English Language Teaching and Linguistics

There has been a multifarious discourse about the role of linguistics in the field of English language teaching and we find agreement as well as disagreement. After reviewing the literature it becomes clear that English language teaching has its root in the discipline as well as sub disciplines of linguistics. Indeed these are roots it has never entirely cut. The present paper intends to trace the influence of linguistics on English language teaching over the last six decades. The core aim of the paper is to bring to light the linear and nonlinear relationship that linguistics enjoys with English language teaching

Umbilical mechanism assembly for the international space station

Mechanisms for engaging and disengaging electrical and fluid line connectors are required to be operated repeatedly in hazardous or remote locations on space station, nuclear reactors, toxic chemical and undersea environments. Such mechanisms may require shields to protect the mating faces of the connectors when connectors are not engaged and move these shields out of the way during connector engagement. It is desirable to provide a force-transmitting structure to react the force required to engage or disengage the connectors. It is also desirable that the mechanism for moving the connectors and shields is reliable, simple, and the structure as lightweight as possible. With these basic requirements, an Umbilical Mechanism Assembly (UMA) was originally designed for the Space Station Freedom and now being utilized for the International Space Station

Development of Shotcreting Castable

Particle packing is one of important parameters, which dictates physical and thermo-mechanical properties of refractories. Fillers play a substantial role in the packing behaviour of low cement castable. Fine filler particles fill the voids of the castable aggregate leading to a high packing density of the castable and thereby decrease the cement as well as water requirement of the castable. Micro-silica and calcined alumina are normally used as filler materials in the development of low cement castable. It has been established that these fine fillers particles are responsible to provide ceramic bond and the intermediate temperature and provides high strength at high temperature due to formation of secondary mullite. In the present work an attempt has been made to develop low cement castable with suitable filler addition. Effect of particle size and particle size distribution of calcined alumina filler has been studied in order to achieve high flow behaviour in low cement 70% alumina based vibratable castable formulation. This alumina filler particle has further been used to optimize and develop a suitable self-flow castable, wherein the amount of micro-silica and calcined alumina amount has been optimized. Physical and thermo-mechanical properties of the castables thus developed have also been studied in detail. Attempt has also been made to study the effect of setting accelerator amount on the properties of self-flow castable thus developed with an aim for shotcreating application

A retrospective study on causes of unsafe abortions in referred patients, at a tertiary care centre in western Uttar Pradesh

Background: Unsafe abortions occur when pregnancy is terminated by unqualified person or in an environment that do not conform to minimal medical standards or both. The aim of this study was to analyse the causes in referred patients of unsafe abortions, methods used and complications with which patients were admitted.Methods: A retrospective observational study conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SIMS Hapur Uttar Pradesh, India from 1stJune 2019 to 29thFebruary 2020. Data was collected from previous hospital records. Total 150 women aged between 18-40 years, admitted with complications of unsafe abortions and who had taken advice for termination outside our institute, were included. The demographic profile, detailed history, first contact person for abortion advice, abortion service provider, method of termination and prior ultrasound were noted. Exclusion criteria was period of gestation more than 20 weeks and spontaneous abortions.Results: The study showed 92% contacted unqualified person, out of which 22.5%were uncertified doctors, 30.4% ANM’s, 16.7% Nurses, 12.3% consulted quacks and 10.9% Chemists. Among the abortion service providers 23.6% were uncertified doctors, 45.7% Chemists, 15% Nurses, 5.7% Quacks, 3.6% ANM’s and 6.4% had taken self-medication. Prior ultrasound was done in 28% cases. Method of termination was medical in 78.7% and surgical in 21.3% cases. Period of gestation was <8 weeks in 69.3%, 8-12 weeks in 27.3%, 12-16 weeks in 2%. 37.3% had parity 2 and 55.3% were Hindus.Conclusions: Despite availability of safe abortion services, unsafe abortion practices are still prevalent. Approved MTP centres, skilled and certified abortion providers must be easily accessible to women even in rural areas to safeguard their health

Peningkatan Kualitas Rumah Masyarakat Miskin Ekstrim oleh Peserta MSIB Kampus Merdeka Melalui Program Bantuan Stimulan Perumahan Swadaya (BSPS) di Kota Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur

Kebutuhan primer manusia salah satunya adalah membangun dan memiliki tempat tinggal. Rumah memiliki peran penting dalam kehidupan. Rumah juga menjadi sebuah awal peradaban dimana dari rumah kita dapat belajar banyak hal. Sehingga, tanpa adanya tempat tinggal manusia akan mengalami kesulitan melakukan kegiatan dan bertahan hidup. Sebuah tempat tinggal juga harus memenuhi kriteria layak huni agar penghuni dapat merasa aman dan nyaman saat didalam rumah tersebut. Namun faktanya tidak semua rumah masuk kedalam kategori layak huni, salah satu faktor utamanya diakibatkan oleh kemiskinan ekstrim. Di Indonesia, kemiskinan ekstrim mampu diakibatkan oleh banyak faktor, salah satunya adalah masyarakat yang memiliki penghasilan yang rendah. Kemiskinan ekstrim ini juga dapat berpengaruh besar terhadap kondisi tempat tinggal. Salah satu provinsi termiskin di Indonesia adalah Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur dengan persentase kemiskinan perkotaan dan perdesaan dengan jumlah sebesar 20.50%. hasil ini diperoleh oleh Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) pada bulan Maret 2022. Jurnal ini memiliki tujuan untuk menyampaikan hasil kontribusi dari mahasiswa Universitas Kristen Maranatha yang menjadi seorang peserta magang di MSIB Kampus Merdeka Angkatan 3 pada Direktorat Jenderal Perumahan Kementerian PUPR dalam mengatasi kemiskinan ekstrim bidang perumahan masyarakat dengan Program Bantuan Stimulan Perumahan Swadaya (BSPS) di Kota Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur

Peningkatan Kualitas Rumah Masyarakat Miskin Ekstrim oleh Peserta MSIB Kampus Merdeka Melalui Program Bantuan Stimulan Perumahan Swadaya (BSPS) di Kota Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur

Kebutuhan primer manusia salah satunya adalah membangun dan memiliki tempat tinggal. Rumah memiliki peran penting dalam kehidupan. Rumah juga menjadi sebuah awal peradaban dimana dari rumah kita dapat belajar banyak hal. Sehingga, tanpa adanya tempat tinggal manusia akan mengalami kesulitan melakukan kegiatan dan bertahan hidup. Sebuah tempat tinggal juga harus memenuhi kriteria layak huni agar penghuni dapat merasa aman dan nyaman saat didalam rumah tersebut. Namun faktanya tidak semua rumah masuk kedalam kategori layak huni, salah satu faktor utamanya diakibatkan oleh kemiskinan ekstrim. Di Indonesia, kemiskinan ekstrim mampu diakibatkan oleh banyak faktor, salah satunya adalah masyarakat yang memiliki penghasilan yang rendah. Kemiskinan ekstrim ini juga dapat berpengaruh besar terhadap kondisi tempat tinggal. Salah satu provinsi termiskin di Indonesia adalah Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur dengan persentase kemiskinan perkotaan dan perdesaan dengan jumlah sebesar 20.50%. hasil ini diperoleh oleh Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) pada bulan Maret 2022. Jurnal ini memiliki tujuan untuk menyampaikan hasil kontribusi dari mahasiswa Universitas Kristen Maranatha yang menjadi seorang peserta magang di MSIB Kampus Merdeka Angkatan 3 pada Direktorat Jenderal Perumahan Kementerian PUPR dalam mengatasi kemiskinan ekstrim bidang perumahan masyarakat dengan Program Bantuan Stimulan Perumahan Swadaya (BSPS) di Kota Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur

Structural insight into MR1-mediated recognition of the mucosal associated invariant T cell receptor

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells express a semiinvariant αβ T cell receptor (TCR) that binds MHC class I-like molecule (MR1). However, the molecular basis for MAIT TCR recognition by MR1 is unknown. In this study, we present the crystal structure of a human Vα7.2Jα33-Vβ2 MAIT TCR. Mutagenesis revealed highly conserved requirements for the MAIT TCR-MR1 interaction across different human MAIT TCRs stimulated by distinct microbial sources. Individual residues within the MAIT TCR β chain were dispensable for the interaction with MR1, whereas the invariant MAIT TCR α chain controlled specificity through a small number of residues, which are conserved across species and located within the Vα-Jα regions. Mutagenesis of MR1 showed that only two residues, which were centrally positioned and on opposing sides of the antigen-binding cleft of MR1, were essential for MAIT cell activation. The mutagenesis data are consistent with a centrally located MAIT TCR-MR1 docking that was dominated by the α chain of the MAIT TCR. This candidate docking mode contrasts with that of the NKT TCR-CD1d-antigen interaction, in which both the α and β chain of the NKT TCR is required for ligation above the F\u27-pocket of CD1d

A structural basis for selection and cross-species reactivity of the semi-invariant NKT cell receptor in CD1d/glycolipid recognition

Little is known regarding the basis for selection of the semi-invariant αβ T cell receptor (TCR) expressed by natural killer T (NKT) cells or how this mediates recognition of CD1d–glycolipid complexes. We have determined the structures of two human NKT TCRs that differ in their CDR3β composition and length. Both TCRs contain a conserved, positively charged pocket at the ligand interface that is lined by residues from the invariant TCR α- and semi-invariant β-chains. The cavity is centrally located and ideally suited to interact with the exposed glycosyl head group of glycolipid antigens. Sequences common to mouse and human invariant NKT TCRs reveal a contiguous conserved “hot spot” that provides a basis for the reactivity of NKT cells across species. Structural and functional data suggest that the CDR3β loop provides a plasticity mechanism that accommodates recognition of a variety of glycolipid antigens presented by CD1d. We propose a model of NKT TCR–CD1d–glycolipid interaction in which the invariant CDR3α loop is predicted to play a major role in determining the inherent bias toward CD1d. The findings define a structural basis for the selection of the semi-invariant αβ TCR and the unique antigen specificity of NKT cells

Natural HLA Class I Polymorphism Controls the Pathway of Antigen Presentation and Susceptibility to Viral Evasion

HLA class I polymorphism creates diversity in epitope specificity and T cell repertoire. We show that HLA polymorphism also controls the choice of Ag presentation pathway. A single amino acid polymorphism that distinguishes HLA-B*4402 (Asp116) from B*4405 (Tyr116) permits B*4405 to constitutively acquire peptides without any detectable incorporation into the transporter associated with Ag presentation (TAP)-associated peptide loading complex even under conditions of extreme peptide starvation. This mode of peptide capture is less susceptible to viral interference than the conventional loading pathway used by HLA-B*4402 that involves assembly of class I molecules within the peptide loading complex. Thus, B*4402 and B*4405 are at opposite extremes of a natural spectrum in HLA class I dependence on the PLC for Ag presentation. These findings unveil a new layer of MHC polymorphism that affects the generic pathway of Ag loading, revealing an unsuspected evolutionary trade-off in selection for optimal HLA class I loading versus effective pathogen evasion

Lack of heterologous cross-reactivity towards HLA-A*02:01 restricted viral epitopes is underpinned by distinct αβT cell receptor signatures

αβT cell receptor (TCR) genetic diversity is outnumbered by the quantity of pathogenic epitopes to be recognized. To provide efficient protective anti-viral immunity, a single TCR ideally needs to cross-react with a multitude of pathogenic epitopes. However, the frequency, extent, and mechanisms of TCR cross-reactivity remain unclear, with conflicting results on anti-viral T cell cross-reactivity observed in humans. Namely, both the presence and lack of T cell cross-reactivity have been reported with HLA-A*02:01-restricted epitopes from the Epstein-Barr and influenza viruses (BMLF-1 and M158, respectively) or with the hepatitis C and influenza viruses (NS31073 and NA231, respectively). Given the high sequence similarity of these paired viral epitopes (56 and 88%, respectively), the ubiquitous nature of the three viruses, and the high frequency of the HLA-A*02:01 allele, we selected these epitopes to establish the extent of T cell cross-reactivity. We combined ex vivo and in vitro functional assays, single-cell αβTCR repertoire sequencing, and structural analysis of these four epitopes in complex with HLA-A*02:01 to determine whether they could lead to heterologous T cell cross-reactivity. Our data show that sequence similarity does not translate to structural mimicry of the paired epitopes in complexes with HLA-A*02:01, resulting in induction of distinct αβTCR repertoires. The differences in epitope architecture might be an obstacle for TCR recognition, explaining the lack of T cell cross-reactivity observed. In conclusion, sequence similarity does not necessarily result in structural mimicry, and despite the need for cross-reactivity, antigen-specific TCR repertoires can remain highly specific