The nature of reciprocity in international service-learning : a case study

This thesis reports an investigation into the nature of reciprocity in international service-learning with a specific focus on the service and learning experiences of the service-providers and community partners. The purpose of this research is to collect and analyse evidence about the nature of reciprocity in international service-learning. The research is a critical interpretative research which applies a case study method as its research strategy, and follows a flexible design. Data evidence from semi-structured interviews are interpreted through thematic analysis, and documents are interpreted by using critical discourse analysis. Through investigating the implementation of the ‘Student-Volunteer-based Chinese Language and Culture Education’ (SVCLCE) Program from 2012 to 2014, it was discovered that partners were driven by exchange-oriented reciprocity, and they each enacted generativity and influence-oriented reciprocity to facilitate their interchange of benefits. Their satisfaction with the collaboration was fundamentally determined by the achievement of benefits, which was influenced by personal factors and the power dynamics in the broader context. Thus, it was found that relationship-oriented reciprocity should be enacted between the partners to bring them together for progressive collaboration, despite their differences, while not glossing over the root issues regarding inequality and hegemony in the broader context of the collaboration. Furthermore, it is acknowledged that establishing a relationship is time consuming, and that a strategy of supervision and validation of partners should be involved as a complement for the development of the collaboration

Elevation of cardiac glycolysis reduces pyruvate dehydrogenase but increases glucose oxidation.

Heart failure is the most frequent cause of mortality in western countries. Currently, there is no cure treatment for heart failure and the long term survival rate following heart failure is poor, with one third of patients dying within a year of diagnosis. Thus, new therapeutic targets have to be developed. Enhanced glycolysis is a very common phenomenon in the development of heart failure and maybe a target for drug development. However it is not know whether the increased glycolysis is a cause or an effect of heart failure. Also, metabolic modulators to increase glucose use by the heart have been used acutely in treatment in heart failure but the long term impact of increased glycolysis is not known. To understand whether chronically increased glycolysis specifically in the heart is beneficial or detrimental, glycolysis was chronically elevated by cardiac-specific overexpression of a modified, phosphatase-deficient 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2) in transgenic mice. PFK-2 controls the level offructose-2, 6-bisphosphate (Fru-2, 6-P2), an important regulator of phosphofructokinase and glycolysis. These transgenic mice were used to test two hypotheses: (1) Long term elevation of cardiac Fru-2, 6-P2 will increase glycolysis and alter glucose oxidation. (2) Chronically increased cardiac glycolysis will be detrimental to the heart. To test these hypotheses we carried out three specific aims: Aim I was to produce transgenic mice with overexpression of phosphatase-deficient 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2). Aim 2 was to compare metabolites and glucose metabolism in transgenic and control samples using whole hearts, Langendorff perfused hearts and cultured adult cardiomyocytes. Aim 3 was to assess whether chronically increased glycolysis promotes cardiac fibrosis, hypertrophy or impaired function. The results demonstrated a new line of transgenic mice called Mk, with cardiac expression of modified PFK2 and increased levels of Fru-2, 6-P2. Mk hearts had elevated glycolysis that was less sensitive to inhibition by palmitate. Mk cardiomyocytes had increased glucose oxidation despite reduced pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) activity. PDC activity was decreased because of reduced protein levels of PDC subunit Ela and because of increased PDC Ela phosphorylation. Mk hearts had increased mitochondrial level of MCT -2 transporter protein and malate content. The increased malate content and elevated MCT2 expression suggested that anaplerosis pathways in transgenic hearts might explain the paradoxical finding of reduced PDC activity and elevated glucose oxidation. Functional studies revealed that the elevation in glycolysis made transgenic cardiomyocytes highly resistant to contractile inhibition by hypoxia, in vitro. However, in vivo the transgene had no protective effects on ischemia-reperfusion injury. Furthermore, the transgenic hearts exhibited pathologic changes that included a 17% increase of the heart weight-to-body weight ratio, greater cardiomyocyte length and increased cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, chronic elevation of glycolysis produced more pathological effects than protective effects on the heart

The cloud-radiative forcing of the U.S. landfalling atmospheric rivers

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are narrow channels in the atmosphere that transport an enormous amount of moisture from the tropics to the higher latitudes. Streaks of highly reflective clouds are observed along with the ARs in satellite imagery. These clouds both influence the moisture transport of ARs, as well as modify the Earth-Atmospheric energy budget through pathways such as cloud-radiative forcing (CRF). This dissertation studies the CRF of the U.S. Landfalling ARs in weather and climate scales. Three crucial questions are addressed. First, how do clouds produced by the ARs modulate the moisture and heat balance of the Earth-Atmospheric system? Even though studies of ARs date back to the 90s, past research has been primarily focused on their hydrological impacts. We addressed this research gap by comparing the dominant types of precipitating clouds and convection of two ARs. Through quantifying their effects on the energy balance in the midlatitudes, we found that when deep convection was the dominant cloud types of an AR, impressive CRF cooling was produced. Second, what are the sufficient climate conditions for the extensive CRF in the continental U.S.? We studied 60 ARs that reached the California coast (the Southwest ARs) and 60 ARs that reached Pacific Northwest during Nov--Mar, 2000--2008. It was found that when these West-Coast ARs were followed by the moisture surge from the Gulf of Mexico (the Gulf-Coast AR), it resulted in apparent statewide CRF. Such condition happened more frequently in the Southwest-AR scenario. Third, how does the subgrid-scale-convection-induced CRF influence the moisture transport of ARs?We ran two WRF ARW simulations for a Southwest-AR that was followed by a Gulf-Coast AR. The only difference between the two simulations was one considered the CRF of subgrid-scale clouds while the other did not. By comparing the two simulations, we found that the subgrid-scale-convection-induced CRF helped prolong the lifespan of clouds in an AR, thus enabling moisture to be transported further downstream. In short, this work helps improve our understanding of CRF of the U.S. landfalling ARs from both weather and climate perspectives. Our results are useful for validating the representation of clouds and radiation processes in weather and climate models, thereby help to improve AR predictions

China’s “new normal” in international investment agreements

As it emerges as both a significant inward and a significant outward FDI country, China is adopting new approaches to international investment agreements. This Perspective discusses China’s “new normal” in international investment agreements, namely that China is adapting to prevailing international investment law standards

Bridging Empathy

As a jeweler, ally, and sympathetic witness to the traumatic stories of survivors, my work aims to support the process of reconstruction and reintegration for victims and the greater community. To move beyond isolation, resentment, and debilitating helplessness requires care and support. I want my jewelry to act as catalysts in the healing process by straddling both sides of the trauma-induced situation, to create greater awareness and empathy. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence shows that women are more likely to become victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other forms of physical and psychological abuse in unhealthy emotional relationships. These abusive behaviors can undermine women\u27s self-esteem and sense of self-worth, leading to mental trauma. Women in such emotional relationships may feel powerless, controlled, threatened, fearful, and isolated. These experiences can lead to symptoms of PTSD, such as flashbacks, avoidance, emotional numbness, and insomnia. Trauma can make us shut down, collapse, freeze, or retreat. The sensory world of the victim is often a forbidden zone that they are unwilling to explore. It is well-known that psychological therapy, medication, social support, and self-care for victims can aid in the healing of psychological injuries. Similarly, could the act of wearing jewelry, as a potential form of therapy, assist in the recovery process? In the following section, I will explore the societal support, opportunities, and environments that vulnerable people may need and how jewelry can serve as a catalyst to bring these fragmented and marginalized memories into awareness and reactions. It\u27s essential to help people overcome the innate tendency to turn away from the painful realities that exist in the world. Developing sensitivity to acknowledge victims\u27 testimonies in order to gain a greater comprehension of trauma is a choice we must make

The next generation of Chinese investment treaties: A balanced paradigm in an era of change

China’s Foreign Investment Law reflects substantial changes in China’s foreign investment legal regime. This Perspective discusses two new characteristics of the new generation of Chinese investment treaties: they are based on a balanced paradigm and they are becoming more influential at the domestic level

Research on Application of Cognitive-Driven Human-Computer Interaction

Human-computer interaction is an important research content of intelligent manufacturing human factor engineering. Natural human-computer interaction conforms to the cognition of users' habits and can efficiently process inaccurate information interaction, thus improving user experience and reducing cognitive load. Through the analysis of the information interaction process, user interaction experience cognition and human-computer interaction principles in the human-computer interaction system, a cognitive-driven human-computer interaction information transmission model is established. Investigate the main interaction modes in the current human-computer interaction system, and discuss its application status, technical requirements and problems. This paper discusses the analysis and evaluation methods of interaction modes in human-computer system from three levels of subjective evaluation, physiological measurement and mathematical method evaluation, so as to promote the understanding of inaccurate information to achieve the effect of interaction self-adaptation and guide the design and optimization of human-computer interaction system. According to the development status of human-computer interaction in intelligent environment, the research hotspots, problems and development trends of human-computer interaction are put forward

Myelodysplastic Syndrome Combined with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report

The literature on myelodysplastic syndrome combined with systemic lupus erythematosus is rarely reported. We reviewed and analysed the clinical data of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome combined with systemic lupus erythematosus who had skin petechiae and fever as the main symptoms, and reviewed the relevant theories. There may be a close relationship between myelodysplastic syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus, and further research is needed on the pathogenesis. When patients with autoimmune diseases (including systemic lupus erythematosus) presented with blood cell reduction，it is important to pay attention to them, and early bone marrow examination should be carried out to screen for the presence of hematological malignancies

Analysis of co-authorship network and the correlation between academic performance and social network measures

This project conducted link analysis and graph cluster analysis to analyze the co-authorship network of 166 researchers, mainly from three top universities in Shanghai, China. The publication data of researchers in the area of social science between 2014 and 2016 were collected from Scopus, and the g index was calculated as their performance indicator. For this project, the centrality measures, the efficiency of the egocentric network were calculated as well as authorities and hubs were identified in the link analysis. In addition, clustering algorithms based on betweenness centrality were used to conduct the graph cluster analysis. Finally, in order to identify productive researchers, this project employed the Spearman correlation test to analyze the correlation between a researcher's performance and social network measures. Results from this test indicate that except for closeness centrality and degree centrality, the correlation between g-index and betweenness centrality, eigenvector centrality and efficiency is significant