Extreme conditions (EC) research investigates how the structures and physical and chemical properties of materials change when subjected to extremes of pressure and temperature. Pressures in excess of one million times atmospheric pressure can be achieved using a diamond anvil cell, and, in combination with high-energy, micro-focused radiation from a third-generation synchrotron such as Diamond...

In this paper, Nd3+-Yb3+-Er3+-doped β-NaYF₄ nanocrystals with different Nd3+ concentrations are synthesized, and the luminescence properties of the upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been studied under 808-nm excitation for sensitive biological applications. The upconversion luminescence spectra of NaYF₄ nanoparticles with different dopants under 808-nm excitation proves that the Nd3+ ion ...

Bats are known reservoirs of viral zoonoses. We report genetic characterization of a bat rotavirus (Bat/KE4852/07) detected in the feces of a straw-colored fruit bat (Eidolon helvum). Six bat rotavirus genes (viral protein [VP] 2, VP6, VP7, nonstructural protein [NSP] 2, NSP3, and NSP5) shared ancestry with other mammalian rotaviruses but were distantly related. The VP4 gene was nearly identica...

A novel, strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, yellow-orange-pigmented, motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative bacterium, RW262(T), was isolated from water of the River Taff, Cardiff, UK, during January 2000. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain RW262(T) was a member of the family Cryomorphaceae within the phylum 'Bacteroidetes'. The DNA G+C content of strain RW262(T...

An aerobic, Gram-negative, non-fermentative, rod-shaped, motile, orange-pigmented bacterium, UST20020801(T), was isolated from sea-water samples collected from Port Shelter, Hong Kong, S.A.R., China, in August 2002. The full 16S rRNA gene sequence of this strain shared only 87.5 % similarity with its nearest relative, Crocinitomix catalasitica, a species of the family Cryomorphaceae. However, s...

Despite a growing literature documenting strong linkages between income and health, there remains little understanding of how economic factors shape disease outcomes in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Using individual level data from nineteen sub-Saharan African countries, we show that negative income shocks can lead to substantial increases in HIV prevalence. We match data on individuals’ HIV status fr...

It is widely argued that declining fertility slows the pace of economic growth through its negative effect on labor supply. There are, however, theoretical arguments suggesting that the effect of falling fertility on effective labor supply can be offset by the associated behavioral changes. We formalize these arguments by setting forth a dynamic consumer optimization model that incorporates end...

Increasing Rural Health Clinic Utilization with SMS Updates: Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation in Uganda* This paper examines an alternative to monitoring staff at a public health clinic in rural Uganda. The program sent SMS updates regarding confirmed attendance of clinic staff and activities to randomly selected cell phone-owning households in the local community. A difference-in-differen...

It is widely argued that declining fertility slows the pace of economic growth through its negative effect on labor supply. There are, however, theoretical arguments suggesting that the effect of falling fertility on effective labor supply can be offset by the associated behavioral changes. We formalize these arguments by setting forth a dynamic consumer optimization model that incorporates end...

The research objective of this paper is to test whether health conditions and health behavior are related to home ownership. This question has not yet been examined quantitatively in the existing literature. Our estimation results show that homeowners consistently report better health and less physical problems. The significance of home ownership remains even after controlling for financial ass...