Heavy metals removal in animal wastewater using water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes)

Animal wastewaters contain heavy metals which were due to their presence in animal’s diet. This study was conducted to observe the uptake of a mixture of heavy metals such as copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) by water hyacinths for a period of four days and leaching of heavy metals in treated and untreated wastewater using living and dead water hyacinths for a period of 7 days. Simultaneously, blank experiments were carried out for comparison. Water hyacinths accumulated higher concentration of heavy metals in the root than in the stems and leaves. The results of the present study showed that Cd absorption was the lowest compared to other metals due to its toxicity. The absorption of Zn and Cu was due to their role as micronutrients and the absorption of Cu ranged from relatively low to relatively high. There was a considerable amount of Pb being absorbed by water hyacinths the roots of water hyacinths. Generally, in Experiment 2, only Cd and Cu was leached whereas in Experiment 3, Cd, Cu and Zn was leached. However, the amount of heavy metals leached was little compared to the absorption. Thus, water hyacinth can be regarded as a heavy metal decontaminator in animal wastewater treatment, rather than as a pollutant

Explorations of structure and choice in taxing capital gains in New Zealand : tax practitioners' perspectives / Alvin Cheng and Sue Yong

This paper explored the tax practitioners 'views on taxation of capital gains in New Zealand. An 8-page questionnaire was sent to 507 tax practitioners to discuss various tax issues relating to capital gains. The tax issues were taxation on property, rollover relief, indexation and several others. The findings overwhelmingly showed that a capital gains tax (CGT) was not supported by most tax practitioners, A plausible reason for the strong opposition to a CGT by the tax practitioners was attributable to the increased compliance costs and the interpretation surrounding the CGT legislation. The absence of a comprehensive CGT in New Zealand can potentially provide lucrative business opportunities for tax practitioners by advising their clients to convert taxable incomes into tax free capital gains. However there was no empirical evidence to suggest that the loss of tax revenue was due to such tax planning activities. This might be due to the uniqueness of certain types of gains, which would normally be regarded as capital in nature inforeign jurisdictions deemed to be income in New Zealand

Analyzing the video popularity characteristics of large-scale user generated content systems

Abstract—User generated content (UGC), now with millions of video producers and consumers, is re-shaping the way people watch video and TV. In particular, UGC sites are creating new viewing patterns and social interactions, empowering users to be more creative, and generating new business opportunities. Compared to traditional video-on-demand (VoD) systems, UGC services allow users to request videos from a potentially unlimited selection in an asynchronous fashion. To better understand the impact of UGC services, we have analyzed the world’s largest UGC VoD system, YouTube, and a popular similar system in Korea, Daum Videos. In this paper, we first empirically show how UGC services are fundamentally different from traditional VoD services. We then analyze the intrinsic statistical properties of UGC popularity distributions and discuss opportunities to leverage the latent demand for niche videos (or the so-called “the Long Tail ” potential), which is not reached today due to informa-tion filtering or other system scarcity distortions. Based on traces collected across multiple days, we study the popularity lifetime of UGC videos and the relationship between requests and video age. Finally, we measure the level of content aliasing and illegal content in the system and show the problems aliasing creates in ranking the video popularity accurately. The results presented in this paper are crucial to understanding UGC VoD systems and may have major commercial and technical implications for site administrators and content owners. Index Terms—Interactive TV, human factors, exponential distri-butions, log normal distributions, pareto distributions, probability, copyright protection. I

Dissembled DJ-1 high molecular weight complex in cortex mitochondria from Parkinson's disease patients

The PARK7 gene encodes a protein, DJ-1, with several functions such as protection of cells from oxidative stress, sperm maturation and fertilization, and chaperone activity. Mutations in the PARK7 gene are associated with autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD). DJ-1 has been reported to be expressed in multiple cells in the central nerve system. Here, by using both native and denatured Western blots, we examined levels of total DJ-1 and high molecular weight complexes of DJ-1 (HMW) in both the substantia nigra and cortex from rapidly autopsied 18 PD and 9 non-pathological control (NPC) brains. We have discovered that the level of total DJ-1 protein is significantly reduced in the substantia nigra in brains of sporadic PD patients. Moreover, in the PD cortex mitochondria fraction, the HMW DJ-1 complex is significantly lower than in the NPC. These results suggest abnormal DJ-1 expression levels and DJ-1 complex changes may contribute to PD pathogenesis

Tax compliance and small and medium enterprise operators: an intra-cultural study in New Zealand

Despite the economic importance of the tax collection process undertaken by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), little is known about their tax compliance behaviour in general, and particularly in relation to cultural factors. With the growing cultural diversity of SME ownership, there is a need for an intra-cultural study of how SME operators comply with tax regulation. This knowledge is important for both tax authorities and the business community in identifying cultural factors that may hinder successful tax compliance, so that remedial actions can be taken to improve compliance by SMEs. This qualitative study applies Hofstede’s (1980, 2001) cultural framework to examine the differences in the tax compliance behaviours, attitudes, and perceptions of European, Maori, Asian and Pacific SME operators in New Zealand. As the aim was to gain rich and in-depth understanding of the tax compliance dynamics of ethnic SME operators, additional perspectives were sought from tax practitioners and business experts to provide insights into the influences of networks, time and risk orientations, and SME operators’ perceptions of the tax authority. To achieve that, 59 ethnic SME operators, tax practitioners, and business experts were interviewed between 2006 and 2010. The study found some collectivistic groups used their networks to lower their tax compliance costs, whereas others were required to fulfil their group’s obligations, thereby hindering their ability to pay their taxes on time. Groups with higher uncertainty avoidance, long term time orientation and masculinity traits had better record keeping systems and fewer tax compliance problems. High power distance groups showed greater reverence and fear towards the tax authority and tax practitioners. The Asian SME operators who participated in this research showed the least difficulty with filing their tax returns and paying their taxes on time, whereas the Europeans experienced some difficulties and the Maori and Pacific SME operators encountered the most problems. Given that, tax compliance activity can no longer be thought of as culturally neutral, as is assumed in some tax compliance research. Since Hofstede’s work was based on a quantitative methodology, the qualitative design of this study aimed to validate and understand Hofstede’s dimensions in the tax compliance context for SME operators intra-culturally. The qualitative approach generated rich content in terms of providing real tax compliance stories, perceptions and experiences that highlighted some difficulties created by cultural incompatibility with the New Zealand tax requirements. The study also offers suggestions to the tax authority, policy makers and business community to reduce the likelihood of noncompliance amongst SMEs. In order to comply with the tax regulations, there is a need for SME operators to modify and adapt their cultural values to align with the tax requirements, as failure to do so will result in tax compliance difficulties. In addition, the tax authorities also need to be culturally aware that some ethnic groups may have difficulties complying due to their cultural values, thereby requiring targeted assistance and monitoring measures

Nanodiamond-Gutta Percha Composite Biomaterials for Root Canal Therapy.

Root canal therapy (RCT) represents a standard of treatment that addresses infected pulp tissue in teeth and protects against future infection. RCT involves removing dental pulp comprising blood vessels and nerve tissue, decontaminating residually infected tissue through biomechanical instrumentation, and root canal obturation using a filler material to replace the space that was previously composed of dental pulp. Gutta percha (GP) is typically used as the filler material, as it is malleable, inert, and biocompatible. While filling the root canal space with GP is the standard of care for endodontic therapies, it has exhibited limitations including leakage, root canal reinfection, and poor mechanical properties. To address these challenges, clinicians have explored the use of alternative root filling materials other than GP. Among the classes of materials that are being explored as novel endodontic therapy platforms, nanodiamonds (NDs) may offer unique advantages due to their favorable properties, particularly for dental applications. These include versatile faceted surface chemistry, biocompatibility, and their role in improving mechanical properties, among others. This study developed a ND-embedded GP (NDGP) that was functionalized with amoxicillin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic commonly used for endodontic infection. Comprehensive materials characterization confirmed improved mechanical properties of NDGP over unmodified GP. In addition, digital radiography and microcomputed tomography imaging demonstrated that obturation of root canals with NDGP could be achieved using clinically relevant techniques. Furthermore, bacterial growth inhibition assays confirmed drug functionality of NDGP functionalized with amoxicillin. This study demonstrates a promising path toward NDGP implementation in future endodontic therapy for improved treatment outcomes

Imprints in silica grains induced during an open-channel flow experiment:Determination of microtextural signatures during aqueous transport

The aim of this work is to identify and characterize microtextural signatures in silica glass grains (used as analogous to quartz) that are produced during aqueous transport at different flow velocities, with variable sediment concentrations, transport distances, and time intervals. To achieve this, an open-channel flow experiment was conducted with a mixture of sand and silica glass microspheres in varying conditions-velocity (from 0.67 to 1.4 m/s), duration (1 or 10 minutes), distance (0 to 2.5 m) and sediment concentration (60 or 80%). Experimental conditions were used to replicate natural phenomena such as river superficial velocity or coastal swash processes. Before the experiment the microsphere surfaces were imaged and clear of any microtextural imprint. Increasing velocity, distance, and sediment concentration exhibited a strong correlation with higher numbers of surfaces abundantly covered with microtextures of mechanical origin (i.e., craters, abrasion marks, and v-shaped percussion marks). SEM microphotographs of silica were analyzed and classified to provide examples of the specific microtextures produced during the open-channel flow experiment. The purpose of the experiment was to characterize surface microscopic signatures in quartz grains replicating hydrodynamic conditions of coastal and fluvial environments. The results demonstrated a strong correlation between higher velocities (and higher sediment concentrations) and a larger presence of microtextural mechanical imprints in the grains analyzed, thus demonstrating a clear relation between microtextural imprints and water flow modes. These results have important implications for future microtextural works analyzing grain imprints and their relation to sediment transport types. An example demonstrated here is that the higher presence of v-marks could be used as an indicator of supercritical flow conditions.OAIID:RECH_ACHV_DSTSH_NO:T201739753RECH_ACHV_FG:RR00200001ADJUST_YN:EMP_ID:A080988CITE_RATE:2.358FILENAME:2017_PCosta_et_al_JSR_proofs.pdfDEPT_NM:건설환경공학부EMAIL:[email protected]_YN:YFILEURL:https://srnd.snu.ac.kr/eXrepEIR/fws/file/112e346c-4bbf-4c27-93db-2904a43392d2/linkY

Disassembled DJ-1 high molecular weight complex in cortex mitochondria from Parkinson's disease patients

Correction to Nural H, He P, Beach T, Sue L, Xia W, Shen Y. Disassembled DJ-1 high molecular weight complex in cortex mitochondria from Parkinson's disease patients Molecular Neurodegeneration 2009, 4:23

A Case of Primary Infective Endocarditis Caused by Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Healthy Individual and Colonization in the Family

Primary community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) endocarditis has rarely been reported in healthy individuals without risk factors, such as skin and soft tissue infections, and intravenous drug abuse. We describe a case of infective endocarditis by CA-MRSA (ST72-PVL negative-SCCmec IVA) in previously healthy individuals with no underlying medical condition and CA-MRSA colonization in the family

PKA-activated ApAF–ApC/EBP heterodimer is a key downstream effector of ApCREB and is necessary and sufficient for the consolidation of long-term facilitation

Long-term memory requires transcriptional regulation by a combination of positive and negative transcription factors. Aplysia activating factor (ApAF) is known to be a positive transcription factor that forms heterodimers with ApC/EBP and ApCREB2. How these heterodimers are regulated and how they participate in the consolidation of long-term facilitation (LTF) has not, however, been characterized. We found that the functional activation of ApAF required phosphorylation of ApAF by PKA on Ser-266. In addition, ApAF lowered the threshold of LTF by forming a heterodimer with ApCREB2. Moreover, once activated by PKA, the ApAF–ApC/EBP heterodimer transactivates enhancer response element–containing genes and can induce LTF in the absence of CRE- and CREB-mediated gene expression. Collectively, these results suggest that PKA-activated ApAF–ApC/EBP heterodimer is a core downstream effector of ApCREB in the consolidation of LTF