules over right middle and right upper lobe with atropic pancreas. BAL FLUID grownBURKHOLDERIA PSEUDOMALLEI.
Treatment : Patient was empirically started on piperacillin/tazobactum with amikacin initially. initially sputum showed gram negative bacillinklebsiellia grown in culture and sputum afb was negative. Blood culture sterile. BAL samples showed BURKHOLDERIA PSEUDOMALLEI. Patient continues to have high grade intermittent fever. Hence patient has been switched on to meropenam and co trimoxazole and patient diabetic status has been managed with insulin .patient fever settled and general condition has been improved with treatment. Meropenam has been given for 14 days totally and patient has been discharged with maintainence dose of cotrimoxazole.


The Tokyo Haneda Airport has been developed by land reclamation since 1931. When we look back its history, dredged soils have been effectively used at the offshore expansion project (1984–2007) and the D-runway project (2007–2010). In the offshore expansion project, a dredged clay deposit in ultra-soft state was converted into an airport island. Because of softness of the dreaded soil, continuity of the vertical drains under large consolidation settlement, as well as large lateral soil movement, had to be concerned. In the D-runway project, lightweight treated soils of dredged clay were effectively used to reduce earth pressure on the seawall. To efficiently conduct large-scale placement, pneumatic mixing method was very useful. At the joint structure between the reclamation and piled pier sections, air-foam treated lightweight soil was placed as backfill, because more lightness was strongly required to ensure the stability.


Iron deficiency is one of the most urgent problems of adolescence. In the genesis of iron deficiency, a number of factors characteristic of the pubertal period are involved: accelerated rates of development, the formation of the ovarian-menstrual cycle, endocrine and metabolic dysfunctions. Prolonged iron deficiency to a decrease in the effectiveness of erythropoiesis, a violation of the differentiation of erythroid cells. In the case of an unresolved problem in girls in adolescence, iron deficiency in the reproductive period may have an adverse effect on the course of the gestational process, delivery, fetus and newborn condition in the future mother. The complex approach to the treatment and prevention of iron deficiency conditions in adolescent girls, the use of iron-containing preparations enriched with vitamins and microelements is topical. The objective: to study the effectiveness of correction of iron deficiency anemia in adolescent girls with the drug Fursinol-3, which represents a unique therapeutic complex of ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, vitamins of group B1, B2, B6, B9, C and PP. Materials and methods. Under outpatient observation, 62 patients aged 12–17 years were diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia (main group). The diagnosis was established on the basis of clinical (the presence of anemic and sideropenic syndromes) and laboratory research methods. The control group consisted of 30 teenage girls of similar age without anemic syndrome. Results. Results of clinical symptomatology evaluation after 6 weeks of drug administration showed that all women with IDA had no skin pallor, asthenoneurotic syndrome was curative, and epithelial syndrome was reduced. After 3 weeks of taking the drug, the Hb level was significantly higher than the baseline data (119.02±1.27 g/L compared to 99.89±1.08 g/L; p<0.001), and after 6 weeks of administration the drug reached the age norms. The increase in hemoglobin for 6 weeks of taking the drug was 21.16±0.99 g/L. After 6 weeks of administration of the Fernistol-3 preparation, patients with IDA showed a positive dynamics of serum ferritin level in comparison with the initial level (28.36±0.52 g/L versus 10.02±0.28 g/L; p<0.001). When using the drug "Fursinol-3" no side effects were noted. All patients noted good tolerability of the drug. Conclusions. The conducted studies showed high therapeutic effectiveness, good tolerability and safety of the drug Fersinol-Z, which gives reason to use it widely for correcting iron deficiency states in girls of pubertal age. The use of the drug Fessinol-3 in pediatric practice will promote along with iron deficiency, restoration of the balance of vitally important microelements and vitamins, contributing to the normalization of physiological processes in various organs and systems of a growing organism. Key words: iron-deficiency anemia, teenage girls, hemoglobin, MCV, MCH, ferritin, efficacy of therapy, Fersinol-Z.


Abstract to define the reference value ranges of cystine, lysine and arginine urinary excretion relative to creatinine in the morning urine samples for the metabolic disorders diagnosis leading to the formation of urinary stones. the study involved 695 healthy individuals aged 1-17 and 1564 patients with urolithiasis aged 7-45. The content of cystine in the urine samples was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The chemical composition of urinary stones was investigated by methods of the qualitative chemical reaction and the crystals microscopy. the reference value ranges of cystine, lysine and arginine urinary excretion relative to creatinine in the morning urine samples were developed in the age aspect. Excess in cystine level in the urine samples of the relatively healthy individuals detected in 1.4% of cases. From 1564 urinary stones submitted for analysis, the frequency of cystine stones was 0.8%. for the objective assessment of the cystine metabolism status the evaluation of the degree of cystinuria is necessary in order to form the risk group for cystine nephrolithiasis. The reference value ranges of cystine urinary excretion developed in the age aspect and "cystine / creatinine index" in morning urine samples will provide the opportunity to identify the state of the cystine exchange from early childhood and develop differentiated program for the prevention of stone formation in the kidneys.


Objective: The fact that online gaming is becoming more widespread in the society and may disrupt functionality by causing a behavioral addiction, which is defined as "internet gaming disorder" in DSM-5, points to the importance of further research. In this study, we aimed to investigate the sociodemographic features of online gamers and some psychosocial factors that may be related to online gaming, as there are limited studies available on this topic in Turkey. Method: The design of the study is cross-sectional. The sample of the study consists of Travian, an online game, players. The sociodemographic data form, Game Addiction Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Perceived Multi-Dimensional Social Support Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale were conveyed to the participants via SurveyMonkey. The data of 726 participants, who completed all forms, were analyzed. Results: Mean age of the participants was 28.4± 9.98, 93.5% (n: 679) were male, 59.2% were at least university graduates. 11.9% (n: 81) of the participants were game addicts according to Game Addiction Scale and all together with risky participants for game addiction who are not game addicts already, this number reaches up to 47% (n: 344). There is a negative significant relationship between game addiction scores and life satisfaction (r=.270, p<.01), and perceived multi-dimensional social support (r=-.181, p<.01). Also there is a positive significant relationship between game addiction scores and self-esteem scores. Discussion: Addiction of Travian players in Turkey seem to affect the population in a wide age range. The fact that perceived multi-dimensional social support, life satisfaction and high self-esteem are related to low game addiction scores may be a guide for clinicians in terms of approaches towards people at risk of game addiction.


The adoption of the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (Arusha Protocol) in 2015 created a harmonized regional legal mechanism for the protection of plant breeders' rights (PBRs) in the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) member states. Regrettably, the Arusha Protocol, which is to enter into force after the requisite ratifications, reaffirms the often criticized International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of 1991 (UPOV 1991) in its extensive limitation of the traditional farmers' rights to freely save, replant and exchange seeds of protected plant varieties, while liberally conceptualizing PBRs. The stated farmers' rights are essential for the food security of the developing ARIPO member states, as their agriculture is predominantly characterized by impoverished small-scale farmers who rely on informal seed exchanges. On that basis, this article is premised on the view that the legal regime for plant varieties protection established under the Arusha Protocol is inappropriate for ARIPO members as it fails to balance breeders' and farmers' rights in a manner that promotes food security. It proceeds to evaluate the appropriate approach that can suitably balance breeders' and farmers' rights for the purposes of promoting food security in Africa.


Abstract In this study the magnitude and the temporal and spatial correlation scales of background fluctuations generated by three climate models, two different coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation models and one energy balance model, were examined. These second-moment statistics of the models were compared with each other and with those of the observation data in several frequency bands. This exercise shows some discordance between the models and the observations and also significant discrepancy among different numerical models. The authors also calculated the empirical orthogonal functions and eigenvalues because these am important ingredients for formulating estimation and detection algorithms. There are significant model to model variations both in the shape of eigenfunctions and in the spectrum of eigenvalues. Also, consistency between the modeled eigenfunctions and eigenvalues and those of the observations are rather poor, especially in the low-frequency bands.


This paper examines the problem of managing municipal commonage land in the Nama Karoo, which is increasingly being used by black or coloured emergent farmers. Many of these live in the towns and have very little agricultural experience or knowledge, and some are unemployed farmworkers. The paper presents findings from a survey of emergent farmers who use municipal commonage in Philippolis in the southern Free State. It uses the sustainable livelihoods approach to suggest that environmental knowledge is a key asset for small farmers, and that suitable approaches to agricultural extension need to be adopted to promote ecological knowledge. It suggests that ecological knowledge needs to play a more prominent role in people-centred, participatory developmental approaches so as to strengthen municipal commonage management and prevent the rapid desertification of commonage land.


Understanding mitochondrial transcription is a requisite first step toward understanding the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression in kinetoplastids. Here we report the identification and functional characterization of a mitochondrial RNA polymerase (mtRNAP) from Trypanosoma brucei, the firsttrans-acting factor involved in kinetoplast mitochondrial transcription to be identified. Using sequences conserved among the catalytic domains of the single-subunit mtRNAPs, we were able to obtain a full-length sequence for a candidate mtRNAP from T. brucei. Sequence comparison indicates that it shares homology in its catalytic domain with other single-subunit mtRNAPs, including functionally conserved residues that are identical in all single-subunit RNAPs. We used RNA interference to functionally knock out the gene product to determine whether the candidate gene represents an mtRNAP. As predicted for a mitochondrial specific RNA polymerase, reduction of the gene product resulted in a specific decrease of mitochondrial versus nuclear transcripts. Additionally, similar to the mtRNAP of other organisms, the mtRNAP characterized here is involved in replication of the mitochondrial genome. Thus, based on sequence comparison and functional studies, we have cloned an mtRNAP from trypanosomes.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this prospective, randomized, controlled study was to determine the effects of kinesio taping in the treatment of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

METHODS
Thirty-one women with PFPS (mean age: 44.88 years; range: 17 to 50 years) were randomly assigned to either a kinesio taping (KT) (n=15) or control (n=16) group. Both groups received the same muscle strengthening and soft tissue stretching exercises for six weeks and the KT group additionally received kinesio taping at four day intervals for six weeks. Visual analog scale was used to measure pain intensity. Tension of the iliotibial band/tensor fascia lata and hamstring muscles and the mediolateral location of the patella were measured before the treatment and at the end of the third and sixth week. The Anterior Knee Pain Scale / Kujala Scale was used for the analysis of functional performance.

RESULTS
Comparing pretreatment and 6th week values, significant improvements were found in pain, soft tissue flexibility and functional performance of both groups (p<0.05). However, patellar shift was unchanged (p>0.05). The KT group had significantly better hamstring flexibility than the control group at the end of three weeks (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION
The addition of kinesio taping to the conventional exercise program does not improve the results in patients with PFPS, other than a faster improvement in hamstring muscle flexibility.


Contemporary Africa is demographically characterized above all else by its youthfulness. In East Africa the median age of the population is now a striking 17.5 years, and more than 65 percent of the population is age 24 or under. This situation has attracted growing scholarly attention, resulting in an important and rapidly expanding literature on the position of youth in African societies.While the scholarship examining the contemporary role of youth in African societies is rich and growing, the historical dimension has been largely neglected in the literature thus far. Generations Past seeks to address this gap through a wide-ranging selection of essays that covers an array of youth-related themes in historical perspective. Thirteen chapters explore the historical dimensions of youth in nineteenth-, twentieth-, and twenty-first-century Ugandan, Tanzanian, and Kenyan societies. Key themes running through the book include the analytical utility of youth as a social category; intergenerational relations and the passage of time; youth as a social and political problem; sex and gender roles among East African youth; and youth as historical agents of change. The strong list of contributors includes prominent scholars of the region, and the collection encompasses a good geographical spread of all three East African countries.


Introduction: Intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures are devastating injuries that most commonly affect the elderly, but it is not uncommon in younger age group, have a tremendous impact on both the health care system and society in general. Peri trochanteric fractures mainly comprise of fractures of trochanter and subtrochanteric region. There are various forms of internal fixation devices used for Trochanteric Fractures, of them the most used device is the Dynamic Hip Screw with Side Plate assemblies. This is a collapsible fixation device, which permits the proximal fragment to collapse or settle on the fixation device, seeking its own position of stability. Objectives: 1) To assess the stable fixation and early mobilization of patients with Intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures. 2) To analyze the anatomical and functional outcome of treatment of Intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fracturesusing Proximal Femoral Nail. Methodology: The present study consists of 40 adult patients of intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures, who are treated with Proximal Femoral nail in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, attached to Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal, Telangana state between November 2012 and June 2014. Results: Mean duration of screening was 90 seconds, mean duration of operation 90 minutes and Mean blood loss 130 milli liters. Intraoperative complications were,15% Failure to get anatomical reduction, 15% Failure to put derotation screw,15% Varus angulation and 10% Failure of distal locking. Fracture of lateral cortex, Breakage of guide wire and Breakage of drill bit observed 5% of operations. In our study the average duration of hospital stay was 19.33 days. The mean time for full weight bearing was 12.6 weeks. All patients enjoyed good range of hip and knee range of motion except one who had septic arthritis knee. Post-operative mobility was aided in immediate post-operative period but later all patients were ambulatory independently with or without walking aid after 6 weeks. Conclusion: The terms of successful outcome include a good understanding of fracture biomechanics, proper patient selection, good preoperative planning, accurate instrumentation, good image intensifier and exactly performed osteosynthesis.


Thermal and mechanical stresses developed in concentric three-layered optical fiber-core, and inner and outer cladding, have been thoroughly studied for various concentrations of dopants and geometric structures. In order to examine the parametric results of thermal stresses in preforms, the stresses were measured with a polariscope. The results agreed well with the theoretical calculations. The thermal stresses were calculated for three temperature ranges in which the glass in each layer has a different thermal expansion coefficient. The mechanical stresses were studied considering the normal stress in the molten neck down region and its development with time. In order to include the time dependence of the stress below softening point, Maxwell's one dimensional viscoelasticity was applied. In a parametric study, the analyzes were carried out based on the fiber parameters such as relative index difference, ratio of clad to core, and depressed relative index difference. With an increase of core index above the silica, the thermal stresses in core increased linearly, but the depressed inner clad does not affect the stresses in core. From the parametric studies and modeling it was found that when the depressed inner cladding (DIC) layer has a large cross-section or high dopant concentration, the mechanical stress in core change from compression to tension.


Firstly we define a multi-region discrete SIR model describing the spread of an epidemic that can emerge in one region and spread to regions that are connected to its neighbors by any type of anthropological movement. We assume that the infected who leave the main source of epidemic or other areas that were partially affected later, in order to enter safer areas, represent the population category to be controlled, and we consider a surface colored cell grid is presented to illustrate the entire domain affected by the epidemic, each cell may represent a subdomain or region. Secondly we introduce a control variable into our model to show the effectiveness of movement restrictions of infected individuals from the primary source we target by a quarantine optimal control strategy. The characterization of the sought optimal control is derived from Pontryagin's Maximum Principle. Numerical illustrations are given to the obtained results.


Rotating tube method for preparing Cu-Ca alloy semi-solid slurry was investigated. Compared the microstructure of slurry prepared through the tube and of untreated original sample, discussed evolution characteristics of microstructure flowing through the rotation tube, and analyzed effect of process parameter on microstructure. The results show that the semi-solid slurry of Cu-Ca alloy could be prepared through rotating tube process; the melt were hardly affected in the initial stage. The tube began to play a major part in the next stage and the melt were stirred effectively in the last stage; Spherical microstructures of Cu-Ca alloy slurry were obtained through controlling or adjusting the process parameters to control solidification conditions.


The stimuli provoking evisceration of Eupentacta quinquesemita (Selenka) and autotomy of isolated pharyngeal retractor muscle (PRM) tendons were investigated. Tendon autotomy is a two-part response involving PRM contraction and breakdown of tendon connective tissue. An evisceration factor (EF) was detected in coelomic fluid expelled during evisceration. EF was isolated in tissue extracts and the haemal system and peritoneum were sources of EF activity. Autotomy and evisceration were induced by electrical stimulation, K+ and EF, and the effect of these agents was inhibited by anaesthetics. The acetylcholine antagonist tubocurarine chloride elicited evisceration, suggesting that evisceration may involve inhibition of cholinergic transmission. Evisceration and autotomy appear to be neurally controlled and the presence of an endogenous EF suggests neurosecretory or hormonal activity. Cells involved in evisceration may be located at a distance from the autotomy tissues and effect connective tissue breakdown through the medium of the coelomic fluid. Hypothetical sequences of events and possible roles for EF are presented.


An action research was carried out during the fall 2003 term. Nineteen students in an Applied Research in Education course at Fayetteville State University, North Carolina were participants in the study to determine the impact of using peers in the evaluation of a partial research paper. The answers to three questions were sought: 1) To what extent is peer feedback meaningful and effective: 2) What lessons (if any) do the peer-evaluators learn from the activity: and 3) To what extent does the peer evaluation process result in better research papers for student researchers and peer evaluators? Results showed that all of the student researchers agreed that the feedback was helpful, constructive, clear and understandable. Further, results indicated that the student researchers realized that they need to include more substantial information in the review of the literature section and that the activity was helpful in the final paper revision process. Overall, the quality of the papers from this class was significantly higher than papers collected from previous classes. ********** In my introductory research course the focus is more on getting my students to learn the process than getting them to master the process. Learning the terminology, being competent in statistical computations, understanding how to analyze research and other basic components of educational research are essential knowledge for the student. Evaluation is a crucial part of the learning process (Barrett, 1986). Consequently, feedback and evaluation on a student's progress are important both to the student and to the faculty. Students need information on their progress to make improvements in their work. Although a faculty evaluation of student work is perhaps the most common type of evaluation, the use of peers in the evaluation process may be just as effective in their academic growth. Previous evaluations of students' work involved me, as the instructor, in reviewing drafts of papers, inserting comments in red ink, and returning the papers to the students. In some instances, students expressed how the editing of their papers was intimidating and damaging to their self-esteem. Discovering another way to effectively evaluate student research while at the same time making the evaluation process a learning activity would eliminate the problems associated with editing, such as the loss in self-esteem and increase the involvement of the class in the process. Peer Evaluation According to Boyd (1989), evaluation can be used to "provide constructive criticism and suggestions to improve weak areas and amplify strengths." (p.2). Two types of evaluation exist--formative and summative. Formative evaluation involves giving feedback that is focused on changing processes as they are happening. On the other hand, summative evaluation occurs at the end of the process and focuses on judging the quality of the outcome (Boulmetis and Dutwin, 2000). Using peers has been found to be an effective addition to the evaluation process. Formative peer evaluations allow peers to work collaboratively to assess each others' work and assist one another in efforts to strengthen research. Working with one's peers allows interchange of ideas and methodologies resulting in a more refined product (Powell, 1992; Sapin-Piane, 1993). Studies by Saavedra and Kwun (1993) found that "on the whole, both field and laboratory studies indicate that peer assessment is a valid and reliable evaluation procedure." (p. 450) Lisk (2000) argued that this process of cooperative learning must include a number of essential conditions to be successful in learning environments. The conditions include: (a) a clear set of learning objectives that are accepted by all students, (b) positive interdependence, (c) positive social interaction behavior and attitudes, and (d) individual accountability. Portfolio assessment, self-assessment and peer-review are forms of assessment that encourage students to engage continuously and foster a deeper approach to learning. …