Proximal Point Algorithms for Finding a Zero of a Finite Sum of Monotone Mappings in Banach Spaces

We introduce an iterative process which converges strongly to a zero of a finite sum of monotone mappings under certain conditions. Applications to a convex minimization problem are included. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved in this direction for this important class of nonlinear mappings

Congenital Goitre in Goats

One full-term, dead foetus was successfully removed from a 5-year old, crossbred black and white goat. The goat was stall-fed with green fodder and it delivered two dead foetuses in the previous pregnancy. The foetus had a large swelling in the cranio-ventral neck region. Upon cutting skin, the swelling revealed extremely enlarged thyroid gland having two asymmetrical lobes with the right lobe was 8.10 x 15.0 cm and the left 5.5 x 8.6 cm in size. The skin was devoid of hair, pale-white and thickened with myxedema. Histologically, the enlarged thyroid consisted of colloid goitre and the lungs were oedematous. This case of congenital goitre was unusual and differed from the reported cases in two aspects viz 1) the two lobes were enlarged but unequal and 2) histologically goitre was colloid instead of usual hyperplastic type

First Amendment Constraints of Public School Administrators to Regulate Off-campus Students' Speech in the Technology Age

In a world where students and teachers both rely on technology in the process of education, understanding the constraints of public school administrators to regulate off-campus student's speech is a vital issue. This dissertation focuses on ways to evaluate legal analysis of cases involved in off campus speech. The methodology of legal analysis is used to identify judicial reasoning concerning established legal principles pertaining to the constitutional right of public school students to freedom of expression, and the application of those principles to off-campus student expression delivered by electronic means. This research produces a number of key findings: Many lower court cases have favored with the students unless the school district could prove substantial disruption to the learning environment or a true threat existed due to the off campus speech. In addition, it is crucial for the districts to have concrete policies in place to educate the students about acceptable usage of technology. The main conclusions drawn from this research are that current approaches to punishing students for their offensive off campus speech does not uphold in the courts and administrators must be resilient to speech that may be unpleasant to them. This research also includes several recommendations for administrators such as guidelines on how to write their acceptable usage policy. It also provides a chart with a summary of critical cases of importance to administrators

Convergence of Mann’s type iteration method for generalized asymptotically nonexpansive mappings

AbstractLet C be a nonempty, closed and convex subset of a real Hilbert space H. Let Ti:C→H,i=1,2,…,N, be a finite family of generalized asymptotically nonexpansive mappings. It is our purpose, in this paper to prove strong convergence of Mann’s type method to a common fixed point of {Ti:i=1,2,…,N} provided that the interior of common fixed points is nonempty. No compactness assumption is imposed either on T or on C. As a consequence, it is proved that Mann’s method converges for a fixed point of nonexpansive mapping provided that interior of F(T)≠0̸. The results obtained in this paper improve most of the results that have been proved for this class of nonlinear mappings

Silicon-mediated mitigation of wounding stress acts by up-regulating the rice antioxidant system

Silicon (Si) is essential for normal growth and development in plants and is also beneficial for their responses to wounding. However, the mechanisms by which Si acts to mitigate the effects of wounding is not fully understood. This effect possibly occurs through a reduction in the oxidative stresses associated with wounding. Here, we tested this possibility by investigating the effects of applying different concentrations of Si (0,5 and 1,0 mM) to rice plants under wounding stress for a period of 6 and 12 h. We found that a higher uptake of Si was signifiacntly associated with an increase in leaf chlorophyll contet. In response to wounding induced oxidative stress, the extent of lipid bilayer peroxidation was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by Si application for 6 or 12 h. Activity of the catalase enzyme was initially lowered by Si treatment; however, at 1.0 mM Si, catalase activity increased significantly after 12h of wounding stress. A similar response was also observed for a peroxidase enzyme. Polyphenol oxidase showed a significant reduction in activity. We conclude that Si application does not only improve leaf chlorophyll content but can also overcome the oxidative stress due wounds or physical injuries

Strong Convergence Theorems for a Common Fixed Point of a Family of Asymptotically k

We provide an iterative process which converges strongly to a common fixed point of finite family of asymptotically k-strict pseudocontractive mappings in Banach spaces. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved for this important class of nonlinear operators

Comparative evaluation of extraction methods for apoplastic proteins from maize leaves

Proteins in the plant apoplast are essential for many physiological processes. We have analysed and compared six different infiltration solutions for proteins contained in the apoplast to recognize the most suitable method for leaves and to establish proteome maps for each extraction. The efficiency of protocols was evaluated by comparing the protein patterns resolved by 1-DE and 2-DE, and revealed distinct characteristics for each infiltration solution. Nano-LC-ESI-Q-TOF MS analysis of all fractions was applied to cover all proteins differentially extracted by infiltration solutions and led to the identification of 328 proteins in total in apoplast preparations. The predicted subcellular protein localisation distinguished the examined infiltration solutions in those with high or low amounts of intracellular protein contaminations, and with high or low quantities of secreted proteins. All tested infiltration solution extracted different subsets of proteins, and those implications on apoplast-specific studies are discussed