An examination of the putative glucose tolerance factor activity of amino acid and peptide fractions isolated from brewer's yeast : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemistry at Massey University

The first report of the possible existance of a glucose tolerance factor (GTF) was made by Mertz and Schwarz (1955) who noticed that a dietary additive, termed factor 3, isolated from an enzymatic casein hydrolysate (Schwarz (1952)), maintained normal glucose removal rates in diabetic­ like rats. These rats were the subject of a study on the development of dietary necrotic liver degeneration. The immediate cause of death,,in these rats, could be demonstrated to be severe hypoglycaemia (Mertz and Schwarz (1955)) that initially manifested itself, during the latent period of degeneration, as impairment of excess blood glucose removal. The diet used to induce the development of necrotic liver degeneration was a semi-purified, vitamin E-free, ration of 30% Torula yeast which also represented the sole protein source. The vitamin E prevented the development of necrotic liver degeneration but did not affect the removal of excess blood glucose. In 1957, Schwarz and Mertz reported that the factor 3, in itself, was not responsible for the maintainance of normal glucose removal rates but rather that it contained an active fraction separable by fractionation procedures involving evaporation, in vacuo, of a NaCl-containing, factor 3 concentrate. The NaCl was removed by filtration and the GTF activity was found to be present in the separated salt fraction, from which it could be removed by treatment with 65% ethanol. A further claim was made that this separated substance, now termed the glucose tolerance factor (GTF), not only prevented but cured impairment of glucose removal when administered in the diet and that the initial glucose impairment observed was not a symptom of necrotic liver degeneration but a result of a dietary deficiency. GTF prepara­ tions were reported (Mertz and Schwarz (1959)) to be routinely obtained from brewer's yeast as well as acid hydrolysates of dried, defatted, pork kidney powder. [From Introduction

Adaptive learning program for developing employability skills

The paper aims to demonstrate the benefits of adaptive learning technologies as a viable alternative to time consuming tutor led individual support. It proposes to reveal how adaptive learning interventions can be effective in enriching student learning while targeting precise areas of development. This review will compile evidence on the nature and extent of Adaptive Learning tools used to develop employability skills among Higher Education institutions. This will be specifically for students undergoing studies at the graduate level. Given the short time available, a scoping study framework will be used to examine the scope of carrying out a full systematic review or identifying gaps in existing literature (Arksey and O’Malley, 2005). This design follows the general principles of a systematic review by following pre‐specified methods to reduce the risk of bias by selecting favourable studies, and extracting and analysing data that backs a particular hypothesis. That is, the methods are determined a priori, and are transparent and replicable

Electrical properties of BaTiO3 based ferroelectric capacitors grown on oxide sacrificial layers for micro-cantilevers applications

An investigation of all oxides ferroelectric capacitors based on $SrRuO_3/BaTiO_3/SrRuO_3$ multi-layers grown on sacrificial oxide layers of $YBa_2Cu_3O_7$\ud and MgO for Micro-Electo-Mechanical systems applications is reported. By insertion of additional MgO or $SrTiO_3$ buffer layers the orientation of the $BaTiO_3$ film can be controlled allowing the fabrication of suspended cantilevers using the 31 and the 33 piezoelectric modes. The electrical properties of $SrRuO_3/BaTiO_3/SrRuO_3$ capacitors are changed compared with those grown directly on a single crystal substrate by the introduction of sacrificial layers. Circuit modeling of the electrical characteristics of these devices shows that a reduction of the deposition pressure for $BaTiO_3$ produces a decrease of the parasitic shunting conductance (modeled with a resistor in parallel to the capacitance of the device) which reduces the resistive loss present in the $BaTiO_3$ film. However for extremely low deposition pressure the quality of the polarization hysteresis loops is compromised.\ud Particulates present on the surface of the $YBa_2Cu_3O_7$increases the parasitic conductance at low frequency in the capacitive structure grown on this sacrificial layer. Good electrical properties are obtained for the capacitive structures grown on top of the MgO sacrificial layers at pressures equal or lower than 8 Pa.\u

Impact of user fees on maternal health service utilization and related health outcomes: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the evidence of the impact of user fees on maternal health service utilization and related health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries, as well as their impact on inequalities in these outcomes. METHODS: Studies were identified by modifying a search strategy from a related systematic review. Primary studies of any design were included if they reported the effect of fee changes on maternal health service utilization, related health outcomes and inequalities in these outcomes. For each study, data were systematically extracted and a quality assessment conducted. Due to the heterogeneity of study methods, results were examined narratively. FINDINGS: Twenty studies were included. Designs and analytic approaches comprised: two interrupted time series, eight repeated cross-sectional, nine before-and-after without comparison groups and one before-and-after in three groups. Overall, the quality of studies was poor. Few studies addressed potential sources of bias, such as secular trends over time, and even basic tests of statistical significance were often not reported. Consistency in the direction of effects provided some evidence of an increase in facility delivery in particular after fees were removed, as well as possible increases in the number of managed delivery complications. There was little evidence of the effect on health outcomes or inequality in accessing care and, where available, the direction of effect varied. CONCLUSION: Despite the global momentum to abolish user fees for maternal and child health services, robust evidence quantifying impact remains scant. Improved methods for evaluating and reporting on these interventions are recommended, including better descriptions of the interventions and context, looking at a range of outcome measures, and adopting robust analytical methods that allow for adjustment of underlying and seasonal trends, reporting immediate as well as longer-term (e.g. at 6 months and 1 year) effects and using comparison groups where possible

Ethnography: Building a Thriving Classroom Community in the Face of a Pandemic

A dive into the ride of a first-year teacher, which was also taught an entire year virtually. An extremely intensive look into the skills needed to grow as a secondary school teacher, in a situation that has never been experienced before. This paper also explores the foundations and scaffolds a teacher needs in order to become both a critical and socially just educator for all students within their classroom. The aspect of community is felt heavily throughout this journey, and the idea that communities are the very keystone of every single classroom; student-to-teacher community, student-to-student community, and classroom-to-household community are all discussed and analyzed. As the work on this ethnography and the work at becoming an even stronger socially just educator continues, the one constant is that communities stay standing as long as they are built strong, regardless of the circumstances

Deep Ecology in Action: A Cross-Cultural Series of Case Studies on the Conservation Efforts of Monks and Religious Leaders in India, Mongolia, and Thailand

Deep ecology is a relatively new branch of study which combines different fields of knowledge such as philosophy, religion, and sociology, on the one hand, with environmental studies, on the other. The basic premise of deep ecology is the interconnectedness of all life and consequently, a concern for the ecological well-being of our planet, which is increasingly threatened by the impact of modern human lifestyles. Recently, there has been a lot of recent attention given to deep ecology movements in Asia. However, these studies often lack the interdisciplinary background in science necessary to assess a real ecological impact. This study is based on a series of case studies was conducted in India, Mongolia, and Thailand across a variety of faiths and locations. By investigating specific cases across cultures and religions and drawing comparisons between the impacts of minority religions and majority religions, the true environmental potential and value of deep ecology movements is analyzed

Quantification of Fast-Neutron Sources with Coded Aperture Imaging

Quantification of the mass of plutonium in facilities that process plutonium is important for both nuclear safeguards concerns and safety concerns, and multiple methods to nondestructively quantify plutonium sample characteristics have been proposed, particularly when the sample is located directly adjacent to or within the measurement device. In prior work, coded-aperture fast neutron imaging has been developed to demonstrate the imaging of neutron emitting radiation sources in a qualitative fashion, where the sources may be located meters to tens of meters away. Building upon prior work, this work develops the use of a Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization (MLEM) reconstruction technique to simultaneously reconstruct neutron sources measured from different detector positions. Moreover, a modified system response model is developed to accurately but quickly perform forward projections in order to accurately reconstruct and quantify neutron source characteristics including source intensity and location. The system response model incorporates mask transmission, a heterogeneous detector pixel array, scattering within the mask, and scattering within the detector, allowing for the expected detector data from a single source position to be generated in less than a second. The behavior of the MLEM reconstruction technique is discussed, and measurements of Cf-252 sources, acting as a surrogate Pu material, are reconstructed and analyzed. Using the methods developed here, a single 74 µCi Cf-252 point source placed at a distance of 200 cm is reconstructed within 2% of the known position and within 3% of known intensity at distances up to 300 cm. Measurements of more than one source and implications for Pu measurements in facilities are also discussed

Multiple Track Performance of a Digital Magnetic Tape System : Experimental Study and Simulation using Parallel Processing Techniques

The primary aim of the magnetic recording industry is to increase storage capacities and transfer rates whilst maintaining or reducing costs. In multiple-track tape systems, as recorded track dimensions decrease, higher precision tape transport mechanisms and dedicated coding circuitry are required. This leads to increased manufacturing costs and a loss of flexibility. This thesis reports on the performance of a low precision low-cost multiple-track tape transport system. Software based techniques to study system performance, and to compensate for the mechanical deficiencies of this system were developed using occam and the transputer. The inherent parallelism of the multiple-track format was exploited by integrating a transputer into the recording channel to perform the signal processing tasks. An innovative model of the recording channel, written exclusively in occam, was developed. The effect of parameters, such as data rate, track dimensions and head misregistration on system performance was determined from the detailed error profile produced. This model may be run on a network of transputers, allowing its speed of execution to be scaled to suit the investigation. These features, combined with its modular flexibility makes it a powerful tool that may be applied to other multiple-track systems, such as digital HDTV. A greater understanding of the effects of mechanical deficiencies on the performance of multiple-track systems was gained from this study. This led to the development of a software based compensation scheme to reduce the effects of Lateral Head Displacement and allow low-cost tape transport mechanisms to be used with narrow, closely spaced tracks, facilitating higher packing densities. The experimental and simulated investigation of system performance, the development of the model and compensation scheme using parallel processing techniques has led to the publication of a paper and two further publications are expected.Thorn EMI, Central Research Laboratories, Hayes, Middlese