Major Subject Of Study Research Articles

A Citation Analysis of Influences on Collaborative Computing Research

Collaborative computing has emerged as a major subject of study within the field of business computing. It is concerned with the use of computers to facilitate or enable the work of multiple participants engaged in collaborative ventures. Researchers and educators can benefit from an analysis that identifies journals with greatest impacts on development of the collaborative computing subject area. The benefits include an appreciation of the top outlets for publishing and the leading sources for monitoring development in collaborative computing research, plus the most important reference discipline journals for finding support for these developments. This study employs a citation analysis methodology to determine the journals that have had the greatest influence on multiparticipant, collaborative computing research. Over 19,000 citations from four base journals across an 8-year period are collected and analyzed.

Gravitational biology of integrative organisms and ecological system--the road map of space activities

History of the International Space Station, ISS, and planning of its scientific use are described in this essay. Fundamental gravitational biology and its facility on the ISS have been identified to have the highest priority to conduct scientific experiments with variable G environment in orbit. The road map of space activities is clearly directing the efforts toward manned Mars exploration. The Centrifuge is a core element of the facilities dedicated to this endeavor. Several research subjects are discussed with the results obtained from the past space experiments. Direct effects of gravity on the biological system at the level of integrative organisms are major subjects of study that will be conducted on the large scaled centrifuge.

End of life decisions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a cross-cultural perspective

In an era where life-sustaining technology offers physicians unprecedented powers to prolong survival in terminal illness, the question of how end of life decisions are made has become a major subject of study and debate. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease in which physical ability declines while mental capacity most often remains intact. Since most patients with ALS die of respiratory failure, a distinguishing feature of this disease is whether a patient is offered and accepts a chance to go on long-term mechanical ventilation. This unusual feature makes ALS a compelling model for studying end of life decisions in different countries. This paper reviews the literature and presents preliminary data on how end of life decisions in ALS are made in the US, Great Britain, and Japan. We address this issue by examining how cultural differences in truth-telling and informed consent, societal differences in attitudes toward the use of artificial life support, and legal differences in the role and status of advance directives in each country influenced decisions in the following three groups of patients: (1) the mentally competent; (2) mentally incompetent patients who previously completed advance directives when competent; and (3) mentally incompetent patients who have not provided advance guidance about their wishes.

The changing roles of free economic zones in development: A comparative analysis of capitalist and socialist cases in East Asia

Free economic zones (FEZs) play important roles in industrialization and economic development of both capitalist and socialist countries in various regions of the world, and thus have become a major subject of study in the development literature. Theoretical debate and empirical analysis have focused narrowly on the positive and negative economic effects of export processing zones (EPZs) in capitalist Third World countries, without giving sufficient consideration to why, when, and how different types of FEZs in both capitalist and socialist economies adapt their roles in achieving development objectives under changing international and domestic conditions. In this article, I systematically compare the dynamic development roles of three FEZs in two different systems—the state capitalist economies of Taiwan and South Korea and the reforming socialist economy of China—during 1966–1990. The comparative findings are interpreted from competing and complementary perspectives of major development theories. Finally, I use the comparative evidence to refine a lifecycle model of the evolution and prospect of EPZs in capitalist newly industrializing countries, and suggest an alternative scenario for FEZs in socialist economies.

Blastocystis hominis--past and future

The history of B. hominis is unique. Few infectious agents have provoked the many misconceptions that plague this enigmatic parasitic ameba. Conflicting descriptions of its nature and pathogenesis have continued throughout the 20th century. As seen by the greatly expanded number of reports in recent years, B. hominis is now a major subject of study, particularly for evidence of disease causation. Physicians are treating patients with intestinal disease caused by B. hominis. Many mild cases resolve in about 3 days without treatment, but others are acute and chronic disease is common. As with E. histolytica, the carrier state is often seen without symptoms. Treatment is usually with metronidazole, but emetine (for refractory infections), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and pentamidine are also effective. In fecal samples, this complex protozoan appears in a variety of cell forms which makes microscopic diagnosis difficult. As yet, no specific fluorescent-antibody test is available for diagnosis. A culture method to demonstrate the more easily recognized CB form is available, but probably not feasible for most diagnostic laboratories. The common cell forms are the CB form, the granular (mitochondria) form, and the ameba form. The unexpected size range of these forms in clinical material, from yeast size (ca. 7 microns) to giant cells of 20 to 40 microns, makes diagnosis difficult Pseudopodia may be demonstrated by the ameba form in heated microscope stage culture chambers. The anaerobic B. hominis has no cyst form. Its mitochondria are uniquely anaerobic and have no cytochrome protein or oxidative mitochondrial enzymes. Because of its many cell forms and anaerobic mitochondria, B. hominis is an organism of great interest for morphologic and biochemical study. Reproduction is asexual, usually by binary fission. Shizogony occurs in cultured cells. The CB appears to be an organelle whose specific purpose is for reproduction by shizogony. From 2 to 30 progeny are derived from schizogony. The ameba form reproduces by plasmotomy; it has no CB. The pathology of B. hominis infections has been studied in gnotobiotic guinea pigs in which inflammation of the intestinal mucosa and invasion of the superficial layers were seen. Only limited studies of human pathology are available. Those who have studied mucosal histopathology report inflammation and cellular changes that resolve after treatment. More study in this area is strongly indicated (32, 44, 57, 62, 67, 75). Ultrastructural details of B. hominis major forms, except for the schizont, are complete. The organism has no cell wall. The concentric CB takes up as much as 95% of the cell. The major organelles, which include multiple nuclei, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, fat, and other inclusions, are confined in two or four opposed pods in a thin band of peripheral cytoplasm between the spherical entire plasma membrane and the CB membrane. The pods buldge the CB membrane inward. There is evidence of a bacteroid endosymbiont. Education about B. hominis is needed. Entry of recent findings into new textbooks is imperative for its understanding among medical practitioners. Laboratory workers need to be aware of it for many reasons. The College of American Pathologists includes B. hominis in its proficiency testing samples and requires that it be reported from clinical samples.

Sexual Reproduction of Two Intertidal Sea Anemones (Coelenterata: Actiniaria) in Malaysia

Sexual reproduction in actinians Anthopleura handi Dunn and Haliplanella luciae (Verrill) was studied through one year at Jeram, on Malacca Straits. No evidence could be marshalled to support periodicity in gametogenesis of either species. The absence of cyclicity in prevalence and size of internally brooded young of A. handi substantiates this finding for species. Female, sterile, and hermaphroditic anemones brood. The sex ratio of smaller individuals is heavily biased toward females; that of larger anemones is more balanced, suggesting that some but not individuals are protogynous. Sterile and hermaphroditic brooders are inferred to be transitional from female (when young are produced) to male (by which time young have been released). Only sterile and female individuals of H. luciae were found. Although as many as half anemones may bear eggs at any time, absence of males presumably precludes sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction by pedal laceration appears to be sole means of progagation. THEORIES ABOUT ANNUAL REPRODUCTIVE PERIODICITY were developed from data on temperate species. Environmental cues triggering phases of cycles, or entraining endogenous rhythms, are those that vary conspicuously and include photoperiod and temperature (Welty 1962, Giese and Pearse 1974). Semper (1881: 135, 136) was apparently first to propose that in tropics, where such factors may vary little and unpredictably, all periodicity, as regards summer and winter, must be entirely lost, and at last fully grown individuals and young ones, larvae and freshly laid eggs will be found together at every season and in every month of year. In Philippines he noted the total absence of periodicity in life of sea animals, particularly Invertebrata; among these I could not detect a single species of which I could not at seasons find fully grown specimens, young ones, and freshly deposited eggs, although he went on to remark that lack of periodicity is not unknown in cold seas. Most early studies on reproductive periodicity of tropical marine invertebrates consisted of single samples of a species in various parts of its range (e.g., Pearse 1968), or sustained sampling in areas at margins of tropics (e.g., Pearse 1978). Recently, as data from prolonged research in equatorial tropics have accumulated, it has become clear that tropical species, like temperate ones, engage in a variety of reproductive strategies, including annual cycling tied to environmental cues, local cycling that differs among populations, short-term cycling tied to factors such as tides and moon, and lack of cycling altogether (e.g., Berry 1968, Vohra 1970, Lessios 1981). This is first long-term investigation to document sexual reproduction in an equatorial actinian. The major subject of study, actiniid Anthopleura handi Dunn 1978, was of especial interest because it broods its young internally (Dunn 1978). Examined for comparison was sympatric acontiate Haliplane/la luciae (Verrill 1898), which is of interest because it is probably most widely distributed

エポキシドの酸触媒加溶媒分解 機構と立体化学

Ring-opening of epoxide involves two major subjects of study, positional selectivity and stereochemistry. It appears that the reactions with nucleophiles under basic conditions proceed through SN2 type substitution and no serious problem on both mechanism and stereochemistry remains unsolved. In contrast, the results under acidic conditions are confusing. We have critically discussed the mechanisms proposed so far and shown our conclusion. On the basis of this conclusion together with a new concept of microscopic structure of solvation, the wide range changes of stereochemistry of acid catalyzed solvolysis of stilbene oxide from inversion to retention in binary solvents have been explained. This idea might be applicable to the other types of solvolysis.

A Comparative Study of the Substructures of Religion

This study starts from the premise that religions, in all their diversity, rest upon a common structure: the persistent experience of injustice, suffering, and meaninglessness. The research deals with the responses made by 751 persons from five countries to statements suggesting those themes. Three general hypotheses are tested: 1) that interest in questions of injustice, suffering, and meaninglessness would be widespread among this heterogeneous set of respondents; 2) that the problems would be seen as persistent and intractable; 3) that the belief would prevail, nevertheless, that the problems could finally be dealt with, despite the testimony of experience. Each of these hypothese of six predictor variables was upheld. In addition, several specific hypotheses make predictions regarding the influence of these interests and beliefs, country of citizenship, father's occupation, religious identity, sex, level of education, and major subject of study, with country, religious identity, and education producing some effects. wo major traditions prevail in the scientific study of religion. One emphasizes the obvious differences in rite, belief, and social organization among religions. Historical, cultural, and structural sources of these differences are examined; their consequences for individuals, societies, and social change are explored. In the other tradition, religion, rather than separate religions, is the object of study. Since superempirical systems of belief and rite are found nearly everywhere, if not universally, it seems reasonable to suppose that they are related to experiences that are humanwide, resting upon some common substructure. Thus, despite the vast differences among the religions of the world, one who examines them from this perspective has no difficulty in seeing them as somehow alike. They fit into the human enterprise in similar ways. If that is true, much can be learned about religion and about life generally by trying to identify the parameters of the substructure and measuring its properties. These two traditions are not mutually exclusive. Indeed they are

Old Art or New

I Have much sympathy with my friend Alfred H. Barr's opinion that we should begin the study of the history of art with the art of our own times. It is a suggestion that has earlier been made by Dr. Lionello Venturi. Yet there are reasons for confining our study of human values generally to those values that are established, hence really teachable. Much of the task of higher education must always be to assure the student of his heritage in the past. Art itself is largely a recovery of the memory of the ages from threatened oblivion, and the short and confused memory of the present is not sufficiently consolidated to be a major subject of study. It is indeed a wise child who surely knows the values of the art which appears from day to day. A just, anything like a permanent judgment, needs perspective such as only the years give. There is much common sense in that practice of the world's richest museum, the Louvre, which normally restricts its acquisitions to the works of artists who have been dead for at le...