Novel Viral asnd Astrocytic Contributors to Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological seizure disorder affecting approximately 1% of the world’s population. Seizure disorders are numerous, heterogeneous, and can develop from a multitude of physiological conditions including but not limited to interneuron dysfunction, ion channel mutations, irregular development and layering of the cerebral cortex, abnormalities in cell signaling pathways, brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, and mitochondrial diseases. In many seizure disorders, gene mutations (primary) cause physiological abnormalities (secondary) that result in seizures. In some cases, the primary cause of epilepsy remains unknown, and in other cases, the secondary cause remains to be determined. My thesis research identified a novel, exogenous primary contributor to epilepsy in a specific subtype of cortical malformation disorders, as well as a secondary astrocytic irregularity resulting from a mitochondria-related nuclear gene mutation that may contribute to epilepsy. In Chapter 1, I briefly introduce the relationship between cortical malformation disorders, mitochondrial disease, and epilepsy. In Chapter 2, I present data supporting the idea that the cortical dyslamination and resultant epilepsy in focal cortical dysplasia type IIB is caused by the human papillomavirus oncoprotein E6. In Chapter 3, I present data on astrocyte-specific irregularities resulting from mitochondrial aspartate glutamate carrier loss of function and its effects on glutamatergic neurotransmission, and speculate on the role and importance of astrocytes in seizure genesis and propagation

The privatization of land development and parastatal policy in developing countries : a case study in Tunisia

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1992.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-43).by Julie Chen.M.C.P

The human kindness curriculum: An innovative preclinical initiative to highlight kindness and empathy in medicine.

BackgroundPrior studies have shown a marked drop in empathy among students during their third (clinical) year of medical school. Curricula developed to address this problem have varied greatly in content and have not always been subjected to validated measures of impact.MethodsIn 2015, we initiated a Human Kindness (HK) curriculum for the initial 2 years of medical school. This mandatory 12-h curriculum (6 h/year) included an innovative series of lectures and patient interactions with regard to compassion and empathy in the clinical setting. Both quantitative (Jefferson Scale of Empathy [JSE]) and qualitative data were collected prospectively to evaluate the impact of the HK curriculum.ResultsIn the initial Pilot Year, neither 1st (Group 1) nor 2nd (Group 2) year medical students showed pre-post changes in JSE scores. Substantial changes were made to the curriculum based on faculty and student evaluations. In the following Implementation Year, both the new 1st (Group 3) and the now 2nd year (Group 4) students, who previously experienced the Pilot Year, showed significant improvements in post-course JSE scores; this improvement remained valid across subanalyses of gender, age, and student career focus (e.g., internal medicine, surgery, etc.). Despite the disappointingly flat initial Pilot Year JSE scores, the 3rd year students (Group 2) who experienced only the Pilot Year of the curriculum (i.e., 2nd year students at the time of the Pilot Year) had subsequent JSE scores that did not show the typical decline associated with the clinical years. Students generally evaluated the HK curriculum positively and rated it as being important to their medical education and development as a physician.DiscussionA required preclinical curriculum focused on HK resulted in significant improvements in medical student empathy; this improvement was maintained during the 1st clinical year of training

Fabric geometry distortion during composites processing

Waviness and tow misalignment are often cited as possible causes of data scatter and lower compression stiffness and strength in textile composites. Strength differences of as much as 40 percent have been seen in composites that appear to have the same basic material and structural properties -- i.e., yarn orientation, yarn size, interlacing geometry. Fabric geometry distortion has been suggested as a possible reason for this discrepancy, but little quantitative data or substantial evidence exists. The focus of this research is to contribute to the present understanding of the causes and effects of geometric distortion in textile composites. The initial part of the study was an attempt to gather qualitative information on a variety of textile structures. Existing and new samples confirmed that structures with a significant direction presence would be more susceptible to distortion due to the compaction process. Thus, uniweaves (fiber vol frac: 54-72 percent) biaxial braids (vf: 34-58 percent) demonstrated very little fabric geometry distortion. In stitched panels, only slight buckling of z-direction stitches was observed, primarily near the surface. In contrast, for structures with high compaction ratios -- e.g., large cylindrical yarns (2.5:1) orpowder towpreg (4:1) -- there were visible distortions where previously smooth and periodic undulations were transformed to abrupt changes in direction. A controlled study of the effect of forming pressure on distortion was conducted on type 162 glass plain weave fabrics. Panels (6 x 6 in) were produced via a resin infusion type setup, but with an EPON 815 epoxy resin. Pressures ranging from hand layup to 200 psi were used (vf: 34-54 percent). Photomicrographs indicated that at pressures up to 50 psi, large changes in thickness were due primarily to resin squeeze out. At higher pressures, when intimate contact was made between the layers, there was some tow flattening and in-plane shifting to optimize nesting. However, even at 200 psi the period and amplitude of the tow undulation remained constant, suggesting that for this relatively fine fabric, distortions from compaction were not a problem. Because of the interest in using larger tows (to reduce cost) and more complex structures, tests were also run on 2D triaxial glass braid (113 yd/lb at 0, 225 yd/lb at +/- 45). Forming pressures of 20, 50, 200, and 500 psi were used, and short block compression tests were run. The 500 psi specimen had a 10 percent decrease in modulus and an almost 50 percent decrease in strength (vs. 20 psi). Because the total fiber wgt/panel was kept constant, the thickness varied from 0.32 to 0.22 in (49-70 percent vf). Yet, the strength value is clearly below what would be expected, even with the decrease in thickness. Photomicrographs of these samples will be taken to determine if more fabric distortion exists in the 500 psi specimens. Finally, because the ultimate goal is to be able to predict and control distortion in a variety of textile structures, a model compaction test was developed to directly measure the deformation of the tows during compaction. Layers of dry glass fabric were placed in a mold with a clear plexiglass window. The yarn amplitude and period was then calculated using image analysis of the videotaped deformation. Preliminary tests demonstrated the feasibility of this technique for simple fabrics with large tows

Hot Off the Presses: Results of a Statewide Survey on Online Access to Newspapers in Rhode Island

Slides from a presentation, Hot Off the Presses: Results of a Statewide Survey on Online Access to Newspapers in Rhode Island, presented at the Rhode Island Library Association Annual Conference 2019, Get Informed!, on May 23, 2019 in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. An openly-shared Google Slides version of this presentation is also available at https://bit.ly/RILA-HOT. ===== HOT OFF THE PRESSES: RESULTS OF A STATEWIDE SURVEY ON ONLINE ACCESS TO NEWSPAPERS IN RHODE ISLAND | ROOM 2B Libraries’ ability to provide our users with access to quality news sources is more important than ever, yet options for online access to newspapers are complicated and expensive. What is the situation in RI? What newspaper sources are we making available to our users, and at what cost? How can we work together to provide more news options at a lower price? The Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) convened an ad hoc E-Resources Interest Group to survey libraries in the state, inquiring about electronic access to the Providence Journal and three national newspapers. In this session, you will hear the results of this survey as well as next steps and possible opportunities for collaboration. Attendees will share their own experiences and suggest future directions for the Interest Group. Chaichin Chen, Resource Sharing Coordinator, RI Office of Library & Information Services Andrée Rathemacher, Head of Acquisitions, University Libraries, University of Rhode Island Julie Kliever, Collections Services Librarian, Providence College Julie Holden, Assistant Director, Cranston Public Library ===== Additional files include a version of the slides with speaker\u27s notes and the conference program

Reconciling Different Approaches to Conceptualizing the Glocalization of the Belt and Road Initiative Projects

In response to the recently rising number of academic papers that empirically examine local variances in China’s Belt and Initiative (BRI) projects in various foreign lands, this paper points out the tension between attempts to theorize BRI projects. The Sino-localized approach and the assemblage theory were the two main attempts used by scholars from disparate academic disciplines to conceptualize local agency and to understand how local conditionalities, practices, and norms may affect the outcome of BRI projects. We need to examine their differences and similarities, and determine whether they are really irreconcilable. In addition, how their ontological differences lead to epistemological, methodological and analytical differences in studying BRI projects should be clarified as well.Peer reviewe

Implementation of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi and Its Home Edition During the Covid-19 Pandemic : A Survey of European Test Centres

The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) test is a standardized Chinese language proficiency test targeting non-native speakers. Compared with other Chinese proficiency tests, the HSK has the largest test population in the world and has attracted the most academic research. This article examines how the HSK was carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic and the issues facing home-based HSK test, the so-called HSK Home Edition. The results of a primary survey showed that the majority of test centres in Europe opted to implement the traditional paper-based format of the HSK during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the availability of the HSK Home Edition. Concerns related to technical and security issues were among the major factors that hindered successful implementation of the Home Edition. Of the test centres that utilised the Home Edition, they rated their overall experience as satisfactory. This finding suggests that concerns relating to technical and security issues associated with the adoption of the Home Edition may be less daunting than anticipated. Additional training for test centre staff could improve the implementation of the Home Edition.Peer reviewe