1,797 research outputs found

    The long-term effect of radio sources on the ICM

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    We have performed 3D hydrodynamical simulations of FR-II radio sources in beta-profile cooling-flow clusters. The effects of cooling of the cluster gas were incorporated into a modified version of the ZEUS-MP code. The simulations followed not only the active phase of the radio source, but also the long term behaviour for up to 2 Gyr after the jets of the radio source were switched off. We find as expected that the radio source has a significant effect on the cooling flow while it is active, however we also find that the effects of the radio source on the cluster are long-lived. A buoyancy driven convective flow is established as the remnants of the radio source rise through the cluster dragging material from the cluster core. Although the central Mpc of the cluster reverts to having a cooling flow, this asymmetric convective flow is able to remove the cool gas accumulating at the cluster core and indeed there is a net outflow persisting for timescales of about an order of magnitude longer than the time for which the source is active or longer. The convective flow may also provide a mechanism to enhance the metallicity of the cluster gas at large cluster radii.Comment: 7 pages, 13 figures; minor addition

    The neuroanatomy of autism – a developmental perspective

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    Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders that are diagnosed solely on the basis of behaviour. A large body of work has reported neuroanatomical differences between individuals with ASD and neurotypical controls. Despite the huge clinical and genetic heterogeneity that typifies autism, some of these anatomical features appear to be either present in most cases or so dramatically altered in some that their presence is now reasonably well replicated in a number of studies. One such finding is the tendency towards overgrowth of the frontal cortex during the early postnatal period. Although these reports have been focused primarily on the presumed pathological anatomy, they are providing us with important insights into normal brain anatomy and are stimulating new ideas and hypotheses about the normal trajectory of brain development and the function of specific anatomical brain structures. The use of model systems that include genetic model organisms such as the mouse and, more recently, human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived brain organoids to model normal and pathological human cortical development, is proving particularly informative. Here we review some of the neuroanatomical alterations reported in autism, with a particular focus on well‐validated findings and recent advances in the field, and ask what these observations can tell us about normal and abnormal brain development

    A phenomenological study into the experience of their sexuality by males with spinal cord injury: research

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    On reviewing the literature on spinal cord injury (SCI) and sexuality in males, there was found to be a plethora of research in physical domains. Sadly, the psychological aspect of sexuality for men who experience SCI has been largely neglected. For this reason a phenomenological study was conducted to understand the experience of sexuality in its totality for the male who experiences SCI. Four males with SCI were included in the study. Central themes that emerged from the transcribed interviews included the establishment of an existential baseline, diminished independence and perceptions of masculinity post-injury. Participants also divulged needs pertaining to their (potential) relationships. Lastly, religion and certain coping mechanisms were found to either facilitate or hinder sexuality post-trauma depending on their rigidity and effectiveness respectively. Die studie van literatuur oor rugmurgbesering (RMB) en seksualiteit by mans, het 'n magdom navorsing oor die fisieke aspekte opgelewer. Ongelukkig is die sielkundige aspekte rondom seksualiteit by mans met RMB grootliks afgeskeep. Derhalwe is 'n fenomenologiese studie onderneem ten einde die man met RMB se ervaring van seksualiteit in sy geheel te ondersoek. Onderhoude is met vier mans wat RMB het gevoer. Sentrale temas wat uit die onderhoude voortvloei, sluit die vasstel van 'n eksistensi?le basislyn in, asook verminderde onafhanklikheid en veranderde beskouings oor manlikheid na die besering. Deelnemers het ook hulle behoeftes met betrekking tot hulle (potensi?le) verhoudings aangedui. Laastens is daar gevind dat godsdiens en sekere hanteringsmeganismes 'n positiewe of negatiewe impak kan h? op seksualiteit, afhangend van die rigiditeit en effektiwiteit daarvan. Keywords: Spinal cord injury, Sexuality, Males, Phenomenology, Experience (Health SA Gesondheid: interdisciplinary research journal: 2003 8(4): 3-11

    Erectile dysfunction and relationships : views of men with erectile dysfunction and their partners

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    There has been limited previous research that has examined the views of both men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and their partners on the impact of ED on their sexuality, relationship and general functioning. The current study was designed to evaluate the above variables among men with ED and their partners. Participants for the current study were 40 heterosexual men with ED and their partners. All participants completed a questionnaire that evaluated their reaction to ED, their past and current sexual activity, their sexual and relationship satisfaction as well as their levels of self-esteem and quality of life (QOL). The results demonstrated that both men with ED and their partners reported a reduction in their levels of sexual activity since the development of ED and that they wanted to seek a solution to the problem. Men with ED demonstrated lower levels of self-esteem, QOL and sexual satisfaction than their partners but there were no differences between the partners in their level of relationship satisfaction. These findings demonstrate that ED has an impact on both the man and his partner. They also indicate the importance of including the man\u27s partner in the assessment and treatment of ED. <br /

    Self-driven soft imaging in liquid by means of photothermal excitation

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    The use of a laser to induce oscillations of an atomic force microscopy cantilever provides a way to excite the dynamics of the system in a very controlled manner. This excitation scheme has been used to obtain reliable self-sustained oscillations, in air and in liquid environments, and to implement an additional control loop leading to a soft, low-interaction, working mode. The dynamics of the oscillating cantilever has been characterized, both theoretically and experimentally, and the effectiveness of the approach has been verified on a test sample. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewe

    The Place And Role Of Em-learning In Multi-mode Delivery Of Educator Training In South Africa

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    In any country in the world, the business and responsibility of, as well as the challenge to the education fraternity are to provide quality education to all. Therefore, quality teaching and learning should be provided to assist all learners to acquire the required competencies (knowledge, skills and attitudes) at the highest possible level in order to fulfil their respective and diverse roles in life (Steyn, Steyn, De Waal and Wolhuter, 2002: 34). The point of departure should be to provide quality education in such a way that it is accessible and affordable to all. The quality of education is to a large extent determined by the quality of information transfer and the quality and quantity of support that the learners receive to master the outcomes of their studies. The developments in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provide a real opportunity to improve the quality of information transfer and teaching support that learners can obtain. However, the real challenge for education in the developing world, and even in the developed world, is the level of accessibility, affordability and complexities of ICT (Dreyer, 2005: 4). The result of the ability to provide assessable ICT in developing countries is the ever-increasing digital gap that deeply influences the quality of education of less affluent people and the difference in quality of education between developed and developing countries. At the North-West University, Faculty of Education Sciences, the decision was made to provide enriched teaching and learning to a particular group of teachers via an off-campus blended teaching and learning strategy. Within the limitations of affordability and access, the decision was made to use the multi-mode teaching strategy (including some types of modern ICT) to support the students and to enhance the support that the learners obtain. The aim of this article is to report on the reasons, development and implementation of the project as well as initial results. Attention will be given to the nature and contents of the ADP-programme, the theoretical framework that was used to develop the strategy and the nature and content of the multi-mode teaching strategy that was employed. The method of research that was used to develop the teaching and learning strategy particularly applicable to this programme was that of a process of iterative and systematic critical reasoning. Based on the critical reasoning, it was through an combined (and not necessarily initially decided upon) application of several (applicable) scientific methods and processes, such as observation, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction that the strategy was developed (Stoker, 1961: 62-90; Mouton and Marais, 1989: 102; Mouton, 1996; 77-78; Harden and Thomas, 2005: 258; Bensley, 1998: 3; Ennis, 1987: 9).Faculty of Education Sciences North-West Universit

    ANALYSIS OF A TWO LACTATION TARGET ANIMAL SAFETY STUDY OF SOMIDOBOVE SUSTAINED RELEASE INJECTION IN MULTIPAROUS DAIRY COWS

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    An overview is given of the primary basis for the scientific inference that somidobove sustained release injection is safe for multiparous dairy cows. The process of analysis and interpretation of the voluminous data collected from a target animal safety study which started with 28 cows and lasted two lactations is described. This was a repeated measures study with most of 60 variables being measured or summarized every 28 days resulting in approximately 1500 measurements per cow. The statistical analysis was designed to screen the variables for biological change caused by treatment and consisted of a univariate analysis of variance for repeated measures data both within a lactation and across two lactations. Graphs of least squares means with error bounds and p-value plots of ANOVA p-values helped communicate statistical findings. A cross disciplinary approach interpreted analyses and arrived at inferences

    Comparative exploration of the morphological plasticity of Trichodina centrostrigeata (Peritrichia: Mobilida), ectoparasite from the gills of two tilapia species (Oreochromis niloticus and O. mossambicus) in a global context

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    Trichodina centrostrigeata Basson, Van As et Paperna, 1983 from Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) and O. niloticus (Linnaeus) from different host populations from Argentina, Mexico and South Africa was reviewed. Although T. centrostrigeata has a distinct denticle structure that makes morphological taxonomic inferences uncomplicated, variation of the denticles within and among individuals and populations were still observed. While traditional taxonomy of mobilines is heavily reliant on morphometrics, and recently even more so on molecular analysis, this paper proposes the use of geometric morphometry, specifically elliptical Fourier analysis, to address morphological conflicts that arise when comparing different populations. By applying this technique, combined with traditional taxonomy, it was found that T. centrostrigeata in this study can be grouped into two separate morphotypes, the first (type a) from aquaculture farms in Argentina and Mexico and the second (type b) from a natural habitat in Glen Alpine Dam, South Africa. This study supports the validity of geometric morphometry as an additional technique to distinguish not only between species but also evolutionary plasticity of the same species from different localities and habitats.Fil: Islas-Ortega, Alma Gabriela. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Biología; MéxicoFil: Marcotegui, Paula Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Basson, Linda. University of the Free State; SudáfricaFil: de Jager, Gerhard P.. University of the Free State; SudáfricaFil: Aguilar Aguilar, Rogelio. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Biología; Méxic

    Magnetic fields in galaxies: I. Radio disks in local late-type galaxies

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    We develop an analytical model to follow the cosmological evolution of magnetic fields in disk galaxies. Our assumption is that fields are amplified from a small seed field via magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) turbulence. We further assume that this process is fast compared to other relevant timescales, and occurs principally in the cold disk gas. We follow the turbulent energy density using the Shabala & Alexander (2009) galaxy formation and evolution model. Three processes are important to the turbulent energy budget: infall of cool gas onto the disk and supernova feedback increase the turbulence; while star formation removes gas and hence turbulent energy from the cold gas. Finally, we assume that field energy is continuously transferred from the incoherent random field into an ordered field by differential galactic rotation. Model predictions are compared with observations of local late type galaxies by Fitt & Alexander (1993) and Shabala et al. (2008). The model reproduces observed magnetic field strengths and luminosities in low and intermediate-mass galaxies. These quantities are overpredicted in the most massive hosts, suggesting that inclusion of gas ejection by powerful AGNs is necessary in order to quench gas cooling and reconcile the predicted and observed magnetic field strengths.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures; MNRAS in pres

    Effects of low-dose gestational tcdd exposure on behavior and on hippocampal neuron morphology and gene expression in mice

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    2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a persistent and toxic environmental pollutant. Gestational exposure to TCDD has been linked to cognitive and motor deficits, and increased incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits in children. Most animal studies of these neurodevelopmental effects involve acute TCDD exposure, which does not model typical exposure in humans.publishedVersio
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