Uskonto kansainv��lisen politiikan teoriassa

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

���AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTS���. Ymp��rist��n merkitykset Don DeLillon romaanissa White Noise

Pro gradu -tutkielmani tavoitteena on analysoida ymp��rist��n merkityksi�� yhdysvaltalaiskirjailija Don DeLillon (1936-) romaanissa White Noise (1985). L��hestyn romaania ekokriittisen kirjallisuudentutkimuksen n��k��kulmasta ja kytken sen ekokriitikko Lawrence Buellin ajatukseen nk. ymp��rist��alitajunnasta. Analysoin DeLillon romaania my��s yhteydess�� filosofi Jean Baudrillardin ajatukseen postmodernin ajan l��nsimaisessa ja erityisesti amerikkalaisessa yhteiskunnassa vallalla olevasta simulaatioiden j��rjestelm��st��. White Noise -romaanin todellisuus vastaa Baudrillardin ajatusta yhteiskunnasta, jossa representaatiot ja simulaatiot ovat korvanneet todellisuuden. Media, erityisesti televisio, tuottaa jatkuvasti kuvia ja simulaatioita, joiden kyll��st��m��ss�� todellisuudessa aineellinen maailma ja luonto j����v��t tavoittamattomiin. White Noise -romaanin henkil��iden yhteys aineelliseen ymp��rist����ns�� ja luonnonilmi��ihin on katkennut, sill�� heid��n arkensa py��rii pitk��lti kuluttamisen ja televisionkatselun ymp��rill��. Romaanin todellisuudessa my��s identiteetist�� on tullut er����nlainen tuote, jonka jokainen voi rakentaa mieleisekseen kulutusvalinnoillaan. Identiteettiproblematiikan ohella my��s kuolemalla on keskeinen asema tutkielmassani. White Noise -romaanin p����henkil�� Jack Gladney k��rsii paniikinomaisesta kuolemanpelosta, jota pyrkii torjumaan erilaisin keinoin siin�� kuitenkaan onnistumatta. Tavoitteenani on osoittaa, ett�� t��m�� piinaava pelko kuolemaa kohtaan on syntynyt simulaatioyhteiskunnan tuloksena. Vieraantuminen aineellisesta maailmasta ja luonnon prosesseista on johtanut vieraantumiseen ruumiista ja kuolemasta. Analysoin kuolemaa romaanissa er����nlaisena simulaatioiden maailman ����rirajana, viimeisen�� luonnollisena tapahtumana. White Noise -romaanin p����henkil�� Jack Gladney ahdistuu kulutuskeskeisess��, simulaatioiden kyll��st��m��ss�� elinymp��rist��ss����n. Tulkitsen t��m��n ahdistuksen tarpeena tunnistaa t��rke�� vuorovaikutussuhde yksil��n ja h��nen aineellisen ymp��rist��ns�� v��lill��. Jack ei ole viel�� t��ysin sulautunut osaksi simulaatioiden maailmaa, vaan h��n tiedostaa kytk��ksen itsens�� ja aineellisen maailman v��lill��. T��m�� romaanista implisiittisesti esiin nouseva tiedostamisen tunne korostaa ihmisen ja ymp��rist��n sek�� laajemmin kulttuurin ja luonnon v��ltt��m��t��nt�� yhteytt��. DeLillon romaanista on l��ydett��viss�� ajatus ymp��rist��alitajunnasta, joka alleviivaa ymp��rist��n ja luonnon merkityst�� ihmiselle.

School-based Drama Program to Enhance Social and Emotional Wellbeing at Elementary School

Julkaisumaa: Hong Kong

Britit Irakissa 2003-2009

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Development of bean plants in soil contaminated with trifloxysulfuron-sodium after Stizolobium aterrimum and Canavalia ensiformis cultivation

Phytoremediation, the use of plants to decontaminate soils and water resources from organic pollutants such as herbicides, is economically and environmentally a promising technique applied in many areas, including agriculture. The objective of this work was to evaluate the development of bean plants cultivated in the field, in soil with different levels of trifloxysulfuron-sodium contamination, following cultivation of two green manure species, as well as to evaluate the possibility of recontamination of the area by such herbicide with the straw permanence on the soil. The experiment was carried out in Coimbra, MG, Brazil, on a sandy clayey Red - Yellow Argisol from March to November 2003. Four levels of soil contamination with trifloxysulfuron-sodium (0.00; 3.75; 7.50; and 15.00 g ha-1) were used as well as the following five types of cultivation prior to bean sowing in the area after herbicide application: black velvet beans (Stizolobium aterrimum) followed by removal of straw; S. aterrimum, followed by permanence of straw; jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), followed by removal of straw; C. ensiformis followed by permanence of straw; and without prior cultivation, weed-free (weeded control). The leguminous plants were kept in the area for 65 days, cut close to the soil, and with its aerial part left or not on the surface of the experimental plot, depending on the treatment. Fifteen days after the species were cut, bean was sown in the area. At 45 days after emergence (DAE) of the bean plants, plant height and dry mass of the aerial part were evaluated. Grain productivity was determined during harvest. Height, dry matter of the aerial part and grain productivity of the bean plants, cultivated in an area previously contaminated with trifloxysulfuron-sodium at any of the levels tested, were higher with prior cultivation of S. aterrimum or C. ensiformis. At the lowest level of herbicide contamination, prior cultivation of C. ensiformis was found to be more efficient than that of S. aterrimum in mitigating the harmful effects of trifloxysulfuron-sodium on bean grain production. The permanence of the straw of the green manure species during the bean cycle did not harm the development of the plants or caused culture productivity losses, indicating that straw permanence in the area does not promote recontamination of the area.

Neue Forschungsergebnisse zur Phonologie und Morphologie des Erzanischen

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Limited-sampling strategy models for estimating the pharmacokinetic parameters of 4-methylaminoantipyrine, an active metabolite of dipyrone

Bioanalytical data from a bioequivalence study were used to develop limited-sampling strategy (LSS) models for estimating the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) and the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of 4-methylaminoantipyrine (MAA), an active metabolite of dipyrone. Twelve healthy adult male volunteers received single 600 mg oral doses of dipyrone in two formulations at a 7-day interval in a randomized, crossover protocol. Plasma concentrations of MAA (N = 336), measured by HPLC, were used to develop LSS models. Linear regression analysis and a "jack-knife" validation procedure revealed that the AUC0-<FONT FACE=Symbol>��</FONT> and the Cmax of MAA can be accurately predicted (R��>0.95, bias <1.5%, precision between 3.1 and 8.3%) by LSS models based on two sampling times. Validation tests indicate that the most informative 2-point LSS models developed for one formulation provide good estimates (R��>0.85) of the AUC0-<FONT FACE=Symbol>��</FONT> or Cmax for the other formulation. LSS models based on three sampling points (1.5, 4 and 24 h), but using different coefficients for AUC0-<FONT FACE=Symbol>��</FONT> and Cmax, predicted the individual values of both parameters for the enrolled volunteers (R��>0.88, bias = -0.65 and -0.37%, precision = 4.3 and 7.4%) as well as for plasma concentration data sets generated by simulation (R��>0.88, bias = -1.9 and 8.5%, precision = 5.2 and 8.7%). Bioequivalence assessment of the dipyrone formulations based on the 90% confidence interval of log-transformed AUC0-<FONT FACE=Symbol>��</FONT> and Cmax provided similar results when either the best-estimated or the LSS-derived metrics were used.

The leaves of green plants as well as a cyanobacterium, a red alga, and fungi contain insulin-like antigens

We report the detection of insulin-like antigens in a large range of species utilizing a modified ELISA plate assay and Western blotting. We tested the leaves or aerial parts of species of Rhodophyta (red alga), Bryophyta (mosses), Psilophyta (whisk ferns), Lycopodophyta (club mosses), Sphenopsida (horsetails), gymnosperms, and angiosperms, including monocots and dicots. We also studied species of fungi and a cyanobacterium, Spirulina maxima. The wide distribution of insulin-like antigens, which in some cases present the same electrophoretic mobility as bovine insulin, together with results recently published by us on the amino acid sequence of an insulin isolated from the seed coat of jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) and from the developing fruits of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), suggests that pathways depending on this hormone have been conserved through evolution.

Ureases display biological effects independent of enzymatic activity: Is there a connection to diseases caused by urease-producing bacteria?

Ureases are enzymes from plants, fungi and bacteria that catalyze the hydrolysis of urea to form ammonia and carbon dioxide. While fungal and plant ureases are homo-oligomers of 90-kDa subunits, bacterial ureases are multimers of two or three subunit complexes. We showed that some isoforms of jack bean urease, canatoxin and the classical urease, bind to glycoconjugates and induce platelet aggregation. Canatoxin also promotes release of histamine from mast cells, insulin from pancreatic cells and neurotransmitters from brain synaptosomes. In vivo it induces rat paw edema and neutrophil chemotaxis. These effects are independent of ureolytic activity and require activation of eicosanoid metabolism and calcium channels. Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human stomach mucosa, causes gastric ulcers and cancer by a mechanism that is not understood. H. pylori produces factors that damage gastric epithelial cells, such as the vacuolating cytotoxin VacA, the cytotoxin-associated protein CagA, and a urease (up to 10% of bacterial protein) that neutralizes the acidic medium permitting its survival in the stomach. H. pylori whole cells or extracts of its water-soluble proteins promote inflammation, activate neutrophils and induce the release of cytokines. In this paper we review data from the literature suggesting that H. pylori urease displays many of the biological activities observed for jack bean ureases and show that bacterial ureases have a secretagogue effect modulated by eicosanoid metabolites through lipoxygenase pathways. These findings could be relevant to the elucidation of the role of urease in the pathogenesis of the gastrointestinal disease caused by H. pylori.

Todellisuuden tasot: Luonnon supervenienssi ja tieteenalojen v��liset suhteet

T��m�� tutkielma k��sittelee kysymyst�� siit��, miten superveniensin k��sitett�� voidaan soveltaa selitett��ess��, miten eri tieteenalojen tutkimat ilmi��t voivat n��ytt��yty�� luonteeltaan erilaisina ja toisiinsa palautumattomina siin��kin tapauksessa, ett�� kaikki ilmi��t nousisivat yhdelt�� perustavan fysiikan tasolta. Supervenienssi on tunnettu filosofisena k��sitteen�� ja sit�� on esitetty selitykseksi moniin t��m��nkaltaisiin kysymyksiin, mutta pelkk��n�� teoreettisena k��sitteen�� se on vain osittainen esitys siit��, millainen eri tasojen suhde voisi teoriassa olla. T��ss�� ty��ss�� tutkin, miten empiirisiin tieteisiin pohjautuvat k��sitteet suhtautuvat supervenienssin k��sitteeseen ja antavat sille tarkemmin m����ritellyn sis��ll��n sek�� todisteita sen olemassaolosta. Ajatus siit��, ett�� kaikki totuudet maailmassa olisivat johdettavissa jollekin yhdelle tasolle, kaipaa tarkennusta. David Chalmers on kirjassaan Constructing the World osoittanut yksityiskohtaisesti, miten t��m�� ajatus voidaan ymm��rt����. On kuitenkin mahdollista v��itt���� my��s, ett�� sek�� k��yt��nn��n tieteen ett�� filosofian n��k��kulmasta on olemassa perusteita uskoa, ett�� maailmassa ei ole yht�� perustasoa vaan useita toisiinsa palautumattomia tasoja. T��llaisen n��kemyksen on yksityiskohtaisesti esitt��nyt ja perustellut John Dupr�� kirjassaan The Disorder of Things. Dupr��n esitt��mien kaltaisiin argumentteihin on mahdollista vastata k��ytt��m��ll�� supervenienssin k��sitett��, kunhan sit�� k��ytet����n oikein. Supervenienssin ja siihen liittyv��n emergenssin k��sitteet voidaan ymm��rt���� eri tavoilla, joista toiset ovat j��rkev��mpi�� ja luonnon ymm��rrett��vyyden kannalta lupaavampia kuin toiset. Olennaista k��sitteelle on moninainen toteutuvuus, jossa samat supervenientit ominaisuudet voivat toteutua monella tavalla alemmalla tasolla. Kun tarkastellaan luonnossa esiintyvi�� supervenienssin kaltaisia ilmi��it��, voidaan huomata fysiikan karkeistuksen k��sitteen, jossa systeemi�� koskevaa informaatiota katoaa, johtavan supervenienssisuhteeseen. Jack Cohenin ja Ian Stewartin emergenssiin liittyv��t argumentit osoittavat, ett�� luonnon supervenienssi johtaa my��s siihen, ett�� korkeamman tason ilmi��t voivat toteutua samanlaisina riippumatta siit��, mik�� alemman tason pohja toteuttaa ne, ja liikkuminen selityksiss�� alemman ja ylemm��n tason ilmi��iden v��lill�� on usein ongelmallista. T��st�� p����st����n havaintoon, ett�� Dupr��n esitt��m�� eri tasojen ep��yhten��isyys on k��yt��nn��n tasolla varsin todellista, eik�� tieteess�� pit��isik����n aina olettaa reduktionistista l��hestymistapaa, mutta t��m�� ei toisaalta tarkoita, ett�� tasojen erot olisivat jyrkki�� ja metafyysisi��. Tietoinen kokemus on ehk�� ainoa ilmi��, jonka paikan l��yt��minen kokonaiskuvassa n��ytt��ytyy periaattessakin hyvin ongelmallisena.

Little Red Riding Hood

Kuvitusta satuun Punahilkka.

Dempsey [portrait du boxeur avec une d��dicace] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

R��f��rence bibliographique : Rol, 58689

Expansion Sod Turning

Pictured here from left to right are Jack Miller, Department of Chemistry, R. Misener, Chancellor, R. A. Macleod, Board of Trustees, and actors from the Department of Fine Arts during the sod turning ceremonies in 1982 for the Science Complex expansion to the Mackenzie Chown Complex.

Getting Off the Water

Brock's Junior Varsity crew of '76 pictured looking appropriately worn out after practice. Their shirts read "Brock Crew '76: Up Y'Oars" Cox: Kari Syri, Stroke: Ed Cooling, Ralph Martens, Paul Kivell, Don Rickers, Sean Stackwood, Clark Wochis, Jack Pyke, Bow: Bruce Petrie, Coach (the leg on the boat): Tony Biernacki.

Collaborative reflection : supporting one practitioner's development of online learning communities /

This is a study of one participant's reflective practice as she worked to develop online communities in a face-to-face science course. Her process of reflective practice was examined in order to address factors that influenced her learning path, and the benefits and challenges of collaborative action research. These research goals were pursued using a collaborative action research methodology, initially chosen for its close match with Schon's (1983) model of reflective practice. The participant's learning fit vnth Mezirow's (1991) model of transformative learning. She began with beliefs that matched her goals, and she demonstrated significant learning in three areas. First, she demonstrated instrumental learning around the constraints of workload and time, and achieving online learning community indicators. Second, she demonstrated communicative learning that helped her to see her own needs for feedback and communication more clearly, and how other process partners had been a support to her. Third, her emancipatory learning saw her revisiting and questioning her goals. It was through the reflective conversation during the planned meetings and the researcher's reframing and interrogation of that reflection that the participant was able to clarify and extend her thinking, and in so doing, critically reflect on her practice as she worked to develop online learning communities. In this way, the collaborative action research methodology was an embodiment of co-constructivism through collaborative reflective practice. Schon's (1983) model of reflective practice positions a lone practitioners moving through cycles ofplan-act-observe-reflect. The results fi"om this study suggest that collaboration is an important piece of the reflective practice model.