bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autobiographical memory specificity in borderline personality disorder: Associations with co‐morbid depression and intellectual ability
Authors: Reid Tamar , Startup Mike
Published: March 2010

Objectives. The results of studies of autobiographical recall in borderline personality disorder (BPD) have so far been inconsistent. The aims of the present study were to clarify this relationship by comparing memory specificity in BPD individuals, both with and without comorbid depression, to healthy controls; and to test whether differences between BPD individuals and healthy controls are mediated by differences in general intelligence and years of education.

Method. Depressed (N=22) and non‐depressed (N=9) patients who met criteria for BPD were matched by age and gender with healthy controls (N=29). All were assessed with the Autobiographical Memory Test and the National Adult Reading Test.

Results. No difference in memory specificity was found among people with BPD between those who had a comorbid diagnosis of major depression disorder and those who did not. Individuals with BPD were less specific than controls but the relationship between memory specificity and borderline diagnosis was largely mediated by group differences in IQ and education.

Conclusions. Differences in autobiographical specificity between patients with BPD and healthy controls may be due not to borderline disorder nor current major depression but to differences in cognitive ability.
Universal biases in self‐perception: Better and more human than average
Authors: Loughnan Steve , Leidner Bernhard , Doron Guy , Haslam Nick , Kashima Yoshihisa , Tong Jennifer , Yeung Victoria
Published: March 2010

There is a well‐established tendency for people to see themselves as better than average (self‐enhancement), although the universality of this phenomenon is contested. Much less well‐known is the tendency for people to see themselves as more human than average (self‐humanizing). We examined these biases in six diverse nations: Australia, Germany, Israel, Japan, Singapore, and the USA. Both biases were found in all nations. The self‐humanizing effect was obtained independent of self‐enhancement, and was stronger than self‐enhancement in two nations (Germany and Japan). Self‐humanizing was not specific to Western or English‐speaking cultures and its magnitude was less cross‐culturally variable than self‐enhancement. Implications of these findings for research on the self and its biases are discussed.
The role of need for closure in essentialist entitativity beliefs and prejudice: An epistemic needs approach to racial categorization
Authors: Roets Arne , Van Hiel Alain
Published: March 2010

The present research investigates how people's general epistemic motives may inspire essentialist beliefs about racial groups and racism. In three studies, we focus particularly on essentialist entitativity (EE, referring to beliefs about the uniformity, informativeness, and inherent core of racial groups), probing into its relationships with epistemic need for closure (NFC) and prejudice. In Study 1, we develop an EE scale, empirically distinguish it from the naturalness component of essentialism and non‐EE beliefs, and establish its predictive utility for explaining racial prejudice. Study 2 provides experimental evidence for the causal effect of NFC on EE beliefs. Study 3 demonstrates in three different samples that EE beliefs mediate the relationship between dispositional NFC and racial prejudice. It is argued that EE beliefs about racial groups are an expression of motivated social cognition, serving people's seizing needs for quick and easy social judgment.
Great Expectations?! Assortment Size, Expectations, and Satisfaction
Authors: Diehl Kristin , Poynor Cait
Published: March 2010

Recent research challenges the idea that greater choice is always desirable, showing that larger assortments can increase choice deferral and switching. The current research demonstrates that even when consumers make a purchase, the same item may generate lower satisfaction when chosen from a larger rather than a smaller assortment. The authors explain this effect in terms of an expectation-disconfirmation mechanism. When assortments are small, consumers have low expectations about their ability to match their preferences. As assortment sizes increase, so do consumers’ expectations of the degree of preference match they can achieve. Subsequently, consumers may experience greater negative expectation disconfirmation or less positive expectation disconfirmation when a chosen item comes from a larger rather than a smaller set. Either less positive or more negative disconfirmation leads to lower choice satisfaction. The results from three studies support this expectation-based process and establish this mechanism in addition to alternative explanations, such as choice overload.
The Slippery Slope: The Impact of Feature Alignability on Search and Satisfaction
Authors: Griffin Jill G. , Broniarczyk Susan M.
Published: March 2010

This research challenges the notion that increased search effort results in greater satisfaction with the choice by examining the impact of alignability on search quantity and search outcomes. Options that vary along comparable dimensions are alignable, whereas options that vary along unique dimensions are nonalignable. The results of three studies demonstrate greater search among nonalignable than among alignable options. Satisfaction initially increases but then declines with further search among nonalignable options. Although choice difficulty influences search and satisfaction, the primary mechanism driving the inverted U-shaped relationship of satisfaction with search among nonalignable options is feature learning. This research demonstrates a paradox: People continue searching more options precisely when their further search is detrimental to their satisfaction, falling down the slippery slope of search.
Branding Alters Attitude Functions and Reduces the Advantage of Function-Matching Persuasive Appeals
Authors: LeBoeuf Robyn A. , Simmons Joseph P.
Published: March 2010

Attitudes differ in terms of the functions they serve: Whereas attitudes toward some products may serve a utilitarian purpose of helping consumers maximize rewards, attitudes toward other products may symbolize or express consumers’ values. This article shows that branding alters the associations between products and attitude functions. Specifically, product categories that are generally associated with utilitarian attitudes are associated with less utilitarian, more symbolic attitudes when branded, whereas product categories that are generally associated with symbolic attitudes are associated with more utilitarian, less symbolic attitudes when branded. Branding also has important implications for persuasion and for the “function-matching” advantage: Although utilitarian appeals are most persuasive for “utilitarian” products (and symbolic appeals are most persuasive for “symbolic” products) at the category level, this article shows that this pattern does not emerge at the brand level, in part because attitude functions change with branding.
Acute reactive hepatitis in pregnancy
Authors: Ozsvár Zsófia , Solymossi Zsuzsa , Monostory Katalin
Published: March 2010

Az alfa-methyldopa általánosan használt antihipertenzív medikáció a terhesség alatt. A sympathoadrenerg rendszert csökkentő methyldopát évtizedek óta elsőként választott gyógyszerként alkalmazzák a terhesség indukálta hypertoniában. A reaktív hepatitis nem gyakori, de ismert súlyos mellékhatása az alfa-methyldopának. A nem terhes nőknél 2,5–10%-ra becsülik a manifesztálódott hepatotoxicitást. A 35 éves gravida terhességi hypertoniája a 21. gestatiós héten alakult ki, amely miatt orális methyldopa-, azaz centrális hatású alfa-adrenerg-gátló terápiában részesült. A gestatio 23. hetében akut hepatitis képe manifesztálódott. A hepatitis etiológiájának differenciáldiagnosztikájában a methyldopa kóroki szerepe felmerült, a hepatitis virális és autoimmun eredete kizárható volt. Ultrahangvizsgálattal magzati eltérés nem volt látható. A beteg gyógyszer-metabolizáló képességének alakulására vizsgálat történt a vérből, CYP-fenotipizálás, génexpresszió alapján, amely mérésekkel a szervezet (a máj) aktuális gyógyszer-metabolizáló képességét minősítettük. A methyldopát elhagytuk és nifedipinre váltottunk. Mivel a nifedipin metabolizmusában elsődlegesen a CYP3A4 enzim vesz részt, a betegnél alkalmazott nifedipindózist a CYP3A4 génexpresszió mértékéhez igazítottuk. Redukált dózis (30 mg/nap) mellett értük el a megfelelő vérnyomáscsökkenést. Az anamnézis klinikai kép, kémiai laboratóriumi vizsgálatok és a gyógyszer-metabolizáló képességének vizsgálata az alfa-methyldopa indukálta hepatitis diagnózisát megerősítették. Az alfa-methyldopa hepatotoxicitását terhességben először 1969-benElkingtonközölte. NapjainkbanAustésColiváltozatlanul case-studyjukban javasolták a szérumaminotranszferáz- (ALT-) szint ellenőrzését az alfa-methyldopa-terápia bevezetésekor és a terhesség alatt. Esetünk alátámasztja a monitorozás szükségességét.
Relationship Matrix - Discovering New Business in Difficult Times
Authors: Sinha Diwakar
Published: March 2010

The relationship matrix is a new business development analysis matrix used to analyze the market to find new business opportunity in difficult times. In the recent past we were faced by increasing difficulty to sustain our businesses during the recession. How should companies survive such difficult times? This problem was especially amplified for smaller service companies and contractors who even struggled to meet their working capital requirements. This event emphasizes the risk of not diversifying services, proactively in time to be able to tide over difficulties. The relationship matrix provides an easily understandable framework for companies to be able to identify new business in terms of activities and geographies, based on: Experience level of the companyAttractiveness of new market segmentPotential of new market segmentTransferability of current skillsAcquireability of required skillsDemand supply disparity in new market segment

The framework also provides an investment decision guideline for the company to be able to prioritize their 'future readiness' investments. The paper contains case studies explaining how this analysis is done and its wide applicability to any service providing company. The framework was applied to a dredging company that was proactively preparing to combat thinning revenue streams from its near shore oil and gas service business. The application of the framework led to identification of skills and infrastructure that it required in order to be future ready. Geographies and market segments where business development effort is required were also identified. These opportunities were also assigned an execution priority order based on resources available.

In this paper I discuss a new way of analyzing and identifying opportunities for business to proactively mitigate declining future cash flows. The salient distinguishing factor of this approach is that the way ahead is found by collaborative effort made together with the company’s strategy setters and the execution brass of the company. Using terms that are easily relatable and understandable by the common man. Refraing to use management jargon makes the strategy that is precipitated after using the Relationship Matrix easily understandable and acceptable to the ground working force, thereby increasing its chance to succeed.

The Relationship Matrix draws on themes of: Previous experience in a certain job type or industry typeCross transferability of skills within a job or industry typeCompleteness of learning curve within a job or industry typeGrowth opportunityAttractiveness of market

Therefore prioritizing the areas where a company should commit its resources in order to remain in business.
The Demonstration of a "Reliable Technology" for Estimating Oil and Gas Reserves
Authors: Sidle R.E. , Lee W.J.
Published: March 2010

The term "reliable technology" as related to oil and gas reserves estimation is a recent development in reserves classification. This term was introduced in the updated regulations published by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in late 2008. This paper will describe how reserves evaluators can use scientific practices to identify such reliable technologies and document that these technologies meet defined requirements. The paper will also explore the how Petroleum Resource Management System (PRMS) addresses the concept of reliable technologies and defines different levels of reliability to classify reserves estimates.

Reserves evaluators currently have limited guidance from the SEC or PRMS on how reliable technologies should be demonstrated. Since the use of new technologies is fundamental to advancing technical methods and practices in the Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering, the proposed approaches noted in this paper will provide useful support to enable the application of new technologies in reserves estimation and classification.

The paper draws on scientific practices and legal evidence rules (previously described by Miller 1997) to support the use of the scientific method for satisfying the requirements of reliability. The key steps of the scientific method are reviewed and adapted to the needs of demonstrating a reliable technology. The paper explains that the technology need be supported by both scientific theory and empirical data from experimental results. Also limitations on the technology including key assumptions and required conditions for successful application are discussed as part of the work needed to properly use the technology. Finally the paper will describe the level of empirical data needed for proper qualification of the reliable technology.

The recent publication of the SEC reserves reporting rules, which draw partially from the PRMS, has increased interest in deeper understanding of both these SEC rules and the PRMS. This paper will assist those who develop and use petroleum reserves data in understanding how technologies can be qualified to contribute to reliable reserves estimates and proper classification.
Risk, Reward, Metrics and Volatility
Authors: Schultz Rodney
Published: March 2010

How much product price volatility is "normal"? How should this volatility affect a price forecast, along with the focus and metrics applied in our daily work? If one tries to limit price volatility through hedging, what happens if production falls short of the goal? What kind of risk/reward relationship do we see in the equity markets, and can we apply this data and thinking to our oil and gas projects and acquisitions?

Each of the above questions should generate some thought when today’s petroleum engineer considers the challenge of surviving and thriving with the global volatility that’s inherent in our industry. Just as this paper raises several key questions for the engineer evaluating an oil and gas project or acquisition’s economics, the paper will present strategies, observations and conclusions about how to handle the questions raised above.

Rather than being an in-depth presentation of one specific topic, this paper takes a high level view of several key factors. Nevertheless, it will still deliver detailed, applicable solutions to the questions raised. Hence, the professionals attending will take not just one or two pragmatic applications from the presentation, but several. This will leverage their time and generate a range of benefits for each attendee.

One may rightfully ask: "What is the significant of the subject matter concerning the Social Responsibility technical knowledge base of the industry?" Everyone in our industry, from the front line engineer to the uppermost executives, has a responsibility to take a holistic look at a project’s economic evaluation. This is particularly critical when one considers the range of shareholders a company may have and the semi-recent volatility of the equity markets.

Hence, this paper will deliver on its Social Responsibility technical knowledge base of the industry expectations by assisting with the evaluation of risk, return and how oil and gas projects can accommodate the global economic environment.
Designing Efficient Fiscal Systems
Authors: Mian M. A.
Published: March 2010

The fiscal systems for hydrocarbon exploration and development have come a long way during the last 75 years. The current fiscal systems are much more sophisticated as compared to the ones seven decades ago. Some very critical factors are still often overlooked. The ideal fiscal systems are designed in such a way that it is simple to apply and provide the contractor with a fair rate of return (ROR) on investment commensurate with the project risks, and provide the host government (HG) with an adequate resource for rent, thereby resulting in a win-win situation. Some fiscal systems are unnecessarily cumbersome and do not achieve the main objective.

The information given in this paper is applicable to the design of fiscal systems worldwide. Every year new exploration blocks and/or development fields are farmed out to either International Oil Companies (IOCs) or International National Oil Companies (INOCs). These farm-outs are based on fiscal and legal arrangements.

No matter how sophisticated a fiscal system you design, if it fails to address the expected boundary conditions of the project under consideration then it is not a good system. A poor fiscal system will either give more to the contractor at the expense of the HG or vice versa. Developing a fiscal system — without knowing the effect of various variables on the end result of the fiscal system — will end up merely in an academic exercise. Several hypothetical field development and product pricing scenarios are used to test various fiscal systems. The outcome of each is evaluated in terms of the end benefit to the contractor and the HG. This paper also highlights one of the major outcomes that most analysts overlook during the designing of a fiscal system. This paper concludes that it is not necessary to have a cumbersome fiscal system if the same objective (reasonable return for the contractor and a reasonable government take (GT)) can be achieved with a simple system.

The key elements of a fiscal system are examined in this paper and it aims to outline desirable features that should be considered in the design of a fiscal policy with the objective of optimizing the HG’s take while providing an acceptable contractor’s ROR.
Bid Optimization With Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Schuyler John R.
Published: March 2010

The optimizer’s curse phenomenon seen in portfolio optimization appears similar to the winner’s curse observed in competitive bidding. A technique that calculates the effects of optimizer’s curse and sampling error bias is adapted for analyzing competitive bidding. The demonstration example is an auction of single risky project, which could be an exploration block containing one prospect. Bid optimization involves finding a function that expresses bid fraction as a function of estimates for 1) project expected monetary value and 2) number of other bidders. A foundation principle for a symmetric auction is that each bidder must be in equilibrium. The base model assumes that all auction competitors a) have matching judgments for the project parent population (in three parameters), b) all competitors the same estimate/actual error functions (in the three judgment parameters), c) use the same bid factor function, and 4) are risk neutral. Several correlations are embedded in the calculations. Incorporating specific company cost and information advantages, sub-models representing the project appraisal process to determine commercial success, and other such details is straightforward. The example assumes one company (us) has assessed chance of success, test cost, and discovery value for a subject prospect. A brute-force Monte Carlo simulation approach solves Bayesian calculations for the auction simulation. The calculations produce estimates of 1) probability of winning the auction and 2) expected monetary value versus bid amount, thus determining the optimal bid.
Reservoir Management in Unconventional Reservoirs
Authors: Khan M.U. , Callard J.G.
Published: March 2010

In planning successful development of any field, one of the key objectives is to determine the remaining infield potential. In conventional reservoirs, this is usually performed by using decline curve reserves coupled with volumetric recovery. There exist two disparities when the same methodology is applied in ultra low permeability reservoirs such as shale formations. First, production data used in decline curve analysis may be governed by infinite acting rather than boundary dominated flow regime. The prolonged infinite acting production reduces volumetric recovery efficiency to half of what is obtained in conventional reservoirs in situations where spacing exceeds the drainage area during a life of the well. Secondly, in these tight reservoirs, hydraulic stimulation generates the necessary conduit for hydrocarbons to flow at commercial rates, and may also interconnect individual wells into a flow network. Interference among wells in the same flow network must be accounted for to accurately assess remaining infield potential. This study addresses these issues by developing a new evaluation system to assess field maturity.

Production data from 40 wells of core area Barnett shale were analyzed in this study. Based on infinite acting flow behavior exhibited by these wells, new methodologies are presented to estimate reserves and recovery. These methodologies are applicable to the cases where flow over the life of a well is governed by an interconnected yet infinite acting flow system.

A new reservoir management tool is presented which serves as an aid in assessing field development maturity. It is developed by utilizing a correlation between cumulative stimulation treatment volume and reserves which are adjusted for interference and restimulation. Stimulation treatment volume was selected owing to the mixed presence of vertical and horizontal wells found in the investigated reservoir - the Barnett shale. Due to the straightforward nature of this evaluation system, it can be applied to other shale or ultra tight formations as well as to conventional reservoirs.
Win-Win Upstream Fiscal Systems: What They Are and How to Achieve Them
Authors: Demirmen Ferruh
Published: March 2010

In the exploitation of petroleum resources of a country, the interests of the host country and the investing oil company are not al- ways in alignment. Most significantly, economic rents expected from exploration and production tend to compete. The competing interests are best handled and reconciled through a win-win fiscal system that not only protects the interests of the host govern- ment, but also provides sufficient incentives to the investing oil company. Such a fiscal system enables E&P activities to proceed. The task, however, is not easy.

A win-win upstream fiscal system is one that (1) encourages exploration, (2) promotes development of small as well as large pe- troleum reserves, (3) allows special incentives for difficult-to-explore or difficult-to-develop situations, and (4) enables equitable sharing of economic benefits between the host government and the investor. What constitutes equitable sharing is best judged from the relationship between the Government Take and the investor’s Rate of Return.

A practical way to achieve a win-win a fiscal system is through economic modeling. Economic models constructed to represent various scenarios, each representing certain reserves, an exploration and development program, production profile, capex, oil price, etc., can be evaluated under the proposed contractual terms. The inefficiencies can then be removed by adjusting the fiscal terms. The process is one of trial-and error involving fiscal simula- tion of various exploration and development scenarios.

The efficiency of Country A’s draft petroleum law, based on Royalty/Tax system, was evaluated through economic modeling. The evaluation, encompassing six scenarios, revealed that the pro- posed system, lacking the features of a win-win fiscal system, was economically inefficient. Instead, a Production Sharing structure with a graduated Profit Oil split, a cost recovery limit of 80%, and a sliding-scale income tax rate of 0-40% would yield the desired results.
E&P Portfolio Optimization - How to Decrease Risk and Increase Return
Authors: Cronshaw Mark
Published: March 2010

It is becoming commonplace to consider uncertainty when making exploration and production investment decisions. Exploration and production companies typically have a portfolio of several active and potential projects, each with their own uncertainty. Companies can mitigate against risk by careful selection of their project portfolios. This paper shows how the risk of a project portfolio can be reduced while simultaneously increasing the expected return. This may sound too good to be true. However, it is based on the well- established efficient frontier idea from finance. Such portfolio selection can be accomplished by use of the Solver capability within Microsoft Excel.
Organic field-effect transistors
Authors: Małachowski M. , Żmija J.
Published: March 2010

The paper reviews the recent year publications concerning organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). A lot of works have been performed to help understanding the structural and electrical properties of materials used to construct OFETs. It has been established that in partially ordered systems, the charge transport mechanism is thermally activated and field-assisted hopping transport and the hopping transport between disorder-induced localized states dominate over intrinsic polaronic hopping transport seen in organic single crystals. Many research attempts have been carried out on the design of air-stable organic semiconductors with a solution process which is capable of producing OFETs with excellent properties and good stability when subjected to multiple testing cycles and under continuous electrical bias. Recent experiments have demonstrated ambipolar channel conduction and light emission in conjugated polymer FETs. These achievements are the basis for construction of OLED based displays driven by active matrix consisting of OFETs.
Media studies: Evolution and perspectives
Authors: Kafle Hem Raj
Published: March 2010

An interdisciplinary field of studies involves at least three concerns. The first is the question of its evolution from more than one origin. The second is its eclecticism - its reaches and scopes - the types of subjects, teachers, and students. And, the third is the general skepticism about its usefulness - the question of professionalism and employability. This essay is an attempt to address these fundamental concerns underlying the discourse on media studies as an interdisciplinary field. I first outline the academic and theoretical roots of this field. Then I discuss its major disciplinary dimensions and critical issues. DOI: 10.3126/bodhi.v3i1.2808 Bodhi Vol.3(1) 2009 p.10-20
Thoughts on news media’s role in Nepal’s democratic process
Authors: Brand Sten T
Published: March 2010

This paper explores media's role in the wake of the 2008 Constituent Assembly (CA) Election in Nepal. The paper will first discuss some important concepts within the field of political science, and then it will move on to incorporate communication theory. After underlining the concepts, the paper will focus on one particular research study focusing on access to information and how this relates to attitude and knowledge among villagers ahead of the 2008 CA election. Finally it will discuss the findings and conclusion. DOI: 10.3126/bodhi.v3i1.2810 Bodhi Vol.3(1) 2009 p.35-43
Modernity and English mixing: A study of Nepali television commercials
Authors: Acharya Khagendra
Published: March 2010

In this paper, I investigate the issue of English mixing in Nepali television commercials. More specifically, based on qualitative data taken from a total of four hours of Nepali TV commercials broadcasted on the major Nepali television stations - Avenues Television and Kantipur Television from 7am to 9am and 7pm to 9pm since 1 July to 1 October 2009, I examine the motivations for English mixing in Nepali TV commercials. For the analysis, primarily I categorize them into two major types, Nepali-only (NO) and English mixed (EM). NO includes commercials aired in Nepali only and EM includes advertisements aired in Nepali in juxtaposition with English. After it, I study the differences between EM and NO as the dichotomous treatment of NO and EM is critical in examining the purpose of English-mixing. The findings suggest that English-mixing in Nepalese TV commercials is a carefully constructed exemplar of the marketing of modernity. DOI: 10.3126/bodhi.v3i1.2812 Bodhi Vol.3(1) 2009 p.53-60
The thread of space, time and event: An implication in media studies
Authors: Poudel Krishna
Published: March 2010

Recently widely circulated publications, the World Development Report 2009 of the World Bank (WB) and Human Development Report 2007/2008 of the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP), have strongly emphasized the geographical space of the world. The World Development Report 2009 has a sub-title ‘reshaping the economic geography', whereas the Human Development Report has dealt on ‘fighting climate change, human solidarity in a divided world'. Both these documents have tried to disseminate a clear message about the interrelationship of geographical space and the human and natural processes, with special reference to functions and events associated in the contemporary world. The space is usually characterized by its elements of dimensionality, continuity, proximity and separation (NRC, 2006). Dimensions are components of a coordinate grid typically used to locate a point, line or area in a certain defined ‘space' as, for example, on the globe by latitude, longitude and elevation (X, Y and Z). In space-time, a coordinate grid that spans the 3+1 dimensions locates ‘events' (rather than just points in space), so time is added as another dimension to the grid, and another axis. This way, it is possible to plot where and when something is. Unlike in normal spatial coordinates, there are restrictions for how measurements can be made spatially and temporally. This is closely associated with the representation of events in the contextual ground of space and time. The representations can be made in a variety of modes and media (graphic [text, image or maps, and video], tactile, auditory, kinesthetic, and olfactory) to describe, explain, and communicate about the structure, operation, and function of objects and their relationships. Spatial thinking is not restricted to any domain of knowledge (NRC 2006). DOI: 10.3126/bodhi.v3i1.2815 Bodhi Vol.3(1) 2009 p.92-98
A Comprehensive Survey on On-line Handwriting Recognition Technology and its Real Application to the Nepalese Natural Handwriting
Authors: KC Santosh , Nattee Cholwich
Published: March 2010

Handwriting Recognition Technology has been improving much under the purview of pattern recognition and image processing since a few decades. This paper focuses on the comprehensive survey on on-line handwriting recognition system along with the real application by taking Nepali natural handwriting (a real example of one of the cursive handwritings). The survey mainly includes pre-processing, feature vector and similarity measures in between the non-linear 2D sequences of coordinates, and their effective applications. A very highlighting topic "Dynamic Time Warping Algorithm'' (DTW) is introduced, which has been popular in determining the distance between two non-linear sequences ranging from handwriting to speech recognition. Besides these contemporary research issues/areas, stroke number and order free Nepalese natural handwritten recognition system is presented in the second step. Writing one's own style brings unevenness in writing units, which is the most difficult part to classify. Writing units reveal number, shape, size, order of stroke, and speed in writing. Variation in the number of strokes, their order, shapes and sizes, tilting angles and similarities among characters from one another are the important factors, which are to be considered in classification for Nepali. This paper utilizes structural properties of those alphanumeric characters, which have variable writing units. It uses a string of pen tip's positions and tangent angles of every consecutive point as a feature vector sequence of a stroke. We constructed a prototype recognizer that uses the DTW algorithm to align handwritten strokes with stored strokes' templates and determine their similarity. Separate system is trained for original and preprocessed writing samples and achieved recognition rates of 85.87% and 88.59% respectively. This introduces novel real time handwriting recognition on Nepalese alphanumeric characters, which are independent of number of strokes, as well as their order. Key Words: Handwriting Recognition System; Pre-processing; Feature Vector; Dynamic Time Warping; Agglomerating Hierarchical Clustering; Nepali. DOI: 10.3126/kuset.v5i1.2845 Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Vol.5, No.1, January 2009, pp 31-55
Current Status of Cut Flower Business in Nepal
Authors: Gauchan DP , Pokhrel Anaya Raj , Pratap Manish , Lama Prabesh
Published: March 2010

In this article an attempt has been made to cover all the aspects of cut flower business including the present scenario, prospects and different factors which need to be improved in order to meet the expected standards. This report offers the information regarding the status of current market, area of production and demands of different cut flowers such as carnation, gerbera, gladiolus and rose in Nepalese market, which facilitates persons to make up their mind to figure out the floriculture business in Nepal. Cut flower business has flourished in Nepal compared to yesteryears, but the development is not sufficient to fulfill the demand of consumers. The production decreases during the winter season in comparison to summer season. This article also includes list of numbers of producers, their position in the market and the situation of consumer. The export and import data of few years has also been illustrated. It gives the brief information regarding annual production of these flowers, present price per stick and its demand in domestic and international market. Key words: Cut flower; gladiolus; carnation; gerbera; rose; floriculture DOI: 10.3126/kuset.v5i1.2849 Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Vol.5, No.1, January 2009, pp 87-98
Application of Sonogashira and Baylis–Hillman Reactions with β-Trifluoromethylated Acroleins
Authors: Zouaoui Emna , Gaïed Mohamed Moncef El
Published: March 2010

The reaction of alkynes with 2-phenyl-3-iodo-4,4,4-trifluorobut-2-enal in the presence of palladium (0) is reported (Sonogashira reaction). Moreover, 2-(hydroxytrifluoromethylalkenyl)cyclohexenones have been prepared by the reaction of cyclohexenone and β-trifluromethylacroleins in the presence of N-methylimidazole catalysis.
Preparation of β-Aminoketone by 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-Dicyanobenzoquinone Catalysed Three-Component Mannich Reaction
Authors: Xu Feng , Li Peng-Bo , Tian You-Ping , Hui-Li Li , Li Qi
Published: March 2010

2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) was used as an efficient catalysts for a one-pot, three-component Mannich reaction of cyclohexanone or acetophenone with aromatic aldehydes and aromatic amines under solvent free condition. This protocol has the advantage of high yield, mild reaction conditions, lower catalyst loading and simple work up procedure.
Green and Efficient Knoevenagel Condensation Catalysed by a DBU Based ionic Liquid in Water
Authors: Ying An-Guo , Wang Li-Min , Wang Le-Le , Chen Xin-Zhi , Ye Wei-Dong
Published: March 2010

An efficient, clean and facile protocol for the Knoevenagel condensation of aromatic aldehydes with active methylene compounds catalysed by task specific ionic liquid 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-undec-7-en-8-ium acetate in an aqueous medium has been developed. The reactions proceed at room temperature and high to excellent yields were afforded. The workup procedure is very simple. The ionic liquid could be recycled for 10 runs without noticeably loss of its catalytic activity.
A New Labdane Diterpenoid from Pteris Semipinnata
Authors: Jin Zai-Su , Rao Gui-Wei , Li Cheng-Ping
Published: March 2010

A new labdane diterpenoid, 15-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-labda-8(17), 13E-diene-3β, 7β-diol (1), was isolated from the aerial parts of Pteris semipinnata, along with two known compounds, namely paniculoside III (2), and pterosin C 3-O-β-D-glucoside (3). The structure of 1 was established on the basis of spectroscopic data, including IR, HR-ESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.
Chromium Complexes Ligated by Amino-Salicylaldimine Ligands: Synthesis, Structures and Ethylene Oligomerisation Behaviour
Authors: Cui Jin , Zhang Mingjie
Published: March 2010

A series of amino-salicylaldimine ligands, 5-tert-butyl-3-(R-1-ylmethyl)-salicylaldimine (L1-4, R = morpholine, piperidine, pyrrolidine, 4-methylpiperazine) have been synthesised and structurally analysed. The molecular structure of compound (L1, R = piperidine) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These ligands reacted with [CrCl3(THF)3] in THF to form chromium complexes, which were isolated in high yields as stable green solids and characterised by means of IR and elemental analysis. Activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), these complexes showed moderate catalytic activities for ethylene oligomerisaton.
Nanotechnology in Dental Sciences: Moving towards a Finer Way of Doing Dentistry
Authors: Uskoković Vuk , Bertassoni Luiz Eduardo
Published: March 2010

Nanotechnologies are predicted to revolutionize: (a) the control over materials properties at ultrafine scales; and (b) the sensitivity of tools and devices applied in various scientific and technological fields. In this short review, we argue that dentistry will be no exception to this trend. Here, we present a dynamic view of dental tissues, an adoption of which may lead to finer, more effective and minimally invasive reparation approaches. By doing so, we aim at providing insights into some of the breakthroughs relevant to understanding the genesis of dental tissues at the nanostructural level or generating dental materials with nanoscale critical boundaries. The lineage of the progress of dental science, including the projected path along the presumed nanotechnological direction of research and clinical application is mentioned too. We conclude by claiming that dentistry should follow the trend of probing matter at nanoscale that currently dominates both materials and biological sciences in order to improve on the research strategies and clinical techniques that have traditionally rested on mechanistic assumptions.
Novel Anti-Infective Compounds from Marine Bacteria
Authors: Rahman Hafizur , Austin Brian , Mitchell Wilfrid J. , Morris Peter C. , Jamieson Derek J. , Adams David R. , Spragg Andrew Mearns , Schweizer Michael
Published: March 2010

As a result of the continuous evolution of microbial pathogens towards antibiotic-resistance, there have been demands for the development of new and effective antimicrobial compounds. Since the 1960s, the scientific literature has accumulated many publications about novel pharmaceutical compounds produced by a diverse range of marine bacteria. Indeed, marine micro-organisms continue to be a productive and successful focus for natural products research, with many newly isolated compounds possessing potentially valuable pharmacological activities. In this regard, the marine environment will undoubtedly prove to be an increasingly important source of novel antimicrobial metabolites, and selective or targeted approaches are already enabling the recovery of a significant number of antibiotic-producing micro-organisms. The aim of this review is to consider advances made in the discovery of new secondary metabolites derived from marine bacteria, and in particular those effective against the so called “superbugs”, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE), which are largely responsible for the increase in numbers of hospital acquired, i.e., nosocomial, infections.
Finding New Enzymes from Bacterial Physiology: A Successful Approach Illustrated by the Detection of Novel Oxidases in Marinomonas mediterranea
Authors: Sanchez-Amat Antonio , Solano Francisco , Lucas-Elío Patricia
Published: March 2010

The identification and study of marine microorganisms with unique physiological traits can be a very powerful tool discovering novel enzymes of possible biotechnological interest. This approach can complement the enormous amount of data concerning gene diversity in marine environments offered by metagenomic analysis, and can help to place the activities associated with those sequences in the context of microbial cellular metabolism and physiology. Accordingly, the detection and isolation of microorganisms that may be a good source of enzymes is of great importance. Marinomonas mediterranea, for example, has proven to be one such useful microorganism. This Gram-negative marine bacterium was first selected because of the unusually high amounts of melanins synthesized in media containing the amino acid L-tyrosine. The study of its molecular biology has allowed the cloning of several genes encoding oxidases of biotechnological interest, particularly in white and red biotechnology. Characterization of the operon encoding the tyrosinase responsible for melanin synthesis revealed that a second gene in that operon encodes a protein, PpoB2, which is involved in copper transfer to tyrosinase. This finding made PpoB2 the first protein in the COG5486 group to which a physiological role has been assigned. Another enzyme of interest described in M. mediterranea is a multicopper oxidase encoding a membrane-associated enzyme that shows oxidative activity on a wide range of substrates typical of both laccases and tyrosinases. Finally, an enzyme very specific for L-lysine, which oxidises this amino acid in epsilon position and that has received a new EC number (1.4.3.20), has also been described for M. mediterranea. Overall, the studies carried out on this bacterium illustrate the power of exploring the physiology of selected microorganisms to discover novel enzymes of biotechnological relevance.
I2-Catalyzed Oxidative Condensation of Aldoses with Diamines: Synthesis of Aldo-Naphthimidazoles for Carbohydrate Analysis
Authors: Lin Chunchi , Hung Wei-Ting , Kuo Chien-Yuan , Liao Kuo-Shiang , Liu Yin-Chen , Yang Wen-Bin
Published: March 2010

A novel method for the conversion of unprotected and unmodified aldoses to aldo-imidazoles has been developed. Using iodine as a catalyst in acetic acid solution, a series of mono- and oligosaccharides, including those containing carboxyl and acetamido groups, undergo an oxidative condensation reaction with aromatic vicinal diamines at room temperature to give the corresponding aldo-imidazole products in high yields. No cleavage of the glycosidic bond occurs under the mild reaction conditions. The compositional analysis of saccharides is commonly realized by capillary electropheresis of the corresponding aldo-imidazole derivatives, which are easily synthesized by the reported iodine-promoted oxidative condensation. In addition, a series of aldo-imidazoles were determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS) to analyze molecular weight and ion intensity. The diamine-labeled saccharides showed enhanced signals in MALDI–TOF MS. The combined use of aldoimidazole derivatization and mass spectrometric analysis thus provides a rapid method for identification of saccharides, even when less than 1 pmol of saccharide is present in the sample. These results can be further applied to facilitate the isolation and analysis of novel saccharides.
Generic Medicine Pricing Policies in Europe: Current Status and Impact
Authors: Dylst Pieter , Simoens Steven
Published: March 2010

Generic medicine pricing is an area of national responsibility of European Union countries. This article aims to present the current status and impact of generic medicine pricing policies in ambulatory care in Europe. The study conducts a literature review of policies relating to free-pricing systems, price-regulated systems, price differentiation, price competition and discounts, and tendering procedures; and a survey of European generic medicine pricing policies. Competition from Indian generic medicine manufacturers, European variation in generic medicine prices and competition between generic medicine manufacturers by discount suggest that the potential savings to health care payers and patients from generic medicines are not fully realized in Europe. One way of attaining these savings may be to move away from competition by discount to competition by price. Free-pricing systems may drive medicine prices downwards under specific conditions. In price-regulated systems, regulation may lower prices of originator and generic medicines, but may also remove incentives for additional price reductions beyond those imposed by regulation. To date, little is known about the current status and impact of tendering procedures for medicines in ambulatory care. In conclusion, the European experience suggests that there is not a single approach towards developing generic medicine pricing policies in Europe.
Molecular Model of Plasma PAF Acetylhydrolase-Lipoprotein Association: Insights from the Structure
Authors: Srinivasan Prabhavathi , Bahnson Brian J.
Published: March 2010

Plasma platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), also called lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), is a group VIIA PLA2 enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of PAF and certain oxidized phospholipids. Although the role of PAF-AH as a pro- or anti-atherosclerotic enzyme is highly debated, several studies have shown it to be an independent marker of cardiovascular diseases. In humans the majority of plasma PAF-AH is bound to LDL and a smaller portion to HDL; the majority of the enzyme being associated with small dense LDL and VHDL-1 subclasses. Several studies suggest that the anti- or pro-atherosclerotic tendency of PAF-AH might be dependent on the type of lipoprotein it is associated with. Amino acid residues in PAF-AH necessary for binding to LDL and HDL have been identified. However our understanding of the interaction of PAF-AH with LDL and HDL is still incomplete. In this review we present an overview of what is already known about the interaction of PAF-AH with lipoprotein particles, and we pose questions that are yet to be answered. The recently solved crystal structure of PAF-AH, along with functional work done by others is used as a guide to develop a model of interaction of PAF-AH with lipoprotein particles.
Doubly-Special Relativity: Facts, Myths and Some Key Open Issues
Authors: Amelino-Camelia Giovanni
Published: March 2010

I report, emphasizing some key open issues and some aspects that are particularly relevant for phenomenology, on the status of the development of “doubly-special” relativistic (“DSR”) theories with both an observer-independent high-velocity scale and an observer-independent small-length/large-momentum scale, possibly relevant for the Planck-scale/quantum-gravity realm. I also give a true/false characterization of the structure of these theories. In particular, I discuss a DSR scenario without modification of the energy-momentum dispersion relation and without the қ-Poincaré Hopf algebra, a scenario with deformed Poincaré symmetries which is not a DSR scenario, some scenarios with both an invariant length scale and an invariant velocity scale which are not DSR scenarios, and a DSR scenario in which it is easy to verify that some observable relativistic (but non-special-relativistic) features are insensitive to possible nonlinear redefinitions of symmetry generators.