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Since 2014, highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) with H5 hemagglutinin (HA) genes grouped in the genetic clade 2.3.4.4 have spread globally causing severe outbreaks in Africa, Europe, Asia, and [...]

The intent of this study is to examine the adaptive responses of Hong Kong transmigrants and their transnational and transcultural practices in terms of their consequent behavioral and emotional patterns. Their transnational practices and relative adaptability can be explained with Robert Merton's (1957) 'strain theory.' More specifically, the study aims to identify, describe, and explain the variety of behavioral patterns and modes of emotional manifestations of adaptation of Hong Kong returnees, and to identify their individual and collective strategies of adaptation to help them solve their adjustment and integration problems in their adopted countries. KEYWORDS: Adaptability, cosmopolitanism, de-alienation, hybridity, innovation and creativity, Merton, return migration, strain, transnationalism. DOI: 10.1080/02604021003680537

The convergence-divergence debate on whether business cultures are growing alike or not has become an important part of studies of the influence of national cultures on the operation of firms. This article intends to formulate a third way, a third model, by creating synergy between the model of cultural hybridization and Social Integration Theory. We contend that cultural hybridization takes place in multicultural joint ventures but this process happens unevenly and in different parts of the venture. The new model, itself a product of hybridization, is illustrated with examples from Chinese and Indian joint ventures. KEYWORDS: China, cultural hybridization, India, joint ventures, Social Integration Theory. DOI: 10.1080/02604021003680479

In this essay, I investigate the origins of Chinese migrant transnationalism and its personal and social consequences. I propose a theoretical perspective that turns on a synthesis that I shall call 'cultural functionalism,' a synthesis that attempts to reconcile functionalism and postmodernism. My argument is that Chinese transmigrants overcome (post)modern alienation through a two-way approach: first, a strong participation in and full commitment to community development and connectivity within the Chinese diaspora; and, second, a religio-cultural renaissance--both being conceived of as constituting a putative 'cultural contract' and 'social capital' nexus. KEYWORDS: Cultural contract, social capital, transnationalism.

A surface plasmon subwavelength optical device in which the surface of metal is artificially structured to identify the transmission properties of surface plasmon and their interaction with light is described. It is found that the field intensity is strongly enhanced near the metal surface and it can be used for generating nonlinear optical effects and for high sensitivity detection of nanomechanical displacement.

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations is employed to investigate the interactions between a set of basic substrate (B) with H(super +) and HF and the interaction between acids of varying strength (AH(super +)) with two bases, vinylamine and furan. The preferred site for protonation of the substrates appears to be determined primarily by the ability of the protonated species (BH(super +)) to delocalize the acquired positive charge.

Ab initio molecular orbital theory was employed to study base-catalyzed hydrogenation, to better understand and to rationalize the limitations of the catalytic reaction. A good balance between polarity and catalyst solubility is required in selecting the optimum solvent for the base-catalyzed hydrogenation reaction.

This paper attempts to unfold the drama of mainland Chinese migrant families in Singapore in terms of their gender and generation politics--the interpersonal as well as role conflicts within the domestic domain as they were engendered and negotiated during the migration process. The 'better life' promise of migration for each and every family member was scrutinized--each time gazing at a different member in the context of his or her institutionalized position in the family. As it happened, divided rather than common interests emerged. Not all benefited from moving. Yet all were convinced of the family having made 'the right move'. The social construction of the family was further strengthened by transnationalism, which reproduced the 'reality' of family solidarity through mundane everyday life activities acted out across borders. But when internalized as a construct, an ideal, the family bonded its members--thus its internal cohesiveness. It also bound and controlled the self. Sure there were gains, but there were also losses, especially on the part of the less powerful. Globalization and transnationalism have yet to fulfil their promises., Long, a thirty-eight-year-old man, came to Singapore in 1997. He had been an engineer in China. Through friends who were working in Singapore, he learned of a job opening there [...]

Ab initio molecular orbital theory and density functional theory calculations are used for studying the three-stage zeolite-catalyzed hydrogenation of C[O.sub.2] to methanol and the hydrogenation of [C.sub.2][H.sub.4] to ethane. The results have shown that alkali metal zeolites with Ge and N incorporated into the framework are very effective catalysts for hydrogenation processes.

Studies were conducted to examine the relationship between hydrogen-bond energies and proton affinities for the proton-bound homodimers [[X...H-X].sup.+] is reported. The various series of proton-bound homodimers were found to show quadratic behavior.

Quantum chemistry calculations study of the uncatalyzed transfer hydrogenation between a range of hydrogen donors and acceptors in the gas phase and in solution revealed that the transfer-hydrogenation reactions proceeds via a radical pathway, regardless of the solvent used in some reactions.

The metal-free hydrogenation reactions of different simple aromatic, heteroaromatic and related linear conjugated systems were studied by quantum chemistry calculations. Each substrate studied showed that the uncatalyzed 1,4-hydrogenation barrier is markedly lower than the uncatalyzed 1,2-hydrogenation barrier despite similar reaction enthalpies and the presence of hydrogen fluoride as a catalyst is found to decrease the 1,2-hydrogentaion barriers.

Theoretical calculations were used to help design zeolites that might efficiently convert CO(sub 2) to methanol, and thus replace a waste chemical by one of considerable value. Zeolites incorporating Na(super +) and Ge are more effective catalysts than conventional acidic zeolites for the hydrogenation of CO(sub 2), but they do not enhance the hydrogenations of HCO(sub 2)H and CH(sub 2)O.

A strong evidence of an enantioselective 1,2-chlorine atom migration is reported. Reduction of various dihalogenated-dihydrocinnamic acid derivatives gave a direct reduction product.