Use of the "SMITEST" PSA card to identify the presence of prostate-specific antigen in semen and male urine

To determine whether the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) could be identified in semen using the "SMITEST" PSA immunochromatographic membrane test card, we examined semen and other body fluids, including urine. Although PSA activity was detected in semen with high sensitivity using the "SMITEST" PSA card, it was also detected in adult male urine. However, the lower detectable limit in the urine was 1000-fold lower than that in semen. The concentration of PSA in adult male urine was found to be 800 ng/ml using the card. PSA activity usually can be detected in urine of individuals over 14 years old and it has been detected in urine from children as young as 11 years old. Therefore, the appearance of PSA in urine may occur anytime between the age of 12 and 14 years. To determine the stability of PSA activity in urine, dried samples of urine on filter paper were kept at room temperature for up to 3 years. Although the immunoreactive line showing PSA activity became weak after storage, it was still detectable, but faint, after 3 years. In addition, PSA activity was not detected in male serum or saliva and in the urine from human females, male cats or male dogs using the PSA card. We conclude that the PSA card is useful for identification of PSA in both semen and adult male urine.     

The Impact of Institutional and Land Use Change on Local Incomes in Chilean Patagonia

Microfinances in Bangladesh introduced a contingent repayment system beginning in 2002, which allowed rescheduling of savings and installments during natural disasters for affected members. This paper is one of the first attempts to evaluate the system employing a unique dataset. In using evidence from a flood in 2004, the author found that rescheduling plays the role of a safety net by decreasing the probability that people skip meals during negative shocks by 5.1 per cent. This effect is even higher on the landless and females. This study attempts to contribute to the issue regarding the poverty reduction effect of microfinances.     

Productivity and openness: firm level evidence in Brazilian manufacturing industries

This study investigates the productivity of Brazilian manufacturing industries, particularly addressing the influence of liberalization on productivity. We first calculate total factor productivity (TFP) by estimating the stochastic frontier production function and the inefficiency determination equation simultaneously. Then TFP growth rates are regressed on openness-related variables and other firm characteristics. The results show that firm openness to the world is a crucial determinant of their productivity. Data used for this study were obtained from the Investment Climate Survey, provided by the World Bank.     

Development of fluorescent markers using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with vaseline

Identifiable fluorescent markers were developed as tracers to tail suspects using phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, perylene, and coronene in vaseline. Vaseline was used as a carrier of the marker. Of the six compounds in the vaseline, perylene and fluoranthene were readily observed under ultraviolet (UV) light at a wavelength of 365 nm. All six compounds were identified selectively and sensitively without interference of vaseline using a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) with a fluorescence detector. The detection limit was much less than 1 ng, corresponding to that of the observation behavior under UV light. The results showed that each component with vaseline was more effective than the individual component for the delay in degradation. The case examples of the fluorescent markers are shown.     

Religious Fractionalisation and Crimes in Disaster-Affected Communities: Survey Evidence from Bangladesh

This study employs unique household data collected in cyclone-affected communities in Bangladesh to investigate whether religious fractionalisation is associated with crime victimisation after disasters. The identification strategy relies on two characteristics of the study area: 1) its religious composition is stable; and 2) its households’ pre-disaster socio-economic status is uncorrelated with religious fractionalisation and disaster damage after controlling for the observed characteristics. The findings suggest that households in disaster-affected and religiously fractionalised communities are more likely to be victims after a natural disaster than are households in non-fractionalised communities. This study also finds empirical support for the idea that the result is driven by the misallocation of disaster relief in fractionalised communities.