The Millenium olives (<i>Olea europea</i> L.) in Lebanon: rejuvenation, micropropagation and olive oil variation during maturation and conservation

This study aimed to establish culture initiation from axillary buds in vivo and in vitro of Bchealehs millennium trees (Olea europea L.). Oil parameters were also studied. In vitro, the treatment which gave the best survival rate (56.7%) was Carbendazim (2g/l) and fosethyl-aluminium (6g/l) as fungicides, NaOCl (15%) and Chloroxylenol (2.5%) as detergent, and oxytetracycline (1mg/l). MS, OM and WPM supplemented with BAP (2, 3 and 4mg/l) gave the best proliferation rate (47%), newly developed explants (1.35) and multiplication rate (1.08) were obtained during autumn on MS media followed by OM and WPM. The longest explants (1.78cm) and the highest number of newly developed leaves (3.58) were observed on the MS media added with 3mg/l BAP. During subcultures, all parameters decreased. After elongation phase, MS (2mg/l of NAA) gave the highest rooted explants (22%). Explants which developed callus on their base were rooted (23%) without any subculture. The mean value of rooted Bchealehs cuttings during 2010 was 10.67%, while this amount didn’t exceed 4% during 2009. The highest oil content (28.96%), flesh/pit ratio (6.63:1), and weight (4.31g) were recorded during the last week of November 2010. One year after conservation, Bchealehs oil met the IOOC and Libnor standards for exportation of extra virgin olive oil with maximum recorded value of free acid (0.41); peroxide value (19.1) and iodine value 87.2

Lagrangian Intersections in Toric Del Pezzo Surfaces

We extend a recent intersection result of R. Hind and E. Kerman for integral Lagrangian tori in $\mathbb{S}^{2} \times \mathbb{S}^{2}$ to all toric Del Pezzo surfaces. An integral torus is one whose relative area homomorphism is integer-valued, and we seek a maximal packing. By definition, this is a disjoint collection $\{L_{i}\}$ of integral Lagrangian tori with the following property: any other integral Lagrangian torus not in this collection must intersect at least one of the $L_{i}$. We show that one can always find such a packing consisting of only the Clifford torus.Comment: 61 pages. Comments welcome

Mechanisms of Airway Remodelling

Asthma is an inflammatory disease characterised by tissue remodelling. A prominent feature of this remodelling is an increase in the number and size of the blood vessels- formed from pre-existing capillaries – angiogenesis (Siddiqui et al., 2007; Wilson, 2003). This is triggered by many different endogenous angiogenic stimulators such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and inhibited by endogenous angiogenic inhibitors such as tumstatin. Tumstatin is the non-collagenous domain (NC1) of the collagen IV α3 chain which, when cleaved, inhibits endothelial cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. Experiments described in this thesis have for the first time demonstrated the absence of tumstatin in the airways of individuals with asthma and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) as well as the functional responses to tumstatin as an angiogenic inhibitor, both in vitro and in vivo, in the airway. Although tumstatin was absent from the airways of asthmatic and LAM individuals it was present in the airways of individuals with no airways disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis. No significant difference was seen in the levels of the Goodpasture Binding Protein (GPBP), a phosphorylating protein responsible for the alternate folding of tumstatin, between asthmatic, LAM and individuals with no airways disease. The αvβ3 integrin, reported to be necessary for the activity of tumstatin, as well as the individual αv and β3 sub-units were shown to be equally expressed in the airways of all patient groups. Co-localisation of tumstatin, VEGF and the αvβ3 integrin was seen in the disease free airways, however, a different pattern of VEGF and the αvβ3 integrin expression was observed in asthmatic and LAM airways with minimal co-localisation. Tumstatin was detected in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL-f) samples from asthmatics and individuals with no airway disease, however there was no significant difference in the level of expression between the two groups. It was demonstrated that the tumstatin detected in the serum and BAL-f samples from asthmatics and individuals with no airway disease was part of the whole collagen IV α3 chain and not in its free and potentially active form. The ability of recombinant tumstatin to inhibit tube formation and proliferation of primary pulmonary endothelial cells was demonstrated for the first time. Further, the functional response of tumstatin was demonstrated in vivo in a mouse model of allergic airway disease. Tumstatin inhibited angiogenesis in the airway and decreased airway hyperresponsiveness. Whether there is potential for tumstatin, or a derivative thereof, to be of therapeutic value in airways diseases in which angiogenesis is a component should be the subject of future studies

Kelvin Burzon Interview

Kelvin Burzon is a Filipino-American artist whose work explores intersections of sexuality, race, gender and religion. He was born on March 26, 1989, in Bataan, Philippines. As a child growing up in a Filipino culture, Burzon’s initial ambition was to become a Catholic Priest. “I have always been interested in the religion’s role in culture and familial relationships and have been drawn to the religion’s traditions, imagery, theatricality, and its psychological vestige.” His work is inspired by cerebral influences growing up in and around the church. “My cultural and familial identity, my memories as a child, cannot be separated from the church. It was an integral part of what it means to be Filipino.” Burzon recently received MFA degree from Indiana University\u27s School of Art + Design where he developed his most recent bodies of work. There, he is a performing member of the African American Dance Company where he flourishes in a collaborative performance outlet. This outlet blossomed interests in critical race theory, photography’s role in people’s social identities, story-telling, archival gaps and performance. He received his bachelor’s from Wabash College where he studied studio art and music. There, he became versed in painting, sculpture, ceramics and photography. He studied music history, violin and piano performance, vocal performance, as well as years of ethnomusicology. He was a musician and dancer in Wamidan World Music Ensemble in Crawfordsville, IN. He studied abroad in Florence Italy where he was exposed to a variety of religious works by Renaissance masters as well as studying oil painting techniques. Kelvin Burzon continues to push his work with inspirations from the past, recontextualized narratives and imagery of religion, paired with the never-ending stimulation and inspiration from the LGBTQ+ community. Burzon seeks to push the limits of his work by visually redefining and creating a new narrative for himself and those like him. Taken from: http://www.kelvinburzon.com/abou

Effect of a Modified Stepped Osteotomy on the Primary Stability of Dental Implants in Type D4 Bone: A Cadaver Study

Purpose. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an alternative surgical technique on endosseous dental implant stability parameters in Class D4 Bone. Significant differences between insertion torques (Ncm) produced by a conventional osteotomy verses a modified stepped osteotomy were examined. Significant differences between Implant Stability Quotients (ISQ) produced by a conventional osteotomy verses a modified stepped osteotomy were examined. Correlations between Hounsfield units (HU), Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ), and insertion torque (IT) were examined.;Materials and methods. Sixteen preserved cadaver heads were radiographically examined with a Toshiba AquilionRTM 64 Fast Whole Body Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner. A total of 22 implants were placed in the maxillary bone of nine preserved cadavers which possessed Misch Class D4 bone with adequate volume for this study. The control group consisted of 11 conventional osteotomies. The test group consisted of eleven modified stepped osteotomies. The maximum insertion torque (Ncm) data were recorded with the Zimmer(TM) Implant Motor and confirmed with the Thommen(TM) Torque Driver. Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) was measured with the Osstell Mentor(TM) (Integration Diagnostics AB, Goteborg, Sweden) via resonance frequency analysis. Significant differences insertion torques (IT) and Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) were analyzed with a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Correlations were analyzed with the Pearson Correlation Test.;Results. Maxillary cadaver bone utilized in this study ranged from 173.4--312.1 HU. The mean insertion torque in the conventional osteotomy group was 15.91 Ncm. The mean insertion torque in the modified stepped osteotomy group was 26.82 Ncm. A Wilcoxon Signed Rank test also showed the modified stepped osteotomy had a significantly greater mean insertion torque than the conventional osteotomy (S = 33.00 p = 0.0010). A Wilcoxon Signed Rank test also showed no significant difference between ISQ in the conventional osteotomy group and the modified stepped osteotomy test group (S = 17.00, p = 0.01475). Pearson correlations showed a significant positive correlation between the insertion torques in the conventional osteotomy test group and the modified stepped osteotomy test group (r = 0.817, p = 0.0021). Significant correlation between the ISQ in the modified stepped osteotomy and HU also found (r = 0.7099, p = 0.0144). There were no other significant correlations between HU and ISQ. There were no significant correlations between HU and IT. There were no significant correlations between the ISQ in the conventional osteotomy test group and the modified stepped osteotomy group. There were no significant correlations between ISQ and IT in the conventional osteotomies. There were no significant correlations between ISQ and IT in the modified stepped osteotomies.;Conclusion. Within the limits of the study, the following conclusion can be drawn: The modified stepped osteotomy resulted in significantly greater implant stability in terms of insertion torque (IT) than the conventional osteotomy in Misch Class D4 bone. Significant correlations were found between the insertion torque (IT) produced in the modified stepped osteotomy and bone density (HU). No other correlations between insertion torque (IT) and bone density (HU) were found. No correlation could be found between insertion torque (IT) and Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ). No correlation could be found between Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) and bone density (HU)

S09RS SGR No. 8 (Bush)

A RESOLUTION To Commend Former President George W. Bush on eight years of dedicated service to the United States of America

Guest Recital: Wissam Boustany, Flute Caroline Palmer, Piano

Kemp Recital Hall Monday Evening March 16, 1992 8:00p.