Discussions about whether citizens can learn and use the information necessary to contribute to democratic governance often focus on debates about heuristics. We argue that the debate over whether heuristics should be used misframes a central issue—the consideration of what forms of decision- making are most likely to operate in different kinds of communication environments. This article examines how people make decisions in contentious political climates, which are characterized by high-information volume, relatively strong partisan commitment, and an affective divide between the opposing camps. Our contribution takes account of the possibility that in contentious environments, political communication offers neither reasoned deliberation nor cues, but rather solidarity signals that engage people's cultural worldviews. We also posit that the use of cultural worldviews for liberals and conservatives is asymmetrical—raising important questions about democracy in a society in which a variety of worldviews have different weights for various individuals and publics. To test our perspective, we analyze public opinion data collected during the time surrounding the recall election of Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin.


To characterize the adenylate cyclase system of the primate corpus luteum, we assayed the conversion of [alpha-32P] ATP to [32P]cAMP in preparations of luteal tissue obtained from rhesus monkeys on days 17-19 of the menstrual cycle. Basal, gonadotropin (hCG; 250 nM)- sensitive, and guanine nucleotide (5'-guanylyl-imidodiphosphate [GMP-P(NH)P]; 10 microM)-sensitive cAMP production were influenced by the pH, osmolality, and ionic strength of the assay buffer. As the concentration of Mg+2 increased from 2 to 10 mM, adenylate cyclase activity was enhanced; however, the relative stimulation by hCG plus GMP-P(NH)P was maximal when the Mg+2 concentration approximated that of ATP plus EDTA. In contrast, the presence of Ca+2 inhibited basal, hCG-stimulated, and GMP-P(NH)P-stimulated cAMP production. Adenylate cyclase activity was substrate dependent at ATP concentrations from 0.7-4.5 mM; however, higher concentrations of ATP did not alter cAMP production. The relative stimulation by hCG and GMP-P(NH)P was independent of ATP levels when the ATP to Mg ratio was constant. The rate of cAMP production was constant during 30 min of incubation at 37 C, with the ATP concentration maintained at greater than 87% of initial levels. Adenylate cyclase activity was 10-fold greater in luteal tissue from the superovulated rat than in that from the cycling rhesus monkey; however, relative stimulation by hCG and GMP-P(NH)P was qualitatively similar in the two species. Thus, we have demonstrated the existence of an adenylate cyclase system in the corpus luteum of the rhesus monkey during the menstrual cycle and have established some general properties and optimal assay conditions for the gonadotropin-sensitive adenylate cyclase.


VX-680, also known as MK-0457, is a member of a diverse group of small molecules that inhibit the Aurora kinases, and has shown significant potential as an anti-cancer agent. In keeping with many protein kinase inhibitors, this compound is not a monospecific agent, and its cellular specificity remains largely unknown. In cells, VX-680 blocks mitotic Histone H3 phosphorylation and induces polyploidy and apoptosis, consistent with inhibition of the mitotic protein kinase Aurora B. In this study, we have investigated the effects of VX-680 in proliferating human cancer cells, and demonstrate that it blocks the phosphorylation and activation of both Aurora A and B. Additionally, VX-680 suppresses the phosphorylation of specific substrates of each enzyme, including the Aurora A target TACC3 on Ser558. Exposure to VX-680 induces a monopolar spindle phenotype, delays mitotic progression and rapidly overrides the spindle assembly checkpoint in the presence of spindle poisons. VX-680 also exhibits potent cytotoxicity when compared to the well documented Aurora B inhibitor ZM447439. Taken together, these data identify Aurora A and Aurora B as dual intracellular targets of VX-680.


Economic approaches to combat environmental degradation and deforestation have resulted in development initiatives such as the Payment for Environmental Services program (PES). This study deals with the effects of PES on women's livelihoods in Thuong Lo commune, Central Vietnam. Employing a feminist political ecology perspective and adopting a qualitative approach, we analyze the gendered roles, responsibilities and effects of PES on local livelihoods. We found that the women in our study portrayed different preferences and knowledge in relation to PES, forest management and livelihoods. Women are often excluded in PES projects due to a range of various socio-cultural factors. Keywords: Payments for Environmental Services; forest management; gender; women's empowerment; livelihoods; Central Vietnam; Co Tu people


Aim
Biodiversity is rapidly disappearing at local and global scales also affecting the functional diversity of ecosystems. We aimed to assess whether functional diversity was correlated with species diversity and whether both were affected by similar land use and vegetation structure drivers. Better understanding of these relationships will allow us to improve our predictions regarding the effects of future changes in land use on ecosystem functions and services.

Location
The Netherlands.

Methods
We compiled a dataset of c. 3 million observations of 66 out of 106 known Dutch butterfly species collected across 6,075 sampling locations during a period of 7 years, together with very high-resolution maps of land use and countrywide vegetation structure data. Using a mixed-effects modelling framework, we investigated the relationship between functional and species diversity and their main land use and vegetation structure drivers.

Results
We found that high species diversity does not translate into high functional diversity, as shown by their different spatial distribution patterns in the landscape. Functional and species diversity are mainly driven by different sets of structural and land use parameters (especially average vegetation height, amount of vegetation between 0.5 and 2 m, natural grassland, sandy soils vegetation, marsh vegetation and urban areas). We showed that it is a combination of both vegetation structural characteristics and land use variables that defines functional and species diversity.

Main conclusions
Functional diversity and species diversity of butterflies are not consistently correlated and must therefore be treated separately. High functional diversity levels occurred even in areas with low species diversity. Thus, conservation actions may differ depending on whether the focus is on conservation of high functional diversity or high species diversity. A more integrative analysis of biodiversity at both species and trait levels is needed to infer the full effects of environmental change on ecosystem functioning.


While undergoing the unprecedented urbanization process in the past few decades, China has also experienced a major epidemiological shift from predominantly infectious diseases to chronic conditions. Using data from a national survey of 1,288 respondents in urban China, this study examines the prevalence of chronic conditions and receipt of treatment among urbanized rural residents who have experienced in situ urbanization. Negative binomial and logistic regressions were applied to estimate the differences in chronic conditions, receipt of treatment, and concern of seeking medical treatment among urbanized rural residents as compared to urban residents and rural-to-urban migrants. The results indicate that urbanized rural residents have similar number or prevalence of chronic conditions with urban residents, but they are less likely to receive treatment particularly for cardiovascular conditions. The analysis further reveals that urbanized rural residents are more anxious about their potential inability to cover medical expenses than both urban residents and rural-to-urban migrants. The study stresses the converging prevalence of chronic conditions but the continuing divide in receipt of treatment between urban residents and urbanized rural residents. As China's urbanization continues with the epidemiological transition, there is an urgent need to address such disparities.


Cells of the neural crest participate in a major class of cell migratory events during embryonic development. From indirect evidence, it has been suggested that fibronectin (FN) might be involved in these events. We have directly tested the role of FN in neural crest cell adhesion and migration using several in vitro model systems. Avian trunk neural crest cells adhered readily to purified plasma FN substrates and to extracellular matrices containing cellular FN. Their adhesion was inhibited by antibodies to a cell-binding fragment of FN. In contrast, these cells did not adhere to glass, type I collagen, or to bovine serum albumin in the absence of FN. Neural crest cell adhesion to laminin (LN) was significantly less than to FN; however, culturing of crest cells under conditions producing an epithelioid phenotype resulted in cells that could bind equally as well to LN as to FN. The migration of neural crest cells appeared to depend on both the substrate and the extent of cell interactions. Cells migrated substantially more rapidly on FN than on LN or type I collagen substrates; if provided a choice between stripes of FN and glass or LN, cells migrated preferentially on the FN. Migration was inhibited by antibodies against the cell-binding region of FN, and the inhibition could be reversed by a subsequent addition of exogenous FN. However, the migration on FN was random and displayed little persistence of direction unless cells were at high densities that permitted frequent contacts. The in vitro rate of migration of cells on FN-containing matrices was 50 microns/h, similar to their migration rates along the narrow regions of FN-containing extracellular matrix in migratory pathways in vivo. These results indicate that FN is important for neural crest cell adhesion and migration and that the high cell densities of neural crest cells in the transient, narrow migratory pathways found in the embryo are necessary for effective directional migration.


This master's thesis is a collection of poetry focusing on the emotional and behavioral responses of a woman whose perception of life is considerably twisted by her chances at inheriting cancer and certain romantic proclivities and preferences. In this collection the narrator considers her potentially quite young death by cancer pursues an alternative lifestyle and cautiously considers the lives of any children she may have. This collection is heavily "of the body" in that it speaks of issues such as death and love through the physical. This is intended as a representation of how the speaker has coped with her lack of control. This collection however would be incomplete to simply have a woman face death and decide to (alternatively enough) live her life to the fullest. More so it seeks to consider questions of that life: How does a woman face imminent death when she knows the only reason she will die is because she was born female? How then does she relate to her body? How does it affect relationships with her mother and lovers? Perhaps some of the answers (and further questions) lie in the fact that she embraces polyamory engages in multiple coexisting intimate relationships within which there is little time to waste on jealousy or pettiness. These poems trace the relationship of a person to her body and watch as she negotiates that body with others.


We use a multi-stage genome-wide association of 1 million parental lifespans of genotyped subjects and data on mortality risk factors to validate previously unreplicated findings near CDKN2B-AS1, ATXN2/BRAP, FURIN/FES, ZW10, PSORS1C3, and 13q21.31, and identify and replicate novel findings near GADD45G, KCNK3, LDLR, POM121C, ZC3HC1, and ABO. We also validate previous findings near 5q33.3/EBF1 and FOXO3, whilst finding contradictory evidence at other loci. Gene set and tissue-specific analyses show that expression in foetal brain cells and adult dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is enriched for lifespan variation, as are gene pathways involving lipid proteins and homeostasis, vesicle-mediated transport, and synaptic function. Individual genetic variants that increase dementia, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer –but not other cancers-explain the most variance, possibly reflecting modern susceptibilities, whilst cancer may act through many rare variants, or the environment. Resultant polygenic scores predict a mean lifespan difference of around five years of life across the deciles.


abstract:Thirty-eight skull samples of ancient children were analyzed that were excavated from the Zaghunluq cemetery, which dates between 2600 and 1900 cal yr BP. The orbit features of children during age changes and growth spurt periods were explored by comparing the orbital height, orbital breadth, orbital area, orbital index, and other measurements among different age groups: 2 years, 3–5 years, 6–8 years, 9–11 years, and 12–15 years. The analysis showed significant differences in orbital breadth across the five age groups, while differences in orbital height, orbital area, and orbital index were not significant. The growth spurt period of orbital breadth I was during 3–5 years of age, and the growth spurt period of orbital breadth II occurred during 6–8 years. Notably, the orbital height of a 2-year-old child has reached 92.7% of adult size. This may elucidate changes in the orbits of children due to age in ancient Xinjiang, China.


Estimation of the instantaneous frequency and its derivatives is considered for a harmonic complex-valued signal with the time-varying phase and time-invariant amplitude. The asymptotic minimax lower bound is derived for the mean squared error of estimation, provided that the phase is an arbitrary m-times piecewise differentiable function of time. It is shown that this lower bound is different only in a constant factor from the upper bound for the mean squared errors of the local polynomial periodogram with the optimal window size. The time-varying phases "worst" for estimation of the instantaneous frequency and its derivatives are obtained as a solution of the minimax problem.


Ab initio calculations of the energy have been made at approximately 150 points on the two lowest singlet A' potential energy surfaces of the water molecule, 1A' and 1A', covering structures having D∞h, C∞v, C2v and Cs symmetries. The object was to obtain an ab initio surface of uniform accuracy over the whole three-dimensional coordinate space. Molecular orbitals were constructed from a double zeta plus Rydberg basis, and correlation was introduced by single and double excitations from multiconfiguration states which gave the correct dissociation behaviour. A two-valued analytical potential function has been constructed to fit these ab initio energy calculations. The adiabatic energies are given in our analytical function as the eigenvalues of a 2 2 matrix, whose diagonal elements define two diabatic surfaces. The off-diagonal element goes to zero for those configurations corresponding to surface intersections, so that our adiabatic surface exhibits the correct Σ/II conical intersections for linear configurations, and singlet/triplet intersections of the O + H2 dissociation fragments. The agreement between our analytical surface and experiment has been improved by using empirical diatomic potential curves in place of those derived from ab initio calculations.


Semiconductor technology has been scaling at a steady pace following Moore's law. The current generations of the technology have reached dimensions well below 100nm where nano-scale phenomena are prominent. Transistors in such a small scale behave very differently than the classic long channel devices taught in most undergraduate level textbooks. Moreover, there are new challenges in nano-scale circuit design, such as process variations and reliability issues that are not taught in undergraduate level courses. Working on latest technology issues is typically an opportunity available only to graduate level students working on related research projects. To address this gap, using a NASA Curriculum Improvements Partnership Award for the Integration of Research (CIPAIR) grant, we have created a summer internship program that engages community college students in research projects on the latest challenges of circuit design in nano-scale semiconductor technology. Through this program, four community college students were mentored by two graduate students in a research project to analyze performance degradation of integrated circuits due to transistor aging effects in nano-scale. In this research, analysis of transistor breakdown was performed through computer simulations to understand effects on circuit power and performance. A ring oscillator circuit was utilized as a generic logic circuit for this research. The breakdown was modeled by resistors placed between the transistor terminals. The value of the resistor represents the severity of the breakdown; large resistors represent fresh transistors, whereas low resistors represent a fully broken transistor. In addition to computer simulations, real ICs were studied by taking power measurements experimentally. This research aims to offer better insight into the impact of transistor breakdown and to improve IC design in nano-scale. Through this internship program, the undergraduate students not only contributed to research and discovery, but also gained valuable experience and knowledge of nano-scale circuits that could have not been achieved in traditional educational methods.


The problem of trying to view and comprehend large amounts of data is a well-known one. A specialised variant of this problem is the visualisation of software code and components for the purposes of understanding, decision-making, reuse and even integration. In particular the visualisation of software components, at a much higher level than source code, has received very little research. Visualisation is a powerful tool in situations such as this. This paper presents the application of real world metaphor based visualisations that address this problem. The application of visualisation to selecting software components is especially novel. It seeks to decrease the effort required by system integrators when locating suitable components in what is an increasingly crowded marketplace. Accurate information and understanding are vital if correct and informed decisions and judgements are to be made.


In recent decades the number of tall buildings has increased exponentially, worldwide. When considering buildings surpassing the 200-meter height threshold, only a select few were constructed in the years before 200, while in 2017 alone, 144 buildings with this height were completed (CTBUH, 2018). New tall buildings are very different from what was built in the past and these design changes have derived from a number of factors: new technologies, new architectural styles, and above all, an unprecedented attention to the social issues and the well-being of the occupants. These changes, which continue to be introduced in order to adapt to the newest demands of the market, must go through an "experimental" phase to verify if they will serve as a successful, distinctive feature for tall buildings of the future. Skyscrapers have been used in books and movies to represent the corruption and redundancy of modern society; as they adapt to modern needs, are they now perceived as a new urban Eden?


The final merger of two black holes releases a tremendous amount of energy, more than the combined light from all the stars in the visible universe. This energy is emitted in the form of gravitational waves, and observing these sources with gravitational wave detectors requires that we know the pattern or fingerprint of the radiation emitted. Since black hole mergers take place in regions of extreme gravitational fields, we need to solve Einstein's equations of general relativity on a computer in order to calculate these wave patterns. For more than 30 years, scientists have tried to compute these wave patterns. However, their computer codes have been plagued by problems that caused them to crash. This situation has changed dramatically in the past few years, with a series of amazing breakthroughs. This talk will take you on this quest for these gravitational wave patterns, showing how a spacetime is constructed on a computer to build a simulation laboratory for binary black hole mergers. We will focus on the recent advances that are revealing these waveforms, and the dramatic new potential for discoveries that arises when these sources will be observed.


PAGE We report laser desorption from a Room Temperature Ionic Liquid (RTIL) as a novel source for time of flight mass spectrometry. We use the 2nd harmonic of an Nd:YAG laser to deposit intensities of 1-50 MW/cm"2 via backside illumination onto our RTIL desorption sample. A microstructured metal grid situated on top of a glass microscope slide coated with RTIL serves as our desorption sample. The RTIL we use, 1-Butyl, 3-Methylimidazolium Hexafluorophosphate, remains liquid at pressures below 1 0"-8 torr. The use of liquid desorption sample allows for improved surface conditions, homogeneity and sample life as compared to Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) techniques. Our desorption technique is also unique as it allows the study of both multiphoton and acoustic desorption processes within the same time of flight spectra. Our technique yields intrinsically high resolution, low noise data. We observe differences between ion species in their preference for desorption by a particular desorption method. Specifically, we observe desorption solely by acoustic means of an entire RTIL molecule adducted with an RTIL cation. Finally, we report the applicability of this technique for the desorption of biomolecules. For all my family and friends.


Objective: Cystic hygromas of nuchal origin are reported to be associated with fetal aneuploidy and structural anomalies in 50-80% of the cases. We aimed to report our experience on cystic hygromas via 18 cases.Study Design: We conducted a retrospective study based on a review of medical records of patients who had fetal septated cystic hygroma, diagnosed by ultrasonography, in the Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, between 2012 and 2016. All patients were provided with genetic counselling and prenatal invasive diagnostic procedures were applied to obtain fetal karyotype.Results: We observed 18 cases of fetal cystic hygroma among these patients (0.39%). The abnormal karyotypes were: Turner syndrome (45X0) in 3 (16.7%), trisomy 21 in 2 (11.1%), trisomy 18 in 1 (5.6%) and mosaic Turner syndrome in 1 (5.6%) patient.Conclusion: The presence of cystic hygroma carries a high risk for aneuploidy and major structural malformations. Invasive prenatal diagnostic procedures for fetal karyotype analyses and parental counselling about poor perinatal prognosis is mandatory.


This paper investigates the difference in the profiles of university scientists who have founded or advised companies. We analyzed commercial activities of a sample of 6,138 university life scientists and found that the profiles of scientists who become academic entrepreneurs are different from those who become company scientific advisors. Founding activity occurs earlier during a scientist's career cycle than advising. Factors such as gender, research productivity, social networks and employer characteristics also shape the propensity of founding and advising in different patterns. In addition, regression analysis shows that being a company scientific advisor decreases the risk of becoming an academic founder. Overall, evidence from our analysis suggests that founding and advising are two divergent paths for commercially oriented university scientists.


ABSTRACT Street vendors contribute to the unique identity and vibrancy of cities influencing the social, economic, and cultural landscape. Often, street vendors conduct their informal businesses on the sidewalks, which are meant to be used by pedestrians. This leads to a conflict in public space use and a question of whether street vendors are contributing to the vibrancy of a city or creating a nuisance to pedestrians. This research, based on a survey of 819 pedestrians in Addis Ababa city, discusses walking experience of pedestrians in the presence of intensive street vending activities on the sidewalk. The survey includes questions about the comfort and safety of pedestrians while walking on the sidewalk with the presence of street vendors. 49.3% of surveyed pedestrians thought that mobile street vendors impeded their ability to walk without difficulty on the sidewalk. 77.8% of those surveyed felt great discomfort as street vendors took up too much space on the sidewalk. 66.3% of respondents felt unsafe around street vendors during the day while 67.3% felt safe at night when the volume of street vending is reduced. This highlights that while street vendors have significant socioeconomic and cultural benefits, if their presence on the street is beyond the critical mass, they draw a feeling of discomfort for pedestrians more than creating liveliness for the city.


Several studies conducted under high input conditions have indicated little susceptibility of pearl millet to water deficit untill early grain filling, because the losses in main shoot production were fully compensated by increased tiller fertility. The present study assessed the impact of water deficits at three development stages: prior to flowering (S30), at the beginning of flowering (S45), and at the end of flowering (S60) in pearl millet grown in experimental conditions similar to Sahelian farming conditions. It included a control irrigation treatment simulating the natural distribution of rainfall throughout the cropping season. Both biomass production and grain yield were severely reduced by S30 and S45, while S60 had no effect. In S30 and S45, the flowering of tillers was delayed or totally inhibited. In both of these treatments, the low number of productive tillers did not compensate for damage to panicle initiation and flowering of the main shoot. All treatments maintained green leaves on the main shoot during the grain filling period, and in S30 leaf growth recovered from mid-season drought. These results illustrate how pearl millet mostly escapes drought by matching its phenology to the mean rainfall distribution in the Sahel. In the case of mid-season drought, some late productive tillers and the maintenance of green leaf biomass of the main shoots limited, but did not overcome, the yield losses. This study stresses the importance of agro-ecological conditions in control treatments, particularly the water regime and crop density, when assessing crop drought resistance.


Since August, 1993, internal Medicine Associates Foundation, Inc. of Tupelo and the Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, have been cooperating in a program of community-based Internal Medicine residency training, the first effort of its kind in the state. We are pleased to report the program an unqualified success, for the residents themselves, the participating private physicians, and the Department as a whole. As one of only a handful of ambulatory care private practice relationships in the country (approximately five percent of Internal Medicine departments have such at present), we feel that ours can serve as a model for other programs to emulate. We therefore present a report on our program's background, organizational structure, curriculum, and future plans.


PC clusters have been studied intensively for next-generation large scale parallel computers. ATM technology is a strong candidate as a de facto standard of high speed communication networks. Therefore an ATM connected PC cluster is a very promising platform from the cost/performance point of view, as a future high performance computing environment. An ATM connected PC cluster consisting of 100 PCs is reported, and characteristics of a transport layer protocol for the PC cluster are evaluated. Point-to-point communication performance is measured and discussed when a TCP window size parameter is changed. Retransmission caused by cell loss at the ATM switch is analyzed, and parameters of the retransmission mechanism suitable for parallel processing on the large scale PC cluster are clarified. From the viewpoint of applications, data intensive applications such as data mining and ad-hoc query processing in databases are considered to be very important for massively parallel processors, in addition to conventional scientific calculations. Thus, investigating the feasibility of such applications on an ATM connected PC cluster is quite meaningful. Parallel data mining is implemented and evaluated on the cluster. The default TCP protocol cannot provide good performance, since a lot of collisions happen during all-to-all multicasting executed on the large scale PC cluster. Using TCP parameters according to the proposed optimization, sufficient performance improvement is achieved for parallel data mining on 100 PCs.


Due to the recent findings that the majority of South African's have been exposed to high levels of trauma, the effects of trauma on mental health and wellbeing have become an important area of research in the South African context. Although many individuals in our country experience high exposure and multiple incidences of trauma, there are a significant number of people who seem to cope well in the face of adverse circumstances and trauma and do not develop stress symptomology as a result of exposure to a traumatic event. These individuals are viewed as resilient as they are able to utilize protective factors at their disposal, aiding them in preventing the development of symptoms associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A large body of literature exists that identifies various protective factors, which may have a positive influence on an individual's response to a traumatic event, thus making them more resilient. However, there is a gap in the South African research on the relationship between exposure to trauma, protective factors and the development of PTSD. The aim of this study is to explain how protective factors mediate PTSD symptoms. It investigates protective factors that resilient individuals utilize in the face of trauma such as; internal characteristics or traits, various demographic factors (i.e., age, gender), supportive interpersonal relationships, religious affiliation and community and family factors that have been identified as protective factors in the literature. Resilience emerged as significant in that it mitigated the development of posttraumatic symptoms (PTS) amongst the sample of university students. This indicates that despite the high incidences of exposure to trauma, individuals have the ability to be resilient, which therefore serves as a protective factor in the event of trauma. The present study constitutes a secondary analysis of previously collected survey data. The data being analysed is from a quantitative, cross-sectional survey that adopted a non-random, convenience sampling method. Logistic regression was undertaken in order to determine the relationship between age, religious affiliation, type of exposure, resilience and posttraumatic stress http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ 2 exposure. Only resilience emerges as a significant predictor underlying its importance for mediating traumatic outcomes. It highlights the importance od including protective factors in future research and interventions.


Network coding (NC) is considered a breakthrough to improve throughput, robustness, and security of wireless networks. Although the theoretical aspects of NC have been extensively investigated, there have been only few experiments with pure NC schematics. This paper presents an implementation of NC under a two-way relay model and extends it to two non-straightforward scenarios: (i) multimedia transmission with layered coding and multiple-description coding, and (ii) cognitive radio with Vandermonde frequency division multiplexing (VFDM). The implementation is in real time and based on software-defined radio (SDR). The experimental results show that, by combining NC and source coding, we can control the quality of the received multimedia content in an on-demand manner. Whereas in the VFDM-based cognitive radio, the quality of the received content in the primary receiver is low (due to imperfect channel estimation) yet retrievable. Our implementation results serve as a proof for the practicability of network coding in relevant applications.


The main thrust of this study was to investigate funding and library resources in university libraries in Rivers State, Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample of 105 was used for the study; purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample for the study. Questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The data collected were analysed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result of the analysis revealed that the perceived source of funding significantly influenced library resources in university libraries in Rivers State, Nigeria in terms of provision of information resources, library facilities provision and maintenance, human resources availability and provision of library services. Based on these findings, it was recommended that librarians should explore other means of funding where necessary to improve their services. Efforts should also be made to address the issues of human resources development, facility procurement and maintenance. Finally, the university librarian should be carried along in the strategic planning of their institutions.


High-resolution long-slit spectra obtained with the Phoenix spectrograph on Gemini South provide our most accurate probe of the three-dimensional structure of the Homunculus Nebula around η Carinae. The new near-infrared spectra dramatically confirm the double-shell structure inferred previously from thermal dust emission, resolving the nebula into a very thin outer shell seen in H2 and a warmer, thicker inner layer seen in [Fe II]. The remarkably thin and uniform H 2 skin hints that the most important mass loss during the 19th century eruption had a very short duration of ≲5 yr. H2 emission traces the majority of the more than 10 M☉ of material in the nebula and has an average density of order nH ≳ 106.5 cm-3. This emission, in turn, yields our first definitive picture of the exact shape of the nebula, plus a distance of 2350 ± 50 pc and an inclination angle of ~41°. The distribution of the H2 emission provides the first measure of the latitude dependence of the speed, mass loss, and kinetic energy associated with η Car's 19th century explosion. Almost 75% of the total mass and more than 90% of the kinetic energy in the ejecta were released at high latitudes between 45° and the polar axis. This rules out a model for the bipolar shape in which an otherwise spherical explosion was pinched at the waist by a circumstellar torus. Instead, most of the mass appears to have been directed poleward by the explosion itself. H2 emission also provides our first reliable picture of the critical innermost waist of the Homunculus, yielding clues to the observed morphology of the core and the more extended equatorial debris.


Fluorescent tubes have long been the mainstay of lighting for many premises, due to their high efficiency and long life. However they are sensitive to power system voltage disturbances, which result in visible light flicker and they produce harmonics. Furthermore their brightness can only be controlled over a narrow range (with active ballasts) and the light spectrum produced is not ideal. The most efficient white LEDs now achieve light outputs in excess of 100 lumens per watt of electrical input power, surpassing the efficiency of fluorescent tubes. With suitable drive circuitry they can be made immune to electrical disturbances, with dimming and controllable colour rendering readily achievable. A new multichip LED lamp with spectrum adjustment, mounted in a four foot fluorescent fitting, with ballast replaced by driver electronics is compared with a commercial white LED fluorescent tube replacement and a white fluorescent tube, mounted in the same four foot fitting, with conventional inductive ballast. Practical results for spatial distribution, intensity and spectrum of light output are compared for all three lamps, with the same power input. Sensitivity to mains disturbances and harmonic current draw are also compared.


As the promise of personalized medicine in the treatment of cancer begins to be realized, the diagnostic techniques needed to drive that revolution have continued to evolve. What started as optical imaging of banded chromosomes for karyotyping has progressed to DNA sequencing and now next‐generation sequencing capable of producing billions of reads. There are currently a large number of techniques that are used in the clinical labo‐ ratory for assessing the presence of mutations in lung tumors, all with their own strengths and weaknesses. Here, we survey the technology that is available and take a closer look at next‐generation sequencing. We discuss the instruments that are currently on the market and demonstrate the common workflow from patient to data. Additionally, the outside factors that influence the use of these technologies, from government regulation to insur‐ ance reimbursement, are presented.


Farm business need to attract, retain and motive valuable workers, and meet productivity and quality goals in order to achieve their strategic objectives. Willow Bend Farm, a dairy operation run by the Muller family in upstate New York, created and implemented a strategic compensation system to help achieve farm growth over its nearly forty-year history. This paper is a case study of Willow Bend's total compensation system from 1957-1996, during which time the farm experienced tremendous growth. The owners of Willow Bend Farm implemented an array of compensation programs over this time period, including a unique worker cow-ownership program that, by design, increases worker's initial investment as new calves are born. Other incentives target key behaviors necessary to farm success.


We investigate whether it is possible to improve the performance of automated facial forensic sketch matching by learning from examples of facial forgetting over time. Forensic facial sketch recognition is a key capability for law enforcement, but remains an unsolved problem. It is extremely challenging because there are three distinct contributors to the domain gap between forensic sketches and photos: The well-studied sketch-photo modality gap, and the less studied gaps due to (i) the forgetting process of the eye-witness and (ii) their inability to elucidate their memory. In this paper, we address the memory problem head on by introducing a database of 400 forensic sketches created at different time-delays. Based on this database we build a model to reverse the forgetting process. Surprisingly, we show that it is possible to systematically "un-forget" facial details. Moreover, it is possible to apply this model to dramatically improve forensic sketch recognition in practice: we achieve the state of the art results when matching 195 benchmark forensic sketches against corresponding photos and a 10,030 mugshot database.


BACKGROUND
Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch is used in the treatment of morbid obesity. Few centres perform the procedure laparoscopically. We aimed to evaluate the perioperative outcomes and weight loss after laparoscopic duodenal switch.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
All patients operated with biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch at the Centre for Morbid Obesity at Oslo University Hospital (2004-2009) were included. The perioperative period was defined as within 30 days of surgery.

RESULTS
A total of 48 patients were operated, all laparoscopically. Median preoperative BMI was 54 kg/m2 (range 41-88), and 33 patients (69 %) were women. Ten patients (21 %) were operated in two steps: first gastric sleeve and later duodenal switch. Median operation time was 200 minutes (100-658). Twelve patients (25 %) had complications, four (8 %) were reoperated, and one died. Median postoperative hospital stay was three (1-56) days. After two years, median BMI was 32 kg/m2 (24-45), median weight loss 39 % (22-60) and median excess BMI (> 25 kg/m2) loss 73 % (43-106).

INTERPRETATION
Duodenal switch was applied in a minority of patients operated for morbid obesity. The procedure can be performed laparoscopically with a short hospital stay and leads to a substantial weight loss. Perioperative morbidity was high and was comparable to the results from other series.


The present paper focuses on a unique, optimized process of completely dissolving rhodium that can be employed on a large scale. Dissolution of rhodium has always been a challenging aspect of rhodium metallurgy due to its poor solubility even in mineral acids under ordinary conditions. In this paper, we present a means of achieving complete dissolution of rhodium powder in aqua regia using an experimentally optimized set of process parameters including solvent volume, temperature and heating time. The result is a solution in which the rhodium is completely dissolved which is confirmed by using optical microscopy at 50x magnification. Further, through the outcome of the experiments, it is concluded that it is possible to qualitatively ascertain the extent of rhodium content in the powder by observing the color of the solution. Comparison is also carried out with results obtained from dissolution experiments employing non-optimized process parameters in aqua regia as solvent.


This article examines bodily action as an interactional resource in instruction preparing for basic education. Using conversation analysis as method, the study seeks to answer two research questions: How does bodily action support and enable participation in the classroom interaction, and how do the teacher and the students use it in IRE/IRF-sequences? The first focus is on how the teacher uses bodily action when asking questions from the students. Secondly, the study focuses on how the teacher verbalizes students' bodily action into verbal utterances. The writer argues that bodily action can enable participation in the classroom interaction as well as language teaching and language learning. For the teacher it serves as a pedagogical tool and for the student as a means of participation when learning a new language.


In this study, we propose a least mean square-partial parallel interference cancellation (LMS-PPIC) method named parallel LMS-PPIC (PLMS-PPIC) in which the normalised least mean square (NLMS) adaptive algorithm with optimised chip time-varying step-size is engaged to obtain the cancellation weights. The former LMS-PPIC method is based on fixed not optimised step-size, which causes propagation of error from one stage to the next one and increases the bit error rate (BER). The unit magnitude of the cancellation weights is the principal property in our step-size optimisation. To avoid computational complexity a small set of NLMS algorithms with different step-sizes are executed. In each iteration the parameter estimate of that NLMS algorithm which the elements magnitudes of its cancellation weight estimate have the best match with unit is chosen. Magnificent decrease in BER is achieved by executing the proposed method. Moreover PLMS-PPIC like former LMS-PPIC method comes to practice only when the channel phases are known. When they are unknown, having only their quarters in (0, 2π), we propose modified versions of LMS-PPIC and PLMS-PPIC to find the channel phases and the cancellation weights simultaneously. Simulation scenarios are given to compare the performance of our methods with that of LMS-PPIC in two cases: balanced channel and unbalanced channel. The results show that in both cases the proposed method outperforms LMS-PPIC, especially for high processing gains.


Cyanotoxins are a diverse group of bioactive compounds produced by cyanobacteria that have adverse effects on human and animal health. While the phenomenon of cyanotoxin production in aquatic environments is well studied, research on cyanotoxins in terrestrial environments, where cyanobacteria abundantly occur in biocrusts, is still in its infancy. Here, we investigated the potential cyanotoxin production in cyanobacteria-dominated biological loess crusts (BLCs) from three different regions (China, Iran, and Serbia) and in cyanobacterial cultures isolated from the BLCs. The presence of cyanotoxins microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxins, and β-N-methylamino-L-alanine was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method, while the presence of cyanotoxin-encoding genes (mcyE, cyrJ, sxtA, sxtG, sxtS, and anaC) was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. We could not detect any of the targeted cyanotoxins in the biocrusts or the cyanobacterial cultures, nor could we amplify any cyanotoxin-encoding genes in the cyanobacterial strains. The results are discussed in terms of the biological role of cyanotoxins, the application of cyanobacteria in land restoration programs, and the use of cyanotoxins as biosignatures of cyanobacterial populations in loess research. The article highlights the need to extend the field of research on cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin production to terrestrial environments.


The purpose of this study was to describe the smallholder dairy system(s) in the Western Division of Viti Levu, the largest island of Fiji. The role and contribution of non-commercial dairy cows to the income, nutrition and cultural well-being of Indian families in these systems was assessed. In common with such dairy systems elsewhere in the developing world there is a dearth of available information on the non-commercia~ dairy sector of Fiji. A Farming Systems Research (FSR) approach provided the framework for the field survey which was carried out in the Western Division of Fiji over an eight week period from February to March 1991 . Nineteen farmers selected at random were interviewed for this study. These farmers together owned a total of 36 noncommercial dairy cows. Information was obtained from these farmers on their farming resources and operations and in particular, on the roles, production and reproductive performance of their cows. Using data from these farms and other limited secondary data which was available, a whole farm budget for a typical farm in the survey area was prepared, identifying the revenue and costs of commercial and subsistence crop enterprises and the two-cow system. For the 'typical' farm , the total net revenue from the combined crop enterprises (commercial and subsistence) was F$5433/year, with sugar cane providing the main source of income from the farm. The imputed net value of production from the two-cow system was estimated to be about 38% of the net crop revenue. Per capita consumption for Indian farm families of fat and protein from liquid milk were estimated to be 11.6kg and 10.5kg per year, respectively. Survey results show that liquid milk is a significant source of protein to these families . Farmers reported that if a cow was not owned a reduction in the nutritional welfare, health and income of the family would most likely occur. Longitudinal field studies in these smallholder farming systems are recommended to allow the essential dynamics of the livestock enterprises and the relationships between these enterprises, the cropping systems and the farmers' families to be established .. It is concluded from the field studies that non-commercial dairy cows make a significant contribution to the nutrition and economic and cultural well being of the families which keep them, and that these cows are maintained and produce using resources of low opportunity cost to the farm family.


In order to realize active grinding control, a nanometer micropositioning table is designed. The table has a circular working area with diameter of 150 mm. Three piezoelectric actuators are utilized in parallel to drive the moving part with flexure guide mechanism. Through cooperation of the three piezoelectric actuators, the moving part can implement 3-DOF nanometer positioning. The flexure hinge mechanism can also provide preload for the actuators. The preload can keep the moving part from separation with the piezoelectric actuators during moving process. The dynamic model of the micropositioning table is developed with consideration of the driving circuit. To improve the dynamic performance of the micropositioning table, a decoupling PID controller is designed by use of frequency domain approach. The experimental tests have been carried out to verify the performance of the micropositioning table and the established decoupling controller.


William Moore Gorman, known to all as Terence, died in Oxford on 12 January 2003. The greatest Irish economist since Edgeworth, he was, like Edgeworth, totally unknown to the general public, both in his native country and in Britain where he made his career. He was the purest of pure theorists, whose life was devoted to scholarship and teaching, and whose work of forbidding technical difficulty was incomprehensible to most of his contemporaries. Yet, paradoxically, he was always concerned with applied issues, and the tools and theorems he developed have had a lasting influence on empirical work.


Analysis of hot water extracts from a range of commercial malts showed that 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)furanone (DMHF) varied from undetectable (lager malt) to 4.2 mg/litre (crystal malt), a concentration twenty-six times the flavour threshold in water. 5-Methyl-4-hydroxy-3 (2H)furanone (MHF) was detected in all samples except one but was always well under its flavour threshold value. 2(or 5)-Ethyl-5(or 2)-methyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)furanone (EMHF) was not detected in any of the samples. Fermentation of lager, ale and crystal malt extracts with an ale strain of yeast led to the appearance of EMHF in all cases as well as additional DMHF. The greatest increases in both compounds was with the ale malt. Both increases and decreases occurred in MHF concentration as a result of fermentation but final levels were always well below the flavour threshold value. Analysis of ten commercial beers found DMHF in all the samples and in five cases levels exceeded twice the flavour threshold value in beer with flavour units from 2.4 to 9.1. A flavour panel noted that in four of these cases the beer had a distinctly sweet/caramel aroma which is typical of DMHF. EMHF was undetectable in six samples, detectable, but unquantifiable, in three cases but at about 80% of the flavour threshold value in the remaining sample. MHF was found in all samples but at insignificant levels. The results show that DMHF is an important flavour compound in British ales and EMHF may make a contribution in a limited number of situations. The contribution of malt type, brewery processing and yeast strain in determining the concentration of the two 4-hydroxyfuranones in beer remains uncertain.


Flat chest" of a woman due to under development of the breast is not a rare deformity. This deformity is best treated with augmentation mammoplasty. Currently, silastic gel breast prosthesis implantation is the most commonly used operation. There are three methods to carry out this operation, Viz the inframammary incision method, the axillary incision method and the areolar incision method. The last method is not often used because it has many drawbacks. Nevertheless, it has one unique advantage that is the incision scar is not vivid and can be camouflaged by the dark color of the areolar skin and the roughness of the Montgomery's glands. The improved method of this paper can avoid the various drawbacks and retain the advantage.


In various writings Karl Marx made references to an 'aristocracy of finance' in Western Europe and the USA that dominated ownership of the public debt. Drawing on original research, this article offers the first comprehensive analysis of public debt ownership within the US corporate sector. The research shows that over the past three decades, and especially in the context of the current crisis, a new aristocracy of finance has emerged, as holdings of the public debt have become rapidly concentrated in favour of large corporations classified within Finance, Insurance and Real Estate. Operationalizing Wolfgang Streeck's concept of the 'debt state', the article goes on to demonstrate how concentration in ownership of the public debt reinforces patterns of social inequality and proceeds in tandem with a shift in government policy, one that prioritizes the interests of government bondholders over the general citizenry.


This report describes the development of an online dating application with the use of AJAX technology. Within the dating application a fuzzy expert system is developed that is able to make inferences based on the OCEAN model. Based on the outcome of the OCEAN matching and some classical inferences the system is able to present matches. The work results in a prototype that is able to match users and that can be adjusted and extended to result in a novel dating application with sophisticated matching by means of computer mediated communication.


INTRODUCTION
It is important to evaluate the position of the hyoid bone in relation to the tongue at the beginning of orthodontic treatment so that during the treatment, its position may be directed hence overall impact on airway could be assessed.

AIM
The aim of this study was to evaluate the upper and lower pharyngeal airway dimensions, posture of tongue and hyoid bone position in young adults with different growth patterns.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sample size of the study included 90 post-adolescent subjects, within the age range of 18-32 years. Based on the different growth pattern of the face, subjects were divided into Group I (n=30; average growth pattern), Group II (n=30; horizontal growth pattern) and Group III (n=30; vertical growth pattern). Lateral cephalogram were traced and analysed manually by the same investigator for evaluation of upper and lower pharyngeal airway, tongue posture and hyoid bone position. The intergroup comparison of upper and lower pharyngeal airway dimensions, posture of tongue and hyoid bone was performed with one-way ANOVA test.

RESULTS
The results showed that upper oropharyngeal widths were significantly different in different facial skeletal patterns (p=0.00). Subjects with vertical skeletal pattern have significantly narrower upper airways than those with horizontal skeletal pattern (p= 0.025). There was significantly higher difference in position of dorsum of the tongue in vertical growth pattern group (p=0.00). The hyoid bone was positioned farther from the mandibular symphysis in brachyfacial subjects, reflected by the larger H-RGN (Hyoid- retrognathion) values compared with the dolichofacial and normal subjects (p=0.044).

CONCLUSION
The upper oropharyngeal width was found to be narrower in subjects with vertical growth pattern. The dorsum of the tongue is seen to be placed higher in subjects with vertical growth pattern. The hyoid bone was more inferiorly and posteriorly positioned in subjects with horizontal growth pattern. Variations are seen in upper and lower oropharyngeal widths, posture of the tongue and hyoid bone position in all the growth patterns.


AIM
The aim of this study is to compare the effect of two different bathing methods training given during pregnancy on the mother's experience, satisfaction and newborn's physiological and behavioral parameters during the first bathing of the newborn at home.

METHODS
A mixed methods research was used in this study. The groups were determined as swaddled bathing (SB) (n = 31) and tub bathing (TB) (n = 31). After training given to the groups, the first bath of the newborn in both groups was built by the mothers. The body temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiration rate, crying times, stress parameters of the newborns and mother satisfaction in both groups were evaluated. The open-ended questions were used to determine mothers' experiences.

RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of oxygen saturation, respiration rate, crying time, face/forehead grimacing, unrest and maternal satisfaction. Four categories and 14 subcategories made up the qualitative part of the study which includes the experiences of the mother about two different bathing methods. "The feelings and worries of the mothers about first bathing" refers to the participants in both groups how they feel during the first bathing; "Positive aspects of this method compared to other bath method" and "Negative aspects of this method compared to other bath method" refers to positive and negative aspects of different bathing methods applied to groups; "Difference between the applied bathing method and other methods" refers to differences they observed when compared to other bathing methods. The mothers in the SB group had less fear of drowning hazard and injuring the newborn, and the fear of uneasiness and the newborn slipping down from hands were more frequent in the TB group.

CONCLUSION
It was determined that both bath methods reduced body temperature, the SB method decreased the stress of newborns and had a positive effect on mother satisfaction and experience.


In the article, the author analyses the main milestones of life and career of a Ukrainian diplomat and politician – Anton Buteiko, one of the founders of diplomacy of in-dependent Ukraine.
A native of the historical Volyn town of Staryi Chortoryisk, he became one of the founders of the foreign policy of the newly-established Ukrainian state and its devoted defender. His passionate and convincing word in defense of the Ukrainian state was heard at various international forums and high-profile negotiations. His articles were constantly published in periodicals, television and radio broadcasts, and on the Internet. In addition, he set out his views on the most acute issues of Ukraine's foreign policy, thereby sharing insights about the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations. A. Buteiko insistently defended the European choice of our state and strongly opposed attempts to amend the Constitution of Ukraine propelled by the politics of patronage and partisanship of certain state leaders clinging to power. He was one of the towering figures in Ukrainian politics.
The author also attempts to trace A. Buteiko's career advancement and diplomatic activities. In the multilateral dimension, his political and diplomatic abounds with acute episodes and dramatic collisions, during which he acted solely in the interests of the Ukrainian cause, showed his innate talent, outstanding abilities, experience, knowledge and unwavering firmness in advocating his patriotic state position. He was a man of strong pro-Ukrainian beliefs, an ardent and consistent defender of Ukraine's independence and an unequivocal supporter of its Western course and admission to the European Union and NATO. At the same time, he called for good-neighbourly, equal and mutually beneficial relations with Russia.
Keywords: Ukrainian diplomacy, Ukrainian-Romanian dialogue, diplomatic mission, foreign policy.


The edge of material loss is crucial for material loss evaluation. Lamb wave tomography and model-based edge detecting have been used in isotropic media. Time of flight and velocity of lamb wave are ultrasonic signal features to reconstruct the edge map of material loss. The correlation technique is employed to get the time of arrival more accurate. An ellipse model is used to represent the defects with apparent directional property, and edge detecting will be realized by it. The reconstructed map shows clearly that edge detecting method in this paper is efficient for material loss detection.


Efficacy, purity, safety, and potency are important attributes of vaccines. Polyanhydride particles represent a novel class of vaccine adjuvants and delivery platforms that have demonstrated the ability to enhance the stability of protein antigens as well as elicit protective immunity against bacterial pathogens. This work aims to elucidate the biocompatibility, inflammatory reactions, and particle effects on mice injected with a 5 mg dose of polyanhydride nanoparticles via common parenteral routes (subcutaneous and intramuscular). Independent of polymer chemistry, nanoparticles more effectively disseminated away from the injection site as compared to microparticles, which exhibited a depot effect. Using fluorescent probes, the in vivo distribution of three formulations of nanoparticles, following subcutaneous administration, indicated migration away from the injection site. Less inflammation was observed at the injection sites of mice‐administered nanoparticles as compared to Alum and incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Furthermore, histological evaluation revealed minimal adverse injection site reactions and minimal toxicological effects associated with the administration of nanoparticles at 30 days post‐administration. Collectively, these results demonstrate that polyanhydride nanoparticles do not induce inflammation as a cumulative effect of particle persistence or degradation and are, therefore, a viable candidate for a vaccine delivery platform.


Efficient management of locally installed software is a recurring central theme of system administration. We report here on an experimental merger of two previously independent systems: Redhat's RPM Package Manager ( RPM ), an open-source database-driven system developed by a major Linux vendor to manage software on a single host; and, an enhanced version of depot , a well-established set of conventions used to manage software that is installed on a server and shared over a network with multiple (possibly heterogeneous) clients. The combination remedies shortcomings in both systems, but to be fully effective, extensions to RPM are required, particularly to its database system. The results of this study point the way toward a second-generation network-distributed version of RPM .


It had been proposed that during reversible coenzyme B 12 dependent rearrangements, cob(II)alamin is not merely present as a spectator but also acts as a conductor by stabilizing the methylene radical intermediates. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested a hydrogen bond between C 19 -H of the corrin ring and the 3'-OH moiety (O3RL) of the 5'- deoxyadenosyl radical resulting in a decrease of the activation energy by about 30 kJ mol -1 . We tested this hypothesis with glutamate mutase and artificial coenzyme B 12 derivatives. The assembly of coenzyme B 12 (adenosylcobalamin) with recombinant components GlmS and GlmE of glutamate mutase from Clostridium cochlearium reconstitutes an active holoenzyme that catalyses the reversible rearrangement between (S)-glutamate and (2S,3S)-3-methylaspartate. Glutamate mutase activity was also demonstrated upon incubation of GlmS and E with 3',5'- dideoxyadenosylcobalamin, but not with 2',5'-dideoxyadenosylcobalamin and peptidoadenylcobalamin. In the latter cobalamin, the ribose unit of the upper ligand was replaced with a peptide mimic that contains the same number of atoms between Co(III) and the adenosine base. Measurements of the kinetic constants of glutamate mutase with coenzyme B 12 and 3',5'- dideoxyadenosylcobalamin suggested similar binding properties of the cofactors to the apoenzyme. However, the catalytic efficiency (k cat /K m ) of glutamate mutase was 15 times reduced with 3',5'-dideoxyadenosylcobalamin compared to catalysis with coenzyme B 12 as cofactor. This translates into a stabilization of only 7 kJ mol -1 in the substrate activation step. We attribute this effect to weak interactions of O3' of the riboise moiety with either C 19 -H of the corrin ring or with the glutamate residue 330 of component E (Glu330). The catalytic inactivity of 2',5'- dideoxyadenosylcobalamin and peptidoadenylcobalamin reveals critical interactions of the 2'-OH moiety (O2') during the catalytic cycle. Evidence for H-bonding between O2' and Glu330 is obtained from the crystal structure analysis of glutamate mutase's active site. Keywords : Methylene radical, carbon skeleton rearrangement, cob(II)alamin, glutamate mutase, dideoxyadenosylcobalamin


In this essay I have presented several examples of cellular neurophysiological approaches used to investigate opiate tolerance and dependence. In many ways, these central nervous system studies parallel earlier investigations carried out in in vitro preparations and cell culture systems reviewed by others in this volume. The examples presented here have demonstrated that opiate/opioid tolerance and dependence are observed at all levels of electrophysiological analysis. Moreover, recent studies utilizing the locus coeruleus slice preparation have shown the feasibility of separating the processes underlying opiate tolerance and those of dependence (Andrade et al. 1983). Several important issues remain unresolved: (1) Can acute tolerance to opiates/opioids be demonstrated in all preparations (and in all brain areas studied) or is this phenomenon, in part, due to technical shortcomings of iontophoresis? (2) What are the characteristics of the subpopulations of opioid receptor agonists and their differential ability to alter, in naive or tolerant preparations, synaptic and nonsynaptic processes in neurons? and (3) What are the intracellular events associated with dependence on other brain areas known to contain neurons that are post-synaptic to endogenous opioid peptides? In addition, what is the relationship, at the synaptic level, of opioid-induced synaptic activity and the cascade of intracellular events coupled to "second messenger" processes? Are these intracellular processes ubiquitous for all opioid agonist subtypes or are regional as well as intracellular coupling mechanisms heterogeneous? Many of these questions currently remain unanswered. However, taking our lead from investigators using molecular approaches to study receptor function (see Sigworth 1982; Walker et al. 1982; Taylor et al. 1983; Dunn et al. 1983 and others vis-a-vis muscarinic ACh receptor), "opioid" physiologists are likely to play a major role in elucidating and characterizing endogenous ligand/receptor interactions in the coming years.


Abstract—Climate change, namely precipitation patterns alteration, has led to extreme conditions such as floods and droughts. In turn, excessive construction has led to the waterproofing of the soil, increasing the surface runoff and decreasing the groundwater recharge capacity. The permeable pavements used in areas with low traffic lead to a decrease in the probability of floods peaks occurrence and the sediments reduction and pollutants transport, ensuring rainwater quality improvement. This study aims to evaluate the porous asphalt performance, developed in the laboratory, with addition of cellulosic fibres. One of the main objectives of cellulosic fibres use is to stop binder drainage, preventing its loss during storage and transport. Comparing to the conventional porous asphalt the cellulosic fibres addition improved the porous asphalt performance. The cellulosic fibres allowed the bitumen content increase, enabling retention and better aggregates coating and, consequently, a greater mixture durability. With this solution, it is intended to develop better practices of resilience and adaptation to the extreme climate changes and respond to the sustainability current demands, through the ecofriendly materials use. The mix design was performed for different size aggregates (with fine aggregates – PA1 and with coarse aggregates – PA2). The percentage influence of the fibres to be used was studied. It was observed that overall, the binder drainage decreases as the cellulose fibres percentage increases. It was found that the PA2 mixture obtained most binder drainage relative to PA1 mixture, irrespective of the fibres percentage used. Subsequently, the performance was evaluated through laboratory tests of indirect tensile stiffness modulus, water sensitivity, permeability and permanent deformation. The stiffness modulus for the two mixtures groups (with and without cellulosic fibres) presented very similar values between them. For the water sensitivity test it was observed that porous asphalt containing more fine aggregates are more susceptible to the water presence than mixtures with coarse aggregates. The porous asphalt with coarse aggregates have more air voids which allow water to pass easily leading to ITSR higher values. In the permeability test was observed that asphalt porous without cellulosic fibres presented had lower permeability than asphalt porous with cellulosic fibres. The resistance to permanent deformation results indicates better behaviour of porous asphalt with cellulosic fibres, verifying a bigger rut depth in porous asphalt without cellulosic fibres. In this study, it was observed that porous asphalt with bitumen higher percentages improve the performance to permanent deformation. This fact was only possible due to the bitumen retention by the cellulosic fibres.


We prove a general theorem on semigroup functions that implies characterizations of graph partition functions in terms of the positive semidefiniteness ('reflection positivity') and rank of certain derived matrices. The theorem applies to undirected and directed graphs and to hypergraphs.


We relate seismologically observable parameters such as radiated energy, seismic moment, rupture area, and rupture speed to the dynamics of faulting. To achieve this objective, we computed the radiated energy for 23 subduction zone earthquakes recorded between 1992 and 2001; most of these earthquakes have a magnitude M_w > 7.5, but we also included some smaller (M_w ∼ 6.7) well-studied subduction zone earthquakes and six crustal earthquakes. We compiled static stress drop estimates for these 29 earthquakes from literature and used a slip-weakening model to determine the radiation efficiency of these earthquakes. We also determined the rupture speed of these earthquakes from literature. From fracture mechanics, fracture energy, and hence radiation efficiency, can be related to the rupture speed. The radiation efficiencies estimated from the partitioning of energy as given by the slip-weakening model are consistent with the rupture speed estimated for these earthquakes. Most earthquakes have radiation efficiencies between 0.25 and 1 and are hence efficient in generating seismic waves, but tsunami earthquakes and two deep earthquakes, the 1994 Bolivia and the 1999 Russia-China border earthquakes, have very small radiation efficiencies (<0.25) and hence dissipate a large amount of energy during faulting. We suggest that differences in the radiation efficiencies of different types of earthquakes could be due to fundamental differences in their rupture mechanics. In deep events, the energy is probably dissipated in thermal processes in the fault zone, while it is possible that the morphology of the trench causes large energy dissipation during the rupture process of tsunami earthquakes.


AIMS
To determine incidence and risk factors for hypomagnesaemia in children admitted in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, (PICU).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Prospective study was carried out on 80 children admitted in PICU. The patients were clinically assessed for nutritional status, neurological status on Glasgow coma scale, congestive cardiac failure, etc. and relevant biochemical parameters including serum and red cell magnesium levels were done. 25 patients of the same age group admitted in general ward who were not in critical state were included as a control group.

RESULTS
70% of PICU patients had hypomagnesaemia, which was more common in patients on aminoglycosides and diuretics.

CONCLUSION
In view of complications of magnesium depletion and benign nature of appropriate magnesium therapy critically ill children should have their magnesium level monitored.


Extensive discussion and comments on the Global Burden of Disease Study findings have suggested the need to examine more carefully the basis for comparing the magnitude of different health risks. Attributable burden can be defined as the difference between burden currently observed and burden that would have been observed under an alternative population distribution of exposure. Population distributions of exposure may be defined over many different levels and intensities of exposure (such as systolic or diastolic blood pressure on a continuous scale), and the comparison distribution of exposure need not be zero. Avoidable burden is defined as the reduction in the future burden of disease if the current levels of exposure to a risk factor were reduced to those specified by the counterfactual distribution of exposure. Choosing the alternative population distribution for a variable, the counterfactual distribution of exposure, is the critical step in developing a more general and standardized concept of comparable, attributable, or avoidable burden. We have identified four types of distributions of exposure that could be used as the counterfactual distributions: theoretical minimum risk, plausible minimum risk, feasible minimum risk, and cost-effective minimum risk. Using tobacco and alcohol as examples, we explore the implications of using these different types of counterfactual distributions to define attributable and avoidable burden. The ten risk factor assessments included in the Global Burden of Disease Study reflect a range of methods and counterfactual distributions. We recommend that future assessments should focus on avoidable and attributable burden based on the plausible minimum risk counterfactual distribution of exposure.


The distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Italy was investigated by PCR amplification of the E1 region and hybridization with type I- and type II-specific nonisotopic probes. Positive PCR results were obtained for 65 of 72 patients (90.3%). Type I was detected in 13 of 72 patients (18%), type II was detected in 39 patients (54.2%), and a mixed type I-type II infection was detected in 7 patients (9.7%). Six amplification products not classified by this method shared a low level of homology with HCV types I and II. HCV type I was significantly associated with human immunodeficiency virus, whereas HCV type II was detected in older subjects who were negative for human immunodeficiency virus markers. These results indicate different epidemiological distributions of HCV types I and II in Italy.


BACKGROUND
A principal goal in enhancing primary care in Canada is to increase emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention and the management of chronic diseases in the primary care setting. To achieve this goal in Nova Scotia, collaborative practice teams with a nurse practitioner and at least one physician were established, and both alternative funding arrangements for physicians and an information system were implemented. This study reports on the impact of this primary healthcare reform initiative on the quality of process-of-care, self-care and proxy measures for specific health outcomes for patients with diabetes and hypertension.

METHODS
A pre- (April 1, 1999-March 31, 2000) post- (April 1, 2001-March 31, 2002) intervention audit of consenting patients was conducted at the four sites participating in the Strengthening Primary Care Initiative. Two hundred and eleven charts of patients with diabetes and 541 charts of patients with hypertension were audited. Process-of-care, targeted health outcomes, patient education and self-care items were measured for patients with diabetes. Process-of-care and outcome measures related to clinical management, blood pressure, lifestyle modifications and laboratory investigations were measured for patients with hypertension. Frequencies and proportions were calculated. McNemar's test was used to compare paired data pre- and postintervention.

RESULTS
The percentage of patients with diabetes who achieved target blood pressure control rose from 20.4 to 28.5%. Annual screening for retinopathy increased from 33.8 to 41.9% and nephropathy from 61.7 to 71.3%. The percentage of patients monitoring blood glucose levels at home increased from 61.5% to 69.1%.

HYPERTENSION
The percentage of patients with hypertension who had their blood pressure checked at least twice a year dropped from 89.1% to 85.0%; however, more patients achieved target systolic (rising from 40.6 to 55.3%) and diastolic (from 77.9 to 85.3%) blood pressure readings. Body mass index was recorded and moderate exercise prescribed to more patients. The percentage of patients with recorded fasting blood glucose levels (from 37.7 to 67.1%) and lipid profiles (from 62.6 to 69.1%) was markedly higher.

CONCLUSION
Overall patient care related to diabetes and hypertension was either maintained or improved over the course of the initiative.


Transport phenomena through polymeric composite membranes depend on several complex factors, involving not only their chemical composition but also their microstructure. Due to the combination of mesomorphic and macromolecular behaviour, thermotropic liquid crystal polymers (LCP) may enhance the transport properties in membranes by improving parameters related to the order, orientation, connectivity and distribution of the different domains arising from phase separation. This paper provides an overview of some existing and potential applications of liquid crystals (LC) in polymeric membranes as effective structure-directing templates or as components providing a dynamic response to external stimuli. The first part is a description of the composition and phase behaviour of LCP containing ionic and ionogenic groups, the so-called liquid crystal ionomers (LCI). The second part is focused on the description of LCP and LCI used in transport applications, such as proton-conducting films in fuel cells, ionic polymer transducers and hydrogels. The paper highlights the relationships between the composition and the LC properties of the materials and their potential as membranes for ionic and solvent transport, with particular attention paid to covalently linked materials prepared by copolymerisation, due to their higher versatility and stability.


In this paper we compare two models to compute the isostatic response of the Earths lithosphere to an external load. The lithosphere is modeled as a linear elastic solid. The two models differ in the mathematical formulation of the problem, their applicability in the incompressible limit, the choice of the finite elements used for discretization, and the solution strategy for the arising algebraic problem. The efficiency and accuracy of both models are compared via extensive numerical experiments in 2D and 3D.


Abstract : The purpose of this article is to present effective principles for behavior change. These principles, when taught in the suggested sequence, can be applied by a person to change a self-defeating aspect of his/her life. The officer in the counselor role who knows these principles can use them in developing understanding of a person's (the helpee's) behavior as well as providing him/her (the helpee) a process for bringing about change. In effect, this paper presents several tools useful to the officer as a counselor. These tools are presented for the layman's application. Chamberlain (5) has applied these principles successfully in a home study program for Eliminating Self-Defeating Behaviors (ESDB). Self-defeating behavior (SDB) is defined as any recurring thought, feeling, or action that in some way prevents the doer from being a fully functioning person. There are many defeating behavior patterns ranging from deviant, aggressive sexual behavior and other forms of violence to feelings of timidity and shyness. These behaviors are exhibited in and out of the work environment and are often assessed as hindering work performance or hampering accomplishment of the mission.


Cells use an internal compass to sense the direction of chemoattractant gradients. This is used to bias pseudopod extension at the front of the cell and to orient cell polarization. Recent studies have highlighted the important roles played by phosphoinositide-3,4,5-triphosphate and small G proteins, but many questions remain.


Abstract Iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is common among groundnut grown in calcareous and alkaline soils in India, China and Pakistan and causes considerable reduction in pod yield. To identify genetically diverse IDC tolerant accessions, the mini-core collection of groundnut representing geographical diversity was evaluated for IDC response over 2 years in iron-deficient calcareous soils. Enormous genetic variability was evident in the mini-core collection for IDC tolerance-related traits such as a visual chlorotic rating (VCR) and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) across five growth stages. Several IDC tolerant sources belonging to different botanical varieties such as hypogaea bunch (ICG # 5051, 6766, 5286, 6667, 4538, 14008, 5663, 9842, 11855), hypogaea runner (ICG 10479), fastigiata (ICG 10890) and vulgaris (ICG # 11651, 118) were identified. Among the six botanical varieties of groundnut, hypogaea bunch types were found most tolerant to IDC and this is the first report in groundnut. The IDC tolerant sources identified were irrespective of their country of origin. The principal component analysis based on VCR, SCMR, pod yield and its related traits revealed five major principal components that explained 80% of the total variation. The biplot generated using PC1 and PC2 revealed a distinct separation of IDC tolerant genotypes from the susceptible ones. The hierarchical clustering using five major principal components revealed seven major clusters that were mainly based on IDC response of the accessions.


The La Alberca-Teremendo fault is a 26 km-long, complex fault composed of an en échelon array of short crustal fault segments, belonging to the Morelia-Acambay fault system. This fault system shows parallel scarps with morphological evidence of recent activity such as drainage alteration, maximum throws of 50 m and minimum throws of 1.4 m that displace the recent soils. The fault acted as a conduit for the formation of the La Alberca de Guadalupe maar (23000 to 21000 years ago) and displaced afterwards its phreatomagmatic sequences. The paleoseismic analysis indicates that the La Alberca-Teremendo fault moved three times in the past 23000 years (age of the maar); this activity caused an average vertical displacement of 87 cm, and might have generated earthquakes with magnitudes Mw between 6.6 and 7, as well as volcano-tectonic earthquakes with magnitudes Mw between 4 and 5.5. The displacements were identified on the fault through the superposition of soils differentiated by a disconformity and an anomalous increase in the percentage of clay and organic matter. The La Alberca-Teremendo fault has dominant dip slip with a minor left-lateral component, a slip rate of 0.114 mm/year, and an average recurrence interval of 7726 ± 68 years. According to scaling relations that use the surface rupture length, if we assume that the La Alberca-Teremendo fault moves tectonically, it could generate earthquakes with maximum magnitudes of Mw between 6.7 and 7.3, however because of the active volcanic processes in the area, we could expect moderate volcano-tectonic earthquakes (Mw 4–5.5) rather than catastrophic ones.


A new policy proposal from the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law suggests the president make broad reforms to federal grants across the country that fund state and local law enforcement. Specifically, the president should use his executive authority to recast all federal grants for criminal justice in a "Success-Oriented Funding" model, in which the flow of dollars is linked to the achievement of clear goals. Grant programs run by the federal government have a powerful role in shaping the behavior of law enforcement nationwide. "Success-Oriented Funding" would encourage practices that reduce crime and violence without recourse to unnecessary force, whether through police behavior or undue focus on arrests and incarceration.


We evaluated the overall water footprint of hydraulic fracturing of unconventional shale gas and oil throughout the United States based on integrated data from multiple database sources. We show that between 2005 and 2014, unconventional shale gas and oil extraction used 708 billion liters and 232 billion liters of water, respectively. From 2012 to 2014, the annual water use rates were 116 billion liters per year for shale gas and 66 billion liters per year for unconventional oil. Integrated data from 6 to 10 years of operation yielded 803 billion liters of combined flowback and produced water from unconventional shale gas and oil formations. While the hydraulic fracturing revolution has increased water use and wastewater production in the United States, its water use and produced water intensity is lower than other energy extraction methods and represents only a fraction of total industrial water use nationwide.


Auditors have a valuable reputation for being quality providers of audit and assurance services. Recent changes to an Australian auditing standard (ASA 700 The Auditor's Report on a General Purpose Financial Report) provided a rare opportunity to assess one aspect of auditor quality between Big4 auditors - compliance with new Auditing Standards. The mandated changes to ASA 700 were hurried into force, potentially catching less aware auditors off-guard.We examined all auditor's reports issued by the Sydney partners of the Big4 audit firms between 1 July 2007 and 29 May 2008 for compliance with the new standard. We find that 13% failed to comply with the amended provisions of ASA700. We also noted 18% using either confusing and/or inconsistent language to describe the IFRS compliant financial statements being audited. Furthermore, this aspect of audit quality is variable across the Big4 brand in Sydney.While these results may be explainable in terms of the relative effectiveness of internal control systems the audit firms put in place to keep partners technically up to date with changes in regulations, it seem clear that the hasty introduction of new auditing standards is unlikely to produce timely and consistent compliance.


In the paper is presented a software application that was designed, programmed, realized and tested in order to improve teaching activities in terms of courses, seminaries and laboratories, especially for 3rd year students, from Optometry and Medical Engineering specializations. The software interface is presented as a flexible interface, easy to be used by the students and professors, who allows a more proper and efficient deepening of specialized knowledge, via simulating some processes and optical phenomena. In fact, it is about the phenomena of light radiation propagation through the main basic optical elements (the most used in the construction of optic and medical apparatus and equipments) (the lens, the mirror, the prism). By using such of application for each type of optical element, depending by its technical and optical characteristics, due to the light reflection and refraction, it became possible to be automatically determined all the specific properties of the obtained images through each type of optic elements. Moreover, for a complete simulation and an efficient knowledge deepening, during application running, there is generated the graphical representation of the optic scheme and also related to the way in which the image can be formed through any of the above specified basic optical elements. Currently, the application is being tested and seems to be an excellent solution both for the increasing of the teaching activity and for increasing of attraction of the students reported to the classic teaching methods like different optics problems solving. It was also observed an increase in the degree of understanding among students related to the presented phenomena. The software application presents also an important advantage, namely that it could be used also in case of optical systems design made up of devices with applications in optometry and medical engineering. The proposed solution referring to the software application using for some optical phenomena could be extended also for wider fields, like different physical phenomena or for any technologic processes.


Verifiable blind quantum computing is a secure delegated quantum computing where a client with a limited quantum technology delegates her quantum computing to a server who has a universal quantum computer. The client's privacy is protected (blindness), and the correctness of the computation is verifiable by the client despite her limited quantum technology (verifiability). There are mainly two types of protocols for verifiable blind quantum computing: the protocol where the client has only to generate single-qubit states and the protocol where the client needs only the ability of single-qubit measurements. The latter is called the measurement-only verifiable blind quantum computing. If the input of the client's quantum computing is a quantum state, whose classical efficient description is not known to the client, there was no way for the measurement-only client to verify the correctness of the input. Here we introduce a protocol of measurement-only verifiable blind quantum computing where the correctness of the quantum input is also verifiable.


In the recently released book, Education and the Making of a Democratic People, John Goodlad comments on educational policy directives: The American people are not accustomed to having nonnegotiable mandates for their schools (like NCLB) imposed by federal authorities, mandates that, if not observed, call for monetary penalties. There is a void regarding information-seeking queries and debate. The people responsible are invisible. The essence of political democracy is cut off at the ankles. (pg. 22) Contemporary school reform is rooted in a politics and language of deprofessionalization. Decisions about what occurs in classrooms continue to be driven by non-educators located at great distance from the classroom. In fact, politicians legislating widespread mandates have seldom, if ever, spent time working in schools and classrooms, let alone experiencing themselves the incredible challenges and complexities inherent in teaching and learning in the diverse environments in which schools are situated today. Decisions are made based on the assumption that all students need to know and be able to do the same things and that schools themselves should adhere to a prescribed uniformity of practice and, thereby, offer equal educational opportunities for all. Context is irrelevant. Another major policy orientation suggests that adults know best what students ought to know and be able to do, and further assumes that policymakers and think-tank lobbyists themselves know best what professional educators need to know and be able to do. All the while, the body of educational research is replete with contrary findings as to what constitutes teacher effectiveness and, hence, student academic achievement. A far more substantial basis for viewing teaching and learning as a dynamic, complex and contextually based phenomena belies the notion of one-size-fits-all policies. Efforts to connect teacher effectiveness with student achievement, primarily represented by standardized test scores, underlie a reform movement clearly meant to de-professionalize the work of educators, and at the same time define student learning in narrow, and mostly shallow terms. To consider that multiple choice responses on standardized tests require and value levels of learning associated with memorization and regurgitation suggests that contemporary school reform is driven by efforts to undermine any attempt to intellectualize the ways in which teachers and student engage in subject matter content. Educational aims that seek student evidence of abilities to exhibit critical thinking, problem-solving, analysis, and synthesis are being marginalized and reduced to an anti-intellectual rhetoric that has become the mantra for school reform as publicized widely through mainstream media. Teacher Education Quarterly, however, is committed to recognizing and honoring teaching and learning as an intellectually complex academic activity while supporting scholarly research efforts that more realistically describe and analyze the conditions and challenges educators face today. The collection of articles in this issue is indicative of the kind of evidence-based research that is being generated, informing teacher education and professional development efforts, and representing a (re)imagining of professionalism as a response to large scale legislated mandates. We are proud to open the Summer 2009 issue with a very special contribution by one of the leading educational philosophers of our time, and one of my long-time mentors, Gary D Fenstermacher. Along with co-authors Richard D. Osguthorpe and Matthew N. Sanger we present, "Teaching Morally and Teaching Morality," an exploration of the complexities inherent in how morals are represented in teaching and learning, and how they are too often overshadowed by conversations about student achievement and curriculum standardization. …


Background Youth are globally recognized as being vulnerable to HIV. Younger age has been correlated with worse health outcomes. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have the potential to interact with youth where they are, using a device they already access. Objective Using predefined benchmarks, we sought to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of WYZ, an mHealth app, for improved engagement in care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among youth and young adults living with HIV. WYZ was designed and developed with input from youth and young adults living with HIV using a human-centered design approach and was based on the information, motivation, and behavioral skills framework to address common barriers to care and ART adherence among youth and young adults living with HIV. Methods We recruited youth and young adults living with HIV (18-29 years old) from the San Francisco Bay Area to take part in a 6-month pilot trial. Their participation included completing baseline and exit surveys, and participating in seven phone check-ins about their use of WYZ. Results Youth and young adults living with HIV (N=79) reported high levels of feasibility and acceptability with WYZ use. We met predefined benchmarks for recruitment (79/84, 94%), mean logins per week (5.3), tracking ART adherence (5442/9393, 57.9%), posting chat topics per week (4.8), and app crashes reported per week (0.24). The ease of app download, install, and setup, and comfort with security, privacy, and anonymity were highly rated (all over 91%). Additionally, participants reported high satisfaction for a research project that was remotely conducted. Participants used the app for shorter timeframes compared to the predefined benchmark. Conclusions We noted high feasibility and acceptability with WYZ. Further research to examine the efficacy of WYZ will enable youth and young adults living with HIV and their providers to make informed decisions when using, recommending, and prescribing the app for improved engagement in HIV care and ART adherence. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03587857; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03587857


C2064) Physical, chemical and physiological properties of the plant leaves and stems play an important protective role against pathogens. Morphological, anatomical and serological studies were conducted on sweet potato varieties to determine the role of the traits in relation to sweet potato response to viral diseases incidence described, especially the sweet potato virus disease (SPVD). The morphological characteristics included petiole and internode length and pubescence. Anatomical attributes of nine sweet potato varieties were studied using light microscopy. Serological tests were conducted on sweet potato leaves with nitrocellulose membranes enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (NCM-ELISA) to test for presence of viruses that commonly infect sweet potato in Kenya. There were significant differences (P <0.05) among the sweetpotato varieties for the triats measured. The sweet potato varieties which were tolerant SPVD had longer internodes and petioles, thicker leaf and stem cuticles and low hair density on leaves and stems compared to the susceptible varieties. The sweetpotato virus titres were high in the most susceptible varieties (Jewel, Mugande) compared to the resistant (Jonathan, Zapallo) out of the samples tested. The sweetpotato mild mottle virus (SPMMV), sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), sweetpotato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) and the sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCFV) were on average 22%, 36%, 32% and 11%, respectively among the 20 varieties. Sweet potato morphology can form a basis for rapid assessment of SPVD tolerance among varieties. The multiple infections involved SPCSV and this was common in most of the diseased plants hence the importance of targeting resistance to SPCSV through crop improvement programs.