25 research outputs found
Transcriptomic identification of starfish neuropeptide precursors yields new insights into neuropeptide evolution
No full textPublished by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.This work was supported by a PhD studentship funded by QMUL and awarded to D.C.S. and a Leverhulme Trust grant (RPG-
2013-351) awarded to M.R.E. Sequencing of the A. rubens neural transcriptome was funded by an EPSRC grant (EP/J501360/1
P1650Galectin-3 predicts symptom development in asymptomatic moderate-severe aortic stenosis; a PRIMID-AS sub-study
No full textUnderstanding Washington, D.C. Througha Kemetic lens, 2009
No full textWashington. D.C.s urban plan has been studied from Baroque and Parisian standpoints, amongst others. However, understanding Americas capital urban plan from a Kemelic perspective has rarely been attempted. The objective of this investigation was to examine Kemetic symbols within the urban plan, street layout, of Washington, D.C., and to add another, ancient African narrative to the way the city can be interpreted. This study is significant because it explores an overlooked, understudied, yet essential, contribution from an ancient African culture. Kemet. The theoretical framework employed in this research comes from Molefi Asantes Afrocentricity theory. This theory was employed because it places African phenomena at the center of the research. Further, Afroccntricity, allowed for an expansion of the current conversation as it pertains to discussing the urban plan of Washington. In addition, a hermeneutical methodology was utilized to analyze particular maps, and ancient Kemetic papyri, to show how Kemetic symbols could be seen within the citys uiban plan. Information was gathered from maps, hand-drawn maps, papyri, texts, and visits to the nations pital. The conclusions drawn from the analysis illustrate that there are Kemetic symbols found within the urban plan of Washington, D.C. Lastly, the research provides evidence that, from its inception, Washington, D.C. had Kemetic symbols incorporated into its urban plan: and that past and present builders may be aware of this Kemetic presence
Evaluation of biological landfill leachate treatment incorporating struvite precipitation and powdered activated carbon addition
No full textDirect application of aerobic biodegradation for leachate treatment is not feasible due to high concentrations of nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand. Several potential leachate treatment schemes incorporating struvite precipitation as pretreatment and two types of activated sludge processes (conventional activated sludge and batch decant reactor (intermittent cycle extended aeration system ICEAS process) with and without addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) were evaluated in this study. The hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 6 h and 12 h were applied in the biological stages of each process. Treatment schemes incorporating PAC addition showed acceptable results. In the conventional activated sludge process, total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD), soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), NH3, and P removal rates were 87, 84, 98.3, and 94%, respectively, with HRT of 6 h and 95.8, 95.1, 99.1, and 98.7% with HRT of 12 h. For the ICEAS process, removal rates were 89.3, 87.9, 98.2, and 94% with HRT of 6 h and 95.8, 95, 99.2, and 98.7% with HRT of 12 h. On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that struvite precipitation, followed by activated sludge process with PAC addition, can be a strong alternative leachate treatment, achieving the standards set for effluent discharges to receiving waters. © The Author(s), 2010
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Gaming addiction in adolescence (revisited)
No full textGaming addiction has become a topic of increasing research interest. Over the last 25 years, I have written many articles on adolescent video gaming for Education and Health as it is one of the research fields that is constantly evolving. In fact, over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of scientific studies examining various aspects of online addiction particularly among adolescents and young adults (Kuss & Griffiths, 2012; Kuss, Griffiths, Karila & Billieux, 2014). Although the amount and the quality of research in the field has progressed much over this period, it is still in its infancy compared to other more established behavioural addictions (such as pathological gambling). This article briefly examines (i) how adolescent gaming addiction research has changed over the last three decades, (ii) how online gaming addiction has gained genuine psychiatric status, (iii) excessive gaming as an addiction, and (iv) where the gaming addiction field is going
Characterization of the chronobiological signals based on the continuous wavelet transform
No full textUrban aerosol size distributions over the Mediterranean city of Barcelona, NE Spain
No full textDifferential mobility particle sizer (DMPS) aerosol concentrations (N13-800) were collected over a one-year-period (2004) at an urban background site in Barcelona, North-Eastern Spain. Quantitative contributions to particle number concentrations of the nucleation (33-39%), Aitken (39-49%) and accumulation mode (18-22%) were estimated. We examined the source and time variability of atmospheric aerosol particles by using both K-means clustering and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis. Performing clustering analysis on hourly size distributions, nine K-means DMPS clusters were identified and, by directional association, diurnal variation and relationship to meteorological and pollution variables, four typical aerosol size distribution scenarios were identified: traffic (69% of the time), dilution (15% of the time), summer background conditions (4% of the time) and regional pollution (12% of the time). According to the results of PMF, vehicle exhausts are estimated to contribute at least to 62-66% of the total particle number concentration, with a slightly higher proportion distributed towards the nucleation mode (34%) relative to the Aitken mode (28-32%). Photochemically induced nucleation particles make only a small contribution to the total particle number concentration (2-3% of the total), although only particles larger than 13 nm were considered in this study. Overall the combination of the two statistical methods is successful at separating components and quantifying relative contributions to the particle number population. © 2012 Author(s)
The cost-effectiveness of national training systems in developing countries
No full textThis paper reviews the literature on the cost-effectiveness of different modes of occupational training, focusing primarily on employer-sited training, occupational training within formal education, and out of school center-based training. The literature can be divided into two categories: studies which have attempted to measure in quantitative terms the benefits and costs of different modes of training, and qualitative studies which have examined non-measurable aspects of cost-effectiveness. Among the conclusions brought to light are: that schools should be responsible for teaching basic skills and the theoretical aspects of vocational training, and employers should be responsible for the practical end - with on-the-job training supplemented in some cases by training at training centers. Institutionalized pre-employment training for entry-level jobs is less cost-effective - despite wishful thinking that it provides an easy solution to the problems of mass youth unemployment.Teaching and Learning,Curriculum&Instruction,Vocational&Technical Education,Gender and Education,Primary Education
Impact of Internet gambling on problem gambling among adolescents in Italy: Findings from a large-scale nationally representative survey
No full textAims: The primary aim of the present study was to understand the impact of online gambling on gambling problems in a large-scale nationally representative sample of Italian youth, and to identify and then further examine a subgroup of online gamblers who reported higher rates of gambling problems. Design: Data from the ESPAD®Italia2013 (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) Study were used for analyses of adolescent Internet gambling. Setting: Self-administered questionnaires were completed by a representative sample of high school students, aged 15–19 years. Participants: A total of 14,778 adolescent students. Measurements: Respondents’ problem gambling severity; gambling behavior (participation in eight different gambling activities, the number of gambling occasions and the number of online gambling occasions, monthly gambling expenditure); Socio-demographics (e.g., family structure and financial status); and control variables were measured individually (i.e., use of the Internet for leisure activities and playing video games). Findings: Rates of problem gambling were five times higher among online gamblers than non-online gamblers. In addition, factors that increased the risk of becoming a problem online gambler included living with non-birth parents, having a higher perception of financial family status, being more involved with gambling, and the medium preferences of remote gamblers (e.g., Internet cafes, digital television, and video game console). Conclusions: The online gambling environment may pose significantly greater risk to vulnerable players. Family characteristics and contextual elements concerning youth Internet gambling (e.g., remote mediums) may play a key role in explaining problem online gambling among adolescents
Human and physical infrastructure : public investment and pricing policies in developing countries
No full textAlmost by definition, the basis for development is infrastructure - whether services for human infrastructure (health, education, nutrition) or physical infrastructure (transport, energy, water). Although the infrastructure sectors are diverse, what they have in common is that public policy has had a great deal to do with how these services are provided and financed in almost all countries. The author reviews the recent literature on two key aspects of that involvement: investment and pricing. While the quality of the econometric evidence varies, recent literature reinforces the view that human and physical infrastructure are critical for economic growth and the reduction of poverty. And the state is recognized as playing a key role in ensuring the efficient, equitable allocation of resources for infrastructure. Despite many sound theoretical reasons for such public involvement, however, recent studies have shown that it leaves much to be desired in efficiency and equity. One symptom is underinvestment in key subsectors that have high economic returns and that help the poor the most, such as primary education and rural health clinics, in relation to more expensive interventions, such as tertiary education and urban hospitals. Another common malaise is the poor use of scarce resources, leading to low quality (students learning little) and reliability (irregular power and water flows), poor maintenance (dilapilated roads), and inappropriate input use (too many school adminstrators or health workers and not enough books or drugs in producing education health outcomes). Just as market failures necessitate government intervention in the infrastructure sectors, so government failures should be considered in deciding the depth and extent of that intervention. The literature has made some advances in diagnosing these problems in poor countries and proposing solutions. But information gaps remain, particularly in developing robust methodologies for: 1) making intersectoral comparisons across the wide range of infrastructure services; 2) crafting more diverse policies about the public-private balance in infrastructure investment, depending on the nature of"public goods"characteristics for various types of infrastructure services, or even across activities for the same service (for example, power transmission versus distribution); and 3) taking issues of political economy into account, such as the vested interests of those with large financial interests in infrastructure. The author also highlights public pricing as a policy initiative that has recently gotten much attention.After briefly reviewing the basic concepts of pricing, he focuses on the literature about pricing reform. Most commonly, the public sector is the main provider of infrastructure services, usually free or at subsidized prices. But the recent literature has aired a rethinking of the balance between public and private financing of infrastructure. The debate in this area is often heated. Health and education are traditionally provided free and some recent literature argues for positive prices, at least for higher tiers of service. The principle of public pricing has been more widely accepted in transport, energy, and to a lesser extent water, but often the levels are too low and do not provide the appropriate incentives for efficient and equitable use.Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Public Sector Economics&Finance,Economic Theory&Research
