In recent years, a significant change in the pharmacist’s scope of practice is the expansion of prescriptive authority (PA). In Saskatchewan, pharmacists adopted an interdependent prescribing model to support interprofessional collaboration, public safety though the optimal use of drug therapy, and the optimization of pharmacy competencies. In acquiring this new prescriptive authority, the community pharmacist also assumes new responsibilities and obligations, as well as transforming their relationships with patients and physicians. The purpose of this research is to assess rates of adoption by pharmacists of PA (Level 1 and Minor Ailments Prescribing) within community pharmacy practice in Saskatchewan. To gain a better understanding of how pharmacists are responding to new and evolving models of practice, this study proposes to measure their experiences with PA services and how it is affected by aspects of their professional practice. To investigate the study’s research questions, a cross-sectional study using a mail-in questionnaire with an online option was initiated. All registered community pharmacists in Saskatchewan (998) were asked to participate in the study. Of the 998 distributed questionnaires, 501 were returned back by the respondents yielding a response rate of 51.3 percent. The results disclose that a vast majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they were confident in their ability to provide Level 1 (94%) and Minor Ailment (75%) prescribing. Respondents indicated that 74.2 percent of the time they actually provide Level 1 (L1) prescribing services to their patients and slightly more than half (52.5%) of the time provided Minor Ailment (MA) prescribing services. The majority of respondents (81.4 %) indicated that on average it took twenty minutes or less to provide MA prescribing service to their patients. Most pharmacist respondents strongly supported the statement that the pharmacies they worked at consistently provided Prescriptive Authority services (L1- 90% Strongly Agreed or Agreed, MA- 52.9% Strongly Agreed or Agreed) and that they get full support from managers (L1- 95.6% Strongly Agreed or Agreed, MA- 88% Strongly Agreed or Agreed) for their involvement in PA services. Respondents indicated some concern regarding the limited knowledge of patients on what pharmacists can do for them as a prescriber. In terms of overall relationships with patients, respondents indicated that patients were satisfied with the services pharmacists provide as a prescriber. Respondents reported that they had a good relationship with physicians. However, they did express concerns about their limited interactions with physicians as MA prescribers. Respondents generally reported supportive environments and positive interactions with patients and physicians. However, while expressing confidence in their ability to provide all prescriptive authority services, Level 1 services that supported traditional dispensing services were generally more consistently provided, supported, and perceived as being valued by patients and physicians compared to Minor Ailment Prescribing. The results also support the notion that pharmacists are highly confident to provide PA services to the patients and their relationships with the patients and physician improved day by day. Nevertheless, there is little evidence to suggest that patient’s level of knowledge about pharmacist’s new role; pharmacist’s interaction with physicians and physicians’ knowledge on PA have affected the provision of Prescriptive Authority services.

Using the Wide Field Camera for the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT), we measure the near-infrared colors of near-Earth objects (NEOs) in order to put constraints on their taxonomic classifications. The rapid-response character of our observations allows us to observe NEOs when they are close to the Earth and bright. Here we present near-infrared color measurements of 86 NEOs, most of which were observed within a few days of their discovery, allowing us to characterize NEOs with diameters of only a few meters. Using machine-learning methods, we compare our measurements to existing asteroid spectral data and provide probabilistic taxonomic classifications for our targets. Our observations allow us to distinguish between S-complex, C/X-complex, D-type, and V-type asteroids. Our results suggest that the fraction of S-complex asteroids in the whole NEO population is lower than the fraction of ordinary chondrites in the meteorite fall statistics. Future data obtained with UKIRT will be used to investigate the significance of this discrepancy.

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause 5% of all human cancers worldwide. The HPV capsid consists of 72 disulfide-linked pentamers of major capsid protein L1 and up to 72 molecules of minor capsid protein L2. The viral genome (vDNA) is 8KB circular dsDNA, condensed with histones and complexed with L2. HPV infection requires the virion particle to get access to basal layer keratinocytes, binding and entry of the cells, uncoating, and transport of the viral genomes to the host cell nucleus. During infection, L2 is important for transport of the viral genome from membrane bound vesicular compartments, through the cytosol and into the host cell nucleus. Previous work has identified a conserved disulfide bond between Cys22 and Cys28, which is necessary for HPV16 infection. We hypothesize that endosomal reduction of this disulfide might be important for L2 conformational changes that allow a hydrophobic transmembrane-like region in L2 to span across endosomal membranes, exposing sorting adaptor binding motifs within L2 to the cytosol. Prior research suggests that cytosolic glutathione (GSH) redox potential is important for reduction of disulfide-linked proteins within the lumen of endosomes. This is achieved by endosomal influx of cytosolic reduced cysteine, where it can reduce disulfide bonds in lumenal proteins. Cytosolic GSH regenerates the pool of reduced cysteine needed to maintain endosomal redox potential. Here we studied the relationship between cytosolic GSH and HPV16 infection. siRNA knockdown of critical enzymes of the GSH biosynthesis pathway or the endosomal cystine efflux pump cystinosin caused partial abrogation of HPV16 infection. Likewise, inhibition of the GSH biosynthesis pathway with L-buthionine sulfoximine (L-BSO) blocked HPV16 infection in multiple cell types, suggesting that cytosolic GSH redox may be important for HPV16 infection. Further studies have revealed that the decrease of HPV16 infection is not because of defects in binding, entry, L2 cleavage or capsid uncoating, but rather is due to inefficient cytosolic translocation of L2/viral genome from the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Contrary to our initial hypothesis, we show that L2 is able to span the endosomal membrane and direct TGN localization in the presence of BSO. Lack of cytosolic GSH causes L2/viral genome to become trapped in the TGN lumen. This suggests that there are redox-sensitive viral or cellular factors necessary for L2/viral genome translocation at the TGN. Future research will focus on the redox state of the Cys22-Cys28 disulfide bond during infection of normal and GSH-depleted cells.

The aim of this project is to study the nitrate levels of the treated water flowing into Jakkur Lake in Bangalore, from the treatment plant situated at the inlet to the lake, and thereby evaluate the function of the lake as for secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment as well as an infiltration basin. Obtained nitrate levels are used as indicators to study the wastewater flow in the lake, and to find other possible inflows of sewage which can affect the lakes’ total treatment efficiency. A literature study is done on wetlands and on groundwater recharge through infiltration basins, and the possibility of recharging groundwater below Jakkur Lake is evaluated. Water samples are collected around and in the lake and the samples are tested for nitrate, pH and total dissolved solids. Extra focus is put on research on nitrates in water.The risks of groundwater recharge in Jakkur Lake include pollution of wells by bacteria, viruses, parasites and traces of medicine. Further geotechnical investigations need to be pursued mainly on the soil structure under and around the lake, and studies need to be performed on the retention time of the water in the lake. The technical limitations such as fluctuations in efficiency and pollutant migration must be minimized, which initially could be done by building a constructed wetland and controlling the inflow to the lake.

Many technical hurdles remain to be overcome before an advanced fuel cycle in which minor actinides from spent nuclear fuel are used to generate power. Three such issues were addressed: criticality safety of minor actinides as compared to currently used fissile isotopes; accuracy of evaluated nuclear data for selected minor actinide high energy fission cross-sections; and the preliminary design optimization of a minor actinide burning/breeding fission blanket in a fission fusion hybrid reactor concept. For minor actinide compositions found in spent fuel, current safety measures for actinide solutions were found to be adequate, though concerns may remain for unmoderated transuranic materials. Additionally, computational results indicated a 5-10% error in the fission cross-section of some minor actinides above the fast fission threshold. Finally, a relatively tall annular fission blanket was found to be the most ideal configuration for the UT fission- fusion hybrid reactor concept, satisfying criticality and power output criteria. / text

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No description available.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the gender equality in Mpasa Community in Malawi by measuring the access to work, education, health, and political empowerment as measurements. An investigation of how the pre-colonial social structure, based on matriarchy, will determine to what extent the cultural factors affects gender equality. This thesis is based on observations made possible through a minor field study scholarship financed by SIDA in 2013. Previous research and theories are used as framework for the thesis. The Malawian Parliament, consisting of mainly men, passing a gender equality bill hoping to empower women and increase female political representation is evidence of willingness to improve the current living situation of women and girls. It turns out the degree of gender equality is high for such an underdeveloped country as Malawi and the cultural factors do have a big impact on the political development. Inequality does occur in the field of political participation investigated at chief level in the district and matriarchy seems to be the underlying social structure that sets the norms and rules.

This thesis is a contribution towards legal history of Roman Asia Minor from the creation of the province of Asia to the enfranchisement of the free population of the Empire by the emperor Caracalla. Chapter I is concerned with the Hellenistic background and with the theoretical framework for explaining the relationship between the suzerain and the cities in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The possibility of using Bickerman’s ‘surrender and grant’ model for introducing much needed nuance into usual dichotomy of ‘free’ and ‘subject’ cities is argued for. Chapter II deals with the court of the Roman governor. It is argued that there was no limit set on govenor’s jurisdiction from below and that the main way in which governor’s burden was relieved or legal autonomy of local communities guaranteed was through delegation of decision at the apud iudicem stage of the proceeedings. An in-depth study of the procedure is provided. Chapter III provides an analysis of the assize circuit system, above all in the province of Asia. Arguments for continuity with the pre-Roman administrative structure are advanced and a new hypothesis of significant structural changes in the second century A.D. advanced. Chapter IV explores the jurisdiction of other Roman officials: proconsular legates, quaestors, and above all procurators and other imperial officials. The division of responsibility with the governor’s court and their role in covering the areas not usually penetrated by the governor’s jurisdiction is discussed. Chapter V deals with judicial autonomy of the ‘free’ and ‘federate’ cities. It is argued that the extent of these privileges was widely variant and the possibility that some of them applied only to the apud iudicem stage explored. Chapter VI is concerned with courts of the ‘subject’ communities. It is suggested on the basis of recently published evidence that ‘subject’ communities could retain a high degree of judicial autonomy. Different models used by the Romans are explored and compared. Chapter VII explores a vexed question of internal jurisdiction of Jewish diaspora communities in Asia Minor. The validity of Flavius Josephus' evidence is upheld and the role of 'ancestral laws' ideology in Roman interventions in support of Jewish courts discussed. Two appendices discuss a recently published inscription from Chersonesus Taurica and offer an annotated list of passages in the Corpus iuris civilis dealing with Asia Minor in our period respectively.

The present thesis aims to analyse the manner in which the ethnically and culturally diverse environment of Eastern Anatolia during the Hellenistic era has influenced the royal houses of the Mithradatids, Ariarathids, Ariobarzanids and Commagenian Orontids. The focus of analysis will be represented by the contact and osmosis between two of the major cultural influences present in the area, namely the Iranian (more often than not Achaemenid Persian) and Greco-Macedonian, and the way in which they were engaged by the ruling houses, in their attempt to establish, preserve and legitimise their rule. This will be followed in a number of fields: dynastic policies and legitimacy conceptions, religion, army and administration. In each of these fields, discrete elements betraying the direct influence of one or the other cultural traditions will be followed and examined, both in isolation and in interaction with other elements, together with which they form a diverse, but nevertheless coherent whole. The eventual result of this analysis will be to demonstrate how the intersection of cultures and the willing appropriation by the ruling houses of what we might call, using a modern term, ‘multiculturalism’ has created a new, interesting and robust tradition, whose influence would endure well into the Roman era.