The rapid development of seriously drug-resistant pathogen strains has created a dangerous problem to public health. The discovery of new effective antimicrobials remains an urgent task to control microbial resistance. Natural products can offer special stereochemistry and unlimited diversity of natural leads which are biologically active or ready for development and structure optimization strategies. Four medicinal plants Cylicodiscus gabunensis (CG), Pogostemon cablin (PC), Perilla frutescens (PF) and Magnolia biondii (MB) were selected for investigation of their phytochemical composition and antiplasmodial and/or antibacterial properties. A bioassay guided fractionation method has been followed to characterize the antiplasmodial and antibacterial constituents of CG. Flash column chromatography and preparative HPLC were used to obtain the bioactive compounds. GC-MS, LC-MS, and NMR have been used for chemical analysis purposes. For evaluation of the antibacterial activity, disk diffusion assay, alamar blue microplate assay, time kill kinetic and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods have been used. The work led to the isolation of the most potent antiplasmodial fraction of CG with IC50 of 4.7.

This study investigate the effects of four Chinese herbs for their potential therapeutic use as analgesics. It involved screening for inhibitors of enkephalin-hydrolysing enzymes, especially selective NEP inhibitors, mixed NEP/APN inhibitors and mixed NEP/ACE inhibitors. NEP was the key enzyme in the screening systems. Four Chinese herbs Yan (Corydalis yanhusuo T. Wang); Gou (Nauclea sinensis Oliv. ); Qiang (Notopterygium incisum Ting ex H.T. Chang); and Chuan (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) were tested for their inhibitory effects on NEP activity measured in a rat kidney extract. Aqueous extracts of Gou and Qiang showed the significant inhibitory activity on NEP but results with organic extracts were not significant. Gou showed the strongest inhibitory activity on NEP. It was found that Gou also showed an inhibitory activity on the other two enkephalin-hydrolysing enzymes, APN and ACE in the microsomal mixture. A rat-brain opiate-receptor preparation (section 5.2.1) was used in ligand binding experiments with competition for the receptor sites between the aqueous Gou extract and tritium-labelled naloxone. For very small quantities of Gou there was a lowering of naloxone binding showing the antagonistical action of Gou. At higher concentrations (> 4 mg/ml of Gou) there was a tendency for naloxone binding to increase demonstrating potential agonistic activity. To test whether one compound in Gou had inhibitory activity on the three enzymes, or several compounds acting together, the aqueous extract of Gou was separated by HPLC. The HPLC-eluted fractions were pooled into seven parts and collected. The seven eluates were assayed for their effects on NEP proteolysis of 3H(leu)- enkephalin. Only six eluates showed inhibitory activity on NEP. The three single compounds already fractionated by others (rhynchophylline, mitraphylline and poteropodine) were shown to correspond in the Pool 7. An unexpectedly large number of active fractions suggest that many active compounds are present in Gou. It can be concluded that of the four herbs tested Gou (Nauclea sinensis Oliv) offers considerable potential as a novel analgesic agent. The work described in this dissertation was carried out in the School of Biomolecular Science, Liverpool John Moores University from October 1994 to May 1999. Unless otherwise stated it is the original work of the author. This dissertation has not been submitted, in whole or in part, for any other degree at this or any other university.

Magister Artium - MA / This thesis .investigates the function of a topicalized constituent .in the narrative non-direct speech texts .in 2 Kings. Many traditional BH grammarians described the :function of a topicalized constituent as "emphasis". Recent BH grammarians pointed out that extralinguistic factors like the total communicative context should also be considered in the description of a function for a topicalized constituent. The shift from the structural to a more pragmatic approach is illustrated in this study. The pragmatic approach proved to be not only possible, but also advantageous to the study of function in BH. The aim of this study was to test the viability and results of the various theories and categories of the BH linguists. This study also researched whether their linguistic approaches are indeed an improvement on the descriptions as defined by the traditional grammarians. In other words, to see whether and in which way more recent studies of BH could aid the understanding of the function of a topicalized constituent in BH word order. The methodology utilized in this study is briefly outlined as follows: 1. This study examined the description of word order in terms of the traditional and more recent approaches. The categories used to describe the function of a topicalized constituent were our main focus. At the end we compiled a theoretical frame of reference that we regard as representative of modem attempts to acquire a more refined comprehension of BH word order. A theoretical linguistic framework was formulated which could be used in our description of a sentence in BH in 2 · Kings. This attempt could be described as eclectic because it used the diverse perceptions from the various linguistic approaches. Richter's theoretical linguistic framework (with its limitations) together with contributions of Van der Merwe, Buth and Gross were used as a basis for the description of the sentences. 3. Sentences were analysed systematically and holistically at the different levels of description, namely morphology, morphosyntax, sentence syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Because of the difficulty in defining semantics and with pragmatics still in disarray, this study defined some semantic-pragmatic concepts it worked with. 4. In the description of sentences we incorporated and tested the viability of the different categories of various grammarians. By carefully considering the context of each sentence, this study posed the question: which, if any; of the categories could adequately describe the semantic-pragmatic function of a topicalized constituent in 2 Kings.

No description available.

In recent years, Taiwanese companies have enjoyed a more positive expansion in overseas markets due to increasing internationalization. In 2011, Taiwan's total foreign trade set a new record becoming the EU's 15th largest trading partner. The EU is Taiwan's largest source of foreign investment, but Taiwan only sees the EU as a secondary market for foreign investment and has yet to take full advantage of the opportunity to invest in the EU market. The EU is the world's largest single market which is home to a population of nearly 500 million people, and the EU is a major export market for more than 130 countries and is the market which gets the world's largest overseas investments. However, examining the ranking of the trade ratios of Taiwan and EU trading partners, Taiwan's direct investment in the EU is too low. The purpose of this study is to investigate foreign entry mode of Taiwanese companies in European Markets and the reasons affecting foreign entry mode choice, to identify the key factors considered by Taiwanese companies in deciding to enter the European market, to explain how to assess the most appropriate entry mode for Taiwanese companies entering the European market, and to explain why Taiwanese companies¡¦ average investment in the European market is low. According to the framework of this study, the first step is to explore the influence of the motivation of internationalization, host country environmental factors, and corporate identity for Taiwan companies when choosing European market entry mode. The second step would be to explore the process of development and changing reasons concerning exports, exclusive agents, and joint venture subsidiary entry mode. Expecting there would be some findings can be summed up through the literature review, secondary data, and interview providing Taiwan companies considering the European market as a reference. The results of this study show that the motivation of internationalization, host country environmental factors, and corporate identity will not only affect Taiwanese companies in choice of the European market entry mode, but also could be analyzed in which two or more factors to assess the most suitable for its own entry modes and strategies to improve the success rate of entering overseas markets. As cases where the Taiwanese companies¡¦ European market investment is low, this situation could be explained by motivation of internationalization and corporate identity. Since Taiwan companies are mostly small and medium-sized enterprises which lack of adequate resources and capabilities, but want to use the quickest way to enter the vast overseas markets, the export model is the mode that can make Taiwan companies reach its purpose of entering overseas market in the shortest amount of time.

Herbal medicine has experienced tangible revivals in both Vietnam and the United Kingdom since the mid-20th century, as reflected in sales of herbal medicinal products, numbers of users and the availability of training opportunities for aspiring herbalists. In both countries, this revival came on the back of more or less concerted official efforts to discourage and even ban the practice and use of herbal medicine, by colonial authorities (in Vietnam) or professional medical associations and regulatory bodies (in the UK). Utilising archaeological and genealogical methods as developed by Canguilhem, Foucault and others, this study seeks to account for these revivals by pursuing three particular lines of analysis. Firstly, by describing the formations of power-knowledge relations which have allowed Vietnamese and British herbal medicine to challenge biomedical monopolies in the latter half of the 20th century, it is argued that the ways in which ‘quackery’ is conceptualised and regulated against in both countries today, has undergone substantial transformations. Secondly, by identifying the techniques of truth making which either suggest or contest a superior efficacy (over placebo) for two particular herbal medicines in the treatment of depression (in the UK) and addiction (in Vietnam), the study demonstrates how the concept of ‘efficacy’ not only pertains to bio-physiological effects but also to the symbolic effects of the treatments in question. Finally, by asking what kind of ‘life’ herbal medicine is seen to be affecting, it is suggested that longevity has been joined by quality of life as a separate, yet inherently interlinked, therapeutic site. One of the key conclusions of the dissertation is, that the sub-disciplines of medical anthropology and sociology have played a crucial role in the 20th century births of ‘traditional medicine’ and ‘complementary and alternative medicine’ (as opposed to ‘primitive’ and ‘fringe’ medicine). Firstly, in diagnosing a ‘crisis of modern medicine’ by highlighting its dehumanising and toxifying effects, and secondly, in providing a theory of symbolic efficacy which could help explain the continued importance of what had in the past been written off as ‘esoteric’ or ‘backward’ healing practices. As a consequence, the study describes how an ongoing governmentalisation of human subjectivities has been a requisite side effect of modernisation in the recent revival and renaissance of herbal medicine in Vietnam and the United Kingdom.

This thesis analyses how Andean people’s knowledge of medicinal plants and the relationship between environment and health is represented, transmitted and commoditised in the marketplaces of the department of Oruro, Bolivia. Considering the increase in urban population and their dependence on marketplaces for medicinal plant remedies, this thesis examines the role of marketplaces and the importance of specialist stallholders in the transmission of knowledge. The central research site of Oruro is a multi-cultural city located on the Andean plateau in southwest Bolivia, a population of Spanish, Quechua and Aymara speakers with a pluralistic medical system. Fieldwork was carried out over 18 months with market stallholders in Oruro combining quantitative and qualitative methods with ethnographic documentation of knowledge transmission events. This thesis found that medicinal plant marketplaces in Oruro are highly regulated social systems that incorporate Andean socio-economic mechanisms, including ritual performance for the transmission of cultural knowledge, and the regulation of resource distribution and use. The development of a ‘chemical landscape’ model demonstrated that social exchange and trade between ecosystems and altitudinal zones broadens the spectrum of medicinal compounds available, contributes to the complexity of herbal mixtures and can limit exploitation of local plant populations. The market stallholders use specialist classifications that identify chemical properties, toxicity and variations between plant species and ecological regions. Plant classifications varied with the context and location in which they were used, and humoral classification enabled the selection and combination of plants in mixtures and justified remedy efficacy for specialists and non-specialists. Andean cultural beliefs including complementary opposites enabled transmission of knowledge on the medicinal properties of plants between highland consumers and lowland producers, and defined traditional Andean mixture efficacy. These findings demonstrate that, although state intervention and identity politics are redefining perceptions of medicinal knowledge, the market exchange system centred in Oruro city creates localised specialist knowledge and continuity of cultural knowledge transmission.

No description available.

Traditional teaching and learning structures in large music ensembles (e.g., orchestra) place the teacher as the leader and sole dispenser of knowledge with the students as passive learners (e.g., Allsup, 2003; Hendricks, 2018; Rogoff, 1994). However, research indicates that students can play an active role in the learning that occurs in school music ensembles. Alternative style string ensembles, which often involve informal learning, are ideal musical settings for the development of a student-centered, collaborative learning environment. The purpose of this study was to explore how high school string students collaborated with each other as they learned alternative music styles music in an after-school fiddle group. Communities of practice (Lave & Wenger, 1991) served as the theoretical framework for this investigation in which I explored student participants’ perspectives, experiences, and interactions as they learned new alternative styles music. During the course of this study I also explored the changing learning roles of the participants and the role of the teacher as facilitator during the learning process. The following research questions guided this study: (1) What various roles did the students undertake in their community of practice? (2) How did the participants move toward legitimate participation as they collaborated with each other in alternative styles of music? (3) How did the teacher serve as facilitator of this community of practice? Data were collected via observations and by way of semi-structured interviews of the participants and their teacher. I used a system of coding to identify important components of learning, what the participants learned, and their movement through the community of learning. From these codes, I identified the following themes: teaching and learning aurally, collaborative learning, changing learning roles of students and the teacher, transfer of participation, leadership and sharing knowledge, student centered learning, enjoyment of playing with others, confidence, perseverance, and students gaining a deeper interest and understanding of the music. These themes served as the basis for presenting the findings for the reader. Findings from this study may inform secondary school string teachers in developing strategies for incorporating alternative styles and collaborative learning environments into their own string curricula. Findings may also provide insights with helping teachers in developing and refining student-centered collaborative learning settings and alternative styles.

The Classroom Practice Inventory (CPI) was developed as a tool to provide descriptive information about the practices used in classrooms to address the developmental needs of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Data from a multi-site study examining the outcomes for preschool students with ASD served in three types of classroom models indicate that the CPI produces reliable and valid assessments of practices used in classrooms. Items on the CPI can be used to discriminate among classroom models and can be used to provide descriptive information about classrooms following a prescribed comprehensive treatment model as well as those providing an eclectic model of services. Implications for the future use of the CPI are discussed.