Maturity

A~trset-Paleozoic marine sequences sampled in outcrops and wells of northeastern Gaspe Peninsula (Quebec Appalachians) yield kerogen composed in part of vitrinite and zooclasts (chitinozoans, scolecodonts and graptolites) on which reflectance measurements were made. The comparison between means of random measurements show that reflectance of chitinozoans is similar to that of telinite (vitrinite with a cellular texture) and that the reflectance of scolecodonts is significantly lower than that of telinite in the lower range of studied values. At higher reflectivities differences decrease but, at the end of the condensate gas zone reflectances are not yet identical. As shown by previous studies, reflectance of graptolites is slightly less than that of telinite. Pyrobitumen reflectance is related to the lithology of the host-rock and no generalized correlation can be established between the reflectance of pyrobitumen and that of vitrinite.

We investigated the time-course changes in the elasticity index (EI) and the texture index (TI) 2 of pears (Pyrus communis L.), namely, 'La France' during the postharvest period. EI was 3 determined using a formula EI = f 2 2 ·m 2/3 , where f 2 is the pear sample's second resonance 4 frequency and m is the sample mass. A nondestructive vibrational method using a laser Doppler 5 vibrometer (LDV) was used for measuring the pear samples' second resonance frequency (f 2 ).

Flesh firmness is used to assess apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) quality both before and after low temperature storage. The effect of fruit temperature on apple firmness at different times during postharvest handling is not known. Experiments were conducted to quantify physical change in apple texture readings with change in fruit temperature. 'Royal Gala', 'Granny Smith', and 'Pacific Rose™' apple fruit were stored at 0°C, while 'Cox's Orange Pippin' was stored at 3°C. At different times during storage, flesh firmness and cortical tensile strength were measured on fruit at storage temperature, after 24 h at 20°C, or after 24 h at 20°C followed by 24 h at the storage temperature. 'Royal Gala', 'Granny Smith' and 'Cox's Orange Pippin' fruit had higher firmness readings at harvest when measured at 20°C than at 0-3°C, but after 50-100 days at 0-3°C firmness and tensile strength readings were greater when measured at 0-3°C than at 20°C. 'Pacific Rose™' had similar firmness and tensile strength readings when measured at 0°C and 20°C. 'Royal Gala' and 'Cox's Orange Pippin' were measured for firmness at different fruit temperatures at harvest and after storage. The relationship between firmness readings and fruit temperature between 0 and 20°C was linear and positive at harvest and linear and negative for stored fruit. Firmness change with temperature was not affected by orchard or harvest maturity. These results suggest that physical changes in firmness with fruit temperature are common for the cultivars studied, and thus could be used to compare firmness values for fruit from different orchards that were measured at different temperatures.

The purpose of this paper is to present a hierarchy of progressive IT maturity using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a metaphor for articulating the increasing value that can be derived by the application of Information Technology within competitive organizations. The authors refer to this maturity model as the IT Value Hierarchy. Each level of the IT Value Hierarchy is described using examples and comparisons to Maslow's Hierarchy. The model can be used by IT executives as a framework for better explaining and discussing the value of increasingly sophisticated Information Technology use within the enterprise.

The Upper Benue rift comprising the Gongola and Yola Basins in Nigeria consist of the Aptian-Albian Bima Formation, the Yolde Formation (Cenomanian-Turonian), Gongila/Pindiga/ Dukul Formation (Turonian-Coniacian) and Gombe Formation (Campanian-Maastrichtian). To evaluate the maturity and source rocks potential, vitrinite reflectance, Rock-Eval pyrolysis and infrared spectroscopy were carried out on 52 shale samples collected from boreholes, mine quarries and outcrop sections. In the Gongola Basin, mean random vitrinite reflectance (Rom) values range from 0.45% in the Gombe Formation to 0.69% in the Pindiga Formation and to 0.82% in the Bima Formation. Reflectance values in the Yola Basin also increase with stratigraphic age ranging from 0.73% in the Dukul Formation to 0.94% in the Yolde Formation and up to 1.37% in the Bima Formation. Total organic carbon (TOC) values in the Pindiga and Gongila Shales are between 0.4 to 2.4% averaging 0.75%. TOC contents from 0.10 to 12.9 averaging 1.2% are contained in the Yolde Formation of the Yola Basin. Tmax values from the pyrolysis of shales in the Gongola Basin range from 419 to 435°C whereas for shales in the Yola Basin they range from 431 to 442°C. Plots of HI vs Tma x for kerogen classification indicate the prevalence of Type III kerogens in the Gongila and Pindiga Shales although there are some indications of Type II-111 kerogens in the Yolde Shales of the Yola Basin. Our preliminary data suggest that Cretaceous successions in the Gongola Basin are thermally immature to marginally mature whereas source rocks in the Yola Basin are thermally mature with respect to hydrocarbon generation. The predominance of Type III kerogens in the Gongola Basin suggest their potential to generate gas in the deeply buried sections. The Dukul and Yolde formations with Type II-III kerogens may have generated some quantities of oil and gas in the deeper non-emergent sections.

Article published by EDP Sciences M. Milardi et al.: Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst. (2011) 400, 08 de 60 mm le rendement estimé est seulement de 46 kg. La part de sandres immatures est seulement de 0,4 % dans les filets de maille de 44 mm en raison de la très faible taille moyenne à maturité (24,8 cm TL) des deux sexes. Parce que la croissance observée est lente (k = 0.11 et L ∞ = 65, 28 cm TL) et la densité des sandres (BPUE dans les filets NORDIC = 1200 g·filet −1 ) forte, la mesure de gestion la plus adéquate pour accroître la croissance et la taille moyenne serait de réduire fortement la densité de population.

The "mature minor doctrine" is the common-law rule that allows an adolescent who is mature to give consent for medical care. Ethical decisions regarding consent and confidentiality should be distinguished from legal requirements. Recent court decisions have altered the law, especially in regard to consent for refusal of life-sustaining treatment. There are statutory exceptions to the rule of parental consent regarding emergency care, sexually transmitted diseases, drug treatment, mental health care, pregnancy, contraception, and emancipation. A detailed analysis of the mature minor exception is presented, utilizing court case vignettes. There is minimal legal risk in allowing adolescents older than 14 years of age to give consent for treatments entailing small degrees of risk, when they can make adultlike decisions and demonstrate signs of maturity.

We used the instantaneous growth rate method to determine the effects of food, temperature, krill length, sex, and maturity stage on in situ summer growth of krill across the southwest Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. The main aims were to examine the separate effects of each variable and to generate a predictive model of growth based on satellite-derivable environmental data. Both growth increments in length on moulting (GIs) and daily growth rates (DGRs, mm d Ϫ1 ) ranged greatly among the 59 swarms, from 0.58-15% and 0.013-0.32 mm d Ϫ1 . However, all swarms maintained positive mean growth, even those in the low chlorophyll a (Chl a) zone of the central Scotia Sea. Among a suite of indices of food quantity and quality, large-scale monthly Chl a values from SeaWiFS predicted krill growth the best. Across our study area, the great contrast between bloom and nonbloom regions was a major factor driving variation in growth rates, obscuring more subtle effects of food quality. GIs and DGRs decreased with increasing krill length and decreased above a temperature optimum of 0.5ЊC. This probably reflects the onset of thermal stress at the northern limit of krill's range. Thus, growth rates were fastest in the ice edge blooms of the southern Scotia Sea and not at South Georgia as previously suggested. This reflects both the smaller size of the krill and the colder water in the south being optimum for growth. Males tended to have higher GIs than females but longer intermoult periods, leading to similar DGRs between sexes. DGRs of equivalent-size krill tended to decrease with maturity stage, suggesting the progressive allocation of energy toward reproduction rather than somatic growth. Our maximum DGRs are higher than most literature values, equating to a 5.7% increase in mass per day. This value fits within a realistic energy budget, suggesting a maximum carbon ration of ϳ20% d Ϫ1 . Over the whole Scotia Sea/South Georgia area, the gross turnover of krill biomass was ϳ1% d Ϫ1 .

Their camaraderie was very appreciated. Les résultats montrent que: 1) en utilisant une valeur de temps unique, représentative de la moyenne, peut conduire à la surestimation de la demande, 2) la valeur moyenne du temps de transport de marchandises en France est d'environ e45, comme le montre la figure 2, variant en fonction des variables chargé/vide et compte propre/compte d'autrui, ce que implique que 3) la valeur préconisée en France devrait être revue à la hausse. Figure 2: Distribution de la valeur du temps PL. We apply the Logit, the Mixed Logit and the Bayesian Mixed Logit models to estimate the value of time in freight transport in France. Estimations with mixed logit faced many difficulties, as expected. These difficulties could be avoided using the Bayesian procedures, providing also the opportunity of properly integrating a priori beliefs. Results show that 1) using a single constant value of time, representative

The chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous butanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Pleurotus sajor-caju were investigated in this study. Twenty-two compounds comprising methyl esters, hydrocarbon fatty acids, ethyl esters, and sterols were identified in ethyl acetate extracts, while cinnamic acid, nicotinamide, benzeneacetamide, and 4-hydroxybenzaldyhde were identified in butanol extracts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and NMR analysis. The antioxidant activity was determined by a β-carotene bleaching method, ferric reducing antioxidant power, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, and lipid peroxidation assays, while the total phenolic content in P. sajor-caju was assessed by Folin-Ciocalteau's method. The aqueous and butanol extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, corresponding to the total phenolic content. The subfractions from the ethyl acetate extract (EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4), however, showed moderate antioxidant activity. The regular consumption of P. sajor-caju as a part of our diet may render nutritional and nutraceuticals benefits for good health.

For realizing the Semantic Web vision, extensive work is underway for getting the layers of its conceived architecture ready. Given that the Ontology Layer has reached a certain level of maturity with W3C recommendations such as RDF and the OWL Web Ontology Language, current interest focuses on the Rules Layer and its integration with the Ontology Layer. Several proposals have been made for solving this problem, which does not have a straightforward solution due to various obstacles. One of them is the fact that evaluation principles like the closed-world assumption, which is common in rule languages, are usually not adopted in ontologies. Furthermore, naively adding rules to ontologies raises undecidability issues. In this paper, after giving a brief overview about the current state of the Semantic-Web stack and its components, we will discuss nonmonotonic logic programs under the answer-set semantics as a possible formalism of choice for realizing the Rules Layer. We will briefly discuss open issues in combining rules and ontologies, and survey some existing proposals to facilitate reasoning with rules and ontologies. We will then focus on description-logic programs (or dl-programs, for short), which realize a transparent integration of rules and ontologies supported by existing reasoning engines, based on the answer-set semantics. We will further discuss a generalization of dlprograms, viz. HEX-programs, which offer access to different ontologies as well as higher-order language constructs.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of skeletal maturity in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is important to guide clinical management. Understanding growth peak and cessation is crucial to determine clinical observational intervals, timing to initiate or end bracing therapy, and when to instrument and fuse. The commonly used clinical or radiologic methods to assess skeletal maturity are still deficient in predicting the growth peak and cessation among adolescents, and bone age is too complicated to apply. PURPOSE: To address these concerns, we describe a new distal radius and ulna (DRU) classification scheme to assess skeletal maturity. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study. PATIENT SAMPLE: One hundred fifty young, female AIS patients with hand x-rays and no previous history of spine surgery from a single institute were assessed. OUTCOME MEASURES: Radius and ulna plain radiographs, and various anthropomorphic parameters were assessed. METHODS: We identified various stages of radius and ulna epiphysis maturity, which were graded as R1-R11 for the radius and U1-U9 for the ulna. The bone age, development of sexual characteristics, standing height, sitting height, arm span, radius length, and tibia length were studied prospectively at each stage of these epiphysis changes. RESULTS: Standing height, sitting height, and arm span growth were at their peak during stages R7 (mean, 11.4 years old) and U5 (mean, 11.0 years old). The long bone growths also demonstrated a common peak at R7 and U5. Cessation of height and arm span growth was noted after stages R10 (mean, 15.6 years old) and U9 (mean, 17.3 years old). CONCLUSIONS: The new DRU classification is a practical and easy-to-use scheme that can provide skeletal maturation status. This classification scheme provides close relationship with adolescent growth spurt and cessation of growth. This classification may have a tremendous utility in FDA device/drug status: Not applicable.

In this paper, I explore the question of whether the field is progressing well. In doing so, I base my opinion on anchors from four independent studies that I have conducted over the years. These studies treat the field in different ways: as an aggregator of terms, a complex adaptive system, part of a knowledge market, and an evolving biological system. The four perspectives offer different ways of framing the question of progress. I describe these perspectives and make the case based on the conclusions formed from logic and data that the field has indeed progressed splendidly. I argue that the field is maturing and making a contribution, and we should be proud of what we have accomplished. However, through each perspective, I also identify some vicious circles to avoid if we are to continue to progress. The portrait is one of optimism and hope, along with the need for sound stewardship going forward.

An increase of peroxidase activity in the seeds of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) during their ripening has been determined. An additional increase of the peroxidase activity (about 10 times) is observed during the fermentation and drying of the beans. The residual activity determined in the cocoa beans after sun-drying was higher than that in unfermented ripe seeds. The major cocoa isoperoxidase was shown to be an acidic enzyme with pI 4.7. Using isoelectrofocusing, the appearance of two basic isoenzymes of the peroxidase with pI 8.6 and 9.0 during the process of the fermentation has been detected. #

The purpose of the present study was to examine the progress of sprint running velocity (SRV) during the initial and secondary acceleration phases in prepubescent (PPS), adolescent (ADS) and adult (AS) sprinters by comparing the progress of the magnitude of the stride length (SL) and stride frequency (SF). SRV, SL and SF progress for each 10-m interval of a 40-m sprinting test were examined with a video-analysis method for a total of thirty-one athletes. A 2 X 4 (age group X 10-m interval) ANOVA with repeated measures on the second factor revealed that SRV was developed similarly in ADS and AS (p > .05) and it was differentiated (p < .05) in PPS due to the limited in distance acceleration phase. Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that SRV and SL were highly correlated (r > .73, p < .05) for the entire distance of the sprinting test for AS and PPS. On the contrary, SF was the main contributor for SRV development in the 10-30m segment for ADS. In conclusion, SRV improvement seemed to be attributed to the increment of SL and SF, which were differently developed in prepubertal, adolescent and adult sprinters in the 40-m sprint.

The design and development of wearable biosensor systems for health monitoring has garnered lots of attention in the scientific community and the industry during the last years. Mainly motivated by increasing healthcare costs and propelled by recent technological advances in miniature biosensing devices, smart textiles, microelectronics, and wireless communications, the continuous advance of wearable sensor-based systems will potentially transform the future of healthcare by enabling proactive personal health management and ubiquitous monitoring of a patient's health condition. These systems can comprise various types of small physiological sensors, transmission modules and processing capabilities, and can thus facilitate low-cost wearable unobtrusive solutions for continuous all-day and any-place health, mental and activity status monitoring. This paper attempts to comprehensively review the current research and development on wearable biosensor systems for health monitoring. A variety of system implementations are compared in an approach to identify the technological shortcomings of the current state-of-the-art in wearable biosensor solutions. An emphasis is given to multiparameter physiological sensing system designs, providing reliable vital signs measurements and incorporating real-time decision support for early detection of symptoms or context awareness. In order to evaluate the maturity level of the top current achievements in wearable health-monitoring systems, a set of significant features, that best describe the functionality and the characteristics of the systems, has been selected to derive a thorough study. The aim of this survey is not to criticize, but to serve as a reference for researchers and developers in this scientific area and to provide direction for future research improvements.

When the whole Bible is used to discover God’s perspective on human development, it becomes evident that it has much to say to those who are “youth.”  From the first major section of the Bible, the Jewish culture has recognized many different stages of human development.  Both the Bible and Judaism give long-standing support to the period we call adolescence today.  It appears that the best course for all education and for the proclamation of the gospel is to present the necessary content according to the learning style and ability of the person to whom one desires to communicate.  Likewise, with puberty coming earlier (at twelve years of age) and marriage coming later (between 22 and 27 years) in our country, it is a mistake to ignore the uniqueness of this life stage between childhood and mature adulthood.  The Bible does not support those who are advocating the removal of most of the age distinctions for those who have entered their teen years.  Our youth need to be protected and nurtured during this critical stage in their development.  This paper has sought to demonstrate that the Bible reveals clear age distinctions that match both the Jewish studies based on the Hebrew Bible and on observations by those who have carefully studied human beings as they develop and grow.

We have investigated compositional variations of light hydrocarbons in crude oils from the Beryl and adjacent fields of the North Sea in combination with carbon isotopic ratios of light hydrocarbons and biomarker properties of oils. Although there appears to be a strong source influence on various light hydrocarbon maturity parameters, this is a consequence of the mixing of hydrocarbons derived from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation as well as from the Heather Formation and Brent coal at varying thermal maturity levels. Light hydrocarbon parameters based on Mango's reaction scheme involving 3-ring and 5-ring intermediates are supported by carbon isotopic ratios of light hydrocarbons. However, there also is evidence that iso-and cyclo-heptane precursors exist that contribute C7 light hydrocarbons independent of Mango's model. The ratio of 2,4-dimethylpentane to 2,3-dimethylpentane (2,4-DMP/2,3-DMP) and other related parameters appear to be reliable indicators of thermal stress, but must be interpreted within a complete understanding of the petroleum system under study.

n Abstract Life history theory offers evolutionary explanations for the timing of life events, with a particular focus on age-schedules of fertility and mortality and growth. Traditional models examine trade-offs between current and future reproduction and quality versus quantity of offspring. These models can be used to understand questions concerning time of gestation, age of weaning, juvenile mortality profiles, age at maturation, adult body size, fertility rates, senescence, menopause, and the length of the life span. The trajectory of energy acquisition and its allocations is also an important part of life history theory. Modifications of these models have been developed to examine the period of learning, postweaning parental investment, and patterns of development. In this article, we combine energetic and demographic approaches in order to examine the human life course from an optimality perspective. The evolved life history solves related problems across two generations. The first set of decisions concerns how to maximize own lifetime net energy production that can be used for reproduction. The second set of decisions concerns how to maximize total offspring energy production (summed over all offspring).

Barbados cherry fruit shows a biphasic pattern of growth whether monitored on a diameter or weight basis. Each growth phase was of about 2 weeks duration with weight gains of equal magnitude but with most of the size increase occurring in the first phase. Pyrene growth paralleled that of the whole fruit. Cell division was limited to the first week of fruit development and horticultural maturity was reached when fruit showed colour break (18 days post-anthesis). Barbados cherry is climacteric with a very high peak respiratory rate (900 ml CO 2 kg À1 h À1) but a low rate of peak ethylene production (3 ml C 2 H 4 kg À1 h À1), the former consistent with its high perishability.

For the estimation of mid-parent and better-parent heterosis in Brassica juncea L. genotypes an experiment was conducted at NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar during 2004-05 and 2005-06 using 8 x 8 full diallel. All the 56 F 1 hybrids and their parents were planted in a randomized complete block design with two replications. Out of 56 hybrids, negative mid-parent and better-parent heterosis were estimated in 15 and 10 hybrids for days to 50% emergence, in 20 and 11 hybrids for days to 50% flowering, in 34 and 49 crosses for days to physiological maturity and in 37 and 34 crosses for plant height, respectively whereas positive heterosis were estimated in 12 and 10 crosses for number of primary branches plant-1. However, significant negative mid-parent and better-parent heterosis were recorded in 5 and 4 hybrids for days to 50% emergence, in 05 and 03 for days to 50% flowering, in 10 and 8 for days to physiological maturity, in 7 and 36 for plant height while significantly positive heterosis was recorded in 27 and 4 crosses for number of primary branches plant-1 respectively. Better-parent heterosis reduced to 27% for emergence, 3.85% for flowering, 4.08% for maturity and 22.63% for plant height whereas it reached to 44% for branches plant-1. Among parents, NUM103, NUM113, NUM123 and NUM117 proved to be superior when used as parents in most of the hybrid combinations. Hybrids NUM9xNUM113, NUM103xNUM113, NUM123xNUM117, NUM123x NUM113 and NUM123xNUM124 were best for different characters and their further utilization in breeding programs is suggested.

This study seeks to evaluate how interventions exposing leaders to ego development models and personality coaching could cultivate leadership maturity. The intervention targeted two levels of adult and leadership development. The first level involved basic understanding of differences in individual and other personalities and preferences. The aim here was to open up an individual’s perspective, fine tune their behavioural repertoire and to help them deal with people and situations more successfully. The second level aimed to provoke the individual to see the world through multiple sets of lenses, and change their interpretations and meaning of experience. The research revealed that maturity interventions were the first stage in sparking the process of maturity development for leaders. The intervention created a level of tension and disharmony that was necessary for participants to question their beliefs and assumptions about both the inner and outer worlds. The study highlights that the program had been successful on the first level; however, success on the second level was contingent on the individual taking the initiative and embracing their development needs. Only then could transition to post-conventional maturity be realized.

n Abstract Life history theory offers evolutionary explanations for the timing of life events, with a particular focus on age-schedules of fertility and mortality and growth. Traditional models examine trade-offs between current and future reproduction and quality versus quantity of offspring. These models can be used to understand questions concerning time of gestation, age of weaning, juvenile mortality profiles, age at maturation, adult body size, fertility rates, senescence, menopause, and the length of the life span. The trajectory of energy acquisition and its allocations is also an important part of life history theory. Modifications of these models have been developed to examine the period of learning, postweaning parental investment, and patterns of development. In this article, we combine energetic and demographic approaches in order to examine the human life course from an optimality perspective. The evolved life history solves related problems across two generations. The first set of decisions concerns how to maximize own lifetime net energy production that can be used for reproduction. The second set of decisions concerns how to maximize total offspring energy production (summed over all offspring).

Business Process Management (BPM) is a topic that continues to grow in significance as organisations seek to gain and sustain competitive advantage in an increasingly global environment. Despite anecdotal evidence of organisations improving performance by pursuing a BPM approach, there is little theory that explains and substantiates this relationship. This study provides the first theory on the progression and maturity of BPM Initiatives within organisations and provides a vital starting block upon which future research in this area can build. The Researcher starts by clearly defining three key terms (BPM Initiative, BPM Progression and BPM Maturity), showing the relationship between these three concepts and proposing their relationship with Organisational Performance. The Researcher then combines extant literature and use of the Delphi Technique and the case study method to explore the progression and measurement of the BPM Initiatives within organisations. The study builds upon t...

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of sixteen rice varieties coded from V1 to V16 under SRI. All parameters showed significant variation among rice varieties and all varieties showed early maturity under SRI. V1 had maximum 23 days followed by V2 (20 days) early maturity while V12 and V13 (3.0 days) showed minimum early maturity under SRI than standard management practice. Maximum yielded variety V11 had 4.0 days earlier under SRI than the standard management practice. V11 (5.7 t/ha) showed the maximum grain yield followed by V16 (5.6 t/ha) while minimum grain yield was found from V4 (4.4 t/ha) but maximum biological yield was found from V12 (13.2 t/ha). V1 and V2 can be cultivated for early harvesting while V11 and V12 for more grain yield under SRI practice.

The aim of this study was to characterize the quality of celery petioles (Apium graveolens L. cv Golden Clause) from the external, middle, and internal zones of each plant. Harvest dates were 93 (HD1) and 124 (HD2) days after transplantation. Total weight (TW), total length (TL), total leaves number (LN), and petiole length of leaves (PL) for the 3 zones were measured. Physicochemical (color, b * and h; texture; total soluble solids, TSS; titratable acidity, TA; water content, WC), nutraceutical (ascorbic acid, AA; total quinones, TQ; browning potential, BP), and sensorial analysis (flavor, fibrosity, crunchiness) were done at harvest on petioles of each zone. No differences between harvesting dates were found in TW, TL, LN, and PL. Middle leaves had the highest PL. Harvest dates were not different in b * , h, TA, AA, and WC. Texture, TSS, BP, and TQ resulted higher in petioles of HD2 than in HD1. Similar TSS and TA were found in leaves of different plant zones. The yellow color of both external and internal zones was significantly higher than in the middle zone. The texture and BP was similar between the external and middle zones but the WC was lower in the external zone. Similarly, the AA content as well as the TQ was also lower than in the middle zone. Harvest delay improved the nutraceutical value in terms of BP and TQ, even though it also resulted in pithiness and fibrosity of the leaves. This study therefore suggests that the petioles of the middle zone when harvested at HD1 are the most suitable for consumption.

The Maastrichtian Mamu and Nsukka Formations in the Anambra Basin (SE Nigeria) consists of a cyclic succession of coals, carbonaceous shales, silty shales and siltstones interpreted as deltaic deposits. Subbituminous coals within these formations are distributed in a north-south trending belt from Enugu-Onyeama to Okaba in the north of the basin. Coals from these formations have been characterized by petrological and geochemical techniques. The aims of this study were to assess the quality of its organic matter, evaluate its thermal evolution and highlight its potential as a source rock. The total organic carbon (TOC) (67.21wt%) of the coal constitutes that of a good source rock with gas-prone kerogen indicated by Rock-Eval S 2 /S 3 (21.0). The high oxygen index (OI) (15.72 mgCO 2 g -1 TOC) and pr/ph (7.93) suggest deposition in a shallow marine environment. Maceral analyses showed that the coals are dominated by huminite with lesser amounts of liptinite and inertinite. Despite high liptinite contents in parts of the coals, the n-alkane distribution dominated by n-C 24 -n-C 31, an HI versus T max diagram and atomic H/C ratios of 0.80-0.90 and O/C ratios of 0.11-0.17 classify the organic matter in the coals as Type III kerogen. Vitrinite reflectance values (%Rr ) of 0.44 to 0.59% and T max values between 414 and 432 o C indicate that the coals are thermally immature to marginally mature with respect to petroleum generation. Hydrogen Index (HI) values for the studied samples range from 183.09 to 344.53 mg HC/g TOC and S 1 +S 2 yields range from 120.5 to 242.04 mg HC/g rock, suggesting that the coals have gas and oil-generating potential. This thermal evolution is thought to account for its current hydrogen index (250.24 mgHCg -1 TOC). Generated petroleum may not have reached the threshold for hydrocarbon expulsion but a review of petroleum system elements in the basin will stimulate high prospects in the Anambra basin.

Accumulating research suggests that rates of child sexual abuse are comparatively low in China. This commentary is an effort to evaluate whether it reflects a true lower prevalence or alternatively the effect of inhibited disclosure by victims. We conclude that while some estimates have almost certainly been affected by inhibited disclosure, the overall magnitude of the contrast between Chinese and international rates, particularly for girls, and its consistency with other indicators do suggest a true lower prevalence, although the evidence is equivocal. We discuss some factors that could account for such lower rates including Confucian family values, definitions of masculinity and a collectivist culture that may be protective.

This research aims at providing empirical evidance on factors that affect obligation rating prediction. This study examines the role of accounting data and non accounting data in predicting the accurance of obligation rating in the context of Jakarta Stock Exchange. The accounting data consist of growth, firm size, profitability and liquidity. The non accounting data consist of secure, maturity and auditor reputation

Composition, physicochemical properties and enzyme inactivation kinetics of coconut water were compared between immature (IMC), mature (MC) and overly-mature coconuts (OMC). Among the samples studied, pH, turbidity and mineral contents for OMC water was the highest, whereas water volume, titratable acidity, total soluble solids and total phenolics content for OMC water were the lowest. Maturity was found to affect sugar contents. Sucrose content was found to increase with maturity, and the reverse trend was observed for fructose and glucose. Enzyme activity assessment showed that polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in all samples was more heat resistant than peroxidase (POD). Compared to IMC and MC, PPO and POD from OMC water showed the lowest thermal resistance, with D 83.3°C = 243.9 s (z = 27.9°C), and D 83.3°C = 129.9 s (z = 19.5°C), respectively.

Objective: To determine the phenology, dry matter yield, grain yield and yield components of chickpea under four tillage methods and three sowing times within a semi-arid area of Kenya. Methodology and results: Field experiments were carried out at the National Animal Husbandry Research Centre, Naivasha, Kenya, between 2005 and 2007. Four tillage methods (Conventional, Strip, Furrow tillage, and double digging) and three sowing times (at onset, one week, two weeks after onset of rains) were evaluated. The experiment was a Randomized Complete Block Design replicated thrice in a split plot treatment design with tillage methods as main plots and sowing times allocated to the subplots. Days to 50% flowering and physiological maturity was 61 and 120 respectively irrespective of tillage method or sowing time in both seasons. Shoot biomass varied from 3242.1 to 4231.3 kg ha -1 in Season 1 and 3035.8 to 4556.1 kg ha -1 in Season 2 under tillage treatments, but, no significant differences in season 1 among sowing times. In season 2, the crop sown 2 weeks after onset of rains had significantly lower biomass yield. Plants in strip tilled plots had 36% more pods than other tillage methods in season I but not in 2. Sowing time had no significant effect on number of pods in season 1 but in season 2; the crop sown 2 weeks after the onset of rains had fewer pods. Grain yield was not influenced by tillage method or sowing times in season 1, but in season 2, strip tillage and sowing at the onset of rains yielded significantly higher grain yield than the other respective treatments. Mean grain yield were 1604kg /ha and 1895.95 kg/ha for season 1 and 2 respectively. Conclusion and application: Tillage methods and sowing times independently influenced growth, biomass development, yield components and grain yield in Kabuli chickpea, Var ICCV 95423 under semi-arid conditions in Kenya. The results were season -dependent. Sowing within two weeks after the onset of rains did not significantly lower biomass and grain yield. Strip tillage was superior to conventional tillage in the parameters measured. The time to 50% flowering and 50% maturity were not affected by tillage methods and sowing times. These results indicate that there is good potential for chickpea production (1.4 to 2.5 tonnes/ha) in this area which could be exploited to diversify grain legume production in Kenya.

The Masila Basin is an important hydrocarbon province in Yemen, but the origin of hydrocarbons and their generation history are not fully understood. In this regard, 10 crude oils from different petroleum reservoir sections in the Masila Basin were characterized by a variety of biomarker and non-biomarker parameters using GC, GC-MS and stable carbon isotope techniques. Oils from the Masila Basin display pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratios ranging from 1.7 to 2.0, low sulfur content, high C 35 homohopane index, relatively high C 27 sterane concentrations and relatively high tricyclic terpanes suggesting a marine clay source rock that was deposited in mildly anoxic to suboxic conditions with dominantly algal organic matter. C 29 20S/(20S + 20R) steranes and bb/(bb + aa) sterane ratios indicate that the Masila oils have reached peak oil window maturity. Another related feature of these oils is the absence of 18a (H)-oleanane, which suggests a source age older than Cretaceous. The carbon isotope compositions are similar to those of the potential source rocks, which range from À25.4‰ to À28.3‰, indicating a marine environment. The new data presented in this paper suggest that the Masila oils constitute one oil family and that the oil originated from the Upper Jurassic Madbi source rock in the basin.

Increasingly small water and sanitation service providers, such as community-based organizations and private sector suppliers, are being acknowledged as important suppliers within the African water and sanitation sector. One of the important constraints faced by these providers is finance and access to credit. This paper discusses the development of the microfinance sector and services in sub-Saharan Africa and the potential demand for financial services by small water and sanitation service providers. The role of governments and development partners in facilitating the finance and credit for small providers is also dis discussed. Exploring the Microfinance Option in Sub-Saharan Africa FINANCING SMALL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SERVICE PROVIDERS Two main constraints face the microfinance sector in Sub-Saharan Africa: limited outreach and lack of market-linked product development, though there are some variations between countries, especially when viewed within the wider financial systems approach. What is the nature of latent demand for finance from small WSS service providers? The nature of demand varies across the three market segments of small WSS service provision: CBOs as providers, small private providers, and households as self-providers. What role can governments and development partners play? Such roles may include developing or revising WSS policies, supporting communities and other stakeholders, action research, and knowledge management.