Acceptance of Death in Raymond Carver’s “A Small, Good Thing”

This paper discusses the ways Raymond Carver depicts death in one of his most well-known short stories “A Small, Good Thing.” It deals with Carver’s minimalism as a literary device used to portray the communication (or lack of it) between the characters. The paper may be divided into three parts, showing the different stages of dealing with the protagonist Scotty’s death that his parents go through. The first part addresses denial, grief, and different ways in which people react to the death of a loved one. The second part elaborates on miscommunication as a leitmotif in Carver’s stories and shows the complete breakage of communication between the characters; namely between Scotty’s parents and the doctor, the baker, and the nurses, to name a few. The final part delves into the act of eating as a small, good gesture of kindness that brings people together and calms them down when a person dies. The end asserts that we constantly attempt to understand one another and, unfortunately, often fail to do so because of the unreliable and multi-faceted nature of language.Ovaj rad analizira načine prihvaćanja smrti u jednoj od najpoznatijih pripovijedaka Raymonda Carvera „Mala dobra stvar“, s posebnim osvrtom na Carverov minimalizam kao književno sredstvo prikaza komunikacije (ili njezina nedostatka) među likovima. Rad se može podijeliti na tri dijela od kojih svaki prikazuje različite razine prihvaćanja smrti djeteta kroz koje prolaze Scottyjevi roditelji. Prvi se dio bavi poricanjem, tugom i drugim osjećajima kao reakcijama na smrt voljene osobe. Drugi dio analizira pogrešan način komunikacije kao lajtmotiv u Carverovim pripovijetkama te ga pronalazi u potpunom prekidu komunikacije među likovima pripovijetke – Scottyjevim roditeljima i liječnikom, pekarom, medicinskim sestrama i dr. Posljednji dio iščitava čin jedenja kao malu dobru gestu ljubaznosti koja povezuje ljude te ih smiruje kad voljena osoba umre. Rad završava zaključkom kako neprestano pokušavamo razumjeti jedni druge premda to nažalost često ne uspijevamo zbog nepouzdane i raznolike prirode jezika

A REVIEW ON ADULTERATION OF MILK

Milk is a complex mixture and a liquid food, which can easily be adulterated. According to Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) definition, “Milk is the normal mammary secreation derived from complete milking of healthy milch animal without either addition there to or extraction there from. Adulteration of food cheats the consumer and can pose serious risk to health in some cases. Adulteration in milk has been a cause of concern for both the Government and the Dairy Industry. The Indian Council of Medical Research has reported that “milk adulterants have hazardous health effects. Although many known methods for detection of adulteration in milk, exists, the methods compiled below in this review are not only simple and rapid but also very sensitive to detect milk adulteration. These tests can be carried out easily by consumers for identifying the most common adulterants in milk, using simple laboratory apparatus, common chemicals and the milk adulteration test reagent kit developed

TAGITI: Pagbuo ng Mungkahing Modyul ng mga Alamat ng mga Laboeño

Sa pagtuturo ng asignaturang Filipino, na tumutuon ng pansin sa wika at panitikan. Bahagi ng usaping pampanitikan ang iba’t ibang halimbawa nito, magmula sa maikling kuwento, kuwentong-bayan, tula, epiko at marami pang iba. Layunin ng pag-aaral na: (1) matuklasan ang nararapat na halimbawang kuwentong-bayan na maaaring maging karagdagang kagamitang pampagtuturo at pagkatuto para sa mga guro at mag-aaral sa sekondarya sa Silangang Distrito sa bayan ng Labo, (2) malaman ang uri ng kagamitang pampagtuturo na paglalapatan ng nasabing kuwentong-bayan batay sa panlasa ng mga gagamit nito, (3) malaman ang antas ng katanggapan batay sa ginagawang karagdagang kagamitang pampagtuturo. Mula sa ginawang pangangalap ng datos mula sa inisyal na sarbey na sinagutan ng mga mag-aaral mula sa ikapitong baytang at mga guro na nagtuturo ng asignaturang Filipino sa antas sekondarya, lumabas na ang alamat ang pinakabasahin at ninanais na makalap at mabuo bilang isang modyul na karagdagang kagamitang pampagtuturo at pagkatuto. Samantala sa kagamitang panturo ay nanguna ang modyul dito upang paglagyan ng napiling uri ng kuwentong-bayan para sa pag-aaral na ito. Sa pangangalap ng mga alamat, napag-alaman na may mga alamat o kasaysayan ang bawat barangay. Malaki ang tyansa na ang kagamitang nabuo sa pag-aaral na ito ang magsilbing daan upang mapreserba at manatiling buhay ang ganitong uri ng akda na sasalamin pamumuhay ng lugar na pinagmulan nito kahit lumipas man ang mahabang panahon. Ang natapos na modyul ng mga alamat ay sinuri at pinagtibay ng mga Filipinong guro mula sa Silangang Distrito sa bayan ng Labo sa pamamagitan ng pagsagot sa sarbey ng antas ng katanggapan

Recent Advances in Centrifugal Spinning and Their Applications in Tissue Engineering

Over the last decade, researchers have investigated the potential of nano and microfiber scaffolds to promote wound healing, tissue regeneration, and skin protection. The centrifugal spinning technique is favored over others due to its relatively straightforward mechanism for producing large quantities of fiber. Many polymeric materials have yet to be investigated in search of those with multifunctional properties that would make them attractive in tissue applications. This literature presents the fundamental process of fiber generation, and the effects of fabrication parameters (machine, solution) on the morphologies such as fiber diameter, distribution, alignment, porous features, and mechanical properties. Additionally, a brief discussion is presented on the underlying physics of beaded morphology and continuous fiber formation. Consequently, the study provides an overview of the current advancements in centrifugally spun polymeric fiber-based materials and their morphological features, performance, and characteristics for tissue engineering applications

Analytical Method Development and Validation of RP-HPLC Method for the Determination of Gemcitabine in Bulk and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

ABSTRACT A rapid and sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the estimation of Gemcitabine in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms. Gemcitabine was chromatographed on a Zorbax R X C 8 , (250mm× 4.6mm, 5µ) using a mobile phase consisting of phosphate buffer (pH 3.0) and methanol in the ratio of 85:15 v/v. The flow rate was maintained at 1.2 ml/min and eluents were detected at 275 nm. The retention time of Gemcitabine was found to be 11.78 min. The proposed method was validated by determining accuracy, precision, specificity and system suitability parameters. Linearity was observed in the range of 25-150 µg/ml. The mean recovery of 100.0±0.32 of the drug was indicating high level of accuracy of the method. Due to its simplicity, accuracy and high precision the proposed HPLC method was found to be appropriate for the estimation of Gemcitabine in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms

Recent Advances in Centrifugal Spinning and Their Applications in Tissue Engineering

Over the last decade, researchers have investigated the potential of nano and microfiber scaffolds to promote wound healing, tissue regeneration, and skin protection. The centrifugal spinning technique is favored over others due to its relatively straightforward mechanism for producing large quantities of fiber. Many polymeric materials have yet to be investigated in search of those with multifunctional properties that would make them attractive in tissue applications. This literature presents the fundamental process of fiber generation, and the effects of fabrication parameters (machine, solution) on the morphologies such as fiber diameter, distribution, alignment, porous features, and mechanical properties. Additionally, a brief discussion is presented on the underlying physics of beaded morphology and continuous fiber formation. Consequently, the study provides an overview of the current advancements in centrifugally spun polymeric fiber-based materials and their morphological features, performance, and characteristics for tissue engineering applications

Rebuilding human resources for health: a case study from Liberia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Following twenty years of economic and social growth, Liberia's fourteen-year civil war destroyed its health system, with most of the health workforce leaving the country. Following the inauguration of the Sirleaf administration in 2006, the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare (MOHSW) has focused on rebuilding, with an emphasis on increasing the size and capacity of its human resources for health (HRH). Given resource constraints and the high maternal and neonatal mortality rates, MOHSW concentrated on its largest cadre of health workers: nurses.</p> <p>Case description</p> <p>Based on results from a post-war rapid assessment of health workers, facilities and community access, MOHSW developed the Emergency Human Resources (HR) Plan for 2007-2011. MOHSW established a central HR Unit and county-level HR officers and prioritized nursing cadres in order to quickly increase workforce numbers, improve equitable distribution of workers and enhance performance. Strategies included increasing and standardizing salaries to attract workers and prevent outflow to the private sector; mobilizing donor funds to improve management capacity and fund incentive packages in order to retain staff in hard to reach areas; reopening training institutions and providing scholarships to increase the pool of available workers.</p> <p>Discussion and evaluation</p> <p>MOHSW has increased the total number of clinical health workers from 1396 in 1998 to 4653 in 2010, 3394 of which are nurses and midwives. From 2006 to 2010, the number of nurses has more than doubled. Certified midwives and nurse aides also increased by 28% and 31% respectively. In 2010, the percentage of the clinical workforce made up by nurses and nurse aides increased to 73%. While the nursing cadre numbers are strong and demonstrate significant improvement since the creation of the Emergency HR Plan, equitable distribution, retention and performance management continue to be challenges.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This paper illustrates the process, successes, ongoing challenges and current strategies Liberia has used to increase and improve HRH since 2006, particularly the nursing workforce. The methods used here and lessons learned might be applied in other similar settings.</p

Microvascular Endothelial Cells Exhibit Optimal Aspect Ratio for Minimizing Flow Resistance

A recent analytical solution of the three-dimensional Stokes flow through a bumpy tube predicts that for a given bump area, there exists an optimal circumferential wavenumber which minimizes flow resistance. This study uses measurements of microvessel endothelial cell morphology to test whether this prediction holds in the microvasculature. Endothelial cell (EC) morphology was measured in blood perfused in situ microvessels in anesthetized mice using confocal intravital microscopy. EC borders were identified by immunofluorescently labeling the EC surface molecule ICAM-1 which is expressed on the surface but not in the EC border regions. Comparison of this theory with extensive in situ measurements of microvascular EC geometry in mouse cremaster muscle using intravital microscopy reveals that the spacing of EC nuclei in venules ranging from 27 to 106 μm in diameter indeed lies quite close to this predicted optimal configuration. Interestingly, arteriolar ECs are configured to minimize flow resistance not in the resting state, but at the dilated vessel diameter. These results raise the question of whether less organized circulatory systems, such as that found in newly formed solid tumors or in the developing embryo, may deviate from the optimal bump spacing predicted to minimize flow resistance

Targets of the Entamoeba histolytica Transcription Factor URE3-BP

The Entamoeba histolytica transcription factor Upstream Regulatory Element 3-Binding Protein (URE3-BP) is a calcium-responsive regulator of two E. histolytica virulence genes, hgl5 and fdx1. URE3-BP was previously identified by a yeast one-hybrid screen of E. histolytica proteins capable of binding to the sequence TATTCTATT (Upstream Regulatory Element 3 (URE3)) in the promoter regions of hgl5 and fdx1. In this work, precise definition of the consensus URE3 element was performed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) using base-substituted oligonucleotides, and the consensus motif validated using episomal reporter constructs. Transcriptome profiling of a strain induced to produce a dominant-positive URE3-BP was then used to identify additional genes regulated by URE3-BP. Fifty modulated transcripts were identified, and of these the EMSA defined motif T[atg]T[tc][cg]T[at][tgc][tg] was found in over half of the promoters (54% p<0.0001). Fifteen of the URE3-BP regulated genes were potential membrane proteins, suggesting that one function of URE3-BP is to remodel the surface of E. histolytica in response to a calcium signal. Induction of URE3-BP leads to an increase in tranwell migration, suggesting a possible role in the regulation of cellular motility

P2Y receptors as regulators of lung endothelial barrier integrity

Endothelial cells (ECs), forming a semi-permeable barrier between the interior space of blood vessels and underlying tissues, control such diverse processes as vascular tone, homeostasis, adhesion of platelets, and leukocytes to the vascular wall and permeability of vascular wall for cells and fluids. Mechanisms which govern the highly clinically relevant process of increased EC permeability are under intense investigation. It is well known that loss of this barrier (permeability increase) results in tissue inflammation, the hall mark of inflammatory diseases such as acute lung injury and its severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome. Little is known about processes which determine the endothelial barrier enhancement or protection against permeability increase. It is now well accepted that extracellular purines and pyrimidines are promising and physiologically relevant barrier-protective agents and their effects are mediated by interaction with cell surface P2Y receptors which belong to the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors. The therapeutic potential of P2Y receptors is rapidly expanding field in pharmacology and some selective agonists became recently available. Here, we present an overview of recently identified P2Y receptor agonists that enhance the pulmonary endothelial barrier and inhibit and/or reverse endothelial barrier disruption