A 'national emergency' in Australia: The Howard government's intervention in Northern Territory Aboriginal affairs

"On 21 June 2007, Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Minister for Indigenous Affairs Mal Brough declared a “national emergency” in respect of widespread allegations of child sexual abuse in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT), which is home to about 15 per cent of Australia’s Indigenous population and includes some of the most remote and traditionally-oriented communities in the country. Their reference point was the recently released report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse, Ampe Akelyernemane Meke Mekarle, Little Children Are Sacred, which found child sexual assault to be widespread throughout Aboriginal communities, and made 97 recommendations for a comprehensive response.

Morrison, Bambara, Silko : fractured and reconstructed mythic patterns in Song of Solomon, The salt eaters, and Ceremony

Cette thèse explique le développement de la théorie critique des mythes (myth criticism) de Northrop Frye et veut démontrer que l'examen critique des mythes est un paradigme approprié pour analyser le développement des conventions littéraires anglaises et la communication d'archétypes dans des œuvres littéraires postmodernes. En examinant, à la lumière d'archétypes bibliques, de rites religieux provenant d'Afrique de l'ouest, de folklore amérindien et du mythe monomythique de la perte d'identité, trois romans afro-américains et amérindiens, je suggère que la théorie de Frye est applicable aux œuvres postmodernes amérindiennes et afro-américaines autant qu'elle l'est aux œuvres du canon traditionnel. Cette étude retrace les origines de la théorie de Frye et met en lumière la présence d'archétypes et de structures bibliques dans la fiction afro-américaine et amérindienne ainsi que la communication d'archétypes africains continentaux à la culture afro-américaine par un mélange d'ancienne religion africaine et d'archétypes bibliques. Ainsi, puisqu'il s'agit d'une application de la théorie de Frye, cette thèse enrichira notre compréhension du développement des conventions littéraires et de la portée de cette théorie, et permettra une remise en question de notre conception de la littérature afro-américaine et amérindienne

Temporal Comparisons on the Genetic Variation of the Dusky Gopher Frog (Lithobates sevosus)

Monitoring temporal changes in genetic diversity within populations can provide vital information on future viability. The dusky gopher frog, Lithobates sevosus, exists in isolation with an estimated population size of 100-200 individuals, and previous research has shown that low genetic variability exists as a consequence of isolation and population size reduction. However, the temporal changes in genetic variation are not known. Therefore, my objectives were to (1) determine temporal trends in population genetic variation and implications for long-term viability of L. sevosus and (2) estimate effective population size. To accomplish these objectives, egg samples collected from 1997 to 2014 were genotyped for nine microsatellite loci. Observed and expected heterozygosity, allelic richness, and Wright\u27s inbreeding coefficient were calculated for each year and differences between sample years were assessed. Additionally, overall and pair-wise FST values were calculated to test for temporal genetic structuring. To estimate effective population size, two single-sample estimators (Tallmon et al. 2008; Waples and Do 2008) and two temporal estimators (Waples 1989; Wang 2001) were used. The results show a stable, but low, level of genetic variation. Weak genetic structure (FST = 0.023 (95% CI 0.006-0.043)) was found among years, which can be attributed to the increased effects of genetic drift in small populations. L. sevosus currently has an estimated effective population size between 32.99-58.6 individuals. The ratios of effective size to census size per year are fairly large (~0.5) and exhibit an increasing trend over time, which could possibly be explained by genetic compensation--or the lessening of genetic variation reduction in times with low population numbers. This research indicates the current management programs in place for L. sevosus have been effective at maintaining the genetic diversity present in the population; however, additional strategies need to be implemented to increase genetic diversity

Hexabromocyclododecane decreases tumor-cell-binding capacity and cell-surface protein expression of human natural killer cells

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a flame retardant that decreases the lytic function of human natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells defend against tumor cells and virally infected cells. Thus, HBCD has the potential to increase cancer incidence and viral infections. NK cells must bind to their targets for lysis to occur. Thus, concentrations of HBCD that decrease lytic function were examined for their ability to alter NK binding to tumor targets. Levels of HBCD that caused a loss of binding function were examined for effects on expression of cell surface proteins needed for binding. NK cells exposed to HBCD for 24 h, 48 h or 6 days or to HBCD for 1 h followed by 24 h, 48 h or 6 days in HBCD-free media were examined for binding function and cell surface protein expression. The results indicated that exposure of NK cells to 10 μM HBCD for 24 h (which caused a greater than 90% loss of lytic function) caused a very significant decrease in NK cell binding function (70.9%), and in CD16 and CD56 cell-surface protein expression (57.8 and 24.6% respectively). NK cells exposed to 10 μM HBCD for 1 h followed by 24 h in HBCD-free media (which caused a 89.3% loss of lytic function) showed decreased binding function (79.2%), and CD 16 expression (48.1%). Results indicate that HBCD exposures decreased binding function as well as cell-surface marker expression in NK cells and that these changes may explain the losses of lytic function induced by certain HBCD exposures

Hexabromocyclododecane decreases the lytic function and ATP levels of human natural killer cells

This study investigates the effect of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) on the lytic function of human natural killer (NK) cells and on ATP levels in NK cells. NK cells are capable of lysing tumor cells, virally infected cells, and antibody-coated cells. HBCD is a brominated cyclic alkane used primarily as an additive flame retardant. If HBCD interferes with NK cell function, this could increase risk of tumor development and/or viral infection. NK cells were exposed to various concentrations of HBCD for 24 and 48 h and 6 days before determining lytic function and ATP levels. ATP levels and lytic function were also determined in NK cells that were exposed to HBCD for 1 h followed by 24 and 48 h, and 6 days in HBCD-free media. The results indicated that exposure of NK cells to 10 µm HBCD for 24 h causes a very significant decrease in both NK cell lytic function and ATP levels (93.5 and 90.5%, respectively). Exposure of NK cells to 10 µm HBCD for 1 h followed by 24 h in HBCD-free media showed a progressive and persistent loss of lytic function (89.3%) as well as a decrease in ATP levels (46.1%). The results indicate that HBCD exposures decreased lytic function as well as ATP levels. However, a decrease in lytic function was not necessarily accompanied by a similar decrease in ATP. Importantly, these results also indicate that a brief (1 h) exposure to HBCD causes a progressive loss of lytic function over a 6 day period

Embolization of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm during pregnancy: case report and review of the literature

Objectives: Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm (UAP) is a rare but sinister complication during pregnancy. Diagnosis can be made by color Doppler ultrasound. Previous abdominal- and obstetric surgery increase the risk for UAP formation. Case presentation: We present a case of a 36 year young healthy women, presenting at 27 weeks of gestation with acute lower abdominal pain. UAP was detected by color Doppler ultrasound. An endovascular coil embolization was performed, with good maternal and fetal outcome. Furthermore, a review of the literature looking at UAP embolization in pregnancy was performed. Conclusions: UAP is reported to appear as a complication of endometriosis. UAP should be treated by endovascular coil embolization, which is a safe and with almost 100% success rate an effective treatment during pregnancy

We are All Rafiki, Mates, Capains, Friends

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