Culture or communicative conflict? : The analysis of equivocation in broadcast Japanese political interviews

The focus of this article is on equivocation in Japanese televised interviews, broadcast over a 14-month period in 2012-2013 (before and after the general election of December 16, 2012). An analysis was conducted of responses to questions by three different groups (national politicians, local politicians, and nonpoliticians). Results showed a striking level of equivocation by both national and local politicians, who together equivocated significantly more than nonpoliticians. Furthermore, national level Diet members equivocated significantly more than local politicians, and both coalition groupings when in power were significantly more likely to equivocate than when in opposition. The results were interpreted in terms of the situational theory of communicative conflict and also in terms of cultural norms characteristic of Japanese politics and society. The failure to consider the role of such norms, it is proposed, represents an important omission in the original theory of equivocation

Dynamic properties of water in silicalite-1 powder

Self-diffusion of D2O in partially filled silicalite-1 crystals was studied at 25°C by 2H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with bipolar field gradient pulses and longitudinal Eddy-current-delay. For the first time, reliable experimental diffusion data for this system were obtained. Analysis of NMR diffusion decays revealed the presence of a continuous distribution of apparent self-diffusion coefficients (SDCs) of water, ranging from 10-7 to ~10-10 m2/s, which include values much higher and lower than that of bulk water (~10-9 m2/s) in liquid phase. The observed distribution of SDC changes with variation of the diffusion time in the range of 10-200 ms. A two-site Kärger exchange model was successfully fitted to the data. Finally, the water distribution and exchange in silicalite-1 pores were described by taking into account (a) a gas-like phase in the zeolite pores, a gas-like phase in mesopores and an intercrystalline gas-like phase and (b) intercrystalline liquid droplets with intermediate exchange rate with the other phases. The other phases experience fast exchange on the NMR diffusion time scale. Diffusion coefficients and mean residence times of water in some of these states were estimated. © 2012 Elsevier Inc

Recurrent chromosome reshuffling and the evolution of neo-sex chromosomes in parrots

The karyotype of most birds has remained considerably stable during more than 100 million years’ evolution, except for some groups, such as parrots. The evolutionary processes and underlying genetic mechanism of chromosomal rearrangements in parrots, however, are poorly understood. Here, using chromosome-level assemblies of four parrot genomes, we uncover frequent chromosome fusions and fissions, with most of them occurring independently among lineages. The increased activities of chromosomal rearrangements in parrots are likely associated with parrot-specific loss of two genes, ALC1 and PARP3, that have known functions in the repair of double-strand breaks and maintenance of genome stability. We further find that the fusion of the ZW sex chromosomes and chromosome 11 has created a pair of neo-sex chromosomes in the ancestor of parrots, and the chromosome 25 has been further added to the sex chromosomes in monk parakeet. Together, the combination of our genomic and cytogenetic analyses characterizes the complex evolutionary history of chromosomal rearrangements and sex chromosomes in parrots

Analysis of Socio-Economic Determinants of Apple Fruits (Chrysophyllum Albidum) Demand among Consumers in Mubi Metropolis, Adamawa State, Nigeria

The demand of apple fruits has experienced a rapid increase in recent years. While several researches have been conducted in attempt to address the production inadequacies, very minimal has been done towards solving the consumption patterns/behaviour and related issues. This study therefore, analysed the socio-economic characters that determined apple fruits demand among consumers in Mubi Metropolis, Adamawa State, Nigeria, as an effort towards filling this gap. A total of 81 apple fruits consumers were selected randomly from road side apple stalls for the study. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire and supplemented by oral interviews and group discussion. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used in realising the objectives. Results revealed that majority (56.79%) of the apple fruits buyers were males within an age range of 21-30 years (37.04%) and singles (41.98%). While a larger proportion (37.04%) were graduates, apple fruits buyers with household sizes of 1-5 members accounted for the majority (74.07%). On the occupation basis, civil servants were 43.21%, and mainly purchased their apple fruits from the road side stalls (55.56%). Analysis of multiple regression showed that the demand for apple fruits was largely determined by price of the crop (4.2556) and income of buyers (4.2142) of which both coefficients were significant at P<0.001. Consumption pattern revealed taste as the most (61.73%) preferential factor to demand of apple fruits, with evening period as the main (62.97%) time of eating the crop. Major constraints observed among the buyers were high price of apple fruits, poor quality of the crop and sizes of same, among others. It’s therefore, concluded that educated single male respondents were the majority of apple fruits consumers in the study area, and the main determinants of demand among buyers were the price of apple fruits and income of the respondents. Drawing from the findings, it’s recommended that both the public and private sectors should direct efforts toward providing apple fruits growers with adequate inputs so as to produce in glut in order to lower the prices. Also, researches should be tailored in the direction of improving the sizes of apple fruits through breeding, and train more agriculture extension officers to enlighten growers and consumers of the appropriate methods of storage

Dynamic properties of water in silicalite-1 powder

Self-diffusion of D2O in partially filled silicalite-1 crystals was studied at 25°C by 2H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with bipolar field gradient pulses and longitudinal Eddy-current-delay. For the first time, reliable experimental diffusion data for this system were obtained. Analysis of NMR diffusion decays revealed the presence of a continuous distribution of apparent self-diffusion coefficients (SDCs) of water, ranging from 10-7 to ~10-10 m2/s, which include values much higher and lower than that of bulk water (~10-9 m2/s) in liquid phase. The observed distribution of SDC changes with variation of the diffusion time in the range of 10-200 ms. A two-site Kärger exchange model was successfully fitted to the data. Finally, the water distribution and exchange in silicalite-1 pores were described by taking into account (a) a gas-like phase in the zeolite pores, a gas-like phase in mesopores and an intercrystalline gas-like phase and (b) intercrystalline liquid droplets with intermediate exchange rate with the other phases. The other phases experience fast exchange on the NMR diffusion time scale. Diffusion coefficients and mean residence times of water in some of these states were estimated. © 2012 Elsevier Inc

Dynamic properties of water in silicalite-1 powder

Self-diffusion of D2O in partially filled silicalite-1 crystals was studied at 25°C by 2H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with bipolar field gradient pulses and longitudinal Eddy-current-delay. For the first time, reliable experimental diffusion data for this system were obtained. Analysis of NMR diffusion decays revealed the presence of a continuous distribution of apparent self-diffusion coefficients (SDCs) of water, ranging from 10-7 to ~10-10 m2/s, which include values much higher and lower than that of bulk water (~10-9 m2/s) in liquid phase. The observed distribution of SDC changes with variation of the diffusion time in the range of 10-200 ms. A two-site Kärger exchange model was successfully fitted to the data. Finally, the water distribution and exchange in silicalite-1 pores were described by taking into account (a) a gas-like phase in the zeolite pores, a gas-like phase in mesopores and an intercrystalline gas-like phase and (b) intercrystalline liquid droplets with intermediate exchange rate with the other phases. The other phases experience fast exchange on the NMR diffusion time scale. Diffusion coefficients and mean residence times of water in some of these states were estimated. © 2012 Elsevier Inc