Mesh-based numerical implementation of the localized boundary-domain integral equation method to a variable-coefficient Neumann problem

An implementation of the localized boundary-domain integral-equation (LBDIE) method for the numerical solution of the Neumann boundary-value problem for a second-order linear elliptic PDE with variable coefficient is discussed. The LBDIE method uses a specially constructed localized parametrix (Levi function) to reduce the BVP to a LBDIE. After employing a mesh-based discretization, the integral equation is reduced to a sparse system of linear algebraic equations that is solved numerically. Since the Neumann BVP is not unconditionally and uniquely solvable, neither is the LBDIE. Numerical implementation of the finite-dimensional perturbation approach that reduces the integral equation to an unconditionally and uniquely solvable equation, is also discussed

TYPES OF STRATEGIES FOR THE TOURISTIC FIRMS

to develop new ideas, products, services and destinations. For example, there is aninternational interest in developing niches, which are specific interests and activities thatpeople might find interesting as an activity for their holiday. Recent developments thatcharacterize this include the rise of natural-based ecotourism products, of wine and food-based tourism, following on people’s interests, provides an example of a successfuldevelopment of niche products. With all these roles, researchers as well as governmentshave agreed on the need of development strategies, as a successful and beneficial waytowards the future.strategy, corporate strategy, business strategy, developing strategies, tourismoperators

Relationships between human auditory cortical structure and function

The human auditory cortex comprises multiple areas, largely distributed across the supratemporal plane, but the precise number and configuration of auditory areas and their functional significance have not yet been clearly established. In this paper, we discuss recent research concerning architectonic and functional organisation within the human auditory cortex, as well as architectonic and neurophysiological studies in non-human species, which can provide a broad conceptual framework for interpreting functional specialisation in humans. We review the pattern in human auditory cortex of the functional responses to various acoustic cues, such as frequency, pitch, sound level, temporal variation, motion and spatial location, and we discuss their correspondence to what is known about the organisation of the auditory cortex in other primates. There is some neuroimaging evidence of multiple tonotopically organised fields in humans and of functional specialisations of the fields in the processing of different sound features. It is thought that the primary area, on Heschl's gyrus, may have a larger involvement in processing basic sound features, such as frequency and level, and that posterior non-primary areas on the planum temporale may play a larger role in processing more spectrotemporally complex sounds. Ways in which current knowledge of auditory cortical organisation and different data analysis approaches may benefit future functional neuroimaging studies which seek to link auditory cortical structure and function are discussed

Testosterone responses to competition in men are related to facial masculinity

Relationships between androgens and the size of sexually dimorphic male traits have been demonstrated in several non-human species. It is often assumed that a similar relationship exists for human male faces, but clear evidence of an association between circulating testosterone levels and the size of masculine facial traits in adulthood is absent. Here we demonstrate that, after experimentally determined success in a competitive task, men with more a masculine facial structure show higher levels of circulating testosterone than men with less masculine faces. In participants randomly allocated to a 'winning' condition, testosterone was elevated relative to pre-task levels at 5 and 20 min post-task. In a control group of participants allocated to a 'losing' condition there were no significant differences between pre- and post-task testosterone. An index of facial masculinity based on the measurement of sexually dimorphic facial traits was not associated with pre-task (baseline) testosterone levels, but was associated with testosterone levels 5 and 20 min after success in the competitive task. These findings indicate that a man's facial structure may afford important information about the functioning of his endocrine system

Facial symmetry is positively associated with self-reported extraversion

Fink et al. (2005) reported significant associations between facial symmetry and scores on some of the “big five” personality dimensions derived from self-report data. In particular, they identified a positive association between facial symmetry and extraversion, but negative associations between facial symmetry and both agreeableness and openness. Fink et al. (2005) used a measure of facial symmetry based on analysis of the central region of each face. In the present study we attempted to replicate these findings with a much larger sample (N = 294) and using a landmark-based measure of facial symmetry that includes peripheral regions of the face. In both sexes, we found a significant positive association between self-reported extraversion and facial symmetry but were unable to replicate any of the other previously reported associations. Nevertheless, the positive association between symmetry and extraversion provides further support for the idea that facial appearance could predict personality and therefore makes it possible for some personality attributions to be “data driven”, i.e. driven by properties of the target

Thyroid thermogenesis in adult rat hepatocytes in primary monolayer culture: direct action of thyroid hormone in vitro.

We have studied the effect of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) on the respiration of adult rat hepatocytes in primary monolayer culture prepared from hypothyroid rat liver. After addition of T3 to the culture medium at a concentration of 2 x 10(-7) M, oxygen consumption of the cultured cells increased detectably at 24 h and was maximal at 72--96 h, relative to control cultures (38.0 +/- 1.8 vs. 25.0 +/- 1.5 microliter/h.mg protein). The thyroid-responsive enzymes, Na+ + K+-activated adenosine triphosphatase (NaK-ATPase) and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPD), each exhibited increased activity in response to T3, in parallel with the change in oxygen consumption, whereas the activity of Mg-dependent ATPase was unaffected. These responses to T3 were dose dependent over similar concentration ranges, the half-maximal response for each occurring at ca 8 x 10(-10) M. In thyroid-treated cells, the observed increase in respiration was almost completely (90%) inhibited after addition of ouabain (10(-3) M) to the culture medium. It was found also that a 4-h exposure of the cultured hepatocytes to T3 was sufficient to elicit a significant thermogenic response, measured at a time (48 h later) when T3 was no longer present in the medium. The response to T3 occurred in fully defined culture medium and was independent of the presence or absence of hypothyroid rat serum, corticosterone, or insulin, and cellular ATP was unaffected by T3 in concentrations up to 2 x 10(-7) M. The findings document that adult rat hepatocytes in primary monolayer culture respond directly to thyroid hormone; the increases in respiration and NaK-ATPase activity elicited by T3 were cotemporal and apparently coordinate

Pengaplikasian Strategy mengajar oleh guru bahasa Inggris yang telah tersertifikasi dalam proses belajar mengajar di kelas di lappariaja, kabupaten Bone.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui sampai sejauh mana guru sertifikasi bahasa Inggris di lappariaja, kabupaten Bone dalam mengaplikasikan strategi pembelajaran dalam proses pembelajaran dalam kelas. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian qualitative. Populasi penelitian ini adalah guru bahasa Inggris bersertifikasi. Sample penelitian ini adalah terdiri lima orang guru sertifikasi bahasa Inggris dari tiga sekolah yang berbeda di Lappariaja, kabupaten Bone. Tiga orang guru sertifikasi bahasa Inggris dan SMP dan dua guru sertifikasi bahasa Inggris dari Madrasah Tsanawiah Lappriaja kabupaten Bone. Data penelitian di kumpulkan melalui wawancara dan pengamatan kelas . Dari pengamatan kita ingin mengetahui pengetahuan tentang Teaching strategy secara teoritis. Dan dari pengamatan kelas, kita ingin melihat sampai sejauh mana pengaplikasikan teaching strategi dalam proses pembelajaran. Data hasil penelitian di pelajari dan analisa dengan mengaplikasikan Mile and Huberman model. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah hanya satu guru sertifikasi bahasa Inggris yang dapat mengaplikasikan strategy pembelajaran dalam proses pembelajaran sedangkan empat guru lainnya tidak mengetahui strategi pembelajaran secara teori dan juga tidak dapat mengaplikasikan strtategi pembelajaran dengan maksimal. Maka hasil penelitian adalah guru sertifikasi bahasa Inggris dalam mengaplikasikan strategi pembelajaran di lappariaja, kabupaten Bone belum lah maksimal. Kata kunci : Guru sertifikasi, Strategy Pemnbelajaran, proses pembelajara

Application of Taylor models to the worst-case analysis of stripline interconnects

This paper outlines a preliminary application of Taylor models to the worst-case analysis of transmission lines with bounded uncertain parameters. Taylor models are an algebraic technique that represents uncertain quantities in terms of a Taylor expansion complemented by an interval remainder encompassing approximation and truncation errors. The Taylor model formulation is propagated from input uncertainties to output responses through a suitable redef nition of the algebraic operations involved in their calculation. While the Taylor expansion def nes an analytical and parametric model of the response, the remainder provides a conservative bound inside which the true value is guaranteed to lie. The approach is validated against the SPICE simulation of a coupled stripline and shows promising accuracy and eff ciency

Can meaningful effective connectivities be obtained between auditory cortical regions?

Structural equation modelling (SEM) of neuroimaging data can be evaluated both for the goodness of fit of the model and for the strength of path coefficients (as an index of effective connectivity). SEM of auditory fMRI data is made difficult by the necessary sparse temporal sampling of the time series (to avoid contamination of auditory activation by the response to scanner noise), and by the paucity of well-defined anatomical information to constrain the functional model. We used SEM (i.e. a model incorporating latent variables) to investigate how well fMRI data in four adjacent cortical fields can be described as an auditory network. Seven out of 14 models (2 hemispheres x (6 subjects and 1 group)) produced a plausible description of the measured data. Since the auditory model to be tested is not fully validated by anatomical data, our approach requires that goodness of fit must be confirmed to assure generalisability of connectivity patterns. For good-fitting models, connectivity patterns varied significantly across subjects and were not replicable across stimulus conditions. SEM of central auditory function therefore appears to be highly sensitive to the voxel-selection procedure and/or the sampling of the time series

Rapid chromosome territory relocation by nuclear motor activity in response to serum removal in primary human fibroblasts

This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Background: Radial chromosome positioning in interphase nuclei is nonrandom and can alter according to developmental, differentiation, proliferation, or disease status. However, it is not yet clear when and how chromosome repositioning is elicited. Results: By investigating the positioning of all human chromosomes in primary fibroblasts that have left the proliferative cell cycle, we have demonstrated that in cells made quiescent by reversible growth arrest, chromosome positioning is altered considerably. We found that with the removal of serum from the culture medium, chromosome repositioning took less than 15 minutes, required energy and was inhibited by drugs affecting the polymerization of myosin and actin. We also observed that when cells became quiescent, the nuclear distribution of nuclear myosin 1ß was dramatically different from that in proliferating cells. If we suppressed the expression of nuclear myosin 1ß by using RNA-interference procedures, the movement of chromosomes after 15 minutes in low serum was inhibited. When high serum was restored to the serum-starved cultures, chromosome repositioning was evident only after 24 to 36 hours, and this coincided with a return to a proliferating distribution of nuclear myosin 1ß. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that genome organization in interphase nuclei is altered considerably when cells leave the proliferative cell cycle and that repositioning of chromosomes relies on efficient functioning of an active nuclear motor complex that contains nuclear myosin 1ß.Brunel Open Access Publishing Fun