521 research outputs found
An Investigation of Feral Children and Original Sin
In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay\u27s first paragraph.
The subject of feral children has often been explored from a variety of viewpoints and angles. Frequently, such topics as education, language acquisition, emotional stability, mental stability and behavioral patterns are reviewed. However, the motive of actions or the inherent tendency of feral children to behave one way or another is often overlooked. The question remains whether feral children (prior to their integration into society), are in possession of original sin. Many maintain that all humans are born with an inherent desire to do evil. However, is it the result of social stimulation or merely an innate propensity to sin? Before such a question can be answered, a short discourse on original sin is necessary. Thus, I intend to explore and discuss the theories of original sin presented by both St. Augustine and Jean Jacques Rousseau. After creating a basis for understanding original sin, case studies of various feral children (including the wolf-girls of India, Genie and Victor of Aveyron) will be reviewed. These case studies will allow analysis of the theory of original sin in feral children. I hope to explore whether feral children possess a sin nature even though they have not been exposed to society and have been living âinnocentâ wild lives. Furthermore, I wish to explore what solution or salvation remains for feral children and humanity in general, if indeed humanity is âcursedâ with a sin nature
Joan of Arc & Francis of Assisi: Some Parallels
In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay\u27s first paragraph.
and passionate about their God. Despite the fact that they lived at different times in history, both were revolutionaries in their own way. As such, these auspicious individuals warrant the attention of people today. The biographies, writings, stained glass paintings and prayers of these saints give us a small glimpse into their character
Elizabeth Banner, interviewed by Shannon Regelsberger
Elizabeth Banner was raised in the Brockport area, and many of her childhood friends were the children of contemporary Brockport College professors. She attended and graduated from the Brockport Central School District. She earned her Bachelor\u27s degree in music education at Ithaca College, then earned her Master of Arts in Liberal Studies at SUNY Brockport. Since the early nineties, Banner has taught two courses, children\u27s methods class for music and Intro to Music, at SUNY Brockport, while continuing to be involved in the drama department at the Brockport Central School District
The external relations of European political cooperation and the future of EPC
Digitised version produced by the EUI Library and made available online in 2020
Rainwater in Egypt: quantity, distribution and harvesting
Egypt has limited water resources, and it will be under water stress within the year 2030. Therefore, Egypt should consider the natural and non-conventional water resources to overcome such problem. Rain harvesting is one solution; but not all; particularly on the north coast by the Mediterranean Sea and the Red sea. In this paper, the rainwater issue is reviewed and discussed in terms of the quantities and distribution at different selected areas in Egypt. The amount of rain falls at different location in Egypt was collected for a period of 16 months. The data indicated that rainfall in Egypt is very scarce, with an annual average of 12 mm and ranges from 0 mm/year in the desert to 200 mm/year in the north coastal region. The maximum total amount of rain does not exceed 1.8 billion m3per year. However, the average annual amount of rainfall water that is effectively utilized for agriculture purposes is estimated to be 1 billion m3. Harvesting pilot plant was constructed and implemented in Alexandria directly on the Mediterranean Sea. The harvested rain was used for irrigation and treated for drinking. It was, therefore, recommended to develop sustainable catchments at appropriate locations in the rain-fed areas at the north coast as well as cost effective grafting of the indigenous technologies with the innovative techniques
Histotype-Dependent Oligodendroglial PrP Pathology in Sporadic CJD: A Frequent Feature of the M2C âStrainâ
In sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, molecular subtypes are neuropathologically well identified by the lesioning profile and the immunohistochemical PrPd deposition pattern in the grey matter (histotypes). While astrocytic PrP pathology has been reported in variant CJD and some less frequent histotypes (e.g., MV2K), oligodendroglial pathology has been rarely addressed. We assessed a series of sCJD cases with the aim to identify particular histotypes that could be more prone to harbor oligodendroglial PrPd. Particularly, the MM2C phenotype, in both its more "pure" and its mixed MM1+2C or MV2K+2C forms, showed more frequent oligodendroglial PrP pathology in the underlying white matter than the more common MM1/MV1 and VV2 histotypes, and was more abundant in patients with a longer disease duration. We concluded that the MM2C strain was particularly prone to accumulate PrPd in white matter oligodendrocytes
The bioenergetic role of dioxygen and the terminal oxidase(s) in cyanobacteria
AbstractOwing to the release of 13 largely or totally sequenced cyanobacterial genomes (see http://www.kazusa.or.jp/cyano and www.jgi.doe.gov/), it is now possible to critically assess and compare the most neglected aspect of cyanobacterial physiology, i.e., cyanobacterial respiration, also on the grounds of pure molecular biology (gene sequences). While there is little doubt that cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) do form the largest, most diversified and in both evolutionary and ecological respects most significant group of (micro)organisms on our earth, and that what renders our blue planet earth to what it is, viz. the O2-containing atmosphere, dates back to the oxygenic photosynthetic activity of primordial cyanobacteria about 3.2Ă109 years ago, there is still an amazing lack of knowledge on the second half of bioenergetic oxygen metabolism in cyanobacteria, on (aerobic) respiration. Thus, the purpose of this review is threefold: (1) to point out the unprecedented role of the cyanobacteria for maintaining the delicate steady state of our terrestrial biosphere and atmosphere through a major contribution to the poising of oxygenic photosynthesis against aerobic respiration (âthe global biological oxygen cycleâ); (2) to briefly highlight the membrane-bound electron-transport assemblies of respiration and photosynthesis in the unique two-membrane system of cyanobacteria (comprising cytoplasmic membrane and intracytoplasmic or thylakoid membranes, without obvious anastomoses between them); and (3) to critically compare the (deduced) amino acid sequences of the multitude of hypothetical terminal oxidases in the nine fully sequenced cyanobacterial species plus four additional species where at least the terminal oxidases were sequenced. These will then be compared with sequences of other proton-pumping haemâcopper oxidases, with special emphasis on possible mechanisms of electron and proton transfer
Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid tau and neurofilament concentrations in rapidly progressive neurological syndromes: a neuropathology-based cohort
Background and purpose:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau and neurofilament light chain (NFâL) proteins have proved to be reliable biomarkers for neuronal damage; however, there is a strong need for bloodâbased tests.
Methods:
The present study included 132 autopsy cases with rapidly progressive neurological syndromes, including Alzheimer disease (AD) (21), sporadic (65) and genetic (21) CreutzfeldtâJakob disease (CJD), 25 cases with vascular, neoplastic and inflammatory alterations, and additionally 18 healthy control individuals. CSF tau and NFâL concentrations were measured by enzymeâlinked immunosorbent assay. Plasma tau and NFâL concentrations were measured using ultraâsensitive single molecule array technology.
Results:
Plasma and CSF tau (R = 0.59, P < 0.001) and NFâL (R = 0.69, P < 0.001) levels correlated significantly (Spearman test). Plasma tau and NFâL levels were significantly higher in all disease groups compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used and area under the curve values for comparisons with controls were 0.82 (AD), 0.94 (sporadic CJD), 0.92 (genetic CJD) and 0.83 (other neurological disorders) for plasma tau and 0.99, 0.99, 1.00 and 0.96 for plasma NFâL, respectively. Molecular subtyping of sporadic CJD showed a strong effect (linear logistic regression) on plasma tau (P < 0.001) but not NFâL levels (P = 0.19).
Conclusion:
Plasma tau and NFâL concentrations are strongly increased in CJD and show similar diagnostic performance to the corresponding CSF measure. Molecular subtypes of sporadic CJD show different levels of plasma tau. Although not diseaseâspecific, these findings support the use of plasma tau and NFâL as tools to identify, or to rule out, neurodegeneratio
A review of nature-based solutions for urban water management in European circular cities: a critical assessment based on case studies and literature
Abstract
Nature-based solutions (NBS) can protect, manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems. They are a multidisciplinary, integrated approach to address societal challenges and some natural hazards effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. NBS applications can be easily noticed in circular cities, establishing an urban system that is regenerative and accessible. This paper aims to offer a review on NBS for urban water management from the literature and some relevant projects running within the COST Action 'Implementing nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city'. The method used in the study is based on a detailed tracking of specific keywords in the literature using Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Academia.edu, ScienceDirect and Scopus. Based on this review, three main applications were identified: (i) flood and drought protection; (ii) the water-food-energy nexus; and (iii) water purification. The paper shows that NBS provide additional benefits, such as improving water quality, increasing biodiversity, obtaining social co-benefits, improving urban microclimate, and the reduction of energy consumption by improving indoor climate. The paper concludes that a systemic change to NBS should be given a higher priority and be preferred over conventional water infrastructure
Nasal IL-13 production identifies patients with late phase allergic responses
BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge on how local cytokine secretion patterns after nasal allergen challenge correlate with clinical symptoms especially with regards to the "late allergic response" (LAR) which occurs in approximately 40-50% of allergic patients. OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to characterise the immunological and clinical nasal responses to birch pollen allergen challenge with a special focus on the LAR. METHODS: In this randomised double-blinded placebo-control trial, birch pollen allergic participants were challenged with pollen extract (n=20) or placebo (n=10) on three consecutive days. On days one and three nasal secretions were collected at selected time points over a 24h time course for the measurement of 33 inflammatory mediators. Clinical responses were determined through subjective symptom scores and objective nasal airflow measurements. RESULTS: Provoked participants had significantly greater clinical responses and showed significant increases in tryptase and sST2 within minutes compared to placebo. Eight out of 20 provoked participants displayed high IL-13 levels 2-8 hours after allergen provocation. This group also showed significant changes in clinical parameters, with a secondary drop in nasal airflow measured by peak nasal inspiratory flow and increased symptoms of nasal obstruction which significantly differed from IL-13 non responders at 6 hours. CONCLUSION: IL-13 response status correlates with cytokine and clinical responses in the late phase after allergen provocation
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