Characterisation of plasmids conferring ampicillin resistance in South African isolates of haemophilus ducreyi

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (medicine).' Johannesburg 1996Fifty-two strains of Haemophilus ducreyi from various geographic regions of southern Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Gauteng, Natal and Transkei) isolated between 1988 to 1994 were tested for susceptibilities to five antimicrobial agents and characterized according to their plasmid content and ampicillin- resistance genes.IT201

Trans fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids in milk, yogurt and cultured milk drink.

Biohydrogenation of dietary unsaturated fatty acids by the rumen microbes to saturated fatty acids yields intermediate products comprising of trans fatty acid (TFA) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA). Trans fatty acids have been shown to be detrimental to human health whereas CLA has positive effects on human health. In view of the potential health effects of these fatty acids, the aims of this study were to determine the TFA and CLA levels of selected dairy products (milk, yogurt and cultured milk drink) in locally produced and imported dairy products accessible to the general Malaysian population. The subsequent objective is then to estimate the daily intake of TFA and CLA from these dairy products among local population. Fresh milk samples were obtained from the UPM dairy unit located within a 3 km distance from the analytical laboratory and commercial samples were purchased from local supermarkets. The samples consist of 21 milk samples, of which 12 are locally produced; 42 yoghurt samples, of which 18 are local products and 11 cultured milk samples of which 5 are local products. All samples were then subjected to total fatty acids extraction and their fatty acid composition determined using gas liquid chromatography. Results showed that local dairy products have less polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to imported products (P<0.05). However, among locally produced dairy products, yogurt contained the highest levels of TFA and CLA. This disparity in results could be attributed to the fact that both TFA and CLA contents in milk were under the influence of not only farm and animal factors, but could also be result of specific manufacturing processes. Findings of this study showed that continuous efforts have to be made to control the levels of TFA in our local dairy products, while enhancing the content of CLA in dairy products. The consumer should also be educated and be aware of the health benefits or detriments of CLA and TFA, respectively

Some new methods for comparing several sets of regression coefficients under heteroscedasticity

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENC

Exploring the use of bicycles as exciters and sensor carriers for indirect bridge modal parameter estimation

Indirect Structural Health Monitoring (iSHM) for bridges typically utilises motorised vehicles. This project explores the feasibility of using bicycles as exciters and sensor carriers for identifying bridge modal parameters. Using field-gathered data, the visibility of bridge characteristics in the moving sensor data is demonstrated using data gathered simultaneously from the moving bicycle and the subject bridge. A com- parison is made to bridge dynamic properties estimated from other load- ing types. The possible pollution of recorded signals due to human-bicycle interaction dynamics is considered. The concept of exploiting pedalling harmonics to enhance the response amplitude of specific bridge modes of interest is introduced

Table-Top Views

High resolution aerial photography has become widely available in the twenty-first century. Already accustomed to consuming data-rich bird’s-eye views, we have eagerly adapted this scale of digital imagery for pleasure even while data analytics has emerged to treat such overviews as a new domain of research. Within a digital era proliferating with these images, we are aware that looking from an aerial viewpoint is not an entirely new practice; it was popular in many times and cultures before ours. Table-Top Views examines the persistent appeal of aerial pictures — the aesthetic allure that accompanies their historical and contemporary agency in urbanism, surveillance, war, and art. Elevated viewpoint images are studied through analogies to processes in related disciplines: cinematic methods like the aerial pan and the macro-to-micro zoom, the traditions of landscape painting in China and Japan, and image appropriation in digital image discourse. Table-Top Views then curates a series of images, a selection that confronts the world through an aerial viewpoint

Effects of added mass on indirect Structural Health Monitoring of bridges

The concept of using vehicles as dynamic exciters and sensor carriers for indirect Structural Health Monitoring (iSHM) of bridges has gained considerable interest in recent years. Proposed frameworks typi- cally rely on the assumption that there will be a time and cost benefit in comparison to the temporary or permanent installation of sensors fixed directly to the subject bridge structure. However, the indirect approach suffers from drawbacks including artefacts related to environmental and operational variation (EOV), the mitigation of which is a major ongo- ing research effort worldwide. The presence of other vehicles during the traversal of the sensor-carrying vehicle contributes to EOV but has re- ceived little attention to date. Acting as sprung masses, these additional vehicles can change the effective and observable modal parameters of the bridge. Mitigating this with temporary road closures is contrary to the low-cost high-value minimal-interruption goal of iSHM.This paper presents initial outcomes from a programme of laboratory- scale physical testing and Finite Element (FE) modelling, aiming to in- crease knowledge of the effects of additional vehicles on the visibility of bridge modal parameters and damage.<br/

3-[(3,5-Di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy­benzyl­idene)methyl­eneamino]benzonitrile

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C22H26N2O, displays a trans configuration with respect to the C=N double bond. The dihedral angle between the planes of the two aromatic rings is 26.30 (15)°. There is a strong intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond between the imine and hydroxyl groups

Effects of intervention to develop self-regulated learning behaviour in learning history

In academic field, previous studies have revealed the importance of self-regulated learning (SRL) by linking it to positive motivation, application of appropriate learning strategies and desirable academic outcomes. SRL is a personal learning approach and it has been viewed as essential learning procedures that could influence students learning behavior and their academic achievement. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the motivational level and use of learning strategies of secondary four students in learning History before and after an intervention program. The activities and materials designed in the intervention program have integrated the content of History in order to provide a comprehensive picture and rich information for effective teachers practice in school contexts. This was a pre- and post-test quasi-experimental design which consists of experimental and control groups. Sequential quantitative and qualitative data collections and analysis methods were engaged to obtain a deep insight of the findings results. Quantitative research instruments used in this study was Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire whereas Self-regulated learning Interview Schedule was used as interview protocol. Convergence and divergence data emerged between students' responses on the questionnaire and interview for particular constructs within self-regulatory strategies in the intervention