Thesis (M.A. (New Testament))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

A flag of a finite dimensional vector space V is a nested sequence of subspaces of V . The symplectic group of V acts on the set of flags of V . We classify the orbits of this action by defining the incidence matrix of a flag of V and show- ing that two flags are in the same orbit precisely when they have the same incidence matrix. We give a formula for the number of orbits of a certain type and discuss how to list the incidence matrices of all orbits. In the case in which V is a vector space over a finite field, we discuss the permutation representations of the symplectic group of V corresponding to these orbits. For the case in which V = (F_q)^4 , we compute the conjugacy classes of the sym- plectic group of V and the values of the characters of the previously discussed permutation representations. / Mathematics

A gauged SU(4) flavor symmetric hadronic Lagrangian with empirical hadron masses is constructed to study charmonium absorption and charmed hadron production in hadronic reactions. For the coupling constants, empirical values are used if available. Otherwise, they are determined from known coupling constants using the SU(4) relations. To take into account the finite sizes of hadrons, form factors are introduced at strong interaction vertices with empirical cutoff parameters. For J/ψabsorption by nucleons, we have included both two-and three-body final states and find that with a cutoff parameter of 1 GeV at interaction vertices involving charm hadrons, the cross section is at most 5 mb and is consistent with that extracted from J/ψproduction from both photo-and proton-nucleus reactions. We have also evaluated the cross sections for charmed hadron production from pion and rho meson interactions with nucleons. With the same cutoff parameter of 1 GeV at interaction vertices, we find that these cross sections have values of a few tenths of mb and are dominated bythe s-channel nucleon pole diagram. For charmed hadron production from proton-proton reactions, their cross sections including bothtwo-andthree-body final states are about 1 batcenter-of-mass energyof 11.5 GeV, which is comparable to the measured inclusive cross section in these reactions.Including photon as a U(1) gauge particle, we have extended the model to study charmed hadron production in photon-proton reactions with both two-and three-body final states included. For form factors, an overall one is introduced in each processin order to maintain the gauge invariance of the total amplitude. Fitting the cutoff parameter in the form factor to the measured total cross section for charmed hadron production in photon-proton reactions at a center-of-mass energy of 6 GeV, the ratio of the cross sections for two-body and three-body final states is consistent with available experimental data.This result is further compared with predictions from the leading-order perturbative QCD calculation. Knowledge of the cross sections for charmonium absorption byhadrons and for charmed hadron production in hadronic reactions is essential for understanding charm production in heavy ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), where a quark-gluon plasma is expected to be formed during the initial hot dense stage.

Cytokines play important roles in bone metabolism, participating in the complex interplay necessary for normal bone formation and turnover. The aim of the present thesis was to investigate the effects of two anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) on bone. Influence of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines on interleukin-6 (IL-6) formation in cultured human osteoblasts (hOBs) was investigated. IL-4 and IL-13 as well as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor alpha and beta (TNF-α/β) stimulated IL-6 secretion in hOBs. Also, IL-4 and IL-13 synergistically potentiated the effect of IL-1 and TNFs on IL-6 secretion. Effects of IL-4 and IL-13 on markers of osteoblastic activity in hOBs were investigated. IL-4 and IL-13 induced a dose-dependent increase in the formation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and pro-collagen type I carboxy-peptide (PICP) together with enhanced mineralization rate in hOBs. Formation of osteocalcin (OC) was unaffected. The mechanism behind inhibited proliferation by IL-4 and IL-13 in hOBs was investigated. IL-4 and IL-13 caused a dose-dependent increase in DNA-fragmentation together with escalating Caspase-3 activity in hOBs, reflecting induced apoptosis. Osteoblast apoptosis was also confirmed by TNF-α, dexamethasone and by serum starvation. The skeletal phenotype of IL-13-/-, IL-4-/-IL-13-/- and WT mice was compared. An altered cortical bone mass was detected in adult male IL-4-/-IL-13-/- mice. They displayed a reduction in cortical bone mineral content (BMC) secondary to reduced cortical thickness. Mechanical strength of the cortical bone was reduced in level with the reduction detected in BMC. Trabecular bone mineral density (tvBMD) was unaffected. Callus formation in IL-4-/-IL-13-/- and WT male mice was compared. No differences were found concerning radiological healing, biomechanical properties, callus parameters or histology. Heterotopic bone formation in IL-4-/-IL-13-/- and WT mice was compared using DXBM implants. No differences were found concerning mineralization of implants. Immuno-histology showed inhibition of autonomic nerves and lack of implant vascularization in IL-4-/-IL-13-/- mice. In summery, the two anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 influence osteoblast activity and apoptosis in vitro. They also selectively influence cortical bone formation in vivo. These findings suggest a role for IL-4 and IL-13 in osteoblast differentiation, in bone metabolism and in bone formation.

Att eleverna får lära sig att skriva är ett av grundskolans viktigaste uppdrag. Under vår verksamhetsförlagda utbildning under tiden på Lärarhögskolan har vi sett att mycket av undervisningen under de första åren i grundskolan ägnas åt att läsa, samtala och skriva. Det har fått oss att fundera kring hur lärare fortsätter att arbeta med skrivandet. Vårt syfte med den här studien är att fördjupa förståelsen för och utveckla kunskaper om hur lärare ser på den fortsatta skrivutvecklingen i skolår 4-6. Syftet är också att utveckla förståelse för vad lärare anser vara viktig kunskap i ämnet. Vi har använt oss av en kvalitativ undersökningsmetod i form av intervjuer med lärare verksamma i skolår 4-6. I bearbetningen av våra intervjuer har vi funnit åtta tema-områden som berör olika aspekter av skrivutveckling. I den vidare analysen presenterar vi, av oss konstruerade, lärartyper som representerar skilda sätt att se på skrivande i skolan. Utöver detta har vi fördjupat oss i teorier och begrepp som berör ämnet. Resultatet har visat att lärarna anser att skrivandet är betydelsefullt och lägger stor vikt vid att eleverna får möjlighet att fortsätta utveckla detta. För att eleverna ska kunna utveckla sitt skrivande menar alla lärarna att undevisningen på olika sätt måste utgå från att göra skrivandet till något meningsfullt, lustfyllt och inspirerande. Däremot har vi sett skillnader i vad lärarna betonar som viktigt i undervisningens form och innehåll. One of the most important tasks of schools is to teach the students how to write. During our education at Lärarhögskolan we have had the opportunity to spend some time working at schools. During this time, we have seen that a great emphasis is put at reading, talking and writing during the first school years. This has made us think about how teachers continue working with writing in the later school years. Our objective with this study is to deepen the understanding for and develop knowledge about how teachers look upon the writing development in school years 4-6. The objective is also to develop an understanding for what teachers consider to be important knowledge in this subject. We have used a qualitative method by interviewing teachers working with school years 4-6. While going through our interviews, we have found seven themes that touch upon different aspects on writing development. In the further analysis, we relate the results to the three theoretical conceptions scaffolding, the zone of proximal development and dialogism. Moreover, we have studied theories and conceptions about the subject. The results show that teachers consider writing to be meaningful and put a lot of emphasis on that the students get the opportunity to continue to develop their skills. In order for the students to continue their development, all teachers in the study point out that the teaching must make writing something meaningful, enjoyable and inspiring. However, we have seen differences in what the teachers consider as important content and how the teaching is done.

Abstract As a matter of fact, for those producers in medicine industry who runs multi-national business, have to promote two to three kinds of new medicine on the market enabling to maintain two-digit growth. However, the new products (medicine) be certified for marketing is not able to follow the step and progress what have been researched and developed. The ratio of success for the research and development of new medicine as well as the quantity of the marketing for new medicine eventually become the most critical factor of determination for marketing value of all major international medicine producers. This study will be preceded with discussion of reference document, collection of secondary information, and case study to describe the marketing strategy, that mainly focus on the analysis to the Rheumatoid Arthritis biological products and its relating information to further find out the ¡§Pattern of Successful Marketing for New Medicine¡¨. Moreover, it might sort out the key factor of successful marketing for many kinds of biological products for the Rheumatoid Arthritis. Eventually, the study is trying to propose the successful application of marketing for new medicine to maximize the opportunity of success and potentiality. There are some key factors like planning and preparation for successful marketing of new medicine, which normally covers the complex of multi-professional filed. The combination of marketing is the tool to achieve the target market. These tools are divided into four classifications, named as ¡§Marketing 4 P¡¨: They are respectively Product, Price, Place and Promotion. This study adopts 4 P of Promotion Management of Marketing to discuss the strategy of new medicine marketing and investigate the deployment of marketing strategy in Taiwanese medicine marketing. The study indicates the discussion of For 4 P can provide marketing personnel with a clear direction, to map out the thinking mode of complete strategy for new medicine marketing in order to diminish the resistance of marketing, and facilitate the success of new medicine Launch. Key Words: New Medicine Launch, Marketing Strategy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, 4 P

A 4-PAM/2-PAM receiver analog front-end (AFE) targeting 20GSymbol/s for use with coaxial cable channels is presented. Behavioral simulations incorporate a transmitter, scalable coaxial cable model, and the proposed receiver architecture, targeting cable loss of 32dB at 10GHz. To accommodate links of varying lengths, the AFE includes a variable-gain amplifier (VGA) and analog peaking equalizer. The input preamplifier is important for achieving the required input sensitivity. A DC bias current is introduced through the feedback resistor in a conventional shunt-shunt feedback nMOS transimpedance amplifier (TIA) to level-shift the output, obviating a following level-shifting stage. The fabricated AFE occupies 0.89mm2 in a 90-nm CMOS process and dissipates 138mW from a 1.3V supply. The AFE amplifies and opens the eye pattern of a 20-Gb/s 2-PAM data stream transmitted over coaxial cable with 7.5dB loss at 10GHz.

The cytotoxic effects of exposure to low concentrations of the herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) that are typically found in groundwater were investigated, in vitro. Most 2,4-D toxicology studies use high concentrations of the herbicide that are above those typically found in groundwater and measure overt biological endpoints. In contrast, this thesis examines the effects of low concentrations of 2,4-D and measures more subtle and sensitive endpoints such as gene expression and the generation of reactive oxygen species. This work derives from recent cDNA microarray analysis conducted in our laboratory that revealed significant alterations in the expression of 238 genes in cells exposed to nanomolar (nM) concentrations of a commercial formulation of 2,4-D. These findings are extended in this thesis to include the in vitro cytotoxic effects of low concentrations of both technical and commercial 2,4-D on two cell lines. Cells derived from liver (HepG2) and kidney (HEK293) respectively, were chosen, since liver and kidney are known to metabolize 2,4-D in vivo. Cell viability was measured using the Resazurin assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured with 2,7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (2,7-DCFH-DA), and real timepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assess changes in mRNA expression while protein expression was examined by Western blot.<p>Cell viability studies revealed that low environmental concentrations (0.1 to 100 nM) of 2,4-D induced small, but statistically significant decreases in cell viability. No concentration or time-dependent decreases in cell viability were observed in cells exposed to either forms of low environmental 2,4-D concentrations. HEK293 cells were more susceptible than HepG2 cells to the toxic effects of both forms of 2,4-D, having statistically significant lower viability at all exposure concentrations and durations. Both forms of 2,4-D reduced cell viability in both cell lines, suggesting that cytotoxicity was induced directly by 2,4-D, and not by the inert ingredients in the commercial formulation.<p>The ROS assays illustrated that 2,4-D induced statistically significant ROS production in HepG2 and HEK293 cell cultures at concentrations greater than 10 µM and 100 nM respectively. This was both a concentration and time-dependent effect in both cell lines. Although HEK293 cells were more susceptible to 2,4-D, they had 50 to 70% less ROS production than HepG2 cells, at all exposure concentrations and times.<p>The RT-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that exposure of HepG2 and HEK293 cells to low 2,4-D concentrations induced (< 2 fold) alterations in mRNA and protein levels of FTL, FTH1 and PCNA however these changes did not consistently vary with concentration.<p>Taken together, cell viability, ROS and gene expression studies show that low environmental 2,4-D concentrations induced subtle in vitro cytotoxic effects. However we have no evidence that these subtle changes pose a serious health threat to exposed humans.

This thesis presents the study of biodegradation factors of a candidate naphthenic acid compound, the trans isomer of 4-methyl-1-cyclohexane carboxylic acid (trans-4MCHCA). Low molecular weight components of naphthenic acids such as trans-4MCHCA are known to be toxic in aquatic environments and there is a need to better understand the factors controlling the kinetics of their biodegradation. In this study, a relatively low molecular weight naphthenic acid compound and a microbial culture developed in our laboratory (primarily Alcaligenes paradoxus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were used to study the biodegradation of this candidate naphthenic acid. The purpose of the research was to evaluate the kinetic parameters and model the biodegradation of this compound in three bioreactor systems: batch reactors, a continuously stirred tank reactor and immobilized cell reactors. <p>In batch reactors, the maximum specific growth rate (0.52±0.04 d-1) of the consortium at 23oC and neutral pH was not highly variable over various initial substrate concentrations (50 to 750 mg/L). Batch experiments indicated that biodegradation can be achieved at low temperatures; however, the biodegradation rate at 4oC was only 22% of that at room temperature (23oC). Biodegradation at various pH values indicated a maximum specific growth rate of 1.69±0.40 d-1 and yield (0.41±0.06 mg/mg) at a pH of 10. <p>Study of the candidate substrate using a continuously stirred tank reactor and the microbial culture developed in the batch experimentations revealed that the kinetics of the candidate naphthenic acid are best described by the Monod expression with a maximum specific growth rate of 1.74±0.004 d-1 and a half saturation constant of 363±17 mg/L. The continuously stirred tank reactor achieved a maximum reaction rate of 230 mg/(L∙d) at a residence time of 1.6 d-1 (39 h).<p>Two high porosity immobilized cell reactors operating continuously over three months were found to consume trans-4MCHCA at a rate almost two orders of magnitude higher than a continuously stirred tank reactor. The immobilized cell systems attained a maximum reaction rate of 22,000 mg/(L∙d) at a residence time of 16 minutes. High porosity immobilized cell reactors were shown to effectively remove a single naphthenic acid substrate in continuously fed operation to dilution rates of 90 d-1. A plug flow model best represented the degradation in the immobilized cell systems and was demonstrated to be a useful tool for studying the effects of parameter variation and prediction of reactor performance. This work highlights the potential of augmented bioremediation systems for the degradation of naphthenic acids.

A 4-PAM/2-PAM receiver analog front-end (AFE) targeting 20GSymbol/s for use with coaxial cable channels is presented. Behavioral simulations incorporate a transmitter, scalable coaxial cable model, and the proposed receiver architecture, targeting cable loss of 32dB at 10GHz. To accommodate links of varying lengths, the AFE includes a variable-gain amplifier (VGA) and analog peaking equalizer. The input preamplifier is important for achieving the required input sensitivity. A DC bias current is introduced through the feedback resistor in a conventional shunt-shunt feedback nMOS transimpedance amplifier (TIA) to level-shift the output, obviating a following level-shifting stage. The fabricated AFE occupies 0.89mm2 in a 90-nm CMOS process and dissipates 138mW from a 1.3V supply. The AFE amplifies and opens the eye pattern of a 20-Gb/s 2-PAM data stream transmitted over coaxial cable with 7.5dB loss at 10GHz.