Hidden land and changing landscape: Narratives about Mount Khangchendzonga among the Lepcha and the Lhopo

This article explores contemporary ‘hidden land’ narrative constructs of Máyel Lyáng and Beyul Dremojong in Sikkim, India, as conceived by the Lepcha and the Lhopo, two ‘scheduled tribes’. Lepcha and Lhopo narratives about these hidden lands in Mount Khangchendzonga inform us about their contemporary and historical, indigenous and Buddhist contexts and the interactions between these contexts. Lhopo perspectives on the hidden Beyul Dremojong echo classical Tibetan Buddhist ‘revealed treasure’ guidebooks and exist within the complex and reciprocal relationship between the Lhopo and the land they inhabit; development initiatives are understood to have caused illness and death in the Lhopo community of Tashiding, often referred to as the geographical ‘center’ of Beyul Dremojong. Contemporary Lepcha comprehensions of Máyel Lyáng, described in oral narratives within an ethnic community whose cosmology is intimately connected with Mount Khangchendzonga, today show some influence of Lhopo interpretations of Beyul Dremojong and the treasure texts; they also reflect Lepcha fears about cultural dispersion. Present-day narratives about both hidden lands reference notable political events in modern Sikkimese history (encounters with the British; the Chinese occupation of Tibet).

Apoptosis is initiated in human keratinocytes exposed to signalling factors from microbeam irradiated cells.

PURPOSE: There is now no doubt that bystander signalling from irradiated cells occurs and causes a variety of responses in cells not targeted by the ionizing track. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes are unknown and the relevance to radiotherapy and risk assessment remains controversial. Previous research by our laboratory has shown bystander effects in a human keratinocyte cell line, HPV-G cells, exposed to medium from gamma irradiated HPV-G cells. The aim of this work was to investigate if similar mechanisms to those identified in medium transfer experiments occurred in these HPV-G cells when they are in the vicinity of microbeam irradiated cells. Demonstration of a commonality of mechanisms would support the idea that the process is not artifactual. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HPV-G cells were plated as two separate populations on mylar dishes. One population was directly irradiated using a charged particle microbeam (1 - 10 protons). The other population was not irradiated. Bystander factor-induced apoptosis was investigated in both populations following treatment by monitoring the levels of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential using fluorescent probes. Expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, bcl-2, and cytochrome c were determined, as well as apoptosis levels. RESULTS: Microbeam irradiation induced increases in reactive oxygen species and decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential at 6 h post-exposure, increased expression of bcl-2 and cytochrome c release at 6.5 h and increased apoptosis at 24 h. CONCLUSION: This study shows that similar bystander signalling pathways leading to apoptosis are induced following microbeam irradiation and following medium transfer. This demonstrates that the mechanisms involved are common across different radiation qualities and conditions and indicates that they may be relevant in vivo.

Calcium fluxes modulate the radiation-induced bystander responses in targeted glioma and fibroblast cells

Bystander responses have been reported to be a major determinant of the response of cells to radiation exposure at low doses, including those of relevance to therapy. This study investigated the role of changes in calcium levels in bystander responses leading to chromosomal damage in nonirradiated T98G glioma cells and AG01522 fibroblasts that had been either exposed to conditioned medium from irradiated cells or co-cultured with a population where a fraction of cells were individually targeted through the nucleus or cytoplasm with a precise number of microbeam helium-3 particles. After the recipient cells were treated with conditioned medium from T98G or AG01522 cells that had been irradiated through either nucleus or cytoplasm, rapid calcium fluxes were monitored in the nonirradiated recipient cells. Their characteristics were dependent on the source of the conditioned medium but had no dependence on radiation dose. When recipient cells were co-cultured with an irradiated population of either T98G or AG01522 cells, micronuclei were induced in the nonirradiated cells, but this response was eliminated by treating the cells with calcicludine (CaC), a potent blocker of Ca2+ channels. Moreover, both the calcium fluxes and the bystander effect were inhibited when the irradiated T98G cells were treated with aminoguanidine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and when the irradiated AG01522 cells were treated with DMSO, a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which indicates that NO and ROS were involved in the bystander responses generated from irradiated T98G and AG01522 cells, respectively. Our findings indicate that calcium signaling may be an early response in radiation-induced bystander effects leading to chromosome damage. (c) 2006 by Radiation Research Society.

Recueil de chants royaux, ballades, rondeaux, épigrammes.

Contient : Chants royaux. Refrains ; 1 « Logis de Dieu signé du bel ymaige ». « OSMONT » ; 2 « Le lict d'honneur rempli de toute grace ». « BRASMETOT » ; 3 « Lampe illustrant l'eglise militante ». « OSMONT » ; 4 « Mer qui receoit et donne toute grace ». « OSMONT » ; 5 « Cloche sonnant le salut des humains ». « BRASMETOT » ; 6 « Parc virginal exempte de vermine ». « MAROT » ; 7 « Le val plaisant où Dieu voulut descendre ». « LESCARRE » ; 8 « Secours des cieulx, la pucelle Marie ». « BRASMETOT » ; 9 « Temple construict par divin artiffice ». « CRETHIN » ; 10 « Le noble corps de la belle Susanne ». « LESCARRE » ; 11 « Court sans erreur, sur toutes souveraine ». « BRASMETOT » ; 12 « Pour traicter paix salutaire aux humains ». « AVRIL » ; 13 « Cloistre de paix, sans envye et murmure ». « LESCARRE » ; 14 « Car ce qu'il veult, il le peult et le faict ». « BERTOULT » ; 15 « Le chois d'honneur où ne fut oncques blasme ». « BRASMETOT » ; 16 « La terre saincte où Dieu print sa naissance ». « OSMONT » ; 17 « De ung filz tout beau la mere toute belle ». « OSMONT » ; 18 « Mont distillant paix, salut, grace et gloire ». « LESCARRE » ; 19 « Le seau royal donnant grace aux humains ». « BRASMETOT » ; 20 « De tout impost et de suscite exempte ». « TURBOT » ; 21 « De tout peché par grace preservée ». « BRASMETOT » ; 22 « Le doulx myel aux humains salutaire ». « OSMONT » ; 23 « Pure en concept oultre loy de nature ». « MAROT » ; 24 « Le bien d'amour et le moyen de grace ». « PARMENTIER » ; 25 « La saincte paix du doy de Dieu signée ». « THYBAULT » ; 26 « Pure lycorne expellant tout venyn ». « LESCARRE » ; 27 « Sans vice aucun, toute belle conceue ». « BRASMETOT » ; 28 « La forte nef toute plaine de grace » ; 29 « Seule sans sy, divinement tyssue ». « CRETIN » ; 30 « Nom substantif rendant suppost au verbe ». « LESCARRE » ; 31 « Du bon pasteur le sacré tabernacle ». « CRIGNON » ; 32 « Pourpre excellent pour vestir le grant roy ». « CRIGNON » ; 33 « La saincte Bible où verité repose ». « THYBAULT » ; 34 « La main de grace aux pecheurs estendue ». « LESCARRE » ; 35 « Pour le tout beau conceue toute belle ». « THYBAULT » ; 36 « Au chois d'honneur l'honneur de la victoire ». « BRASMETOT » ; 37 « Beigle infaillible en tous caz approuvée ». « CRETIN » ; 38 « Le doctrinal, sans macule imprimé ». « LESCARRE » ; 39 « Le chariot du fort geant celeste ». « LESCARRE » ; 40 « En ung subject quatre pars concordantes ». « LEVESTU » ; 41 « L'ame parfaicte en forme raisonnable ». « LEPREVOST » ; 42 « La fille Adam, pelerine de grace ». « BRASMETOT » ; 43 « Ung aultre Adam et une Eve seconde ». « ALYNE » ; 44 « Harnoys d'espreuve au puissant roy de glore » ; 45 « Le regne franc de la loy tributaire ». « THYBAULT ; 46 « Sans lesion a passé par les picques ». « AUBER » ; 47 « L'oeil cler et nect, plain de grace et lumiere ». « BRASMETOT » ; 48 « D'un pouvre ver triumphante vesture ». « BRASMETOT » ; 49 « Le hault solleil qui luict sur tout le monde ». « TYBAULT » ; 50 « Sans estre assise en la chaire de peste ». « LESCARRE » ; Ballades. Refrains ; 1 « Des jardins la clere fontaine ». « AVRIL » ; 2 « Fontaine de paix et de grace ». « LESCARRE » ; 3 « La fontenelle de salut ». « BRASMETOT » ; 4 « Le blanc habit de purité ». « LESCARRE » ; 5 « La droicte eschelle d'innocence ». « LESCARRE » ; 6 « Mere, vierge et fille à son filz ». « BRASMETOT » ; 7 « Pomme sans ver et pourriture ». « LESCARRE » ; 8 « Marie, la mere de grace ». « THYBAULT » ; 9 « Croyre ce que l'Eglise en tient ». « LEBECIN » ; 10 « Exempte de tous infectz faictz ». « BRASMETOT » ; 11 « Pierre portant huyle et myel ». « LESCARRE » ; 12 « Beaulté excellente et parfaicte ». « CRIGNON » ; 13 « Dieu le peult, le fist et voulut ». « DEVAUX » ; 14 « Du cler solleil environnée ». « AVRIL » ; 15 « Le vray escusson de noblesse ». « BERTIN » ; 16 « La rose en Hierico plantée ». « LESCARRE » ; 17 « Franche du tribut general ». « CRETHIN » ; 18 « Exempte du premier peché ». « LESCARRE » ; 19 « Toute belle en ame et corps nect ». « BRASMETOT » ; 20 « La dame à l'aigneau sans macule ». « THYBAULT » ; 21 « La bouche adnonçant verité ». « THYBAULT » ; 22 « Le coeur, vray principe de vie ». « AVRIL » ; 23 « En ce concept tout parfaict faict ». « DOUBLET » ; 24 « Le samedi sainct et beni ». « LESCARRE » ; 25 « La haulte tour de fortitude ». « LESCARRE » ; 26 « La benoiste Vierge Marie ». « THYBAULT » ; 27 « Pour humains lyez deslyer ». « BRASMETOT » ; 28 « La franche terre du grand roy ». « PARMENTIER » ; 29 « Mouche rendant myel et cire ». « LESCARRE » ; 30 « Chandelle illuminant le monde ». « ALLIX » ; Rondeaux. Refrains ; 1 « Pour son plaisir ». « BRASMETOT » ; 2 « Qui qu'en parle ». « BRASMETOT » ; 3 « Par le meffait ». « TURBOT » ; 4 « Par la vertu ». « LESCARRE » ; 5 « Peuple devot ». « BRASMETOT » ; 6 « Pour traicter ». « AVRIL » ; 7 « Au son du cor ». « DOUBLET » ; 8 « Comme la rose ». « MAROT » ; 9 « Le dieu d'amours ». « LESCARRE » ; 10 « L'accord est faict ». « ALLYNE » ; 11 « Où penses tu » ; 12 « Royne des cieulx ». « TURBOT » ; 13 « Pan et Phebus ». « DOUBLET » ; 14 « Faulx detracteurs ». « LESCARRE » ; 15 « Povres humains ». « DAVAL » ; 16 « Pour donner fruict ». « LESCARRE » ; 17 « Est ce bien faict ». « S. WANDRILLE » ; 18 « Des imparfaictz ». « DESVAULX » ; 19 « Le jour sacré ». « BRASMETOT » ; 20 « Je suis sans sequente ». « AVRIL » ; 21 « Je mercy Dieu ». « AVRIL » ; 22 « Bien le sçavez ». « TURBOT » ; 23 « En mon concept ». « BRASMETOT » ; 24 « Pour posseder ». « LE VESTU » ; 25 « De mon cher filz ». « LESCARRE » ; 26 « Preux roy Françoys ». « LESCARRE » ; 27 « Mon seul plaisir ». « PARMENTIER » ; 28 « Sans vice aucun ». « BRASMETOT » ; 29 « C'est mal pensé ». « CRETHIN » ; 30 « Ne pensez pas ». « THYBAULT » ; 31 « Contre Sathan ». « AVRIL » ; 32 « Mere de Dieu ». « THYBAULT » ; 33 « Le fier serpent ». « BRASMETOT » ; 34 « Mon cher enfant ». « THYBAULT » ; 35 « Hors paradis ». « BRASMETOT » ; 36 « Par mon cher filz ». « THYBAULT » ; 37 « Grace nous vient ». « LESCARRE » ; 38 « Seule sans sy ». « BRASMETOT » ; 39 « S'esbahit on ». « LE PREVOST » ; 40 « A ung chacun ». « AVRIL » ; Epigrammata. Premiers vers ; 1 « Nox erat, et Phebus radios agitare per orbem ». « CHAPPERON » ; 2 « Ecquis in electa genialem virgine sordem ». « BELLENGUES » ; 3 « Frigidus Argestes, glaciali pulsus ab Arcto ». « BELLENGUES » ; 4 « O meritis dignata novis, quo numine salvos ». « DEQUERCU » ; 5 « Dum tua sublimi contemplor numina sensu ». « BELLENGUES » ; 6 « Torva fronte minax, scelerumque acerrimus ultor ». « DEQUERCU » ; 7 « Vidimus Eoo qua Titani surgit ab ortu ». « MARC » ; 8 « Si violenta lues nigrique voragine Ditis ». « JEMBLES » ; 9 « Post operum curas lassis cum festa puellis ». « DEQUERCU » ; 10 « Venerat insultans latebras venator agrestes ». « THEOBALDUS » ; 11 « Urbs fuit eterno quondam delecta parenti ». « LECLERC » ; 12 « Lurida sacrilego qui toxica concipis ore ». « DEBEAUVAIS » ; 13 « Hostis atrox quondam magni tabularia regis ». « LECLERC » ; 14 « Post gemitus longos veterum cum nulla parentum ». « THEOBALDUS » ; 15 « Ordior empyreum mundum quem mole rotunda ». « LECLERC » ; 16 « Concipitur gelide sacro sub viscere matris ». « BELLENGUES » ; 17 « Fecit apis, quondam celesti egressa vireto ». « THEOBALDUS » ; 18 « Nullus originea Mariam rubigine lesam ». « CELESTINUS » ; 19 « Non colit obscenas divina potentia mentes ». « CELESTINUS » ; 20 « Orta mari magno, falsi tamen inscia limi ». « THEOBALDUS » ; 21 « Nondum Romulei renovarant secla Quirites ». « GEMELLUS » ; 22 « Duxit ab antiquo candentem farre farinam ». « THEOBALDUS » ; 23 « Flevimus a magna domitam Babylone Syonem ». « LAIR » ; 24 « Fulsit ab Eoo quadrata fenestra recessu ». « THEOBALDUS » ; 25 « Impia perpendens phrigii perjuria pacti ». « JO. « LIGARIUS » ; 26 « Nil rabidas voces, nil agmina livida pendit ». « THEOBALDUS » ; 27 « Duxit ab obscura radiosam nube columnam ». « TEXTOR » ; 28 « Nuper idumeo solvens a littore puppis ». « THEOBALDUS » ; 29 « Post nimios estus tellus cum torrida fruges » « JO. LIGARIUS » ; 30 « Audite, edomiti populi, quos martius horror ». « LAIR »

Dielectric properties of process cheese from 0.3 to 3 Ghz

Dielectric properties of 16 process cheeses were determined over the frequency range 0.3-3 GHz. The effect of temperature on the dielectric properties of process cheeses were investigated at temperature intervals of 10 degrees C between 5 and 85 degrees C. Results showed that the dielectric constant decreased gradually as frequency increased, for all cheeses. The dielectric loss factor (epsilon") decreased from above 125 to below 12 as frequency increased. epsilon' was highest at 5 degrees C and generally decreased up to a temperature between 55 and 75 degrees C. epsilon" generally increased with increasing temperature for high and medium moisture/fat ratio cheeses. epsilon" decreased with temperature between 5 and 55 degrees C and then increased, for low moisture/fat ratio cheese. Partial least square regression models indicated that epsilon' and epsilon" could be used as a quality control screening application to measure moisture content and inorganic salt content of process cheese, respectively. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved..

Determination of the degradation kinetics of anthocyanins in a model juice system using isothermal and non-isothermal methods

The effect of temperature on the degradation of blackcurrant anthocyanins in a model juice system was determined over a temperature range of 4–140 °C. The thermal degradation of anthocyanins followed pseudo first-order kinetics. From 4–100 °C an isothermal method was used to determine the kinetic parameters. In order to mimic the temperature profile in retort systems, a non-isothermal method was applied to determine the kinetic parameters in the model juice over the temperature range 110–140 °C. The results from both isothermal and non-isothermal methods fit well together, indicating that the non-isothermal procedure is a reliable mathematical method to determine the kinetics of anthocyanin degradation. The reaction rate constant (k) increased from 0.16 (±0.01) × 10−3 to 9.954 (±0.004) h−1 at 4 and 140 °C, respectively. The temperature dependence of the rate of anthocyanin degradation was modelled by an extension of the Arrhenius equation, which showed a linear increase in the activation energy with temperature.

Cell death mechanisms associated with G(2) radiosensitivity in patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Cells respond to genotoxic insults such as ionizing radiation by halting in the G(2) phase of the cell cycle. Delayed cell death (mitotic death) can occur when the cell is released from G(2), and specific spindle defects form endopolyploid cells (endoreduplication/tetraploidy). Enhanced G(2) chromosomal radiosensitivity has been observed in many cancers and genomic instability syndromes, and it is manifested by radiation-induced chromatid aberrations observed in lymphocytes of patients. Here we compare the G(2) chromosomal radiosensitivity in prostate patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer with disease-free controls. We also investigated whether there is a correlation between G(2) chromosomal radiosensitivity and aneuploidy (tetraploidy and endoreduplication), which are indicative of mitotic cell death. The G(2) assay was carried out on all human blood samples. Metaphase analysis was conducted on the harvested chromosomes by counting the number of aberrations and the mitotic errors (endoreduplication/tetraploidy) separately per 100 metaphases. A total of 1/14 of the controls were radiosensitive in G(2) compared to 6/15 of the BPH patients and 15/17 of the prostate cancer patients. Radiation-induced mitotic inhibition was assessed to determine the efficacy of G(2) checkpoint control in the prostate patients. There was no significant correlation of G(2) radiosensitivity scores and mitotic inhibition in BPH patients (P = 0.057), in contrast to prostate cancer patients, who showed a small but significant positive correlation (P = 0.029). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between G(2) radiosensitivity scores of BPH patients and endoreduplication/ tetraploidy (P = 0.136), which contrasted with an extremely significant correlation observed in prostate cancer patients (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, cells from prostate cancer patients show increased sensitivity to the induction of G(2) aberrations from ionizing radiation exposure but paradoxically show reduced mitotic indices and aneuploidy as a function of aberration frequency.

Microcantilever arrays functionalised with spiropyran photoactive moieties as systems to measure photo-induced surface stress changes

[EN] Herein we investigate the feasibility of detecting photo-induced surface stress changes using the deflection response of cantilevers. For this purpose, silicon microcantilevers have been functionalised with spiropyran photochromic molecules, using both a monolayer and a polymeric brushes approach. Uponultraviolet light irradiation, the spiropyran unit is converted to the merocyanine form due to the photo-induced cleavage of the Cspiro-O bond. The two forms of the molecule have dramatically different charge,polarity and molecular conformations. This makes spiropyrans an ideal system to study the correlation between photo-induced molecular changes and corresponding changes in surface stress. Our investigations include monitoring the changes in static cantilever deflection, and consequently, surface stress of the spiropyran functionalised cantilevers on exposure to ultraviolet light. Cantilever deflection data reveals that ultraviolet induced conformational changes in the spiropyran moiety cause a change incompressive surface stress and this varies with the type of functionalisation method implemented. The change in surface stress response from the spiropyran polymer brushes functionalised cantilevers gives an average surface stress change of 98 Nm−1(n = 24) while the spiropyran monolayer coated cantilevers have an average surface stress change of about 446 Nm−1(n = 8) upon irradiation with UV light.

Apprendre avec la technologie : l'impact sur l'enseignement et l'apprentissage de l’utilisation de la technologie numérique (SMARTBOARD) dans les classes

This research was devoted to gaining information on teachers? use of technology, specifically SMARTBOARD technology, for teaching and promoting learning in the classroom. Research has suggested that use of technology can enhance learning and classroom practices. This has resulted in administrators encouraging the use of SMARTBOARDS, installing them in classrooms and providing training and support for teachers to use this technology. Adoption of new technology, however, is not simple. It is even more challenging because making the best use of new technologies requires more than training; it requires a paradigm shift in teachers? pedagogical approach. Thus, while it may be reasonable to believe that all we need to do is show teachers the benefits of using the SMARTBOARD; research tells us that changing paradigms is difficult for a variety of reasons. This research had two main objectives. First, to discover what factors might positively or negatively affect teachers? decisions to take up this technology. Second, to investigate how the SMARTBOARD is used by teachers who have embraced it and how this impacts participation in classrooms. The project was divided into two parts; the first was a survey research (Part 1), and the second was an ethnographic study (Part 2). A thirty-nine item questionnaire was designed to obtain information on teachers? use of technology and the SMARTBOARD. The questionnaire was distributed to fifty teachers at two EMSB schools: James Lyng Adult Centre (JLAC) and the High School of Montreal (HSM). Part 2 was an ethnographic qualitative study of two classes (Class A, Class B) at JLAC. Class A was taught by a male teacher, an early-adopter of technology and a high-level user of the SMARTBOARD; Class B was taught by a female teacher who was more traditional and a low-level user. These teachers were selected because they had similar years of experience and general competence in their subject matter but differed in their use of the technology. The enrollment in Class A and Class B were twenty-three and twenty-four adult students, respectively. Each class was observed for 90 minutes on three consecutive days in April 2010. Data collection consisted of videotapes of the entire period, and observational field notes with a graphical recording of participatory actions. Information from the graphical recording was converted to sociograms, a graphic representation of social links among individuals involved in joint action. The sociogram data was tabulated as quantified data. The survey results suggest that although most teachers are interested in and use some form of technology in their teaching, there is a tendency for factors of gender and years of experience to influence the use of and opinions on using technology. A Chi Square analysis of the data revealed (a) a significant difference (2 = 6.031, p < .049) for gender in that male teachers are more likely to be interested in the latest pedagogic innovation compared to female teachers; and, (b) a significant difference for years of experience (2 = 10.945, p < .004), showing that teachers with ?6 years experience were more likely to use the SMARTBOARD, compared to those with more experience (>6 years). All other items from the survey data produced no statistical difference. General trends show that (a) male teachers are more willing to say yes to using the SMARTBOARD compared to female teachers, and (b) teachers with less teaching experience were more likely to have positive opinions about using the SMARTBOARD compared to teachers with more experience. The ethnographic study results showed differences in students? response patterns in the two classrooms. Even though both teachers are experienced and competent, Teacher A elicited more participation from his students than Teacher B. This was so partly because he used the SMARTBOARD to present visual materials that the students could easily respond to. By comparison, Teacher B used traditional media or methods to present most of her course material. While these methods also used visual materials, students were not able to easily relate to these smaller, static images and did not readily engage with the material. This research demonstrates a generally positive attitude by teachers towards use of the SMARTBOARD and a generally positive role of this technology in enhancing students? learning and engagement in the classroom. However, there are many issues related to the SMARTBOARD use that still need to be examined. A particular point is whether teachers feel adequately trained to integrate SMARTBOARD technology into their curricula. And, whether the gender difference revealed is related to other factors like a need for more support, other responsibilities, or a general sense of anxiety when it comes to technology. Greater opportunity for training and ongoing support may be one way to increase teacher use of the SMARTBOARD; particularly for teachers with more experience (>6 years) and possibly also for female teachers.