This paper has two aims: to explore approaches to the measurement of children's daily travel to school in a context of limited geospatial data availability and to provide data regarding school choice and distance travelled to school in Soweto-Johannesburg, South Africa. The paper makes use of data from the Birth to Twenty cohort study (n = 1428) to explore three different approaches to estimating school choice and travel to school. First, straight-line distance between home and school is calculated. Second, census geography is used to determine whether a child's home and school fall in the same area. Third, distance data are used to determine whether a child attends the nearest school. Each of these approaches highlights a different aspect of mobility, and all provide valuable data. Overall, primary-school-aged children in Soweto-Johannesburg are shown to be travelling substantial distances to school on a daily basis. Over a third travel more than 3 km one way to school, 60% attend schools outside of the suburb in which they live, and only 18% attend their nearest school. These data provide evidence for high levels of school choice in Johannesburg-Soweto, and that families and children are making substantial investments in pursuit of high-quality educational opportunities. Additionally, these data suggest that two patterns of school choice are evident: one pattern involving travel of substantial distances and requiring a higher level of financial investment and a second pattern involving choice between more local schools, requiring less travel and a more limited financial investment.


Dredging has a significant effect on sediment transportation, water quality and flow conditions in a river channel. However, often the effects of dredging are not studied carefully in advance. One reason for this is the lack of suitable study approach. Studies on river dynamics require high quality geometric models of riverbed, banks and floodplain. Accurate terrain and bathymetric data are also crucial components of reliable hydraulic modelling. In this study, we created an approach to model the presumable impacts of dredging. We modelled high discharges and annual flooding magnitudes in Eurajoki River, SW Finland in its current form and after dredging. As the low-sloped channel is heavily vegetated, the aim of the dredging is to improve flow conditions by removing sediment and vegetation within a reach of 8 km. First, we created a geometric model of the riverine environment by combining riverbank topography from national Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data by the Finnish National Land Survey and bathymetry, gathered with an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). The ADCP was attached to a kayak to enable access to shallow areas as well. This way, we were able to model the geometry of the fluvial forms within a few centimetres' accuracy. Next, we modified the model of the river geometry using GIS software according to the dredging plan. Finally, we used a 2D Computational Fluid Dynamics to model the current and after dredging flow conditions during various flow events. We analysed the effects on dredging on the flood magnitudes and flow conditions based on the models and compared these to the present situation. These models offer improvements on river management and observing the effects on dredging.


New type synchronous motor is made of a permanent magnet part and a reluctance part, there are import influence for the motor performance by the variable k, the fraction length of the permanent magnet part, and α, the displaced angle between the two part d-axis. The math model is derived based on Lyapunov stability, searching the appropriate k and α value, plotting stability regions, giving the simulation results. The calculation results are verified by simulation results.


In the phototrophic nonsulfur bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus E1F1, L-alanine dehydrogenase aminating activity functions as an alternative route for ammonia assimilation when glutamine synthetase is inactivated. L-Alanine dehydrogenase deaminating activity participates in the supply of organic carbon to cells growing on L-alanine as the sole carbon source. L-Alanine dehydrogenase is induced in cells growing on pyruvate plus nitrate, pyruvate plus ammonia, or L-alanine under both light-anaerobic and dark-heterotrophic conditions. The enzyme has been purified to electrophoretic and immunological homogeneity by using affinity chromatography with Red-120 agarose. The native enzyme was an oligomeric protein of 246 kilodaltons (kDa) which consisted of six identical subunits of 42 kDa each, had a Stokes' radius of 5.8 nm, an s20.w of 10.1 S, a D20,w of 4.25 x 10(-11) m2 s-1, and a frictional quotient of 1.35. The aminating activity was absolutely specific for NADPH, whereas deaminating activity was strictly NAD dependent, with apparent Kms of 0.25 (NADPH), 0.15 (NAD+), 1.25 (L-alanine), 0.13 (pyruvate), and 16 (ammonium) mM. The enzyme was inhibited in vitro by pyruvate or L-alanine and had two sulfhydryl groups per subunit which were essential for both aminating and deaminating activities.


The work deals with the differential analysis of two forms of congenital rectal stenosis--"membranous" which is consequent upon incomplete obliteration of the anal membrane and "tubular" with involvement of the rectum along its length. It is pointed out that in most cases tubular rectal stenosis is a component of the complex of anomalies of the caudal region described for the first time by G. Currarino (1981) and called the ASP-triad. From analysis of 12 cases of the ASP syndrome a new scheme of the pathogenesis of the complex of anomalies constituting the syndrome is suggested. The authors identified a component of the syndrome which was not described earlier, namely, specific dysplasia of the pelvic floor and the external sphincter muscles of the anus, which provided the basis for naming the complex the PFASP syndrome (PF--Pelvic Floor Dysplasia). Problems of surgical correction of the PFASP complex of anomalies are discussed. A pathogenetically substantiated analysis of postoperative complications is made.


Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania parasites, which cause a range of clinical manifestations in man. These are didactically classified into cutane - ous leishmaniasis (CL), the most common form of the disease, and visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the life-threatening form. There are so far no vaccines approved for humans. Conventional drugs pose limitations ranging from low efficacy and high cost to systemic toxicity. Low efficacy derives in part from difficult drug access to the parasites, which rides themselves inside macrophage phagosomes. This prompts to high dosage, with consequent increased toxicity. Difficult intracellular drug access can be overcome with nanomedicines such as biocompatible lipid and polymeric nanoparticles that can be phagocytosed by the infected macrophages. Besides cell membranes, appropriate drug nanostructuring may allow tissue barrier penetration and drug administration through higher compliance routes such as skin and intestine, in contrast to the usual intravenous and intramuscular routes. In general, CL and VL are both treated with toxic systemic injections, disregard of disease severity. This chapter will review and discuss studies with nanomedicines that have reached the market such as liposomal amphotericin B for intravenous administration, and innovative preclinical studies aiming at developing effective cutaneous and oral drugs with focus on CL .


The self-potential (SP) method is a passive geophysical method based on the natural occurrence of electrical fields on the Earth's surface. Combined with other geophysical methods, SP surveys are especially useful for localizing and quantifying groundwater flows and pollutant plume spreading, and estimating pertinent hydraulic properties of aquifers (water table, hydraulic conductivity). Laboratory experiments have shown that the involved coupling coefficients mainly depend on the fluid chemistry, conductivity and pH, and on the soil or rock properties. The interpretation of SP observations can be done qualitatively, for instance, by correlation of SP gradients with water fluxes (through electrokinetics) or salt fluxes (through electro-diffusion). In recent years, the interpretation has been improved with the help of modelling or/and inversion of the Poisson equation and endeavours to estimate hydraulic parameters by means of the intensity of electric current sources caused by underground flows.Tocitethisarticle:L. Jouniauxetal., C. R. Geoscience 341 (2009).


An elicitor-regulated transient expression system was established in soybean protoplasts that allowed the identification of cis-regulatory elements involved in plant defense. The 5' region of an ultraviolet (UV) light-inducible and elicitor-inducible chs gene (chs1) of soybean was subjected to deletion analysis with the help of chimeric chs-nptII/gus gene constructs. This analysis delimited the sequences necessary for elicitor inducibility to -175 and -134 of the chs1 promoter. The same soybean sequences were able to direct elicitor inducibility in parsley protoplasts, suggesting a conserved function of cis-acting elements involved in plant defense. In addition, this region of the soybean promoter also promotes UV light inducibility in parsley protoplasts. However, in contrast to the elicitor induction, correct regulation was not observed after UV light induction when sequences downstream of -75 were replaced by a heterologous minimal promoter. This result indicates that at least two cis-acting elements are involved in UV light induction.


High scores on Harm Avoidance (HA) on Cloniger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) have been identified as a risk factor for depression. Group cognitive-behavioral therapy (GCBT) has been found effective in preventing depression and improving depressive symptoms among university students. However, no randomized controlled trials of GCBT have been conducted with university students with high HA. Although we initiated a randomized controlled trial in this study, some participants submitted incomplete questionnaires at baseline interfering with assured randomization; therefore, we report this study as a non-randomized controlled trial. We evaluated whether a GCBT intervention would be effective at reducing HA and, thereby, preventing depression in university students with high HA. We performed final analysis of data on 59 participants in the intervention group and 60 in a control group. We used scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) as the primary outcome measure and analysis of covariance to assess group differences on mean BDI-II change scores before the intervention and at six months and one year after the intervention. The intervention group had lower BDI-II scores than the control group at six months after the intervention. GCBT may have facilitated cognitive modification in individuals with high HA, or GCBT may have fostered mutual modeling by group participants. Thus, GCBT may contribute to reducing depressive symptoms in university students with high HA, and associated risk for developing depression.


We discuss the applications of Random Matrix Theory in the context of financial markets and econometric models, a topic about which a considerable number of papers have been devoted to in the last decade. This mini-review is intended to guide the reader through various theoretical results (the Marcenko-Pastur spectrum and its various generalisations, random SVD, free matrices, largest eigenvalue statistics, etc.) as well as some concrete applications to portfolio optimisation and out-of-sample risk estimation.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the symptoms that women refer during peri and postmenopause.

PATIENTS AND METHOD
A cross-sectional study was carried out from April to December 2005; 500 women between 45 and 65 years old were included. We applied them the NR 1 questionnaire of symptoms for mature women. Data were obtained by means of a face-to-face interview. Results were analyzed through descriptive statistics, with percentage values, arithmetic mean and standard deviation. Differences between groups were evaluated with Student's T test, chi square test, and Fisher exact test.

RESULTS
Perimenopausal women had higher levels of depression (p = 0.03). Postmenopausal women presented higher frequency of sleep disturbances (p = 0.003). We found that perimenopausal women had more night sweats (p = 0.005), excessive hot (p = 0.006), hot flashes (p = 0.001), headaches (p = 0.001), vaginal dryness (p = 0.03), and dyspareunia (p = 0.005). On the other hand, postmenopausal women presented higher frequency of changes in libido (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
In general, perimenopausal women have more symptoms than posmenopausal women. It is advisable an exhaustive analysis of the perimenopausal women symptoms in order to offer them an integral substitutive treatment.


It is sometimes worthwhile to distance oneself from the limitations of modernity and focus on projects that for their impact and clarity have become reference points for their way of relating to contexts and time. Such is the case of the Study and Research Centre, built in the early 2000s by RuattistudioArchitetti for the historic company Tassullo Materiali Spa, now owned by the Miniera San Romedio group.
This project explores and focuses on the issues that characterise places, bringing their original and archaic dimensions back to life. It is based on a coherent and resonating architecture that echoes and is in harmony with the context; the building is rooted in the landscape and offers new viewpoints that allow us to see infinite possible landscapes. Here, more than in other projects, forms and symbols reveal and speak to us about the rural fabric of the valley, creating semantic fields of agricultural and cultural values that connect "text" and context.


Bilingualism is considered to be a key to success and the fact of speaking more than one language seems an advantage for those who are able to use several languages. However, in the migration context, a new language gains ground whereas another one, the immigrants' mother tongue, is sidelined. Individuals face at a gradual loss of language, or in other words, attrition. Hence, this paper tries to characterize the immigrants' language performance and their opinion about this possible 'loss' of their mother tongue after having been living abroad for several years. Considering language as a marker of culture and identity, these two aspects could not be separated from language. It is through language that individuals communicate and culture is transmitted so this relationship seems obvious to us. Regarding identity, it is through identification marks that identity is more visible and language is one of the most visible aspects of identification. Therefore, this study examines and compares the language behavior, culture and identity of immigrants living in Madrid. Spain has recently moved from being a country of emigration to being a country of immigration and its situation with reference to migration has drastically changed. The population referred to in this article is the city of Madrid. This city proved relevant not only for being the capital of Spain but, most importantly, for being among the cities with the largest rates of immigration in the country. Faced with the impossibility of reaching all minorities, this study zoomed in the nationalities with a higher percentage of migrants, that is, Romania and Morocco. Focusing on these two nationalities (although some other African nationalities will also appear because of linguistic problems in Africa), we could recruit a number of 100 people who were personally interviewed by the author of the present paper. In-depth personal interviews conducted between June 2015 and March 2016 have provided with the history of language acquisition, language use as well as individuals attitudes towards culture and identity. As an indicator of overall language proficiency, formal material such as a C-test and a verbal fluency task were gathered. A retelling task was also performed as informal material. The broad picture seems to indicate an own culture and own language oriented in Africans, what it means that maintaining the mother tongue and culture for them is noticeably more important as a symbol of identity than for other nationalities. Nonetheless, Romanian population trends towards a more visible mix of cultures due to the fact that their culture is quite similar to the Spanish one.


The aim of the study was to evaluate the differences in milk coagulation properties in three groups of dairy cows receiving the dietary supplements Panamin Animal and Panamin Detox. The present group production experiment was conducted in the experimental cattle farm of the Agricultural Institute Stara Zagora with three groups (two experimental and one control) each comprising 11 lactating dairy cows between November 2016 and March 2017. The cows are kept freely, the milking is in a hall "Fish bone", and the groups were fed balanced rations compliant with milk yield and live body weight of cows, supplemented with 0.50 g/day of two natural dietary additives Panamin Animal and Panamin Detox in line with recommendations of the manufacturer. The following parameters were monitored: rennet coagulation time (min) RCT and curd firmness (mm) a30. The analysis of individual milk coagulation properties was done on 436 milk samples from cows. Individual milk samples were obtained during the morning milking without adding preservative. The analysis of milk coagulation ability was evaluated at the laboratory of the Agricultural Institute Stara Zagora by means of Computerized Renneting Metter – Polo Trade, Italy. The obtained phenotypes were corrected for main factors influencing test-day milk yield. The used model considered each test day milk yield as independent observation and unbiased estimates of traits were obtained by a linear mixed-effects model. The supplementation of cows' ration with dietary supplements Panamin Detox and Panamin Animal had a statistically significant beneficial effect on milk coagulation properties of milk (p<0.001). The statistical analysis of group differences in RCT and curd firmness showed highly significant differences between Panamin Animal and control groups for both traits (p<0.001). There was also a highly relevant difference in curd firmness of milk from cows given Panamin Detox supplement and control cows (p<0.001). Data were processed with statistical software products Systat 13 and Pest (Groeneveld), and graphs were generated in MS Excel.


The objective of this study was to examine the conservation process and feed value of total mixed ration (TMR) silages. In Exp. 1 we evaluated the fermentation pattern and aerobic stability of TMR silages containing different protein and lipid supplementations. In Exp. 2 we compared the performance of finishing beef heifers fed those TMR silages. In both experiments, treatments were as follows: ensiled TMR with urea (U); ensiled TMR without a protein supplement at ensiling, but soybean meal supplemented at feeding to balance diet crude protein in Exp. 2 (SMnf; where the acronym nf indicates nonfermented); ensiled TMR with soybean meal (SM); and ensiled TMR with rolled soybean grain (SG). Thirty-two Nellore heifers (313 ± 8.8 kg shrunk body weight (SBW)) were blocked by initial SBW, housed in individual pens, and enrolled in the Exp.2 for 82 d. In Exp. 1, treatment without a protein supplement (SMnf) had lower content of crude protein, soluble crude protein, NH3-N, pH and clostridia count compared to U (P ≤ 0.03). Lactic acid concentrations tended to be reduced for SMnf compared to U (P = 0.09). Ethanol concentration was reduced in SG compared with SM (P < 0.01). 1,2-Propanediol concentration was increased in SMnf compared with U (P < 0.01), reduced in SM compared with SMnf (P = 0.02) and increased in SG compared with SM (P = 0.02). Dry matter (DM) loss during fermentation was low and similar among treatments (~3.7%). All silages remained stable during 10 d of aerobic exposure after feedout. Considering fermentation traits such as pH (≤4.72), NH3-N (<10% of N, except for U treatment), butyric acid (<0.05 % DM), and DM losses (<3.70% DM) all silages can be considered well conserved. In Exp. 2, diets were isonitrogenous because of soybean meal was added to SMnf before feeding. Compared with SM, cattle fed SG made more meals per day (P = 0.04) and tended to have a decreased intermeal interval (P = 0.09). Dry matter intake, average daily gain, final SBW, hot carcass weight, Biceps femoris fat thickness, and serum levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were increased for SG compared to SM (P ≤ 0.05). In brief, TMR silages exhibited adequate fermentation pattern and high aerobic stability. The supplementation of true protein did not improve animal performance, whereas the addition of soybean grain as a lipid source improved the performance of finishing cattle fed TMR silages.


This volume provides new insights into the nature of the Early Modern English discourse markers marry , well and why through the analysis of three corpora ( A Corpus of English Dialogues, 1560-1760, the Parsed Corpus of Early English Correspondence, and the Penn-Helsinki Parsed Corpus of Early Modern English ). By combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches in the study of pragmatic markers, innovative findings are reached about their distribution throughout the period 1500-1760, their attestation in different speech-related text types as well as similarities and differences in their functions. Additionally, this work engages in a sociopragmatic study, based on the sociopragmatically annotated Drama Corpus of almost a quarter of a million words, to enhance our understanding about their use by characters of different social status and gender. This volume therefore constitutes an essential piece of the puzzle in our attempt to gain a full picture of discourse marker use.


Optic neuritis (ON) is highly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) and conversion rate has been reported to be around 50% over a period of 15 years. We revised the risk factors for developing MS after an attack of ON, in western Turkey. One hundred and twenty-four patients with acute unilateral ON, who were on follow-up for at least 5 years (range 62 to180 months, mean 85 months) were enrolled in the study. Gender, age at onset, seasonal occurrence, severity of visual loss, presence of pain, optic disc appearance, treatment, degree of recovery, presence or absence of lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the initial ON attack and recurrence were considered. Of the 124 patients, 89 (71.8%) were women, 35 (28.2%) were men, with a mean age of 28.7 ± 8.6 years at the time of the initial ON attack. During follow-up, 70 patients (56.5%) developed MS within 17.14 months, ranging from 1 to 125 months. Female gender (p = 0.021), experiencing the attack before 40 years of age (p = 0.02), normal-appearing optic discs (p = 0.005), presence of MRI lesions (p < 0.001), and recurring ON attacks (p = 0.014) were significantly associated with a high risk of developing MS. The period for development of MS was significantly shorter in patients with MRI lesions (p < 0.001). Optic neuritis patients with brain MRI findings showing the morphological evidence of disseminated disease can be considered to have MS at the time of the initial ON attack, and disease-modifying treatments can be initiated.


We report on a series of transfer learning experiments in game domains, in which we use structural analogy from one learned game to speed learning of another related game. We find that a major benefit of analogy is that it reduces the extent to which the source domain must be generalized before transfer. We describe two techniques in particular, minimal ascension and metamapping, that enable analogies to be drawn even when comparing descriptions using different relational vocabularies. Evidence for the effectiveness of these techniques is provided by a large-scale external evaluation, involving a substantial number of novel distant analogs.


The lack of continuity conditions of the rock materials presents a serious challenge for the continuum mechanics approach, hindering the effective use of the well-established methods such as the finite element method and the boundary element methods. In the presented paper a discrete technique based on molecular dynamics approach is used for computer constructing of polycrystal materials. On the first step material grains are obtained from condensation of vaporised mixture of particles. Then the grains are compressed to obtain the material with the desirable porosity. Another variant for obtaining polycrystals is melting of the grain mixture with the consequent cooling. Uniaxial compressive loading tests for the obtained computer materials are presented, where the stress-strain relationships for mono and polycrystal specimens are compared. Influence of porosity on elastic and strength properties of the material is investigated. Applications for sandstone materials with different porosity are considered. Use of the described technique for simulation of percussive drilling in hard rock formations is discussed.


Background: Genome-wide association studies have identified polymorphisms associated with breast cancer subtypes and across multiple population subgroups; however, few studies to date have applied linkage analysis to other population groups. Methods: We performed the first genome-wide breast cancer linkage analysis in 106 African American families (comprising 179 affected and 79 unaffected members) not known to be segregating BRCA mutations to search for novel breast cancer loci. We performed regression-based model-free multipoint linkage analyses of the sibling pairs using SIBPAL, and two-level Haseman–Elston linkage analyses of affected relative pairs using RELPAL. Results: We identified −log10 P values that exceed 4 on chromosomes 3q and 12q, as well as a region near BRCA1 on chromosome 17 (−log10 P values in the range of 3.0–3.2) using both sibling-based and relative-based methods; the latter observation may suggest that undetected BRCA1 mutations or other mutations nearby such as HOXB13 may be segregating in our sample. Conclusions: In summary, these results suggest novel putative regions harboring risk alleles in African Americans that deserve further study. Impact: We hope that our study will spur further family-based investigation into specific mechanisms for breast cancer disparities. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(2); 442–7. ©2014 AACR.


It appears the United States Senate may have been trying to make the points that renegotiating or enacting new legislations require more energy, efforts and time than many would appreciate – particularly in the processes and attempts involved in dismantling the Affordable Care Act – an attempt which ultimately proved unsuccessful – even though certain key elements were eventually replaced through the Tax Reform Bill which was approved in December 2017 – the first major legislative success of the Trump Administration. However the Affordable Care Act remains a testimony of efforts which had been invested in designing a legislation – which although not the ultimate legislation for some, still partially addresses certain concerns of the medical system. Certain other agreements have not had it so easy during the first twelve months of the new administration. Notably, the Trans Pacific Partnership, the Paris Global Climate Agreement – and even the North American Free Trade Area (still being re negotiated) – which have either been withdrawn from, or face the threat of being withdrawn from. So which alliances appear to have been understated, dismantled or being re considered, during and following the first year marking the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States?


Aim: SMT Wire has noticed that their sales of ESP wire are very low in China compared to India. SMT Wire now wonders how they can increase their market share in China. Method: Personal interviews, telephone interviews and interactive conversations. Result & Conclusions: SMT Wire should work each tier in the supply chain to gain more orders and increase their market share. It is important to have local representation and work close to the customers so that the customers can feel trust for Sandvik and Sandvik's employees. The market for spiral discharge electrode material is good in China (the annual consumption is about cccc tonnes) and the market will probably be more and more mature for Sandvik's high quality materials in a couple of years. Suggestions for future research: Is it possible to have a more long-term price on the products on the Asia market? How can Sandvik keep its Chinese personnel? How can the Chinese personnel be trained to make contacting new companies easier for them? How can a foreign company create a guanxi-based selling with a high personnel turnover? Contribution of the thesis: A strategy that can be adapted for stainless steel wire companies that want to increase their market share in China.


Abstract. This paper reviews current knowledge on sampling, storage and analysis of phosphorus (P) in river waters. Potential sensitivity of rivers with different physical, chemical and biological characteristics (trophic status, turbidity, flow regime, matrix chemistry) is examined in terms of errors associated with sampling, sample preparation, storage, contamination, interference and analytical errors. Key issues identified include: The need to tailor analytical reagents and concentrations to take into account the characteristics of the sample matrix. The effects of matrix interference on the colorimetric analysis. The influence of variable rates of phospho-molybdenum blue colour formation. The differing responses of river waters to physical and chemical conditions of storage. The higher sensitivities of samples with low P concentrations to storage and analytical errors. Given high variability of river water characteristics in space and time, no single standardised methodology for sampling, storage and analysis of P in rivers can be offered. 'Good Practice' guidelines are suggested, which recommend that protocols for sampling, storage and analysis of river water for P is based on thorough site-specific method testing and assessment of P stability on storage. For wider sampling programmes at the regional/national scale where intensive site-specific method and stability testing are not feasible, 'Precautionary Practice' guidelines are suggested. The study highlights key areas requiring further investigation for improving methodological rigour. Keywords: phosphorus, orthophosphate, soluble reactive, particulate, colorimetry, stability, sensitivity, analytical error, storage, sampling, filtration, preservative, fractionation, digestion


After abolishing the wealth tax in a number of European countries during recent decades, increasing income and wealth inequality have spurred the discussion of reintroducing a wealth tax in a number of countries. This has refuelled the heated discussion in the popular press about the wealth tax's merits and harmful effects. The academic community has been considerably quieter on the merits and disadvantages of the wealth tax, however. This paper attempts to fill this gap by empirically estimating the relationship between the wealth tax and economic growth in 20 OECD countries over the time period 1980-1999. Using an instrumental-variable approach and "differenced" data to control for two types of endogeneity, I find fairly robust support for the popular contention that wealth taxes dampen economic growth. The estimated magnitude, however, is somewhat less alarming than popular account. (Less)


Stikes describes the academic, personal, social, financial, and racial identity problems of 16 black students on predominantly white college campuses. He discusses the students attempts to cope, noting developmental changes that occurred as they grappled with their environment; he outlines counseling strategies, teaching processes, and focuses on the policies and practices needed to assist black students.The 16 case studies represent the spectrum of black students in higher education. Data from these cases form the basis for the construction of a model describing black student development. The model illustrates the continuous, predictable, and dynamic processes involved.From this model the impact of race and culture is illustrated, showing the qualitative and quantitative difference between black student development and student development in general. Further, the model shows the impact of role models and social factors on students."


Smart textile approach to realize textile sensors compatibility with composite technology is a very promising solution today. Optimisation of sensors need to carry out in order to prepare sensors having negligible affect on reinforcement geometrical and mechanical properties. Weaving of 2D fabrics due to checking the thermo-forming consolidation of textile sensors inserted is an important step to perform in situ structural health monitoring of composites. In this work, E-glass/polypropylene sensors based on poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)poly (styrenesulfonate) polymer complex were studied. Textile sensors showed resistance to high temperature and pressure by giving electrical resistance responses after 2D textile preforms consolidation and possibility to validate composites developed during tensile loading in situ.


Background Conventional rehabilitation for musculoskeletal injuries post-surgery is generally site-specific and aims to return the person to 'normal' function. Commonly, conventional treatment focuses locally and little or no attention is given to comorbidities, other symptoms, postural compensations, or adaptations either pre-existing or resulting from the injury. Structural Integration (SI) is a manual therapy applied to and focusing on fascial continuities throughout the whole body. This case report explores SI as a global, whole-body intervention for rehabilitation. Purpose To examine the effects of a whole-body approach that addresses local and global symptoms following ankle surgery. Methods The Anatomy Trains Structural Integration (ATSI formerly KMI) 12-series protocol was applied and a selection of outcome measures were used to track progress and assess the efficacy of SI. Ankle mobility and function was assessed primarily using Weight-Bearing Lunge Test and Lower Extremity Functional Scale. Local pain was reported using the McGill Pain Questionnaire. General well-being was evaluated using subjective questioning and the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results Local results included increased mobility and function to affected leg, and reduced pain and swelling. Global results included an improvement in physical and psychological well-being, with the reduction of pain and dysfunction in other areas. Conclusion This case report demonstrates global benefits of a whole-body approach when structural integration is applied during rehabilitation. More clinical research that includes SI is needed to determine if the local and global results shown in this case study can be demonstrated in additional rehabilitation populations.


Wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs) facilitate remote monitoring and control of various underground environments, which are suffering from a significant reliability problem. To address this problem and relieve the ongoing networking challenges, we propose a new concept, called the magnetic induction (MI)-assisted wireless powered underground sensor network (MI-WPUSN), which integrates the advantages of MI communication techniques with those of wireless power transfer mechanisms. MI-WPUSN offers a unique platform consisting of seven envisioned devices and four distinct communication modes to provide significant reliability potential, which is constrained by its complex and challenging data collection. To unlock the potential of MI-WPUSN, we provide a systematic research roadmap for MI-WPUSN data collection, spreading from sensor deployment to multiple channel access control and to frequency-selective routing establishment. Specifically, we first summarize the state-of-the-art research advances on sensor deployment, based on which we propose a bidirectional projection-based deployment topology that achieves high network reliability and discuss the sensor numerical determination problem resorting to weighted Voronoi diagrams. We then introduce the principles for multiple channel access control and review the existing research. Finally, after introducing kernel regression methods that can easily handle the frequency-selective property of MI-WPUSN, we develop a modified Q-learning-based routing protocol. In particular, we list and analyze the underlying challenges and related future issues in each direction.


In this study +the purpose to improve diagnostic precision in preclinical forms of late toxemia, the central and peripheral circulation and hemostasis have been evaluated in women during their four day-stay visits scheduled for a pregnancy. Transition of normal pregnancy to "++pre-toxemic" was most commonly seen in the second trimester. Platelet counts and levels of fibrinogen and beta-fibrinogen proved to have the highest predictive value. A decision-making rule was designed for categorization of pregnancies into normal and "++pre-toxemic" and was found to have a 90% efficiency.


Abstract Weighing lysimeters can be used for studying the soil water balance and to analyse evapotranspiration (ET). However, not clear was the impact of the bottom boundary condition on lysimeter results and soil water movement. The objective was to analyse bottom boundary effects on the soil water balance. This analysis was carried out for lysimeters filled with fine- and coarse-textured soil monoliths by comparing simulated and measured data for lysimeters with a higher and a lower water table. The eight weighable lysimeters had a 1 m2 grass-covered surface and a depth of 1.5 m. The lysimeters contained four intact monoliths extracted from a sandy soil and four from a soil with a silty-clay texture. For two lysimeters of each soil, constant water tables were imposed at 135 cm and 210 cm depths. Evapotranspiration, change in soil water storage, and groundwater recharge were simulated for a 3-year period (1996 to 1998) using the Hydrus-1D software. Input data consisted of measured weather data and crop model-based simulated evaporation and transpiration. Snow cover and heat transport were simulated based on measured soil temperatures. Soil hydraulic parameter sets were estimated (i) from soil core data and (ii) based on texture data using ROSETTA pedotransfer approach. Simulated and measured outflow rates from the sandy soil matched for both parameter sets. For the sand lysimeters with the higher water table, only fast peak flow events observed on May 4, 1996 were not simulated adequately mainly because of differences between simulated and measured soil water storage caused by ET-induced soil water storage depletion. For the silty-clay soil, the simulations using the soil hydraulic parameters from retention data (i) were matching the lysimeter data except for the observed peak flows on May, 4, 1996, which here probably resulted from preferential flow. The higher water table at the lysimeter bottom resulted in higher drainage in comparison with the lysimeters with the lower water table. This increase was smaller for the finer-textured soil as compared to the coarser soil.


In the last decade, the scientific community has been shaken by what we call the "noncoding revolution." We have witnessed the discovery of an increasing amount of RNA molecules, which play a critical role in normal physiology as well as disease, without providing any protein product. The smallest regulatory RNA species, known as the ~22 nucleotide-long microRNAs (miRNAs), were at the forefront of such a revolution.

According to the last release of miRNA database (miRBase  http://www.mirbase.org—release 21) more than 35,000 miRNA species have been identified, of which a total of more than 2,500 mature miRNAs exist only in humans [1]. Since their first discovery in C. elegans in 1993, it has become clear that these tiny molecules have an enormous regulatory potential, being able to exert negative posttranscriptional regulation on hundreds of protein coding genes, even simultaneously, and ultimately act as master regulators of entire biological processes.

Besides their role in development, the involvement of miRNAs in human disease, and cancer in particular, has attracted major attention. In fact, deregulated miRNA expression could lead to aberrant expression of targeted oncogenes or tumor suppressors, thus resulting in tumor development and progression. Accordingly, altered expression of miRNAs has been observed in almost every tumor type, including haematological malignancies, carcinomas, sarcomas, and central nervous system neoplasms. Relevant examples of the role of miRNAs on specific cancer types are reported in this issue, with a focus on childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (original contribution by M. Duyu et al.), ovarian and cervical cancer (reviewed by Y. Kinose et al. and S. M. Diaz-Gonzalez et al.), soft tissue sarcomas (reviewed by T. Fujiwara et al.), or medulloblastoma (reviewed by S. Lopez-Ochoa et al.).

The unique pattern of altered miRNA expression provides a fingerprint that may serve for cancer diagnosis and prediction of patient's prognosis or response to treatment. In addition, a number of miRNAs have been shown to directly participate in tumorigenesis by acting as "oncoMirs" or "tumor suppressive miRNAs," thus becoming potential key targets or tools for anticancer therapy. The review by A. Saumet and colleagues suitably introduces the current approaches and applications of miRNAs in cancer and human diseases, from expression analyses aimed at identifying miRNAs potentially useful for tumor diagnosis or prognosis to the potential use of them as novel therapeutic agents.

The opportunities and challenges of miRNAs as cancer biomarkers have been addressed in the issue by H. Lan and colleagues. Specific focuses have been also provided on the clinicopathological significance of miR-155 in breast cancer (H. Zeng et al.), diagnostic and prognostic miRNAs in sarcomas (T. Fujiwara et al.), and miRNAs exploitable for prostate cancer risk assessment (A. Cannistraci et al.). Based on their relative stability in body fluids, a great effort has been devoted in the last years to the study of circulating miRNAs as noninvasive biomarkers for tumor diagnosis or disease monitoring. Though attracting, miRNA quantification in liquid samples is far from being trivial. Challenges encountered in the field have been extensively addressed in the issue by P. Tiberio and colleagues.

Due to their nature as physiological molecules able to control multiple genes at the same time, miRNAs are also considered as very promising therapeutic targets or tools. As tumors typically evade cancer treatment by acquiring secondary mutations on targeted proteins, it appears more difficult for a tumor to escape from miRNA effects, which are directed on multiple proteins at the same time. Controlling the delivery and activity of miRNA-modulating agents into specific tissues or organs still appears as the "the big challenge," albeit a number of promising approaches are under validation. This contention is extensively explored in this issue in different contexts. The review by O. Fortunato et al. focuses on lung cancer, one of the big cancer killers, and discusses the most likely miRNA targets as well as the methodological approaches for in vivo delivery of miRNAs. The use of miRNA modulators for a direct antitumor effect, when administered alone or in combination with chemo- or radiotherapy, has been described in the prostate cancer context by A. Cannistraci and colleagues. Furthermore, the use of miRNAs for indirect anticancer effects has been reviewed by S. Gallach et al., who discussed on the possibility to modulate miR-126 or miR-92a to target tumor angiogenesis, thus limiting tumor growth and metastatic spread, or act on hypoxia. Finally the role of miRNAs in determining and regulating chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer has been discussed by I. Garajova and colleagues.

Overall the issue is intended to provide evidence of the potential usefulness of miRNAs in cancer management as well as focus on the still unsolved technical and conceptual challenges in miRNA research.

Paolo  Gandellini

Elisa  Giovannetti

Francesco  Nicassio


Social Internet of Things (SIoT) aims at assimilating the concepts of Internet of Things and Social Networks for providing value added services to the humans. The number of connected devices in the era of Internet of Things is very large and the key challenge is to acquire the required information in an efficient manner. Communication between the connected objects can be enhanced by exploiting the social behaviour of the users of such devices. Recently, there has been a flourish of proposals for giving social like capabilities to the things connected by the internet. The focus has been on developing mechanisms that shall allow direct interactions among the objects that are "friends" with each other. Different models and guidelines have been proposed for materializing this social aspect of the connected objects. They are, however, related to specific device types and their individual functionalities, and often require a dedicated internet connection for the delivery of services. The paper proposes a generic framework that enables interaction among the devices having diverse capabilities and heterogeneous platforms. The work leverages the social relationships among the participants (devices and users) in the system for delivering the required services to the users. The framework relies on the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol for disseminating information between the devices. One of the major advantage of the proposed work is that the services can be provided by the devices even in the areas having no internet connectivity. The proposed framework can be employed for developing applications that utilizes the social behavior of the users for providing services to them in an efficient manner.


This paper describes about new method of low torque ripple operation, and wide range velocity control from 10 to 40000rpm of a brushless motor. The proposed method uses only three position signals of Hall elements arranged in the motor and does not need a position-sensor with high resolution or a velocity-sensor which used conventional control system. A sinusoidal wave drive or a square wave drive is selected according to the motor speed and the switch-over is implemented at an appropriate timing to keep out the transitional oscillation. In low speed range, the motor is operated as a plain synchronous motor using sinusoidal wave. The other hand, in high speed range, the motor is driven by square wave generated by position signals of Hall elements, and rotational speed is controlled using PI scheme. If the brushless motor is driven as a synchronous motor, the motor can be made to turn smoothly at low speed range. However, this drive method of the motor is inefficient and also the motor itself heats up at low load. In order to get a high efficiency drive method of the motor, the apply voltage to the winding is adjusted by the torque angle detected by the phase difference between the Hall element signal and the excitation voltage. A technique of switch-over without transitional oscillation which causes when the synchronous speed and the real motor speed are not the same at switch-over point, is also described here. This proposal method will be useful for the application of brushless motor which can be not attached a position-sensor with high resolution or a velocity sensor for small size or environment of operation such as dental hand-piece.


One important reason why clinicians abstain from medical intervention in trans- sexual adolescents is that they assume that transsexualism and psychopathology are necessarily associated. However, several studies among transsexual adolescents considered eligible for sex reassignment, employing self-report questionnaires and the Rorschach according to Exner's Comprehensive System, did not find the high levels of psychopathology encountered in psychiatric populations. Thus far, no data have been gathered from sources other than the patients themselves. It has been argued that the method used may create a bias, as the sources of information were persons who have a stake in the outcome. In this study we therefore assessed the number and type of psychological problems among trans- sexual adolescents using Child Behavior Checklist and DISC data gathered from parents or other caretakers, at the time of application. In about one quarter of the patients DSM criteria were fulfilled (one specific phobia, one tic disorder, one oppositional disorder and one anxiety disorder), and in about one third of the patients, parents reported high levels of behavioural or emotional problems on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). A post hoc qualitative inspection of the clinical CBCL group's situation revealed that in all patients important unfavourable family circumstances could be observed, such as having major conflicts with parents. This might have led to an over-reporting of problems by parents or may be indicative of a real elevation of emotional or behavioural disturbance, perhaps as a reaction of family problems that already existed or were a consequence of the child's gender dysphoria. However, in line with previous data, transsexual adolescents as a group did not score in the clinical range at the time of application.


ABSTRACT Research findings No research to date has compared mental state language (MSL) in conversations between children and different adult talk partners, such as mothers and educators. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of MSL (verbalization of mental states such as remembering, knowing and thinking) by children, educators, and mothers during conversations about the past and future. Eighty-five educator-child dyads from seven childcare centers in Sydney, Australia participated in eight conversations that varied by temporal (past/future) and novelty (novel/familiar) focus. Ten educators talked with 40 younger children (27–36 months), and 11 talked with 45 older children (48–60 months). A subsample of 42 mother-child dyads completed the same tasks: 20 with the younger children (27–36 months) and 22 with the older children (48–60 months). Educators used significantly more MSL than mothers. Compared to diploma-qualified educators, degree trained educators were especially likely to use more MSL. Educators' MSL was significantly associated with children's MSL for future talk conversations only. Practice or Policy: Educators' and mothers' MSL may influence children in different ways. Pre-service teacher training appears to facilitate educators' own use of MSL. More research is needed to determine why children use more MSL with their mothers than with their educators.


Background: Neonatal jaundice occurs due to the elevated levels of unconjugated bilirubin and may induce neurological sequelae, such as encephalopathy. Phototherapy remains the main primary management in neonatal jaundice; one of its effects is elevated in zinc level. Objectives: Assess serum zinc level in full term neonates who had hyperbilirubinemia and treated by phototherapy before and after phototherapy and study it`s relation to selected neonatal, maternal and labour factors. Methods: A prospective study has been carried out in Basrah Maternity and Children Hospital, 2nd neonatal care unit to assess serum zinc on 60 term neonates appropriate for gestational age with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia treated by phototherapy. Neonatal, maternal data were collected, serum zinc was assessed before and after phototherapy, (normal range: 50-150 μg/dL), elevated in serum zinc was studied in relation to selected variables. Results: It was found that total serum bilirubin was lower after phototherapy and serum zinc was elevated. The result is statistically significant. Elevated serum zinc was found in 33.3% of cases. It was more in in extensive phototherapy than double or single. P value < 0.05. Also, more with prolonged period of phototherapy but the result was statistically not significant. It was not related to other neonatal or maternal characters. Conclusion: Serum zinc is elevated after phototherapy in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia, increase level is more with use of extensive phototherapy and increase level of total serum bilirubin.


We analyze the distribution of regional unemployment in Europe over the last three decades using non-parametric kernel densities and stochastic kernels. In addition, we employ a multi-level factor model to separate European, country, and region-specific unemployment fluctuations. Three phases of distributional change of EU relative unemployment rates are detected: they polarized from 1986 to 1996, converged after the introduction of the Euro and have been polarizing again since the outbreak of the financial crisis, having reached the highest levels ever. We find that European fluctuations account for roughly two fifths of the total variance confirming the existence of a European unemployment cycle. Country fluctuations are equally important, which leaves one fifth to be explained by region-specific movements. German regions are found to respond negatively to the European factor and country movements cause diverse responses in particular in Italy and England. The convergence prior to 2007 can be attributed to country affects and the divergence thereafter both to country and region-specific factors. Finally, we also discuss within country heterogeneity.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the repeatability and validity of the electromagnetic 3-dimensional tracking system, Fastrak, in measuring cervical spine and shoulder movement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS
Fifty patients with AS had their cervical spine and shoulder movements measured on up to 3 occasions with the Fastrak. Patients also completed disease-specific and generic patient assessed health instruments, and their spinal mobility was assessed by tape measure methods. Repeatability over 2 weeks was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Fastrak measurements were compared between patients with different self-ratings of AS related health. Comparisons between the Fastrak measurements and patient assessed health instruments and tape measurements were made using Spearman correlations and multilevel modeling.

RESULTS
Patients with AS tended to be limited in both cervical spine and shoulder movements. ICC were all > 0.80 (except shoulder extension, 0.75), indicating substantial reliability. Fastrak was able to differentiate between patients with a high self-rating of AS related health and those with a poorer rating. Cervical spine flexion and shoulder flexion and abduction were most strongly related to the patient assessed health instruments, although the shoulder movements had limited relationships with the tape measurements of spinal mobility.

CONCLUSION
The Fastrak appears to be reliable and valid in an AS population. Shoulder movements tended to have a stronger relationship with the patient assessed health instruments than cervical spine movements. Shoulder movement may be more related to everyday function measured by these instruments, which indicates the importance of this joint in assessment of AS.


Tobacco use is one of the main leading causes of disease and death worldwide and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), constitutes a major issue to public health. Given the importance of nicotine as the major constituent of tobacco and its addictive potency on consumers, determining its content in cigarettes sold on Ivorian markets shows to be important. The aim of this study was to determine and compare nicotine content in imported and local brands of cigarettes marketed in the district of Abidjan. Nicotine was extracted from twenty-one brands of cigarettes with six being local and fifteen imported. Nicotine contents were measure by UV-Vis spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 508 nm. The assay method was linear on a concentration range of 0.2 to 1 mg/ml with a coefficient of determination of 0.9963 and a detection limit of 0.15 mg/ml. The average nicotine content in cigarettes of Ivory Coast brands was 1.73 ± 0.19 mg of nicotine/cigarette while that in imported brands was 2.25 ± 0.74 mg of nicotine/cigarette (p < 0.05). The lowest nicotine content was found in the local brand cigarette "Ex001", whereas the highest content was found in an imported brand cigarette "OR001 Pulse Bleu". The nicotine content of all tested cigarettes was higher than the European standard and a significative difference was found between the determined amounts of nicotine content in the cigarettes brands and the amounts displayed by the manufacturer on the cigarettes' packs. Monitoring of nicotine content in cigarettes sold on the Ivorian market should be considered in prevention strategies against smoking addiction and tobacco-related diseases.


In section 3.3 of [i]Philosophy of Natural Science[/i], Hempel argues that crucial tests are not sufficient enough to prove a given hypothesis or to disprove them. Hempel states what some may believe why a crucial test can prove or disprove a hypothesis. If there are two competing hypothesis which involve the same subject and no available evidence favors one or the other, then there exists a test, which will produce conflicting outcomes for the different hypotheses. This test is the so-called crucial test would then presumably refute one hypothesis while supporting the other. Hempel then presents his side of this argument using an example of past experiments involving the nature of light. He describes how Foucault performed an experiment involving the velocity of light through air and water. This experiment was meant to show whether light consists of waves or extremely small particles as presented by Newton. Foucault's experiment was performed and the resulting outcome was used to refute Newton's view of light as small particles traveling at a high velocity. Hempel believed that this test was not strong enough to completely support or refute either view of light. The experiment relied on the assumption that light as waves would travel faster in air than in water. However Hempel argues that the conception of light as streams of particles was too indefinite to assume that it would travel slower in air without additional assumptions about the motion of particles and their surrounding medium. So even though the results may seem to support and prove the wave hypothesis, it doesn't necessarily disprove the particle theory. In fact Einstein later proposed a theory, which eliminated the classical wave theory, using support from an experiment by Lenard in 1903. But again as in the previous example one of the hypotheses was not definitely refuted, in this case being the wave theory. M.-M. V.


Coordinated efforts in the '80s will make this the "golden age of philanthropy," the author believes. The going will not be easy, however. He outlines here the problems facing philanthropy and offers some poignant solutions and encouragement.


BACKGROUND
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells are characterized by failures in the apoptosis pathway and increased proliferation, resulting in the progressive accumulation of B-lymphocytes in blood. Despite the wide range of antileukaemic drugs, CLL remains an incurable disease. However, a breakthrough is expected which will allow more effective treatment.

OBJECTIVE
The study investigates the influence of poly(propyleneimine) (PPI) dendrimer with peripheral amino groups, 30% of which were coated with maltotriose (PPI-G4-OS-Mal-III), on CLL cells, and demonstrates that it acts through the induction of the apoptotic mechanism. It is important to note that the dendrimer was used as a drug itself and not as a drug carrier.

METHOD
CLL and normal lymphocytes were treated in vitro with the dendrimer, either alone or in combination with fludarabine (FA). The percentages of apoptotic and necrotic cells, and the protein expression, were checked using a flow cytometer. Gene expression was screened using a two-colour microarray with 60-mer probes.

RESULTS
The results confirm that PPI-G4-OS-Mal-III influences the viability of CLL cells in vitro and does not exert any significant harmful effect on normal lymphocytes. The dendrimer appears to significantly influence gene and protein expression in CLL cells.

CONCLUSION
Since dendrimers can be specifically targeted, they may be very effective in CLL therapy, especially since in vitro PPI-G4-OS-Mal-III has been found to have stronger effect than fludarabine.


Esophagitis is the inflammation of the lining of the esophagus, which is characterized by its swelling and irritation. The esophagus is tubular structure which helps in the swallowing, and it links the back of the throat to the stomach. The swelling is commonly caused by acid reflux. Sometimes, this swelling can also be caused by infections. Infectious esophagitis can be set off by fungi, yeast, viruses, bacteria and other types of organisms. Anyone can get infectious esophagitis, but people with weakened or comprised immune system are more likely to develop the disease. Anyone can get it, but people are more likely to develop it if their immune system is weakened or compromised. The purpose of this chapter is to review the clinical manifestations, etiology, pathophysiology, histopathology, diagnosis, treatment/management, prevention, prognosis and other healthcare issues of infectious esophagitis.


International students are the most important population in the American higher education system, particularly for students from different cultural backgrounds. Besides research-based universities, comprehensive universities, and liberal arts colleges, historically black colleges and universities have the traditions to provide an equal learning environment to minorities, including international students. This study aimed to understand the academic experiences and expectations of Chinese international students enrolled at historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern parts of the United States from the lens of neo-racism. One research question guided this study, which was: How would Chinese international university students describe their academic learning experience, expectations, stress, and difficulties at one of the historically black colleges and universities? The interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed to explore the academic experience, difficulties, stress, and lived stories of their academic voyage at one of the historically black colleges and universities in the United States. The findings indicated that discrimination based on skin color, nationality, and race, the gaps in academic expectations, and social unfairness of internship opportunities are still significant. The result indicated the directions and recommendations for leaders, policymakers, school administrators, and related professionals to redesign the current university planning and related counselling services to not only international students but all minority people.


In the past decade, "state-building" has moved from the margins to the mainstream. Bold experiments in East Timor and Kosovo have led to the creation of the independent state of Timor-Leste and the embryonic Republic of Kosovo. Less successful experiments continue in Afghanistan and Iraq. In each instance, many people assumed - wrongly - that it was the first time anything like this had ever happened, and the last time it ever would happen. Now a cottage industry of grants and conferences offers endless opportunities to revisit a senior official's epithet on UN policy planning: "No wheel shall go un-reinvented." This essay considers the past and the future of efforts to build or rebuild institutions of the state in fragile and conflict affected countries, focusing on the difficulty of balancing the need for local ownership against the imperatives that led to foreign intervention in the first place.


This research carries out an inexpensive, rapid and novel exercise, which is applied to perform the photocatalyst decomposition effectiveness of Methanol and Ethanol in gaseous form. The major devices of this applicable measurement developed by this practice are only utilizing ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and quartz cuvette, and the experimental procedures are straightforward and speedy. In the conduct experiments, Methanol and Ethanol with a specific concentration is initially injected into an enclosed quartz cuvette. Then the cuvette is put in ultraviolet- visible spectrophotometer to measure the Methanol and Ethanol concentration, so as to obtain an unique UV absorbance spectrum at its particular concentration. In the conduct experiments of measuring photocatalyst decomposition efficiency, the self-made (SANSS) nanocatalyst TiO2 is initially coated in the quartz plate, and put into the quartz. Then a specific concentration of methanol alcohol and ethanol is injected into the quartz cuvette under the UV irradiation exposure, so as to carry out photodecomposition of Methanol and Ethanol experiment. After that, the cuvettes are then put into the ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer for measuring the absorbance intensity of UV spectrums in order to produce degradation chart. The preliminary results point out that the self-made nanocatalyst TiO2 has exceptionally outstanding decomposition efficiency which further points out the fact that, when UV irradiation for 60minutes, the gaseous Methanol can be reduced to 3.8% of the original sample, and the gaseous Ethanol can be reduced to 6% of the original sample. But when exercising with commercial nanocatalyst TiO2 to undergo the same process exactly under the same circumstances, the residue gaseous concentration can only be reduced to 17% and 16% of the gaseous Methanol and Ethanol original sample.


The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of induction programs for newly appointed teachers in Kongwa district. Specifically, the study sought to: examine the perception of education stakeholders on the concept of induction for beginning teachers; examine the strengths of induction programs for beginning teachers; assess challenges facing the induction programs for beginning teachers; and identify the coping strategies employed in improving the induction programs for newly appointed teachers. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research approaches to complement one another. Participants involved in this study were 25 beginning teachers; 4 heads of school; 8 heads of department and 1 district education officer. Data were collected by using questionnaires survey, interview and documentary review where by simple random sampling and purposive sampling technique were employed in selecting the respondents. The study revealed that education stakeholders had minimal awareness about the induction programs for newly appointed teachers. However, study revealed the existence of strengths of induction programs help beginning teachers feel free under new environment; and minimize collision among organization members. The study also revealed that the induction programs faced challenges like: lack of blueprint and funds to facilitate the induction program practices. The study recommended that there should be a blueprint to guide the practice of induction programs; provision of enough funds to facilitate the induction programs. The study recommended for further study to be conducted in other districts by using other participants and one approach especially qualitative. Additionally, it was also recommended for further study to employ different kinds of school on the same topic.


A rapid increase in the non-manual proportion of the labour force has characterised most Western nations over the past 50 years. This development appears to have had an especial impact on the socio-economic composition and work, market and status position of the group of white-collar workers on the lower fringes of the non-manual stratum, and many theorists have expected that it would have implications too for their political behaviour and social attitudes. There have been a variety of prognostications, but very little supportive evidence of reactions at the individual level. Our empirical analysis of white-collar workers in Britain and the Netherlands suggests, however, that they have not responded to change in the expected, rather dramatic way, but that the aggregate pattern of their partisanship and political attitudes remains "intermediate" between those of the solid middle and working-class groups. Further examination shows that such a finding should not be surprising, for white-collar workers have not been universally subject to similar experiences nor would they be likely to interpret them in exactly similar ways. Rather they constitute a group whose diverse political and social backgrounds continue importantly to influence their behaviour and outlook and to militate against any strong, "class-based" reaction to socio-economic change.


We report the design and evaluation of a novel game controller text entry method called TwoStick. The design is based on the review of previous work and several rounds of pilot testing. We compared user performance with TwoStick experimentally to a selection keyboard which is the de facto standard of game controller text entry. Eight participants completed 20 fifteen-minute sessions with both text entry methods. In the beginning TwoStick was slower (4.3 wpm, uncorrected error rate = 0.68%) than the selection keyboard (5.6 wpm, 0.85%). During the last session TwoStick was faster (14.9 wpm, 0.86% vs. 12.9 wpm, 0.27%). Qualitative results indicated that TwoStick was more fun and easier to use than the selection keyboard.


We present the first study of parametric resonance in quantum field theory from a complete next-to-leading order calculation in a 1/N expansion of the two-particle irreducible effective action, which includes scattering and memory effects. We present a complete numerical solution for an O(N)-symmetric scalar theory and provide an approximate analytic description of the nonlinear dynamics in the entire amplification range. We find that the classical resonant amplification at early times is followed by a collective amplification regime with explosive particle production in a broad momentum range, which is not accessible in a leading-order calculation.


Ten years on from its launch, it is clear that EMU, which has to be regarded as a more profound regime change than is often acknowledged, has had a pronounced effect on economic governance. As a framework for the conduct of macroeconomic policy, EMU has had undoubted successes in assuring price stability and in instilling greater fiscal discipline, yet it is open to the criticism that it has not (yet?) delivered improved performance in the real economy. Moreover, some of the compromises made at the outset and over the twenty years since the roadmap for EMU was first set out, notably to reconcile divergent French and German preferences, have left certain elements of the policy architecture unresolved. In the coming years, several more Member States are expected to become full participants in EMU, so that fresh thinking on the governance arrangements is warranted, not least to accommodate the rather different economic characteristics of the candidate countries.


The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different ultrasound conditions on yield and physicochemical, thermal, and textural properties of some pulse starches. The materials were green lentil, red lentil, faba bean, and pea. As a result, starch yield significantly decreased with increasing ultrasound amplitude or power for all pulse types (p < 0.05). Also, it was found that ultrasound treatment induced the adhesion between starch and bran and hindered the separation of starch from the bran fraction of hydrated pulses. Further, starch damage, resistant starch content, amylose content, water and oil binding capacity, swelling power, morphological granular characteristics, gelatinization characteristics, and textural properties of the untreated and ultrasound-treated pulse starches were compared.


My aim was to explain gender differences in relation to pay level satisfaction using social comparison theory. I investigated the relative effects of referents' gender and pay level on pay satisfaction levels of men and women, exploring how referents shape individuals' pay satisfaction.
 The results validate prior research findings showing women have greater pay satisfaction than men have. In contrast to previous research, I found that referents' pay level was more important than gender in explicating men's and women's pay satisfaction levels. However, this association is
 limited. Even when women compared themselves with referents at the same levels as the men were using as comparison, women's pay level satisfaction differed from that of the men in that women have relatively lower pay level satisfaction because of upward comparisons. This suggests that women
 are needed as managerial role models in organizations to improve other women's expectations of pay and accomplishments, and top executives need to encourage women, so they are not undervalued or underemployed.


Relative stabilities of the actomyosins from sei whale, bluefin tuna, and two flat fishes, Microstomus achne and Limanda herzensteini, were measured in terms of the inactivation of Ca2+-ATPase. The sequence of stability was whale, tuna, and flat fishes respectively . The heat denaturation constant KD of whale was in close proximity to that of the rabbit , though lower than it. The KD of tuna was lowest among the fishes, while that of L. herzensreini was highest. This sequence of stability remained the same when actomyosin Ca2+-ATPase was denatured by urea. On the basis of these findings, the corelationship between the adaptability of actomyosin, the physiological conditions, and the natural environments, is discussed.


We investigate the thermodynamics of one-dimensional Bose gases in the strongly correlated regime. To this end, we prepare ensembles of independent 1D Bose gases in a two-dimensional optical lattice and perform high-resolution in situ imaging of the column-integrated density distribution. Using an inverse Abel transformation we derive effective one-dimensional line-density profiles and compare them to exact theoretical models. The high resolution allows for a direct thermometry of the trapped ensembles. The knowledge about the temperature enables us to extract thermodynamic equations of state such as the phase-space density, the entropy per particle and the local pair correlation function.


This thesis explores the issue of professional education in the university setting. It is conducted against a background of uncertainty in the role for universities in the education of professionals with mixed messages coming from central government about how it views this role. There are also certain strands of theory of work-place learning that raise the issue of the possibilities or lack of possibility of carrying knowledge or skills from one community of practice to another. These theories also consider contextualised as opposed to de-contextualised learning. The specific site or case chosen to examine this problem is the initial teacher education of lecturers for post-school education in a Scottish university. The main question is: - Can agencies like universities have a theoretically sound and pragmatically robust role in developing people for professional practice, particularly the practice of teaching in post-school education? Engestrom's activity theory is used as a lens through which to address the above question using a series of written narrative accounts of the experience of learning provided by a number of participants in the case study site. The learners report both changes in identity that transformed their practices and the acquisition of new strategies, techniques, and ideas that they were able to adapt and reconstruct for use in their practice. The idea of learning in the intersection between activity systems was developed from Engestrom's work to make sense of the transformative experiences of the subjects as they crossed the boundary between work and university


A high-speed external modulation scheme for optical continuous-phase frequency-shift keying (CPFSK) is presented. In external frequency-shift keying (FSK) modulation using single-sideband modulation technology, an optical upper/lower sideband (USB/LSB) component with respect to a carrier frequency is selectively generated. However, the FSK-modulated signal has phase discontinuities at the timings of frequency shifts. To overcome the problem, we propose a synchronous control technique that enables continuous phase modulation. In the external CPFSK modulation, the USB/LSB is allowed to shift to the other state when their phases coincide with each other. It is shown that CPFSK with a zero-to-peak frequency deviation of 0.5times(bit rate) is achieved with this synchronous control. Occupant bandwidth is less than half that of the externally modulated incoherent FSK with phase discontinuities. At a modulation speed of 10 Gb/s, higher order sidelobes are highly suppressed by more than 20 dB at the 20-GHz offset, comparing to a conventional binary phase-shift keying (BPSK). By the use of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with balanced photodetection, receiver sensitivity is 3-dB greater than that of an on-off keying, as well as a BPSK. In this paper, we report on the experimental demonstration of CPFSK modulation/demodulation. A six-channel wavelength-division-multiplexed, 10-Gb/s CPFSK modulation/demodulation was successfully demonstrated


Acinic cell carcinomas of the parotid should be considered distinct malignancies despite descriptions of low‐grade malignant potential and innocuous histologic patterns. Benign‐appearing tumors frequently have a clinically malignant course. Blood‐borne metastases may occur early despite gross and microscopic innocence. Indolent growth may be a characteristic of local disease, which may then be approached with less than radical parotidectomy and sacrifice of the facial nerve. These tumors prove to be radiosensitive. More aggressive postoperative irradiation and palliative irradiation is recommended. Two cases of successful palliation of spinal metastases are presented as examples of radiosensitivity of this tumor.


The current medley of interoperability protocols is potentially problematic. Each protocol is designed by a different group, each provides a single service, and has its own syntax and vocabulary. Popular protocols such as RSS are designed with simple and easy to understand documentation, which is a key factor for the high adoption levels. But the majority of protocols are complex, making them relatively difficult for programmers to understand and implement.
This research proposes a possible new direction for high-level interoperability protocols design.
The High-level Interoperability Protocol - Common Framework (HIP-CF) is designed and evaluated as a proof of concept that if interoperability is made simpler, then it can increase adoption levels, making it easier for programmers to understand and implement protocols, therefore leading to more interoperable systems.
HIP-CF is not suggested as the alternative to current production protocols. Rather it is suggested that the design approach taken by HIP-CF can be applied to other protocols, and also that a suite of simpler protocols is a better solution than various simple individual protocols. Evaluation results show that current protocols can be substantially improved on. These improvements could and maybe should be the result of a deeper analysis of the goals of today's protocols and also a collaboration amongst the different groups that design high-level interoperability protocols.
This research presents a new approach and suggests future experimental research options for the field of high-level interoperability protocol design.


This paper describes a rate control algorithm that captures not only the behavior of TCP's congestion control avoidance mechanism but also the delay constraints of real-time streams. Building upon the TFRC protocol , a new protocol has been designed for estimating the bandwidth prediction model parameters. Making use of RTP and RTCP, this protocol allows to better take into account the multimedia flows characteristics (variable packet size, delay ...). Given the current channel state estimated by the above protocol, encoder and decoder buffers states as well as delay constraints of the real-time video source are translated into encoder rate constraints. This global rate control model, coupled with an H.263+ loss resilient video compression algorithm, has been extensively experimented with on various Internet links. The experiments clearly demonstrate the benefits of 1/ the new protocol used for estimating the bandwidth prediction model parameters, adapted to multimedia flows characteristics, and of 2/ the global rate control model encompassing source buffers and end-to-end delay characteristics. The overall system leads to reduce significantly the source timeouts, hence to minimize the expected distortion, for a comparable usage of the TCP-compatible predicted bandwidth.


Background: The entry point to prevention, treatment and control measure of HIV infection is Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT).
Objective of Study: This study sought to assess the level of awareness, attitude and preception of VCT among women of reproductive age group in passo community, Abuja, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: Between 1st May to 31st July of 2017, interviewer-based questionares was used to assess the socio-demographic data, knowledge of VCT, perception and attitude towards utilization of VCT and factors affecting VCT utilization. The community was d
ivided into three (3) settlements, each having fifty (50) households, from which one respondent was randomly selected for the study.
Results: Seventy (46.7%) of the 150 respondents were aware of VCT; sixty two (62) were not aware and have no knowledge of VCT. There is a significant associtaion between occupation and level of education (p<0.05) and knowledge of VCT. There is no significant associacation between marital status, age and the level of awarenes of VCT (p>0.05). Ninety persent of the   respondents believed VCT is usefull in preventing mother to child transmission of HIV, 116(89.9%) believed its useful to those preparing for marriage, 112 (86.8%) believed VCT is necessary for pregnant women, whil 102 (79.1%) believed VCT is useful to those who need to know their HIV status. Respondents believed that stigmatization and discrimination (87.3%), attitude of health workers administering VCT (78.7%), location of VCT center (76.7%), and doubt about clients'confidentiality (63.3%) are the leading factors affecting VCT utilization.
Conclusion: Despite favourable attitude towards VCT by study respondents, majority of them were not aware of VCT. In consideration to factors that may limit VCT utilization by people, it's recommended that mass education of utilization of VCT using appropriate physiological approach be considered by health workers and policy makers.


In a preliminary study to determine the applicability of the Abbott radiative energy attenuation (REA) method for the quantification of ethanol in whole blood specimens it was concluded that a larger number of samples was required to evaluate the method, particularly for use in forensic toxicology applications. In this study, 573 blood specimens from suspected driving while intoxicated individuals (DWI blood) and 532 postmortem blood specimens (PM blood) were analyzed by the REA method and a headspace gas chromatographic method (GC) currently used in this laboratory. "Negative" specimens (less than 10 mg/dL by GC) and "positive" specimens (greater than or equal to 10 mg/dL by GC) in each category were analyzed. Linear regression analysis comparing the REA values with the GC values was performed for each type of blood specimen. The equation obtained for DWI blood specimens was REA = 0.943 GC + 1.54; the equation for PM blood specimens was REA = 0.980 GC + 2.76. The correlation coefficient for each group was greater than 0.99. The data suggested that a limit of detection of 10 mg/dL could be applied for DWI blood specimens, while 20 mg/dL would be recommended as the limit of detection for PM blood specimens.


Objective – To assess and compare the effectiveness of online and face-to-face library orientations.

Design – Pretest/posttest.

Setting – A public university in the United States of America.

Subjects – Graduate students in a Master of Social Work program.

Methods – At the beginning of the fall 2013 semester, students in 3 different sections of a social work research methods course were asked to complete a 17-question assessment to evaluate their information literacy skills and knowledge. Then, 1 section (Campus A) received a 50-minute in-class library orientation from a librarian, while the other 2 sections (Campus B and Off Campus) received orientation through asynchronous online video tutorials.

Post library orientation, research labs were then held for all three class sections, during which students received some hands-on time working with a librarian. After the hands-on labs, students were invited to complete the posttest assessment, which consisted of the same 17 questions.

Main Results – The researcher collected 59 pre-test and 27 posttest responses, although many respondents did not answer all the questions. Moreover, none of the posttest responses from the Off Campus students was deemed usable by the researcher.

After attending the library orientation and lab sessions, students were more likely to choose the library or a librarian as their starting point for research (19% pretest, 40% posttest). Students' ability to identify book or chapter title in a citation (48% pretest, 92% posttest), and determine whether common knowledge required citations (87% correct in pre-test, 100% posttest) also appeared to improve after the library sessions. In addition, students' skills in assessing the scholarliness and credibility of an article by its abstract also improved. While there were some anecdotal variations between responses between Campus A and Campus B groups, no statistically significant differences were noted.

Conclusion – The study results suggest that regardless of format, library orientations and hands on lab session had positive effects on graduate students' information literacy skills and knowledge.


We consider the problem of computing spanners of Euclidean and unit disk graphs embedded in the two-dimensional Euclidean plane. We are particularly interested in spanners that possess useful properties such as planarity, bounded degree, and/or light weight. Such spanners have been extensively studied in the area of computational geometry and have been used as the building block for constructing efficient and reliable wireless network communication topologies. We study the above problem under two computational models: the centralized and the distributed model. In the distributed model we focus on algorithms that are local. Such algorithms are suitable for the relevant applications (e.g., wireless computing). Under the centralized model, we present an $O(n\lg n)$ time algorithm that computes a bounded-degree plane spanner of a complete Euclidean graph, where $n$ is the number of points in the graph. Both upper bounds on the degree and the stretch factor significantly improve the previous bounds. We extend this algorithm to compute a bounded-degree plane lightweight spanner of a complete Euclidean graph. Under the distributed model, we give the first local algorithm for computing a spanner of a unit disk graph that is of bounded degree and plane. The upper bounds on the degree, stretch factor, and the locality of the algorithm dramatically improve the previous results, as shown in the paper. This algorithm can also be extended to compute a bounded-degree plane lightweight spanner of a unit disk graph. Our algorithms rely on structural and geometric results that we develop in this paper.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Cannabis is a widely used substance that may impair select cognitive domains, including attention and memory. Problematic cannabis use is a common clinical problem among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Few studies have investigated the effects of cannabis abstinence on cognition in MDD. Thus, our study aimed to determine whether a 28-day period of cannabis abstinence is associated with improvements in cognition in patients with MDD and comorbid cannabis use disorder (CUD).

METHODS
We evaluated the effects of 28 days of cannabis abstinence on cognition in MDD patients with comorbid CUD facilitated by contingency management, motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, and coping-skills training (N = 11). Primary outcomes included Baseline to Day 28 changes in verbal memory and learning, while secondary outcomes included Baseline to Day 28 changes in working memory, visuospatial working memory (VSWM), visual search speed, mental flexibility, response inhibition, attention, manual dexterity, and fine motor movement.

RESULTS
Eight participants (72.7%) met the pre-specified criteria for cannabis abstinence and three participants significantly reduced their cannabis use (≥90%). Visual search speed, selective attention, and VSWM improved over the study period. These improvements were not associated with changes in cannabis metabolite levels from baseline to endpoint.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that 28 days of cannabis abstinence may improve select cognitive domains in patients with MDD and comorbid CUD.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE
This was the first study to longitudinally examine the effects of cannabis on cognition in MDD.

CLINICAL TRIAL
Effects of Cannabis Abstinence on Symptoms and Cognition in Depression (NCT03624933; https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS
gov).


Culture is an intricate concept, with many different classifications. Simply put, "culture" refers to a group or community with which we share common experiences that shape the way we understand the world. Each of us is shaped by many factors, and culture is one of the powerful forces that influence our lives. This paper offers a critique of problems experienced in multicultural learning environments and explores factors that inhibit intercultural communication. In addition, this paper highlights current psychological and cultural issues which are relevant to contemporary life in South Africa.


The problem of scheduling an inverse dynamics computation consisting of m computational modules to be executed on a multiprocessor system consisting of p identical homogeneous processors to achieve a minimum-scheduled length is presented. To achieve the minimum computation time, the Newton-Euler equations of motion are expressed in the homogeneous linear recurrence form, which results in achieving maximum parallelism. To speed up the searching for a solution, a heuristic search algorithm called dynamical highest level first/most immediate successors first (DHLF/MISF) is proposed to find a fast but suboptimal schedule. For an optimal schedule, the minimum-scheduled-length problem can be solved by a state-space search method. An objective function is defined in terms of the task execution time, and the optimization of the objective function is based on the minimax of the execution time. The proposed optimization algorithm solves the minimum-scheduled-length problem in pseudopolynomial time and can be used to solve various large-scale problems in a reasonable time.<<ETX>>


Today, we spend various types of spaces in a day. It would be private spaces or public spaces. Public spaces have more variety function than private one. One type is for acting with public on purpose which is represented parks, public transportations, and libraries. The other is kind of waiting area, that is taken to go any public space. My project is about the creation of a familiar experience and mood in public spaces in order to enable people to feel more comfortable in unfamiliar public environments. I focus my explorations on waiting areas, like in airports or train stations, where being exposed to unfamiliar space could cause aggravation or even distress while one has to spend time in these unfamiliar spaces. I try to transfer home feeling, one of the most private spaces, to the public spaces, by using sense of sight, hear, and smell, determinant of atmospheres in certain spaces. Among the sense, I more investigate light and shadows which are related with sense of sight. Unlike common used method in interior design, changing construction, colours, and so on, I try to make combination of real and unreal with light and shadows in one space.


We study whether and how can we model a joint distribution $p(x,z)$ using two conditional models $p(x|z)$ and $q(z|x)$ that form a cycle. This is motivated by the observation that deep generative models, in addition to a likelihood model $p(x|z)$, often also use an inference model $q(z|x)$ for extracting representation, but they rely on a usually uninformative prior distribution $p(z)$ to define a joint distribution, which may render problems like posterior collapse and manifold mismatch. To explore the possibility to model a joint distribution using only $p(x|z)$ and $q(z|x)$, we study their compatibility and determinacy, corresponding to the existence and uniqueness of a joint distribution whose conditional distributions coincide with them. We develop a general theory for operable equivalence criteria for compatibility, and sufficient conditions for determinacy. Based on the theory, we propose a novel generative modeling framework CyGen that only uses the two cyclic conditional models. We develop methods to achieve compatibility and determinacy, and to use the conditional models to fit and generate data. With the prior constraint removed, CyGen better fits data and captures more representative features, supported by both synthetic and real-world experiments.


Background Individuals with vitamin B12 deficiency (including pernicious anaemia) often report being 'let down' or stigmatised by general practice systems and policy, and choose instead to self-medicate via injection; the association between this and perceptions of safe primary care in this group of people is unknown. Aim To examine the association between self-medication for vitamin B12 deficiency and patient-reported safety in primary care. Design and setting A UK cross-sectional online survey. Method The survey consisted of the three components: demographics; the validated Primary Care Patient Measure of Safety; and questions about self-medication for vitamin B12 deficiency. Multivariable logistic regression analyses and thematic synthesis were undertaken. Results Responses from 1297 participants indicated 508 (39.2%) self-medicated via injection. Perceived primary care safety was low. Those who self-medicated via injection reported a significantly lower level of patient safety in primary care including adverse patient-related factors (odds ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval = 0.73 to 0.92), and patients >34 years of age were significantly more likely to self-medicate via injection. Many reported that treatment under the guidance of a clinician was preferable to self-medication, but felt they had no other choice to regain quality of life. Almost half felt that the doctor did not always consider what they wanted for their care. Conclusion To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest study to date examining patient safety and vitamin B12 deficiency. It found that four out of 10 patients with B12 deficiency self-medicate via injection. Patients who self-medicated perceived primary care as less safe. Providing patient-centred care and treating these patients with dignity and respect is a policy priority to reduce unsafe health behaviours.


To evaluate the effect of thermal and mechanical cycles on dentin bond strength to cervical margins of Class II restorations, 80 box-type Class II cavities were prepared on the surfaces of bovine incisors. The cavities were restored with Single Bond (3M-ESPE) and Z-250 composite (3M-ESPE) according to manufacturer's instructions. The incisors were divided into four groups: G1-Control, G2- Thermal cycling (2,000 cycles, 5 degrees C-55 degrees C), G3- Mechanical cycling (100,000 cycles; 50N) and G4- Thermal and mechanical cycling (2,000 cycles 5 degrees C-55 degrees C/100,000 cycles; 50N). The restorations were sectioned perpendicular to the cervical bonded interface into 0.7 +/- 0.2 mm-thick slabs. The slabs were further trimmed at the interface to 1.4 +/- 0.2 mm with a fine diamond bur to produce a cross-sectional surface area of 1 mm2. All specimens were then subjected to microtensile bond testing. Means and standard deviations were expressed in MPa. The bond strength data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Fisher's PLSD test (p<0.05). Fracture mode analysis was performed using SEM. Bond strengths were significantly lower when thermal and mechanical cycling were performed [G4-2.41 (8.57)] when compared to the other groups [G1-28.15 (14.03); G2-27.60 (10.14); G3-27.59 (8.67)]. No differences were observed among Groups 1, 2 and 3. Interfacial fracture of the control (G1) and thermocycling (G2) groups mainly occurred between the deepest portion of the adhesive resin and the top layer of the demineralized dentin (Interphase). Mixed failure was predominant and increased when mechanical cycling was applied (G3 and G4).