Do Female Gender Role Attitudes Affect Labour Market Participation in Egypt?

We analyse the inter-generational relationship of attitudes towards gender roles and their impact on individuals’ labour market participations in Egypt. We find a strong correlation between mothers’ and daughters’ perceptions of gender roles. Unlike the existing literature, perceptions are not associated with the labour market status even if we control for endogeneity issues using an instrumental variable regression. Furthermore, higher-educated females are more likely to be unemployed in Egypt. These results imply that perceptions among females are not translated into their labour market behaviour and the supply-side policies alone may not be sufficient for improving young women’s employment opportunities.     

Identification of impurities and the statistical classification of methamphetamine using headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The profiling of impurities in methamphetamine (MA) using headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is described. The extraction of the impurities with an SPME fiber was examined under varying conditions. Optimal chromatograms were obtained when a 50 mg MA sample at 85 degrees C for 30 min was extracted using a fiber coated with divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane. MA samples from nine different origins were analyzed under optimized extraction conditions. Compounds related to MA such as benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, amphetamine, benzyl methyl ketone, cis- and trans-1,2-dimethyl-3-phenylaziridine, dimethylamphetamine, N-acetylamphetamine, N-acetylmethamphetamine and N-formylmethamphetamine were detected in the chromatograms. Trace amounts of ethanol, diethyl ether and acetic acid were also detected in some of the chromatograms. The numbers and intensities of the peaks detected were different, depending on the sample. After the areas of the eight principal peaks were converted to their square root and logarithm, similarities among the samples were evaluated by Euclidian distance, cosine distance and correlation coefficient. The results showed that a combination of logarithmic conversion and cosine distance was the most suitable for discriminating and classifying the samples. HS-SPME/GC-MS is a simple and effective method for the extraction and identification of impurities. The present method, in combination with an appropriate statistical analysis, would be useful for developing a profile of impurities in MA.     

Analysis of hallucinogenic constituents in Amanita mushrooms circulated in Japan

The constituents of seven mushrooms sold as Amanita muscaria or Amanita pantherina (five A. muscaria and two A. pantherina) and four "extracts purported to contain A. muscaria" products that are currently circulated in Japan were determined. All mushroom samples were identified as A. muscaria or A. pantherina by macroscopic and microscopic observation. The dissociative constituents, ibotenic acid (IBO) and muscimol (MUS), were extracted with 70% methanol twice and determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The IBO (as the hydrate)/MUS contents were in the range of <10-2845ppm/46-1052ppm in the cap of A. muscaria and 188-269ppm/1554-1880ppm in the cap of A. pantherina. In the caps, these compounds had a tendency to be more concentrated in the flesh than in the cuticle. On the other hand, the IBO/MUS contents in the stem were far lower than in the caps. In the "extracts purported to contain A. muscaria" products, IBO/MUS were detected below the lower limit of calibration curve (<10ppm/<25ppm) or not detected. However, these samples contained other psychoactive compounds, such as psychoactive tryptamines (5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors (harmine and harmaline) and tropane alkaloids (atropine and scopolamine), which were not quantified. This is the first report of the chemical analysis of Amanita mushrooms that are circulated in the drug market.     

Forensic application of chiral separation of amphetamine-type stimulants to impurity analysis of seized methamphetamine by capillary electrophoresis

The applicability of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with a UV detector using highly sulfated gamma-cyclodextrin as a chiral selector was examined for analysis of impurities in seized methamphetamine. Samples of methamphetamine-hydrochloride dissolved in water at a high concentration (20 mg/mL) were analyzed. Electrokinetic injection has an advantage over hydrodynamic injection for improving the detection of trace impurities. Small peaks of the precursor impurities, such as (1R,2S)-(-)-ephedrine and (1S,2S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine, were detected and quantified without extraction. The seized drugs could be classified into three groups based on the contents of the two impurities.     

Short and Long Recall Errors in Retrospective Household Surveys: Evidence from a Developing Country

While recall errors in retrospective data from household surveys may generate estimation biases, the nature and the relative magnitude of the errors are still largely unknown, especially in the context of developing countries. To bridge this gap in the existing studies, we conduct a resurvey of respondents of the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey (VHLS) 2006. The combined data set allows us to investigate a variety of short-term and long-term errors associated with recall surveys. First, our empirical results suggest that when we ask total expenditure rather than categorised expenditures, long recall errors are no worse than short recall errors. Second, we found mean-reversion only for long recall errors in the sum of categorised expenditures but not necessarily for total expenditure. Finally, the inclusion of household size, asset, income, and geographical dummy variables in regression analyses may mitigate the biases arising from measurement errors.     

Contribution of thermal desorption and liquid-liquid extraction for identification and profiling of impurities in methamphetamine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Impurity profiling of methamphetamine (MA) using thermal desorption (TD) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was examined. Using TD/GC-MS, impurities were extracted and separated under various conditions. Optimal chromatograms were obtained when a 20 mg MA sample was extracted at 120 degrees C for 3 min using a TD instrument, followed by separation of the extracts using a non-polar capillary column coated with (5%phenyl)-methylpolysiloxane. MA samples from nine different batches were analyzed under optimized conditions. Compounds related to the structure of MA, such as benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, amphetamine, cis- and trans-1,2-dimethyl-3-phenylaziridine, dimethylamphetamine, and N-acetylephedrine, were detected in the chromatograms without any laborious extraction procedure. Compounds such as ethanol, diethyl ether, and acetic acid, which are considered reagents and solvents for MA synthesis, were also detected in some of the chromatograms. The numbers and intensities of the peaks detected were different among the samples. Impurity profiling of MA using TD was compared with that using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). Better reproducibility of peak areas was obtained using LLE, whereas higher intensities and numbers of peaks were detected using TD. Solvents were extracted more effectively using TD. The nine batches of MA were classified using both extraction procedures. The nine batches were divided roughly into two groups using data from LLE. Subsequently, the groups were classified in detail using data from TD. TD can be used to provide supplemental information for LLE, and the combination of these extraction methods can be helpful for impurity profiling of MA.     

Genotypic Polymorphisms of Hepatitis B Virus Provide Useful Information for Estimating Geographical Origin or Place of Long‐term Residence of Unidentified Cadavers

Increasing numbers of unidentified cadavers are a major problem. We have developed a new method for providing identification information that can determine the geographical origin or place of long‐term residence of unidentified cadavers based on genotypic polymorphisms of hepatitis B virus (HBV) known to correlate with their geographical distribution. PCR of serum samples detected HBV DNA from 4 (3.9%) of 102 randomly selected Japanese forensic cadavers. Multiplex PCR did not detect multiple HBV genotypes from any single cadaver, confirming the absence of coinfection. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on a 485‐bp mutant region of the HBV S gene successfully classified the HBV genotypes into A to J. Among 10 HBV‐infected cadavers, 8 had genotype Ce/C2, a genotype prevalent in East Asia, and 2 had genotype Bj/B1, a Japanese‐specific genotype. HBV genotypic polymorphisms correlate with the geographical distribution of the virus and thus provide important information for identifying unidentified cadavers infected with HBV.     

R&;D productivity and the organization of cluster policy: an empirical evaluation of the Industrial Cluster Project in Japan

Industrial clusters have attracted increasing attention as important locations of innovation. Therefore, several countries have started promotion policies for industrial clusters. However, there are few empirical studies on cluster policies. This paper examines the effects of the “Industrial Cluster Project” (ICP) in Japan on the R&D productivity of participants, using a unique dataset of 229 small firms, and discusses the conditions necessary for the effective organization of cluster policies. Different from former policy approaches, the ICP aims at building collaborative networks between universities and industries and supports the autonomous development of existing regional industries without direct intervention in the clustering process. Thus far, the ICP is similar to indirect support systems adopted by successful European clusters. Our estimation results suggest that participation in the cluster project alone does not affect R&D productivity. Moreover, research collaboration with a partner in the same cluster region decreases R&D productivity both in terms of the quantity and quality of patents. Therefore, in order to improve the R&D efficiency of local firms, it is also important to construct wide-range collaborative networks within and beyond the clusters, although most clusters focus on the network at a narrowly defined local level. However, cluster participants apply for more patents than others without reducing patent quality when they collaborate with national universities in the same cluster region.     

Degradation pathways of 4-methylmethcathinone in alkaline solution and stability of methcathinone analogs in various pH solutions

Analogs of methcathinone (MC), a psychoactive stimulant, are in circulation all over the world. These analogs have been assumed to be unstable in alkaline solutions, as is MC itself. The aims of this study were: (i) to identify the degradation products of 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC), a typical MC analog, in solution at pH 12 and to determine the degradation pathway, (ii) to investigate the effects of antioxidants such as l-ascorbic acid and sodium sulfite on the degradation of 4-MMC, and (iii) to investigate the stability of seven MC analogs (4-MMC, 4-, 3-, or 2-fluoromethcathinone, 4-methoxymethcathinone, N-ethylcathinone, and N,N-dimethylcathinone) in solutions at different pHs.1-(4-Methylphenyl)-1,2-propanedione (MPPD), 4-methylbenzoic acid (MBA), N,4-dimethylbenzamide (DMBA), and N-acetyl-4-MMC (N-Ac-4-MMC) were identified as the degradation products of 4-MMC in pH 12 solution by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. There are two degradation pathways for 4-MMC as follows: (a) 4-MMC→MPPD→MBA→DMBA and (b) 4-MMC→N-Ac-4-MMC. Oxidants such as dissolved oxygen were presumed to be involved in this degradation based on the suppressive effects generated by the addition of antioxidants. All of the seven MC analogs tested were stable in acidic (pH 4) solution but degraded in neutral-to-basic solutions. Their degradation rates increased with increasing pH, and varied with their chemical structures. These findings will be very useful for not only forensic analysis but also future pharmacokinetic analysis.