Discrete approximations to vector spin models

We strengthen a result of two of us on the existence of effective interactions for discretised continuous-spin models. We also point out that such an interaction cannot exist at very low temperatures. Moreover, we compare two ways of discretising continuous-spin models, and show that, except for very low temperatures, they behave similarly in two dimensions. We also discuss some possibilities in higher dimensions.Comment: 12 page

Seed management by small-scale farmers in Ghana. A study of maize and cowpea seed in the Brong-Ahafo and Volta regions (NRI Bulletin 68)

Field surveys of on-farm maize and cowpea seed management in two regions of southern Ghana are described. The survey included seed obtained off-farm. Samples of seeds were collected just prior to planting and assessed for germination potential. Conclusions are given on the general status and potential for improving seed quality and on farmer seed management. Notes are included on farmer seed management of millet and sorghum in the Upper East Region

External perceptions of successful university brands

Branding in universities has become an increasingly topical issue, with some institutions committing substantial financial resources to branding activities. The particular characteristics of the sector present challenges for those seeking to build brands and it therefore seems to be timely and appropriate to investigate the common approaches of those institutions perceived as having successful brands. This study is exploratory in nature, seeking to investigate how successfully UK universities brand themselves, whether they are distinct and if the sector overall communicates effectively. This is approached through examining the perspective of opinion formers external to universities but closely involved with the sector – a key stakeholder group in UK higher education Overall, the research’s exploratory nature aims to further the debate on effective branding in UK higher education. The findings and conclusions identify some issues surrounding university branding activity; most UK universities were considered to be distinct from one another, but few were seen to have real fully formed brands. Although a number of institutions that were seen as having more ‘successful’ brands were identified, it was argued that whilst many UK universities communicate their brand well enough to key stakeholders, they fail to consistently do this across all audiences. It was also suggested that UK universities may concentrate on areas of perceived immediate strategic importance (in terms of branding) to an extent where others are neglected

Political brands: can parties be distinguished by their online brand personality?

This paper investigates whether or not five English political parties are differentiating themselves based on the brand personality they are communicating through their websites. The relative brand positions of five English political parties are analysed using Aaker’s brand personality scale. The text from each party website is analysed using content analysis and a dictionary-based tool. The results are plotted in relation to one another on a correspondence analysis map. We find that the two main dimensions on which parties' brand personalities differ relate to the trade-offs between communicating Competence and communicating Sincerity, and between communicating Sophistication and communicating Ruggedness. We find that parties' brand personalities are distinctive, with the exception of the Green party, and that the position of one party, the United Kingdom Independence Party, is particularly distinctive. Our research uses Aaker’s existing framework for thinking about brand personalities, rather than creating a new framework for politics. By using an existing framework, we are able to use tools developed in other disciplines, and show their usefulness for the study of political marketing

Development and characterization of MCF7 mammary carcinoma xenografts in a non-immunocompromised rat model

Purpose: To investigate the development of mammary tumours in female Sprague-dawley rats through a simple subcutaneous injection of human adenocarcinoma breast cells (MCF7) in combination with basement membrane matrix (BME).Methods: Nine Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group A received no injection, group B was injected with MCF7 cells at a cell density of 7.2 x 106/ml, and group C was co-injected with MCF7 and BME at 7.2 x 106/ml and 3.158 mg/ml, respectively. Tumour growth was observed over a duration of 70 days. Hematological analysis was performed using differential blood cell counts. Histological evaluation was carried out using standard LM techniques and H&E staining.Results: At day 35, RBC concentration across all groups was 8.10 x 106/mm3, whereas by day 70 the range decreased to (7.64 – 7.87) x 106/mm3. White blood cells (WBCs) were within normal range up to day 35, but monocytes and lymphocytes displayed an increase in concentration for group C. Mammary tissues from the thoracic region showed evidence of MCF7 cellular proliferation in both groups B and C.Conclusion: This study reveals that BME enhances tumour growth. Further studies are required to investigate optimization strategies for the development of mammary tumours in alternative recipient animal.Keywords: Tumour induction, MCF7, Histopathology, Thoracic mammary gland, Mammary tumour, Basement membrane matri

Exploring rationales for branding a university: Should we be seeking to measure branding in UK universities?

Although branding is now widespread among UK universities, the application of branding principles in the higher education sector is comparatively recent and may be controversial for internal audiences who question its suitability and efficiency. This paper seeks to investigate how and whether the effectiveness of branding activity in the higher education sector should be evaluated and measured, through exploratory interviews with those who often drive it; UK University marketing professionals. Conclusions suggest that university branding is inherently complex and therefore application of commercial approaches may be over simplistic. Whilst marketing professionals discuss challenges they do not necessarily have a consistent view of the objectives of branding activity although all were able to clearly articulate branding objectives for their university, including both qualitative and, to some extent, quantitative metrics. Some measures of the real value of branding activity are therefore suggested but a key debate is perhaps whether the objectives and role of branding in higher education needs to be clarified, and a more consistent view of appropriate metrics reached? Various challenges in implementing branding approaches are also highlighted

Investigation of Cucumeropsis mannii N. seed oil as potential biodiesel feedstock

Biodiesels fuels are being explored worldwide as alternatives for fossil fuels. The seeds of “Werewere” (Cucumeropsis mannii N., Cucurbitaceae) a fruit vegetable plant in Ghana with high oil content were analysed for their fatty acid composition as well as fuel properties to ascertain their potential as biodiesel fuel. The seeds contained 37.15% oil. The extracted seed oil by GC/MS analysis consisted of mainly linoleic acid (18:2) accounting for 58.8% of the total fatty acids. Other fatty acids detected were oleic acid (C18:1), stearic acid (C18:0) and palmitic acid (C16:0,) with contribution of 15.5, 14.1 and 11.5% respectively. Among the fuel properties measured were density (889.9 kg/m3), cetane number (57), flash point (155oC) and pour point (-3oC). The measured fuel properties of the fatty acid methyl ester of the oil were comparable to both the ASTMD 6751 and the EN 14214 biodiesel standards. Fuel properties were essentially identical with those of soybean, safflower, sunflower and “egusi” biodiesel. The Kinematic viscosity was however measured to be 15. mm2/s a value higher than most biodiesel fuels reported in the literature.Keywords: Renewable energy, biodiesel, vegetable oil, transesterification, fatty acid methyl ester

Place branding of seaports in the Middle East

This paper analyses seaports’ brand personalities as a means of understanding similarities and differences of these important locations and their relationship with their host place image. Drawing upon Aaker’s (J Mark Res 34:347–356, 1997) brand personality construct, the study presents lexical analysis from the websites of nine seaports in the Middle East. Each seaport’s website is content analysed, and the brand personality is measured using Aaker’s (1997) framework and Opoku’s (Licentiate Thesis, Lulea University of Technology, ISSN, 1402-1757, 2005) dictionary of synonyms. Findings show that seaports have developed a level of isomorphism upon particular dimensions of brand image; however, the findings also show the most distinctive seaports were linking their seaport to their place brand. In particular, the findings show only the Port of Jebel Ali has a clear and distinctive brand personality and to a lesser extent the Ports of Sohar, Shahid Rajee and Khor Fakkan. The research has important management implications of branding for public diplomacy and demonstrates seaport brand positioning in relation to place branding, used to inform public communication and marketing

Role of Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipains in multi-species biofilm formation

BackgroundPeriodontal diseases are polymicrobial diseases that cause the inflammatory destruction of the tooth-supporting (periodontal) tissues. Their initiation is attributed to the formation of subgingival biofilms that stimulate a cascade of chronic inflammatory reactions by the affected tissue. The Gram-negative anaerobes Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola are commonly found as part of the microbiota of subgingival biofilms, and they are associated with the occurrence and severity of the disease. P. gingivalis expresses several virulence factors that may support its survival, regulate its communication with other species in the biofilm, or modulate the inflammatory response of the colonized host tissue. The most prominent of these virulence factors are the gingipains, which are a set of cysteine proteinases (either Arg-specific or Lys-specific). The role of gingipains in the biofilm-forming capacity of P. gingivalis is barely investigated. Hence, this in vitro study employed a biofilm model consisting of 10 ¿subgingival¿ bacterial species, incorporating either a wild-type P. gingivalis strain or its derivative Lys-gingipain and Arg-gingipan isogenic mutants, in order to evaluate quantitative and qualitative changes in biofilm composition.ResultsFollowing 64 h of biofilm growth, the levels of all 10 species were quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization or immunofluorescence. The wild-type and the two gingipain-deficient P. gingivalis strains exhibited similar growth in their corresponding biofilms. Among the remaining nine species, only the numbers of T. forsythia were significantly reduced, and only when the Lys-gingipain mutant was present in the biofilm. When evaluating the structure of the biofilm by confocal laser scanning microscopy, the most prominent observation was a shift in the spatial arrangement of T. denticola, in the presence of P. gingivalis Arg-gingipain mutant.ConclusionsThe gingipains of P. gingivalis may qualitatively and quantitatively affect composition of polymicrobial biofilms. The present experimental model reveals interdependency between the gingipains of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia or T. denticola

Monte Carlo Simulations of Nuclear Fuel Burnup

In the operation of a nuclear power plant, it is very important to determine the time evolution of material composition and radionuclide inventory during the entire operation of the plant. In the experiments, the Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended (MCNPX) code was found to be accurate in predicting the uranium fuel depletion, the plutonium production and the buildup of most of the fission products in a nuclear reactor. The goal in this chapter is to analyze the effect of different nuclear fuel grades on the total radioactivity of the reactor core by employing nuclear burnup calculations for the three different fuels: mixed oxide fuel (MOX), uranium oxide fuel (UOX) and commercially enriched uranium (CEU), utilizing simulations with MCNPX code. The calculated results indicate that there is a buildup of plutonium isotopes for UOX and CEU, whereas there is a decline in the plutonium radioisotopes for MOX fuel with burnup time. The study of reactor neutronic parameters showed UOX fuel performs better relative to MOX and CEU. Zircaloy, with low thermal neutron absorption cross-section and high thermal conductivity, produced better results for the effective multiplication factor Keff and hence proved to be a much more effective clad material