Multidimensional simple waves in fully relativistic fluids

A special version of multi--dimensional simple waves given in [G. Boillat, {\it J. Math. Phys.} {\bf 11}, 1482-3 (1970)] and [G.M. Webb, R. Ratkiewicz, M. Brio and G.P. Zank, {\it J. Plasma Phys.} {\bf 59}, 417-460 (1998)] is employed for fully relativistic fluid and plasma flows. Three essential modes: vortex, entropy and sound modes are derived where each of them is different from its nonrelativistic analogue. Vortex and entropy modes are formally solved in both the laboratory frame and the wave frame (co-moving with the wave front) while the sound mode is formally solved only in the wave frame at ultra-relativistic temperatures. In addition, the surface which is the boundary between the permitted and forbidden regions of the solution is introduced and determined. Finally a symmetry analysis is performed for the vortex mode equation up to both point and contact transformations. Fundamental invariants and a form of general solutions of point transformations along with some specific examples are also derived.Comment: 21 page

Production of monosex female population of rainbow trout by use of 17-B estradiol as direct method

In many species of finfish, females exhibit higher growth rates than males and achieve larger sizes. In addition, in some species, males mature before reaching marketable size. Therefore, there is great interest from the fish farmers to produce all-female stocks. In this project tried to reversing the sex of rainbow trout larvae by 17 estradiol and direct method, further more finding the optimum dose of this natural estrogen for endocrine sex reversion of Rainbow trout (O. mykiss). Four experimental treatments were designed with doses of 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/kgf. Trout which treated with 40 mg/kgf yielded 96% female and greatest growth

Crohn's Disease and Early Exposure to Domestic Refrigeration

Environmental risk factors playing a causative role in Crohn's Disease (CD) remain largely unknown. Recently, it has been suggested that refrigerated food could be involved in disease development. We thus conducted a pilot case control study to explore the association of CD with the exposure to domestic refrigeration in childhood.Using a standard questionnaire we interviewed 199 CD cases and 207 age-matched patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as controls. Cases and controls were followed by the same gastroenterologists of tertiary referral clinics in Tehran, Iran. The questionnaire focused on the date of the first acquisition of home refrigerator and freezer. Data were analysed by a multivariate logistic model. The current age was in average 34 years in CD cases and the percentage of females in the case and control groups were respectively 48.3% and 63.7%. Patients were exposed earlier than controls to the refrigerator (X2 = 9.9, df = 3, P = 0.04) and refrigerator exposure at birth was found to be a risk factor for CD (OR = 2.08 (95% CI: 1.01-4.29), P = 0.05). Comparable results were obtained looking for the exposure to freezer at home. Finally, among the other recorded items reflecting the hygiene and comfort at home, we also found personal television, car and washing machine associated with CD.This study supports the opinion that CD is associated with exposure to domestic refrigeration, among other household factors, during childhood

Replacing rice with lower water consumption crops: green policy implications for Iran

Replacing rice cultivation is a measure that mitigates water scarcity and climate change. This study used the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict rice growers’ intentions to alter their current rice cropping system to other, less water-consumptive products. Using survey data collected from 220 randomly sampled rice growers in southwestern Iran, structural equation modeling showed that environmental concerns positively affected the subjective norm (β = 0.57), perceived behavioral control (β = 0.16), moral norm (β = 0.37), self-identity (β = 0.26), and habit (β = 0.39). Environmental concerns indirectly affect farmers’ intentions through self-identity and habit. Attitude and self-identity positively affected and habit negatively affected behavioral intentions. The results showed that the extended TPB has superior predictive ability over TPB in predicting grower intentions. Extended TPB predicted 35% of the farmers’ intentions, while TPB predicted 30%. Given the strong indirect impact of environmental concerns on the farmers’ intention to change cultivation patterns, political efforts through the media and training campaigns should be aimed at raising environmental concerns, risk perception and awareness, and clarifying the risks of water scarcity. Extension agents may increase farmers’ willingness to change cultivated crops by disseminating information to farmers about measures needed to prepare the land, costs of cultivating alternative crops, and benefits of changing cultivation patterns to improve farmers’ attitudes

A Post-Processing Error-Correction Scheme Using A Dictionary For On-Line Boxed And Run-On Handwriting Recognition

Because of similar shape letters such as "v" and "u"; "k" and "h"; "1", "l", and "I"; and so on, plus many noisy channels such as digitizer tablets that intended hand-inputs should go through, any on-line recognition of handwriting letters cannot avoid producing errors. The use of a large vocabulary dictionary is necessary to make the system practically usable. However, imposing a limitation on the vocabulary handled by a recognition system is not very desirable for practical purposes. This paper presents a novel structure of a dictionarydriven error-correction post-processor for an online handwriting recognition environment which does not impose any coarse restriction on the vocabulary, however, it makes use of a large dictionary to reduce the errors made by the recognizer. This error- correction scheme reduces the error of a run-on and boxed handwriting recognizer by more than one half. 1 Introduction The notion of using a handwriting interface to computers has been of great interes..

Bridging farmers’ non-cognitive and self-conscious emotional factors to cognitive determinants of climate change adaptation in southwest Iran

Farm-level adaptation is an effective strategy to cope with global climate change. Farmers can effectively manage the negative effects of climate change with adaptive decisions. Cognitive, non-cognitive and emotional factors influence adaptive decisions against climate change. However, little research addresses the extent to which a set of integrated factors influence a farmer's intention to adapt. To address this gap, this study aims to determine, first, the relationship between cognitive factors, including awareness, attitude, subjective norm and perceived behaviour control; non-cognitive factors including habits and moral norms; as well as emotional factors, including anticipated pride and guilt surrounding adaptation intention. Second, it evaluates an integrated structural model using SmartPLS, a software commonly used in partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), wherein all these factors are examined simultaneously. A survey was conducted to fulfil these objectives, involving 250 farmers from Susangerd city in the Khuzestan province of southwestern Iran. Results reveal that positive emotions (pride), cognitive constructs, (perceived behaviour control and awareness), as well as non-cognitive factors, (behavioural habits and moral norms) affect adaptation intention. Findings provide guidance to policymakers, and agricultural experts who are considering different factors in designing and implementing policies and innovations related to climate change adaptation

Seroprevalence for Hepatitis E and Other Viral Hepatitides among Diverse Populations, Malawi

Data on prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Malawi is limited. We tested blood samples from HIV-uninfected and -infected populations of women and men enrolled in research studies in Malawi during 1989–2008 to determine the seroprevalence of HEV, hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Samples were tested for IgG against HEV, total antibodies against HAV and HCV, and presence of HBV surface antigens. Of 800 samples tested, 16.5% were positive for HEV IgG, 99.6% were positive for HAV antibodies, 7.5% were positive for HBV surface antigen, and 7.1% were positive for HCV antibodies. No clear trends over time were observed in the seroprevalence of HEV, and HIV status was not associated with hepatitis seroprevalence. These preliminary data suggest that the seroprevalence of HEV is high in Malawi; the clinical effects may be unrecognized or routinely misclassified