The circulation and consumption of Red Lustrous Wheelmade Ware: petrographic, chemical and residue analysis

yesRed Lustrous Wheelmade ware is one of the most recognisable classes of pottery from the Late Bronze Age of the east Mediterranean. Yet both its production source and the nature of its contents and use remain a source of some debate. These questions are tackled here through an intensive programme of scientific analysis involving 95 samples of Red Lustrous Wheelmade ware and related wares from seven sites in Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt. Petrography and instrumental neutron activation analysis are combined in the study of the ceramic fabrics, with a view to specifying the source of this ware; while gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry are used to analyse absorbed and visible residues in and on the sherd samples, in the hope of shedding light on vessel contents and possible use. The results of the fabric analysis show the ware to be extremely homogeneous, indicative of a single source: northern Cyprus is at present the most likely candidate, although further analysis, particularly of clay samples from the region in question, would certainly be desirable. The residue analysis suggests that Red Lustrous Wheelmade ware might have been used to carry some kind of plant oils, possibly perfumed, and that in some instances the vessel interior was coated with beeswax as a sealant.AHR

Genetic Diversity of Dry Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Accessions of Kenya Using SSR Markers

Aims: To determine the genetic diversity existing within the Kenyan dry bean using SSR markers. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Western Kenya and Bangor University, North Wales, between September 2010 and December 2012.Methodology: Thirty five (35) marketable dry bean samples collected from farmers, market centers as well as seed stockists were subjected to SSR analysis. Data generated was subjected to analysis with the GenAlEx 6.4 software assuming Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium to determine gene diversity index, number of polymorphic loci and alleles, genetic distances, analysis of molecular Original Research Article Maryrose et al.; AJEA, 5(4): 306-319, 2015; Article no.AJEA.2015.030 307 variance (AMOVA) and principal components analysis (PCA). NYTS-pc 2.1 software was used to construct an unweighted pair group method arithmetic averages (UPGMA) dendogram using the generated similarity coefficients. Results: Of the 7 SSR primers tested, 5 SSR primers were found to be polymorphic and used to screen the bean samples. The 5 primer combinations generated 49 polymorphic bands in 35 samples. Analysis of molecular variance accredited 8% of the disparity to diversity among the populations while the majority of the diversity (92%), resided within populations. The gene diversity index ranged from 0.1267 in the market population to 0.2377 in the Western province population. The highlands of Eastern province had a gene diversity index of 0.1475 while the dry lands had 0.1991. Cluster analysis segregated the bean samples into 9 clusters. Conclusion: There exists considerable variation in the dry bean of Kenya that is narrowing. There is need to intensify efforts to broaden the bean variation for sustainability. The population genetics of dry beans of Kenya are a possible guide to future bean breeding and germplasm management in Kenya. Keywords: SSRs; Phaseolus vulgaris; dry bean; germplasm characterization; and genetic variatio

Analysis of AFLP Markers for Screening Resistance to Common Bean Roots Rot (Pythium spp.)

Aims: To investigate AFLPs for suitability as potential markers for identification of sources of Pythium resistance in bean genotypes preferred by poor small holder farmers. Place and Duration of Study: Department of biological sciences Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya and Bangor University, North Wales, United Kingdom, between September 2010 and December 2012. Methodology: 45 common bean accessions comprising 35 seed samples collected from farmers, market centers, as well as seed stockists and ten common bean lines generated from a conventional breeding program with differential resistance to the pathogen Pythium were subjected to AFLP analysis. Genetic characterization using cluster and principal component analysis were conducted to determine segregating patterns of bean accessions in relation to tolerant and Original Research Article Maryrose et al.; AJEA, 5(4): 374-391, 2015; Article no.AJEA.2015.039 375 susceptible bean lines. Average genetic distances were calculated and similarity coefficients subjected to unweighted pair group method of arithmetic averages to generate dendograms. Results: Two informative AFLP primer combinations yielded 194 polymorphic loci. Genetic distance of bean samples from KARI Kakamega had 56 to 414 base pairs with a variability index of 0.63 to 0.90. Combined analysis of bean accessions from KARI breeding program and market class common bean samples revealed a variability index range of 0.62 to 0.90 with 56 to 420 base pairs. PCA contributed about 51.58% on the genetic variation. Cluster analysis of the 10 KARI-Kakamega bean lines revealed that resistant bean varieties were genetically different from the susceptible bean varieties. The dendogram generated revealed four sub-groups and with the exception of Alulu, a mildly resistant cultivar, that segregated alongside resistant cultivars, resistant varieties clustered differently from susceptible cultivars. However, screening with farmers’ germplasm produced a dendogram that revealed a mixture of distinct and relatively non-distinct categorization with regard to resistance. Only resistant cultivars AN1062, R2075, R719 and R1946 and susceptible cultivars GLP2 and GLP585 clustered together as expected. The others segregated randomly alongside the farmers’ germplasm. Resistant varieties AND1062, R2075, R719, R1946 and SCAM80 were more genetically related to marketable class of beans. R1946 R719, R2075 and AND1062 are closely related genetically compared to Mw001, KK15, Alulu and GLP2. Conclusion: AFLP is a relatively informative technique that has a great potential of delineating susceptible and resistant Pythium root rot dry bean varieties, and can be used as a preliminary guide to carry out further analysis. It is notable that the AFLP markers used were not able to clearly distinguish all the cultivars comprehensively and should not be used alone in determining resistance levels. The information generated in this study will contribute to the propagation of acceptable market class bean lines with resistance to Pythium root rot for improved livelihood and increased food securit

Fashion and passion: marketing sex to women

Against a backdrop of a ‘pornographication’ of mainstream media and the emergence of a more heavily sexualized culture, women are increasingly targeted as sexual consumers. In the UK, the success of TV shows like Sex and the City and the ‘fashion ‘n’ passion’ of sex emporia like Ann Summers suggests that late twentieth century discourses which foregrounded female pleasure have crystallised in a new form of sexual address to women. This article examines how sex products are being marketed for female consumers, focussing on the websites of sex businesses such as Myla, Babes n Horny, Beecourse, tabooboo and Ann Summers. It asks how a variety of existing discourses – of fashion, consumerism, bodily pleasure and sexuality - are drawn on in the construction of this new market, how they negotiate the dangers and pleasures of sexuality for women, and what they show about the construction of ‘new’ female sexualities.</p

Association of ten gastrointestinal and other medical conditions with positivity to faecal occult blood testing in routine screening:a large prospective study of women in England

Background: In 2006, the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) in England began offering biennial faecal occult blood testing (FOBt) at ages 60-69 years. Although FOBt is aimed at detecting colorectal neoplasms, other conditions can affect the result. In a large UK prospective study, we examined associations, both before and after screening, between FOBt-positivity and 10 conditions that are often associated with gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: By electronically linking BCSP and Million Women Study records, we identified 604,495 women without prior colorectal cancer who participated in their first routine FOBt screening between 2006 and 2012. Regression models, using linked national hospital admission records, yielded adjusted relative risks (RRs) in FOBt-positive versus FOBt-negative women for colorectal cancer, adenoma, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, haemorrhoids, upper gastrointestinal cancer, oesophagitis, peptic ulcer, anaemia and other haematological disorders. Findings: RRs in FOBt-positive versus FOBt-negative women were 201.3 for colorectal cancer and 197.9 for adenoma within 12 months after screening and 3.5 and 4.9, respectively, 12-24 months after screening; pand#60;0.001 for all RRs. Within 12 months after screening, the RR for inflammatory bowel disease was 26.3, and ranged from 2 to 5 for upper gastrointestinal or haematological disorders. The RRs of being diagnosed with any of the 8 conditions other than colorectal neoplasms before screening and in the 12-24 months after screening, were 1.81 and 1.92, respectively. Conclusions: While fOBt-positivity is associated with a substantially increased risk of colorectal neoplasms after screening, eight other gastrointestinal and haematological conditions are associated with FOBt-positivity, both before and after screening

The Lantern Vol. 5, No. 3, May 1937

• Dedication • Dr. McClure: An Ursinus Man • Roar, O Wind! • To the Ladies! • The Futility of Dying • The Symbolism of the British Crown • Oh! • It Might Have Been • Treat Yourself? • Three Writers • Hawaii in June • On Being a Twin • Black Magic • Triangle • Who Longs? • A Son Passes • Sing an Old-Fashioned Song • Questioning • An Argument About a Fish • That Morning Eye-Opener • Scoop for the Sun • The Dead Do Not Die Once • Give Us Timehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1010/thumbnail.jp

Neural correlates of sexual cue reactivity in individuals with and without compulsive sexual behaviours

Although compulsive sexual behaviour (CSB) has been conceptualized as a "behavioural" addiction and common or overlapping neural circuits may govern the processing of natural and drug rewards, little is known regarding the responses to sexually explicit materials in individuals with and without CSB. Here, the processing of cues of varying sexual content was assessed in individuals with and without CSB, focusing on neural regions identified in prior studies of drug-cue reactivity. 19 CSB subjects and 19 healthy volunteers were assessed using functional MRI comparing sexually explicit videos with non-sexual exciting videos. Ratings of sexual desire and liking were obtained. Relative to healthy volunteers, CSB subjects had greater desire but similar liking scores in response to the sexually explicit videos. Exposure to sexually explicit cues in CSB compared to non-CSB subjects was associated with activation of the dorsal anterior cingulate, ventral striatum and amygdala. Functional connectivity of the dorsal anterior cingulate-ventral striatum-amygdala network was associated with subjective sexual desire (but not liking) to a greater degree in CSB relative to non-CSB subjects. The dissociation between desire or wanting and liking is consistent with theories of incentive motivation underlying CSB as in drug addictions. Neural differences in the processing of sexual-cue reactivity were identified in CSB subjects in regions previously implicated in drug-cue reactivity studies. The greater engagement of corticostriatal limbic circuitry in CSB following exposure to sexual cues suggests neural mechanisms underlying CSB and potential biological targets for interventions

Pancreatic cancer is marked by complement-high blood monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is accompanied by reprogramming of the local microenvironment, but changes at distal sites are poorly understood. We implanted biomaterial scaffolds, which act as an artificial premetastatic niche, into immunocompetent tumor-bearing and control mice, and identified a unique tumor-specific gene expression signature that includes high expression of C1qa, C1qb, Trem2, and Chil3 Single-cell RNA sequencing mapped these genes to two distinct macrophage populations in the scaffolds, one marked by elevated C1qa, C1qb, and Trem2, the other with high Chil3, Ly6c2 and Plac8 In mice, expression of these genes in the corresponding populations was elevated in tumor-associated macrophages compared with macrophages in the normal pancreas. We then analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing from patient samples, and determined expression of C1QA, C1QB, and TREM2 is elevated in human macrophages in primary tumors and liver metastases. Single-cell sequencing analysis of patient blood revealed a substantial enrichment of the same gene signature in monocytes. Taken together, our study identifies two distinct tumor-associated macrophage and monocyte populations that reflects systemic immune changes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients