Italian traveller and missionary: Odoric of Pordenone's journey to Ceylon

Der Franziskaner Odoric von Pordenone aus dem norditalienischen Friaul unternahm gegen 1314 eine Missionsreise, die ihn über See nach Indien und China brachte. Nach zwölfjähriger Abwesenheit kehrte er über Turkestan, Persien und Kleinasien nach Italien zurück und diktierte seinen Reisebericht, der weite Verbreitung fand. Auf dem Weg von Indien nach China besuchte er auch Ceylon, das heutige Sri Lanka. Auf der Insel beeindruckte ihn die fremdartige Fauna, besonders die Elefanten, unzählige Giftschlangen, "zweiköpfige" Riesenvögel (vermutlich Nashornvögel) und Myriaden von Blutegeln zu Lande und zu Wasser. Wichtiger aber waren für den Missionar die Legenden, die sich um Ceylon, besonders den Adamsberg, als Ort ranken, an dem Adam und Eva nach der Vertreibung aus dem benachbart gedachten Paradies ihren Sündenfall beweinten. Odoric war mit vagen westlichen Vorstellungen nach Ceylon gekommen, die er korrigierte. Er selbst beeinflusste wiederum viele nachfolgende "Reiseschriftsteller", besonders den berühmten John de Mandeville

Non-random chromosome positioning in mammalian sperm nuclei, with migration of the sex chromosomes during late spermatogenesis

Chromosomes are highly organized and compartmentalized in cell nuclei. The analysis of their position is a powerful way to monitor genome organization in different cell types and states. Evidence suggests that the organization of the genome could be functionally important for influencing different cellular and developmental processes, particularly at early stages of development (i.e. fertilization and the consequent entry of the sperm nucleus into the egg). The position of chromosomes in the sperm nucleus might be crucial, because their location could determine the time at which particular chromatin domains are decondensed and remodelled, allowing some epigenetic level of control or influence over subsequent paternal gene expression in the embryo. Here, we analyse genome organization by chromosome position in mammalian sperm nuclei from three breeds of pig, as a model species. We have mapped the preferential position of all chromosomes (bar one) in sperm nuclei in two dimensions and have established that the sex chromosomes are the most internally localized chromosomes in mature sperm. The distribution of two autosomes and chromosomes X and Y in sperm heads was compared in primary and secondary spermatocytes and spermatids in porcine testes. The sex chromosomes were found at the nuclear edge in primary spermatocytes, which correlates with the known position of the XY body and their position in somatic cells, whereas, in spermatids, the sex chromosomes were much more centrally located, mirroring the position of these chromosomes in ejaculated spermatozoa. This study reveals the temporal repositioning of chromosome territories in spermatogenesis

Effects of High-Voltage Overhead Power Lines (HVOPLs) on Residential Property Prices

Research findings on the effects of high-voltage overhead power lines on values of neighborhood properties remain inconclusive and inadequately explored. This study aims to investigate the effects of HVOPLs on market values and sale-prices of residential properties in the vicinity. The empirical results based on a hedonic price model show that HVOTLs impart a significant negative effect on nearby residential properties. Results show that affected properties are selling at a discount price compared to properties without the influence of HVOPLs. The market value of a residential unit located within physical distance of 300-meters of power-lines, and pylon, are on average, 34.2% and 18% lower than comparable properties, respectively. Furthermore, results suggest that it is the physical distance to HVOPL structures that accounts more for the value diminution compared to the visual impact of the structure. The results imply that the market value of properties adjacent to HVOPL corridors is reduced significantly. This discourages potential property buyers. The study contributes to the knowledge in two-ways: (i) it shows the greater impact of HVOPLs on property prices with a larger reduction in valuation than previous studies; and (ii) effects of the different visual impact of pylons compared with that of cables are clearly distinguished

Modification of maturation condition improves oocyte maturation and in vitro development of somatic cell nuclear transfer pig embryos

This study examined effects on the developmental competence of pig oocytes after somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) or parthenogenetic activation (PA) of : 1) co-culturing of oocytes with follicular shell pieces (FSP) during in vitro maturation (IVM); 2) different durations of maturation; and 3) defined maturation medium supplemented with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA; control), pig follicular fluid (pFF), cysteamine (CYS), or β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME). The proportion of metaphase II oocytes was increased (p < 0.05) by co-culturing with FSP compared to control oocytes (98% vs. 94%). However, blastocyst formation after SCNT was not improved by FSP coculture (9% vs. 12%). Nuclear maturation of oocytes matured for 39 or 42 h was higher (p < 0.05) than that of oocytes matured for 36 h (95-96% vs. 79%). Cleavage (83%) and blastocyst formation (26%) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in oocytes matured for 42 h than in other groups. Supplementation of a defined maturation medium with 100 µM CYS or 100 µM β-ME showed no stimulatory effect on oocyte maturation, embryo cleavage, or blastocyst formation after PA. β-ME treatment during IVM decreased embryo cleavage after SCNT compared to pFF or PVA treatments, but no significant difference was found in blastocyst formation (7-16%) among the four treatment groups. The results indicated that maturation of oocytes for 42 h was beneficial for the development of SCNT embryos. Furthermore, the defined maturation system used in this study could support in vitro development of PA or SCNT embryos

Penerapan Model Pembelajaran Problem Based Learning (Pbl) untuk Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Siswa pada Pokok Bahasan Kelarutan dan Hasil Kali Kelarutan di Kelas XI IPA SMA Negeri 1 Kampar

Research was aimed to improve study result of student on solubility and result times solubility subject has been doing in class XI science SMAN 1 Kampar. This research was a form of experiments research with design pretest-posttest. Sample of the research were student of class XI science 2 as experimental class and class XI science 3 as control class. The experimental class was applied learning model problem base learning while the control class using discussion method. Data were analized using t- test. Result from the data analysis showed t count > t table (1,6923 > 1,68). It means learning model problem based learning can increase study result of student on solubility and result times solubility subject in class XI science SMAN 1 Kampar with category of increase study results on the solubility and result times solubility in class XI science is high category

Housing Consumption of the “Soon-to-Retire” in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Regression Analysis

Availability and quality of housing have long been serious problems in Hong Kong over the years. It is now apparent that the rapidly increasing aging population (those over 65 years) seems to make the housing issue an even more serious one. As the demographic and social structures of the society continue to evolve, government’s housing policy should be reviewed and revised from time to time, accordingly, in order to satisfy the changing needs of the society. The main objective of this study is to explore the significant determinants of housing consumption of the ‘soon-to-retire’ group and suggest an explanation for their underlying dynamics. Based on a sample survey data, a cross-sectional regression model is employed to identify significant determinants that influence housing consumption of this group. Empirical results reveal that housing consumption of this group is influenced not only by market and demographic factors but also by the health status of the household. Heath status of the household, of this age group, is very important as this group is nearing their retirement. The empirical results further reveal that average household size and housing tenure as significant determinants of housing consumption of this study group. By introducing this new factor, we attempt to broaden our knowledge about the housing consumption of this less explored aspect of the housing market

Mitochondria directly influence fertilisation outcome in the pig

The mitochondrion is explicitly involved in cytoplasmic regulation and is the cell's major generator of ATP. Our aim was to determine whether mitochondria alone could influence fertilisation outcome. In vitro, oocyte competence can be assessed through the presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) as indicated by the dye, brilliant cresyl blue (BCB). Using porcine in vitro fertilisation (IVF), we have assessed oocyte maturation, cytoplasmic volume, fertilisation outcome, mitochondrial number as determined by mtDNA copy number, and whether mitochondria are uniformly distributed between blastomeres of each embryo. After staining with BCB, we observed a significant difference in cytoplasmic volume between BCB positive (BCB+) and BCB negative (BCB-) oocytes. There was also a significant difference in mtDNA copy number between fertilised and unfertilised oocytes and unequal mitochondrial segregation between blastomeres during early cleavage stages. Furthermore, we have supplemented BCB- oocytes with mitochondria from maternal relatives and observed a significant difference in fertilisation outcomes following both IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) between supplemented, sham-injected and non-treated BCB- oocytes. We have therefore demonstrated a relationship between oocyte maturity, cytoplasmic volume, and fertilisation outcome and mitochondrial content. These data suggest that mitochondrial number is important for fertilisation outcome and embryonic development. Furthermore, a mitochondrial pre-fertilisation threshold may ensure that, as mitochondria are diluted out during post-fertilisation cleavage, there are sufficient copies of mtDNA per blastomere to allow transmission of mtDNA to each cell of the post-implantation embryo after the initiation of mtDNA replication during the early postimplantation stages