Abstract: Purpose: The study aimed to assess the depressant or
antidepressant effects of several Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory
Drugs (NSAIDs) in mice: the selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)
inhibitor meloxicam, and the non-selective COX-1 and COX-2
inhibitors lornoxicam, sodium metamizole, and ketorolac. The
current literature data regarding such effects of these agents are
scarce.
Materials and methods: The study was carried out on NMRI mice
weighing 20-35 g, kept in a standard laboratory environment. The
study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of
Medicine and Pharmacy „Carol Davila”, Bucharest. The study agents
were injected intraperitoneally, 10 mL/kg body weight (bw) 1 hour
before the assessment of the locomotor activity by cage testing (n=10
mice/ group) and 2 hours before the forced swimming tests (n=15).
The study agents were dissolved in normal saline (meloxicam,
sodium metamizole), ethanol 11.8% v/v in normal saline (ketorolac),
or water (lornoxicam), respectively. Negative and positive control
agents were also given (amitryptilline in the forced swimming test).
The cage floor used in the locomotor activity assessment was divided
into 20 equal 10 cm squares. The forced swimming test involved
partial immersion of the mice in cylinders (15/9cm height/diameter)
filled with water (10 cm depth at 28C), where they were left for 6
minutes. The cage endpoint used in the locomotor activity assessment
was the number of treaded squares. Four endpoints were used in the
forced swimming test (immobility latency for the entire 6 minutes,
and immobility, swimming, and climbing scores for the final 4
minutes of the swimming session), recorded by an observer that was
„blinded” to the experimental design. The statistical analysis used the
Levene test for variance homogeneity, ANOVA and post-hoc
analysis as appropriate, Tukey or Tamhane tests.
Results: No statistically significant increase or decrease in the
number of treaded squares was seen in the locomotor activity
assessment of any mice group. In the forced swimming test,
amitryptilline showed an antidepressant effect in each experiment, at
the 10 mg/kg bw dosage. Sodium metamizole was depressant at 100
mg/kg bw (increased the immobility score, p=0.049, Tamhane test),
but not in lower dosages as well (25 and 50 mg/kg bw). Ketorolac
showed an antidepressant effect at the intermediate dosage of 5
mg/kg bw, but not so in the dosages of 2.5 and 10 mg/kg bw,
respectively (increased the swimming score, p=0.012, Tamhane test).
Meloxicam and lornoxicam did not alter the forced swimming
endpoints at any dosage level.
Discussion: 1) Certain NSAIDs caused changes in the forced
swimming patterns without interfering with locomotion. 2) Sodium
metamizole showed a depressant effect, whereas ketorolac proved
antidepressant. Conclusion: NSAID-induced mood changes are not
class effects of these agents and apparently are independent of the
type of inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX-1 or COX-2).
Disclosure: This paper was co-financed from the European Social
Fund, through the Sectorial Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013, project number POSDRU /159
/1.5 /S /138907 "Excellence in scientific interdisciplinary research,
doctoral and postdoctoral, in the economic, social and medical fields
-EXCELIS", coordinator The Bucharest University of Economic
Studies.
Abstract: Durian is the flagship fruit of Mindanao and there is
an abundance of several cultivars with many confusing identities/
names.
The project was conducted to develop procedure for reliable and
rapid detection and sorting of durian planting materials. Moreover, it
is also aimed to establish specific genetic or DNA markers for routine
testing and authentication of durian cultivars in question.
The project developed molecular procedures for routine testing.
SSR primers were also screened and identified for their utility in
discriminating durian cultivars collected.
Results of the study showed the following accomplishments:
1. Twenty (29) SSR primers were selected and identified based on
their ability to discriminate durian cultivars,
2. Optimized and established standard procedure for identification
and authentication of Durian cultivars
3. Genetic profile of durian is now available at Biotech Unit
Our results demonstrate the relevance of using molecular
techniques in evaluating and identifying durian clones. The most
polymorphic primers tested in this study could be useful tools for
detecting variation even at the early stage of the plant especially for
commercial purposes. The process developed combines the efficiency
of the microsatellites development process with the optimization of
non-radioactive detection process resulting in a user-friendly protocol
that can be performed in two (2) weeks and easily incorporated into
laboratories about to start microsatellite development projects. This
can be of great importance to extend microsatellite analyses to other
crop species where minimal genetic information is currently
available. With this, the University can now be a service laboratory
for routine testing and authentication of durian clones.
Abstract: A central element of higher education today is the
“core” or “general education” curriculum: that configuration of
courses that often encompasses the essence of liberal arts education.
Ensuring that such offerings reflect the mission and values of the
institution is a challenge faced by most college and universities, often
more than once. This paper presents an action model of program
planning designed to structure the processes of developing,
implementing and revising core curricula in a manner consistent with
key institutional goals and objectives. Through presentation of a case
study from a university in the United States, the elements of needs
assessment, stakeholder investment and collaborative compromise
are shown as key components of a planning strategy that can produce
a general education program that is comprehensive, academically
rigorous, assessable, and mission consistent. The paper concludes
with recommendations for both the implementation and evaluation of
such programs in practice.
Abstract: Indonesian higher education has experienced
significant changes over the last decade. In 1999, the government
published an overall strategy for decentralisation and enhancement of
local autonomy in many sectors, including (higher) education.
Indonesian higher education reforms have forced universities to
restructure their internal university governance to become more
entrepreneurial. These new types of internal university governance
are likely to affect the institutions’ leadership and management. This
paper discusses the approach and findings of a study on the
managerial leadership styles of deans in Indonesian universities. The
study aims to get a better understanding of styles exhibited by deans
manifested in their behaviours. Using the theories of reasoned action
and planned behaviour, in combination with the competing values
framework, a large-scale survey was conducted to gather information
on the deans’ behaviours, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived
behavioural control. Based on the responses of a sample of 218
deans, the study identifies a number of leadership styles: the Master,
the Competitive Consultant, the Consensual Goal-Setter, the Focused
Team Captain, and the Informed Trust-Builder style. The study
demonstrates that attitudes are the primary determinant of the styles
that were found. Perceived behavioural control is a factor that
explains some managerial leadership styles. By understanding the
attitudes of deans in Indonesian universities, and their leadership
styles, universities can strengthen their management and governance,
and thus improve their effectiveness.
Abstract: The aims of this study were to determine the factor
structure and psychometric properties (i.e., reliability and convergent
validity) of the Malaysian Multi-Ethnic Discrimination Scale
(MMEDS). It consists of 71-items measure experience, strategies
used and consequences of ethnic discrimination. A sample of 649
university students from one of the higher education institution in
Malaysia was asked to complete MMEDS, as well as Perceived
Ethnic and Racial Discrimination. The exploratory factor analysis on
ethnic discrimination experience extracted two factors labeled ‘unfair
treatment’ (15 items) and ‘Denial of the ethnic right’ (12 items)
which accounted for 60.92% of the total variance. The two sub scales
demonstrated clear reliability with internal consistency above .70.
The convergent validity of the Scale was supported by an expected
pattern of correlations (positive and significant correlation) between
the score of unfair treatment and denial of the ethnic right and the
score of Perceived Ethnic and Racial Discrimination by Peers Scale.
The results suggest that the MMEDS is a reliable and valid measure.
However, further studies need to be carried out in other groups of
sample as to validate the Scale.
Abstract: A large amount of blast furnace slag is generated in
China. Most ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) however
ends up in low-grade applications. Blast furnace slag, ground to an
appropriate fineness, can be used as a partial replacement of
cementitious material in concrete. The potential for using GGBS in
structural concrete, e.g. concrete beams and columns is investigated
at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). With 50% of CEM
I cement replaced with GGBS, peak hydration temperatures
determined in a suspended concrete slab reduced by 20%. This
beneficiary effect has not been further improved with 70% of CEM I
replaced with GGBS. Partial replacement of CEM I with GGBS has a
retardation effect on the early-age strength of concrete. More GGBS
concrete mixes will be conducted to identify an ‘optimum’
replacement level which will lead to a reduced thermal loading,
without significantly compromising the early-age strength of
concrete.
Abstract: The purposes of this study are 1) to study the effects
of participatory error correction process and 2) to find out the
students’ satisfaction of such error correction process. This study is a
Quasi Experimental Research with single group, in which data is
collected 5 times preceding and following 4 experimental studies of
participatory error correction process including providing coded
indirect corrective feedback in the students’ texts with error treatment
activities. Samples include 52 2nd year English Major students,
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat
University. Tool for experimental study includes the lesson plan of
the course; Reading and Writing English for Academic Purposes II,
and tools for data collection include 5 writing tests of short texts and
a questionnaire. Based on formative evaluation of the students’
writing ability prior to and after each of the 4 experiments, the
research findings disclose the students’ higher scores with statistical
difference at 0.00. Moreover, in terms of the effect size of such
process, it is found that for mean of the students’ scores prior to and
after the 4 experiments; d equals 0.6801, 0.5093, 0.5071, and 0.5296
respectively. It can be concluded that participatory error correction
process enables all of the students to learn equally well and there is
improvement in their ability to write short texts. Finally the students’
overall satisfaction of the participatory error correction process is in
high level (Mean = 4.39, S.D. = 0.76).
Abstract: This study examined how individuals in their
respective teams contributed to innovation performance besides
defining the term of innovation in their own respective views. This
study also identified factors that motivated University staff to
contribute to the innovation products. In addition, it examined
whether there is a significant relationship between professional
training level and the length of service among university staff
towards innovation and to what extent do the two variables
contributed towards innovative products. The significance of this
study is that it revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the
university staff when contributing to innovation performance.
Stratified-random sampling was employed to determine the samples
representing the population of lecturers in the study, involving 123
lecturers in one of the local universities in Malaysia. The method
employed to analyze the data is through categorizing into themes for
the open-ended questions besides using descriptive and inferential
statistics for the quantitative data. This study revealed that two types
of definition for the term “innovation” exist among the university
staff, namely, creation of new product or new approach to do things
as well as value-added creative way to upgrade or improve existing
process and service to be more efficient. This study found that the
most prominent factor that propels them towards innovation is to
improve the product in order to benefit users, followed by selfsatisfaction
and recognition. This implies that the staff in the
organization viewed the creation of innovative products as a process
of growth to fulfill the needs of others and also to realize their
personal potential. This study also found that there was only a
significant relationship between the professional training level and
the length of service of 4 - 6 years among the university staff. The
rest of the groups based on the length of service showed that there
was no significant relationship with the professional training level
towards innovation. Moreover, results of the study on directional
measures depicted that the relationship for the length of service of 4-
6 years with professional training level among the university staff is
quite weak. This implies that good organization management lies on
the shoulders of the key leaders who enlighten the path to be
followed by the staff.
Abstract: The number of persons with implanted cardiac
pacemakers (PM) has increased in Western countries. The aim of this
paper is to investigate the possible situations where persons with a
PM may be exposed to extremely low frequency (ELF) electric (EF)
and magnetic fields (MF) that may disturb their PM. Based on our
earlier studies, it is possible to find such high public exposure to EFs
only in some places near 400 kV power lines, where an EF may
disturb a PM in unipolar mode. Such EFs cannot be found near 110
kV power lines. Disturbing MFs can be found near welding
machines. However, we do not have measurement data from welding.
Based on literature and earlier studies at Tampere University of
Technology, it is difficult to find public EF or MF exposure that is
high enough to interfere with PMs.
Abstract: Our globalizing world has become almost a small
village and everyone can access any information at any time.
Everyone lets each other know who does whatever in which place.
We can learn which social events occur in which place in the world.
From the perspective of education, the course notes that a lecturer use
in lessons in a university in any state of America can be examined by
a student studying in a city of Africa or the Far East. This dizzying
communication we have mentioned happened thanks to fast
developments in computer and internet technologies. While these
developments occur in the world, Turkey that has a very large young
population and whose electronic infrastructure rapidly improves has
also been affected by these developments. Nowadays, mobile devices
have become common and thus, it causes to increase data traffic in
social networks. This study was carried out on students in the
different age groups in Selcuk University Vocational School of
Technical Sciences, the Department of Computer Technology.
Students’ opinions about the use of internet and social media were
obtained. The features such as using the Internet and social media
skills, purposes, operating frequency, accessing facilities and tools,
social life and effects on vocational education and so forth were
explored. The positive effects and negative effects of both internet
and social media use on the students in this department and findings
are evaluated from different perspectives and results are obtained. In
addition, relations and differences were found out statistically.
Abstract: Taking into account the significance of measuring the
daily use of the study space in the libraries in order to develop and
reorganize the space for enhancing the efficiency of the study space,
the current study aimed to apply GIS in analyzing the study halls of
the Central Library and Document Center of Tehran University in
order to determine how study desks and chairs were used by the
students. The study used a combination of survey-descriptive and
system design method. In order to gather the required data, surveydescriptive
method was used. For implementing and entering data
into ArcGIS and analyzing the data and displaying the results on the
maps of the study halls of the library, system design method was
utilized. The design of the spatial database of the use of the study
halls was measured through the extent of occupancy of the space by
the library users and the maps of the study halls of the central library
of Tehran University as the case study. The results showed that
Abooreyhan hall had the highest rate of occupancy of the desks and
chairs compared to the other halls. The Hall of Science and
Technology, with an average occupancy rate of 0.39 for the tables
represented the lowest number of users and Rashid al-Dins hall, and
Science and Technology hall with an average occupancy rate (0.40)
had the lowest number of users for seats. In this study, the
comparison of the space occupied at different periods in the morning,
evenings, afternoons, and several months was performed through
GIS. This system analyzed the space relationships effectively and
efficiently. The output of this study would be used by administrators
and librarians to determine the exact extent of use of the equipment
of the study halls and librarians can use the output map to design the
space more efficiently at the library.
Abstract: Problems insulation of building structures is often
closely connected with the problem of moisture remediation. In the
case of historic buildings or if only part of the redevelopment of
envelope of structures, it is not possible to apply the classical external
thermal insulation composite systems. This application is mostly
effective thermal insulation plasters with high porosity and controlled
capillary properties which assures improvement of thermal properties
construction, its diffusion openness towards the external environment
and suitable treatment capillary properties of preventing the
penetration of liquid moisture and salts thereof toward the outer
surface of the structure.
With respect to the current trend of reducing the energy
consumption of building structures and reduce the production of CO2
is necessary to develop capillary-active materials characterized by
their low density, low thermal conductivity while maintaining good
mechanical properties. The aim of researchers at the Faculty of Civil
Engineering, Brno University of Technology is the development and
study of hygrothermal behaviour of optimal materials for thermal
insulation and rehabilitation of building structures with the possible
use of alternative, less energy demanding binders in comparison with
conventional, frequently used binder, which represents cement.
The paper describes the evaluation of research activities aimed at
the development of thermal insulation and repair materials using
lightweight aggregate and alternative binders such as metakaolin and
finely ground fly ash.
Abstract: Phelipanche ramosa is the most damaging obligate
flowering parasitic weed on wide species of cultivated plants. The
semi-arid regions of the world are considered the main centers of this
parasitic plant that causes heavy infestation. This is due to its
production of high numbers of seeds (up to 200,000) that remain
viable for extended periods (up to 20 years). In this study, 13
treatments for the control of Phelipanche were carried out, which
included agronomic, chemical, and biological treatments and the use
of resistant plant methods. In 2014, a trial was performed at the
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of
Foggia (southern Italy), on processing tomato (cv ‘Docet’) grown in
pots filled with soil taken from a field that was heavily infested by P.
ramosa). The tomato seedlings were transplanted on May 8, 2014,
into a sandy-clay soil (USDA). A randomized block design with 3
replicates (pots) was adopted. During the growing cycle of the
tomato, at 70, 75, 81 and 88 days after transplantation, the number of
P. ramosa shoots emerged in each pot was determined. The tomato
fruit were harvested on August 8, 2014, and the quantitative and
qualitative parameters were determined. All of the data were
subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the JMP software
(SAS Institute Inc. Cary, NC, USA), and for comparisons of means
(Tukey's tests). The data show that each treatment studied did not
provide complete control against P. ramosa. However, the virulence
of the attacks was mitigated by some of the treatments tried: radicon
biostimulant, compost activated with Fusarium, mineral fertilizer
nitrogen, sulfur, enzone, and the resistant tomato genotype. It is
assumed that these effects can be improved by combining some of
these treatments with each other, especially for a gradual and
continuing reduction of the “seed bank” of the parasite in the soil.
Abstract: The paper deals with possibilities of interpretation of
iron ore reducibility tests. It presents a mathematical model
developed at Centre ENET, VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava,
Czech Republic for an evaluation of metallurgical material of blast
furnace feedstock such as iron ore, sinter or pellets. According to the
data from the test, the model predicts its usage in blast furnace
technology and its effects on production parameters of shaft
aggregate. At the beginning, the paper sums up the general concept
and experience in mathematical modelling of iron ore reduction. It
presents basic equation for the calculation and the main parts of the
developed model. In the experimental part, there is an example of
usage of the mathematical model. The paper describes the usage of
data for some predictive calculation. There are presented material,
method of carried test of iron ore reducibility. Then there are
graphically interpreted effects of used material on carbon
consumption, rate of direct reduction and the whole reduction
process.
Abstract: This exploratory study gives an overview of the
evolution of the main financial and performance indicators of the
Academic Spin-Off’s and High Growth Academic Spin-Off’s in year
3 and year 6 after its creation in the region of Catalonia in Spain. The
study compares and evaluates results of these different measures of
performance and the degree of success of these companies for each
University.
We found that the average Catalonian Academic Spin-Off is small
and have not achieved the sustainability stage at year 6. On the
contrary, a small group of High Growth Academic Spin-Off’s
exhibits robust performance with high profits in year 6. Our results
support the need to increase selectivity and support for these
companies especially near year 3, because are the ones that will bring
wealth and employment. University role as an investor has rigid
norms and habits that impede an efficient economic return from their
ASO investment.
Universities with high performance on sales and employment in
year 3 not always could sustain this growth in year 6 because their
ASO’s are not profitable. On the contrary, profitable ASO exhibit
superior performance in all measurement indicators in year 6. We
advocate the need of a balanced growth (with profits) as a way to
obtain subsequent continuous growth.
Abstract: This paper describes an Action Research project
which was undertaken to inform professional practice in order to
develop a newly created Centre for Student Success in the specific
context of transnational medical and nursing education in the Middle
East. The objectives were to enhance the academic performance,
persistence, integration and personal and professional development of
a multinational study body, in particular in relation to pre-clinical
medical students, and to establish a comfortable, friendly and
student-driven environment within an Irish medical university
recently established in Bahrain. The outcomes of the project resulted
in the development of a specific student success ‘signature’ for this
particular transnational higher education context.
Abstract: The adaptation of social networking sites within
higher education has garnered significant interest in the recent years
with numerous researches considering it as a possible shift from the
traditional classroom based learning paradigm. Notwithstanding this
increase in research and conducted studies however, the adaption of
SNS based modules have failed to proliferate within Universities.
This paper commences its contribution by analyzing the various
models and theories proposed in literature and amalgamate together
various effective aspects for the inclusion of social technology within
e-Learning. A three phased framework is further proposed which
details the necessary considerations for the successful adaptation of
SNS in enhancing the students learning experience. This proposal
outlines the theoretical foundations which will be analyzed in
practical implementation across international university campuses.
Abstract: This technical contribution treats of a novel approach
to condition-oriented maintenance as elaborated by Collaborative
Research Centre 653 at the Leibniz University in Hanover. The
objective resides in the targeted analysis of information about a
component's lifecycle for maintenance purposes. The information in
question is collected by means of the Collaborative Research Centre's
innovative technologies. This enables preventive maintenance of
components on the basis of their condition. This contribution initially
explains condition-oriented maintenance, before introducing the
Collaborative Research Centre and finally presenting the
methodology for analyzing the information. The current state of
development is described and an outlook provided for expanding the
methodology.
Abstract: Innovation plays an important role in economic
growth and development. Evolutionary economics has entrepreneurs
at the centre of the innovation system, but includes all other
participants as contributors to the performance of the innovation
system. Education and training institutions, one of the participants in
the innovation system, contributes in different ways to human capital.
The gap in literature on the competence building as part of human
capital in the analysis of innovation systems is addressed in this
paper. The Mpumalanga Province of South Africa is used as a case
study. It was found that the absence of a university, the level of
education, the quality and performance in the education sector and
the condition of the education infrastructure have not been conducive
to learning.
Abstract: The explosion of the World Wide Web and the
electronic trend of university teaching have transformed the learning
style to become more learner-centered, which has popularized the
digital delivery of mediated lectures as an alternative or an adjunct to
traditional lectures. Despite its potential and popularity, virtual
lectures have not been adopted yet in Jordanian universities. This
research aimed to fill this gap by studying the factors that influence
students’ willingness to accept virtual lectures in one Jordanian
University. A quantitative approach was followed, by obtaining 216
survey responses and statistically applying the UTAUT model with
some modifications. Results revealed that performance expectancy,
effort expectancy, social influences, and self-efficacy could
significantly influence students’ attitudes towards virtual lectures.
Additionally, Facilitating conditions and attitudes towards virtual
lectures were found with significant influence on students’ intention
to take virtual lectures. Research implications and future work were
specified afterwards.