Similar Research Areas Research Articles

Allostatic load and biological anthropology.

Multiple stressors affect developing and adult organisms, thereby partly structuring their phenotypes. Determining how stressors influence health, well-being, and longevity in human and nonhuman primate populations are major foci within biological anthropology. Although much effort has been devoted to examining responses to multiple environmental and sociocultural stressors, no holistic metric to measure stress-related physiological dysfunction has been widely applied within biological anthropology. Researchers from disciplines outside anthropology are using allostatic load indices (ALIs) to estimate such dysregulation and examine life-long outcomes of stressor exposures, including morbidity and mortality. Following allostasis theory, allostatic load represents accumulated physiological and somatic damage secondary to stressors and senescent processes experienced over the lifespan. ALIs estimate this wear-and-tear using a composite of biomarkers representing neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune systems. Across samples, ALIs are associated significantly with multiple individual characteristics (e.g., age, sex, education, DNA variation) of interest within biological anthropology. They also predict future outcomes, including aspects of life history variation (e.g., survival, lifespan), mental and physical health, morbidity and mortality, and likely health disparities between groups, by stressor exposures, ethnicity, occupations, and degree of departure from local indigenous life ways and integration into external and commodified ones. ALIs also may be applied to similar stress-related research areas among nonhuman primates. Given the reports from multiple research endeavors, here we propose ALIs may be useful for assessing stressors, stress responses, and stress-related dysfunction, current and long-term cognitive function, health and well-being, and risk of early mortality across many research programs within biological anthropology.

Use of EPICS and Python technology for the development of a computational toolkit for high heat flux testing of plasma facing components

The high heat flux testing and characterization of the divertor and first wall components are a challenging engineering problem of a tokamak. These components are subject to steady state and transient heat load of high magnitude. Therefore, the accurate prediction and control of the cooling parameters is crucial to prevent burnout. The prediction of the cooling parameters is based on the numerical solution of the critical heat flux (CHF) model. In a test facility for high heat flux testing of plasma facing components (PFC), the integration of computations and experimental control is an essential requirement. Experimental physics and industrial control system (EPICS) provides powerful tools for steering controls, data simulation, hardware interfacing and wider usability. Python provides an open source alternative for numerical computations and scripting. We have integrated these two open source technologies to develop a graphical software for a typical high heat flux experiment. The implementation uses EPICS based tools namely IOC (I/O controller) server, control system studio (CSS) and Python based tools namely Numpy, Scipy, Matplotlib and NOSE. EPICS and Python are integrated using PyEpics library. This toolkit is currently under operation at high heat flux test facility at Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) and is also useful for the experimental labs working in the similar research areas. The paper reports the software architectural design, implementation tools and rationale for their selection, test and validation.

Beliefs towards sales promotion technique: the perspective of Malaysia emerging market

The purpose of this study is to determine the general behavioural and normative beliefs towards preferred sales promotion technique from the perspective of Malaysian consumers. Behavioural and normative beliefs towards preferred sales promotion technique are investigated so as to determine what contributes to attitude and subsequently behavioural intention towards a preferred sales promotion technique. This study utilised a two-stage methodologies, in which the first stage used an exploratory elicitation design and the second stage utilised a quantitative approach using descriptive and partial least square structural equation modelling. The findings from the second stage validate the findings from the earlier exploratory study stage conducted. The findings from this study have expanded the current knowledge and academic studies done on similar areas of research, where this research details the association of behavioural beliefs, normative beliefs of preferred sales promotion technique on consumers' attitude and behavioural intention towards it. This study suggests to managers in Malaysia that it is crucial to understand their customers' behavioural and normative beliefs towards preferred sales promotion technique for better market segmentation and targeting. This study is the first of its type where only a minimal number of studies have looked into these issues (behavioural beliefs, normative beliefs of preferred sales promotion technique) from a business perspective. This study therefore articulates the present view of preferred sales promotion technique within an emerging market such as Malaysia, and its implication to academia and business.

Beliefs towards sales promotion technique: the perspective of Malaysia emerging market

The purpose of this study is to determine the general behavioural and normative beliefs towards preferred sales promotion technique from the perspective of Malaysian consumers. Behavioural and normative beliefs towards preferred sales promotion technique are investigated so as to determine what contributes to attitude and subsequently behavioural intention towards a preferred sales promotion technique. This study utilised a two-stage methodologies, in which the first stage used an exploratory elicitation design and the second stage utilised a quantitative approach using descriptive and partial least square structural equation modelling. The findings from the second stage validate the findings from the earlier exploratory study stage conducted. The findings from this study have expanded the current knowledge and academic studies done on similar areas of research, where this research details the association of behavioural beliefs, normative beliefs of preferred sales promotion technique on consumers' attitude and behavioural intention towards it. This study suggests to managers in Malaysia that it is crucial to understand their customers' behavioural and normative beliefs towards preferred sales promotion technique for better market segmentation and targeting. This study is the first of its type where only a minimal number of studies have looked into these issues (behavioural beliefs, normative beliefs of preferred sales promotion technique) from a business perspective. This study therefore articulates the present view of preferred sales promotion technique within an emerging market such as Malaysia, and its implication to academia and business.

A Novel Graph Centrality Based Approach to Analyze Anomalous Nodes with Negative Behavior

Detection of different kinds of anomalous behaviors originating from negative ties among actors in online social networks is an unexplored area requiring extensive research. Due to increase in social crimes such as masquerading, bullying, etc., identification and analysis of these activities has become need of the hour. Approaches from two separate, yet, similar research areas, i.e. anomaly detection and negative tie analysis, can be clubbed together to identify negative anomalous nodes. Use of best measures from centrality based (negative ties) and structure based approaches (anomaly detection) can help us identify and analyze the negative ties more efficiently. A comparative analysis has been performed to detect the negative behaviors in online networks using different centrality measures and their relationship in curve fitting anomaly detection techniques. From results it is observed that curve fitting analysis of centrality measures relationship performs better than independent analysis of centrality measures for detecting negative anomalous nodes.

Mound measurements — quantifying medium-term soil erosion under olive trees in Northern Jordan

Over the last few decades many quantitative erosion studies have revealed that olive orchard expansion and increased mechanization in southern European countries have led to increased soil erosion under olive trees. Consequently, these studies have suggested different methods of mitigation. In light of the 2014 European trading zone expansion to countries east and south of the Mediterranean, a further intensification of olive plantations is postulated to meet market demands. To attain first medium-term estimates of erosion in Northern Jordan and its driving factors, a new method measuring olive mounds was implemented. Seven fields with clearly erosive structures were chosen throughout the Wadi Al-Arab catchment in Northern Jordan. Topographic measurements were used to reconstruct the historical and recent surface level and calculate the volume eroded since the planting of the trees. A total of 81 bulk density measurements and 14 tree cores allowed the estimation of the soil loss in tons per hectare. The combination of modified land use map and slope information helped to identify similar olive fields with high erosive potential.Results show that the method provides medium-term quantitative estimates for averaged soil loss consistent with some existing results from similar research areas in the Mediterranean. They clearly indicate the significant potential for erosion in olive orchards with around 95±8tha−1yr−1. Tillage practice and water erosion were identified as critical erosion processes, both depending on tillage characteristics, tillage timing, and soil parent material. The investigated fields represent about 19% of the catchment's surface area and are likely to contribute to the measured yearly sediment yield that fills up the Wadi Al-Arab reservoir with sediments.

Consumers' personal values and sales promotion preferences effect on behavioural intention and purchase satisfaction for consumer product

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of Malaysian consumers' personal values and sales promotion preferences on their overall behavioural intention and purchase satisfaction.Design/methodology/approach– In total, 1,300 questionnaires were distributed and collected by hand through hired enumerators in 13 different states in Malaysia (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu). This research was carried out for four different type of consumer product (convenience, shopping, specialty/luxury and unsought product). Data were analysed using General Linear Model-Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and General Linear Model-Univariate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test for difference between independent and dependent variables.Findings– The findings suggest that sales promotion technique preferences will have an impact on consumers' behavioural intention and purchase satisfaction for all the product types studied. On the other hand, there is no significant impact in consumers' purchases satisfaction and behavioural intention by personal value for all the product type studied.Practical implications– The findings from this research have expanded current knowledge and academic studies done on similar areas of research where this research detail the association of personal value and sales promotion techniques preferences on consumers' purchase satisfaction (attitude) and behavioural intention (behaviour) for different types of consumer products. The research suggests to managers in Malaysia that it is crucial to understand the characteristics of their products when selecting appropriate strategies and sales promotion techniques for better market segmentation and targeting.Originality/value– This research is the first of its type where only a minimal number of studies have looked into these issues (personal values and sales promotion techniques preferences) from a business perspective.

Network-based modeling and analysis of systemic risk in banking systems

In the wake of the 2008 financial tsunami, existing methods and tools for managing financial risk have been criticized for weaknesses in monitoring and alleviating risks at the systemic level. A 2009 article in Nature suggested new approaches to modeling economic meltdowns are needed to prevent future financial crises. However, existing studies have not focused on analysis of systemic risk at the individual bank level in a banking network, which is essential for monitoring and mitigating contagious bank failures. To this end, we develop a network approach to risk management (NARM) for modeling and analyzing systemic risk in banking systems. NARM views banks as a network linked through financial relationships. It incorporates network and financial principles into a business intelligence (BI) algorithm to analyze systemic risk attributed to each individual bank via simulations based on real-world data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Our research demonstrates the feasibility of modeling and analyzing systemic risk at the individual bank level in a banking network using a BI-based approach. In terms of business impact, NARM offers a new means for predicting contagious bank failures and determining capital injection priorities in the wake of financial crises. Our simulation study shows that under significant market shocks, the interbank payment relationship becomes more influential than the correlated bank portfolio relationship in determining an individual bank's survival. These insights should help financial regulators devise more effective policies and mechanisms to prevent the collapse of a banking system. Further, NARM and the simulation procedure driven by real-world data proposed in this study have instructional value to similar research areas such as bank stress testing, where time series data and business networks may be studied.

The use of phylogeny to interpret cross-cultural patterns in plant use and guide medicinal plant discovery: an example from Pterocarpus (Leguminosae).

BackgroundThe study of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants has led to discoveries that have helped combat diseases and improve healthcare. However, the development of quantitative measures that can assist our quest for new medicinal plants has not greatly advanced in recent years. Phylogenetic tools have entered many scientific fields in the last two decades to provide explanatory power, but have been overlooked in ethnomedicinal studies. Several studies show that medicinal properties are not randomly distributed in plant phylogenies, suggesting that phylogeny shapes ethnobotanical use. Nevertheless, empirical studies that explicitly combine ethnobotanical and phylogenetic information are scarce.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn this study, we borrowed tools from community ecology phylogenetics to quantify significance of phylogenetic signal in medicinal properties in plants and identify nodes on phylogenies with high bioscreening potential. To do this, we produced an ethnomedicinal review from extensive literature research and a multi-locus phylogenetic hypothesis for the pantropical genus Pterocarpus (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae). We demonstrate that species used to treat a certain conditions, such as malaria, are significantly phylogenetically clumped and we highlight nodes in the phylogeny that are significantly overabundant in species used to treat certain conditions. These cross-cultural patterns in ethnomedicinal usage in Pterocarpus are interpreted in the light of phylogenetic relationships.Conclusions/SignificanceThis study provides techniques that enable the application of phylogenies in bioscreening, but also sheds light on the processes that shape cross-cultural ethnomedicinal patterns. This community phylogenetic approach demonstrates that similar ethnobotanical uses can arise in parallel in different areas where related plants are available. With a vast amount of ethnomedicinal and phylogenetic information available, we predict that this field, after further refinement of the techniques, will expand into similar research areas, such as pest management or the search for bioactive plant-based compounds.

Markerless Head Gesture Recognition for Human Computer Interaction

In this paper an efficient method for human-computer interaction is presented. This method combines both face gestures and head rotation information to emulate mouse device and control the machine in contactless way. The user-defined face gestures are used to emulate the mouse buttons while the head rotation is used to update mouse position on the screen. The robustness of the proposed system was evaluated during the set of tests concerning 3D games and other applications facilitated with graphical user interfaces. The advantages of proposed solutions are also compared with patent [1], which concerns similar research area.

Denial, Minimization, Partner Blaming, and Intimate Aggression in Dating Partners

Although countering denial, minimization, and externalization of blame is a key component of most interventions for individuals who have been abusive in their intimate relationships, these attributions have only seldom been the focus of empirical investigation. Using a sample of 139 male and female university students, this study examined the associations between self-reported minimizing and blaming attributions and the perpetration of physical, sexual, and psychological aggression against an intimate partner. For men, minimization of conflict and partner blame were associated with self-reported perpetration of intimate partner aggression, even after controlling for socially desirable responding and relationship satisfaction. In contrast, women's aggression was associated only with partner blame. Discussion focuses on overlap with similar areas of research, gender differences in minimization and blaming, and on potential directions for further empirical work on the associations of intimate aggression, relationship dissatisfaction, and attribution.

Analysing Microarray Data using the Multi-functional Immune Ontologiser

Abstract Gene expression microarrays are a prominent experimental tool in functional genomics allowing researchers to gain a deeper understanding of biological processes. To date, no such tool has been developed to allow researchers with a specialised biological research interest to distinctively identify those genes and gene functionalities associated more strongly with the research area. Based on this functional analysis capability we present a specialised multi-functional Immune Ontologiser – a software, specialised for immunologists to annotate multiple genes from microarray datasets within two new ontologies: a newly structured Immune Ontology focussed at immunology and haematology and a uniquely curated ImmunoArray-PubOntology. The Immune Ontology functionally annotates genes identifying immunology related functions enriched with upregulated or downregulated genes of interest. The ImmunoArray-PubOntology compares and contrasts gene functionality of microarray datasets, comparing genes of interest with the differential gene expression matrices published amongst immunologyrelated microarray literature. This aspect facilitates literature mining by extracting publications containing gene sets of interest in a well-structured immunological context where the literature has been categorised according to disease types. The software consists of a query-optimised database of two parts – the ImmunoGene-database and a unique Database of Immunological Microarray Publications (DIMP) to provide the user with a more detailed insight into other studies involving their genes and research groups investigating similar research areas. Using our Immune Ontologiser software to analyse tolerance array data we identify 70 interesting up-regulated genes in terms of their functionality within tolerance. Furthermore, from these 70 genes we identify 15 genes to have immunology-related functions. More interestingly, the remaining 55 genes were not previously known to be directly involved within the immunology related condition and hence we have identified target genes for future investigation. Among the 70 genes, 21 have been identified by our software to be studied within various immunology-related diseases via microarray experiments performed by other laboratories.The software and database schema is freely available at ftp://ftp.brunel.ac.uk/cspgssk. Additional material is available online at http://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/acad/health/healthres/researchareas/mi/publications/supplementary. A detailed microarray protocol is available at http://www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress under the Accession Number: E-MEXP-283.

A nonlinear model-based control system for distillation columns using rigorous simulator

In this paper we provide a novel model-based control system for nonlinear process for the purpose of minimizing an objective function, followed by similar research areas such as dynamic optimization and model predictive control. Their target processes have large nonlinearity, multi manipulated variables and multi control variables. We then provide our control system scheme and an optimization algorithm. We also illustrate the results obtained from application of a depropanizer distillation column using a rigorous plant-wide dynamic simulator.

The cancer outcomes measurement working group: Evaluating the state of the science and developing recommendations for improving outcomes assessment in cancer

OBJECTIVE: In response to the increasing importance of and demand for outcomes research, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) established the Cancer Outcomes Measurement Working Group (COMWG) to assess the state of the science of outcomes measurement and identify priorities for future research and practice. DISCUSSION: The COMWG is part of NCI’s Quality of Cancer Care Initiative; however, the COMWG is not an advisory committee or decisional group. The NC1 invited 35 researchers primarily from academia, medical centers, and government to participate in the COMWG, and members have been working over the past 18 months to provide their individual input on the state of the science and recommendations to improve measurement of key patient outcomes in cancer. Specifically, the COMWG is addressing 3 end points (health-related quality of life [QOL], patient satisfaction, and economic burden), 4 cancers (breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal), the continuum of care (screening/prevention, treatment, survivorship, end of life), and multiple applications (individual patient/clinician decision-making, clinical trials, observational studies). The COMWG is focused on a wide range of research questions related to outcomes assessment in cancer. The issues of clinically important differences are being addressed within the context of a broad review of the current state of the science and recommendations for research to improve measurement of patient-reported outcomes in cancer. Research questions address current best practices and recommendations for the future in assessing the 3 outcomes in the 4 cancers across the continuum of care; different perspectives on and uses of the resulting data; and statistical, psychometric, and methodological considerations. Members are working individually or in pairs, and those who have similar research questions or areas of expertise are in affinity groups that review each other’s work and provide a multidisciplinary perspective. The working group will report to the NC1 in May 2002, and the results will likely be published in a book. During this session, we will be pleased to discuss the progress and preliminary findings of the COMWG and how this research effort relates to the research on assessing clinically meaningful differences.

US/EU Agreement for Science and Technology Cooperation

Free AccessNews and AnnouncementsUS/EU Agreement for Science and Technology CooperationPublished Online:July 22, 2015https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040.3.3.239PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditE-Mail SectionsMoreAfter a year of negotiations, conducted under the responsibility of Edith Cresson, European Commissioner responsible for research, innovation, education, training, and youth, a science and technology agreement between the European Union and the United States was signed on 5 December 1997. Signature occurred on the occasion of the EU/US Summit in Washington. The agreement was signed by Strobe Talbott, acting Secretary of State of the United States, Jacques Poos, President of the Council of the EU, and Sir Leon Brittan, Vice-President of the European Commission. Running for an initial period of 5 years, this agreement will help promote, develop, and facilitate cooperative R & D activities for mutual benefit, and covers virtually all areas of the natural sciences and engineering.There are traditional close links between the S & T communities of the individual member states of the EU and the United States. But the European Union and the United States have also been cooperating for many years in the area of science and technology, in sectors such as nuclear research, fusion, biotechnology, information technologies, and manufacturing processes.Building on this experience, it was decided under the New Transatlantic Agenda (December 1995) that both sides would actively work to reach a comprehensive science and technology cooperation agreement by 1997. At the initiative of Edith Cresson, the European Commission obtained a mandate to negotiate this agreement.The agreement will serve as a means for the EU and United States to “encourage, develop and facilitate cooperative activities in fields of common interest where they are pursuing research and development activities in science and technology.”Based on the principles of mutual benefit, reciprocal opportunities for cooperation, and fair treatment, the agreement should help researchers and research institutions on both sides of the Atlantic, including subsidiaries of both European and American companies, to work more closely together in a very wide range of research areas.The agreement provides for: The reciprocal participation of research entities and their respective subsidiaries, including the parties themselves, in R&D activities implemented with financial support from one or both parties in research areas covered by the European Community's framework program for R&D and similar research areas in the United States; the participation in reciprocal cooperation activities, including joint research, will be subject to the written consent of both parties. In this connection the application of the principle of equitable and fair treatment to European research entities to US research programs and activities will have to be closely monitored.In addition to reciprocal participation in each other's research activities, cooperation may also take place through coordinated and joint research projects, joint task forces, joint studies, the joint organization of scientific seminars, etc., the training of scientists and technical experts; the exchange or the sharing of equipment and materials, visits and exchanges of scientific personnel, and exchanges of information; when appropriate, cooperative activities shall take place pursuant to implementing arrangements.The coordination and facilitation of cooperative activities through the Joint Consultative Group, consisting of official representatives of each party.Cooperation activities to be subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to the applicable laws and regulations, policies and programs of the Community and the United States. As with other agreements of this type, each side will finance its own participation in cooperative activities.The appropriate allocation and protection of intellectual property rights.The possible extension, with possible amendments, for further 5-year periods, subject to review by the parties in the final year of each successive period.Sectors for cooperative activities are: Environment (including climate research),Biomedicine and health (including research on AIDS, infectious diseases and drug abuse),Agriculture,Fisheries science,Engineering research,Nonnuclear energy,Natural resources,Materials sciences and metrology,Information and communication technologies,Telematics,Biotechnology,Marine sciences and technology,Social sciences research,Transportation,Science and technology policy, management, training and mobility of scientists.From the above list, future research activities relating to the life sciences directorate should benefit most from the cooperation with US institutions particularly in areas such as human genome, vaccines, and agriculture research. At present, discussions are in progress on the details of the methodologies and procedures to be followed.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 3Issue 3September 1998ISSN: 1016-9040eISSN: 1878-531X InformationEuropean Psychologist (1998), 3, pp. 239-240 https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040.3.3.239.© 1998Hogrefe & Huber PublishersPDF download

Measuring Success in AMT Implementation Using Customer‐Supplier Interaction Criteria

Based on a research project looking at user‐supplier interactions in the context of AMT, attempts to discuss an alternative to the measurement of success, based on a close scrutiny of user‐supplier interaction processes. Closely examines a variety of factors which are both internal and external in nature. Presents some key factors which have been identified as facilitators or inhibitors for the implementation of AMT and also draws some comparisons with key findings from other studies and in similar areas of research.

Erich Schneider's Inventory Control Analysis

Much attention has been focussed on inventory control problems in this country in recent years by statisticians, economists, logisticians, and operations researchers. The author is aware of several instances where the discussion of these problems could have been substantially improved by knowledge of work completed by Professor Erich Schneider in 1938. The present article summarizes the principal results of this work, relates them to recent work accomplished in similar areas of operations research, and points out several similarities between Schneider's approach to the problem and the general philosophy of operations research. Operations Research, ISSN 0030-364X, was published as Journal of the Operations Research Society of America from 1952 to 1955 under ISSN 0096-3984.

Panel III: Measuring Effective Demand in the Housing Market

of Floor Discussion on Measuring Effective Demand in the Housing Market THE most significant factor in the measurement of effective demand in the housing market is the nature of that market. It has numerous peculiarities not characteristic of of markets for other goods. Especially to be noted is the fact that the real estate market is not one, but many, inter-related markets. The obvious and concealed relationships among these many markets involved in housing makes it a unique subject for study. Some of the less well explored research areas associated with the housing market are very complex in nature. For example, the matter of relative price in the expenditure pattern requires knowledge of several different markets and their relationships. The related factor of personal preferences regarding expenditures in the various markets involved is yet to be fully investigated. Very little information is at hand regarding changes in prices as they are conditioned by changes in income levels at different periods in business cycles. This constitutes an area of high priority for the purpose of understanding the housing market. Equally complex is the determination of trends and the accumulation of representative data regarding the supply of mortgage money and its effect upon the housing market, par. ticularly with reference to demand patterns, interest rates, and so on. In addition to such typical economic aspects of the housing market, too little is known about social factors which affect housing demand. For example, the role of boom psychology in the housing market is still to be definitely examined. It is clear from the complexity of these and similar research areas focusing on the housing market that collaborative as well as individual research may be needed to achieve helpful answers to the questions they pose. On the one hand, it is necessary that every aspect of the housing market be subjected to further study. On the other hand, successful 'coordination of these individual research projects is prerequisite to advancement of knowledge about the market as a whole. The suggestion is made, therefore, that some coordinating body be established for the purpose of breaking up the study of the housing market into segments which can be managed by individuals or small teams, to be accompanied by sustained over-all direction and fitting of the segments into a whole, with a final assembly of the segments into a composite dealing with the entire subject in perspective. Such a program of research, of course, must be expected to extend over a considerable period of time and to involve numerous specialists. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.129 on Sun, 26 Jun 2016 05:51:47 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms