Ghana, like many developing countries, has fewer trained, qualified teachers than the number the country needs to realise the Education For All goals of quality education by 2015. The failure of Ghana's teacher education sector to turn out sufficient numbers of qualified trained teachers is as a result of numerous factors including existing Colleges of Education (CoEs) not having enough facilities to train the high number of untrained teachers (UTs) through the traditional campus-based model and difficulty of access to teacher education places. In response to these limitations, the Teacher Education Division, with the support of the CoEs, adopted an alternative pathway for initial teacher preparation known as Untrained Teachers' Diploma in Basic Education (UTDBE) in the latter part of 2004. This model of initial teacher preparation differs from the traditional campus-based model as the training is largely non-residential with limited provision of face-to-face meetings.
After four years of implementation, key stakeholders, notably the top hierarchy of Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education, were calling for the extension of the programme by way of admitting another cohort of students. However, it was clear from my perspective as a senior professional involved in Teacher Education and with seven years of professional knowledge and experience in Distance Teacher Education that there was a lack of in-depth, theoretically-informed research into the programme, particularly with respect to the views of UTs themselves.
The study was therefore designed using an in-depth case study approach to discover the views of UT participants on how the UTDBE had influenced their professional development and the quality of their teaching and learning, with a particular interest in the view of six UTs who were the direct beneficiaries of the programme. The research methods adopted were predominantly qualitative, and included observations and analysis of documents, a series of interviews with selected UTs, including focus groups and one-on-one interviews in which UTs reflected on videos they had taken of their practice.
The findings suggest the potential of the UTDBE as a source for teachers (especially, those in underserved communities and locations) to learn, develop, update their skills and knowledge and improve instructional practices consistent with learner-centred approaches and professional practices. In addition, the opportunity that the UTDBE offers UTs to teach as classroom teachers while completing their professional programmes seems to have given them the chance to at least integrate and relate theoretical knowledge and experiences from CoEs to the practical realities in the classrooms and schools.
However, the data indicated a number of challenges facing the UTDBE programme which undoubtedly affected the extent to which it promoted professional and personal development and learner-centred practices. These included (i) inability of the programme to take advantage of professional learning experiences that might be possible ICTs were introduced (ii) weak district, school and college collaboration (iii) the difficulties and complexities in managing relations between UTs and mentors (iv) tutoring during residential face-to-face meeting devoted to large group lectures (v) the over-loaded nature of course content and the difficulty and loaded nature of the content of some modules (vi) inability of UTs to make maximum use of college facilities (vii) other mechanisms of professional development such as cluster meetings and lesson observation not being used to their full potential (viii) largely non-recognition of the 'wisdom of practice' of UTs and (ix) tensions in expectations between the different communities of practice of the different contexts of training and practice.
The thesis therefore makes an important contribution to our knowledge about the development of alternative forms of teacher education in such contexts.


Eosinophils play an important role in allergic inflammatory diseases such as allergic asthma. Infiltrates of these cells are present in the interstitium and the lumen of the bronchi of asthmatic patients. Eosinophils must pass the endothelium to enter this site of inflammation. A widely accepted paradigm for leukocyte extravasation is
the multistep model. In this model selectins mediate rolling interactions between leukocytes and endothelium and subsequently, activated integrins facilitate firm adhesion and extravasation of the cells. The interactions between eosinophils and activated endothelial cells have been studied under flow conditions. This has been done in a flow chamber model in which a blood vessel is simulated.

In chapter 1 (general introduction) the multistep model of extravasation is explained. Furthermore, eosinophils function and their role in allergic asthma has been described.
In chapter 2 data are presented on the function of alpha 4 integrins and E-selectin in the initial attachment of eosinophils to TNF-? activated endothelial cells.
In chapter 3 data are presented on the differences in adhesion behavior between eosinophils of healthy blood donors and of allergic asthmatic patients on activated endothelial cells under flow conditions. Remarkably, eosinophils of allergic asthmatic patients bound platelets in contrast to cells of healthy controls. The platelet-eosinophil interactions resulted in increased adhesion to activated endothelial cells via a process that is called " secondary tethering".
In chapter 4 data are presented on the role of IL-8 on eosinophil arrest. IL-8 is a typical neutrophil activator but is not known to be a eosinophil activator. We showed that IL-8 can induce 1) an alpha 4- and beta 2-integrin dependent arrest of rolling eosinophils on activated endothelial cells and 2) an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration of eosinophils binding to fibronectin and activated endothelial cells. Thus, IL-8 is not only a neutrophil activator but also an eosinophil activator.
In chapter 5 data are presented on the role of phospholipase C (PLC) in the chemokine-induced integrin activation of eosinophils. Three chemokines, IL-8, eotaxin and C5a were tested on their ability to induce a PLC dependent arrest of eosinophils. Eotaxin mediated a totally PLC-dependent arrest whereas IL-8 and C5a only induced a partial PLC-dependent arrest. In resting eosinophils PLC is also important because inhibition of PLC decreased the functionality of alpha 4 integrins.
In chapter 6 data are presented on the migration behavior of eosinophils. Migrating cells display a typical tear-drop shape while migrating. The front is a broad protrusion (lamellipodium) whereas the back of the cell is a small point-like structure (uropod). The small GTP-ase RhoA was found to play an important role in the regulation of the movement of the uropod.
In chapter 7 (general discussion) the data of chapter 2-6 are discussed. Special emphasis was give to the validation of the model, the possible working mechanisms of PLC in integrin regulation, the role of platelets in the binding of eosinophils of allergic asthmatic patients to activated endothelial cells and possible target molecules for therapy.


Our findings demonstrate a possible cross-transmission of methicillin resistant staphylococci between goats and their local environments and between goats and humans. Due to ever increasing resistance to multiple antibiotics, the burden of MRS has a significant impact on livestock farming, public health, and the economy worldwide. ABSTRACT We conducted a pilot whole genome sequencing (WGS) study to characterize the genotypes of nine methicillin resistant staphylococci (MRS) isolates recovered from goats and their farm environments in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, between November 2019 to August 2020. Seven out of nine isolates were methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and two were methicillin resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE). All MRSA isolates possessed genotypes previously identified to infect humans, including isolates harboring ST6-SCCmec IV-t304 (n = 4), ST5-SCCmec VI- t688 (n = 2) and ST5-SCCmec V-t311 (n = 1). 2 MRSA isolates possessed plasmids that were genetically similar to those identified in S. aureus isolates recovered from humans and poultry. In contrast, plasmids found in three MRSA isolates and one MRSE isolate were genetically similar to those recovered from humans. All MRSA isolates harbored the host innate modulate genes sak and scn previously associated with human infections. The genotypes of MRSE isolates were determined as ST35, a well-known zoonotic sequence type and ST153, which has been associated with humans. However, the MRSE isolates were untypeable due to extra ccr complexes identified in their SCCmec elements. Moreover, we identified in ST153 isolate SCCmec element also harbored the Arginine Catabolic Mobile Element (ACME) IV. All MRS isolates were phenotypically resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic for the decolonization of MRS. Three isolates carried antibiotic resistance genes in their SCCmec elements that were not previously described, including those encoding fusidic acid resistance (fusC) and trimethoprim resistance (dfrC) incorporated in the MRSA SCCmec VI. IMPORTANCE Our findings demonstrate a possible cross-transmission of methicillin resistant staphylococci between goats and their local environments and between goats and humans. Due to ever increasing resistance to multiple antibiotics, the burden of MRS has a significant impact on livestock farming, public health, and the economy worldwide. This study highlights that implementing a holistic approach to whole genome sequencing surveillance in livestock and farm environments would aid our understanding of the transmission of methicillin resistant staphylococci and, most importantly, allow us to implement appropriate infection control and hygiene practices.


There are many historical masonry heritage buildings in Malaysia which built during the British colonial period. Most of the masonry heritage buildings were dilapidated due to high dampness, salt contamination and other factors. The damaged original lime plaster or mortar require replacement to safeguard the masonry heritage building. According to the Guidelines on Heritage Building Conservation Malaysia (2017), the authenticity of the heritage building including the building materials should be conserved (p.70). Masonry is referred to the art and building of structures built from individual units such as brick, stone, concrete block, glass block and other unit masonry (Masonry, n.d.). However, the quality and durability of the masonry structure is depending on the materials used, the composition and quality of the mortar, the workmanship, and the construction or assembly pattern of the masonry structure. Hence, it is crucial to analyse the composition of the materials used in masonry heritage building conservation. This paper discusses the literature reviews and research on x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis conducted in masonry heritage building conservation projects in Malaysia. The data was collected from several literature reviews and documentation such as final conservation report and scientific test report of x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis conducted in masonry heritage building conservation projects in Malaysia. The data was compiled and analysed to reveal the process of conducting x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and interpret the analysis result for practical use in masonry heritage building conservation in Malaysia. This research findings outline the basic procedure in interpreting the result of x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis for heritage conservation project. Furthermore, the basic procedure shall act as a reference and technical guidance for future heritage building conservation projects.


The standard Support Vector Machine formulation does not provide its user with the ability to explicitly control the number of support vectors used to define the generated classifier. We present a modified version of SVM that allows the user to set a budget parameter B and focuses on minimizing the loss attained by the B worst-classified examples while ignoring the remaining examples. This idea can be used to derive sparse versions of both L1-SVM and L2-SVM. Technically, we obtain these new SVM variants by replacing the 1-norm in the standard SVM formulation with various interpolation-norms. We also adapt the SMO optimization algorithm to our setting and report on some preliminary experimental results.


In vivo, proteins are the main targets for radicals and other reactive species. Their reactions result in formation of amino acid radicals on the protein surface that often yield tryptophan and tyrosyl radicals or, in the presence of O2, protein peroxyl radicals and hydroperoxides. All these species may propagate damage to biomolecules. Low molecular weight antioxidants, such as ascorbate, urate, and glutathione, are part of the defense system and function by repairing damaged proteins. We briefly review the existing knowledge about protein and amino acid radicals and their repair by antioxidants, including results of our investigations. The main question addressed is whether the antioxidants ascorbate, urate, and glutathione are able to repair amino acid radicals in model compounds and in proteins in vitro by pulse radiolysis. We show that ascorbate and urate repair tryptophan and tyrosyl radicals efficiently and inhibit proton-coupled electron transfer from tyrosine residues to tryptophan radicals in a number of proteins. In contrast, repair by glutathione is much slower. Ascorbate also rapidly reduces the peroxyl radicals of the N-acetylamide derivatives of glycine, alanine, and proline, whereas glutathione reduces peroxyl radicals in lysozyme. In vivo urate, ascorbate, and glutathione may prevent biological damage or, at least, reduce its rate, because they: (a) repair tryptophan and tyrosyl radicals in proteins and (b) reduce protein peroxyl radicals to the corresponding protein hydroperoxides. Most likely, in vivo, ascorbate and glutathione do not inhibit the reaction of C-centered amino acid radicals with O2. Glutathione is less efficient that urate and ascorbate in repairing protein radicals; furthermore, the resulting glutathiyl radical is harmful. Ascorbate may be the more important repair agent in cells and tissues characterized by high ascorbate concentrations, such as the lens and brain; urate may be mainly responsible for repair in tissue compartments with higher urate concentrations, such as in plasma and saliva.


This Note considers the self-incrimination dilemma raised by a capital defendant's allocution statements at the sentencing phase of his trial. Allocution gives a defendant the opportunity to make a direct plea to the sentencing judge or jury. However, in a system where reversals are common, admissions made at sentencing in one trial may be used against the defendant at retrial, chilling the practice.After examining the origins of this country's bifurcated system of capital punishment and tracing the evolution of the common law right of allocution, the author contends that this ancient practice should assume a greater role in the sentencing phase of modern capital trials. The author argues that, in the context of a separate sentencing phase whose primary aim is to achieve an individualized determination of punishment, allocution performs a valuable role in providing the sentencer with greater information upon which to base its decision.While there is no constitutional doctrine that mandates use immunity in this context, there are powerful policy concerns that support such a rule. The right to be heard from personally may both aid in mitigation of sentence and broaden the participation of a defendant in his own trial. However, it is also in the state's interest, in imposing its most severe sanction, to reach the most informed result. In order to encourage allocution at capital sentencing, the author proposes granting use immunity to allocution statements, thereby preventing them from being used against a defendant at retrial.


Referential integrity (RI) is an important correctness property of a shared, distributed object storage system. It is sometimes thought that enforcing RI requires a strong form of consistency. In this paper, we argue that causal consistency suffices to maintain RI. We support this argument with pseudocode for a reference CRDT data type that maintains RI under causal consistency. QuickCheck has not found any errors in the model.


A recent publication from the Think Tank for Kangaroos (THINKK) in the Institute of Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney evaluates the idea that eating wild harvested kangaroo meat is environmentally beneficial, compared to other meats produced on rangelands (Ben-Ami et al. 2010). It finds in the negative. The report purports to be a reasoned and objective analysis based on the science surrounding kangaroo harvesting. Here we examine this document with reference to available literature, and demonstrate that it is neither well-reasoned nor accurate. It contains multiple errors of fact, inaccurately represents published research, and makes several invalid and seriously misleading comparisons. In our view, this report makes an inaccurate and potentially misleading contribution to the scientific, legal and social debate on kangaroo management. In the light of these findings we discuss the challenges to academic objectivity and rigour posed by funding of university research by interest groups.


Abstract Background Tofacitinib is an oral, small-molecule JAK inhibitor for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Using a novel electronic reporting tool, we aimed to prospectively describe the onset of tofacitinib efficacy during induction therapy in a real-world study. Methods Patient-reported outcome data (PROs) including the simple clinical colitis activity index (SCCAI), PRO Measurement Identification Systems (PROMIS) measures, and adverse events were collected daily for the first 14 days and at day 28 and 56. Paired t tests and P for trend were utilized to compare changes in SCCAI over time. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression models were performed to describe response (SCCAI <5) and remission (SCCAI ≤2) by clinical factors. Results Of all included patients (n = 96), 67% had failed ≥2 biologics, and 61.5% were on concomitant steroids. Starting at day 3, PROs showed significant and persistent decline of the mean SCCAI (−1.1, P < 000.1) including significantly lower SCCAI subscores for stool frequency (−0.3; P < .003), bleeding (−0.3; P < .0002) and urgency (−0.2; P < .001). Steroid-free remission at day 14, 28, and 56 was achieved in 25%, 30.2%, and 29.2% of patients, respectively. Neither prior biologics nor endoscopic severity were independently predictive of response or remission in multivariate models. Numeric improvements in all PROMIS measures (anxiety, depression, social satisfaction) were seen through day 56. Rates of discontinuation due to adverse events were low. Conclusions In this prospective real-world study, tofacitinib resulted in a rapid and persistent improvement in UC disease activity PROs. The safety findings were consistent with the established safety profile of tofacitinib.


The Dynamic relation mechanism between ZCE cotton futures price and related listed company stock price had been studied based on the metastock historical data in January 1st, 2007 to September 1st, 2010,Johansen co-integration analysis, Vector error correction model, Granger causality test and variance decomposition method. The results indicated that: long-term equilibrium relationship existed between ZCE cotton futures price and Xinsai share stock price while which changed in the same tendency and speed in the long-term. Cotton futures price is the main reason for the changing of Xinsai share stock price. The lead-lag relationship in changing course had been confirmed that existed between ZCE cotton futures price and the Xinsai share stock price. Meanwhile, the forward pass mechanism of price changing information had been found only from the ZCE cotton futures market to the stock market while showing asymmetry. Conclusions of the study can be used for cotton and related corporate to hedge business risks by the cotton price changes.


In December 2019, the WHO identified causative agent of outbreak as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARSCoV- 2) that causes to a disease the so called coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) after a pneumonia cases with unspecified etiology was reported in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. According to a phylogenetic investigation, the virus is meticulously correlated to bat coronavirus RaTG13. Now, in human, asymptomatic carriers can also transmit the virus. The COVID 19 virus is affecting 213 countries and territories around the world and 2 international conveyances and on May 26, 2020 more than 5,603,558 confirmed cases and 348,194 deaths have been reported. The disease has a manifestation of fever, dry cough, and chest pain with pneumonia in severe cases. Initially, it is tried to eliminate the disease in China via isolation but are now transmitted globally. Yet, there are no vaccines and drugs to treat the virus. As it is a novel virus, there are knowledge gaps that misleads to any preventive actions. Therefore, this review provides current scientific facts about the COVID-19 pandemic.


For the noninvasive diagnosis of heart disease based on the acoustic and elastic characteristics of the heart muscle, it is necessary to transcutaneously measure small vibration signals, including components with an amplitude of less than 100 /spl mu/m, from various parts of the heart wall continuously for periods of more than several heartbeats in a wide frequency range up to 1 kHz. Such measurement, however, has not been realized by any ultrasonic diagnostic methods or systems to date. By introducing the constraint least-square approach, this paper proposes a new method for accurately tracking the movement of the heart wall based on both the phase and magnitude of the demodulated signal to determine the instantaneous position of the object so that the vibration velocity of the moving object can be accurately estimated. By this method, small vibrations of the heart wall with small amplitudes less than 100 /spl mu/m on the motion resulting from a heartbeat with large amplitude of 10 mm can be successfully detected with sufficient reproducibility in the frequency range up to several hundred Hertz continuously for periods of about 10 heartbeats. The resultant small vibration is analyzed not only in the time domain, but also in the frequency domain. As confirmed by the preliminary experiments herein reported, the new method offers potential for research in acoustical diagnosis of heart disease.


This dissertation contains three studies that investigate whether attested patterns of constituent order distribution and change in the world's languages can be attributed, in part, to cognitive preferences for some constituent orders over others. To assess these preferences, seven experiments employed an elicited pantomime task. Communication in gesture without speech may reveal cognitive pressures that otherwise remain hidden. Study 1 manipulates the whether the to-be- described events are semantically non-reversible (e.g. a woman lifting a box) or reversible (e.g. a woman lifting a boy). Across three experiments, participants reliably preferred SOV for describing non-reversible events in pantomime, but avoided using SOV to describe reversible events. Although previous accounts have assumed similar behavior to be due to constraints on comprehension, the distribution of alternative orders (mainly SVO, OSV, & SOSV) suggests a greater role for constraints on production in explaining these patterns. Whereas Study 1 focuses on explaining drifts away from SOV, Study 2 tests the hypothesis that languages drift toward SVO because natural languages are subject to additional constraints that pantomime may not engage, such as pressures on information structure and efficiency. These additional pressures might work against OSV and SOSV, leaving SVO as a preferred solution for reversible events. Experiment 1 (English speakers) created more language-like conditions by simulating the emergence of a lexicon and of shared lexical knowledge. Under these conditions, OSV and SOSV decreased, and SVO increased. Experiment 2 found similar patterns with native speakers of an SOV language (Turkish), suggesting that the increase in SVO among English speakers was not simply a result of influence from their native language. Whereas Studies 1 and 2 focus on constituent order preferences in pantomime production, Study 3 focuses on pantomime comprehension. Speculation about constituent order preferences in comprehension has figured largely in linguistic and psycholinguistic theory, but little empirical evidence is currently available. Using a novel paradigm, Study 3 finds that constituent order preferences in comprehension are distinctly different from those in production, for both speakers of English (Experiment 1) and Turkish (Experiment 2). Results suggest that constraints on production may play a greater role than previously thought


This book written by two German authorities working in the State Institute for Experimental Therapy, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Frankfurt am Main, Professor R. Prigge, the Director, and Professor G. Heymann, calls for careful consideration by medical officers of health, pathologists, bacteriologists, physicians and all those concerned in the prevention of tuberculosis. There is not space to discuss all the arguments marshalled here for and against B.C.G. vaccination. Briefly, the authors describe recent findings into the structure of the tubercle bacillus and the chemical nature of its component parts. They point out the risks and hazards of B.C.G. vaccination, which appear to be more than are generally supposed, the doubts that are now expressed by Bruno Lange, Wallgren and others as to its efficacy as an immunizing agent; and they conclude that a definite verdict on the value of B.C.G. is premature, as it is essential first to conduct vaccinations that would make possible a precise evaluation. This statement also applies to other methods, for example, immunization with the vole bacillus (Wells), and vaccination with killed tubercle bacilli and the body components of their metabolic products. It is certainly true, as the authors contend, that attempts to create immunity in tuberculosis are only at their beginning scientifically and that a vast territory remains to be explored. ARTHUR S. MACNALTY


The Shapley value is one of the most important normative division scheme in cooperative game theory, satisfying basic axioms. However, some allocation according to the Shapley value may seem unfair to humans.
In this paper, we develop an automatic method that generates intuitive explanations for a Shapley-based payoff allocation, which utilizes the basic axioms. Given a coalitional game, our method decomposes it to sub-games, for which it is easy to generate verbal explanations, and shows that the given game is composed of the sub-games. Since the payoff allocation for each sub-game is perceived as fair, the Shapley-based payoff allocation for the given game should seem fair as well.
We run an experiment with 210 human participants and show that when applying our method, humans perceive Shapley-based payoff allocation as significantly more fair than when using a general standard explanation.


A previous blog post by Jill Rutter discussed an Institute for Government project on how Government policy making might be improved. The recommendations make a strong case for a more open and inclusive approach to developing policy, in particular with regard to tapping into the reservoirs of information and analysis which lie in academic communities. Yet in a similar vein, the academic community also needs to adapt, argues Liz Carolan, who puts forward here three useful pointers for academics on improving their capacity to influence policy.


Saccharomyces cerevisiae is unique among yeasts in its ability to grow rapidly in the complete absence of oxygen. S. cerevisiae is therefore an ideal eukaryotic model to study physiological adaptation to anaerobiosis. Recent transcriptome analyses have identified hundreds of genes that are transcriptionally regulated by oxygen availability but the relevance of this cellular response has not been systematically investigated at the key control level of the proteome. Therefore, the proteomic response of S. cerevisiae to anaerobiosis was investigated using metabolic stable-isotope labelling in aerobic and anaerobic glucose-limited chemostat cultures, followed by relative quantification of protein expression. Using independent replicate cultures and stringent statistical filtering, a robust dataset of 474 quantified proteins was generated, of which 249 showed differential expression levels. While some of these changes were consistent with previous transcriptome studies, many of the responses of S. cerevisiae to oxygen availability were, to our knowledge, previously unreported. Comparison of transcriptomes and proteomes from identical cultivations yielded strong evidence for post-transcriptional regulation of key cellular processes, including glycolysis, amino-acyl-tRNA synthesis, purine nucleotide synthesis and amino acid biosynthesis. The use of chemostat cultures provided well-controlled and reproducible culture conditions, which are essential for generating robust datasets at different cellular information levels. Integration of transcriptome and proteome data led to new insights into the physiology of anaerobically growing yeast that would not have been apparent from differential analyses at either the mRNA or protein level alone, thus illustrating the power of multi-level studies in yeast systems biology.


PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to determine the reliability of yo-yo intermittent recovery test (yo-yo) scores and their degree of association with a 20-m shuttle run (20MSR) and VO(2max) values.

METHODS
Subjects were elite (Australian Football League [AFL], n = 23), state-level (hockey, n = 15, and cricket, n = 27), and recreational team-sport players (n = 33). All performed a 20MSR and the yo-yo at either level 1 (recreational and state level) or level 2 (AFL). A recreational subgroup (n = 19) also performed a treadmill VO(2max) test.

RESULTS
Test-retest results found the yo-yo (levels 1 and 2) to be reliable (ICC = .86 to .95). The 20MSR and yo-yo level 1 scores correlated (P < .01) in the recreational (r = .81 to .83) and state-level groups (r = .84 to .86), and 20MSR and yo-yo level 2 scores, in the elite (r = .86) and recreational groups (r = .55 to .57). The VO(2max) and yo-yo level 1 scores in the recreational group correlated (P < .01, r = .87), but no association was found with yo-yo level 2 (r = .40 to .43, nonsignificant).

CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that level 1 (recreational and state level) and level 2 (elite) yo-yo scores were both strongly associated with 20MSR scores and VO(2max) (level 1: recreational subjects only). The yo-yo appears to measure aerobic fitness similarly to the 20MSR but may also be used as a field test of the ability to repeat high-intensity efforts.


The purpose of this document is to clearly describe the proposed research questions and methodology for a systematic review on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions in disease outbreaks. The systematic review has a singular overarching objective in assessing the impact of emergency hygiene interventions. The primary research question will be answered through four secondary objectives that further evaluate: a) use of service and disease reduction; b) positive intervention characteristics; c) cost-effectiveness; and d) non-health related factors of emergency WASH interventions in disease outbreaks. This review is funded through the Humanitarian Evidence Programme , a UK Aid-funded partnership between Oxfam and Feinstein International Center (FIC) at the Friedman School of Nutrition at Tufts University. The Humanitarian Evidence Programme aims to synthesize evidence in the humanitarian sector and communicate the findings to stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of improving humanitarian policy and practice.


The present work quantifies the equilibrium defect and adsorbate chemistry on oxide surfaces in the presence of multiple gas components at elevated temperatures and sub-surface space charge. The concentrations of chemisorbed H2O and CO2 as well as surface protons and oxygen vacancies were calculated for Y-doped BaZrO3 using a thermodynamic framework with input from first-principles calculations. The overall energy of the system was minimized based on contributions from gas adsorption, interactions between defects and adsorbates, segregation of point defects and space-charge formation, as well as configurational entropy. The coverage dependent adsorption energies were found as −1.44 + 0.34ΘH2O eV and −2.25 + 1.21ΘCO2 eV for chemisorption of H2O and CO2, respectively. The interaction between the adsorbates was found to follow 1.72ΘH2OΘCO2 eV. The coverage of surface protons was above 0.3 up to 1000 K under most considered conditions (0.01–1 bar H2O, 4 × 10−4–1 bar CO2) due to a favorable interaction with both surface hydroxide and CO2 adsorbates. Most importantly, the results show that the coadsorption, adsorbate interactions or space-charge formation each played a major role in the obtained defect concentrations and surface coverages. Thus, the approach in this work demonstrates the importance of considering quantitatively each of these aspects in obtaining accurately the surface equilibria on complex catalytic oxides.


According to Boudon, social background affects educational transitions as a result of differences in children's academic performance (primary effects) and differences in transition probabilities given children's level of academic performance (secondary effects). This study addresses historical changes in both primary and secondary effects on the educational transition from primary school to higher secondary education in The Netherlands. In addition, it considers changes over time in the relative importance of these effects. The study compares five cohorts of Dutch pupils, specifically those enrolling in secondary education in 1965, 1977, 1989, 1993 and 1999, and it employs counterfactual analyses. The main findings are that secondary effects have been stable and primary effects have fluctuated to some extent. As a result, the proportion of the total effect of social background accounted for by primary effects has increased somewhat, from 53 per cent to 58 per cent.


The question in this article is how citizenship is reinvented and recontextualized in a newly founded European Union after the launching of Union Citizenship. What kind of conceptions of citizenship are produced in this new and evolving organization? The research material consists of documents presented by EU organs from 1994 to 2007 concerning eight EU programs on citizenship and culture. I will analyze conceptual similarities (continuities) and differences (discontinuities) between these documents and previous conceptualizations in various contexts, including citizenship discussions in the history of integration since the 1970s as well as theories of democracy and nation-states. Based on the analysis of participation, rights, and identity as central dimensions of citizenship, I will discuss the relationship of Union Citizenship to democracy and nationality.


The acquisition of appropriate linguistic markers of information structure (IS), e.g., word order and specific lexical and syntactic constructions, is a rather late development. This study revisits the debate on language-general preferred word order in IS and examines the use of language-specific means to encode IS in Mandarin Chinese. An elicited production study of conjunct noun phrases (NPs) of new and old referents was conducted with native Mandarin-speaking children (N = 24, mean age 4;6) and adults (N = 25, mean age 26). (The age of children is conventionally notated as years;months). The result shows that adults differ significantly from children in preferring the "old-before-new" word order. This corroborates prior findings in other languages (e.g., German, English, Arabic) that adults prefer a language-general "old-before-new" IS, whereas children disprefer or show no preference for that order. Despite different word order preferences, Mandarin-speaking children and adults resemble each other in the lexical and syntactic forms to encode old and new referents: bare NPs dominate the conjunct NPs, and indefinite classifier NPs are used for both the old and the new referents, but when only one classifier phrase is produced, it is predominantly used to refer to the new referents, which suggests children's early sensitivity to language-specific syntactic devices to mark IS.


Objective. General practice co-operatives have led to significant improvements in quality of life for general practitioners. Little is known about general practitioners' own experiences with the working arrangements and governance of co-operatives. This study investigates GP satisfaction, the working environment, governance and future developments in co-operatives. Methods. A questionnaire was sent to GPs in two co-operatives in the Republic of Ireland, covering mixed urban and rural areas. Results. Of 221 GPs in the co-operatives, 82% responded and confirmed the co-operatives' positive effects on their lives. However, 57% still received requests for out-of-hours care while off duty, most commonly from patients who preferred to see their own doctor. Half felt overburdened by out-of-hours work, especially those over 40 y of age. Twenty-five per cent were dissatisfied with the GP complaints mechanism. The majority (63%) would prefer a GP/health board partnership for the organization of out of hours, while 23% wanted sole responsibility. GPs indicated a strong need for better ancillary services such as nursing, mental health, dentistry, pharmacy and social work. Access to records is an important issue in terminal care and mental illness. Conclusion. While GP co-operatives are a success story for general practice, they will work better for general practitioners and their patients if nursing, mental health, dentistry, pharmacy and social services are improved. Support and training is needed in mental health, palliative and emergency care to increase competence and reduce stress. GPs are willing to work with health authorities in further co-operative development. More attention needs to be paid to the complaints and suggestions of GPs in the running and governance of their co-operatives.


This paper tries to describe the narratives of parents with children who have a heart condition and who want to share their experience, as found at healthtalk.org, in order to detect how information, knowledge (and empathy) are deployed with the aim of helping other people in a similar situation to fill a cognitive and emotional gap. The investigation was carried out by detecting the most recurrent discursive patterns in the narratives, followed by an analysis of the most frequently used verb that best expresses parents' cognitive awareness (or lack of it) in their experience with their children with congenital heart disease: know. The discourses in these self-narratives follow an emotional flow which varies from story to story but presents a recurrent thread. This does not follow a precise chronological order, as flash-backs and emotions prevail in all the stories, but the main points are found in them all. The analysis of the most frequently used verb, know, carried out with Voyant, reflects the described narratives. The leitmotif underpinning all these points is the question of good parenthood: good parents are those who protect their children.


Tropical forests play a significant role in the global carbon cycle and global climate. However, tropical carbon cycling and the feedbacks from tropical ecosystems to the climate system remain critical uncertainties in the current generation of carbon-climate models. One of the major un- certainties comes from the lack of representation of phospho- rus (P), currently believed to be the most limiting nutrient in tropical regions. Here we introduce P dynamics and C-N- P interactions into the CLM4-CN (Community Land Model version 4 with prognostic Carbon and Nitrogen) model and investigate the role of P cycling in controlling the productiv- ity of tropical ecosystems. The newly developed CLM-CNP model includes all major biological and geochemical pro- cesses controlling P availability in soils and the interactions between C, N, and P cycles. Model simulations at sites along a Hawaiian soil chronosequence indicate that the introduc- tion of P limitation greatly improved the model performance at the P-limited site. The model is also able to capture the shift in nutrient limitation along this chronosequence (from N limited to P limited), as shown in the comparison of model- simulated plant responses to fertilization with the observed data. Model simulations at Amazonian forest sites show that CLM-CNP is capable of capturing the overall trend in NPP (net primary production) along the P availability gradient. This comparison also suggests a significant interaction be- tween nutrient limitation and land use history. Model experi- ments under elevated atmospheric CO2 ((CO2)) conditions suggest that tropical forest responses to increasing (CO 2) will interact strongly with changes in the P cycle. We high- light the importance of two feedback pathways (biochemical mineralization and desorption of secondary mineral P) that can significantly affect P availability and determine the ex- tent of P limitation in tropical forests under elevated (CO 2). Field experiments with elevated CO2 are therefore needed to help quantify these important feedbacks. CO2 doubling model experiments show that tropical forest response to ele- vated (CO2) can only be predicted if the interactions between C cycle and nutrient dynamics are well understood and rep- resented in models. Predictive modeling of C-nutrient inter- actions will have important implications for the prediction of future carbon uptake and storage in tropical ecosystems and global climate change.


Abstract The paper deals with specific aspects regarding the current development trends of electromobility in the context of road freight transport. The current system of electric vehicles for road freight transport and the relevant investigations are based on the experience with operating trolleybuses, which have the same power supply of traction motors from the overhead traction line by means of traction pantographs. As for the future, it has not been decided yet which electromobility-related power system will be used in practice, whether the supply of electric motors from traction lines or battery packs. In the introductory chapters, the manuscript discusses the fundamental information regarding the electromobility, current projects dealing with this issue, individual aspects and attributes related to these existing power systems, and their advantages and disadvantages in terms of their usage. In the most important part of the manuscript, the adequate evaluation is performed, as well as very recommendations for future research in a given topic are proposed.


The study was undertaken to define the effect of hyperosmolar solutions on arterial blood oxygen levels. Analysis of arterial blood oxygenation after hyperosmolar solution infusions revealed a drop in partial pressure of oxygen (132.14 +/- 70.36, 120.0 +/- 66.48, and 119.24 +/- 70.10 mm Hg). At the same time there was a reduction in the extravascular lung water index (p < 0.05) as compared with the baseline values (7.93 +/- 2.17, 7.31 +/- 1.7), and Z62 +/- 1.99 ml/kg), respectively. This effect is particularly marked in a group of patients in whom the arterial blood content of oxygen is in the lower normal range. To evaluate and eliminate the above effect in reducing the arterial blood level, it is necessary to estimate respiratory indices during hyperosmolar solution infusion.


This paper presents a novel wavelength assignment algorithm for alloptical networks. The main idea is to determine the wavelength assignment order for a first fit algorithm taking into account the physical layer effects of four wave mixing and residual dispersion by using a training algorithm inspired in evolutionary computation concepts. The intelligent algorithm presents some concepts recently proposed in the computational intelligent field, such as an external archive to store the best solutions. The proposed wavelength assignment algorithm was compared with others classical algorithms such as regular first fit, best fit and random. In all the cases our proposal presented a better performance.


Thermal models of buildings are often used to identify energy savings within a building. Given that a significant proportion of that energy is typically used to maintain building temperature, establishing the optimal control of the buildings thermal system is important. This requires an understanding of the thermal dynamics of the building, which is often obtained from physical thermal models. However, these models require detailed building parameters to be specified and these can often be difficult to determine. In this paper, we propose an evolutionary approach to parameter identification for thermal models that are formulated as an optimization task. A state-of-the-art evolutionary algorithm, i.e., SaNSDE+, has been developed. A fitness function is defined, which quantifies the difference between the energy-consumption time-series data that are derived from the identified parameters and that given by simulation with a set of predetermined target model parameters. In comparison with a conventional genetic algorithm, fast evolutionary programming, and two state-of-the-art evolutionary algorithms, our experimental results show that the proposed SaNSDE+ has significantly improved both the solution quality and the convergence speed, suggesting this is an effective tool for parameter identification for simulated building thermal models.


Autoantibodies to five aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases have been reported, and all have been associated with a syndrome of myositis and interstitial lung disease. Four of these synthetases exist free in the cytoplasm, but the fifth, isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (recognized by anti-OJ autoantibodies), is a component of the multi-enzyme complex containing at least seven synthetases. In an effort to better understand the origins of these antibodies, we examined sera from 11 patients with anti-OJ autoantibodies for evidence of reaction with other components of the complex. All sera showed a characteristic pattern of 10 proteins bands by immunoprecipitation from HeLa cell extract. 10 of 11 sera significantly inhibited isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase enzyme activity. Serum and IgG from four patients also inhibited leucyl-tRNA synthetase activity, and serum and IgG from two inhibited lysyl-tRNA synthetase. Immunoblotting experiments supported reaction of the two sera with lysyl-tRNA synthetase, and revealed additional reactivity of three sera with a 160-kD component believed to be glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. Despite reaction of some sera with additional synthetases, the immunoprecipitated tRNA appeared the same with all sera, and functioned as tRNA(ile). While reaction with more than one synthetase was seen with some anti-OJ sera, all synthetases targeted by anti-OJ sera were components of the complex, rather than unassociated synthetases. These findings suggest that an initial autoantibody response against isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase was followed by extension to involve other components of the synthetase complex. These observations may have implications for understanding the generation of antisynthetase autoantibodies.


The economical science will gradually introduce the health economy of which the definition urges to seek for a better distribution between public and private means to do more and better for the public health. The health market is principally conducted by the supply and demand law. The needs, the supply and demand and the consumer's behaviour are different in this particular market which evolves continuously and progressively goes closer to the market economy. The health status of each human represents the health demand and the medical goods and services are the supply. The role of the valuation studies in health economy is to favour a better use of the limited resources to the unlimited needs. The basic principles of a cost efficacy analysis are relatively simple. They compare the incremental costs with the increase of efficacy. The QALY is built with a combination between life quality and quantity in a unique concept: the measurement of the quality of life of a human at a given moment. The 100th report of the KCE established the restrictions of this method and its absolute use as in England. Indeed we have to take into account other factors as the added value in terms of clinical efficacy, accessibility, the seriousness of pathological cases and the emotional situation. The ICER (Incremental Cost Efficacy Ration) has a lot of weaknesses and may give the illusion that the reimbursement decision is easy. Nevertheless to neglect the economic approach is not ethical. ICER is first of all a balance factor.


Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of macro-level regulatory systems on alcohol management for community sport organisations (CSOs). It examines how alcohol regulations translate into meso-level management actions and interactions that impact alcohol consumption in community sport clubs. Design/methodology/approach Management of alcohol was explored through the holistic lens of macro, meso, and micro-levels of influence. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with Australian club administrators from community sports clubs. Findings Thematic analysis revealed macro-level influences on alcohol management in CSOs, with government regulations and the state sport associations being the most influential. Challenges arise in alcohol policy implementation when sport administrators do not prioritise alcohol consumption as a problem to be addressed, or where a conflict of interest arises between alcohol revenue generation and clubs positioning as health promoting environments. Practical implications Targeting club administrators' attitudes towards alcohol as a benign influence and revising alcohol management practices are recommended as priority strategies to enhance the implementation and promotion of responsible alcohol management in sport clubs. Affiliate state sport associations were also identified as influential settings to provide administrative or strategic direction to CSOs, which would reduce the resources required by volunteers and standardise alcohol management practices across sports clubs. Originality/value The prevailing alcohol research focuses on the consumption behaviour of individual members and sports players. The study findings are novel and important as they explore the macro-level influences that administrators experience when enacting and policing alcohol management strategies in sports clubs. To-date, administrators of CSOs have not been included in many studies about alcohol consumption regulation; therefore, the findings provide an original perspective on alcohol regulation and demonstrate how CSOs operationalise alcohol management in club settings. The original insights from this study informed the conceptualisation of a multilevel sport system framework, which can be applied to guide future governance of alcohol consumption in sport settings.


OUR WORLD TODAY AND YESTERDAY. A History of lIodem Civllieatioa, B,!" James Harvey Robinson and Emma Peters Smith. \\'ith collaboration of James 'Henry Breasted. Cloth. Profusely illustrated, with twenl)· ...six important maps, Boston, X("\\, York, Chicago: Giun and Company, We would like to be able to gi\"e our readers some adequate impression of our personal appreciation of this most remarkable book on the history of modern c1.,'iI\zation. which has been our major study for several years. There have been man)' outlines. many groupings of facts, much marshalling of information biographical and industrial. social and scientific, but to.. me there has been nothing. quite so satisfactory b,y way of illumination of events, and by way of inspiration oi appreciation of cause and effect in the evolution of ch·ilization. It is impossible to have even a faint appreciation of why Germany made snch a stupendous blunder in 1914 \\ithout such a knowled"" of Europe from 18-li' to 1914 as one gets clearly in "Our World Today and Yesterday," One has to know Venice and Florence in their ups and downs. has to know Ital)· in aU modern transformations, yes, and Great Britain's almost miraculous creative epochs in civilization in order to appreciate the rise and fall of Lloyd George and the rise of Ramsay MacDonald. in order to understand how necessary the \\-'orld \"ar was to clear the political and ~nancial atmosphere of Europe. The last fifth of the book of 625 pages is devoted to tho World War and Europe Today. These pages are the glorious culmination of the wonderful presentation of the e,·olution of elciliearlon. "'e have nowhere seen so good a characterization of the work of ~1ussolini in a sing~ SPECIAL TALENTS AND DEFECTS, THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR EDUCATION. By Leta S. Hollingsworth. Ph. D.. Teachers College, Xew York. Xew York: The Macmillan Company. "'e are interested in Miss Hollingsworth's book because the author realizes the limitations of the author of such a stud)' at the present time, She writes about what she and her assistant observers have learned and does not at': tempt to pretend to have learned what they have not learned. There are interesting revelations, especially in Chapter "II in Drawi~g. A feeble-minded man in an institution for mental defectives cut silhouettes 1,000 per cent. better than a distinguished university professor. It is clearl).. demonstrated that talent for drawing arises from a happy combination of a great man,., variable. functions; and that this combination may occur in persons oi inferior inteUigence. -Aritbmetical skill con-sists in the automatization and integ-ration oi D hil"f'ordr)' of hobils~ which can be acquired to a passable degree by all children of ordinary intelligence. Lightning calculation results from building up and rendering automatic still further..habits. and can be achieved b.,.persons of great general intelligence, Spelling gains the least by :\fiss HoUingswonh',s studies, There are f..ble-mlnded children who spell very well and. as every teacher knows, there are people. young and old. of high inteUigence whose spelling is unreliable. Reading studies are nothing like as satisfactorv as in aridunetic, though better than the spelling studies.• The book is a real contribution. as a beginning in a highl)' imporran! phase of education. (No publisher or author dictates ODe line that goes on this page. Nothing is said on this page that the Editor... !lis olIicial rep.......tative does not believe to be true.J


Aim Evaluation of stress and its causes in UK gastroenterologists, Design Questionnaire emailed to all 1932 medical members of the British Society of Gastroenterology. Results Of 567 respondents (29%), 107 (20%) graded their stress level as 4 or 5 out of 5. Stress levels correlated inversely with self-reported happiness levels (r=−0.60; p<0.001) and with hours slept per night (r=−0.23; p<0.01) and correlated directly with % time off-duty thinking about work (r=0.46; p<0001) and with proportion of nights with broken sleep (r=0.30; p<0.01). Due to stress over the past year, 21% of respondents reported one of the following: consulting their general practitioner (7%), attending occupational health (5%), taking planned time off (7%), taking anxiolytics/antidepressants (6%) and considering suicide (5.5%). These respondents had higher stress and lower happiness levels than the remainder. Stress levels were higher in women and in those working full time but had no other demographic associations. The main causes of stress were excessive clinical work (ranked highest by 47% and most commonly patient-related administration), working conditions beyond control (ranked highest by 15% and most commonly inadequate information technology systems, workspace and secretarial staff) and conflict (ranked highest by 9%). Of eight potential factors, happiness with work showed the closest associations with overall happiness (positive) and overall stress (negative) levels. Talking to someone at work about stress was ranked difficult or impossible by 35%. The highest ranked suggested solutions were relief from some duties and mentoring. Conclusions Stress is common and has objective correlates in UK gastroenterologists. The main cause is excessive workload.


This paper examined farmers' country bean production technology and proposed an econometric model for estimating the normalized profit distribution function using a Three Staged Generalized Method of Moment procedure. The advantage of the model is that it used Cobb-Douglas form of profit function which is linear in logarithm. The second moment function of profit can be used for measuring risk involved in input use under uncertainty. Furthermore, the results could be used for testing relative economic efficiency of growers'. The empirical data on country bean production validated the model. The result showed that fertilizers and pesticides were risk increasing inputs in country bean production. The small farmers were found to be more efficient. The study concludes that under uncertain environmental condition, relative economic efficiency can be assessed through estimation of normalized profit distribution function.


We analyze the temporal patterns of volcano seismicity using the statis- tics of waiting times between subsequent earthquakes. We compare waiting time distributions of seismicity at Mt. Etna and Mt. Vesuvius volcanoes during (1) inter- eruption phases and (2) dyke propagations, with those of tectonic seismicity using the southern California catalog. For inter-eruption phases, no matter their duration, sta- tistics of inter-event times are well approximated by the gamma distribution. This allows us to compute the proportion of background uncorrelated events (Molchan, 2005; Hainzl et al., 2006), which is recovered in the range 20%-40% for Vesuvius, three Etna inter-eruptive periods, and the southern California catalog. It argues for roughly 70% of earthquake activity to be cascades of aftershocks for both volcano inter-eruptive and tectonic seismicity. On the contrary, statistics of inter-event times recorded during both the 2001 and 2002 intrusive episodes at the Etna volcano reject the gamma distribution to describe the observations. These seismic crises are char- acterized by an average seismicity rate about 2 orders of magnitude larger than that of inter-eruptive periods. It suggests that the origin of the specificity of waiting time patterns during dyke injections is driven by the external forcing rate. Using the epydemic type aftershock sequences model simulations we explore the effect of seis- micity rate increases on inter-event time distributions. Departures from the gamma law progressively emerges from both (1) an increase of the background seismicity rate and (2) a screening effect. It prevents us from quantifying the portion of uncorrelated seis- micity within the considered catalog and from clearly quantifying the forcing rate that characterizes the volcano dynamics during dyke intrusions.


The study investigated the " push and pull ' motivations of visitors at the war memorial sites of the WWII Death Railway museums and cemeteries in Kanchanaburi Province . Also, the study identified how " push and pull ' motivations influenced the satisfaction experience and post behavioral intention . Additionally, the study also attempted to explore the relationship between satisfaction of the experience and post behavioral intention . The research utilized self - completion surveys ( handed - out ) as the quantitative research instrument . The research revealed that there were six motivational factors but only four factors were used in the analysis to explore and reveal their influence on the experience satisfaction and post behavioral intention . It is recommended that tourism - related providers related to sites of Death Railway tragedy should understand the importance of the motivational factors of the visitors and combine these into travel programs and marketing .


OBJECTIVE
To examine the hypothesis that psychological factors of psychological distress and perception of unhappiness in childhood are associated with self reported orofacial pain and to examine whether such patients have a poorer perception of their oral health related quality of life and if so then to what extent.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A cross-sectional hospital based study was conducted in Hitkarini Dental College and Hospital, Jabalpur amongst 400 cases and 400 controls. Patients were included based on Locker and Slade's criteria. Patients were asked to complete 27 items Questionnaire which included the General Health Questionnaire to assess for psychological distress and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 for evaluating impact on quality of life. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the degree of association between psychological factors, unhappy childhood and quality of life. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS
An increased propensity to report orofacial pain was seen for those individuals with higher levels of Psychological Distress and with perception of Unhappiness in Childhood. These individuals also reported with poorer perception of their oral health related Quality of Life.

CONCLUSION
The present study has shown relationship between Orofacial Pain, Quality of Life and Psychological Factors.


Vytautas Magnus University Korea, with insufficient natural resources and a limited consumer market, began to take notice of the cultural content industry in the 21st century. This means that the cultivation of this industry has not taken place for a long time compared to Japan, the USA or Hong Kong. Yet Korea has obtained an astonishing outcome in a short time. The popular culture of South Korea, with the appellation of hallyu, boasted of an enormous strength initially in the Asian market and subsequently stretched to markets in other countries, too. Seeing that Korean cultural archetypes do not play a successful role in the cultural content business of Korea in general, the position of shamanism is truly trivial among the others. I would like to analyse and discuss the meaning, function and potential of Korean shamanism in the field of the Korean cultural content industry.


The proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas would join the world's two largest processed orange producing regions: Brazil and the United States. Because the United States currently imposes a sizeable tariff on imported processed orange products, there is concern by U.S. orange growers over possible adverse effects resulting from tariff elimination. A model of the world processed orange market is developed as a spatial equilibrium model with implicit supply functions based on the dynamic behavior of orange production. The model is used to estimate the impact of U.S. tariff elimination on U.S. production, grower and processor prices, and imports. The results suggest a sizeable price impact on U.S. producers if the tariff is eliminated.


The enzyme catalysing the reduction of protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) to chlorophyllide (Chlide), NADPH:Pchlide oxidoreductase (POR; EC 188.8.131.52), is a nuclear-encoded protein that is post-translationally imported to the plastid, In barley and Arabidopsis thaliana, the reduction of Pchlide is controlled by two different PORs, PORA and PORE. To characterise the possible Pchlide dependency for the import reaction, radiolabelled precursor proteins of barley PORA and PORE (pPORA and pPORB, respectively) were used for in vitro assays with isolated plastids of barley and pea with different contents of Pchlide, To obtain plastids with different endogenous levels of Pchlide, several methods were used. Barley plants were grown in darkness or in greenhouse conditions for 6 days. Alternatively, greenhouse-grown pea plants were incubated for 4 days in darkness before plastid isolation, or chloroplasts isolated from greenhouse-grown plants were incubated with delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), an early precursor in the Chi biosynthesis resulting in elevated Pchlide contents in the plastids, Both barley pPORA and pPORB were effectively imported into barley and pea chloroplasts isolated from the differentially treated plants, including those isolated from greenhouse-grown plants. The absence or presence of Pchlide did not significantly affect the import capacity of barley pPORA or pPORB, Assays performed on stroma-enriched fractions from chloroplasts and etioplasts of barley indicated that no post-import degradation of the proteins occurred in the stroma, irrespective of whether the incubation was performed in darkness or in light.


We present a single-sideband scheme that uses an enhanced BB84 protocol with a strong reference. A matrix method allows us to prove that this reference makes the system secure against the photon number splitting attack when using an imperfect laser source. The performance of a stable experimental setup with a fainted laser source is tested using an optimum average energy /spl mu/=1 photon per pulse to maximize the final key rate.


The various soft structures attached to bones maintain relatively constant relationships during growth. The exact number of these relationships has, however, never been studied. As part of our ongoing research into the factors controlling muscle migration, we have determined these relationships for some structures. We studied the positions of 37 muscles from 24 New Zealand white rabbits ranging in age from birth to maturity. The muscles were selected to illustrate different kinds of attachments: fleshy and tendonous, restricted and extensive, and at both ends of a bone. The proximal and distal edges of attachments were carefully exposed and measured in a device that allowed us to measure the position relative to the ends of the bones without parallax distortion. We used the data to compute correlation coefficients and regression equations for position vs. length of bone. Results show that the correlation coefficient was above 0.9 for most cases and was significant at the 0.5 level for all but 4 cases. Slopes of the regression equations varied considerably, but in all cases they indicated that the closer to the end of a bone, the greater the distance migrated. The significance of these results is discussed.


With more advanced technology nodes and device architectures being used in high volume semiconductor manufacturing, process control and metrology are facing ever-greater challenges. More advanced metrology approaches have been emerging to cope with these challenges. This study investigates machine learning predication as a complementary method to optical critical dimension (OCD) measurements. We have evaluated the suitability of machine learning to address high volume manufacturing metrology requirements for applications in both front end of line (FEOL) and back end of line (BEOL) sectors from advanced technology nodes. In the FEOL sector, we have demonstrated initial feasibility to predict the fin CD values from an inline measurement using machine learning. In the BEOL sector, machine learning is shown to provide direct prediction of electrical resistance using spectra collected from both OCD measurement sites and electrical test (e-test) sites. The predicted resistance correlation to the actual e-test value is improved in comparison with OCD results for multiple metal levels of various products. It is also shown that e-test predictions by machine learning may assist to alleviate the challenges that conventional metrology approaches are facing when the metal linewidth becomes smaller. Furthermore, impact of number of samples in training set was investigated and it was found that reducing number of samples in training set does not degrade the e-test correlation and Total Measurement Uncertainty (TMU) significantly. This paper demonstrates that predictive metrology based on machine learning is an advantageous and complementary technique for high volume semiconductor manufacturing. Together with conventional OCD measurements, a machine learning approach could successfully overcome complex metrology challenges in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.


Background: This study aims to compare intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes of patients with lung cancer who developed acute respiratory failure after pneumonectomy or lobectomy. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study included 57 lung cancer patients admitted to ICU who developed acute respiratory failure after pneumonectomy or lobectomy. Patients were divided as pneumonectomy (group 1; 19 males, 1 females; median age 65 years) and lobectomy (group 2; 36 males, 1 females; median age 62 years) groups. Pulmonary function test, invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation results, duration of ICU stay, and ICU mortality and long-term mortality were recorded. The groups were compared according to the recorded data. Results:In group 1 and group 2, median preoperative forced expiratory volume in one second values were 1.58 L (predicted 61%) and 1.82 L (predicted 63%), respectively (p=0.82). Rates of patients with acute respiratory failure due to postoperative sepsis were similar in group 1 (65%) and group 2 (52.6%) (p=0.37). Group 1 and group 2 had similar median duration of ICU stay (9 and 8 days, respectively; p=0.76), ICU mortality (30.0% and 18.6%, respectively; p=0.34), and long term survival (n=6, 11 months; n=21, 5 months, respectively; p=0.79). Conclusion: Lung cancer patients who were performed pneumonectomy or lobectomy might require ICU stay due to postoperative sepsis. Our study suggests that ICU mortality and long-term survival are not affected by the type of lung resection in these patients.


1. Single pulse electrical field stimulation (EFS) produces a biphasic response of muscle strips of the rat isolated urinary bladder consisting of an early and a late contraction which were atropine-resistant and atropine-sensitive, respectively. Repeated application of desensitizing doses of the P2 purinoceptor agonist, alpha, beta-methylene ATP (mATP) inhibited the early response while leaving unaffected the late component. 2. Omega conotoxin (CTX, 0.1 microM) inhibited both the early and the late response either in control conditions or after enhancement by physostigmine (0.1 microM). The effect of CTX was, in both cases, more pronounced on the late than the early response to EFS. CTX (0.1 microM) failed to affect contraction produced by ATP or acetylcholine at concentrations (0.3 mM and 0.5 microM) which produced a response similar to that to EFS. 3. The effect of physostigmine was more intense for the late than the early response and was abolished by atropine. In the presence of CTX, physostigmine enhanced both the early and the late components of the mechanical response to EFS. 4. Nifedipine (0.1-1 microM) reduced to a similar extent both the early and late responses. Bay K 8644 (1 microM) produced a marked enhancement of the response to EFS, which, however, did not have a distinct late peak. In the presence of Bay K 8644, either atropine (3 microM) or tetrodotoxin (1 microM) had minor inhibitory effects indicating the myogenic origin of the response. 5. Neurokinin A (0.1-1 nM) enhanced both the early and late responses to EFS without affecting the contraction produced by exogenous acetylcholine or ATP. A consistent potentiation was evident also in the presence of CTX and for the early response, in the presence of atropine. Clonidine (3 microM) inhibited the response to EFS either in the absence or the presence of physostigmine. The inhibitory effect of clonidine, shown previously to depend upon activation of prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors, was still observed in presence of CTX or atropine. 6. It is concluded that CTX-sensitive voltage dependent calcium channels play a more important role in determining the cholinergic rather than the non-cholinergic, putatively purinergic, component of the biphasic response of the rat bladder to single pulse EFS. The action of CTX is likely to be exerted on N-type rather than L-type (dihydropyridine-sensitive) calcium channels. Prejunctional modulation (enhancement by neurokinin A, inhibition by clonidine) occurs even in the presence of CTX-sensitive channels blockade.


The global pediatric obesity epidemic is a "grand challenge" that will reduce quality of life and strain healthcare delivery systems for many years. The root causes and treatments of pediatric obesity are medical and social, requiring cross‐disciplinary collaboration. Research on pediatric obesity spans medicine, molecular biology, public health, and sociology and involves hospitals, clinics, community partners, and schools. However, little attention has been given to how corporations play a role in this nexus of institutions. We make the case for understanding the role of the corporation, beyond that of producer and distributor of unhealthy foods. Specifically, we consider two factors. First, we examine the work conditions that corporations create for parents and how these affect family lifestyle, differentially by socioeconomic status (SES). Second, we expose how the American tendency to "individualize" social problems is reinforced in the corporation. Faith in meritocracy directs attention to individual effort rather than structural constraints. Treating pediatric obesity as remediable by meritorious individual behaviors might obscure root causes and promising approaches based on new medical research.


In the present work the Stochastic generalization of the quantum hydrodynamic analogy (SQHA) is used to obtain the far from equilibrium kinetics for a real gas and its fluid phase. In gasses and their liquids, interacting by Lennard-Jones potentials whose mean distance is bigger than the quantum correlation distance and than the molecular interaction distance r0, it is possible to define a Fokker-Plank type equation of motion as a function of the mean phase space molecular volume that far from equilibrium shows maximizing the dissipation of a part of the generalized SQHA-free energy. In the case of a real gas with no chemical reactions and at quasi-isothermal conditions, the principle disembogues into the maximum free energy dissipation confirming the experimental outputs of electro-convective instability. In this case, the model shows that the transition to stationary states with higher free energy can happen and that, in incompressible fluids, the increase of free energy is almost given by a decrease of entropy leading to the appearance of self-ordered structures. The output of the theory showing that the generation of order, via energy dissipation, is more efficient in fluids than in gasses, because of their incompressibility, leads to the re-conciliation between physics and biology furnishing the eplanation why the life was born in water. The theoretical output also suggests that the search for life out of the earth must consider the possibility to find it in presence of liquid phases different from water.


Studying what design features are necessary and effective for educational virtual environments (VEs), we focused on two design issues: level of environmental detail and method of navigation. In a controlled experiment, participants studied animal facts distributed among different locations in an immersive VE. Participants viewed the information as either an automated tour through the environment or with full navigational control. The experiment also compared two levels of environmental detail: a sparse environment with only the animal fact cards and a detailed version that also included landmark items and ground textures. The experiment tested memory and understanding of the animal information. Though neither environmental detail nor navigation type significantly affected learning outcomes, the results suggest that manual navigation may have negatively affected the learning activity. Also, learning scores were correlated with both spatial ability and video game usage, suggesting that educational VEs may not be an appropriate presentation method for some learners.


Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) is a known oncogenic virus associated with a wide variety of cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Waldeyer's ring, a collection of lymphoid tissues, includes the nasopharynx, pharyngeal, and lingual tonsils. To determine if EBV plays a causative role in carcinomas arising from other tissues in Waldeyer's ring, we examined pharyngeal tonsillar carcinomas for evidence of EBV infection. As previously reported, DNA was extracted from 53 consecutive tonsil cancers, as well as from age‐ and gender‐matched non‐cancerous tonsillectomy specimens. Three different sets of primers for discrete exons of EBV were then used to determine if active or latent EBV infection was expressed in the extracted DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All positive bands were then sequenced to confirm the presence of amplified EBV fragments. None of the samples showed evidence for active EBV infection. In primers demonstrating latent infection, 1 of 53 (1.9%) of tumors were positive, versus 6 of 53 (11.3%) of the controls. These results indicate that EBV expression is not increased in DNA from tonsil cancers and that EBV infection does not have a causal relationship with tonsil cancer.


In mass media, there has been much news about people with special needs; however, the articles or broadcasts do not use appropriate diction. In Indonesia, the term handicap has been changed to disability since 2009 based on the humanity right perspective. The purpose of this research is to show the understanding about the concept of the terms: disability and handicap toward the people who rarely interact with disability. This research used qualitative approach. Referential and pragmatic identity methods were used for analyzing the data. The findings showed that the respondents did not understand the difference between the terms: disability and handicap. The perspective was still based on the cause of the impairment. It was a birth defect or an accident effect


Consumers expect organic products to be healthier. However, limited research has been performed to study the effect of organic food on health. The present study aimed to identify biomarkers of health to enable future studies in human subjects. A feeding experiment was performed in two generations of three groups of chickens differing in immune responsiveness, which were fed identically composed feeds from either organic or conventional produce. The animals of the second generation were exposed to an immune challenge and sacrificed at 13 weeks of age. Feed and ingredients were analysed on macro- and micronutrients, i.e. vitamins, minerals, trace elements, heavy metals and microbes. The chickens were studied by general health and immune parameters, metabolomics, genomics and post-mortem evaluation. The organic and conventional feeds were comparable with respect to metabolisable energy. On average, the conventionally produced feeds had a 10 % higher protein content and some differences in micronutrients were observed. Although animals on both feeds were healthy, differences between the groups were found. The random control group of chickens fed conventional feed showed overall a higher weight gain during life span than the group on organic feed, although feed intake was mostly comparable. The animals on organic feed showed an enhanced immune reactivity, a stronger reaction to the immune challenge as well as a slightly stronger 'catch-up growth' after the challenge. Biomarkers for future research were identified in the parameters feed intake, body weight and growth rate, and in immunological, physiological and metabolic parameters, several of these differing most pronounced after the challenge.


Dual-sourcing inventory systems, in which one supplier is faster (i.e. express) and more costly, while the other is slower (i.e. regular) and cheaper, arise naturally in many real-world supply chains. These systems are notoriously difficult to optimize due to the complex structure of the optimal solution and the curse of dimensionality, having resisted solution for over 40 years. Recently, so-called Tailored Base-Surge (TBS) policies have been proposed as a heuristic for the dual-sourcing problem. Under such a policy, a constant order is placed at the regular source in each period, while the order placed at the express source follows a simple order-up-to rule. Numerical experiments by several authors have suggested that such policies perform well as the lead time difference between the two sources grows large, which is exactly the setting in which the curse of dimensionality leads to the problem becoming intractable. However, providing a theoretical foundation for this phenomenon has remained a major open problem.
In this paper, we provide such a theoretical foundation by proving that a simple TBS policy is indeed asymptotically optimal as the lead time of the regular source grows large, with the lead time of the express source held fixed. Our main proof technique combines novel convexity and lower-bounding arguments, an explicit implementation of the vanishing discount factor approach to analyzing infinite-horizon Markov decision processes, and ideas from the theory of random walks and queues, significantly extending the methodology and applicability of a novel framework for analyzing inventory models with large lead times recently introduced by Goldberg and co-authors in the context of lost-sales models with positive lead times.


In this chapter, thin-walled rectangular tubes under pure bending are considered, by per- forming a series of FEM numerical studies. In the simulation, a homogeneous and isotropic elastic perfectly plastic material was employed for the tube material. A commonly used method for predicting the collapse load of rectangular tubes subjected to pure bending was proposed by Kecman. Kecman's method focuses on a slenderness of the flange. When buckling occurs in the flange, this method uses a collapse load corresponding to the post buckling strength of the flange. When buckling does not occur at the flange, this method used a relation of the flange slenderness to the cross-sectional fully plastic yielding. This method for predicting the collapse loads is effective when the aspect ratio of web to flange is not large. However, for large aspect ratios, there is a large discrepancy between the values of maximum moment corresponding to the collapse loads obtained from this method and the FEM numerical results due to an effect of web slenderness. A new method is proposed to predict the maximum moment considering the effect of web slenderness. The validity of the collapse load estimation is checked by the results of FEM numerical simulation. method, algorithm based on the Newton–Raphson method, and return-mapping method were used. The tubes were meshed using four-node (Element with five points across the A was


This paper presents the results obtained from 87 questionnaires completed by dietitians about the dietary management of gall-biadder disease. Of the patients referred to the dietitians, 86% were referred by surgeons. Of the dietitians that responded 77% thought that there was a role for low fat diets in the management of these patients; 92% would advise a low fat diet to help avoid pain, and 11% would advise a low fat diet to patients with gall-bladder disease who did not have pain, steatorrhoea or obesity.

The paper reviews the available evidence concerning the effect of dietary fat on the gall-bladder; it is concluded that, at present, there is little data to support the therapeutic use of a low fat diet for individuals with gall-stones.


We present a super-resolution model for an advection-diffusion process with limited information. While most of the super-resolution models assume high-resolution (HR) ground-truth data in the training, in many cases such HR dataset is not readily accessible. Here, we show that a Recurrent Convolutional Network trained with physics-based regularizations is able to reconstruct the HR information without having the HR ground-truth data. Moreover, considering the ill-posed nature of a super-resolution problem, we employ the Recurrent Wasserstein Autoencoder to model the uncertainty.


This paper discusses the design and implementation of the 'Ike Wai Hawai'i Groundwater Recharge Tool, an application for providing data and analyses of the impacts of land-cover and climate modifications on groundwater-recharge rates for the island of O'ahu. This application uses simulation data based on a set of 29 land-cover types and two rainfall scenarios to provide users with real-time recharge calculations for interactively defined land-cover modifications. Two visualizations, representing the land cover for the island and the resultant groundwater-recharge rates, and a set of metrics indicating the changes to groundwater recharge for relevant areas of the map are provided to present a set of easily interpreted outcomes based on the user-defined simulations. Tools are provided to give users varying degrees of control over the granularity of data input and output, allowing for the quick production of a roughly defined simulation, or more precise land-cover models that can be exported for further analysis. Heuristics are used to provide a responsive user interface and performant integration with the database containing the full set of simulation data. This tool is designed to provide user-friendly access to the information on the impacts of land-cover and climate changes on groundwaterrecharge rates needed to make data-driven decisions.


A conversation with Aldous Huxley not infrequently put one at the receiving end of an unforgettable monologue. About a year before his lamented death he was discoursing on a favorite topic: Man's unnatural treatment of nature and its sad results. To illustrate his point he told how, during the previous summer, he had returned to a little valley in England where he had spent many happy months as a child. Once it had been composed of delightful grassy glades; now it was becoming overgrown with unsightly brush because the rabbits that formerly kept such growth under control had largely succumbed to a disease, myxomatosis, that was deliberately introduced by the local farmers to reduce the rabbits' destruction of crops. Being something of a Philistine, I could be silent no longer, even in the interests of great rhetoric. I interrupted to point out that the rabbit itself had been brought as a domestic animal to England in 1176, presumably to improve the protein diet of the peasantry.


Hypertension is a health problem that commonly found in elderly. Habit factors that often cause hypertension, such as psychological tension or sress. One of the hypertension treatment in non-pharmacological with acupuncture therapy.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of acupuncture therapy on blood pressure in elderly with hypertension diagnosist in Panti Werdha Mojopahit, Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia.
Research method used Quasi Experimental pretest-posttest control group design. Total sample 16 respondents (8 respondents in treatment groups and 8 respondents in control group) with purposive random sampling technique. Data was collected by observation method, then tabulated using frequency distributions and analized with T-test and Paired Independent T-Test significance level α=0.05. Result shows between the two groups generated hypertension toward elderly, after acupuncture therapy in 4 times (in 4 days) there was a significant decrease of blood pressure. The control group, both systolic and diastolic pressure in the Paired T-Test.
The conclusion, there was no negative side effect of acupuncture therapy on blood pressure toward elderly with hypertension diagnosist. Acupuncture therapy recomended for hypertension in the elderly with problem of a high salt intake, obesity, lack of exercise, stress, smoking, caffeine and genetic factors.


: Malnutrition affects human performance, health and survival, including physical growth, morbidity, mortality, cognitive development, reproduction, physical work capacity and risks for several chronic diseases. In Madhya Pradesh state there are 1.3 million severely malnourished children. Nutrition rehabilitation centers (NRCs) were started in the state to control severe malnutrition and decrease the prevalence of severe malnourished children to less than 1% among children aged 1-5 year. Objective of the present survey was i) to make aware people about nutritional and other preventive measures for protein energy malnutrition and severity of complications of PEM. ii) To investigate Prevalence of Malnutrition in Rural areas of Indore. Protein Energy Malnutrition among children below the age of 3-6 years as indicated by anthropometrical measurements (weight-for-age, weight-for- height, height-for-age), had been identified as a major public health problem in children of slum areas. The total number of surveyed children was 500 and they surveyed for appearance and status of hair, lips, teeth, and bones. Percentage of surveyed children having good, fair, poor, very poor appearance were 44.8%, 21%, 31%, 7.40% respectively. Percentage of surveyed children having normal hair, loss and luster hair, discolored & dry hair were 40.60%, 27.80%, 31.44% respectively. Percentage of surveyed children having normal lips and angular stomatitis lips were 51%, 49%, respectively. Percentage of surveyed children having normal teeth, chalky of teeth, pitting of teeth, discolored teeth were 60.80%, 11.40%, 9.40% 18.40% respectively. Percentages of surveyed children having normal skin, dry & rough skin were 71%, 29% respectively. Percentages of surveyed children having normal bones and rickets bones were 99.40%, 0.40%, respectively. Malnutrition among children in slum areas is a public health problem which requires active interventions to improve child and maternal nutrition. Breastfeeding and complementary feeding programs as well as early screening, active case management of PEM and public education should be considered as a national public health priority.


This paper presents an algorithm for current transformer (CT) saturation detection based on the measurement of the power system source impedance seen at the relay location. The algorithm estimates this source impedance using a short-data window impedance-estimation algorithm and samples taken from the CT secondary current and bus-bar voltage. Following the changes on the impedance seen at the relay location, the algorithm is able to detect a CT saturation and send a blocking order to a fast tripping bus-bar differential relay.


Public auction properties are actions when the borrowers default, the lender who is called the chargee, is entitled to foreclose the charge. This means taking the permitted steps provided for in the National Land Code to have the land auctioned off, pay itself the money owed and hand over the difference, if any, to the land owner, whether he is the borrower or a third party. Foreclosure is a process that allows a lender to recover the amount owed on a defaulted loan by selling or taking ownership of the property securing the loan. The foreclosure process begins when a borrower/owner defaults on loan payments and the lender files a public default notice. Therefore, this study has been developed with the aim to identify the objective related to public auction in Malaysia. The study was conducted through structured interview with licensed auctioneer, banker, land administrator and registrar of the court and also through postal questionnaires. The property public auction practice in Malaysia usually conducted by three bodies, Financial Institution, Land Office and Court and each body have their own way procedures and process to dispose the properties auction. Furthermore, each body has their category of land to disposed properties under public auction. This academic to help the layman and licensed auctioneer conduct public property auction. In addition, auctions are commonly associated with reserve prices that are lower than market value. There is no certainty that the reserve price can be secured as others would be bidding for the same property in a popular location.


Rural America today is at a crossroads. Widespread socioeconomic decline outside cities has fueled the idea that rural communities have been "left behind." The question is whether these "left behind" localities should be allowed to dwindle out of existence, or whether intervention to attempt rural revitalization is warranted. Many advocate non-intervention because rural lifestyles are inefficient to sustain. Others argue that, even if the nation wanted to help, it lacks the law and policy tools to redirect rural America's course effectively.

This Article argues that we do have the law and policy tools necessary to address rural socioeconomic marginalization, and that we neglect to use those tools to our own collective detriment. The Article focuses specifically on the tool of economic regulation, meaning government oversight of entry, exit, and participation parameters for service providers in certain markets. Robust historical precedents establish that strategic economic regulation is uniquely capable of sustaining rural communities, and that using it to do so is in fact critical to national resilience.

Rural diseconomies of scale—the problem of higher costs per capita and lower demand for resources in population-sparse regions—must be understood as a keystone question concerning whether and how rural communities can gain access to the amenities they need to survive. The pre-1970s regulatory regime governing infrastructure industries helped overcome the problem of diseconomies of scale by safeguarding rural access to services that precede economic growth. Infrastructure industries' subsequent abandonment of rural America during the deregulatory era amounts to a market failure because the nation remains dependent on rural communities for food and energy production, environmental stewardship, and political stability. Thus, for the benefit of all, corrective interventions into infrastructure markets and a broader conception of infrastructure should help connect rural America to community-sustaining systems, like broadband internet and national grocery store chains. Ultimately, this discussion also offers an answer to the problem of the so-called "urban/rural divide": enhancing "urban/rural connectivity," both literally and symbolically.


It has been documented that lead can cause a wide range of adverse reproductive outcomes. In men, lead can reduce the libido and affect spermatogenesis reducing the quality of sperm. Other effects in exposed men include disturbance of prostatic function and damage in serum testosterone. In pregnant women, lead can cross the placenta and impair the development of the fetus. Therefore, exposed women are at risk of suffering spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy hypertension, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, intrauterine growth restriction, low weight birth, and other pregnancy complications. In both men and women, lead has been associated with infertility. Harmful effects of this heavy metal have been observed even at low levels of exposure. Thus, exposure to lead remains a public health problem, especially for reproductive health. Some strategies should be considered to prevent harmful effects of lead on both male and female reproductive systems.


The primary cilium has recently been recognised as an essential regulator of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signalling pathway. Mutations that disrupt cilia function in humans can cause conditions known as ciliopathies. A wide range of phenotypes is observed in chick and mouse ciliopathy models,including polydactyly, craniofacial defects and polycystic kidneys. The Shh pathway and therefore primary cilia are vital for many developmental processes, including embryonic muscle development, with recent evidence suggesting they may also play a role in adult muscle regeneration. Our studies focus on the Talpid3 gene, which encodes a centrosomal protein required for primary cilia formation and Shh signalling. The Talpid3 loss-of-function mutant has perturbed ciliogenesis and displays many of the phenotypes that are typically associated with developmental Shh mutants and with ciliopathies. Talpid3 mutants have defects in Shh signalling, and processing of Gli transcription factors is affected in structures such as the developing limb buds and the neural tube. However, the role of Talpid3 in muscle development and regeneration remains unknown.
The role of Talpid3 in adult muscle regeneration was investigated using a tamoxifen inducible, satellite cell specific knock-out of Talpid3 in mice. This mouse model was generated by crossing Talpid3 floxed mice to a mouse carrying an inducible Pax7-CreERT2 allele. To determine whether loss of Talpid3 affects muscle regeneration a cardiotoxin injury model was used. This showed that loss of Talpid3 in satellite cells results in a regeneration defect as fibres were smaller after 5, 10, 15 and 25 days of regeneration compared to control mice. This defect may be due to a reduced ability of Talpid3 mutant satellite cells to differentiate. We also show that Talpid3 plays a role in satellite cell self-renewal as we observe a complete loss of regeneration in some areas of the muscle following repeat injuries.
We provide the first evidence that Talpid3 is critical for the regeneration of skeletal muscle following injury.