Patterns and Universals of Adult Romantic Attachment Across 62 Cultural Regions

As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, a total of 17,804 participants from 62 cultural regions completedthe RelationshipQuestionnaire(RQ), a self-reportmeasure of adult romanticattachment. Correlational analyses within each culture suggested that the Model of Self and the Model of Other scales of the RQ were psychometrically valid within most cultures. Contrary to expectations, the Model of Self and Model of Other dimensions of the RQ did not underlie the four-category model of attachment in the same way across all cultures. Analyses of specific attachment styles revealed that secure romantic attachment was normative in 79% of cultures and that preoccupied romantic attachment was particularly prevalent in East Asian cultures. Finally, the romantic attachment profiles of individual nations were correlated with sociocultural indicators in ways that supported evolutionary theories of romantic attachment and basic human mating strategies.

Nutritional Dried Matter, Crude Protein and Crude Fiber on Lowland Tidal Grass Fermented by Probiotic Microorganisms for Use Bali Cattle Feed

Abstract. This study was aimed to determine nutritional value of lowland tidal grass fermented by probiotic microorganisms. This study used a completely randomized design and investigated two factors, namely varieties of lowland tidal grass (kumpai tembaga (Ischaemum rugosum), kumpai minyak (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) and kumpai padi (Oryza rufipogon)) and probiotic microorganism concentration (0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 percent). The following parameters were observed, including dried matter content, crude protein content and crude fiber content.  The results showed that the use of probiotics have significant effects on crude protein content and crude fiber content. In conclusion, the use of probiotics can improve the nutritional value of grass. The best result was obtained on kumpai tembaga grass (Ischaemum rugosum) fermented with 0.7% probiotic microorganism. Keywords: nutritional evaluation, lowland tidal grass, fermentation, probiotics microorgansms Abstrak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan nilai nutrisi rumput tidal dataran rendah yang difermentasi menggunakan mikroba probiotik. Penelitian menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap dan mengamati dua faktor, yaitu varitas rumput tidal dataran rendah (kumpai tembaga (Ischaemum rugosum), kumpai minyak (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) dan kumpai padi (Oryza rufipogon)) dan mikroba probiotik (0,3; 0,5; 0,7 dan 0,9 persen). Parameter yang diamati meliputi kandungan bahan kering, protein kasar, dan serat kasar. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan probiotik memiliki pengaruh nyata terhadap kandungan protein kasar dan serat kasar. Dapat disumpulkan bahwa penggunaan probiotik dapat meningkatkan nilai nutrisi dari rumput. Hasil terbaik diperoleh pada rumput kumpai tembaga (Ischaemum rugosum) yang difermentasi menggunakan 0,7% mikroba probiotik. Kata kunci: evaluasi nutrisi, rumput tidal dataran rendah, fermentasi, mikroba probiotik

Aeroelasticity-based fluid agitation for lab-on-chips

In this study, we report a robust agitation method for small-volume liquids. It utilizes an elastic diaphragm as the bottom of a liquid chamber, upon which an initial tension is also applied to enhance the aeroelasticity effects at small/micro scales. As a result, spontaneous vibration of the diaphragm can be induced by an external air flow, which further provides fluid agitations. The device structure is simple and can be easily fabricated at low cost. More importantly, the vibration amplitude is controllable and varies widely from several tens to several hundred micrometers depending on the applied air pressure. The resulting agitation is effective and applicable at high viscosities of up to 900 cSt. The influences of air pressure and liquid viscosity on the vibration frequency are discussed. Potential applications of this technique for solid particle agitation, focusing and fluid mixing are also demonstrated.

Converting steady laminar flow to oscillatory flow through a hydroelasticity approach at microscales

We report a hydroelasticity-based microfluidic oscillator that converts otherwise steady laminar flow to oscillatory flow. It incorporates an elastic diaphragm to enhance nonlinearity of the flow. Negative differential flow resistance is observed. High-frequency oscillatory flow is produced passively through interactions among hydrodynamic, elastic and inertial forces, without resorting to external actuators and control equipment. Driven by fluid flow and pressure, this device can operate in either steady laminar flow or oscillatory flow states, or work as a valve. Its applications for flow control and operation, and mixing enhancement are demonstrated.

Molecular characterization, technological properties and safety aspects of enterococci from 'Hussuwa', an African fermented sorghum product

AIMS

To identify enterococci from Hussuwa, a Sudanese fermented sorghum product, and determine their technological properties and safety for possible inclusion in a starter culture preparation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-two Enterococcus isolates from Hussuwa were identified as Enterococcus faecium by using phenotypic and genotypic tests such as 16S rDNA gene sequencing, RAPD-PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism of the 16S/23S intergenic spacer region fingerprinting. Genotyping revealed that strains were not clonally related and exhibited a considerable degree of genomic diversity. Some strains possessed useful technological properties such as production of bacteriocins and H2O2 or utilization of raffinose and stachyose. None produced alpha-amylase or tannase. A safety investigation revealed that all strains were susceptible to the antibiotics ampicillin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline and streptomycin, but some were resistant to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, penicillin and vancomycin. Production of biogenic amines or presence of genes encoding virulence determinants occurred in some strains.

CONCLUSIONS

Enterococcus faecium strains are associated with fermentation of Sudanese Hussuwa. Some strains exhibited useful technological properties such as production of antimicrobial agents and fermentation of indigestible sugars, which may aid in stabilizing and improving the digestibility of the product respectively.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Enterococci were shown to play a role in the fermentation of African foods. While beneficial properties of these bacteria are indicated, their presence in this food may also imply a hygienic risk as a result of antimicrobial resistances or presence of virulence determinants.

Patterns and universals of mate poaching across 53 nations: the effects of sex, culture, and personality on romantically attracting another person's partner

As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, 16,954 participants from 53 nations were administered an anonymous survey about experiences with romantic attraction. Mate poaching--romantically attracting someone who is already in a relationship--was most common in Southern Europe, South America, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe and was relatively infrequent in Africa, South/Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Evolutionary and social-role hypotheses received empirical support. Men were more likely than women to report having made and succumbed to short-term poaching across all regions, but differences between men and women were often smaller in more gender-egalitarian regions. People who try to steal another's mate possess similar personality traits across all regions, as do those who frequently receive and succumb to the poaching attempts by others. The authors conclude that human mate-poaching experiences are universally linked to sex, culture, and the robust influence of personal dispositions.

Universal sex differences in the desire for sexual variety: tests from 52 nations, 6 continents, and 13 islands

Evolutionary psychologists have hypothesized that men and women possess both long-term and short-term mating strategies, with men's short-term strategy differentially rooted in the desire for sexual variety. In this article, findings from a cross-cultural survey of 16,288 people across 10 major world regions (including North America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania, South/Southeast Asia, and East Asia) demonstrate that sex differences in the desire for sexual variety are culturally universal throughout these world regions. Sex differences were evident regardless of whether mean, median, distributional, or categorical indexes of sexual differentiation were evaluated. Sex differences were evident regardless of the measures used to evaluate them. Among contemporary theories of human mating, pluralistic approaches that hypothesize sex differences in the evolved design of short-term mating provide the most compelling account of these robust empirical findings.

Universal sex differences in the desire for sexual variety: tests from 52 nations, 6 continents, and 13 islands

Evolutionary psychologists have hypothesized that men and women possess both long-term and short-term mating strategies, with men's short-term strategy differentially rooted in the desire for sexual variety. In this article, findings from a cross-cultural survey of 16,288 people across 10 major world regions (including North America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania, South/Southeast Asia, and East Asia) demonstrate that sex differences in the desire for sexual variety are culturally universal throughout these world regions. Sex differences were evident regardless of whether mean, median, distributional, or categorical indexes of sexual differentiation were evaluated. Sex differences were evident regardless of the measures used to evaluate them. Among contemporary theories of human mating, pluralistic approaches that hypothesize sex differences in the evolved design of short-term mating provide the most compelling account of these robust empirical findings.

Effect of clindamycin therapy on phagocytic and oxidative activity profiles of spleen mononuclear cells in Babesia rodhaini-infected mice

Spleen weight, the number of spleen mononuclear cells, and their phagocytic activity in groups of Babesia rodhaini-infected mice treated with diminazene diaceturate and clindamycin increased significantly in the early stage of treatment, and then decreased in the final stage of treatment to approximately the pre-infection level. The number of F4/80-positive macrophages and their oxidative activity per mean whole-spleen weight also increased significantly during the course of treatment in comparison with the untreated group. The increases in the clindamycin-treated group were more prominent than those in the group treated with diminazene diaceturate, suggesting the effectiveness of clindamycin therapy for murine babesiosis.

Therapeutic effect of clindamycin and tetracycline on Babesia rodhaini infection in mouse model

In order to identify the alternative effective chemotherapeutic agents for murine babesiosis, some selected drugs were examined for their efficacy against protozoan infection in the mouse-Babesia rodhaini (B. rodhaini) model. Clindamycin was not completely effective for elimination of parasites in a dose of 50 mg or 100 mg/kg BW/day b.i.d. but effective to prolong the life span of hosts, while it completely cured B. rodhaini infections in a dose of 200 mg. On the other hand, a double therapy consisting of 2 treatments with 100 mg clindamycin and 100 mg clindamycin and with 100 mg clindamycin and 100 mg tetracycline; respectively, and a single therapy with 100 mg tetracycline or 200 mg clindamycin, had a possibility to clear away B. rodhaini organisms from hosts. However, almost all the treatment groups, had a relapse of the infection within 10 days post treatment or re-treatment. Cured mice by treatment with clindamycin and clindamycin, or clindamycin and tetracycline showed complete resistance against challenge with B. rodhaini, while mice cured by administration of clindamycin at 200 mg or tetracycline at 100 mg showed incomplete resistance to challenge infection. The present data suggest that the two former chemotherapies can induce effective protective immunity (premunization), but the latter two chemotherapies induce incomplete premunization.