In a Bind: Mandatory Arbitration Clauses in the Corporate Derivative Context

Published in cooperation with the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolutio

Cultural Identity and the peacemaking process. The case of Christians in Israel and the Palestinian Territories

This research constitutes an in fieri project which aims at analyzing and problematizing the presence and role of the Arab Palestinian Christian population in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Our focus is on understanding if and how the peace process could undergo revitalization and gain new momentum from the grassroots. We would like to ascertain if religious fervor and motivation have an active role in mending the relationships between the groups involved in the conflict and eventually influence state policies. In the present study, we provide firstly a brief description of the Christian milieu in Israel and the PT in order to arouse awareness on the multidimensionality inherent to the Christian population. Secondly, we will present the nature and characteristics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which will help shedding light onto the dynamics that need to be addressed by any peace making effort. Thirdly, we will analyze the directions taken by Elias Chacour to approach the conflict. We have hypothesized that the agency of Chacour as well as of other Arab Christian communities, or single members of the communities, can be read both as religious peacemaking grafted into the vision of Track Two diplomacy, as well as acts of resilience

The Evolution of mammary glands at different stages in Sarda dairy ewes: preliminary results

The significance of cytological evolution of alveolar cells explains differences in milk yield that resulted in a different shape of lactation curve. In this paper, investigation of cellular background for this pattern was studied morphometrically in mammary gland of dairy ewes prior to lambing to involution. The ratio of epithelial to the luminal area was greatest at 7 days from lambing, it diminished on day 30 and 60 of lactation and it increased thereafter on day 150 of lactation and on day 7 of involution. The evolution of mammary tissues shows a clear decrease in stromal mass from prepartum until 60 DIM. Structural changes of mammary tissues during late pregnancy, lactation and dry off, can be used as a basis to estimate the evolution of the number of secretory cells in dairy ewes

Quantum Phase Transition and Transport

The exchange scattering at magnetic adsorbates on superconductors gives rise to Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) bound states. Depending on the strength of the exchange coupling, the magnetic moment perturbs the Cooper pair condensate only weakly, resulting in a free-spin ground state, or binds a quasiparticle in its vicinity, leading to a (partially) screened spin state. Here, we use the flexibility of Fe-porphin (FeP) molecules adsorbed on a Pb(111) surface to reversibly and continuously tune between these distinct ground states. We find that the FeP moment is screened in the pristine adsorption state. Approaching the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope, we exert a sufficiently strong attractive force to tune the molecule through the quantum phase transition into the free-spin state. We ascertain and characterize the transition by investigating the transport processes as function of tip-molecule distance, exciting the YSR states by single-electron tunneling as well as (multiple) Andreev reflections

Circulating endothelial cells as biomarker for cardiovascular diseases

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is involved in several cardiovascular diseases. Elevated levels of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and low levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been described in different cardiovascular conditions, suggesting their potential use as diagnostic biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction. Compared to typical peripheral blood leukocyte subsets, CECs and EPCs occur at very low frequency. The reliable identification and characterization of CECs and EPCs is a prerequisite for their clinical use, however, a validated method to this purpose is still missing but a key for rare cell events. Objectives: To establish a validated flow cytometric procedure in order to quantify CECs and EPCs in human whole blood. Methods: In the establishment phase, the assay sensitivity, robustness, and the sample storage conditions were optimized as prerequisite for clinical use. In a second phase, CECs and EPCs were analyzed in heart failure with preserved (HFpEF) and reduced (HFrEF) ejection fraction, in arterial hypertension (aHT), and in diabetic nephropathy (DN) in comparison to age-matched healthy controls. Results: The quantification procedure for CECs and EPCs showed high sensitivity and reproducibility. CEC values resulted significantly increased in patients with DN and HFpEF in comparison to healthy controls. CEC quantification showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 90% and a sensitivity of 68.0%, 70.4%, and 66.7% for DN, HFpEF, and aHT, respectively. Conclusion: A robust and precise assay to quantify CECs and EPCs in pre-clinical and clinical studies has been established. CEC counts resulted to be a good diagnostic biomarker for DN and HFpEF

requirements for naive CD4+ T cell stimulation

Human primary dendritic cells (DCs) are heterogeneous by phenotype, function, and tissue localization and distinct from inflammatory monocyte-derived DCs. Current information regarding the susceptibility and functional role of primary human DC subsets to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection is limited. Here, we dissect the response of different primary DC subsets to Mtb infection. Myeloid CD11c+ cells and pDCs (C-type lectin 4C+ cells) were located in human lymph nodes (LNs) of tuberculosis (TB) patients by histochemistry. Rare CD141hi DCs (C-type lectin 9A+ cells) were also identified. Infection with live Mtb revealed a higher responsiveness of myeloid CD1c+ DCs compared to CD141hi DCs and pDCs. CD1c+ DCs produced interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor α, and IL-1β but not IL-12p70, a cytokine important for Th1 activation and host defenses against Mtb. Yet, CD1c+ DCs were able to activate autologous naïve CD4+ T cells. By combining cell purification with fluorescence-activated cell sorting and gene expression profiling on rare cell populations, we detected in responding CD4+ T cells, genes related to effector-cytolytic functions and transcription factors associated with Th1, Th17, and Treg polarization, suggesting multifunctional properties in our experimental conditions. Finally, immunohistologic analyses revealed contact between CD11c+ cells and pDCs in LNs of TB patients and in vitro data suggest that cooperation between Mtb-infected CD1c+ DCs and pDCs favors stimulation of CD4+ T cells

TV Series Review: The White Lotus – Season 2 by Mike White

Set against the deceptively romantic backdrop of Sicily, The White Lotus – Season 2 explores the grotesque undercurrents of privilege, fragile masculinity, and gender politics among a group of affluent tourists. Through symbolic visual motifs, from the ominous Testa di Moro to operatic and cinematic homages, the series critiques patriarchy, toxic male bonding, and the commodification of sex and relationships. The lavish setting contrasts sharply with the characters’ emotional unraveling, exposing the decay beneath the dolce vita illusion in Mike White’s incisive and tragicomic anthology

The Israeli–Palestinian Separation Wall and the Assemblage Theory: The Case of the Weekly Rosary at the Icon of Our Lady of the Wall

In this work I analyse the ethnographic case study of the icon of Our Lady of the Wall as establishing a unique ritual landscape among the cement slabs of the Israeli–Palestinian Wall separating Jerusalem from Bethlehem. Although the Wall has been widely described as a technology of occupation on one side and as a device to ensure security on the other, through Latour’s concept of assemblages I unearth its agency in developing a Christian shrine. Through a decade of weekly recitations of the Rosary along the Wall near Checkpoint 300, the Elizabethan nuns of the Caritas Baby Hospital have been invoking Mary’s help to dismantle the Wall. This weekly ritual represents both political dissent against the bordering action enacted by the Wall, as well as giving visibility to the plea of the Palestinian Christian right to live in this territory in the face of their status as an ethno-religious minority

Surface Water and Groundwater Exchanges in Fine and Coarse Grained River Bed Systems and Responses to Initial Stages of Dam Removal, Milltown, Montana

More than 620,000 miles of rivers are affected by over 79,000 dams in the United States. The dams are a valuable asset, however dams block fish passage, and disrupt the physical and biological systems, and alter hyporheic exchange. In efforts to remediate rivers impacted by dams, dam removal is being proposed. Changes in the location and timing of groundwater and river water exchanges in post dam remediated river systems are typically not identified. The goal of this study was to examine the factors controlling surface water and groundwater exchange rates and locations in river systems during dam removal. Specific tasks included establishing a river elevation and groundwater elevation monitoring network, defining riverbed properties and exchange rates using in-riverbed measurements, developing a site conceptual model for different river reaches, and constructing and calibrating a finite difference numerical groundwater model representing site conditions. Results of monitoring indicate that the Clark Fork River above the dam and reservoir is connected to the aquifer system, containing losing and gaining and parallel flow reaches. The Clark Fork River below the dam appears to be gaining approximately 600 ft below the dam and then becomes a perched losing river that at times throughout the year may become linked to the underlying water table. The reservoir pool and its Blackfoot River arm are losing systems with pool elevations well above the local water table. In-river measurements indicate the river and groundwater exchange water at a rate of 0.02 to 13 ft3/(dayft2). A calibrated numerical groundwater model was used to examine how pre-dam removal groundwater, river and reservoir exchanges were likely to change once the dam is removed. Simulations suggest that historically (with the dam) the reservoir contributed approximately 21% of the recharge to the local Milltown aquifer system. Once the dam is removed this recharge contribution may be reduced to less than 1%. As a result water table elevations will decrease locally and exchange locations and rates above the dam location will be altered. Reducing uncertainty of the modeling results and predictions could be improved by further data collection and evaluation of various conceptual models