Wildlife Exploitation

The commercial trade threatens species worldwid

Australia\u27s Kangaroo Slaughter

Millions of animals die for shoes and noveltie

Maximizing Learning Opportunities Through Activity Modification

While the challenges of including all students in physical education are real, there is one overriding consideration: How successful is each child as a result of the teaching approach adopted? Considering the importance of accommodating all students, it is essential that practitioners explore new ways of teaching, discover a range of strategies for including students with diverse abilities, and continually rethink and revise lessons and activities. More than asking which students to include and how to accommodate only these students, practitioners should be asking how they can modify activities for all students to be successful. More than likely, the answer to this question is also complex. Yet, it is not easily discarded when the alternative is a class in which only the skilled feel good about their involvement and achieve desired outcomes, and those less skilled are at risk for ceasing physical activity participation. It also ignores those most skilled who stop participating due to a lack of challenging activities and subsequent boredom. Teaching approaches, inclusive of all, are critical to the success and commitment of all students. While good inclusionary practice takes time and support, the benefits are far reaching

The Empirical Determinants of Inventory Levels in High-Volume Manufacturing

This study uses survey data on several hundred automotive suppliers in North America to evaluate the determinants of inventory levels in high-volume discrete parts manufacturing. We assess the magnitude of raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods inventories, as well as production lot sizes and through-put times. Results are broadly consistent with the EOQ formula and related models of optimal inventory holding. Inventories are shown to be jointly determined by technological factors and managerial practices. Several categories of managerial practices are found to be important. Low inventories are linked to employee training and problem solving activities and frequent communication with customers. More unexpected findings show the absence of inventory differences between USowned and Japanese-owned plants operating in the United States. This suggests that Japanese transplant parts makers have not been completely successful in adapting Japanese manufacturing methods to the US environment.The MIT International Motor Vehicle Program and the UCLA Academic Senate for financial support

An automated Internet application to help patients with bipolar disorder track social rhythm stabilization.

This column describes a pilot study of a fully automated, Internet-based program that provides a key element of interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, a form of psychotherapy shown to be effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder when combined with mood-stabilizing medication. Participants (N=64) recorded the time they completed activities of daily living and their mood at the time of each entry. After 90 days they demonstrated a 31% increase in social rhythm stability and a small, though statistically significant, decrease in symptoms of abnormal mood. Internet-based programs can enhance access to a best practice in the management of bipolar disorder

Is retention of the acetabular component at revision surgery a long-term solution?

BACKGROUND: Acetabular retention in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) may be advantageous, yet long-term survival data is limited. Thus, we investigated long-term survivorship of retained acetabular components in revision THA with analysis of rerevision rate, instability risk, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed 98 hips with polyethylene wear and/or osteolysis that were revised with retained acetabular components. Acetabular inclination and anteversion were measured from prerevision radiographs. A retrospective chart review was performed, collecting outcomes of interest including Harris hip score, instability events, and rerevision surgery. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the risk of revision over time. Predictors of survival including acetabular component position were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Average follow-up was 13 years (range, 5-24). Survivorship rates at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 89.7%, 81.6%, 70.8%, and 63.8%, respectively. There was improvement in average Harris hip score (61 to 76, CONCLUSIONS: Retention of a well-fixed acetabular component in revision THA provides acceptable long-term outcomes with a 15-year survivorship of 71%. Instability and aseptic loosening were the most common reasons for rerevision. Surgeons may consider retaining the acetabular component at revision surgery if the implant is well-fixed and well-positioned

Autophagy in Lysosomal Storage Disorders

Lysosomes are ubiquitous intracellular organelles that have an acidic internal pH, and play crucial roles in cellular clearance. Numerous functions depend on normal lysosomes, including the turnover of cellular constituents, cholesterol homeostasis, downregulation of surface receptors, inactivation of pathogenic organisms, repair of the plasma membrane and bone remodeling. Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are characterized by progressive accumulation of undigested macromolecules within the cell due to lysosomal dysfunction. As a consequence, many tissues and organ systems are affected, including brain, viscera, bone and cartilage. The progressive nature of phenotype development is one of the hallmarks of LSDs. In recent years biochemical and cell biology studies of LSDs have revealed an ample spectrum of abnormalities in a variety of cellular functions. These include defects in signaling pathways, calcium homeostasis, lipid biosynthesis and degradation and intracellular trafficking. Lysosomes also play a fundamental role in the autophagic pathway by fusing with autophagosomes and digesting their content. Considering the highly integrated function of lysosomes and autophagosomes it was reasonable to expect that lysosomal storage in LSDs would have an impact upon autophagy. The goal of this review is to provide readers with an overview of recent findings that have been obtained through analysis of the autophagic pathway in several types of LSDs, supporting the idea that LSDs could be seen primarily as “autophagy disorders.