Generalized Relativistic Wave Equations with Intrinsic Maximum Momentum

We examine the nonperturbative effect of maximum momentum on the relativistic wave equations. In momentum representation, we obtain the exact eigen-energies and wavefunctions of one-dimensional Klein-Gordon and Dirac equation with linear confining potentials, and the Dirac oscillator. Bound state solutions are only possible when the strength of scalar potential are stronger than vector potential. The energy spectrum of the systems studied are bounded from above, whereby classical characteristics are observed in the uncertainties of position and momentum operators. Also, there is a truncation in the maximum number of bound states that is allowed. Some of these quantum-gravitational features may have future applications.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure

Isolation, Cloning and Expression of Recombinant Human Renin in Escherichia Coli System

Renin is an important honnone in kidney regulating the renin-angiotensin system (RAS); which plays an important role in human blood pressure. Renin is a highly specific endopeptidase cleaving the Leu-Leu bond in angiotensinogen to generate angiotensin I. Recently, renin was found in organs other than the kidney such as adrenal, ovary, testis, uterus, placenta, anterior pituitary and brain, implicating its involvement in the regulation of numerous activities. Prorenin is the inactive precursor of the renin which regulates the blood pressure and electrolyte balance. Prorenin can be activated in vitro following nonproteolysis and proteolysis. The isolation of prorenin or renin from organs including kidney is extremely difficult due to its very low concentration and its instability. Therefore, recombinant protein technologies are used to produce the recombinant human renin protein. In this study, the full-length human renin coding gene (REN) was isolated from the human kidney cDNA library by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The primers (RF1 & RR1) used were designed based on the human mRNA renin gene sequence from GenBank [gi |4506474| ref | NM_000537.1|]. The PCR amplified REN gene was cloned into pCR-Blunt cloning vector. Sequencing was carried out and the result shows 99.9% identical to the published sequence. The REN gene was cloned into two different E. coli expression vectors, pRSETB and pGEX4T l , to express the recombinant protein. Construct pRB-R was successfully expressed in E. coli strains BL2 1-S1 and BL21 (DE3)pLysS with the recombinant protein corresponding to the expected size -48 kDa. Construct pGT-R was expressed in BL2 1 (DE3)pLysS with the size -66 kDa. Both recombinant proteins have been confirmed with western blotting by using monoclonal anti-His antibody (recombinant protein derived from pRSET vector) and monoclonal anti-GST antibody (recombinant protein derived from p GEX4Tl vector). The result of the expression shows that the combination of the expression vector pRSETB and host BL2 1 (DE3)pLysS gave the highest soluble fraction of recombinant protein

ON A(PE)THEISM: RELIGIOUS DEHUMANIZATION OF ATHEISTS AND OTHER OUTGROUPS

Research on the dark side of religion has recently found evidence that anti-atheist prejudice is embedded in distrust (Gervais et al, 2011). Anti-atheist prejudice though old in its form, has only been systemically researched on over the last couple of years. This study seeks to extend on research in anti-atheist prejudice by examining religious dehumanization of atheists in comparison with other religious outgroups – gays and Muslims. Study 1 utilized a two factor model of dehumanization (Haslam, 2006) to examine dehumanization. Study 2 serves as a conceptual replication and extension using two different measures of dehumanization. Study 1 failed to find support for religious dehumanization while study 2 found partial support

GOD ON TRIAL: ARE OUR MORAL JUDGMENTS DIFFERENT BASED ON WHETHER WE ARE JUDGING GOD OR HUMANS?

Past work in moral psychology has demonstrated that individuals’ judgments of other humans in hypothetical moral scenarios can be influenced by variables such as intentionality, causality and controllability. However, while empirical studies suggest that individuals similarly hold nonhuman agents such as robots morally accountable for their actions to the extent that they are perceived to possess humanlike attributes important for moral judgments, research is scant when God is introduced as a nonhuman agent. On one hand it is proposed that because people anthropomorphize God, our moral intuitions of humans and God tend to show similar effects. In this case, both humans and God should be morally blamed when they are perceived to have engaged in a moral transgression. On the other hand, opinion polls suggest that the public at large generally agrees that belief in God(s) is necessary for one to be moral. By extension, our moral intuitions of God and humans should diverge significantly. Both perspectives offer different predictions about how people morally judge God and humans. This study attempts to test both perspectives by examining whether moral judgments of God show similar patterns to the moral judgments of a human (anthropomorphic perspective) or if judgments are biased toward God even when an immoral deed has occurred (Divine Command perspective). A 2 (Target: human vs God) x 2 (Morality of scenario: moral vs immoral) x 3 (Scenarios: sexual assault vs robbery vs murder) mixed model design was conducted to examine both hypotheses. Exploratory variables (i.e., Morality Founded on Divine Authority (MFDA) scale, religiosity and gender) were also included to test for potential moderation effects. Initial results suggest that people’s moral intuitions of humans and God do diverge, and this effect was moderated only by the MFDA scale. Limitations, implications and possible alternative explanations are discussed

A Composite Likelihood-based Approach for Change-point Detection in Spatio-temporal Process

This paper develops a unified, accurate and computationally efficient method for change-point inference in non-stationary spatio-temporal processes. By modeling a non-stationary spatio-temporal process as a piecewise stationary spatio-temporal process, we consider simultaneous estimation of the number and locations of change-points, and model parameters in each segment. A composite likelihood-based criterion is developed for change-point and parameters estimation. Asymptotic theories including consistency and distribution of the estimators are derived under mild conditions. In contrast to classical results in fixed dimensional time series that the asymptotic error of change-point estimator is $O_{p}(1)$, exact recovery of true change-points is guaranteed in the spatio-temporal setting. More surprisingly, the consistency of change-point estimation can be achieved without any penalty term in the criterion function. A computational efficient pruned dynamic programming algorithm is developed for the challenging criterion optimization problem. Simulation studies and an application to U.S. precipitation data are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed method

Biomarkers in acute myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction causes significant mortality and morbidity. Timely diagnosis allows clinicians to risk stratify their patients and select appropriate treatment. Biomarkers have been used to assist with timely diagnosis, while an increasing number of novel markers have been identified to predict outcome following an acute myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome. This may facilitate tailoring of appropriate therapy to high-risk patients. This review focuses on a variety of promising biomarkers which provide diagnostic and prognostic information

Language Planning in Multilingual Singapore : Concerns, Issues And Problems

Language planning policy is often conceived as a political and administrative activity by a governmental authority (Jernudd and Gupta, 1971). According to Ager (2001), the ability to use many languages can represent a major economic resource and thus there is a need for the government to coordinate the planning of language as a resource for societal development. Singapore has frequently been cited as a successful case study of governmental intervention in language planning. The rational, centralized and top-down status planning by governmental authority has resulted in the adoption of English as a medium of communication in a multilinguistic society and a high level of communicative integration between different ethnic groups (Kaplan & Baldauf, 2003;Shepherd, 2003; Goh, 2004). However, beneath the success story of Singapore's language planning policy, there exist a number of problems, issues and concerns. This article will flesh out in greater detail the language ideology, rationale and effects of its language planning implementation. In particular, it will examine some current potentially fractious language planning issues in the official language planning policy

Readers Theatre : Dramatising environment issues for oral skills development

Readers Theatre was introduced to a class of Japanese students studying intermediate-level English in an international university in Japan. The aim of the study is to investingate whether Readers Theatre enhances the oral skills of Japanese students as they negotiate an environmental issue in English. In my presentation, I will demonstrate how Readers Theatre is implemented in class and the comments by students will be analysed and discussed during the presentation