ISECG Mission Scenarios and Their Role in Informing Next Steps for Human Exploration Beyond Low Earth Orbit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Culbert, Christopher J.; Mongrard, Olivier; Satoh, Naoki; Goodliff, Kandyce; Seaman, Calvin H.; Troutman, Patrick; Martin, Eric

2011-01-01

The International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) was established in response to The Global Exploration Strategy (GES): The Framework for Coordination developed by fourteen space agencies* and released in May 2007. This GES Framework Document recognizes that preparing for human space exploration is a stepwise process, starting with basic knowledge and culminating in a sustained human presence in deep space. ISECG has developed several optional global exploration mission scenarios enabling the phased transition from human operations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and utilization of the International Space Station (ISS) to human missions beyond LEO leading ultimately to human missions to cis-lunar space, the Moon, Near Earth Asteroids, Mars and its environs. Mission scenarios provide the opportunity for judging various exploration approaches in a manner consistent with agreed international goals and strategies. Each ISECG notional mission scenario reflects a series of coordinated human and robotic exploration missions over a 25-year horizon. Mission scenarios are intended to provide insights into next steps for agency investments, following on the success of the ISS. They also provide a framework for advancing the definition of Design Reference Missions (DRMs) and the concepts for capabilities contained within. Each of the human missions contained in the scenarios has been characterized by a DRM which is a top level definition of mission sequence and the capabilities needed to execute that mission. While DRMs are generally destination focused, they will comprise capabilities which are reused or evolved from capabilities used at other destinations. In this way, an evolutionary approach to developing a robust set of capabilities to sustainably explore our solar system is defined. Agencies also recognize that jointly planning for our next steps, building on the accomplishments of ISS, is important to ensuring the robustness and sustainability of any human exploration plan. Developing a shared long-term vision is important, but agencies recognize this is an evolutionary process and requires consideration of many strategic factors. Strategic factors such as the implications of an emerging commercial space industry in LEO, the opportunity provided by extending ISS lifetime to at least 2020, and the importance of defining a plan which is sustainable in light of inevitable domestic policy shifts are timely for agency consideration.

A resolution calling for a renewed focus on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran's violations of internationally-recognized human rights as found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA

2010-02-11

Senate - 02/11/2010 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Modeling Human Performance: Effects of Personal Traits and Transitory States

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-06-01

Self Confidence High Self Confidence Extroversion Introversion External Locus of Control Internal Locus of Control Positive Personality Case In the...levels, emotions may not have any effect on performance whatsoever. The current model does not recognize that there may be emotion thresholds that must be

The Helsinki Process: Negotiating Security and Cooperation in Europe

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

cooperation advocated among the states. Recognizing "the growing role of international trade as one of the most important factors in economic growth and...in human rights would seriously unbalance the Helsinki Process. After the meeting, Soviet representative to the UN Commission on Human Rights Vladimir...note, stressing the growth of East-West trade and the number of bilateral agreements concluded with various countries. During some 20 working group

Gene conservation in California's forests

Treesearch

Constance I. Millar

1986-01-01

The University of California's Wildland Resources Center has established a new program of forest gene conservation to ensure that California's rich and diverse forests maintain their vigor and productivity in the face of human activities. At an international level, conservation biologists recognize the importance not only of protecting rare species from...

Human Health/Human Factors Considerations in Trans-Lunar Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, E. Cherice; Howard, Robert; Mendeck, Gavin

2014-01-01

The human factors insights of how they are incorporated into the vehicle are crucial towards designing and planning the internal designs necessary for future spacecraft and missions. The adjusted mission concept of supporting the Asteroid Redirect Crewed Mission will drive some human factors changes on how the Orion will be used and will be reassessed so as to best contribute to missions success. Recognizing what the human factors and health functional needs are early in the design process and how to integrate them will improve this and future generations of space vehicles to achieve mission success and continue to minimize risks.

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi, a meaningful tripartite political dialogue toward national reconciliation, and the full restoration of democracy, freedom of assembly, freedom of movement, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and internationally recognized human rights for all Burmese citizens.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. King, Peter T. [R-NY-3

2009-11-06

House - 07/26/2010 Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Recommendations from the International Union of Radioecology to improve guidance on radiation protection.

PubMed

Bréchignac, François; Bradshaw, Clare; Carroll, Simon; Jaworska, Alicja; Kapustka, Larry; Monte, Luigi; Oughton, Deborah

2011-07-01

This brief commentary summarizes the views of a working group assembled by the International Union of Radioecology to advance the approaches used to evaluate effects of radioactive materials in the environment. The key message in both the research needs and the recommendations for management of radioactive materials centers around the need to adopt an ecocentric approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of biota, including humans, and ecological processes. Copyright © 2011 SETAC.

Identity of the segment of human complement C8 recognized by complement regulatory protein CD59.

PubMed

Lockert, D H; Kaufman, K M; Chang, C P; Hüsler, T; Sodetz, J M; Sims, P J

1995-08-25

CD59 antigen is a membrane glycoprotein that inhibits the activity of the C5b-9 membrane attack complex (MAC), thereby protecting human cells from lysis by human complement. The inhibitory function of CD59 derives from its capacity to interact with both the C8 and C9 components of MAC, preventing assembly of membrane-inserted C9 polymer. MAC-inhibitory activity of CD59 is species-selective and is most effective when both C8 and C9 derive from human or other primate plasma. Rabbit C8 and C9, which can substitute for human C8 and C9 in MAC, mediate virtually unrestricted lysis of human cells expressing CD59. In order to identify the segment of human C8 that is recognized by CD59, recombinant peptides containing human or rabbit C8 sequence were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. CD59 was found to specifically bind to a peptide corresponding to residues 334-385 of the human C8 alpha-subunit, and to require a disulfide bond between Cys345 and Cys369. No specific binding was observed to the corresponding sequence from rabbit C8 alpha (residues 334-386). To obtain functional evidence that this segment of human C8 alpha is selectively recognized by CD59, recombinant C8 proteins were prepared by co-transfecting COS-7 cells with human/rabbit chimeras of the C8 alpha cDNA, and cDNAs encoding the C8 beta and C8 gamma chains. Hemolytic activity of MAC formed with chimeric C8 was analyzed using target cells reconstituted with CD59. These experiments confirmed that CD59 recognizes a conformationally sensitive epitope that is within a segment of human C8 alpha internal to residues 320-415. Our data also suggest that optimal interaction of CD59 with this segment of human C8 alpha is influenced by N-terminal flanking sequence in C8 alpha and by human C8 beta, but is unaffected by C8 gamma.

[The right to food as a human right].

PubMed

Jusidman-Rapoport, Clara

2014-01-01

The right to adequate food is included as a human right in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in which dignity and equality are recognized as inherent to all people. The objective of the present work is to summarize the main statements contained in the international instruments related to this right. The text tries to clarify -according to such instruments and the derived thoughts in the international human rights system- what is the right to adequate food, what are the guarantees that can make it possible, what are the States commitments, what actions should be taken by them in order to effectively realize it, and what are the mechanisms that allow this right to be enforceable and justiciable. It ends stating that -with the aim to guarantee the right to food- interinstitutional, intergovernmental, academic and social participation are required, emphasizing the importance of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger worldwide.

Information and Communication Technologies and Social Mobilization: The Case of the Indigenous Movement in Ecuador, 2007-2011

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green-Barber, Lindsay N.

2012-01-01

Over the last three decades Indigenous people in Ecuador have faced government policies threatening their internationally recognized Indigenous human rights. Although a national social movement emerged in Ecuador in 1990, the level of mobilization has since varied. This dissertation project proposes to address the question, under what conditions…

The Why, What, and How of Reviewer Education: A Human Capital Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sullivan, Sherry E.; Baruch, Yehuda; Schepmyer, Hazlon

2010-01-01

Reviewing has long been recognized as a critical part of the academic process of knowledge creation, development, and dissemination. However, as evidenced by recent findings from focus groups and an international survey, the relative lack of effective formal training in management PhD programs on how to review is surprising given the impact that…

76 FR 28954 - International Conservation and Management Measures Recognized by the United States

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-19

... concluded under the framework of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals... International Conservation and Management Measures Recognized by the United States AGENCY: National Marine... international conservation and management measures recognized by the United States. To fulfill this requirement...

Internalization and desensitization of the human glucose-dependent-insulinotropic receptor is affected by N-terminal acetylation of the agonist.

PubMed

Ismail, Sadek; Dubois-Vedrenne, Ingrid; Laval, Marie; Tikhonova, Irina G; D'Angelo, Romina; Sanchez, Claire; Clerc, Pascal; Gherardi, Marie-Julie; Gigoux, Véronique; Magnan, Remi; Fourmy, Daniel

2015-10-15

How incretins regulate presence of their receptors at the cell surface and their activity is of paramount importance for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting these receptors. We have studied internalization of the human Glucose-Insulinotropic Polypeptide receptor (GIPR). GIP stimulated rapid robust internalization of the GIPR, the major part being directed to lysosomes. GIPR internalization involved mainly clathrin-coated pits, AP-2 and dynamin. However, neither GIPR C-terminal region nor β-arrestin1/2 was required. Finally, N-acetyl-GIP recognized as a dipeptidyl-IV resistant analogue, fully stimulated cAMP production with a ∼15-fold lower potency than GIP and weakly stimulated GIPR internalization and desensitization of cAMP response. Furthermore, docking N-acetyl-GIP in the binding site of modeled GIPR showed slighter interactions with residues of helices 6 and 7 of GIPR compared to GIP. Therefore, incomplete or partial activity of N-acetyl-GIP on signaling involved in GIPR desensitization and internalization contributes to the enhanced incretin activity of this peptide. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Recognizing Facial Slivers.

PubMed

Gilad-Gutnick, Sharon; Harmatz, Elia Samuel; Tsourides, Kleovoulos; Yovel, Galit; Sinha, Pawan

2018-07-01

We report here an unexpectedly robust ability of healthy human individuals ( n = 40) to recognize extremely distorted needle-like facial images, challenging the well-entrenched notion that veridical spatial configuration is necessary for extracting facial identity. In face identification tasks of parametrically compressed internal and external features, we found that the sum of performances on each cue falls significantly short of performance on full faces, despite the equal visual information available from both measures (with full faces essentially being a superposition of internal and external features). We hypothesize that this large deficit stems from the use of positional information about how the internal features are positioned relative to the external features. To test this, we systematically changed the relations between internal and external features and found preferential encoding of vertical but not horizontal spatial relationships in facial representations ( n = 20). Finally, we employ magnetoencephalography imaging ( n = 20) to demonstrate a close mapping between the behavioral psychometric curve and the amplitude of the M250 face familiarity, but not M170 face-sensitive evoked response field component, providing evidence that the M250 can be modulated by faces that are perceptually identifiable, irrespective of extreme distortions to the face's veridical configuration. We theorize that the tolerance to compressive distortions has evolved from the need to recognize faces across varying viewpoints. Our findings help clarify the important, but poorly defined, concept of facial configuration and also enable an association between behavioral performance and previously reported neural correlates of face perception.

Urging the Government of Burma to end the persecution of the Rohingya people and respect internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic and religious minority groups within Burma.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2

2013-11-18

House - 05/07/2014 On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in HouseHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Ultrasonographic finding of internal jugular vein during anti-G straining maneuver: is it associated with gravity-induced loss of consciousness?

PubMed

Choi, Hyun Seok; Sul, Jin Gon; Yi, Kyung Sik; Seo, Jeong-Min; Chung, Ki Young

2010-07-01

Gravity-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) is caused by loss of cerebral blood flow during high +Gz (head-to-foot inertial forces). The resistance of the jugular vein is a significant factor in decrease in cerebral blood flow. Ultrasonography of thoracic inlet veins, including internal jugular vein, is feasible to visualize the internal jugular vein and hemodynamic information. Anti-gravity straining maneuver (AGSM) was widely recognized as one of the important factors in preventing G-LOC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the ultrasonographic shape and size of internal jugular vein during AGSM and G-LOC. 47 trainee pilots who participated in human centrifuge education program were enrolled. They were all men, and their mean age was 23.9 +/- 1.38 years. Questionnaire sheets were used to collect information about well-being sensation, smoking, drinking, height, and weight. Using ultrasonography, we monitored shape and size of internal jugular vein during AGSM. After ultrasonographic examination, 47 subjects underwent human centrifuge on the same day. The protocol of human centrifuge training was maximal 6G with sustaining time of 30 s. G-LOC occurred to ten out of 47 subjects in human centrifuge. To find presumptive variable associated with G-LOC, we performed logistic regression analysis. Concave contour and smaller cross-sectional area of internal jugular vein during AGSM were associated with G-LOC.

Upholding pregnant women's right to life.

PubMed

Cook, Rebecca J; Dickens, Bernard M

2012-04-01

Recent decisions of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the High Court of Delhi have shown how the pregnancy-related deaths of individual women have been bases on which these authoritative tribunals have held Brazil, Paraguay, and India respectively accountable for avoidable maternal mortality not only in these cases, but also among their populations more generally. The right to life is the most fundamental of women's human rights, recognized in international human rights treaties and national laws. Failure of governments to apply their resources adequately to address, respect, and protect this right violates the law of human rights. These cases show, however, that governments may fail to allocate adequate resources to women's survival of pregnancy. Tribunals can build on the failures in individual cases to set standards of performance to which governments will legally be held to achieve safe motherhood. Copyright © 2012 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Recognizing victims of human trafficking in the pediatric emergency department.

PubMed

Becker, Heather J; Bechtel, Kirsten

2015-02-01

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that is rapidly expanding in the United States and throughout the world. It is a crime under both the United States and international law. The child and adult victims of human trafficking are denied their basic human rights and subjected to unspeakable physical and emotional harm. Traffickers exert complete control over their victims and are proficient at hiding their condition from authorities. Healthcare practitioners may be the only professionals who come into contact with victims if they present for medical care. This article will describe human trafficking and its potential victims, as well as guide medical management and access to services that will ensure their safety and restore their freedom.

The Human Genome Diversity (HGD) Project. Summary document

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1993-12-31

In 1991 a group of human geneticists and molecular biologists proposed to the scientific community that a world wide survey be undertaken of variation in the human genome. To aid their considerations, the committee therefore decided to hold a small series of international workshops to explore the major scientific issues involved. The intention was to define a framework for the project which could provide a basis for much wider and more detailed discussion and planning--it was recognized that the successful implementation of the proposed project, which has come to be known as the Human Genome Diversity (HGD) Project, would notmore » only involve scientists but also various national and international non-scientific groups all of which should contribute to the project`s development. The international HGD workshop held in Sardinia in September 1993 was the last in the initial series of planning workshops. As such it not only explored new ground but also pulled together into a more coherent form much of the formal and informal discussion that had taken place in the preceding two years. This report presents the deliberations of the Sardinia workshop within a consideration of the overall development of the HGD Project to date.« less

The human right to water: the importance of domestic and productive water rights.

PubMed

Hall, Ralph P; Van Koppen, Barbara; Van Houweling, Emily

2014-12-01

The United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights engenders important state commitments to respect, fulfill, and protect a broad range of socio-economic rights. In 2010, a milestone was reached when the UN General Assembly recognized the human right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation. However, water plays an important role in realizing other human rights such as the right to food and livelihoods, and in realizing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. These broader water-related rights have been recognized but have not yet been operationalized. This paper unravels these broader water-related rights in a more holistic interpretation of existing international human rights law. By focusing on an emerging approach to water services provision--known as 'domestic-plus' services--the paper argues how this approach operationalizes a comprehensive range of socio-economic rights in rural and peri-urban areas. Domestic-plus services provide water for domestic and productive uses around homesteads, which challenges the widespread practice in the public sector of planning and designing water infrastructure for a single-use. Evidence is presented to show that people in rural communities are already using their water supplies planned for domestic uses to support a wide range of productive activities. Domestic-plus services recognize and plan for these multiple-uses, while respecting the priority for clean and safe drinking water. The paper concludes that domestic-plus services operationalize the obligation to progressively fulfill a comprehensive range of indivisible socio-economic rights in rural and peri-urban areas.

Universal health coverage from multiple perspectives: a synthesis of conceptual literature and global debates.

PubMed

Abiiro, Gilbert Abotisem; De Allegri, Manuela

2015-07-04

There is an emerging global consensus on the importance of universal health coverage (UHC), but no unanimity on the conceptual definition and scope of UHC, whether UHC is achievable or not, how to move towards it, common indicators for measuring its progress, and its long-term sustainability. This has resulted in various interpretations of the concept, emanating from different disciplinary perspectives. This paper discusses the various dimensions of UHC emerging from these interpretations and argues for the need to pay attention to the complex interactions across the various components of a health system in the pursuit of UHC as a legal human rights issue. The literature presents UHC as a multi-dimensional concept, operationalized in terms of universal population coverage, universal financial protection, and universal access to quality health care, anchored on the basis of health care as an international legal obligation grounded in international human rights laws. As a legal concept, UHC implies the existence of a legal framework that mandates national governments to provide health care to all residents while compelling the international community to support poor nations in implementing this right. As a humanitarian social concept, UHC aims at achieving universal population coverage by enrolling all residents into health-related social security systems and securing equitable entitlements to the benefits from the health system for all. As a health economics concept, UHC guarantees financial protection by providing a shield against the catastrophic and impoverishing consequences of out-of-pocket expenditure, through the implementation of pooled prepaid financing systems. As a public health concept, UHC has attracted several controversies regarding which services should be covered: comprehensive services vs. minimum basic package, and priority disease-specific interventions vs. primary health care. As a multi-dimensional concept, grounded in international human rights laws, the move towards UHC in LMICs requires all states to effectively recognize the right to health in their national constitutions. It also requires a human rights-focused integrated approach to health service delivery that recognizes the health system as a complex phenomenon with interlinked functional units whose effective interaction are essential to reach the equilibrium called UHC.

Human primary myeloid dendritic cells interact with the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus via the C-type lectin receptor Dectin-1.

PubMed

Hefter, Maike; Lother, Jasmin; Weiß, Esther; Schmitt, Anna Lena; Fliesser, Mirjam; Einsele, Hermann; Loeffler, Juergen

2017-07-01

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen causing detrimental infections in immunocompromised individuals. Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells and recognize the A. fumigatus cell wall component β-1,3 glucan via Dectin-1, followed by DC maturation and cytokine release. Here, we demonstrate that human primary myeloid DCs (mDCs) interact with different morphotypes of A. fumigatus. Dectin-1 is expressed on mDCs and is down-regulated after contact with A. fumigatus, indicating that mDCs recognize A. fumigatus via this receptor. Blocking of Dectin-1, followed by stimulation with depleted zymosan diminished the up-regulation of the T-cell co-stimulatory molecules CD40, CD80, HLA-DR and CCR7 on mDCs and led to decreased release of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-8, IL-1β and IL-10. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Prevention and control of malaria and sleeping sickness in Africa: where are we and where are we going?

PubMed

Corbel, Vincent; Henry, Marie-Claire

2011-03-16

The International Symposium on Malaria and Human African Trypanosomiasis: New Strategies for their Prevention & Control was held 7-8 October, 2010 in Cotonou, Benin with about 250 participants from 20 countries. This scientific event aimed at identifying the gaps and research priorities in the prevention and control of malaria and sleeping sickness in Africa and to promote exchange between North and South in the fields of medical entomology, epidemiology, immunology and parasitology. A broad range of influential partners from academia (scientists), stakeholders, public health workers and industry attempted the meeting and about 40 oral communications and 20 posters were presented by phD students and internationally-recognized scientists from the North and the South. Finally, a special award ceremony was held to recognize efforts in pioneer work conducted by staff involved in the diagnostic of the Sleeping illness in West Africa with partnership and assistance from WHO and Sanofi-Aventis group.

Lunar Exploration and Science in ESA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpenter, J.; Houdou, B.; Fisackerly, R.; De Rosa, D.; Espinasse, S.; Hufenbach, B.

2013-09-01

Lunar exploration continues to be a priority for the European Space Agency (ESA) and is recognized as the next step for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. The Moon is also recognized as an important scientific target providing vital information on the history of the inner solar system; Earth and the emergence of life, and fundamental information on the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets. The Moon also provides a platform that can be utilized for fundamental science and to prepare the way for exploration deeper into space and towards a human Mars mission, the ultimate exploration goal. Lunar missions can also provide a means of preparing for a Mars sample return mission, which is an important long term robotic milestone. ESA is preparing for future participation in lunar exploration through a combination of human and robotic activities, in cooperation with international partners. These include activities on the ISS and participation with US led Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, which is planned for a first unmanned lunar flight in 2017. Future activities planned activities also include participation in international robotic missions. These activities are performed with a view to generating the technologies, capabilities, knowledge and heritage that will make Europe an indispensible partner in the exploration missions of the future. We present ESA's plans for Lunar exploration and the current status of activities. In particular we will show that this programme gives rise to unique scientific opportunities and prepares scientifically and technologically for future exploratory steps.

The development of health law as a way to change traditional attitudes in national legal systems. The influence of international human rights law: what is left for the national legislator?

PubMed

Birmontiene, Toma

2010-03-01

The development of health law as a sovereign subject of law could be seen as a correlative result of the development of international human rights law. From the perspectives of human rights law, health law gives us a unique possibility to change the traditional point of reference - from the regulation of medical procedures, to the protection of human rights as the main objective of law. At the end of the twentieth and the beginning of this century, human rights law and the most influential international instrument--the European Convention on Human Rights (and the jurisprudence of the ECHR) has influenced health care so much that it has became difficult to draw a line between these subjects. Health law sometimes directly influences and even aspires to change the content of Convention rights that are considered to be traditional. However, certain problems of law linked to health law are decided without influencing the essence of rights protected by the Convention, but just by construing the particularities of application of a certain right. In some cases by further developing the requirements of protection of individual rights that are also regulated by the health law, the ECHR even "codifies" some fields of health law (e.g., the rights of persons with mental disorders). The recognition of worthiness and diversity of human rights and the development of their content raise new objectives for national legislators when they regulate the national legal system. Here the national legislator is often put into a quandary whether to implement the standards of human rights that are recognized by the international community, or to refuse to do so, taking account of the interests of a certain group of the electorate.

Planetary protection on international waters: An onboard protocol for capsule retrieval and biosafety control in sample return mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takano, Yoshinori; Yano, Hajime; Sekine, Yasuhito; Funase, Ryu; Takai, Ken

2014-04-01

Planetary protection has been recognized as one of the most important issues in sample return missions that may host certain living forms and biotic signatures in a returned sample. This paper proposes an initiative of sample capsule retrieval and onboard biosafety protocol in international waters for future biological and organic constituent missions to bring samples from possible habitable bodies in the solar system. We suggest the advantages of international waters being outside of national jurisdiction and active regions of human and traffic affairs on the condition that we accept the Outer Space Treaty. The scheme of onboard biological quarantine definitely reduces the potential risk of back-contamination of extraterrestrial materials to the Earth.

Achievable Human Exploration of Mars: Highlights from The Fourth Community Workshop (AM IV)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thronson, Harley; Cassady, Joseph

2017-01-01

About a half decade ago, several professionals working mainly in industry on scenarios for initial human exploration of Mars together recognized that, under generally similar assumptions, there was a fair degree of similarity among these scenarios. Moreover, opportunities should be sought for greater community input into NASA's own scenario-building for the future of human space flight. A series of focused community workshops were considered to be effective to assess these scenarios and involve more directly the science community, including planetary protection, with industry. Four workshops to date each involve about sixty professional scientists, engineers, technologists, and strategists from NASA, academia, aerospace corporations, the National Academies, consulting organizations, and potential international partners.

Bridging automatic speech recognition and psycholinguistics: Extending Shortlist to an end-to-end model of human speech recognition (L)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scharenborg, Odette; ten Bosch, Louis; Boves, Lou; Norris, Dennis

2003-12-01

This letter evaluates potential benefits of combining human speech recognition (HSR) and automatic speech recognition by building a joint model of an automatic phone recognizer (APR) and a computational model of HSR, viz., Shortlist [Norris, Cognition 52, 189-234 (1994)]. Experiments based on ``real-life'' speech highlight critical limitations posed by some of the simplifying assumptions made in models of human speech recognition. These limitations could be overcome by avoiding hard phone decisions at the output side of the APR, and by using a match between the input and the internal lexicon that flexibly copes with deviations from canonical phonemic representations.

Contribution of daily and seasonal biorhythms to obesity in humans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanikowska, Dominika; Sato, Maki; Witowski, Janusz

2015-04-01

While the significance of obesity as a serious health problem is well recognized, little is known about whether and how biometerological factors and biorhythms causally contribute to obesity. Obesity is often associated with altered seasonal and daily rhythmicity in food intake, metabolism and adipose tissue function. Environmental stimuli affect both seasonal and daily rhythms, and the latter are under additional control of internal molecular oscillators, or body clocks. Modifications of clock genes in animals and changes to normal daily rhythms in humans (as in shift work and sleep deprivation) result in metabolic dysregulation that favours weight gain. Here, we briefly review the potential links between biorhythms and obesity in humans.

Child Custody Determinations in Cases Involving Intimate Partner Violence: a Human Rights Analysis

PubMed Central

Silverman, Jay G.; Mesh, Cynthia M.; Cuthbert, Carrie V.; Slote, Kim; Bancroft, Lundy

2004-01-01

Intimate partner violence and child abuse are recognized both as public health concerns and as violations of human rights, but related government actions and inactions are rarely documented as human rights violations in the United States. Men who abuse female partners are also highly likely to abuse the children of these women. However, family courts are reported to often ignore risks posed by abusive men in awarding child custody and visitation. Battered women involved in child custody litigation in Massachusetts (n = 39) were interviewed. A recurring pattern of potential human rights violations by the state was documented, corresponding to rights guaranteed in multiple internationally accepted human rights covenants and treaties. The human rights framework is a powerful tool for demonstrating the need for legal, social, and political reform regarding public health concerns. PMID:15249297

12 CFR 28.16 - Deposit-taking by an uninsured Federal branch.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... subdivisions, and recognized international organizations; (6) Federal and state governmental units, including... employed by a foreign bank, foreign business, foreign government, or recognized international organization... INTERNATIONAL BANKING ACTIVITIES Federal Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks § 28.16 Deposit-taking by an...

The “Anthropocene” epoch: Scientific decision or political statement?

USGS Publications Warehouse

Finney, Stanley C.; Edwards, Lucy E.

2016-01-01

The proposal for the “Anthropocene” epoch as a formal unit of the geologic time scale has received extensive attention in scientific and public media. However, most articles on the Anthropocene misrepresent the nature of the units of the International Chronostratigraphic Chart, which is produced by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) and serves as the basis for the geologic time scale. The stratigraphic record of the Anthropocene is minimal, especially with its recently proposed beginning in 1945; it is that of a human lifespan, and that definition relegates considerable anthropogenic change to a “pre-Anthropocene.” The utility of the Anthropocene requires careful consideration by its various potential users. Its concept is fundamentally different from the chronostratigraphic units that are established by ICS in that the documentation and study of the human impact on the Earth system are based more on direct human observation than on a stratigraphic record. The drive to officially recognize the Anthropocene may, in fact, be political rather than scientific.

Normative Factors in U.S. Nuclear Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-01

policymakers. No weapon since the 1960’s generated such a large ethical debate as the neutron bomb. Domestically and internationally the moral values of...recognized that the neutron bomb was still a kind of nuclear weapon . Paul argues that the Carter administration was constrained by this reality, and...148 While the neutron bomb was a nuclear weapon , it was unique in that it specialized in taking human life through radiation poisoning, without

Formal Techniques for Organization Analysis: Task and Resource Management

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-06-01

typical approach has been to base new entities on stereotypical structures and make changes as problems are recognized. Clearly, this is not an...human resources; and provide the means to change and track all 4 L I _ _ _ ____ I I these parameters as they interact with each other and respond to...functioning under internal and external change . 3. Data gathering techniques to allow one to efficiently r,’lect reliable modeling parameters from

Civilian Personnel Administration in the Army: Deciding the Future of the Program

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-04-28

identifies four domains (1982, 50): staffing, development, appraisal, and rewards. Ulrich , Brockbank , and Yeung (1989, 314) suggest six: staffing, development...1989, 112-114; Ulrich 1987, 169- 171; Meshoulam and Baird 1987, 485; Coates 1987, 221-228). This turbulent environment, both internal and external to...this environment is for a business to recognize the value of and leverage the capabilities of its human resources ( Ulrich 1987, 171-173; Wilhelm 1990

Scientific evaluation of the safety factor for the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Case study: butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA).

PubMed

Würtzen, G

1993-01-01

The principles of 'data-derived safety factors' are applied to toxicological and biochemical information on butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). The calculated safety factor for an ADI is, by this method, comparable to the existing internationally recognized safety evaluations. Relevance for humans of forestomach tumours in rodents is discussed. The method provides a basis for organizing data in a way that permits an explicit assessment of its relevance.

K-12 International Education Regional Roundtables

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

British Columbia Ministry of Education, 2013

2013-01-01

British Columbia's Government, through its Jobs Plan and International Education Strategy, has recognized the increasing importance of international education to the province's education system and economy. The Ministry of Education also recognized the expertise that school districts and schools have developed in this sector and the excellent work…

USGS international activities in coal resources

USGS Publications Warehouse

,

1999-01-01

During the last 30 years the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been engaged in coal exploration and characterization in more that 30 foreign countries, including India, Pakistan, China, Turkey, several Eastern European countries, Russia, and other former Soviet Union countries. Through this work, the USGS has developed an internationally recognized capability for assessing coal resources and defining their geochemical and physical characteristics. More recently, these data have been incorporated into digital databases and Geographic Information System (GIS) digital map products. The USGS has developed a high level of expertise in assessing the technological, economic, environmental, and human health impacts of coal occurrences and utilization based on comprehensive characterization of representative coal samples.

Robots Learn to Recognize Individuals from Imitative Encounters with People and Avatars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boucenna, Sofiane; Cohen, David; Meltzoff, Andrew N.; Gaussier, Philippe; Chetouani, Mohamed

2016-02-01

Prior to language, human infants are prolific imitators. Developmental science grounds infant imitation in the neural coding of actions, and highlights the use of imitation for learning from and about people. Here, we used computational modeling and a robot implementation to explore the functional value of action imitation. We report 3 experiments using a mutual imitation task between robots, adults, typically developing children, and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We show that a particular learning architecture - specifically one combining artificial neural nets for (i) extraction of visual features, (ii) the robot’s motor internal state, (iii) posture recognition, and (iv) novelty detection - is able to learn from an interactive experience involving mutual imitation. This mutual imitation experience allowed the robot to recognize the interactive agent in a subsequent encounter. These experiments using robots as tools for modeling human cognitive development, based on developmental theory, confirm the promise of developmental robotics. Additionally, findings illustrate how person recognition may emerge through imitative experience, intercorporeal mapping, and statistical learning.

Robots Learn to Recognize Individuals from Imitative Encounters with People and Avatars

PubMed Central

Boucenna, Sofiane; Cohen, David; Meltzoff, Andrew N.; Gaussier, Philippe; Chetouani, Mohamed

2016-01-01

Prior to language, human infants are prolific imitators. Developmental science grounds infant imitation in the neural coding of actions, and highlights the use of imitation for learning from and about people. Here, we used computational modeling and a robot implementation to explore the functional value of action imitation. We report 3 experiments using a mutual imitation task between robots, adults, typically developing children, and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We show that a particular learning architecture - specifically one combining artificial neural nets for (i) extraction of visual features, (ii) the robot’s motor internal state, (iii) posture recognition, and (iv) novelty detection - is able to learn from an interactive experience involving mutual imitation. This mutual imitation experience allowed the robot to recognize the interactive agent in a subsequent encounter. These experiments using robots as tools for modeling human cognitive development, based on developmental theory, confirm the promise of developmental robotics. Additionally, findings illustrate how person recognition may emerge through imitative experience, intercorporeal mapping, and statistical learning. PMID:26844862

International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Control

PubMed Central

Pol, Luciana

2017-01-01

Abstract Discrimination and inequality shape women’s experiences of drug use and in the drug trade and the impact of drug control efforts on them, with disproportionate burdens faced by poor and otherwise marginalized women. In recent years, UN member states and UN drug control and human rights entities have recognized this issue and made commitments to integrate a ‘gender perspective’ into drug control policies, with ‘gender’ limited to those conventionally deemed women. But the concept of gender in international law is broader, rooted in socially constructed and culturally determined norms and expectations around gender roles, sex, and sexuality. Also, drug control policies often fail to meaningfully address the specific needs and circumstances of women (inclusively defined), leaving them at risk of recurrent violations of their rights in the context of drugs. This article explores what it means to ‘mainstream’ this narrower version of gender into drug control efforts, using as examples various women’s experiences as people who use drugs, in the drug trade, and in the criminal justice system. It points to international guidelines on human rights and drug control as an important tool to ensure attention to women’s rights in drug control policy design and implementation. PMID:28630557

International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Control: A Tool for Securing Women's Rights in Drug Control Policy.

PubMed

Schleifer, Rebecca; Pol, Luciana

2017-06-01

Discrimination and inequality shape women's experiences of drug use and in the drug trade and the impact of drug control efforts on them, with disproportionate burdens faced by poor and otherwise marginalized women. In recent years, UN member states and UN drug control and human rights entities have recognized this issue and made commitments to integrate a 'gender perspective' into drug control policies, with 'gender' limited to those conventionally deemed women. But the concept of gender in international law is broader, rooted in socially constructed and culturally determined norms and expectations around gender roles, sex, and sexuality. Also, drug control policies often fail to meaningfully address the specific needs and circumstances of women (inclusively defined), leaving them at risk of recurrent violations of their rights in the context of drugs. This article explores what it means to 'mainstream' this narrower version of gender into drug control efforts, using as examples various women's experiences as people who use drugs, in the drug trade, and in the criminal justice system. It points to international guidelines on human rights and drug control as an important tool to ensure attention to women's rights in drug control policy design and implementation.

Growth and resilience of pioneering nonprofit human service organizations: a cross-case analysis of organizational histories.

PubMed

Kimberlin, Sara E; Schwartz, Sara L; Austin, Michael J

2011-01-01

Knowledge of organizational history is important for recognizing patterns in effective management and understanding how organizations respond to internal and external challenges. This cross-case analysis of 12 histories of pioneering nonprofit human service organizations contributes an important longitudinal perspective on organizational history, complementing the cross-sectional case studies that dominate the existing research on nonprofit organizations. The literature on organizational growth, including lifecycle models and growth management, is reviewed, along with the literature on organizational resilience. Based on analysis of the 12 organizational histories, a conceptual model is presented that synthesizes key factors in the areas of leadership, internal operations, and external relations that influence organizational growth and resilience to enable nonprofit organizations to survive and thrive over time. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal examples from the organizational histories illustrate the conceptual map. The paper concludes with a discussion of directions for future research on nonprofit organizational history.

Arctic marine mammal population status, sea ice habitat loss, and conservation recommendations for the 21st century

PubMed Central

Stern, Harry; Kovacs, Kit M.; Lowry, Lloyd; Moore, Sue E.; Regehr, Eric V.; Ferguson, Steven H.; Wiig, Øystein; Boveng, Peter; Angliss, Robyn P.; Born, Erik W.; Litovka, Dennis; Quakenbush, Lori; Lydersen, Christian; Vongraven, Dag; Ugarte, Fernando

2015-01-01

Abstract Arctic marine mammals (AMMs) are icons of climate change, largely because of their close association with sea ice. However, neither a circumpolar assessment of AMM status nor a standardized metric of sea ice habitat change is available. We summarized available data on abundance and trend for each AMM species and recognized subpopulation. We also examined species diversity, the extent of human use, and temporal trends in sea ice habitat for 12 regions of the Arctic by calculating the dates of spring sea ice retreat and fall sea ice advance from satellite data (1979–2013). Estimates of AMM abundance varied greatly in quality, and few studies were long enough for trend analysis. Of the AMM subpopulations, 78% (61 of 78) are legally harvested for subsistence purposes. Changes in sea ice phenology have been profound. In all regions except the Bering Sea, the duration of the summer (i.e., reduced ice) period increased by 5–10 weeks and by >20 weeks in the Barents Sea between 1979 and 2013. In light of generally poor data, the importance of human use, and forecasted environmental changes in the 21st century, we recommend the following for effective AMM conservation: maintain and improve comanagement by local, federal, and international partners; recognize spatial and temporal variability in AMM subpopulation response to climate change; implement monitoring programs with clear goals; mitigate cumulative impacts of increased human activity; and recognize the limits of current protected species legislation. PMID:25783745

International migration: security concerns and human rights standards.

PubMed

Crépeau, François; Nakache, Delphine; Atak, Idil

2007-09-01

Over the last two decades, the reinforcement of security-related migration policies has resulted in the perception of the foreigner, and especially the irregular migrant, as a category outside the circle of legality. The rights of foreigners in host countries have deteriorated due to the connection made between immigration and criminality. Restrictions imposed upon irregular migrants' basic political and civil rights have been accompanied by major obstacles to their access to economic and social rights, including the right to health. The events of 9/11 further contributed to this trend, which contradicts the basic premises of the human rights paradigm. Recent policy developments and ongoing international cooperation implementing systematic interception and interdiction mechanisms have led to the securitization of migration. The preventive and deterrent measures reinforce the security paradigm. By contrast, various national and international actors have been successful in defending irregular migrants' rights. At the domestic level, the involvement of the judiciary and civil society enhances the rights-based approach to foreigners. The role of judges is vital in holding policy-makers accountable for respecting the high national standards of human rights protection. This article elaborates on the dichotomy between the state's legitimate interest to ensure national security, and its domestic and international obligations to protect human rights for all, including irregular migrants. It focuses on the changing relationship between migration and security, on the one hand, and between state and individual, on the other hand. It affirms the necessity to recognize the pre-eminence of fundamental rights upon security concerns.

Dissociable roles of internal feelings and face recognition ability in facial expression decoding.

PubMed

Zhang, Lin; Song, Yiying; Liu, Ling; Liu, Jia

2016-05-15

The problem of emotion recognition has been tackled by researchers in both affective computing and cognitive neuroscience. While affective computing relies on analyzing visual features from facial expressions, it has been proposed that humans recognize emotions by internally simulating the emotional states conveyed by others' expressions, in addition to perceptual analysis of facial features. Here we investigated whether and how our internal feelings contributed to the ability to decode facial expressions. In two independent large samples of participants, we observed that individuals who generally experienced richer internal feelings exhibited a higher ability to decode facial expressions, and the contribution of internal feelings was independent of face recognition ability. Further, using voxel-based morphometry, we found that the gray matter volume (GMV) of bilateral superior temporal sulcus (STS) and the right inferior parietal lobule was associated with facial expression decoding through the mediating effect of internal feelings, while the GMV of bilateral STS, precuneus, and the right central opercular cortex contributed to facial expression decoding through the mediating effect of face recognition ability. In addition, the clusters in bilateral STS involved in the two components were neighboring yet separate. Our results may provide clues about the mechanism by which internal feelings, in addition to face recognition ability, serve as an important instrument for humans in facial expression decoding. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PubMed Central

Solazzi, Massimiliano; Loconsole, Claudio; Barsotti, Michele

2016-01-01

This paper illustrates the application of emerging technologies and human-machine interfaces to the neurorehabilitation and motor assistance fields. The contribution focuses on wearable technologies and in particular on robotic exoskeleton as tools for increasing freedom to move and performing Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This would result in a deep improvement in quality of life, also in terms of improved function of internal organs and general health status. Furthermore, the integration of these robotic systems with advanced bio-signal driven human-machine interface can increase the degree of participation of patient in robotic training allowing to recognize user's intention and assisting the patient in rehabilitation tasks, thus representing a fundamental aspect to elicit motor learning PMID:28484314

Immunodominant epitopes in herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein D are recognized by CD4 lymphocytes from both HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositive subjects.

PubMed

Kim, Min; Taylor, Janette; Sidney, John; Mikloska, Zorka; Bodsworth, Neil; Lagios, Katerina; Dunckley, Heather; Byth-Wilson, Karen; Denis, Martine; Finlayson, Robert; Khanna, Rajiv; Sette, Alessandro; Cunningham, Anthony L

2008-11-01

In human recurrent cutaneous herpes simplex, there is a sequential infiltrate of CD4 and then CD8 lymphocytes into lesions. CD4 lymphocytes are the major producers of the key cytokine IFN-gamma in lesions. They recognize mainly structural proteins and especially glycoproteins D and B (gD and gB) when restimulated in vitro. Recent human vaccine trials using recombinant gD showed partial protection of HSV seronegative women against genital herpes disease and also, in placebo recipients, showed protection by prior HSV1 infection. In this study, we have defined immunodominant peptide epitopes recognized by 8 HSV1(+) and/or 16 HSV2(+) patients using (51)Cr-release cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays. Using a set of 39 overlapping 20-mer peptides, more than six immunodominant epitopes were defined in gD2 (two to six peptide epitopes were recognized for each subject). Further fine mapping of these responses for 4 of the 20-mers, using a panel of 9 internal 12-mers for each 20-mers, combined with MHC II typing and also direct in vitro binding assay of these peptides to individual DR molecules, showed more than one epitope per 20-mers and promiscuous binding of individual 20-mers and 12-mers to multiple DR types. All four 20-mer peptides were cross-recognized by both HSV1(+)/HSV2(-) and HSV1(-)/HSV2(+) subjects, but the sites of recognition differed within the 20-mers where their sequences were divergent. This work provides a basis for CD4 lymphocyte cross-recognition of gD2 and possibly cross-protection observed in previous clinical studies and in vaccine trials.

[Human capital vs. manpower: fostering a greater global perspective within the nursing profession in Taiwan].

PubMed

Chen, Li-Yen; Chou, Shieu-Ming

2014-04-01

Nursing today is an occupation greatly influenced and shaped by global standards and internationally recognized standard practices and requirements. Therefore, cultivating nursing capital and ensuring nursing manpower requires an international perspective. Nursing migration is currently a popular approach used by many developed countries to address domestic shortfalls in nursing manpower. These international medical services have had a great impact on nursing education. Being able to communicate in English and to adapt transculturally have thus become increasingly important. Ability to communicate well in English is one effective way both to minimize nurse-patient misunderstandings and to increase the quality of care available to foreign patients. In addition, transcultural communication underscores the value of respecting cultural diversity. Fostering and enhancing these abilities will enhance and expand the role of Taiwanese nurses in the professional global movement and increase their contributions to the internal medical community.

Interaction studies reveal specific recognition of an anti-inflammatory polyphosphorhydrazone dendrimer by human monocytes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ledall, Jérémy; Fruchon, Séverine; Garzoni, Matteo; Pavan, Giovanni M.; Caminade, Anne-Marie; Turrin, Cédric-Olivier; Blanzat, Muriel; Poupot, Rémy

2015-10-01

Dendrimers are nano-materials with perfectly defined structure and size, and multivalency properties that confer substantial advantages for biomedical applications. Previous work has shown that phosphorus-based polyphosphorhydrazone (PPH) dendrimers capped with azabisphosphonate (ABP) end groups have immuno-modulatory and anti-inflammatory properties leading to efficient therapeutic control of inflammatory diseases in animal models. These properties are mainly prompted through activation of monocytes. Here, we disclose new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory activation of human monocytes by ABP-capped PPH dendrimers. Following an interdisciplinary approach, we have characterized the physicochemical and biological behavior of the lead ABP dendrimer with model and cell membranes, and compared this experimental set of data to predictive computational modelling studies. The behavior of the ABP dendrimer was compared to the one of an isosteric analog dendrimer capped with twelve azabiscarboxylate (ABC) end groups instead of twelve ABP end groups. The ABC dendrimer displayed no biological activity on human monocytes, therefore it was considered as a negative control. In detail, we show that the ABP dendrimer can bind both non-specifically and specifically to the membrane of human monocytes. The specific binding leads to the internalization of the ABP dendrimer by human monocytes. On the contrary, the ABC dendrimer only interacts non-specifically with human monocytes and is not internalized. These data indicate that the bioactive ABP dendrimer is recognized by specific receptor(s) at the surface of human monocytes.Dendrimers are nano-materials with perfectly defined structure and size, and multivalency properties that confer substantial advantages for biomedical applications. Previous work has shown that phosphorus-based polyphosphorhydrazone (PPH) dendrimers capped with azabisphosphonate (ABP) end groups have immuno-modulatory and anti-inflammatory properties leading to efficient therapeutic control of inflammatory diseases in animal models. These properties are mainly prompted through activation of monocytes. Here, we disclose new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory activation of human monocytes by ABP-capped PPH dendrimers. Following an interdisciplinary approach, we have characterized the physicochemical and biological behavior of the lead ABP dendrimer with model and cell membranes, and compared this experimental set of data to predictive computational modelling studies. The behavior of the ABP dendrimer was compared to the one of an isosteric analog dendrimer capped with twelve azabiscarboxylate (ABC) end groups instead of twelve ABP end groups. The ABC dendrimer displayed no biological activity on human monocytes, therefore it was considered as a negative control. In detail, we show that the ABP dendrimer can bind both non-specifically and specifically to the membrane of human monocytes. The specific binding leads to the internalization of the ABP dendrimer by human monocytes. On the contrary, the ABC dendrimer only interacts non-specifically with human monocytes and is not internalized. These data indicate that the bioactive ABP dendrimer is recognized by specific receptor(s) at the surface of human monocytes. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr03884g

47 CFR 1.10014 - What happens after officially filing my application?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Frequency IHF-xxxxx. Recognized Operating Agency ROA-xxxxx. Satellite Space Station SAT-xxxxx. Satellite... PN released. International High Frequency IHF-xxxxx. Recognized Operating Agency No action taken PN... Carrier Affiliation Notification. International High Frequency: Construction Permits, Licenses...

47 CFR 1.10014 - What happens after officially filing my application?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Frequency IHF-xxxxx. Recognized Operating Agency ROA-xxxxx. Satellite Space Station SAT-xxxxx. Satellite... PN released. International High Frequency IHF-xxxxx. Recognized Operating Agency No action taken PN... Carrier Affiliation Notification. International High Frequency: Construction Permits, Licenses...

47 CFR 1.10014 - What happens after officially filing my application?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Frequency IHF-xxxxx. Recognized Operating Agency ROA-xxxxx. Satellite Space Station SAT-xxxxx. Satellite... PN released. International High Frequency IHF-xxxxx. Recognized Operating Agency No action taken PN... Carrier Affiliation Notification. International High Frequency: Construction Permits, Licenses...

Employing human rights frameworks to realize access to an HIV cure

PubMed Central

Meier, Benjamin Mason; Gelpi, Adriane; Kavanagh, Matthew M; Forman, Lisa; Amon, Joseph J

2015-01-01

Introduction The scale of the HIV pandemic – and the stigma, discrimination and violence that surrounded its sudden emergence – catalyzed a public health response that expanded human rights in principle and practice. In the absence of effective treatment, human rights activists initially sought to protect individuals at high risk of HIV infection. With advances in antiretroviral therapy, activists expanded their efforts under international law, advocating under the human right to health for individual access to treatment. Discussion As a clinical cure comes within reach, human rights obligations will continue to play a key role in political and programmatic decision-making. Building upon the evolving development and implementation of the human right to health in the global response to HIV, we outline a human rights research agenda to prepare for HIV cure access, investigating the role of human rights law in framing 1) resource allocation, 2) international obligations, 3) intellectual property and 4) freedom from coercion. Conclusions The right to health is widely recognized as central to governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental responses to the pandemic and critical both to addressing vulnerability to infection and to ensuring universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. While the advent of an HIV cure will raise new obligations for policymakers in implementing the right to health, the resolution of past debates surrounding HIV prevention and treatment may inform claims for universal access. PMID:26568056

Employing human rights frameworks to realize access to an HIV cure.

PubMed

Meier, Benjamin Mason; Gelpi, Adriane; Kavanagh, Matthew M; Forman, Lisa; Amon, Joseph J

2015-01-01

The scale of the HIV pandemic - and the stigma, discrimination and violence that surrounded its sudden emergence - catalyzed a public health response that expanded human rights in principle and practice. In the absence of effective treatment, human rights activists initially sought to protect individuals at high risk of HIV infection. With advances in antiretroviral therapy, activists expanded their efforts under international law, advocating under the human right to health for individual access to treatment. As a clinical cure comes within reach, human rights obligations will continue to play a key role in political and programmatic decision-making. Building upon the evolving development and implementation of the human right to health in the global response to HIV, we outline a human rights research agenda to prepare for HIV cure access, investigating the role of human rights law in framing 1) resource allocation, 2) international obligations, 3) intellectual property and 4) freedom from coercion. The right to health is widely recognized as central to governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental responses to the pandemic and critical both to addressing vulnerability to infection and to ensuring universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. While the advent of an HIV cure will raise new obligations for policymakers in implementing the right to health, the resolution of past debates surrounding HIV prevention and treatment may inform claims for universal access.

Genogroup IV and VI Canine Noroviruses Interact with Histo-Blood Group Antigens

PubMed Central

Breiman, Adrien; le Pendu, Jacques

2014-01-01

ABSTRACT Human noroviruses (HuNV) are a significant cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. HuNV attaches to cell surface carbohydrate structures known as histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) prior to internalization, and HBGA polymorphism among human populations is closely linked to susceptibility to HuNV. Noroviruses are divided into 6 genogroups, with human strains grouped into genogroups I (GI), II, and IV. Canine norovirus (CNV) is a recently discovered pathogen in dogs, with strains classified into genogroups IV and VI. Whereas it is known that GI to GIII noroviruses bind to HBGAs and GV noroviruses recognize terminal sialic acid residues, the attachment factors for GIV and GVI noroviruses have not been reported. This study sought to determine the carbohydrate binding specificity of CNV and to compare it to the binding specificities of noroviruses from other genogroups. A panel of synthetic oligosaccharides were used to assess the binding specificity of CNV virus-like particles (VLPs) and identified α1,2-fucose as a key attachment factor. CNV VLP binding to canine saliva and tissue samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and immunohistochemistry confirmed that α1,2-fucose-containing H and A antigens of the HBGA family were recognized by CNV. Phenotyping studies demonstrated expression of these antigens in a population of dogs. The virus-ligand interaction was further characterized using blockade studies, cell lines expressing HBGAs, and enzymatic removal of candidate carbohydrates from tissue sections. Recognition of HBGAs by CNV provides new insights into the evolution of noroviruses and raises concerns regarding the potential for zoonotic transmission of CNV to humans. IMPORTANCE Infections with human norovirus cause acute gastroenteritis in millions of people each year worldwide. Noroviruses can also affect nonhuman species and are divided into 6 different groups based on their capsid sequences. Human noroviruses in genogroups I and II interact with histo-blood group antigen carbohydrates, bovine noroviruses (genogroup III) interact with alpha-galactosidase (α-Gal) carbohydrates, and murine norovirus (genogroup V) recognizes sialic acids. The canine-specific strains of norovirus are grouped into genogroups IV and VI, and this study is the first to characterize which carbohydrate structures they can recognize. Using canine norovirus virus-like particles, this work shows that representative genogroup IV and VI viruses can interact with histo-blood group antigens. The binding specificity of canine noroviruses is therefore very similar to that of the human norovirus strains classified into genogroups I and II. This raises interesting questions about the evolution of noroviruses and suggests it may be possible for canine norovirus to infect humans. PMID:25008923

Understanding the internal states of others by listening to action verbs.

PubMed

Di Cesare, G; Fasano, F; Errante, A; Marchi, M; Rizzolatti, G

2016-08-01

The internal state of others can be understood observing their actions or listening to their voice. While the neural bases of action style (vitality forms) have been investigated, there is no information on how we recognize others' internal state by listening to their speech. Here, using fMRI technique, we investigated the neural correlates of auditory vitality forms while participants listened to action verbs in three different conditions: human voice pronouncing the verbs in a rude and gentle way, robot voice pronouncing the same verbs without vitality forms, and a scrambled version of the same verbs pronounced by human voice. In agreement with previous studies on vitality forms encoding, we found specific activation of the central part of insula during listening to human voice conveying specific vitality forms. In addition, when listening both to human and robot voices there was an activation of the posterior part of the left inferior frontal gyrus and of the parieto-premotor circuit typically described to be activated during observation and execution of arm actions. Finally, the superior temporal gyrus was activated bilaterally in all three conditions. We conclude that, the central part of insula is a key region for vitality forms processing allowing the understanding of the vitality forms regardless of the modality by which they are conveyed. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

DSM Science & Technology Awards (south) event 2011: the role of micronutrients in human nutrition.

PubMed

2011-10-01

On 21 June 2011, the DSM Science & Technology Awards recognized and rewarded outstanding innovative young scientists active in fundamental and applied research. As in previous years, an international judging committee honored creative and groundbreaking PhD research. Twelve finalists, the top candidates from Switzerland, Austria, France and southern Germany, were invited for the final competition followed by the award ceremony attended by numerous representatives of universities, non-governmental organizations, institutes of technology and industry. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Globalization of public health law and ethics.

PubMed

Sohn, Myongsei

2012-09-01

The Constitution of the World Health Organization (1946) states that the "enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social position." The international legal framework for this right was laid by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and reaffirmed in the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (1966) and the Declaration of Alma-Ata (1978). In recent years, the framework has been developed on 10 key elements: national and international human rights, laws, norms, and standards; resource constraints and progressive realization; obligations of immediate effect; freedoms and entitlements; available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality; respect, protect, and fulfill; non-discrimination, equality, and vulnerability; active and informed participation; international assistance and cooperation; and monitoring and accountability. Whereas public health law plays an essential role in the protection and promotion of the right to health, the emergence of SARS (2003) highlighted the urgent need to reform national public health laws and international obligations relating to public health in order to meet the new realities of a globalized world, leading to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (2003) and the revision of the WHO International Health Regulations (2005). The Asian Institute for Bioethics and Health Law, in conjunction with the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare and the WHO International Digest of Health Legislation, conducted a comparative legal analysis of national public health laws in various countries through a project entitled Domestic Profiles of Public/Population Health Legislation (2006), which underscored the importance of recognizing the political and social contexts of distinct legal cultures, including Western, Asian, Islamic, and African.

Discussion on the Criterion for the Safety Certification Basis Compilation - Brazilian Space Program Case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niwa, M.; Alves, N. C.; Caetano, A. O.; Andrade, N. S. O.

2012-01-01

The recent advent of the commercial launch and re- entry activities, for promoting the expansion of human access to space for tourism and hypersonic travel, in the already complex ambience of the global space activities, brought additional difficulties over the development of a harmonized framework of international safety rules. In the present work, with the purpose of providing some complementary elements for global safety rule development, the certification-related activities conducted in the Brazilian space program are depicted and discussed, focusing mainly on the criterion for certification basis compilation. The results suggest that the composition of a certification basis with the preferential use of internationally-recognized standards, as is the case of ISO standards, can be a first step toward the development of an international safety regulation for commercial space activities.

Succesful Lean Manufacturing Implementation: Internal Key Influencing Factors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Virginia, Iuga; Claudiu, Kifor

2015-09-01

Manufacturing sectors and companies all over the world are successfully implementing lean principles within their processes. Nowadays, lean has become an indispensable part of global players. Companies worldwide need to be aware of multiple factors which weigh heavily on the success or failure of lean implementation. This paper focuses on giving a brief and structured overview over the fundamental organizational factors which play a substantial role for the lean manufacturing (LM) implementation process. The study below focuses on internal factors which are indispensable for a successful LM implementation within organizations. It is imperative that these internal factors are known, recognized and taken into consideration during the whole LM implementation process. Ignoring their influence on the process's implementation may lead to endangering the expected results or to making the process more difficult which could result in much higher human resource consumption.

The role of external features in face recognition with central vision loss: A pilot study

PubMed Central

Bernard, Jean-Baptiste; Chung, Susana T.L.

2016-01-01

Purpose We evaluated how the performance for recognizing familiar face images depends on the internal (eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth) and external face features (chin, outline of face, hairline) in individuals with central vision loss. Methods In Experiment 1, we measured eye movements for four observers with central vision loss to determine whether they fixated more often on the internal or the external features of face images while attempting to recognize the images. We then measured the accuracy for recognizing face images that contained only the internal, only the external, or both internal and external features (Experiment 2), and for hybrid images where the internal and external features came from two different source images (Experiment 3), for five observers with central vision loss and four age-matched control observers. Results When recognizing familiar face images, approximately 40% of the fixations of observers with central vision loss were centered on the external features of faces. The recognition accuracy was higher for images containing only external features (66.8±3.3% correct) than for images containing only internal features (35.8±15.0%), a finding contradicting that of control observers. For hybrid face images, observers with central vision loss responded more accurately to the external features (50.4±17.8%) than to the internal features (9.3±4.9%), while control observers did not show the same bias toward responding to the external features. Conclusions Contrary to people with normal vision who rely more on the internal features of face images for recognizing familiar faces, individuals with central vision loss show a higher dependence on using external features of face images. PMID:26829260

The Role of External Features in Face Recognition with Central Vision Loss.

PubMed

Bernard, Jean-Baptiste; Chung, Susana T L

2016-05-01

We evaluated how the performance of recognizing familiar face images depends on the internal (eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth) and external face features (chin, outline of face, hairline) in individuals with central vision loss. In experiment 1, we measured eye movements for four observers with central vision loss to determine whether they fixated more often on the internal or the external features of face images while attempting to recognize the images. We then measured the accuracy for recognizing face images that contained only the internal, only the external, or both internal and external features (experiment 2) and for hybrid images where the internal and external features came from two different source images (experiment 3) for five observers with central vision loss and four age-matched control observers. When recognizing familiar face images, approximately 40% of the fixations of observers with central vision loss was centered on the external features of faces. The recognition accuracy was higher for images containing only external features (66.8 ± 3.3% correct) than for images containing only internal features (35.8 ± 15.0%), a finding contradicting that of control observers. For hybrid face images, observers with central vision loss responded more accurately to the external features (50.4 ± 17.8%) than to the internal features (9.3 ± 4.9%), whereas control observers did not show the same bias toward responding to the external features. Contrary to people with normal vision who rely more on the internal features of face images for recognizing familiar faces, individuals with central vision loss show a higher dependence on using external features of face images.

Umami the Fifth Basic Taste: History of Studies on Receptor Mechanisms and Role as a Food Flavor

PubMed Central

Kurihara, Kenzo

2015-01-01

Three umami substances (glutamate, 5′-inosinate, and 5′-guanylate) were found by Japanese scientists, but umami has not been recognized in Europe and America for a long time. In the late 1900s, umami was internationally recognized as the fifth basic taste based on psychophysical, electrophysiological, and biochemical studies. Three umami receptors (T1R1 + T1R3, mGluR4, and mGluR1) were identified. There is a synergism between glutamate and the 5′-nucleotides. Among the above receptors, only T1R1 + T1R3 receptor exhibits the synergism. In rats, the response to a mixture of glutamate and 5′-inosinate is about 1.7 times larger than that to glutamate alone. In human, the response to the mixture is about 8 times larger than that to glutamate alone. Since glutamate and 5′-inosinate are contained in various foods, we taste umami induced by the synergism in daily eating. Hence umami taste induced by the synergism is a main umami taste in human. PMID:26247011

Symposium on Population and Human Rights.

PubMed

1981-06-01

The objectives of the Symposium on Population and Human Rights, held at the Vienna International Center during June 1981, included the following: to review the progress or lack thereof in the observance of human rights in the context of demographic, economic and social conditions and changes since the Amsterdam Symposium of 1974; to review leading population trends and policy changes since 1974 and also examine some possible implications of recent development in the field of medicine, biology, and genetic engineering; and to identify which conceptions of human rights relating to demographic phenomenon are appropriate for today's population problems and to formulate guidelines and standards suitable for these problems. The agenda for the Symposium, attended by about 27 distinguished jurists and demographers, covered the following items: human rights and population trends and policies; morbidity/mortality and human rights; fertility and human rights; internal migration and human rights; status of women, population, and human rights; and new institutional functions in the area of human rights and population. The following were among the main themes and recommendations of the Symposium: 1) the problems of human rights should be contextually handled in such a way as to take adequate account of prevailing socioeconomic and cultural conditions; 2) the realization of a positive right to individual and social development is often impeded, particularly in developing areas, by the prevalence of high mortality, malnutrition, and inadequate health services; 3) policies designed to influence fertility should, within the framework of general population policies, be part of the national strategy for general development; 4) the Symposium recognized the problems of monitoring and appraising the observance or violation of human rights as they relate to the rights of the individual to free movement and residence and the rights to work and decent living; 5) considering the significant changes in the form and character of international movements, it was noted that a significant gap exists between principles as enshrined in international instruments and the actual practice by governments; and 6) to improve the situation of women, it was deemed necessary to improve the knowledge base regarding their situation through more and better information and data and use of appropriate concepts and values.

The Grand Assault

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doolittle, Russell F.; Meyer, Michael (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

Plasmodium falciparum, the protozoan parasite responsible for most human malaria, is among the most studied pathogens of all time, probably only exceeded by the human immunodeficiency virus HTV and the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The extent of human suffering and the devastating costs of malaria have long been recognized by world bodies, and numerous initiatives have been taken over the years in an effort to defeat this insidious microbe. Beginning in 1996, an international consortium of scientists from more than a dozen institutions set about to determine the sequence of the organism's 23-megabase genome. Their massive effort-which ended up going well beyond simple sequencing is reported in this special issue of Nature. The avowed goal of the project was to search for chinks in the parasite's armor so that new and effective drugs and vaccines might be developed.

Debate: Limitations on universality: the "right to health" and the necessity of legal nationality

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The "right to health," including access to basic healthcare, has been recognized as a universal human right through a number of international agreements. Attempts to protect this ideal, however, have relied on states as the guarantor of rights and have subsequently ignored stateless individuals, or those lacking legal nationality in any nation-state. While a legal nationality alone is not sufficient to guarantee that a right to healthcare is accessible, an absence of any legal nationality is almost certainly an obstacle in most cases. There are millions of so-called stateless individuals around the globe who are, in effect, denied medical citizenship in their countries of residence. A central motivating factor for this essay is the fact that statelessness as a concept is largely absent from the medical literature. The goal for this discussion, therefore, is primarily to illustrate the need for further monitoring of health access issues by the medical community, and for a great deal more research into the effects of statelessness upon access to healthcare. This is important both as a theoretical issue, in light of the recognition by many of healthcare as a universal right, as well as an empirical fact that requires further exploration and amelioration. Discussion Most discussions of the human right to health assume that every human being has legal nationality, but in reality there are at least 11 to 12 million stateless individuals worldwide who are often unable to access basic healthcare. The examples of the Roma in Europe, the hill tribes of Thailand, and many Palestinians in Israel highlight the negative health impacts associated with statelessness. Summary Stateless individuals often face an inability to access the most basic healthcare, much less the "highest attainable standard of health" outlined by international agreements. Rather than presuming nationality, statelessness must be recognized by the medical community. Additionally, it is imperative that stateless populations be recognized, the health of these populations be tracked, and more research conducted to further elaborate upon the connection between statelessness and access to healthcare services, and hence a universal right to health. PMID:20525334

Arctic marine mammal population status, sea ice habitat loss, and conservation recommendations for the 21st century.

PubMed

Laidre, Kristin L; Stern, Harry; Kovacs, Kit M; Lowry, Lloyd; Moore, Sue E; Regehr, Eric V; Ferguson, Steven H; Wiig, Øystein; Boveng, Peter; Angliss, Robyn P; Born, Erik W; Litovka, Dennis; Quakenbush, Lori; Lydersen, Christian; Vongraven, Dag; Ugarte, Fernando

2015-06-01

Arctic marine mammals (AMMs) are icons of climate change, largely because of their close association with sea ice. However, neither a circumpolar assessment of AMM status nor a standardized metric of sea ice habitat change is available. We summarized available data on abundance and trend for each AMM species and recognized subpopulation. We also examined species diversity, the extent of human use, and temporal trends in sea ice habitat for 12 regions of the Arctic by calculating the dates of spring sea ice retreat and fall sea ice advance from satellite data (1979-2013). Estimates of AMM abundance varied greatly in quality, and few studies were long enough for trend analysis. Of the AMM subpopulations, 78% (61 of 78) are legally harvested for subsistence purposes. Changes in sea ice phenology have been profound. In all regions except the Bering Sea, the duration of the summer (i.e., reduced ice) period increased by 5-10 weeks and by >20 weeks in the Barents Sea between 1979 and 2013. In light of generally poor data, the importance of human use, and forecasted environmental changes in the 21st century, we recommend the following for effective AMM conservation: maintain and improve comanagement by local, federal, and international partners; recognize spatial and temporal variability in AMM subpopulation response to climate change; implement monitoring programs with clear goals; mitigate cumulative impacts of increased human activity; and recognize the limits of current protected species legislation. © 2015 The Authors. Conservation Biology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Conservation Biology.

Gender equality and human rights approaches to female genital mutilation: a review of international human rights norms and standards.

PubMed

Khosla, Rajat; Banerjee, Joya; Chou, Doris; Say, Lale; Fried, Susana T

2017-05-12

Two hundred million girls and women in the world are estimated to have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), and another 15 million girls are at risk of experiencing it by 2020 in high prevalence countries (UNICEF, 2016. Female genital mutilation/cutting: a global concern. 2016). Despite decades of concerted efforts to eradicate or abandon the practice, and the increased need for clear guidance on the treatment and care of women who have undergone FGM, present efforts have not yet been able to effectively curb the number of women and girls subjected to this practice (UNICEF. Female genital mutilation/cutting: a statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change. 2013), nor are they sufficient to respond to health needs of millions of women and girls living with FGM. International efforts to address FGM have thus far focused primarily on preventing the practice, with less attention to treating associated health complications, caring for survivors, and engaging health care providers as key stakeholders. Recognizing this imperative, WHO developed guidelines on management of health complications of FGM. In this paper, based on foundational research for the development of WHO's guidelines, we situate the practice of FGM as a rights violation in the context of international and national policy and efforts, and explore the role of health providers in upholding health-related human rights of women at girls who are survivors, or who are at risk. Findings are based on a literature review of relevant international human rights treaties and UN Treaty Monitoring Bodies.

New generation emerging technologies for neurorehabilitation and motor assistance.

PubMed

Frisoli, Antonio; Solazzi, Massimiliano; Loconsole, Claudio; Barsotti, Michele

2016-12-01

This paper illustrates the application of emerging technologies and human-machine interfaces to the neurorehabilitation and motor assistance fields. The contribution focuses on wearable technologies and in particular on robotic exoskeleton as tools for increasing freedom to move and performing Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This would result in a deep improvement in quality of life, also in terms of improved function of internal organs and general health status. Furthermore, the integration of these robotic systems with advanced bio-signal driven human-machine interface can increase the degree of participation of patient in robotic training allowing to recognize user's intention and assisting the patient in rehabilitation tasks, thus representing a fundamental aspect to elicit motor learning.

76 FR 54419 - International Anti-Fouling System Certificate

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-01

... society may issue on behalf of the Coast Guard. This action is being taken in response to recently enacted..., 2001. This proposed rule would enable recognized classification societies to apply to the Coast Guard... classification societies to issue international certificates to vessels. The United States currently recognizes...

Modular cell-internalizing aptamer nanostructure enables targeted delivery of large functional RNAs in cancer cell lines.

PubMed

Porciani, David; Cardwell, Leah N; Tawiah, Kwaku D; Alam, Khalid K; Lange, Margaret J; Daniels, Mark A; Burke, Donald H

2018-06-11

Large RNAs and ribonucleoprotein complexes have powerful therapeutic potential, but effective cell-targeted delivery tools are limited. Aptamers that internalize into target cells can deliver siRNAs (<15 kDa, 19-21 nt/strand). We demonstrate a modular nanostructure for cellular delivery of large, functional RNA payloads (50-80 kDa, 175-250 nt) by aptamers that recognize multiple human B cell cancer lines and transferrin receptor-expressing cells. Fluorogenic RNA reporter payloads enable accelerated testing of platform designs and rapid evaluation of assembly and internalization. Modularity is demonstrated by swapping in different targeting and payload aptamers. Both modules internalize into leukemic B cell lines and remained colocalized within endosomes. Fluorescence from internalized RNA persists for ≥2 h, suggesting a sizable window for aptamer payloads to exert influence upon targeted cells. This demonstration of aptamer-mediated, cell-internalizing delivery of large RNAs with retention of functional structure raises the possibility of manipulating endosomes and cells by delivering large aptamers and regulatory RNAs.

De-boned beef - an example of a commodity for which specific standards could be developed to ensure an appropriate level of protection for international trade.

PubMed

Thomson, G R; Leyland, T J; Donaldson, A I

2009-03-01

De-boned beef from which lymph nodes and risk material associated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been removed, is a product which can be produced for safe international trade irrespective of whether the locality of production is recognized as free from so-called transboundary diseases or not. Further processing of such beef provides an additional safety factor. However, this approach requires specific control measures being in place, supported by appropriate auditing and certification procedures. This document presents the arguments supporting this concept and details how safety in respect of both animal diseases and human food safety can be achieved using an integrated hazard analysis and critical control points approach.

Diabetes Dictating Policy: An Editorial Commemorating World Health Day 2016.

PubMed

Takian, Amirhossein; Kazempour-Ardebili, Sara

2016-06-18

The 21st century is an era of great challenge for humankind; we are combating terrorism, climate change, poverty, human rights issues and last but not least non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The burden of the latter has become so large that it is being recognized by world leaders globally as an area that it is in need of much greater attention. In light of this concern, the World Health Organization (WHO) dedicated this year's World Health Day (held on April 7, 2016) to raising international awareness on diabetes, the fastest growing NCD in the world. This editorial is an account of the macro politics in place for fighting diabetes, both internationally and nationally. © 2016 by Kerman University of Medical Sciences.

[Health workforce planning: brief historic route of Chilean policies].

PubMed

Villarroel González, Sebastián Raúl

2016-11-18

Healthcare workers have been widely recognized as the mainstay of healthcare systems. Mostly incorporated as human resources into healthcare planning, their expression in the public policies of Chile and Latin America has undergone changes in compliance with the socio-economic and economic development of the countries in the region as well as changes in their healthcare systems. This article offers a historical review of healthcare human resources planning in Chile from a government-level standpoint; thus, enabling the characterization of a path that has added tools from the economic sciences to the healthcare workers’ own diagnosis, promoting policy actions to improve planning and management at national level, although the results have been inconsistent. Today, the great interest by national and international entities in healthcare human resources constitutes a growing concern about current problems, asymmetries, and expected results-- all of which increase the complexity of healthcare staffing and human resources planning.

Catheter-associated bacteremia by Mycobacterium senegalense in Korea

PubMed Central

Oh, Won Sup; Ko, Kwan Soo; Song, Jae-Hoon; Lee, Mi Young; Ryu, Seong Yeol; Heo, Sangtaek; Kwon, Ki Tae; Lee, Jang-Ho; Peck, Kyong Ran; Lee, Nam Yong

2005-01-01

Background Rapidly growing mycobacteria is recognized as one of the causative agents of catheter-related infections, especially in immunocompromised hosts. To date, however, Mycobacterium senegalense, which was known as the principal pathogen of bovine farcy, has not been reported in human infection. Case presentation We describe the first case of human infection by M. senegalense, which has caused catheter-related bloodstream infection in a cancer patient in Korea. The microorganism was identified by the 16S rRNA gene, rpoB, and 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses. Conclusion Our first report of catheter-associated bacteremia caused by M. senegalense suggests the zoonotic nature of this species and indicates the expansion of mycobacterial species relating to human infection. M. senegalense should be considered as one of the causes of human infections in the clinical practice. PMID:16307688

Feeding humanity through global food trade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Odorico, Paolo; Carr, Joel A.; Laio, Francesco; Ridolfi, Luca; Vandoni, Stefano

2014-09-01

The recent intensification of international trade has led to a globalization of food commodities and to an increased disconnection between human populations and the land and water resources that support them through crop and livestock production. Several countries are not self-sufficient and depend on imports from other regions. Despite the recognized importance of the role of trade in global and regional food security, the societal reliance on domestic production and international trade remains poorly quantified. Here we investigate the global patterns of food trade and evaluate the dependency of food security on imports. We investigate the relationship existing between the trade of food calories and the virtual transfer of water used for their production. We show how the amount of food calories traded in the international market has more than doubled between 1986 and 2009, while the number of links in the trade network has increased by more than 50%. Likewise, global food production has increased by more than 50% in the same period, providing an amount of food that is overall sufficient to support the global population at a rate of 2700-3000 kcal per person per day. About 23% of the food produced for human consumption is traded internationally. The water use efficiency of food trade (i.e., food calories produced per unit volume of water used) has declined in the last few decades. The water use efficiency of food production overall increases with the countries' affluence; this trend is likely due to the use of more advanced technology.

An interventional model to develop health professionals in West Africa.

PubMed

Sanou, Anselme Simeon; Awoyale, Florence Adeola; Diallo, Abdoulaye

2014-01-01

The health sector is characterized by a human resource base lacking in numbers, specialized skills, and management skills. West African Health Organization (WAHO) recognizes the need within the West Africa sub-region for bilingual professionals who are skilled in public health, management, leadership, and information technology to build human capacity in public health and developed the Young Professionals Internship Program (YPIP). Our study explores the evolution of the programme. YPIP program has successfully carried out its original aims and objectives to equip young professionals with basic principles of public health, management, and leadership, acquire competence in a second official language (French, English, and Portuguese), information and communication technology. Contributing factors towards this successful evaluation included positive ratings and commentary from previous interns about the relevance, usefulness, and quality of the programme, encouraging feedback from WAHO management, trainers, administrators, and intern employers on the impact of the YPIP program on young professionals, supporting evidence that demonstrates increased knowledge in professional skills and language competency.

An interventional model to develop health professionals in West Africa

PubMed Central

Sanou, Anselme Simeon; Awoyale, Florence Adeola; Diallo, Abdoulaye

2014-01-01

The health sector is characterized by a human resource base lacking in numbers, specialized skills, and management skills. West African Health Organization (WAHO) recognizes the need within the West Africa sub-region for bilingual professionals who are skilled in public health, management, leadership, and information technology to build human capacity in public health and developed the Young Professionals Internship Program (YPIP). Our study explores the evolution of the programme. YPIP program has successfully carried out its original aims and objectives to equip young professionals with basic principles of public health, management, and leadership, acquire competence in a second official language (French, English, and Portuguese), information and communication technology. Contributing factors towards this successful evaluation included positive ratings and commentary from previous interns about the relevance, usefulness, and quality of the programme, encouraging feedback from WAHO management, trainers, administrators, and intern employers on the impact of the YPIP program on young professionals, supporting evidence that demonstrates increased knowledge in professional skills and language competency. PMID:25419290

Neural Mechanisms of Recognizing Camouflaged Objects: A Human fMRI Study

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-30

Unlimited Final Report: Neural Mechanisms of Recognizing Camouflaged Objects: A Human fMRI Study The views, opinions and/or findings contained in this...27709-2211 Visual search, Camouflage, Functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI ), Perceptual learning REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 11. SPONSOR...ABSTRACT Number of Papers published in peer-reviewed journals: Final Report: Neural Mechanisms of Recognizing Camouflaged Objects: A Human fMRI Study

Advances in Atmospheric Radiation Measurements and Modeling Needed to Improve Air Safety

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tobiska, W. Kent; Atwell, William; Beck, Peter; Benton, Eric; Copeland, Kyle; Dyer, Clive; Gersey, Brad; Getley, Ian; Hands, Alex; Holland, Michael; Hong, Sunhak; Hwang, Junga; Jones, Bryn; Malone, Kathleen; Meier, Matthias M.; Mertens, Chris; Phillips, Tony; Ryden, Keith; Schwadron, Nathan; Wender, Stephen A.; Wilkins, Richard; Xapsos, Michael A.

2015-04-01

Air safety is tied to the phenomenon of ionizing radiation from space weather, primarily from galactic cosmic rays but also from solar energetic particles. A global framework for addressing radiation issues in this environment has been constructed, but more must be done at international and national levels. Health consequences from atmospheric radiation exposure are likely to exist. In addition, severe solar radiation events may cause economic consequences in the international aviation community due to exposure limits being reached by some crew members. Impacts from a radiation environment upon avionics from high-energy particles and low-energy, thermalized neutrons are now recognized as an area of active interest. A broad community recognizes that there are a number of mitigation paths that can be taken relative to the human tissue and avionics exposure risks. These include developing active monitoring and measurement programs as well as improving scientific modeling capabilities that can eventually be turned into operations. A number of roadblocks to risk mitigation still exist, such as effective pilot training programs as well as monitoring, measuring, and regulatory measures. An active international effort toward observing the weather of atmospheric radiation must occur to make progress in mitigating radiation exposure risks. Stakeholders in this process include standard-making bodies, scientific organizations, regulatory organizations, air traffic management systems, aircraft owners and operators, pilots and crew, and even the public.

NASA Health and Human Performance in Spaceflight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Antonsen, Erik

2017-01-01

NASA, because of its mission and history, has tended to be an insular organization dominated by traditional engineering. Because of the engineering problems associated with early space endeavors, the historical approach to solving problems has been that of engineering. Long duration space travel will require a different approach, one requiring wider participation of those with expertise in divergent, emerging, and evolving fields. NASA has only recently begun to recognize this insufficiency and to reach out to communities, both domestic and international, to gain expertise on how to remedy it.

Partnerships and the Future of NASA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blome, Elizabeth; Gowan, John W.; Sampson, Margarita

2015-01-01

Partnerships have become a more integral part of the journey to Mars as NASA continues to lead human space exploration. The current budgetary and political reality requires that partnerships be a key component of moving beyond Low Earth Orbit. This paper will discuss the challenge of finding innovative partnerships that take advantage of the capabilities of the growing commercial space market. Challenges include identifying specific technological needs, recognizing the growing expertise and desires of commercial space to move beyond Low Earth Orbit, incorporating commercial partners into the Mars Roadmap, and working with international partners.

Appropriate technology and climate change adaptation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bandala, Erick R.; Patiño-Gomez, Carlos

2016-02-01

Climate change is emerging as the greatest significant environmental problem for the 21st Century and the most important global challenge faced by human kind. Based on evidence recognized by the international scientific community, climate change is already an unquestionable reality, whose first effects are beginning to be measured. Available climate projections and models can assist in anticipating potential far-reaching consequences for development processes. Climatic transformations will impact the environment, biodiversity and water resources, putting several productive processes at risk; and will represent a threat to public health and water availability in quantity and quality.

Achieving And Sustaining Human Exploration of Mars The Fourth Community Workshop (AM IV)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thronson, Harley; Beaty, David; Carberry, Chris; Drake, Bret; Hays, Lindsay

2017-01-01

About a half decade ago, several professionals working mainly in industry on scenarios for initial human exploration of Mars exploration together recognized that, under generally similar assumptions, there was a fair degree of similarity among these scenarios. Moreover, opportunities should be sought for greater community input into NASAs own scenario-building for the future of human space flight. A series of focused community workshops were considered to be effective to critically assess the increasingly sophisticated scenarios. Explore Mars, Inc. the American Astronautical Society agreed to support them. Four workshops to date each involve about sixty professional scientists, engineers, technologists, and strategists from NASA, academia, aerospace corporations, the National Academies, consulting organizations, and potential international partners. Each workshop produced a series of presentations and reports briefed to NASA leadership and other stakeholders.

Protection of sexual and reproductive health rights: addressing violence against women.

PubMed

García-Moreno, Claudia; Stöckl, Heidi

2009-08-01

Violence against women is recognized as a global public health and human rights problem in need of urgent attention. It affects women's health, including their sexual and reproductive health, and their human rights. While progress has been made in the last 15 years, there is still a long way to go. International human rights law and public health provide tools to governments and non-governmental actors to ensure women a life free from violence and its consequences. Health policies and services need to address violence more systematically and health providers must take action. At a minimum, they should be informed and able to respond appropriately to violence, providing appropriate care and referral to other services. Equally, if not more important, is to provide support to interventions that prevent violence against women from happening in the first place.

Standardization of Assays That Detect Anti-Rubella Virus IgG Antibodies

PubMed Central

Grangeot-Keros, Liliane; Vauloup-Fellous, Christelle

2015-01-01

SUMMARY Rubella virus usually causes a mild infection in humans but can cause congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Vaccination programs have significantly decreased primary rubella virus infection and CRS; however, vaccinated individuals usually have lower levels of rubella virus IgG than those with natural infections. Rubella virus IgG is quantified with enzyme immunoassays that have been calibrated against the World Health Organization (WHO) international standard and report results in international units per milliliter. It is recognized that the results reported by these assays are not standardized. This investigation into the reasons for the lack of standardization found that the current WHO international standard (RUB-1-94) fails by three key metrological principles. The standard is not a pure analyte but is composed of pooled human immunoglobulin. It was not calibrated by certified reference methods; rather, superseded tests were used. Finally, no measurement uncertainty estimations have been provided. There is an analytical and clinical consequence to the lack of standardization of rubella virus IgG assays, which leads to misinterpretation of results. The current approach to standardization of rubella virus IgG assays has not achieved the desired results. A new approach is required. PMID:26607813

ISBT 128 Standard for Coding Medical Products of Human Origin

PubMed Central

Ashford, Paul; Delgado, Matthew

2017-01-01

Background ISBT 128 is an international standard for the terminology, coding, labeling, and identification of medical products of human origin (MPHO). Full implementation of ISBT 128 improves traceability, transparency, vigilance and surveillance, and interoperability. Methods ICCBBA maintains the ISBT 128 standard through the activities of a network of expert volunteers, including representatives from professional scientific societies, governments and users, to standardize and maintain MPHO identification. These individuals are organized into Technical Advisory Groups and work within a structured framework as part of a quality-controlled standards development process. Results The extensive involvement of international scientific and professional societies in the development of the standard has ensured that ISBT 128 has gained widespread recognition. The user community has developed confidence in the ability of the standard to adapt to new developments in their fields of interest. The standard is fully compatible with Single European Code requirements for tissues and cells and is utilized by many European tissue establishments. ISBT 128's flexibility and robustness has allowed for expansions into subject areas such as cellular therapy, regenerative medicine, and tissue banking. Conclusion ISBT 128 is the internationally recognized standard for coding MPHO and has gained widespread use globally throughout the past two decades. PMID:29344013

HLA class I molecules consistently present internal influenza epitopes.

PubMed

Wahl, Angela; Schafer, Fredda; Bardet, Wilfried; Buchli, Rico; Air, Gillian M; Hildebrand, William H

2009-01-13

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) limit influenza virus replication and prevent morbidity and mortality upon recognition of HLA class I presented epitopes on the surface of virus infected cells, yet the number and origin of the viral epitopes that decorate the infected cell are unknown. To understand the presentation of influenza virus ligands by human MHC class I molecules, HLA-B*0702-presented viral peptides were directly identified following influenza infection. After transfection with soluble class I molecules, peptide ligands unique to infected cells were eluted from isolated MHC molecules and identified by comparative mass spectrometry (MS). Then CTL were gathered following infection with influenza and viral peptides were tested for immune recognition. We found that the class I molecule B*0702 presents 3-6 viral ligands following infection with different strains of influenza. Peptide ligands derived from the internal viral nucleoprotein (NP(418-426) and NP(473-481)) and from the internal viral polymerase subunit PB1 (PB1(329-337)) were presented by B*0702 following infection with each of 3 different influenza strains; ligands NP(418-426), NP(473-481), and PB1(329-337) derived from internal viral proteins were consistently revealed by class I HLA. In contrast, ligands derived from hemagglutinin (HA) and matrix protein (M1) were presented intermittently on a strain-by-strain basis. When tested for immune recognition, HLA-B*0702 transgenic mice responded to NP(418-426) and PB1(329-337) consistently and NP(473-481) intermittently while ligands from HA and M1 were not recognized. These data demonstrate an emerging pattern whereby class I HLA reveal a handful of internal viral ligands and whereby CTL recognize consistently presented influenza ligands.

HLA class I molecules consistently present internal influenza epitopes

PubMed Central

Wahl, Angela; Schafer, Fredda; Bardet, Wilfried; Buchli, Rico; Air, Gillian M.; Hildebrand, William H.

2009-01-01

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) limit influenza virus replication and prevent morbidity and mortality upon recognition of HLA class I presented epitopes on the surface of virus infected cells, yet the number and origin of the viral epitopes that decorate the infected cell are unknown. To understand the presentation of influenza virus ligands by human MHC class I molecules, HLA-B*0702-presented viral peptides were directly identified following influenza infection. After transfection with soluble class I molecules, peptide ligands unique to infected cells were eluted from isolated MHC molecules and identified by comparative mass spectrometry (MS). Then CTL were gathered following infection with influenza and viral peptides were tested for immune recognition. We found that the class I molecule B*0702 presents 3–6 viral ligands following infection with different strains of influenza. Peptide ligands derived from the internal viral nucleoprotein (NP418–426 and NP473–481) and from the internal viral polymerase subunit PB1 (PB1329–337) were presented by B*0702 following infection with each of 3 different influenza strains; ligands NP418–426, NP473–481, and PB1329–337 derived from internal viral proteins were consistently revealed by class I HLA. In contrast, ligands derived from hemagglutinin (HA) and matrix protein (M1) were presented intermittently on a strain-by-strain basis. When tested for immune recognition, HLA-B*0702 transgenic mice responded to NP418–426 and PB1329–337 consistently and NP473–481 intermittently while ligands from HA and M1 were not recognized. These data demonstrate an emerging pattern whereby class I HLA reveal a handful of internal viral ligands and whereby CTL recognize consistently presented influenza ligands. PMID:19122146

Isolation of a human anti-epidermal growth factor receptor Fab antibody, EG-19-11, with subnanomolar affinity from naïve immunoglobulin repertoires using a hierarchical antibody library system.

PubMed

Hur, Byung-ung; Yoon, Jae-bong; Liu, Li-Kun; Cha, Sang-hoon

2010-11-30

Specific antibodies that possess a subnanomolar affinity are very difficult to obtain from human naïve immunoglobulin repertoires without the use of lengthy affinity optimization procedures. Here, we designed a hierarchical phage-displayed antibody library system to generate an enormous diversity of combinatorial Fab fragments (6×10(17)) and attempted to isolate high-affinity Fabs against the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). A primary antibody library, designated HuDVFab-8L, comprising 4.5×10(9) human naïve heavy chains and eight unspecified human naïve light chains was selected against the EGFR-Fc protein by biopanning, and four anti-EGFR Fab clones were isolated. Because one of the Fab clones, denoted EG-L2-11, recognized a native EGFR expressed on A431 cells, the heavy chain of the Fab was shuffled with a human naïve light chain repertoire with a diversity of 1.4×10(8) and selected a second time against the EGFR-Fc protein again. One EG-L2-11 variant, denoted EG-19-11, recognized an EGFR epitope that was almost the same as that bound by cetuximab and had a K(D) of approximately 540 pM for soluble EGFR, which is about 7-fold higher than that of the FabC225 derived from cetuximab. This variant was also internalized by A431 cells, likely via receptor-mediated endocytosis, and it efficiently inhibited EGF-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGFR. These results demonstrate that the use of our hierarchical antibody library system is advantageous in generating fully human antibodies especially with a therapeutic purpose. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recognizing Facial Expressions Automatically from Video

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shan, Caifeng; Braspenning, Ralph

Facial expressions, resulting from movements of the facial muscles, are the face changes in response to a person's internal emotional states, intentions, or social communications. There is a considerable history associated with the study on facial expressions. Darwin [22] was the first to describe in details the specific facial expressions associated with emotions in animals and humans, who argued that all mammals show emotions reliably in their faces. Since that, facial expression analysis has been a area of great research interest for behavioral scientists [27]. Psychological studies [48, 3] suggest that facial expressions, as the main mode for nonverbal communication, play a vital role in human face-to-face communication. For illustration, we show some examples of facial expressions in Fig. 1.

Executive summary and conclusions from the European Hydration Institute Expert Conference on human hydration, health, and performance.

PubMed

Benton, D; Braun, H; Cobo, J C; Edmonds, C; Elmadfa, I; El-Sharkawy, A; Feehally, J; Gellert, R; Holdsworth, J; Kapsokefalou, M; Kenney, W L; Leiper, J B; Macdonald, I A; Maffeis, C; Maughan, R J; Shirreffs, S M; Toth-Heyn, P; Watson, P

2015-09-01

On April 7-8, 2014, the European Hydration Institute hosted a small group of experts at Castle Combe Manor House, United Kingdom, to discuss a range of issues related to human hydration, health, and performance. The meeting included 18 recognized experts who brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to the topics under review. Eight selected topics were addressed, with the key issues being briefly presented before an in-depth discussion. Presented here is the executive summary and conclusions from this meeting. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Interaction studies reveal specific recognition of an anti-inflammatory polyphosphorhydrazone dendrimer by human monocytes.

PubMed

Ledall, Jérémy; Fruchon, Séverine; Garzoni, Matteo; Pavan, Giovanni M; Caminade, Anne-Marie; Turrin, Cédric-Olivier; Blanzat, Muriel; Poupot, Rémy

2015-11-14

Dendrimers are nano-materials with perfectly defined structure and size, and multivalency properties that confer substantial advantages for biomedical applications. Previous work has shown that phosphorus-based polyphosphorhydrazone (PPH) dendrimers capped with azabisphosphonate (ABP) end groups have immuno-modulatory and anti-inflammatory properties leading to efficient therapeutic control of inflammatory diseases in animal models. These properties are mainly prompted through activation of monocytes. Here, we disclose new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory activation of human monocytes by ABP-capped PPH dendrimers. Following an interdisciplinary approach, we have characterized the physicochemical and biological behavior of the lead ABP dendrimer with model and cell membranes, and compared this experimental set of data to predictive computational modelling studies. The behavior of the ABP dendrimer was compared to the one of an isosteric analog dendrimer capped with twelve azabiscarboxylate (ABC) end groups instead of twelve ABP end groups. The ABC dendrimer displayed no biological activity on human monocytes, therefore it was considered as a negative control. In detail, we show that the ABP dendrimer can bind both non-specifically and specifically to the membrane of human monocytes. The specific binding leads to the internalization of the ABP dendrimer by human monocytes. On the contrary, the ABC dendrimer only interacts non-specifically with human monocytes and is not internalized. These data indicate that the bioactive ABP dendrimer is recognized by specific receptor(s) at the surface of human monocytes.

26 CFR 1.1374-2 - Net recognized built-in gain.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 11 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Net recognized built-in gain. 1.1374-2 Section 1... (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES Small Business Corporations and Their Shareholders § 1.1374-2 Net recognized built-in gain. (a) In general. An S corporation's net recognized built-in gain for any taxable year is the...

Role of a disulfide-bonded peptide loop within human complement C9 in the species-selectivity of complement inhibitor CD59.

PubMed

Husler, T; Lockert, D H; Sims, P J

1996-03-12

CD59 antigen is a membrane glycoprotein that inhibits the activity of the C9 component of the C5b-9 membrane attack complex (MAC), thereby protecting human cells from lysis by human complement. The complement-inhibitory activity of CD59 is species-selective, and is most effective toward C9 derived from human or other primate plasma. The species-selective activity of CD59 was recently used to map the segment of human C9 that is recognized by this MAC inhibitor, using recombinant rabbit/human C9 chimeras that retain lytic function within the MAC [Husler, T., Lockert, D. H., Kaufman, K. M., Sodetz, J. M., & Sims, P. J. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270,3483-3486]. These experiments suggested that the CD59 recognition domain was contained between residues 334 and 415 in human C9. By analyzing the species-selective lytic activity of recombinant C9 with chimeric substitutions internal to this segment, we now demonstrate that the site in human C9 uniquely recognized by CD59 is centered on those residues contained between C9 Cys359/Cys384, with an additional contribution by residues C-terminal to this segment. Consistent with its role as a CD59 recognition domain, CD59 specifically bound a human C9-derived peptide corresponding to residues 359-384, and antibody (Fab) raised against this C9-derived peptide inhibited the lytic activity of human MAC. Mutant human C9 in which Ala was substituted for Cys359/384 was found to express normal lytic activity and to be fully inhibited by CD59. This suggests that the intrachain Cys359/Cys384 disulfide bond within C9 is not required to maintain the conformation of this segment of C9 for interaction with CD59.

76 FR 76896 - International Anti-Fouling System Certificate

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-09

...-fouling System (IAFS) Certificate to the list of certificates a recognized classification society may..., 2001. This final rule will enable recognized classification societies to apply to the Coast Guard for... the Coast Guard to authorize recognized classification societies to issue IAFS Certificates...

Protecting girls and women from harmful practices affecting their health: Are we making progress?

PubMed

Cottingham, Jane; Kismodi, Eszter

2009-08-01

Since female genital mutilation (FGM) was first recognized internationally in 1958, it has now become widely accepted and anchored in international law that FGM is a violation of girls' and women's human rights. Declines in the practice, however, are slow overall, and continued work for its elimination requires action and investment at many levels. Where the practice has diminished, community action has been widespread and sustained. Governments, who are ultimately responsible for the eradication of FGM, must take many measures to outlaw the practice and protect girls' and women's rights, through legislation, policy, education, and resource allocation. Among the other key actors, health care professionals have a particularly important role in treating women and in preventing FGM by actively opposing any medicalization of the practice.

Listing Occupational Carcinogens

PubMed Central

Siemiatycki, Jack; Richardson, Lesley; Straif, Kurt; Latreille, Benoit; Lakhani, Ramzan; Campbell, Sally; Rousseau, Marie-Claude; Boffetta, Paolo

2004-01-01

The occupational environment has been a most fruitful one for investigating the etiology of human cancer. Many recognized human carcinogens are occupational carcinogens. There is a large volume of epidemiologic and experimental data concerning cancer risks in different work environments. It is important to synthesize this information for both scientific and public health purposes. Various organizations and individuals have published lists of occupational carcinogens. However, such lists have been limited by unclear criteria for which recognized carcinogens should be considered occupational carcinogens, and by inconsistent and incomplete information on the occupations and industries in which the carcinogenic substances may be found and on their target sites of cancer. Based largely on the evaluations published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and augmented with additional information, the present article represents an attempt to summarize, in tabular form, current knowledge on occupational carcinogens, the occupations and industries in which they are found, and their target organs. We have considered 28 agents as definite occupational carcinogens, 27 agents as probable occupational carcinogens, and 113 agents as possible occupational carcinogens. These tables should be useful for regulatory or preventive purposes and for scientific purposes in research priority setting and in understanding carcinogenesis. PMID:15531427

Functional organization of the Sm core in the crystal structure of human U1 snRNP.

PubMed

Weber, Gert; Trowitzsch, Simon; Kastner, Berthold; Lührmann, Reinhard; Wahl, Markus C

2010-12-15

U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) recognizes the 5'-splice site early during spliceosome assembly. It represents a prototype spliceosomal subunit containing a paradigmatic Sm core RNP. The crystal structure of human U1 snRNP obtained from natively purified material by in situ limited proteolysis at 4.4 Å resolution reveals how the seven Sm proteins, each recognize one nucleotide of the Sm site RNA using their Sm1 and Sm2 motifs. Proteins D1 and D2 guide the snRNA into and out of the Sm ring, and proteins F and E mediate a direct interaction between the Sm site termini. Terminal extensions of proteins D1, D2 and B/B', and extended internal loops in D2 and B/B' support a four-way RNA junction and a 3'-terminal stem-loop on opposite sides of the Sm core RNP, respectively. On a higher organizational level, the core RNP presents multiple attachment sites for the U1-specific 70K protein. The intricate, multi-layered interplay of proteins and RNA rationalizes the hierarchical assembly of U snRNPs in vitro and in vivo.

International surgery: definition, principles and Canadian practice.

PubMed

Lett, Ronald

2003-10-01

This article is dedicated to the Canadian international surgeon, Norman Bethune (1890-1939). International surgery is defined as a humanitarian branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of bodily injuries or disorders by incision or manipulations, emphasizing cooperation and understanding among nations and involving education, research, development and advocacy. In this article I review the colonial past, the dark ages following the Declaration of Alma-Ata, the progress made and the present challenges in international surgery. I present a definition of international surgery that recognizes the current era of surgical humanitarianism, validates a global understanding of surgical issues and promotes cooperation among nations. Included are the principles of international surgery: education, research, infrastructure development and advocacy. International surgical projects are classified according to type (clinical, relief, developmental) and integration strategy (vertical or horizontal). Also reviewed are the Canadian practice of international surgery by nongovernmental, professional and academic organizations and the requirements of international and Canadian funding agencies, the development concepts basic to all projects, including results-based management and the cross-cutting themes of gender equity, environmental protection and human safety. I recommend formalizing international surgery into a discipline as a means of promoting surgical care in low-income countries. If international surgery is to be sustained in Canada, infrastructure and support from Canadian surgeons is particularly important. An understanding of the history, definition and classification of international surgery should promote surgical care in low-income countries.

International surgery: definition, principles and Canadian practice

PubMed Central

Lett, Ronald

2003-01-01

This article is dedicated to the Canadian international surgeon, Norman Bethune (1890–1939). International surgery is defined as a humanitarian branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of bodily injuries or disorders by incision or manipulations, emphasizing cooperation and understanding among nations and involving education, research, development and advocacy. In this article I review the colonial past, the dark ages following the Declaration of Alma-Ata, the progress made and the present challenges in international surgery. I present a definition of international surgery that recognizes the current era of surgical humanitarianism, validates a global understanding of surgical issues and promotes cooperation among nations. Included are the principles of international surgery: education, research, infrastructure development and advocacy. International surgical projects are classified according to type (clinical, relief, developmental) and integration strategy (vertical or horizontal). Also reviewed are the Canadian practice of international surgery by nongovernmental, professional and academic organizations and the requirements of international and Canadian funding agencies, the development concepts basic to all projects, including results-based management and the cross-cutting themes of gender equity, environmental protection and human safety. I recommend formalizing international surgery into a discipline as a means of promoting surgical care in low-income countries. If international surgery is to be sustained in Canada, infrastructure and support from Canadian surgeons is particularly important. An understanding of the history, definition and classification of international surgery should promote surgical care in low-income countries. PMID:14577711

An Acidic Cluster in the Cytosolic Domain of Human Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein B Is a Signal for Endocytosis from the Plasma Membrane

PubMed Central

Tugizov, Sharof; Maidji, Ekaterina; Xiao, Jianqiao; Pereira, Lenore

1999-01-01

We previously reported that human cytomegalovirus (CMV) glycoprotein B (gB) is transported to apical membranes in CMV-infected polarized retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells and in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells constitutively expressing gB. The cytosolic domain of gB contains a cluster of acidic amino acids, a motif that plays a pivotal role in vectorial trafficking in polarized epithelial cells and may also function as a signal for entry into the endocytic pathway. Here we compared gB internalization and recycling to the plasma membrane in CMV-infected human fibroblasts (HF) and ARPE-19 cells by using antibody-internalization experiments. Immunofluorescence and quantitative assays showed that gB was internalized from the cell surface into clathrin-coated transport vesicles and then recycled to the plasma membrane. gB colocalized with clathrin-coated vesicles containing the transferrin receptor in the early endocytic/recycling pathway, indicating that gB traffics in this pathway. The specific role of the acidic cluster in regulating the sorting of gB-containing vesicles in the early endocytic/recycling pathway was examined in MDCK cells expressing mutated gB derivatives. Immunofluorescence assays showed that derivatives lacking the acidic cluster were impaired in internalization and failed to recycle. These findings, together with our earlier observation that the acidic cluster is a key determinant for targeting gB molecules to apical membranes in epithelial cells, establish that this signal is recognized by cellular proteins that participate in polarized sorting and transport in the early endocytic/recycling pathway. PMID:10482621

26 CFR 1.1374-4 - Recognized built-in gain or loss.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 11 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Recognized built-in gain or loss. 1.1374-4... Recognized built-in gain or loss. (a) Sales and exchanges—(1) In general. Section 1374(d)(3) or 1374(d)(4) applies to any gain or loss recognized during the recognition period in a transaction treated as a sale or...

26 CFR 1.1374-4 - Recognized built-in gain or loss.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 11 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Recognized built-in gain or loss. 1.1374-4... Recognized built-in gain or loss. (a) Sales and exchanges—(1) In general. Section 1374(d)(3) or 1374(d)(4) applies to any gain or loss recognized during the recognition period in a transaction treated as a sale or...

26 CFR 1.1374-4 - Recognized built-in gain or loss.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 11 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Recognized built-in gain or loss. 1.1374-4... Recognized built-in gain or loss. (a) Sales and exchanges—(1) In general. Section 1374(d)(3) or 1374(d)(4) applies to any gain or loss recognized during the recognition period in a transaction treated as a sale or...

26 CFR 1.1374-4 - Recognized built-in gain or loss.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 11 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Recognized built-in gain or loss. 1.1374-4... Recognized built-in gain or loss. (a) Sales and exchanges—(1) In general. Section 1374(d)(3) or 1374(d)(4) applies to any gain or loss recognized during the recognition period in a transaction treated as a sale or...

Harbingers of the Caliphate: Islamic State Revolutionary Actions 2011-2014

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

movements and tribal organizations. This evaluation illuminates the Islamic State’s internal structure and methodology for governing territory to support...and tribal organizations. This evaluation illuminates the Islamic State’s internal structure and methodology for governing territory to support...schools of thought: Theories that recognize structural conditions as the seminal factor leading to revolution, and those that recognize actors and

The potential of a human rights approach for accelerating the implementation of comprehensive restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children.

PubMed

Granheim, Sabrina Ionata; Vandevijvere, Stefanie; Torheim, Liv Elin

2018-01-05

Overweight and obesity in children is rising at the global level, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Among the causes for this increase is the marketing of unhealthy food and beverage products, which affects children's food preferences, purchasing requests and consumption patterns. The need to address harmful marketing to children has been recognized at the World Health Organization, with Member States having agreed in 2010 to implement a set of recommendations to restrict such practices. Concurrently, there is an increasing understanding of unhealthy food and malnutrition as human rights concerns. This paper explores the potential of existing legally and non-legally binding human rights instruments for accelerating the implementation of comprehensive restrictions to reduce harmful marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children. Four relevant themes were identified in existing human rights instruments: (i) the best interest of the child should be considered above all other interests; (ii) the rights to health and adequate food cannot be realized without supportive healthy environments; (iii) children should be protected from economic exploitation; and (iv) the persuasive marketing of unhealthy food and beverage products is explicitly recognized as a threat to the rights to food and health. In conclusion, existing human rights instruments could be harnessed to advance public health measures to restrict the marketing of unhealthy food and beverage products to children. Policy-makers and advocates should draw from these instruments and refer to State's obligations within international and domestic human rights law to strengthen their efforts to restrict harmful marketing practices to children. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

CD Nomenclature 2015: Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigen Workshops as a Driving Force in Immunology.

PubMed

Engel, Pablo; Boumsell, Laurence; Balderas, Robert; Bensussan, Armand; Gattei, Valter; Horejsi, Vaclav; Jin, Bo-Quan; Malavasi, Fabio; Mortari, Frank; Schwartz-Albiez, Reinhard; Stockinger, Hannes; van Zelm, Menno C; Zola, Heddy; Clark, Georgina

2015-11-15

CD (cluster of differentiation) Ags are cell surface molecules expressed on leukocytes and other cells relevant for the immune system. CD nomenclature has been universally adopted by the scientific community and is officially approved by the International Union of Immunological Societies and sanctioned by the World Health Organization. It provides a unified designation system for mAbs, as well as for the cell surface molecules that they recognize. This nomenclature was established by the Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens Workshops. In addition to defining the CD nomenclature, these workshops have been instrumental in identifying and determining the expression and function of cell surface molecules. Over the past 30 y, the data generated by the 10 Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens Workshops have led to the characterization and formal designation of more than 400 molecules. CD molecules are commonly used as cell markers, allowing the identification and isolation of leukocyte populations, subsets, and differentiation stages. mAbs against these molecules have proven to be essential for biomedical research and diagnosis, as well as in biotechnology. More recently, they have been recognized as invaluable tools for the treatment of several malignancies and autoimmune diseases. In this article, we describe how the CD nomenclature was established, present the official updated list of CD molecules, and provide a rationale for their usefulness in the 21st century. Copyright © 2015 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Hazardous properties and toxicological update of mercury: From fish food to human health safety perspective.

PubMed

Okpala, Charles Odilichukwu R; Sardo, Giacomo; Vitale, Sergio; Bono, Gioacchino; Arukwe, Augustine

2017-04-10

The mercury (Hg) poisoning of Minamata Bay of Japan widely activated a global attention to Hg toxicity and its potential consequences to the aquatic ecosystem and human health. This has resulted to an increased need for a dynamic assembly, contextualization, and quantification of both the current state-of-the-art and approaches for understanding the cause-and-effect relationships of Hg exposure. Thus, the objective of this present review is to provide both hazardous toxic properties and toxicological update of Hg, focusing on how it ultimately affects the aquatic biota to potentially produce human health effects. Primarily, we discussed processes that relate to Hg exposure, including immunological aspects and risk assessment, vulnerability, toxicokinetics, and toxicodynamics, using edible fish, swordfish (Xiphias gladius), as a model. In addition, we summarized available information about Hg concentration limits set by different governmental agencies, as recognized by national and international standardization authorities.

Conservation and restoration of mangroves: Global status, perspectives, and prognosis

USGS Publications Warehouse

Romañach, Stephanie; DeAngelis, Donald L.; Koh, Hock Lye; Li, Yuhong; Teh, Su Yean; Barizan, Raja Sulaiman Raja; Zhai, Lu

2018-01-01

Mangrove forests provide critical services around the globe to both human populations and the ecosystems they occupy. However, losses of mangrove habitat of more than 50% have been recorded in some parts of the world, and these losses are largely attributable to human activities. The importance of mangroves and the threats to their persistence have long been recognized, leading to actions taken locally, by national governments, and through international agreements for their protection. In this review, we explore the status of mangrove forests as well as efforts to protect them. We examine threats to the persistence of mangroves, consequences, and potential solutions for effective conservation. We present case studies from disparate regions of the world, showing that the integration of human livelihood needs in a manner that balances conservation goals can present solutions that could lead to long-term sustainability of mangrove forests throughout the world.

Recognizing, Determining, and Addressing Entrepreneurial Innovations by Superintendents of Emerging or Established Educational Service Agencies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arfstrom, Kari M.

2009-01-01

This dissertation describes how entrepreneurial superintendents of educational service agencies (ESAs) recognize, determine and address common and distinct innovative characteristics within emerging or established regional educational environments. Because internal and external factors assist in recognizing innovative practices, this study…

Women's human rights at the World Summit for Social Development.

PubMed

Fried, S

1995-01-01

The Copenhagen Hearing on Economic Justice and Women's Human Rights was held on March 7, 1995 in conjunction with the NGO (nongovernmental organization) Forum during the UN World Summit on Social Development (the Social Summit). During the Copenhagen Hearing, 10 women from around the world testified on a wide range of topics connected with the issue of providing tangible meaning to the indivisibility of women's human rights. Also emphasized was the complexity of the US government in perpetrating abuses against women's human rights, either directly or indirectly. The NGO Forum resulted in several hundred NGOs signing The Quality Benchmark for the Social Summit and The Copenhagen Alternative Declaration, which pointed out the need to critique conventional economic and social policies. While many of the concerns raised at the NGO Forum were not reflected in the Summit's Programme of Action, one of the Programme's 10 commitments called for the promotion of gender equality and improvement in the status of women. The Programme also recognized the burden placed on women by poverty and social disintegration; accepted a broad definition of "family"; called for a quantitative consideration of the value of unremunerated work; and advanced the rights of workers in general, migrant workers, and indigenous people. The capacity of NGOs and other grassroots groups to demand implementation of international agreements and adherence to international human rights standards was also strengthened. Specifically, such groups may urge governments to 1) meet with women's NGOs to discuss implementation of the Social Summit Declaration and Programme of Action; 2) make a national commitment to implement the Platform of Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women; and 3) commit to the Pledge to Gender Justice, particularly to the implementation of international agreements in local and national laws and policies.

[Influenza virus receptors in the human airway].

PubMed

Shinya, Kyoko; Kawaoka, Yoshihiro

2006-06-01

Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infections have resulted in more than 100 human deaths; yet, human-to-human transmission is rare. We demonstrated that the epithelial cells in the upper respiratory tract of humans mainly possess sialic acid linked to galactose by alpha 2,6 linkages (SA alpha 2,6Gal), a molecule preferentially recognized by human viruses. However, many cells in the respiratory bronchioles and alveoli possess SA alpha 2,3Gal, which is preferentially recognized by avian viruses. These facts are consistent with the observation that H5N1 viruses can be directly transmitted from birds to humans and cause serious lower respiratory tract damage in humans. Furthermore, this anatomical difference in receptor prevalence may explain why the spread of H5N1 viruses among humans is limited. However, since some H5N1 viruses isolated from humans recognize human virus receptors, additional changes must be required for these viruses to acquire the ability for efficient human-to-human transmission.

Modeling Operations Costs for Human Exploration Architectures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shishko, Robert

2013-01-01

Operations and support (O&S) costs for human spaceflight have not received the same attention in the cost estimating community as have development costs. This is unfortunate as O&S costs typically comprise a majority of life-cycle costs (LCC) in such programs as the International Space Station (ISS) and the now-cancelled Constellation Program. Recognizing this, the Constellation Program and NASA HQs supported the development of an O&S cost model specifically for human spaceflight. This model, known as the Exploration Architectures Operations Cost Model (ExAOCM), provided the operations cost estimates for a variety of alternative human missions to the moon, Mars, and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) in architectural studies. ExAOCM is philosophically based on the DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF) concepts of operational nodes, systems, operational functions, and milestones. This paper presents some of the historical background surrounding the development of the model, and discusses the underlying structure, its unusual user interface, and lastly, previous examples of its use in the aforementioned architectural studies.

State obligations to implement African abortion laws: employing human rights in a changing legal landscape.

PubMed

Ngwena, Charles G

2012-11-01

Women in the African region are overburdened with unsafe abortion. Abortion regimes that fail to translate any given abortion rights into tangible access are partly to blame. Historically, African abortion laws have been highly restrictive. However, the post-independence era has witnessed a change toward liberalizing abortion law, even if incremental for many jurisdictions. Furthermore, Article 14 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa has significantly augmented the regional trend toward liberalization by recognizing abortion as a human right in given circumstances. However, states are failing to implement abortion laws. The jurisprudence that is emerging from the European Court of Human Rights and United Nations treaty bodies is a tool that can be used to render African governments accountable for failure to implement domestic abortion laws. Copyright © 2012 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Video Release: 47th Vice President of the United States Joseph R. Biden Jr. Speech at HUPO2017 Global Leadership Gala | Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research

Cancer.gov

The Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) has released a video of the keynote speech given by the 47th Vice President of the United States of America Joseph R. Biden Jr. at the HUPO2017 Global Leadership Gala. Under the gala theme “International Cooperation in the Fight Against Cancer,” Biden recognized cancer as a collection of related diseases, the importance of data sharing and harmonization, and the need for collaboration across scientific disciplines as inflection points in cancer research.

Parasites and malignancies, a review, with emphasis on digestive cancer induced by Cryptosporidium parvum (Alveolata: Apicomplexa)

PubMed Central

Benamrouz, S.; Conseil, V.; Creusy, C.; Calderon, E.; Dei-Cas, E.; Certad, G.

2012-01-01

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identifies ten infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, parasites) able to induce cancer disease in humans. Among parasites, a carcinogenic role is currently recognized to the digenetic trematodes Schistosoma haematobium, leading to bladder cancer, and to Clonorchis sinensis or Opisthorchis viverrini, which cause cholangiocarcinoma. Furthermore, several reports suspected the potential association of other parasitic infections (due to Protozoan or Metazoan parasites) with the development of neoplastic changes in the host tissues. The present work shortly reviewed available data on the involvement of parasites in neoplastic processes in humans or animals, and especially focused on the carcinogenic power of Cryptosporidium parvum infection. On the whole, infection seems to play a crucial role in the etiology of cancer. PMID:22348213

Parasites and malignancies, a review, with emphasis on digestive cancer induced by Cryptosporidium parvum (Alveolata: Apicomplexa).

PubMed

Benamrouz, S; Conseil, V; Creusy, C; Calderon, E; Dei-Cas, E; Certad, G

2012-05-01

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identifies ten infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, parasites) able to induce cancer disease in humans. Among parasites, a carcinogenic role is currently recognized to the digenetic trematodes Schistosoma haematobium, leading to bladder cancer, and to Clonorchis sinensis or Opisthorchis viverrini, which cause cholangiocarcinoma. Furthermore, several reports suspected the potential association of other parasitic infections (due to Protozoan or Metazoan parasites) with the development of neoplastic changes in the host tissues. The present work shortly reviewed available data on the involvement of parasites in neoplastic processes in humans or animals, and especially focused on the carcinogenic power of Cryptosporidium parvum infection. On the whole, infection seems to play a crucial role in the etiology of cancer.

The hominin fossil record: taxa, grades and clades

PubMed Central

Wood, Bernard; Lonergan, Nicholas

2008-01-01

This paper begins by reviewing the fossil evidence for human evolution. It presents summaries of each of the taxa recognized in a relatively speciose hominin taxonomy. These taxa are grouped in grades, namely possible and probable hominins, archaic hominins, megadont archaic hominins, transitional hominins, pre-modern Homo and anatomically modern Homo. The second part of this contribution considers some of the controversies that surround hominin taxonomy and systematics. The first is the vexed question of how you tell an early hominin from an early panin, or from taxa belonging to an extinct clade closely related to the Pan-Homo clade. Secondly, we consider how many species should be recognized within the hominin fossil record, and review the philosophies and methods used to identify taxa within the hominin fossil record. Thirdly, we examine how relationships within the hominin clade are investigated, including descriptions of the methods used to break down an integrated structure into tractable analytical units, and then how cladograms are generated and compared. We then review the internal structure of the hominin clade, including the problem of how many subclades should be recognized within the hominin clade, and we examine the reliability of hominin cladistic hypotheses. The last part of the paper reviews the concepts of a genus, including the criteria that should be used for recognizing genera within the hominin clade. PMID:18380861

[Determination of ferulic acid absorbed into human serum from oral decoction of rhizoma chuanxiong and pharmacokinetic study of ferulic acid].

PubMed

Sun, S; Huang, X; Zhang, L; Ren, P; Chang, Z

2001-10-01

To improve the HPLC method for determining ferulic acid(FA) in the human serum and to research FA clinical pharmacokinetics. Serum concentrations of FA were determined by HPLC using methanol-water-acetic acid (40:59.7:0.3, v/v) as the mobile phase and the column packed with ODS (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microns) as a fixed phase and the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. FA was detected at 320 nm wave length. The internal standard was coumarin. The serum samples were treated by the water-boiling method. Peak of FA in serum was recognized by photodiode-array detection. FA and internal standard were separated completely under the condition described as above. FA was linear in the range of (40.16-8032 ng/ml) (r = 0.9975). The CV was less than 10%, the average recovery was 100.3%, and the limit concentration in serum was 25.1 ng/ml. PK was in accordance with open bicameral model. This method can be applied to clinical pharmacokinetic study of FA.

Genome resource banking for wildlife research, management, and conservation.

PubMed

Wildt, D E

2000-01-01

Cryobiology offers an important opportunity to assist in the management and study of wildlife, including endangered species. The benefits of developing genome resource banks for wildlife are profound, perhaps more so than for traditional uses in terms of livestock and human fertility. In addition to preserving heterozygosity and assisting in the genetic management of rare populations held in captivity, frozen repositories help insure wild populations against natural and human-induced catastrophes. Such banks also are an invaluable source of new knowledge (for basic and applied research) from thousands of species that have yet to be studied. However, it is crucial that genome resource banks for wildlife species be developed in a coordinated fashion that first benefits the conservation of biodiversity. Spurious collections will be of no advantage to genuine conservation. The Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG; of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources' Species Survival Commission) has promoted international dialogue on this topic. CBSG working groups have recognized that such repositories be developed according to specific, scientific guidelines consistent with an international standard that ensures practicality, high-quality ethics, and cost-effectiveness. Areas requiring priority attention also are reviewed, including the need for more basic research, advocacy, and support for developing organized repositories of biomaterials representing the world's diverse biota.

Inspiring the Next Generation: Student Experiments and Educational Activities on the International Space Station, 2000-2006

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, Donald A.; Robinson, Julie A.; Tate, Judy; Thumm, Tracy

2006-01-01

One important objective of NASA has always been to inspire the next generation. NASA and human space flight have a unique ability to capture the imaginations of both students and teachers. The presence of humans onboard the International Space Station (ISS) for more than five years now has provided a foundation for numerous educational activities aimed at capturing the interest and motivating study in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Yet even before the Expedition 1 crew arrived at station in November 2000, experiments with student participation were being conducted onboard ISS in support of NASA missions. One of NASA's protein crystal growth experiments had been delivered to station by the shuttle Atlantis during STS-106 in September 2000 and was returned to Earth six weeks later aboard the shuttle Discovery during the STS-92 mission. From very early on it was recognized that students would have a strong interest in the ISS, and that this would provide a unique opportunity for them to get involved and participate in science and engineering projects on ISS. It should be noted that participation is not limited to U.S. students but involves the 16 International Partner countries and various other countries under special commercial agree

SCOSTEP: Understanding the Climate and Weather of the Sun-Earth System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gopalswamy, Natchimuthuk

2011-01-01

The international solar-terrestrial physics community had recognized the importance of space weather more than a decade ago, which resulted in a number of international collaborative activities such as the Climate and Weather of the Sun Earth System (CAWSES) by the Scientific Committee on Solar Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP). The CAWSES program is the current major scientific program of SCOSTEP that will continue until the end of the year 2013. The CAWSES program has brought scientists from all over the world together to tackle the scientific issues behind the Sun-Earth connected system and explore ways of helping the human society. In addition to the vast array of space instruments, ground based instruments have been deployed, which not only filled voids in data coverage, but also inducted young scientists from developing countries into the scientific community. This paper presents a summary of CAWSES and other SCOSTEP activities that promote space weather science via complementary approaches in international scientific collaborations, capacity building, and public outreach.

Antibody-mediated rejection of the lung: A consensus report of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.

PubMed

Levine, Deborah J; Glanville, Allan R; Aboyoun, Christina; Belperio, John; Benden, Christian; Berry, Gerald J; Hachem, Ramsey; Hayes, Don; Neil, Desley; Reinsmoen, Nancy L; Snyder, Laurie D; Sweet, Stuart; Tyan, Dolly; Verleden, Geert; Westall, Glen; Yusen, Roger D; Zamora, Martin; Zeevi, Adriana

2016-04-01

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a recognized cause of allograft dysfunction in lung transplant recipients. Unlike AMR in other solid-organ transplant recipients, there are no standardized diagnostic criteria or an agreed-upon definition. Hence, a working group was created by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation with the aim of determining criteria for pulmonary AMR and establishing a definition. Diagnostic criteria and a working consensus definition were established. Key diagnostic criteria include the presence of antibodies directed toward donor human leukocyte antigens and characteristic lung histology with or without evidence of complement 4d within the graft. Exclusion of other causes of allograft dysfunction increases confidence in the diagnosis but is not essential. Pulmonary AMR may be clinical (allograft dysfunction which can be asymptomatic) or sub-clinical (normal allograft function). This consensus definition will have clinical, therapeutic and research implications. Copyright © 2016 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

47 CFR 1.10014 - What happens after officially filing my application?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... ARC-xxxxx Foreign Carrier Affiliation Notification FCN-xxxxx International High Frequency IHF-xxxxx... PN released International High Frequency IHF-xxxxx International Public Fixed IPF-xxxxx Recognized... Foreign Carrier Affiliation Notification. International High Frequency: Construction Permits,Licenses...

47 CFR 1.10014 - What happens after officially filing my application?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... ARC-xxxxx Foreign Carrier Affiliation Notification FCN-xxxxx International High Frequency IHF-xxxxx... PN released International High Frequency IHF-xxxxx International Public Fixed IPF-xxxxx Recognized... Foreign Carrier Affiliation Notification. International High Frequency: Construction Permits,Licenses...

Practical guidelines addressing ethical issues pertaining to the curation of human locus-specific variation databases (LSDBs)

PubMed Central

Povey, Sue; Al Aqeel, Aida I; Cambon-Thomsen, Anne; Dalgleish, Raymond; den Dunnen, Johan T; Firth, Helen V; Greenblatt, Marc S; Barash, Carol Isaacson; Parker, Michael; Patrinos, George P; Savige, Judith; Sobrido, Maria-Jesus; Winship, Ingrid; Cotton, Richard GH

2010-01-01

More than 1,000 Web-based locus-specific variation databases (LSDBs) are listed on the Website of the Human Genetic Variation Society (HGVS). These individual efforts, which often relate phenotype to genotype, are a valuable source of information for clinicians, patients, and their families, as well as for basic research. The initiators of the Human Variome Project recently recognized that having access to some of the immense resources of unpublished information already present in diagnostic laboratories would provide critical data to help manage genetic disorders. However, there are significant ethical issues involved in sharing these data worldwide. An international working group presents second-generation guidelines addressing ethical issues relating to the curation of human LSDBs that provide information via a Web-based interface. It is intended that these should help current and future curators and may also inform the future decisions of ethics committees and legislators. These guidelines have been reviewed by the Ethics Committee of the Human Genome Organization (HUGO). Hum Mutat 31:–6, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. PMID:20683926

International developments in abortion laws: 1977-88.

PubMed

Cook, R J; Dickens, B M

1989-08-01

International developments in abortion laws have been diverse, but the general thrust of legislation and court decisions has been towards decriminalization and liberalization of laws and the reduction of legal barriers to access to therapuetic abortion services presented by spousal and parental authorization requirements. Most legislation has extended abortion eligibility through traditional indications such as danger to maternal health or fetal handicap, but other indications have also been created, such as adolescence, advanced maternal age, family circumstances and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection. Several jurisdictions established stages of early gestation within which abortion could be undertaken with minimal legal scrutiny. In Canada, the entire prohibition of abortion was held unconstitutional for violating women's integrity and security. Under medical and public health guidance, several countries have amended their constitutions to recognize and protect human life from contraception. Cyprus, Italy, and Taiwan have created an indication for abortion of welfare of the women's family, while France and the Netherlands recognize the women's distress and Hungary cites cases where the women is single or separated for 6 months, where appropriate housing is lacking or where she is 35 years or older and has had 3 deliveries. National health services and insurance schemes vary in their coverage of abortion costs, but generally tend to fund the major park of lawful services. In Britain, France, Israel, the US and Yugoslavia husband's claims to veto abortions have been rejected. Courts have also established that mature adolescents, although legally minors, may give autonomous consent to abortion and are entitled to confidentiality. Few countries' laws define when criminal abortion liability commences or when conception occurs, but the law has moved to restrict abortion in Israel, Honduras, Romania and Finland.

The Past, Present, and Future of Soils and Human Health Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brevik, E. C.; Sauer, T. J.

2012-04-01

The idea that human health is tied to the soil is not a new one. As far back as approximately 1400 B.C. the Bible depicts Moses as understanding that fertile soil was essential to the well-being of his people. While exploring Canaan, Moses charged the men he sent to evaluate the fertility of the soil. In 400 B.C. the Greek philosopher Hippocrates provided a list of things that should be considered in a proper medical evaluation, including the ground. By the late 1700 and early 1800s, American farmers had recognized that soil properties had some connection to human health. In "Letters from an American Farmer", published in 1792, J. Hector St. John De Crèvecoeur stated "Men are like plants; the goodness and flavor of the fruit proceeds from the peculiar soil and exposition in which they grow". And in "Larding the Lean Earth", published in 2002, S. Stoll noted that North American farmers in the early 1800s recognized a link between an enduring agriculture and an enduring society, leading them to become concerned about the fertility of their soils and to seek ways of improving the soil in order to insure a healthy society. Continuing into the first half of the 20th Century, a 1940 publication by the International Harvester Company noted that poor soils lead to "stoop-shouldered, poverty-stricken people." Then, in 1947, Sir Albert Howard published his landmark work "The Soil and Health: A Study of Organic Agriculture", a work that took a critical look at modern production agriculture and at the link between soil fertility and health. Despite these various lines of evidence of some earlier level of understanding that healthy soils are required for healthy people, the scientific study of the relationship between soils and human health is a fairly new undertaking. In his 1997 work "Soil and Human Health: A Review", M.A. Oliver states "… there is a dearth of quantitative information on the relations between elements in the soil and human health;…there is much speculation and anecdotal evidence." So, the scientific study of soils and human health is a recent undertaking, but the idea that healthy soils are required for healthy people is not a particularly new one. In the modern world, we recognize that soils have a distinct influence on human health. We recognize that soils influence 1) food availability and quality (food security), 2) human contact with various chemicals, and 3) human contact with various pathogens. Soils and human health studies include investigations into nutrient supply through the food web and routes of exposure to chemicals and pathogens. However, making strong, scientific connections between soils and human health can be difficult. There are multiple variables to consider in the soil environment, meaning traditional scientific studies that seek to isolate and manipulate a single variable often do not provide meaningful data. The complete study of soils and human health also involves many different specialties such as soil scientists, toxicologists, medical professionals, anthropologists, etc. These groups do not traditionally work together on research projects, and do not always effectively communicate with one another. Climate change and how it will affect the soil environment/ecosystem going into the future is another variable we need to get a better understanding of. Future successes in soils and human health research will require effectively addressing difficult issues such as these.

77 FR 73334 - Adding International Energy Efficiency (IEE) Certificate to List of Certificates a Recognized...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-10

... Classification Society May Issue AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is...) Certificate to the list of certificates that a recognized classification society may issue on behalf of the... January 1, 2013. This rule will enable recognized classification societies to apply to the Coast Guard to...

5 CFR 5501.103 - Gifts from federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages or regional or village...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Administrative Personnel DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES § 5501.103 Gifts from federally recognized Indian...

5 CFR 5501.103 - Gifts from federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages or regional or village...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Administrative Personnel DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES § 5501.103 Gifts from federally recognized Indian...

5 CFR 5501.103 - Gifts from federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages or regional or village...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Administrative Personnel DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES § 5501.103 Gifts from federally recognized Indian...

5 CFR 5501.103 - Gifts from federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages or regional or village...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Administrative Personnel DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES § 5501.103 Gifts from federally recognized Indian...

5 CFR 5501.103 - Gifts from federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages or regional or village...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... Administrative Personnel DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES § 5501.103 Gifts from federally recognized Indian...

Orthographic processing in pigeons (Columba livia)

PubMed Central

Scarf, Damian; Boy, Karoline; Uber Reinert, Anelisie; Devine, Jack; Güntürkün, Onur; Colombo, Michael

2016-01-01

Learning to read involves the acquisition of letter–sound relationships (i.e., decoding skills) and the ability to visually recognize words (i.e., orthographic knowledge). Although decoding skills are clearly human-unique, given they are seated in language, recent research and theory suggest that orthographic processing may derive from the exaptation or recycling of visual circuits that evolved to recognize everyday objects and shapes in our natural environment. An open question is whether orthographic processing is limited to visual circuits that are similar to our own or a product of plasticity common to many vertebrate visual systems. Here we show that pigeons, organisms that separated from humans more than 300 million y ago, process words orthographically. Specifically, we demonstrate that pigeons trained to discriminate words from nonwords picked up on the orthographic properties that define words and used this knowledge to identify words they had never seen before. In addition, the pigeons were sensitive to the bigram frequencies of words (i.e., the common co-occurrence of certain letter pairs), the edit distance between nonwords and words, and the internal structure of words. Our findings demonstrate that visual systems organizationally distinct from the primate visual system can also be exapted or recycled to process the visual word form. PMID:27638211

Hepatitis c and human rights: comparison of legal experience of Ukraine and Georgia.

PubMed

Senyuta, Iryna Y

2018-01-01

A comparative legal research of human rights provision in Ukraine and Georgia, in the aspect of combating viral HCV, was conducted. Ukrainian advocacy experience and Georgian strategic litigation experience with regard to human rights and HCV was analyzed. Key international instruments, which lay the conceptual foundations as well as outline the measures, which are directed at human rights in patient care provision and fighting viral hepatitis, were elucidated. Attention was paid to the Global health sector strategy. Viral hepatitis, 2016 - 2021 [1], which, for the first time, defined a global strategy on fighting viral hepatitis, in particular HCV and envisaged the advocacy vectors. The frames of interaction of the human rights in patient care concept and public health, which consists in realization of certain human rights were elucidated and the necessity to embody the human rights in patient care concept into the state policy in the field of public health was determined. It was found out that a common international problem in combating HCV is a deficiency of financial resources, which are necessary for effective fighting the epidemics and guarantee equal access to treatment for every person. The international community outlined five most important spheres, which require investments and will catalyze the measures, which need to be taken in order to fight hepatitis. Analysis of the Ukrainian experience was focused on the issue of donated blood safety and successful advocacy campaigns, which were carried out in order to promote the adoption of programs on prophylactics, diagnostics and treatment of HCV both on national and regional levels. Examples of ensuring the rights of the marginalized groups during HCV treatment, in particular of the people who inject drugs, people living with HIV, participants of the antiterrorist operation were provided. Interesting and important is the experience of Georgia concerning human rights protection in the ECtHR, which has a legal effect for other countries which ratified the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, for instance for Ukraine, where the EctHR judgments are recognized as a source of law.

AAALAC International Standards and Accreditation Process

PubMed Central

Gettayacamin, Montip; Retnam, Leslie

2017-01-01

AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes humane treatment of animals in science through a voluntary international accreditation program. AAALAC International accreditation is recognized around the world as a symbol of high quality animal care and use for research, teaching and testing, as well as promoting animal welfare. Animals owned by the institution that are used for research, teaching and testing are included as part of an accredited program. More than 990 animal care and use institutions in 42 countries around the world (more than 170 programs in 13 countries in the Pacific Rim region) have earned AAALAC International accreditation. The AAALAC International Council on Accreditation evaluates overall performance and all aspects of an animal care and use program, involving an in-depth, multilayered, confidential peer-review process. The evaluators (site visitors) consider compliance with applicable local animal legislation of the host country, institutional policies, and employ a customized approach for evaluating overall program performance using a series of primary standards that include the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching, or the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals Used for Experimental and Other Purposes, Council of Europe (ETS 123), and supplemental Reference Resources, as applicable. PMID:28744349

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 3: different antigenic determinants from human B cells.

PubMed

Ou-Yang, P; Chiang, B L; Hwang, L H; Chen, Y G; Yang, P M; Chi, W K; Chen, P J; Chen, D S

1999-04-01

The nonstructural (NS3) region protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) possesses major B-cell epitopes that induce antibodies after infection. To elucidate further the characteristics of these B cells and their role in the immune regulation of HCV infection, T9 (portion of NS3 region, amino acids [a.a.] 1188-1493)-specific monoclonal antibodies were derived and mapped for B-cell antigenic determinants with recombinant proteins. A total of 10 T9-specific hybridomas were generated and tested for B-cell antigenic determinants. To analyze the B-cell antigenic determinants, eight recombinant proteins including NS3-e (a.a. 1175-1334), NS3-a' (a.a. 1175-1250), NS3-a (a.a. 1251-1334), NS3-b (a.a. 1323-1412), NS3-c (a.a. 1407-1499), NS3-a/b (a.a. 1251-1412), NS3-bc (a.a. 1323-1499), and NS3-abc (a.a. 1251-1499) encoded by NS3-region internal clones were expressed and tested for immunoblotting. The data suggested IgG hybridomas recognized NS3-a, NS3-a', or NS3-b protein by immunoblotting. By contrast, the NS3-e protein bears the major antigenic determinant recognized by human sera. Half of the hybridomas were found to react with protein NS3-a', which is not a major B-cell antigenic determinant in humans. These data suggested that conformational epitopes in vivo may be important for B-cell recognition.

CisLunar Habitat Internal Architecture Design Criteria

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, R.; Kennedy, K.; Howard, R.; Whitmore, M.; Martin, C.; Garate, J.

2017-01-01

BACKGROUND: In preparation for human exploration to Mars, there is a need to define the development and test program that will validate deep space operations and systems. In that context, a Proving Grounds CisLunar habitat spacecraft is being defined as the next step towards this goal. This spacecraft will operate differently from the ISS or other spacecraft in human history. The performance envelope of this spacecraft (mass, volume, power, specifications, etc.) is being defined by the Future Capabilities Study Team. This team has recognized the need for a human-centered approach for the internal architecture of this spacecraft and has commissioned a CisLunar Phase-1 Habitat Internal Architecture Study Team to develop a NASA reference configuration, providing the Agency with a "smart buyer" approach for future acquisition. THE CISLUNAR HABITAT INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE STUDY: Overall, the CisLunar Habitat Internal Architecture study will address the most significant questions and risks in the current CisLunar architecture, habitation, and operations concept development. This effort is achieved through definition of design criteria, evaluation criteria and process, design of the CisLunar Habitat Phase-1 internal architecture, and the development and fabrication of internal architecture concepts combined with rigorous and methodical Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) evaluations and testing of the conceptual innovations in a controlled test environment. The vision of the CisLunar Habitat Internal Architecture Study is to design, build, and test a CisLunar Phase-1 Habitat Internal Architecture that will be used for habitation (e.g. habitability and human factors) evaluations. The evaluations will mature CisLunar habitat evaluation tools, guidelines, and standards, and will interface with other projects such as the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Program integrated Power, Avionics, Software (iPAS), and Logistics for integrated human-in-the-loop testing. The mission of the CisLunar Habitat Internal Architecture Study is to become a forcing function to establish a common understanding of CisLunar Phase-1 Habitation Internal Architecture design criteria, processes, and tools. The scope of the CisLunar Habitat Internal Architecture study is to design, develop, demonstrate, and evaluate a Phase-1 CisLunar Habitat common module internal architecture based on design criteria agreed to by NASA, the International Partners, and Commercial Exploration teams. This task is to define the CisLunar Phase-1 Internal Architecture Government Reference Design, assist NASA in becoming a "smart buyer" for Phase-1 Habitat Concepts, and ultimately to derive standards and requirements from the Internal Architecture Design Process. The first step was to define a Habitat Internal Architecture Design Criteria and create a structured philosophy to be used by design teams as a filter by which critical aspects of consideration would be identified for the purpose of organizing and utilizing interior spaces. With design criteria in place, the team will develop a series of iterative internal architecture concept designs which will be assessed by means of an evaluation criteria and process. These assessments will successively drive and refine the design, leading to the combination and down-selection of design concepts. A single refined reference design configuration will be developed into in a medium-to-high fidelity mockup. A multi-day human-in-the-loop mission test will fully evaluate the reference design and validate its configuration. Lessons learned from the design and evaluation will enable the team to identify appropriate standards for Phase-1 CisLunar Habitat Internal Architecture and will enable NASA to develop derived requirements in support of maturing CisLunar Habitation capabilities. This paper will describe the criteria definition process, workshop event, and resulting CisLunar Phase-1 Habitat Internal Architecture Design Criteria.

A human cytochrome P-450 is recognized by anti-liver/kidney microsome antibodies in autoimmune chronic hepatitis.

PubMed

Kiffel, L; Loeper, J; Homberg, J C; Leroux, J P

1989-02-28

1- Anti-liver/kidney microsome autoantibodies type 1 (anti-LKM1), observed in some children with chronic active hepatitis, were used to isolate their antigen in human liver microsomes. A protein, called P-LKM1 was thus purified. This protein was recognized by a rabbit antiserum directed against the related human cytochromes P-450 bufI and P-450 bufII. 2- A human liver microsomal protein immunoprecipitated with anti-LKM1 sera was also recognized by anti cytochromes P-450 bufI/II antibodies. 3- Anti-LKM1 antibodies potently inhibited microsomal bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation. These results displayed the possible identity between cytochrome P-450 bufI/II and LKM1 antigen.

Finding "Models" in Clouds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leung, Ruby

2017-05-01

Internationally recognized Climate Scientist Ruby Leung is a cloud gazer. But rather than looking for shapes, Ruby’s life’s calling is to develop regional atmospheric models to better predict and understand the effects of global climate change at scales relevant to humans and the environment. Ruby’s accomplishments include developing novel methods for modeling mountain clouds and precipitation in climate models, and improving understanding of hydroclimate variability and change. She also has led efforts to develop regional climate modeling capabilities in the Weather Research and Forecasting model that is widely adopted by scientists worldwide. Ruby is part of a team of PNNLmore » researchers studying the impacts of global warming.« less

26 CFR 1.1374-4 - Recognized built-in gain or loss.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 11 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Recognized built-in gain or loss. 1.1374-4... built-in gain or loss. (a) Sales and exchanges—(1) In general. Section 1374(d)(3) or 1374(d)(4) applies to any gain or loss recognized during the recognition period in a transaction treated as a sale or...

Ophthalmic public health; the way ahead.

PubMed

Heidary, F; Rahimi, A; Gharebaghi, R

2012-01-01

Visual sciences have been progressing quickly in recent decades through globalization phenomenon. An enormous change has taken place in ocular health issues, however, there are various problems facing ophthalmic public health worldwide. In the previous years, the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness in partnership launched the global initiative to eradicate avoidable blindness by the year 2020, VISION 2020 the Right to Sight. It has concentrated on the prevention of blindness disability and recognized a health issue-sight as a human right. In view of challenges ahead of visual sciences, close collaboration between international agencies at the global level to implement new strategies and monitor the progress will be mandatory. In these circumstances non-governmental organizations should not be neglected. World Sight Day 2012 would be a great opportunity to be a focus on importance of visual impairment as an important public health issue and discovering new challenges ahead.

77 FR 60096 - Adding International Energy Efficiency (IEE) Certificate to List of Certificates a Recognized...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-02

... Efficiency IMO International Maritime Organization MARPOL Protocol International Convention for the... rule. On July 15, 2011, in resolution MEPC.203(62), the International Maritime Organization's (IMO... think that your business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and...

The International Curriculum: Current Trends and Emerging Needs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richter, Jesse Jones

2015-01-01

This paper examines the current state of tertiary level international curricula and provides groundwork for future research aimed at ongoing needs. Recognized is the premise that existing international curricular programs require maintenance. Burn (1995) called for curriculum reform in international departments two decades ago with the rationale…

Speech Recognition Using Multiple Features and Multiple Recognizers

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-03

6 2.1 Introduction ............................................... 6 2.2 Human Speech Communication Process...119 How to Setup ASRT.......................................... 119 How to Use Interactive Menus .................................. 120...recognize a word from an acoustic signal. The human ear and brain perform this type of recognition with incredible speed and precision. Even though

A Critical Evaluation of Academic Internal Audit

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blackmore, Jacqueline Ann

2004-01-01

This account of internal audit is set within the context of higher education in the UK and a fictitiously named Riverbank University. The study evaluates the recent introduction of "Internal Academic Audit" to the University and compares the process with that of the internationally recognized ISO 19011 Guidelines for Auditing Quality…

The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve and light pollution issues in New Zealand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hearnshaw, John

2015-08-01

I will discuss the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, recognized by IDA in 2012, and how the reserve is managed and promoted to the public to make them aware of light pollution issues and in order to promote star-gazing and astro-tourism. AMIDSR is the world's largest Dark Sky Reserve recognized by IDA and has gold tier status. We will have a Starlight festival in October to promote the Reserve to the public.

Anti-liver-kidney microsome antibody type 1 recognizes human cytochrome P450 db1.

PubMed

Gueguen, M; Yamamoto, A M; Bernard, O; Alvarez, F

1989-03-15

Anti-liver-kidney microsome antibody type 1 (LKM1), present in the sera of a group of children with autoimmune hepatitis, was recently shown to recognize a 50 kDa protein identified as rat liver cytochromes P450 db1 and db2. High homology between these two members of the rat P450 IID subfamily and human P450 db1 suggested that anti-LKM1 antibody is directed against this human protein. To test this hypothesis, a human liver cDNA expression library in phage lambda GT-11 was screened using rat P450 db1 cDNA as a probe. Two human cDNA clones were found to be identical to human P450 db1 by restriction mapping. Immunoblot analysis using as antigen, the purified fusion protein from one of the human cDNA clones showed that only anti-LKM1 with anti-50 kDa reactivity recognized the fusion protein. This fusion protein was further used to develop an ELISA test that was shown to be specific for sera of children with this disease. These results: 1) identify the human liver antigen recognized by anti-LKM1 auto-antibodies as cytochrome P450 db1, 2) allow to speculate that mutation on the human P450 db1 gene could alter its expression in the hepatocyte and make it auto-antigenic, 3) provide a simple and specific diagnostic test for this disease.

Creating a monomeric endonuclease TALE-I-SceI with high specificity and low genotoxicity in human cells.

PubMed

Lin, Jianfei; Chen, He; Luo, Ling; Lai, Yongrong; Xie, Wei; Kee, Kehkooi

2015-01-01

To correct a DNA mutation in the human genome for gene therapy, homology-directed repair (HDR) needs to be specific and have the lowest off-target effects to protect the human genome from deleterious mutations. Zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) and CRISPR-CAS9 systems have been engineered and used extensively to recognize and modify specific DNA sequences. Although TALEN and CRISPR/CAS9 could induce high levels of HDR in human cells, their genotoxicity was significantly higher. Here, we report the creation of a monomeric endonuclease that can recognize at least 33 bp by fusing the DNA-recognizing domain of TALEN (TALE) to a re-engineered homing endonuclease I-SceI. After sequentially re-engineering I-SceI to recognize 18 bp of the human β-globin sequence, the re-engineered I-SceI induced HDR in human cells. When the re-engineered I-SceI was fused to TALE (TALE-ISVB2), the chimeric endonuclease induced the same HDR rate at the human β-globin gene locus as that induced by TALEN, but significantly reduced genotoxicity. We further demonstrated that TALE-ISVB2 specifically targeted at the β-globin sequence in human hematopoietic stem cells. Therefore, this monomeric endonuclease has the potential to be used in therapeutic gene targeting in human cells. © The Author(s) 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

46 CFR 8.430 - U.S. Supplement to class rules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... authorization to participate in the ACP, a recognized classification society must prepare, and receive Commandant (CG-521) approval of, a U.S. Supplement to the recognized classification society's class rules... of that classification society or applicable international regulations. ...

46 CFR 8.430 - U.S. Supplement to class rules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... authorization to participate in the ACP, a recognized classification society must prepare, and receive Commandant (CG-521) approval of, a U.S. Supplement to the recognized classification society's class rules... of that classification society or applicable international regulations. ...

What Is the "International" in the International Baccalaureate?: Three Structuring Tensions of the Early Years (1962-1973)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tarc, Paul

2009-01-01

The International Baccalaureate (IB) emerged in the 1960s after a significant demand arose for an internationally recognized secondary school-leaving diploma among a subset of the international school community. In tension with the practical demands of producing and sustaining a mobile diploma were underlying liberal-humanist visions of a…

How should a speech recognizer work?

PubMed

Scharenborg, Odette; Norris, Dennis; Bosch, Louis; McQueen, James M

2005-11-12

Although researchers studying human speech recognition (HSR) and automatic speech recognition (ASR) share a common interest in how information processing systems (human or machine) recognize spoken language, there is little communication between the two disciplines. We suggest that this lack of communication follows largely from the fact that research in these related fields has focused on the mechanics of how speech can be recognized. In Marr's (1982) terms, emphasis has been on the algorithmic and implementational levels rather than on the computational level. In this article, we provide a computational-level analysis of the task of speech recognition, which reveals the close parallels between research concerned with HSR and ASR. We illustrate this relation by presenting a new computational model of human spoken-word recognition, built using techniques from the field of ASR that, in contrast to current existing models of HSR, recognizes words from real speech input. 2005 Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Human rights and the challenges of science and technology: Commentary on Meier et al. "Translating the human right to water and sanitation into public policy reform" and Hall et al. "The human right to water: the importance of domestic and productive water rights".

PubMed

Marks, Stephen P

2014-12-01

The expansion of the corpus of international human rights to include the right to water and sanitation has implications both for the process of recognizing human rights and for future developments in the relationships between technology, engineering and human rights. Concerns with threats to human rights resulting from developments in science and technology were expressed in the early days of the United Nations (UN), along with the recognition of the ambitious human right of everyone "to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications." This comment explores the hypothesis that the emerging concepts most likely to follow recognition of the human right to water primarily involve issues of science and technology, such as access to medicines or clean and healthy environment. Many threats to human rights from advances in science, which were identified in the past as potential, have become real today, such as invasion of privacy from electronic recording, deprivation of health and livelihood as a result of climate change, or control over individual autonomy through advances in genetics and neuroscience. This comment concludes by urging greater engagement of scientists and engineers, in partnership with human rights specialists, in translating normative pronouncements into defining policy and planning interventions.

SETI from the moon: an invitation to COSPAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heidmann, J.

After presenting arguments for SETI (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) work to be done well into the 21st century, and in view of the dramatic increase of blinding human-made radiofrequency interference, this author proposed that a well defined locale on the farside of the Moon - crater Saha - be preserved for the next 20-30 years not only for SETI but also for future high-sensitivity radioastronomy. The long-term programmatic issues were presented at the Lunar Exploration Symposium of the Jerusalem 1994 International Astronautical Federation Congress. The legal questions raised were delineated at the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) Colloquium of the same Jerusalem Congress. Numerous suggestions were given for an action strategy, in particular to present a proposal at a COSPAR venue. In the words of IISL Director A.A. Cocca: ``This reservation of a lunar zone for scientific activities, and its further utilization aiming at the common good of humanity, must be recognized, and constitutes a precedent.'' At the Hamburg 1995 European Geophysical Society XXth GA, we pointed out that this Saha project could offer interesting possibilities for a symbiosis with the `Science on the Moon Exobiology' teams. We also presented it at the Berlin 1996 European Space Agency/Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft und Raumfahrt `International Moon Workshop' to geologists and to bioastrononomers at the Capri 1996 Bioastronomy International Astronomical Union Colloquium #161. At the 1995 IAF Congress in Oslo, the SETI Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics took action for the future benefit of humankind by setting-up a Sub-committee for `A SETI Lunar Study', chaired by the author. We hope that, in view of these initial endeavors, COSPAR may become interested in this Saha proposal and supports it.

46 CFR 8.320 - Classification society authorization to issue international certificates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Classification society authorization to issue... Classification society authorization to issue international certificates. (a) The Commandant may authorize a recognized classification society to issue certain international convention certificates. Authorization will...

Breaking the silence surrounding rape.

PubMed

Ramsay, S

1999-12-11

This article documents the turning points in the rape issue, which led to the acknowledgement of its prevalence in the world, especially in South Africa. November 25 marked the first day of the "Take a Stand" movement in South Africa, which coincided with the International Day Against Violence Against Women. This movement involves peaceful protests and poster campaigns, followed by months of sustained news coverage of rape. This was launched by a coalition of organizations, including women's groups, churches, businesses, and trades unions, that are speaking out against all forms of sexual violence. In the international community, rape is starting to be taken seriously. In 1996, sexual assault was cited as a crime against humanity by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. In addition, a forum in London, UK, on November 25, discussed rape issues and recommendations on how to prevent such violence were given. The need for a change in legal systems, which currently discourage women from taking legal actions, was also recognized. In view of this, the medical community is challenged to provide sensitive and appropriate help to women who have been assaulted.

ORNL, partners officially recognized for discovery of elements 115, 117

ScienceCinema

Roberto, Jim

2018-01-16

The International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry has announced formal verification of four new chemical elements, recognizing the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and its collaborators for the discovery of elements 115 and 117.

In vitro susceptibility of Scedosporium isolates to N-acetyl-L-cysteine alone and in combination with conventional antifungal agents.

PubMed

Homa, Mónika; Galgóczy, László; Tóth, Eszter; Virágh, Máté; Chandrasekaran, Muthusamy; Vágvölgyi, Csaba; Papp, Tamás

2016-10-01

In recent years, Scedosporium species have been more commonly recognized from severe, difficult-to-treat human infections, such as upper respiratory tract and pulmonary infections. To select an appropriate therapeutic approach for these infections is challenging, because of the commonly observed resistance of the causative agents to several antifungal drugs. Therefore, to find a novel strategy for the treatment of pulmonary Scedosporium infections the in vitro antifungal effect of a mucolytic agent, N-acetyl-L-cysteine and its in vitro combinations with conventional antifungals were investigated. Synergistic and indifferent interactions were registered in 23 and 13 cases, respectively. Antagonism was not revealed between the compounds. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Molecular genotyping of Echinococcus granulosus from dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) in eastern Iran.

PubMed

Moghaddas, E; Borji, H; Naghibi, A; Shayan, P; Razmi, G R

2015-01-01

With the aim of genotyping Echinococcus granulosus cysts found in Iranian dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius), 50 cysts of E. granulosus were collected from five geographical regions in Iran. Cysts were characterized using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) gene and sequencing fragments of the genes coding for mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1). Morphological criteria using rostellar hook dimensions were also undertaken. The present results have shown that 27 out of 50 E. granulosus cysts (54%) were determined as the G1 strain, and the other (46%) were determined as the G6 strain. The molecular analysis of the ITS1 region of ribosomal DNA corresponded with the morphological findings. Because of its recognized infectivity in humans, the G1 genotype is a direct threat to human health and its presence in Iranian dromedaries is of urgent public health importance.

A human-centered framework for innovation in conservation incentive programs.

PubMed

Sorice, Michael G; Donlan, C Josh

2015-12-01

The promise of environmental conservation incentive programs that provide direct payments in exchange for conservation outcomes is that they enhance the value of engaging in stewardship behaviors. An insidious but important concern is that a narrow focus on optimizing payment levels can ultimately suppress program participation and subvert participants' internal motivation to engage in long-term conservation behaviors. Increasing participation and engendering stewardship can be achieved by recognizing that participation is not simply a function of the payment; it is a function of the overall structure and administration of the program. Key to creating innovative and more sustainable programs is fitting them within the existing needs and values of target participants. By focusing on empathy for participants, co-designing program approaches, and learning from the rapid prototyping of program concepts, a human-centered approach to conservation incentive program design enhances the propensity for discovery of novel and innovative solutions to pressing conservation issues.

33 CFR 2.24 - Internal waters.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... waters shoreward of the territorial sea baseline. (b) With respect to any other nation, internal waters means the waters shoreward of its territorial sea baseline, as recognized by the United States. ...

The Social and Economic Security of International Students: A New Zealand Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sawir, Erlenawati; Marginson, Simon; Nyland, Chris; Ramia, Gaby; Rawlings-Sanaei, Felicity

2009-01-01

International education has generated complex problems of governance. As well as being beneficiaries of educational services and consumers of a product, international students are also migrants, workers and beings with civil rights. Arguably, the regulation of international student security as consumer protection fails to recognize this full range…

Right to Basic Education and State Responsibility

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singh, Kishore

2010-01-01

The right to education is an internationally recognized right. As part of the global movement for Education for All in the past two decades, the right to basic education has emerged in international law, and it carries international obligations--political and legal--on account of collective commitments by the international community for its…

Participating in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: Developing International Mindedness and Engagement with Local Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Belal, Susie

2017-01-01

Although the rapidly expanding International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a well-recognized program perceived to offer best practices in education, including developing international mindedness in students and engaging with the local communities, there is little empirical evidence to support these outcomes. This mixed methods case…

Failure of physicians to recognize functional disability in ambulatory patients.

PubMed

Calkins, D R; Rubenstein, L V; Cleary, P D; Davies, A R; Jette, A M; Fink, A; Kosecoff, J; Young, R T; Brook, R H; Delbanco, T L

1991-03-15

To assess the ability of internists to identify functional disabilities reported by their patients. Comparison of responses by physicians and a random sample of their patients to a 12-item questionnaire about physical and social function. A hospital-based internal medicine group practice in Boston, Massachusetts, and selected office-based internal medicine practices in Los Angeles, California. Five staff physicians, three general internal medicine fellows, and 34 internal medicine residents in the hospital-based practice and 178 of their patients. Seventy-six physicians in the office-based practices and 230 of their patients. Physicians underestimated or failed to recognize 66% of disabilities reported by patients. Patient-reported disabilities were underestimated or unrecognized more often in the hospital-based practice than in the office-based practices (75% compared with 60%, P less than 0.05). Physicians overstated functional impairment in 21% of paired responses in which patients reported no disability. Physicians often underestimate or fail to recognize functional disabilities that are reported by their patients. They overstate functional impairment to a lesser degree. Because these discrepancies may adversely affect patient care and well-being, medical educators and clinicians should pay more attention to the assessment of patient function.

Human rights in patient care: a theoretical and practical framework.

PubMed

Cohen, Jonathan; Ezer, Tamar

2013-12-12

The concept of "human rights in patient care" refers to the application of human rights principles to the context of patient care. It provides a principled alternative to the growing discourse of "patients' rights" that has evolved in response to widespread and severe human rights violations in health settings. Unlike "patients' rights," which is rooted in a consumer framework, this concept derives from inherent human dignity and neutrally applies universal, legally recognized human rights principles, protecting both patients and providers and admitting of limitations that can be justified by human rights norms. It recognizes the interrelation between patient and provider rights, particularly in contexts where providers face simultaneous obligations to patients and the state ("dual loyalty") and may be pressured to abet human rights violations. The human rights lens provides a means to examine systemic issues and state responsibility. Human rights principles that apply to patient care include both the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which covers both positive and negative guarantees in respect of health, as well as civil and political rights ranging from the patient's right to be free from torture and inhumane treatment to liberty and security of person. They also focus attention on the right of socially excluded groups to be free from discrimination in the delivery of health care. Critical rights relevant to providers include freedom of association and the enjoyment of decent work conditions. Some, but not all, of these human rights correspond to rights that have been articulated in "patients' rights" charters. Complementary to—but distinct from—bioethics, human rights in patient care carry legal force and can be applied through judicial action. They also provide a powerful language to articulate and mobilize around justice concerns, and to engage in advocacy through the media and political negotiation. As "patients' rights" movements and charters grow in popularity, it is important to link patient rights back to human rights standards and processes that are grounded in international law and consensus. Copyright © 2013 Cohen and Ezer. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

20 CFR 402.95 - Exemption five for withholding records: Internal memoranda.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... memoranda. This exemption covers internal government communications and notes that fall within a generally recognized evidentiary privilege. Internal government communications include an agency's communications with... communications are for a purpose similar to the purpose of privileged intra-agency communications. Some of the...

Science and the rules governing anti-doping violations.

PubMed

Bowers, Larry D

2010-01-01

The fight against the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports has been in effect for nearly 90 years. The formation of the World Anti-Doping Agency in 1999 was a major event because an independent agency was entrusted with harmonization of the antidoping program. In addition to sports governing bodies, governments have endorsed WADA and its programs by signing a United Nations Education, Science, and Cultural Organization Convention on Doping. The first step in the harmonization process was the development of the World Anti-Doping Program. This program consisted of five documents - the Code, the International Standard for Testing, the International Standard for Laboratories, the Prohibited List, and the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions - which unified the approach of the international federations and national antidoping agencies in applying antidoping rules. For laboratory testing, the International Standard for Laboratories establishes the performance expectations for and competence of laboratories recognized by WADA, including accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025. The antidoping rules are adjudicated by arbitration using the internationally recognized Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Development and characterization of a camelid single-domain antibody directed to human CD22 biomarker.

PubMed

Faraji, Fatemeh; Tajik, Nader; Behdani, Mahdi; Shokrgozar, Mohammad Ali; Zarnani, Amir Hassan; Shahhosseini, Fatemeh; Habibi-Anbouhi, Mahdi

2018-03-15

CD22 is a B-cell-specific trans-membrane glycoprotein, which is found on the surface of the most B cells and modulates their function, survival, and apoptosis. Recently, targeting this cell surface biomarker in B-cell malignancies and disorders has attracted a lot of attention. The variable domain of camelid single-chain antibodies (VHH, nanobody) is a form of antibodies with novel properties including small size (15-17 kDa), thermal and chemical stability, high affinity and homology to human antibody sequences. In this study, a novel anti-CD22-specific VHH (Nb) has been developed and characterized by the screening of an immunized phage display library and its binding to CD22 + B cells is evaluated. Produced anti-CD22 VHH had a single protein band about 17 kDa of molecular size in Western blotting and its binding affinity was approximately 9 × 10 -9  M. Also, this product had high specificity and it was able to recognize the natural CD22 antigen in CD22+ cell lysate as well as on the cell surface (93%). This anti-CD22 VHH with both high affinity and specificity recognizes CD22 antigen well and can be used in diagnosis and treatment of B cell disorders and malignancies. © 2018 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Ballast water research at the WFRC

USGS Publications Warehouse

Thorsteinson, Lyman

2006-01-01

Invasive aquatic species are considered to be one of the greatest threats to marine biodiversity, coastal economies, and even human health. Ballast water is a primary vector for these bioinvasions. One method of reducing risk of ballast water introductions is mid-ocean exchange of marine ballast water. However, it is widely recognized that this practice has many limitations, including serious ship safety concerns and variable biological effectiveness. International agencies and federal, state and local governments are attempting to tackle the problem by recommending or mandating the installation of ballast water treatment systems. The WFRC is working with others to develop new technologies to detect, prevent, and control aquatic invasive species impacts in Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest.

65 Years of influenza surveillance by a WHO-coordinated global network.

PubMed

Ziegler, Thedi; Mamahit, Awandha; Cox, Nancy J

2018-05-04

The 1918 devastating influenza pandemic left a lasting impact on influenza experts and the public, and the importance of global influenza surveillance was soon recognized. The WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN) was founded in 1952 and renamed to Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System in 2011 upon the adoption by the World Health Assembly, of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework for the Sharing of Influenza Viruses and Access to Vaccines and Other Benefits ("PIP Framework"). The importance of influenza surveillance had been recognized and promoted by experts prior to the years leading up to the establishment of WHO. In the 65 years of its existence, the Network has grown to comprise 143 National Influenza Centers recognized by WHO, 6 WHO Collaborating Centers, 4 Essential Regulatory Laboratories, and 13 H5 Reference Laboratories. The Network has proven its excellence throughout these 65 years, providing detailed information on circulating seasonal influenza viruses, as well as immediate response to the influenza pandemics in 1957, 1968, and 2009, and to threats caused by animal influenza viruses and by zoonotic transmission of coronaviruses. For its central role in global public health, the Network has been highly recognized by its many partners and by international bodies. Several generations of world renown influenza scientists have brought the Network to where it is now and they will take it forward to the future, as influenza will remain a pre-eminent threat to humans and to animals. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Connotative Meaning of Military Chat Communications

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

humans recognize connotative cues expressing uncertainty, perception of personal threat, and urgency; formulate linguistic and non-linguistic means for...built a matrix of speech “cues” representative of uncertainty, perception of personal threat, and urgency, but also applied maximum entropy analysis...results. This project proposed to: (1) conduct a study of how humans recognize connotative cues expressing uncertainty, perception of personal

Fusion of the Fc part of human IgG1 to CD14 enhances its binding to gram-negative bacteria and mediates phagocytosis by Fc receptors of neutrophils.

PubMed

Vida, András; Bardoel, Bart; Milder, Fin; Majoros, László; Sümegi, Andrea; Bácsi, Attila; Vereb, György; van Kessel, Kok P M; van Strijp, Jos A G; Antal-Szalmás, Péter

2012-08-30

Microbial resistance to antimicrobial drugs is promoting a search for new antimicrobial agents that target highly conservative structures of pathogens. Human CD14 - a known pattern recognition receptor (PRR) which recognizes multiple ligands from different microbes might be a worthy candidate. The aim of our work was to create a CD14/Fc dimer protein and evaluate its whole bacteria binding and opsonizing capabilities. Fusion of CD14 with the fragment crystallisable (Fc) part of human IgG1 could not only lead to an artificial opsonin but the dimerization through the Fc part might also increase its affinity to different ligands. Human CD14 and the Fc part of human IgG1 was fused and expressed in HEK293 cells. A histidine tagged CD14 (CD14/His) was also expressed as control. Using flow cytometry we could prove that CD14/Fc bound to whole Gram-negative bacteria, especially to short lipopolysaccharide (Ra and Re) mutants, and weak interaction was observed between the fusion protein and Listeria monocytogenes. Other Gram-positive bacteria and fungi did not show any association with CD14/Fc. CD14/His showed about 50-times less potent binding to Gram-negative bacteria. CD14/Fc acted as an opsonin and enhanced phagocytosis of these bacteria by neutrophil granulocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells. Internalization of bacteria was confirmed by trypan blue quenching and confocal microscopy. On neutrophils the Fc part of the fusion protein was recognized by Fc receptors (CD16, CD32), as determined by blocking experiments. CD14/Fc enhanced the killing of bacteria in an ex vivo whole blood assay. Our experiments confirm that PRR/Fc fusion proteins can give a boost to FcR dependent phagocytosis and killing provided the antimicrobial part binds efficiently to microbes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Linking Hydro-Meteorological Hazards, Climate and Food Security: an Initiative of International Scientific Community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ismail-Zadeh, A.; Beer, T.

2013-05-01

Humans face climatic and hydro-meteorological hazards on different scales in time and space. In particular natural hazards can have disastrous impact in the short term (flood) and in the long term (drought) as they affect human life and health as well as impacting dramatically on the sustainable development of society. They represent a pending danger for vulnerable lifelines, infrastructure and the agricultural systems that depend on the water supply, reservoirs, pipelines, and power plants. Developed countries are affected, but the impact is disproportionate within the developing world. Extreme natural events such as extreme floods or prolonged drought can change the life and economic development of developing nations and stifle their development for decades. The beginning of the XX1st century has been marked by a significant number of natural disasters, such as floods, severe storms, wildfires, hurricanes, and tsunamis. Extreme natural events cause devastation resulting in loss of human life, large environmental damage, and partial or total loss of infrastructure that, in the longer time, will affect the potential for agricultural recovery. Recent catastrophic events of the early 21st century (e.g. floods in Pakistan and Thailand, the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami) remind us once again that there is a strong coupling between complex solid Earth, oceanic, and atmospheric processes and that even developed countries such as Japan are subject to agricultural declines as a result of disastrous hydro-meteorological events. Scientific community recognizes that communication between the groups of experts of various international organizations dealing with natural hazards and their activity in disaster risk reduction and food security needs to be strengthened. Several international scientific unions and intergovernmental institutions set up a consortium of experts to promote studies of weather, climate and their interaction with agriculture, food and their socio-economic consequence.

Energy Storage Awards | Transportation Research | NREL

Science.gov Websites

storage team has been recognized with three of these top honors. Battery Internal Short-Circuit Device NREL's patented Battery Internal Short-Circuit (ISC) Device is the only diagnostic tool that makes it affect reactions to internal short circuits and pinpoint related safety issues before batteries are in

Why Singaporean 8th Grade Students Gain Highest Mathematics Ranking in TIMSS (1999-2011)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lessani, Abdolreza; Yunus, Aida Suraya Md; Tarmiz, Rohani Ahmad; Mahmud, Rosnaini

2014-01-01

The international comparison of students' mathematics knowledge and competencies is an effective method of evaluating students' mathematics performance and developing policies to improve their achievements in mathematics. Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) are among the most well-recognized international comparisons that…

Recognizing Risk-of-Failure in Communication Design Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yee, Joyce; Lievesley, Matthew; Taylor, Louise

2009-01-01

The pace of commercial graphic design practice presents very few opportunities to conduct user research after a project's launch. This makes the design team's ability to anticipate and address risks during the design development phase even more important, recognized in the astute observation from Tim Brown, CEO of leading international design…

76 FR 2373 - Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Request for Nominations of Experts to Augment the SAB...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-13

... Office is requesting public nominations for scientists and engineers to augment the SAB Scientific and... STAA Program was established in 1980 to recognize Agency scientists and engineers who published their... seeking nominations of nationally and internationally recognized scientists and engineers having...

An International Short Course for Training Professionals as Effective Science Communicators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sarathchandra, Dilshani; Maredia, Karim M.

2014-01-01

Scholars have recognized a need for educational programs that prepare scientists, Extension practitioners, and other stakeholders to communicate science effectively. Such programs have the potential to increase public awareness and aid policy development. Having recognized this need, faculty at Michigan State University (MSU) developed an…

Ghost-in-the-Machine reveals human social signals for human-robot interaction.

PubMed

Loth, Sebastian; Jettka, Katharina; Giuliani, Manuel; de Ruiter, Jan P

2015-01-01

We used a new method called "Ghost-in-the-Machine" (GiM) to investigate social interactions with a robotic bartender taking orders for drinks and serving them. Using the GiM paradigm allowed us to identify how human participants recognize the intentions of customers on the basis of the output of the robotic recognizers. Specifically, we measured which recognizer modalities (e.g., speech, the distance to the bar) were relevant at different stages of the interaction. This provided insights into human social behavior necessary for the development of socially competent robots. When initiating the drink-order interaction, the most important recognizers were those based on computer vision. When drink orders were being placed, however, the most important information source was the speech recognition. Interestingly, the participants used only a subset of the available information, focussing only on a few relevant recognizers while ignoring others. This reduced the risk of acting on erroneous sensor data and enabled them to complete service interactions more swiftly than a robot using all available sensor data. We also investigated socially appropriate response strategies. In their responses, the participants preferred to use the same modality as the customer's requests, e.g., they tended to respond verbally to verbal requests. Also, they added redundancy to their responses, for instance by using echo questions. We argue that incorporating the social strategies discovered with the GiM paradigm in multimodal grammars of human-robot interactions improves the robustness and the ease-of-use of these interactions, and therefore provides a smoother user experience.

Human Lipooligosaccharide IGG That Prevents Endemic Meningococcal Disease Recognizes an Internal Lacto-N-neotetraose Structure*

PubMed Central

Cheng, Hui; Yang, Zhijie; Estabrook, Michele M.; John, Constance M.; Jarvis, Gary A.; McLaughlin, Stephanie; Griffiss, J. McLeod

2011-01-01

Antibodies that initiate complement-mediated killing of Neisseria meningitidis as they enter the bloodstream from the oropharynx protect against disseminated disease. Human IgGs that bind the neisserial L7 lipooligosaccharide (LOS) are bactericidal for L3,7 and L2,4 meningococci in the presence of human complement. These strains share a lacto-N-neotetraose (nLc4) LOS α chain. We used a set of mutants that have successive saccharide deletions from the nLc4 α chain to characterize further the binding and bactericidal activity of nLc4 LOS IgG. We found that the nLc4 α chain conforms at least four different antigens. We separately purified IgG that required the nLc4 (non-reducing) terminal galactose (Gal) for binding and IgG that bound the truncated nLc3 α chain that lacks this Gal residue. IgG that bound the internal nLc3 α chain killed both L3,7 and L2,4 strains, whereas IgG that required the nLc4 terminal Gal residue for binding killed L2,4 stains but not L3,7 strains. These results show that the diversity of LOS antibodies in human serum is as much a function of the conformation of multiple antigens by a single glycoform as of the production of multiple glycoforms. Differences in sensitivity to killing by human nLc4 LOS IgG may account for the fact that fully two-thirds of endemic group B meningococcal disease in infants and children is caused by L3,7 strains, but only 20% is caused by L2,4 stains. PMID:22027827

A combination of two antibodies recognizing non-overlapping epitopes of HER2 induces kinase activity-dependent internalization of HER2.

PubMed

Szymanska, Monika; Fosdahl, Anne M; Nikolaysen, Filip; Pedersen, Mikkel W; Grandal, Michael M; Stang, Espen; Bertelsen, Vibeke

2016-10-01

The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/ErbB2) is overexpressed in a number of human cancers. HER2 is the preferred heterodimerization partner for other epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members and is considered to be resistant to endocytic down-regulation, properties which both contribute to the high oncogenic potential of HER2. Antibodies targeting members of the EGFR family are powerful tools in cancer treatment and can function by blocking ligand binding, preventing receptor dimerization, inhibiting receptor activation and/or inducing receptor internalization and degradation. With respect to antibody-induced endocytosis of HER2, various results are reported, and the effect seems to depend on the HER2 expression level and whether antibodies are given as individual antibodies or as mixtures of two or more. In this study, the effect of a mixture of two monoclonal antibodies against non-overlapping epitopes of HER2 was investigated with respect to localization and stability of HER2. Individual antibodies had limited effect, but the combination of antibodies induced internalization and degradation of HER2 by multiple endocytic pathways. In addition, HER2 was phosphorylated and ubiquitinated upon incubation with the antibody combination, and the HER2 kinase activity was found to be instrumental in antibody-induced HER2 down-regulation. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

78 FR 26089 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for Revision to a Currently Approved...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-03

... accessibility and internal and external efficiencies. The newly combined application will soon be available on... one interactive, on-line application in order to recognize internal and external efficiencies. With...

78 FR 15380 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Revision to a Currently Approved...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-11

... accessibility and internal and external efficiencies. The newly combined application will soon be available on... one interactive, on-line application in order to recognize internal and external efficiencies. With...

15 CFR 287.2 - Definitions. 1

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Guide 2 (1996). In certain industrial sectors, it is recognized that organizations other than ISO or IEC may...; supplier's declaration of conformity; certification; and quality and environmental management system...

Taking the social origins of human nature seriously: toward a more imperialist social psychology.

PubMed

Brewer, Marilynn B

2004-01-01

To recognize that human beings are adapted for social living is fundamental to the science of human psychology. I argue that the development of broad social psychological theory would benefit from taking this basic premise more seriously. We need to pay more attention to the implications for personality and social psychology of recognizing that all of the building blocks of human psychology--cognition, emotion, motivation--have been shaped by the demands of social interdependence. In this article I illustrate the generative potential of this basic premise for development of more expansive social theory.

Molecular mechanisms for the regulation of histone mRNA stem-loop–binding protein by phosphorylation

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jun; Tan, Dazhi; DeRose, Eugene F.; Perera, Lalith; Dominski, Zbigniew; Marzluff, William F.; Tong, Liang; Hall, Traci M. Tanaka

2014-01-01

Replication-dependent histone mRNAs end with a conserved stem loop that is recognized by stem-loop–binding protein (SLBP). The minimal RNA-processing domain of SLBP is phosphorylated at an internal threonine, and Drosophila SLBP (dSLBP) also is phosphorylated at four serines in its 18-aa C-terminal tail. We show that phosphorylation of dSLBP increases RNA-binding affinity dramatically, and we use structural and biophysical analyses of dSLBP and a crystal structure of human SLBP phosphorylated on the internal threonine to understand the striking improvement in RNA binding. Together these results suggest that, although the C-terminal tail of dSLBP does not contact the RNA, phosphorylation of the tail promotes SLBP conformations competent for RNA binding and thereby appears to reduce the entropic penalty for the association. Increased negative charge in this C-terminal tail balances positively charged residues, allowing a more compact ensemble of structures in the absence of RNA. PMID:25002523

The Growing Public Health Challenges of Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation From Use of Indoor Tanning Devices in the United States.

PubMed

Bowman, Diana M; Lewis, Ryan C; Lee, Maximilian S; Yao, Catherine J

2015-08-01

Ultraviolet radiation is recognized as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the world's authority on cancer research. In particular, exposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to melanoma of the skin, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer in the United States. Yet despite the significant public health burden that is associated with skin cancer in the United States, each year over a million Americans engage in indoor tanning where exposure to artificial ultraviolet radiation occurs. In this article, we argue for an immediate ban on the use of commercial indoor tanning by minors and, based on international precedents, the phasing out of all commercial tanning operations in the United States. We consider the use of indoor tanning devices in the United States, epidemiological data on indoor tanning devices and cancer, regulation of tanning devices, and scientific evidence for increased government intervention. © The Author(s) 2015.

The 7th Asia Cancer Forum: from the perspective of human security, how can we collaborate as Asians in order to place cancer on the global health agenda? How can we fill in the gaps that exist among us?

PubMed

Kawahara, Norie; Roh, Jae Kyung; Akaza, Hideyuki; Inoue, Hajime; Shibuya, Kenji; Iwasaki, Masaru; Tsuji, Tetsuo; Nishiyama, Masanori; Nakagawara, Akira; Watanabe, Kenji; Nozaki, Shinjiro; Inoue, Manami; Sugimura, Haruhiko; Miyake, Jun; Li, Fu

2011-06-01

This forum has continued to discuss the inclusion of cancer on the global health agenda, and specifically the Millennium Development Goals. The seventh forum presented an overview of activities to date, supplemented by reports from Korea, local governments in Japan and representatives from the pharmaceutical industry. Discussion focused on how to engage in measures to tackle cancer prevention and achieve early detection and effective treatment, using limited resources. It was recognized that with non-communicable diseases gaining increasing attention in international dialogue, it is now of the utmost importance to share an accurate recognition of cancer research and treatment throughout Asia and the wider world. Participants concurred that cancer issues are decoupled from the development aid agenda and that cooperation should be advanced on the basis of international cooperation without recourse to governmental development aid.

The Role of Venezuelan Space Technology in Promoting Development in Latin America

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pena, J. A.; Yumin, T.

2017-09-01

Space technology and resources are used around the world to address societal challenges. Space provides valuable satellite services, unique scientific discoveries, surprising technology applications and new economic opportunities. Venezuela formally recognizes the advantages of space resources and pursues national level activity to harness them. Venezuela space cooperation has grown in the past several years, contributing to debates over Venezuela's rising influence in the Latin America. This paper summarizes the establishment and current development of space activities in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, these activities are focused on the areas of telecommunications, Earth observation, research and development space and has as a primary goal the satisfaction of social needs. This analysis offers the elements most important of the Venezuelan space policy: technological transfer, capacity building and human training and international cooperation including the new participation of Venezuela in the international charter on space and major disasters. Our analysis shows that Venezuela has the potential to become a space leadership country, promoting the social welfare, integration, and sustainable development of Latin American countries.

The biological effects of space radiation during long stays in space.

PubMed

Ohnishi, Ken; Ohnishi, Takeo

2004-12-01

Many space experiments are scheduled for the International Space Station (ISS). Completion of the ISS will soon become a reality. Astronauts will be exposed to low-level background components from space radiation including heavy ions and other high-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation. For long-term stay in space, we have to protect human health from space radiation. At the same time, we should recognize the maximum permissible doses of space radiation. In recent years, physical monitoring of space radiation has detected about 1 mSv per day. This value is almost 150 times higher than that on the surface of the Earth. However, the direct effects of space radiation on human health are currently unknown. Therefore, it is important to measure biological dosimetry to calculate relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for human health during long-term flight. The RBE is possibly modified by microgravity. In order to understand the exact RBE and any interaction with microgravity, the ISS centrifugation system will be a critical tool, and it is hoped that this system will be in operation as soon as possible.

Aflatoxin: A 50-Year Odyssey of Mechanistic and Translational Toxicology

PubMed Central

Kensler, Thomas W.; Roebuck, Bill D.; Wogan, Gerald N.; Groopman, John D.

2011-01-01

Since their discovery 50 years ago, the aflatoxins have become recognized as ubiquitous contaminants of the human food supply throughout the economically developing world. The adverse toxicological consequences of these compounds in populations are quite varied because of a wide range of exposures leading to acute effects, including rapid death, and chronic outcomes such as hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, emerging studies describe a variety of general adverse health effects associated with aflatoxin, such as impaired growth in children. Aflatoxin exposures have also been demonstrated to multiplicatively increase the risk of liver cancer in people chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) illustrating the deleterious impact that even low toxin levels in the diet can pose for human health. The public health impact of aflatoxin exposure is pervasive. Aflatoxin biomarkers of internal and biologically effective doses have been integral to the establishment of the etiologic role of this toxin in human disease through better estimates of exposure, expanded knowledge of the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, and as tools for implementing and evaluating preventive interventions. PMID:20881231

Human-Pathogenic Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Captive Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in China.

PubMed

Li, Wei; Zhong, Zhijun; Song, Yuan; Gong, Chao; Deng, Lei; Cao, Yuying; Zhou, Ziyao; Cao, Xuefeng; Tian, Yinan; Li, Haozhou; Feng, Fan; Zhang, Yue; Wang, Chengdong; Li, Caiwu; Yang, Haidi; Huang, Xiangming; Fu, Hualin; Geng, Yi; Ren, Zhihua; Wu, Kongju; Peng, Guangneng

2018-04-26

Human and animal infections of Enterocytozoon bieneusi (E. bieneusi) have consistently been reported worldwide, garnering public attention; however, the molecular epidemiology of E. bieneusi in the giant panda remains limited. We surveyed captive giant pandas in China for the presence of E. bieneusi by using PCR and sequence analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) revealing a 34.5% positive rate, with seven known genotypes (SC02, EpbC, CHB1, SC01, D, F, and Peru 6) and five novel genotypes (SC04, SC05, SC06, SC07, and SC08) identified. We similarly analyzed water samples, and E. bieneusi was detected in two samples, with genotype SC02 identified. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CHB1 did not cluster with any recognized group, while the remaining genotypes belonged to group 1. The predominance of zoonotic group 1 genotypes indicates a public health threat that giant pandas could spread E. bieneusi to humans. The identification of E. bieneusi in water samples suggests giant pandas could contribute to water contamination. Effective control measures are therefore needed to minimize the contamination of the water and prevent a human microsporidiosis outbreak.

Of monkeys and men: immunomic profiling of sera from humans and non-human primates resistant to schistosomiasis reveals novel potential vaccine candidates.

PubMed

Pearson, Mark S; Becker, Luke; Driguez, Patrick; Young, Neil D; Gaze, Soraya; Mendes, Tiago; Li, Xiao-Hong; Doolan, Denise L; Midzi, Nicholas; Mduluza, Takafira; McManus, Donald P; Wilson, R Alan; Bethony, Jeffrey M; Nausch, Norman; Mutapi, Francisca; Felgner, Philip L; Loukas, Alex

2015-01-01

Schistosoma haematobium affects more than 100 million people throughout Africa and is the causative agent of urogenital schistosomiasis. The parasite is strongly associated with urothelial cancer in infected individuals and as such is designated a group I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Using a protein microarray containing schistosome proteins, we sought to identify antigens that were the targets of protective IgG1 immune responses in S. haematobium-exposed individuals that acquire drug-induced resistance (DIR) to schistosomiasis after praziquantel treatment. Numerous antigens with known vaccine potential were identified, including calpain (Smp80), tetraspanins, glutathione-S-transferases, and glucose transporters (SGTP1), as well as previously uncharacterized proteins. Reactive IgG1 responses were not elevated in exposed individuals who did not acquire DIR. To complement our human subjects study, we screened for antigen targets of rhesus macaques rendered resistant to S. japonicum by experimental infection followed by self-cure, and discovered a number of new and known vaccine targets, including major targets recognized by our human subjects. This study has further validated the immunomics-based approach to schistosomiasis vaccine antigen discovery and identified numerous novel potential vaccine antigens.

Improving the Quality of Host Country Ethical Oversight of International Research: The Use of a Collaborative 'Pre-Review' Mechanism for a Study of Fexinidazole for Human African Trypanosomiasis.

PubMed

Coleman, Carl H; Ardiot, Chantal; Blesson, Séverine; Bonnin, Yves; Bompart, Francois; Colonna, Pierre; Dhai, Ames; Ecuru, Julius; Edielu, Andrew; Hervé, Christian; Hirsch, François; Kouyaté, Bocar; Mamzer-Bruneel, Marie-France; Maoundé, Dionko; Martinent, Eric; Ntsiba, Honoré; Pelé, Gérard; Quéva, Gilles; Reinmund, Marie-Christine; Sarr, Samba Cor; Sepou, Abdoulaye; Tarral, Antoine; Tetimian, Djetodjide; Valverde, Olaf; Van Nieuwenhove, Simon; Strub-Wourgaft, Nathalie

2015-12-01

Developing countries face numerous barriers to conducting effective and efficient ethics reviews of international collaborative research. In addition to potentially overlooking important scientific and ethical considerations, inadequate or insufficiently trained ethics committees may insist on unwarranted changes to protocols that can impair a study's scientific or ethical validity. Moreover, poorly functioning review systems can impose substantial delays on the commencement of research, which needlessly undermine the development of new interventions for urgent medical needs. In response to these concerns, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), an independent nonprofit organization founded by a coalition of public sector and international organizations, developed a mechanism to facilitate more effective and efficient host country ethics review for a study of the use of fexinidazole for the treatment of late stage African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). The project involved the implementation of a novel 'pre-review' process of ethical oversight, conducted by an ad hoc committee of ethics committee representatives from African and European countries, in collaboration with internationally recognized scientific experts. This article examines the process and outcomes of this collaborative process. © 2014 The Authors. Developing World Bioethics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Assessing Space Exploration Technology Requirements as a First Step Towards Ensuring Technology Readiness for International Cooperation in Space Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laurini, Kathleen C.; Hufenbach, Bernhard; Satoh, Maoki; Piedboeuf, Jean-Claude; Neumann, Benjamin

2010-01-01

Advancing critical and enhancing technologies is considered essential to enabling sustainable and affordable human space exploration. Critical technologies are those that enable a certain class of mission, such as technologies necessary for safe landing on the Martian surface, advanced propulsion, and closed loop life support. Others enhance the mission by leading to a greater satisfaction of mission objectives or increased probability of mission success. Advanced technologies are needed to reduce mass and cost. Many space agencies have studied exploration mission architectures and scenarios with the resulting lists of critical and enhancing technologies being very similar. With this in mind, and with the recognition that human space exploration will only be enabled by agencies working together to address these challenges, interested agencies participating in the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) have agreed to perform a technology assessment as an important step in exploring cooperation opportunities for future exploration mission scenarios. "The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Coordination" was developed by fourteen space agencies and released in May 2007. Since the fall of 2008, several International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) participating space agencies have been studying concepts for human exploration of the moon. They have identified technologies considered critical and enhancing of sustainable space exploration. Technologies such as in-situ resource utilization, advanced power generation/energy storage systems, reliable dust resistant mobility systems, and closed loop life support systems are important examples. Similarly, agencies such as NASA, ESA, and Russia have studied Mars exploration missions and identified critical technologies. They recognize that human and robotic precursor missions to destinations such as LEO, moon, and near earth objects provide opportunities to demonstrate the technologies needed for Mars mission. Agencies see the importance of assessing gaps and overlaps in their plans to advance technologies in order to leverage their investments and enable exciting missions as soon as practical. They see the importance of respecting the ability of any agency to invest in any technologies considered interesting or strategic. This paper will describe the importance of developing an appropriate international strategy for technology development and ideas for effective mechanisms for advancing an international strategy. This work will both inform and be informed by the development of an ISECG Global Exploration Roadmap and serve as a concrete step forward in advancing the Global Exploration Strategy.

Three human chromosomal autoantigens are recognized by sera from patients with anti-centromere antibodies.

PubMed Central

Earnshaw, W; Bordwell, B; Marino, C; Rothfield, N

1986-01-01

We have identified 39 individuals with anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) in our patient population, all of whom have Raynaud's syndrome or disease. We have used sera from the ACA-positive patients and from 123 controls (22 normal individuals and 101 additional patients with either Raynaud's disease or Raynaud's syndrome plus an associated connective tissue disease) to screen the proteins of highly purified human (HeLa) mitotic chromosomes by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Three antigens were recognized by the sera from the ACA-positive patients. These were centromere protein (CENP)-B (80,000 mol wt--recognized by all ACA-positive sera), CENP-A (17,000 mol wt--recognized by 38 of 39 ACA-positive sera), and CENP-C (140,000 mol wt--recognized by 37 of 39 ACA-positive sera). None of these antigens were recognized by any of the 123 control sera, although binding was occasionally seen to other chromosomal antigens. Therefore the ACA response is highly uniform in our patient population. Antibody to CENP-B shows a 100% correlation with anti-centromere staining by indirect immunofluorescence. Images PMID:3511098

Three human chromosomal autoantigens are recognized by sera from patients with anti-centromere antibodies.

PubMed

Earnshaw, W; Bordwell, B; Marino, C; Rothfield, N

1986-02-01

We have identified 39 individuals with anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) in our patient population, all of whom have Raynaud's syndrome or disease. We have used sera from the ACA-positive patients and from 123 controls (22 normal individuals and 101 additional patients with either Raynaud's disease or Raynaud's syndrome plus an associated connective tissue disease) to screen the proteins of highly purified human (HeLa) mitotic chromosomes by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Three antigens were recognized by the sera from the ACA-positive patients. These were centromere protein (CENP)-B (80,000 mol wt--recognized by all ACA-positive sera), CENP-A (17,000 mol wt--recognized by 38 of 39 ACA-positive sera), and CENP-C (140,000 mol wt--recognized by 37 of 39 ACA-positive sera). None of these antigens were recognized by any of the 123 control sera, although binding was occasionally seen to other chromosomal antigens. Therefore the ACA response is highly uniform in our patient population. Antibody to CENP-B shows a 100% correlation with anti-centromere staining by indirect immunofluorescence.

Learning and liking an artificial musical system: Effects of set size and repeated exposure

PubMed Central

Loui, Psyche; Wessel, David

2009-01-01

We report an investigation of humans' musical learning ability using a novel musical system. We designed an artificial musical system based on the Bohlen-Pierce scale, a scale very different from Western music. Melodies were composed from chord progressions in the new scale by applying the rules of a finite-state grammar. After exposing participants to sets of melodies, we conducted listening tests to assess learning, including recognition tests, generalization tests, and subjective preference ratings. In Experiment 1, participants were presented with 15 melodies 27 times each. Forced choice results showed that participants were able to recognize previously encountered melodies and generalize their knowledge to new melodies, suggesting internalization of the musical grammar. Preference ratings showed no differentiation among familiar, new, and ungrammatical melodies. In Experiment 2, participants were given 10 melodies 40 times each. Results showed superior recognition but unsuccessful generalization. Additionally, preference ratings were significantly higher for familiar melodies. Results from the two experiments suggest that humans can internalize the grammatical structure of a new musical system following exposure to a sufficiently large set size of melodies, but musical preference results from repeated exposure to a small number of items. This dissociation between grammar learning and preference will be further discussed. PMID:20151034

Learning and liking an artificial musical system: Effects of set size and repeated exposure.

PubMed

Loui, Psyche; Wessel, David

2008-10-01

We report an investigation of humans' musical learning ability using a novel musical system. We designed an artificial musical system based on the Bohlen-Pierce scale, a scale very different from Western music. Melodies were composed from chord progressions in the new scale by applying the rules of a finite-state grammar. After exposing participants to sets of melodies, we conducted listening tests to assess learning, including recognition tests, generalization tests, and subjective preference ratings. In Experiment 1, participants were presented with 15 melodies 27 times each. Forced choice results showed that participants were able to recognize previously encountered melodies and generalize their knowledge to new melodies, suggesting internalization of the musical grammar.Preference ratings showed no differentiation among familiar, new, and ungrammatical melodies. In Experiment 2, participants were given 10 melodies 40 times each. Results showed superior recognition but unsuccessful generalization. Additionally, preference ratings were significantly higher for familiar melodies. Results from the two experiments suggest that humans can internalize the grammatical structure of a new musical system following exposure to a sufficiently large set size of melodies, but musical preference results from repeated exposure to a small number of items. This dissociation between grammar learning and preference will be further discussed.

Biocultural approaches to well-being and sustainability indicators across scales.

PubMed

Sterling, Eleanor J; Filardi, Christopher; Toomey, Anne; Sigouin, Amanda; Betley, Erin; Gazit, Nadav; Newell, Jennifer; Albert, Simon; Alvira, Diana; Bergamini, Nadia; Blair, Mary; Boseto, David; Burrows, Kate; Bynum, Nora; Caillon, Sophie; Caselle, Jennifer E; Claudet, Joachim; Cullman, Georgina; Dacks, Rachel; Eyzaguirre, Pablo B; Gray, Steven; Herrera, James; Kenilorea, Peter; Kinney, Kealohanuiopuna; Kurashima, Natalie; Macey, Suzanne; Malone, Cynthia; Mauli, Senoveva; McCarter, Joe; McMillen, Heather; Pascua, Pua'ala; Pikacha, Patrick; Porzecanski, Ana L; de Robert, Pascale; Salpeteur, Matthieu; Sirikolo, Myknee; Stege, Mark H; Stege, Kristina; Ticktin, Tamara; Vave, Ron; Wali, Alaka; West, Paige; Winter, Kawika B; Jupiter, Stacy D

2017-12-01

Monitoring and evaluation are central to ensuring that innovative, multi-scale, and interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability are effective. The development of relevant indicators for local sustainable management outcomes, and the ability to link these to broader national and international policy targets, are key challenges for resource managers, policymakers, and scientists. Sets of indicators that capture both ecological and social-cultural factors, and the feedbacks between them, can underpin cross-scale linkages that help bridge local and global scale initiatives to increase resilience of both humans and ecosystems. Here we argue that biocultural approaches, in combination with methods for synthesizing across evidence from multiple sources, are critical to developing metrics that facilitate linkages across scales and dimensions. Biocultural approaches explicitly start with and build on local cultural perspectives - encompassing values, knowledges, and needs - and recognize feedbacks between ecosystems and human well-being. Adoption of these approaches can encourage exchange between local and global actors, and facilitate identification of crucial problems and solutions that are missing from many regional and international framings of sustainability. Resource managers, scientists, and policymakers need to be thoughtful about not only what kinds of indicators are measured, but also how indicators are designed, implemented, measured, and ultimately combined to evaluate resource use and well-being. We conclude by providing suggestions for translating between local and global indicator efforts.

International Journal of Molecular Science 2017 Best Paper Award.

PubMed

2017-11-02

The Editors of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences have established the Best Paper Award to recognize the most outstanding articles published in the areas of molecular biology, molecular physics and chemistry that have been published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. The prizes have been awarded annually since 2012 [...].

How International Studies Contributed to Educational Theory and Methods through Measurement of Opportunity to Learn Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suter, Larry E.

2017-01-01

The international comparative studies in 1959 were conducted by International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) researchers who recognized that differences in student achievement measures in mathematics across countries could be caused by differences in curricula. The measurements of opportunity to learn (OTL) grew…

Developing an International Assessment of Global Competence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Piacentini, Mario

2017-01-01

In 2014, an international, interdisciplinary group of experts came together under the auspices of the PISA Governing Board to consider a novel question: can an international assessment evaluate, the global competence of 15-year-old students? The experts recognized the need for data to understand how well students are prepared for life in…

77 FR 50758 - U.S. Department of State Advisory Committee on Private International Law (ACPIL): Notice of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-22

... evaluating whether the legal systems in various jurisdictions around the world adequately recognize the...-Out Netting The Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser for Private International Law, Department of... stability of the financial system. A study group organized by UNIDROIT (the International Institute for the...

Study Abroad and Career Paths of Business Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Orahood, Tammy; Woolf, Jennie; Kruze, Larisa

2008-01-01

The Kelley School of Business (KSB) at Indiana University (IU) recognized early the benefit of an international experience for its students. (KSB defines an international experience as consisting of at least 6 weeks outside the U.S., and including an academic component.) To assess the impact of business students' international experience during…

32 CFR 1639.3 - Basis for classification in Class 2-D.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... instruction required for entrance into a recognized theological or divinity school in which he has been pre... in a recognized theological or divinity school; or (3) Who, having completed theological or divinity school, is a student in a full-time graduate program or is a full-time intern, and whose studies are...

32 CFR 1639.3 - Basis for classification in Class 2-D.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... instruction required for entrance into a recognized theological or divinity school in which he has been pre... in a recognized theological or divinity school; or (3) Who, having completed theological or divinity school, is a student in a full-time graduate program or is a full-time intern, and whose studies are...

32 CFR 1639.3 - Basis for classification in Class 2-D.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... instruction required for entrance into a recognized theological or divinity school in which he has been pre... in a recognized theological or divinity school; or (3) Who, having completed theological or divinity school, is a student in a full-time graduate program or is a full-time intern, and whose studies are...

Approaches to setting organism-based ballast water discharge standards

EPA Science Inventory

As a major vector by which foreign species invade coastal and freshwater waterbodies, ballast water discharge from ships is recognized as a major environmental threat. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) drafted an international ballast water treaty establishing ballast...

A Fusion Receptor as a Safety Switch, Detection, and Purification Biomarker for Adoptive Transferred T Cells.

PubMed

Wu, Xiuqi; Shi, Bizhi; Zhang, Jiqin; Shi, Zhimin; Di, Shengmeng; Fan, Minliang; Gao, Huiping; Wang, Hai; Gu, Jianren; Jiang, Hua; Li, Zonghai

2017-10-04

The incorporation of an endogenous safety switch represents a rational strategy for the control of toxicities following the administration of adoptive T cell therapies. An ideal safety switch should be capable of depleting the transferred T cells with minimal injury to normal tissues. We generated a fusion receptor by engineering a cryptic 806 epitope of human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) into the N terminus of the full-length human folate receptor 1 (FOLR1), designated as FR806. The expression of FR806 allows transduced T cells to be targeted with CH12, a monoclonal antibody recognizing the 806 epitope, but not wild-type EGFR in healthy tissues. FR806, therefore, constitutes a specific cell-surface marker for the elimination of transduced T cells. We demonstrate that the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) CH12-MMAF is efficiently internalized by FR806-expressing T cells and has the potential to eliminate them. Transfected T cells could, furthermore, be efficiently detected and purified using CH12 antibodies. In immuno-compromised mice, CH12-MMAF eliminated the majority of transferred T cells expressing FR806 and anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). The selectivity for the 806 epitope and internalization capacity of FOLR1 makes FR806 an efficient safety switch, which may additionally be used as a detection and purification biomarker for human T cell immunotherapies. Copyright © 2017 The American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pathways of Understanding: the Interactions of Humanity and Global Environmental Change

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacobson, Harold K.; Katzenberger, John; Lousma, Jack; Mooney, Harold A.; Moss, Richard H.; Kuhn, William; Luterbacher, Urs; Wiegandt, Ellen

1992-01-01

How humans, interacting within social systems, affect and are affected by global change is explored. Recognizing the impact human activities have on the environment and responding to the need to document the interactions among human activities, the Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) commissioned a group of 12 scientists to develop a framework illustrating the key human systems that contribute to global change. This framework, called the Social Process Diagram, will help natural and social scientists, educators, resource managers and policy makers envision and analyze how human systems interact among themselves and with the natural system. The Social Process Diagram consists of the following blocks that constitute the Diagram's structural framework: (1) fund of knowledge and experience; (2) preferences and expectations; (3) factors of production and technology; (4) population and social structure; (5) economic systems; (6) political systems and institutions; and (7) global scale environmental processes. To demonstrate potential ways the Diagram can be used, this document includes 3 hypothetical scenarios of global change issues: global warming and sea level rise; the environmental impact of human population migration; and energy and the environment. These scenarios demonstrate the Diagram's usefulness for visualizing specific processes that might be studied to evaluate a particular global change issues. The scenario also shows that interesting and unanticipated questions may emerge as links are explored between categories on the Diagram.

Awareness of disaster reduction frameworks and risk perception of natural disaster: a questionnaire survey among Philippine and Indonesian health care personnel and public health students.

PubMed

Usuzawa, Motoki; O Telan, Elizabeth; Kawano, Razel; S Dizon, Carmela; Alisjahbana, Bachti; Ashino, Yugo; Egawa, Shinichi; Fukumoto, Manabu; Izumi, Takako; Ono, Yuichi; Hattori, Toshio

2014-05-01

As the impacts of natural disasters have grown more severe, the importance of education for disaster medicine gains greater recognition. We launched a project to establish an international educational program for disaster medicine. In the present study, we surveyed medical personnel and medical/public health students in the Philippines (n = 45) and Indonesia (n = 67) for their awareness of the international frameworks related to disaster medicine: the Human Security (securing individual life and health), the Sphere Project (international humanitarian response), and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (international strategy for disaster reduction). In both countries, more than 50% responders were aware of human security, but only 2 to 12% were aware of the latter two. The survey also contained questions about the preferred subjects in prospective educational program, and risk perception on disaster and disaster-related infections. In the Philippines, significant disasters were geophysical (31.0%), hydrological (33.3%), or meteorological (24.8%), whereas in Indonesia, geophysical (63.0%) and hydrological (25.3%) were significant. Moreover, in the Philippines, leptospirosis (27.1%), dengue (18.6%), diarrhea (15.3%), and cholera (10.2%) were recognized common disaster-related infections. In Indonesia, diarrhea (22.0%) and respiratory infection (20.3%) are major disaster-related infections. Water-related infections were the major ones in both countries, but the profiles of risk perception were different (Pearson's chi-square test, p = 1.469e-05). The responders tended to overestimate the risk of low probability and high consequence such as geophysical disaster. These results are helpful for the development of a postgraduate course for disaster medicine in Asia Pacific countries.

Recognizing Materials using Perceptually Inspired Features

PubMed Central

Sharan, Lavanya; Liu, Ce; Rosenholtz, Ruth; Adelson, Edward H.

2013-01-01

Our world consists not only of objects and scenes but also of materials of various kinds. Being able to recognize the materials that surround us (e.g., plastic, glass, concrete) is important for humans as well as for computer vision systems. Unfortunately, materials have received little attention in the visual recognition literature, and very few computer vision systems have been designed specifically to recognize materials. In this paper, we present a system for recognizing material categories from single images. We propose a set of low and mid-level image features that are based on studies of human material recognition, and we combine these features using an SVM classifier. Our system outperforms a state-of-the-art system [Varma and Zisserman, 2009] on a challenging database of real-world material categories [Sharan et al., 2009]. When the performance of our system is compared directly to that of human observers, humans outperform our system quite easily. However, when we account for the local nature of our image features and the surface properties they measure (e.g., color, texture, local shape), our system rivals human performance. We suggest that future progress in material recognition will come from: (1) a deeper understanding of the role of non-local surface properties (e.g., extended highlights, object identity); and (2) efforts to model such non-local surface properties in images. PMID:23914070

Shared resource control between human and computer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hendler, James; Wilson, Reid

1989-01-01

The advantages of an AI system of actively monitoring human control of a shared resource (such as a telerobotic manipulator) are presented. A system is described in which a simple AI planning program gains efficiency by monitoring human actions and recognizing when the actions cause a change in the system's assumed state of the world. This enables the planner to recognize when an interaction occurs between human actions and system goals, and allows maintenance of an up-to-date knowledge of the state of the world and thus informs the operator when human action would undo a goal achieved by the system, when an action would render a system goal unachievable, and efficiently replans the establishment of goals after human intervention.

Dengue virus infection induces broadly cross-reactive human IgM antibodies that recognize intact virions in humanized BLT-NSG mice.

PubMed

Jaiswal, Smita; Smith, Kenneth; Ramirez, Alejandro; Woda, Marcia; Pazoles, Pamela; Shultz, Leonard D; Greiner, Dale L; Brehm, Michael A; Mathew, Anuja

2015-01-01

The development of small animal models that elicit human immune responses to dengue virus (DENV) is important since prior immunity is a major risk factor for developing severe dengue disease. This study evaluated anti-DENV human antibody (hAb) responses generated from immortalized B cells after DENV-2 infection in NOD-scid IL2rγ(null) mice that were co-transplanted with human fetal thymus and liver tissues (BLT-NSG mice). DENV-specific human antibodies predominantly of the IgM isotype were isolated during acute infection and in convalescence. We found that while a few hAbs recognized the envelope protein produced as a soluble recombinant, a number of hAbs only recognized epitopes on intact virions. The majority of the hAbs isolated during acute infection and in immune mice were serotype-cross-reactive and poorly neutralizing. Viral titers in immune BLT-NSG mice were significantly decreased after challenge with a clinical strain of dengue. DENV-specific hAbs generated in BLT-NSG mice share some of the characteristics of Abs isolated in humans with natural infection. Humanized BLT-NSG mice provide an attractive preclinical platform to assess the immunogenicity of candidate dengue vaccines. © 2014 by the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

Dengue virus infection induces broadly cross-reactive human IgM antibodies that recognize intact virions in humanized BLT-NSG mice

PubMed Central

Jaiswal, Smita; Smith, Kenneth; Ramirez, Alejandro; Woda, Marcia; Pazoles, Pamela; Shultz, Leonard D; Greiner, Dale L; Brehm, Michael A

2015-01-01

The development of small animal models that elicit human immune responses to dengue virus (DENV) is important since prior immunity is a major risk factor for developing severe dengue disease. This study evaluated anti-DENV human antibody (hAb) responses generated from immortalized B cells after DENV-2 infection in NOD-scid IL2rγnull mice that were co-transplanted with human fetal thymus and liver tissues (BLT-NSG mice). DENV-specific human antibodies predominantly of the IgM isotype were isolated during acute infection and in convalescence. We found that while a few hAbs recognized the envelope protein produced as a soluble recombinant, a number of hAbs only recognized epitopes on intact virions. The majority of the hAbs isolated during acute infection and in immune mice were serotype-cross-reactive and poorly neutralizing. Viral titers in immune BLT-NSG mice were significantly decreased after challenge with a clinical strain of dengue. DENV-specific hAbs generated in BLT-NSG mice share some of the characteristics of Abs isolated in humans with natural infection. Humanized BLT-NSG mice provide an attractive preclinical platform to assess the immunogenicity of candidate dengue vaccines. PMID:25125497

An improved method for differentiating cell-bound from internalized particles by imaging flow cytometry.

PubMed

Smirnov, Asya; Solga, Michael D; Lannigan, Joanne; Criss, Alison K

2015-08-01

Recognition, binding, internalization, and elimination of pathogens and cell debris are important functions of professional as well as non-professional phagocytes. However, high-throughput methods for quantifying cell-associated particles and discriminating bound from internalized particles have been lacking. Here we describe a protocol for using imaging flow cytometry to quantify the attached and phagocytosed particles that are associated with a population of cells. Cells were exposed to fluorescent particles, fixed, and exposed to an antibody of a different fluorophore that recognizes the particles. The antibody is added without cell permeabilization, such that the antibody only binds extracellular particles. Cells with and without associated particles were identified by imaging flow cytometry. For each cell with associated particles, a spot count algorithm was employed to quantify the number of extracellular (double fluorescent) and intracellular (single fluorescent) particles per cell, from which the percent particle internalization was determined. The spot count algorithm was empirically validated by examining the fluorescence and phase contrast images acquired by the flow cytometer. We used this protocol to measure binding and internalization of the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae by primary human neutrophils, using different bacterial variants and under different cellular conditions. The results acquired using imaging flow cytometry agreed with findings that were previously obtained using conventional immunofluorescence microscopy. This protocol provides a rapid, powerful method for measuring the association and internalization of any particle by any cell type. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Transparent Stretchable Self-Powered Patchable Sensor Platform with Ultrasensitive Recognition of Human Activities.

PubMed

Hwang, Byeong-Ung; Lee, Ju-Hyuck; Trung, Tran Quang; Roh, Eun; Kim, Do-Il; Kim, Sang-Woo; Lee, Nae-Eung

2015-09-22

Monitoring of human activities can provide clinically relevant information pertaining to disease diagnostics, preventive medicine, care for patients with chronic diseases, rehabilitation, and prosthetics. The recognition of strains on human skin, induced by subtle movements of muscles in the internal organs, such as the esophagus and trachea, and the motion of joints, was demonstrated using a self-powered patchable strain sensor platform, composed on multifunctional nanocomposites of low-density silver nanowires with a conductive elastomer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate/polyurethane, with high sensitivity, stretchability, and optical transparency. The ultra-low-power consumption of the sensor, integrated with both a supercapacitor and a triboelectric nanogenerator into a single transparent stretchable platform based on the same nanocomposites, results in a self-powered monitoring system for skin strain. The capability of the sensor to recognize a wide range of strain on skin has the potential for use in new areas of invisible stretchable electronics for human monitoring. A new type of transparent, stretchable, and ultrasensitive strain sensor based on a AgNW/PEDOT:PSS/PU nanocomposite was developed. The concept of a self-powered patchable sensor system integrated with a supercapacitor and a triboelectric nanogenerator that can be used universally as an autonomous invisible sensor system was used to detect the wide range of strain on human skin.

Body movement selectively shapes the neural representation of musical rhythms.

PubMed

Chemin, Baptiste; Mouraux, André; Nozaradan, Sylvie

2014-12-01

It is increasingly recognized that motor routines dynamically shape the processing of sensory inflow (e.g., when hand movements are used to feel a texture or identify an object). In the present research, we captured the shaping of auditory perception by movement in humans by taking advantage of a specific context: music. Participants listened to a repeated rhythmical sequence before and after moving their bodies to this rhythm in a specific meter. We found that the brain responses to the rhythm (as recorded with electroencephalography) after body movement were significantly enhanced at frequencies related to the meter to which the participants had moved. These results provide evidence that body movement can selectively shape the subsequent internal representation of auditory rhythms. © The Author(s) 2014.

Controlling the vocabulary for anatomy.

PubMed Central

Baud, R. H.; Lovis, C.; Rassinoux, A. M.; Ruch, P.; Geissbuhler, A.

2002-01-01

When confronted with the representation of human anatomy, natural language processing (NLP) system designers are facing an unsolved and frequent problem: the lack of a suitable global reference. The available sources in electronic format are numerous, but none fits adequately all the constraints and needs of language analysis. These sources are usually incomplete, difficult to use or tailored to specific needs. The anatomist's or ontologist's view does not necessarily match that of the linguist. The purpose of this paper is to review most recognized sources of knowledge in anatomy usable for linguistic analysis. Their potential and limits are emphasized according to this point of view. Focus is given on the role of the consensus work of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) giving the Terminologia Anatomica. PMID:12463780

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Petru, Ernest Frank

The Human Resources (HR) Division is a critical part of Los Alamos National Laboratory, an internationally recognized science and R&D facility with a specialized workforce of more than 10,000. The Laboratory’s mission is to solve national security challenges through scientific excellence. The HR Division partners with employees and managers to support the Laboratory in hiring, retaining, and motivating an exceptional workforce. The Laboratory is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with oversight by the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). In 2006, NNSA awarded the contract for managing and operating the Laboratory to Los Alamos National Security, LLCmore » (LANS), and a for-profit consortium. This report expounds on performance excellence efforts, presenting a strategic plan and operations.« less

The Unifying Principle of Coordinated Measurements in Geospace Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lotko, William

2017-04-01

Space scientists recognize geospace as a coupled dynamical system extending from the Earth's upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere, through interplanetary space to the Sun. The weather in geospace describes variability in the electromagnetic fields, particle radiation, plasmas, and gases permeating it, usually in response to solar disturbances. Severe space weather poses a significant threat to human activities in space and to modern technological systems deployed both in space and at Earth. The challenge of characterizing and predicting space weather requires widely distributed, coordinated observations. Partnerships among government agencies, international consortia, and the private sector are developing creative solutions to address this challenge. This brief commentary highlights some of the coordinated measurements and data systems that are unifying knowledge of the geospace environment.

Status of sonic boom methodology and understanding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Darden, Christine M.; Powell, Clemans A.; Hayes, Wallace D.; George, Albert R.; Pierce, Allan D.

1989-01-01

In January 1988, approximately 60 representatives of industry, academia, government, and the military gathered at NASA-Langley for a 2 day workshop on the state-of-the-art of sonic boom physics, methodology, and understanding. The purpose of the workshop was to assess the sonic boom area, to determine areas where additional sonic boom research is needed, and to establish some strategies and priorities in this sonic boom research. Attendees included many internationally recognized sonic boom experts who had been very active in the Supersonic Transport (SST) and Supersonic Cruise Aircraft Research Programs of the 60's and 70's. Summaries of the assessed state-of-the-art and the research needs in theory, minimization, atmospheric effects during propagation, and human response are given.

Reliable detection of Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis and Yersinia pestis by using multiplex qPCR including internal controls for nucleic acid extraction and amplification.

PubMed

Janse, Ingmar; Hamidjaja, Raditijo A; Bok, Jasper M; van Rotterdam, Bart J

2010-12-08

Several pathogens could seriously affect public health if not recognized timely. To reduce the impact of such highly pathogenic micro-organisms, rapid and accurate diagnostic tools are needed for their detection in various samples, including environmental samples. Multiplex real-time PCRs were designed for rapid and reliable detection of three major pathogens that have the potential to cause high morbidity and mortality in humans: B. anthracis, F. tularensis and Y. pestis. The developed assays detect three pathogen-specific targets, including at least one chromosomal target, and one target from B. thuringiensis which is used as an internal control for nucleic acid extraction from refractory spores as well as successful DNA amplification. Validation of the PCRs showed a high analytical sensitivity, specificity and coverage of diverse pathogen strains. The multiplex qPCR assays that were developed allow the rapid detection of 3 pathogen-specific targets simultaneously, without compromising sensitivity. The application of B. thuringiensis spores as internal controls further reduces false negative results. This ensures highly reliable detection, while template consumption and laboratory effort are kept at a minimum.

Reliable detection of Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis and Yersinia pestis by using multiplex qPCR including internal controls for nucleic acid extraction and amplification

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Several pathogens could seriously affect public health if not recognized timely. To reduce the impact of such highly pathogenic micro-organisms, rapid and accurate diagnostic tools are needed for their detection in various samples, including environmental samples. Results Multiplex real-time PCRs were designed for rapid and reliable detection of three major pathogens that have the potential to cause high morbidity and mortality in humans: B. anthracis, F. tularensis and Y. pestis. The developed assays detect three pathogen-specific targets, including at least one chromosomal target, and one target from B. thuringiensis which is used as an internal control for nucleic acid extraction from refractory spores as well as successful DNA amplification. Validation of the PCRs showed a high analytical sensitivity, specificity and coverage of diverse pathogen strains. Conclusions The multiplex qPCR assays that were developed allow the rapid detection of 3 pathogen-specific targets simultaneously, without compromising sensitivity. The application of B. thuringiensis spores as internal controls further reduces false negative results. This ensures highly reliable detection, while template consumption and laboratory effort are kept at a minimum PMID:21143837

Functionalization of Tactile Sensation for Robot Based on Haptograph and Modal Decomposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokokura, Yuki; Katsura, Seiichiro; Ohishi, Kiyoshi

In the real world, robots should be able to recognize the environment in order to be of help to humans. A video camera and a laser range finder are devices that can help robots recognize the environment. However, these devices cannot obtain tactile information from environments. Future human-assisting-robots should have the ability to recognize haptic signals, and a disturbance observer can possibly be used to provide the robot with this ability. In this study, a disturbance observer is employed in a mobile robot to functionalize the tactile sensation. This paper proposes a method that involves the use of haptograph and modal decomposition for the haptic recognition of road environments. The haptograph presents a graphic view of the tactile information. It is possible to classify road conditions intuitively. The robot controller is designed by considering the decoupled modal coordinate system, which consists of translational and rotational modes. Modal decomposition is performed by using a quarry matrix. Once the robot is provided with the ability to recognize tactile sensations, its usefulness to humans will increase.

48 CFR 726.7102 - PD 20 provision.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Section 726.7102 Federal Acquisition Regulations System AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS OTHER SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS Relocation of U.S. Businesses, Assistance to Export Processing Zones, Internationally Recognized Workers' Rights 726.7102 PD 20 provision. Relocation of U.S. Businesses, Assistance to...

48 CFR 726.7102 - PD 20 provision.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Section 726.7102 Federal Acquisition Regulations System AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS OTHER SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS Relocation of U.S. Businesses, Assistance to Export Processing Zones, Internationally Recognized Workers' Rights 726.7102 PD 20 provision. Relocation of U.S. Businesses, Assistance to...

Development of a Guide-Dog Robot: Leading and Recognizing a Visually-Handicapped Person using a LRF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saegusa, Shozo; Yasuda, Yuya; Uratani, Yoshitaka; Tanaka, Eiichirou; Makino, Toshiaki; Chang, Jen-Yuan (James

A conceptual Guide-Dog Robot prototype to lead and to recognize a visually-handicapped person is developed and discussed in this paper. Key design features of the robot include a movable platform, human-machine interface, and capability of avoiding obstacles. A novel algorithm enabling the robot to recognize its follower's locomotion as well to detect the center of corridor is proposed and implemented in the robot's human-machine interface. It is demonstrated that using the proposed novel leading and detecting algorithm along with a rapid scanning laser range finder (LRF) sensor, the robot is able to successfully and effectively lead a human walking in corridor without running into obstacles such as trash boxes or adjacent walking persons. Position and trajectory of the robot leading a human maneuvering in common corridor environment are measured by an independent LRF observer. The measured data suggest that the proposed algorithms are effective to enable the robot to detect center of the corridor and position of its follower correctly.

Challenges for Global Learners: A Qualitative Study of the Concerns and Difficulties of International Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gautam, Chetanath; Lowery, Charles L.; Mays, Chance; Durant, Dayan

2016-01-01

The authors in this study seek to inform academia about international students' experiences and challenges while attending universities in Small Town USA. Despite their eagerness to study in the United States (U.S.), international students are faced with setbacks that many universities fail to recognize or realize. The researchers conducted…

Academic Civic Mindedness and Model Citizenship in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Working Paper WR-1044-IBO

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saavedra, Anna Rosefsky

2014-01-01

Originally founded as a private means for diplomats' children to earn an internationally recognized high school diploma, today the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) serves students from a variety of backgrounds in 144 countries. The IB mission and Learner Profile--consisting of ten attributes to foster in students--suggest…

Generation of novel covalent RNA-protein complexes in cells by ultraviolet B irradiation: implications for autoimmunity.

PubMed

Andrade, Felipe; Casciola-Rosen, Livia A; Rosen, Antony

2005-04-01

To determine whether ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation induces novel modifications in autoantigens targeted during experimental photoinduced epidermal damage. To search for novel UVB-induced autoantigen modifications, lysates made from UVB-irradiated human keratinocytes or HeLa cells were immunoblotted using human autoantibodies that recognize ribonucleoprotein autoantigens. Novel autoantigen structures identified were further characterized using nucleases and RNA hybridization. Human sera that recognize U1-70 kd (U1-70K) and La by immunoblotting also recognized multiple novel species when they were used to immunoblot lysates of UVB-irradiated keratinocytes or HeLa cells. These species were not present in control cells and were not observed when apoptosis was induced by Fas ligation or cytotoxic lymphocyte granule contents. Biochemical analysis using multiple assays revealed that these novel UVB-induced molecular species result from the covalent crosslinking between the U1 RNA and the hYRNA molecules with their associated proteins, including U1-70K, La, and likely components of the Sm particle. These data demonstrate that UVB irradiation of live cells can directly induce covalent RNA-protein complexes, which are recognized by human autoantibodies. As previously described for other autoantigens, these covalent complexes of RNA and proteins may have important consequences in terms of antigen capture and processing.

How is an international public health threat advanced in Canada? The case of antimicrobial resistance.

PubMed

Tsegaye, L; Huston, P; Milliken, R; Hanniman, K; Nesbeth, C; Noad, L

2016-11-03

On September 21, 2016, the United Nations General Assembly held a high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Participating political leaders committed to coordinate action across the human and animal health, agriculture and environmental sectors and to work at national, regional and international levels with the public sector, private sector, civil society and all other relevant actors, including the public. The objective of this article is to outline how the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has been working to address AMR in Canada. PHAC has used a One Health approach and has been working at the federal level with other government departments and nationally with the provinces, territories, professional organizations and other key players to address AMR. To date, the federal response has focused on surveillance, stewardship and innovation across multiple sectors, including human health, animal health, regulatory actions and research. PHAC is currently working with the provinces and territories as well as key experts in the field to develop a pan-Canadian AMR Framework and subsequent action plan that will outline best practices and approaches to AMR across human and animal health. The Framework will build on previous work done by PHAC and the federal/provincial/territorial Pan-Canadian Public Health Network Council, and recognizes the research expertise in Canada, the need to ensure actions are based on evidence, and to combat AMR through infection prevention and control. The three articles in this issue are examples of the foundational work that has been done federally by PHAC, in developing the Canadian AMR Surveillance System (CARSS), and nationally, through task groups of the Public Health Network Council, in identifying where to strengthen human surveillance of AMR and best practices for stewardship in the human health care system. While we remain in an early stage of national, coordinated AMR action, momentum is building to ensure Canada can respond to this global health threat with a One Health approach involving multiple sectors at local, national and international levels that are all well-aligned with the World Health Organization Global Action Plan.

Chimeras of human complement C9 reveal the site recognized by complement regulatory protein CD59.

PubMed

Hüsler, T; Lockert, D H; Kaufman, K M; Sodetz, J M; Sims, P J

1995-02-24

CD59 antigen is a membrane glycoprotein that inhibits the activity of the C9 component of the C5b-9 membrane attack complex, thereby protecting human cells from lysis by human complement. The complement-inhibitory activity of CD59 is species-selective and is most effective toward C9 derived from human or other primate plasma. By contrast, rabbit C9, which can substitute for human C9 in the membrane attack complex, mediates unrestricted lysis of human cells. To identify the peptide segment of human C9 that is recognized by CD59, rabbit C9 cDNA clones were isolated, characterized, and used to construct hybrid cDNAs for expression of full-length human/rabbit C9 chimeras in COS-7 cells. All resulting chimeras were hemolytically active, when tested against chicken erythrocytes bearing C5b-8 complexes. Assays performed in the presence or absence of CD59 revealed that this inhibitor reduced the hemolytic activity of those chimeras containing human C9 sequence between residues 334-415, irrespective of whether the remainder of the protein contained human or rabbit sequence. By contrast, when this segment of C9 contained rabbit sequence, lytic activity was unaffected by CD59. These data establish that human C9 residues 334-415 contain the site recognized by CD59, and they suggest that sequence variability within this segment of C9 is responsible for the observed species-selective inhibitory activity of CD59.

Domestic violence and social responsibility in contemporary Spanish cinema: a portfolio view of behavioral dynamics.

PubMed

Zanzana, Habib

2010-01-01

Domestic abuse continues to claim many lives in Spain despite a series of new laws to protect women and to punish abusers. This essay explores the cultural influences of contemporary Spanish cinema on domestic violence. Four films are assessed against a Portfolio Model of social responsibility that uses two basic dimensions: realism and human rights. Realism in each film is determined by the behavioral components of the internationally recognized Duluth Model and the Wheel of Power and Control. The human rights dimension addresses equality, power and agency for women. This study focuses on Icíar Bollaín's "Te doy mis ojos" (2003), Javier Balaguer's "Sólo mía" (2001), Benito Zambrano's "Solas" (1999), and Pedro Almodóvar's "Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón" (1980). The results demonstrate significant variations in the measure of social responsibility indicating that contemporary Spanish cinema may play a role in perpetuating gender-based violence.

Human Factors Interface with Systems Engineering for NASA Human Spaceflights

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wong, Douglas T.

2009-01-01

This paper summarizes the past and present successes of the Habitability and Human Factors Branch (HHFB) at NASA Johnson Space Center s Space Life Sciences Directorate (SLSD) in including the Human-As-A-System (HAAS) model in many NASA programs and what steps to be taken to integrate the Human-Centered Design Philosophy (HCDP) into NASA s Systems Engineering (SE) process. The HAAS model stresses systems are ultimately designed for the humans; the humans should therefore be considered as a system within the systems. Therefore, the model places strong emphasis on human factors engineering. Since 1987, the HHFB has been engaging with many major NASA programs with much success. The HHFB helped create the NASA Standard 3000 (a human factors engineering practice guide) and the Human Systems Integration Requirements document. These efforts resulted in the HAAS model being included in many NASA programs. As an example, the HAAS model has been successfully introduced into the programmatic and systems engineering structures of the International Space Station Program (ISSP). Success in the ISSP caused other NASA programs to recognize the importance of the HAAS concept. Also due to this success, the HHFB helped update NASA s Systems Engineering Handbook in December 2007 to include HAAS as a recommended practice. Nonetheless, the HAAS model has yet to become an integral part of the NASA SE process. Besides continuing in integrating HAAS into current and future NASA programs, the HHFB will investigate incorporating the Human-Centered Design Philosophy (HCDP) into the NASA SE Handbook. The HCDP goes further than the HAAS model by emphasizing a holistic and iterative human-centered systems design concept.

[Convergence of healthcare regulation in the Americas: history, development, and new challenges].

PubMed

Silva, Ana Paula Jucá; Tagliari, Patrícia Oliveira Pereira

2016-05-01

The present article describes the changing relationship among healthcare regulatory authorities in various international settings, with special emphasis on the Americas. As other sectors, healthcare also faces the need to regulate international practices, while at the same time taking into consideration the specific realities of each country. Regulatory convergence - a movement towards technical alignment to enable the adoption of local regulatory mechanisms that take into account internationally recognized standards and principles to promote a single sanitary goal - has emerged as a means to address this challenge. Organizations that already use this tool, such as the International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA), Pan American Network for Drug Regulatory Harmonization (PANDRH), International Generic Drug Regulators Programme (IGDRP), and the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF), among others, are currently working to gather knowledge, data, and specialists from different countries to build an international technical and scientific standard that can be used for decision-making by local regulators. This would ensure convergence of national regulations despite the need to adapt international standards to local needs, structure, and capacities. The most recent resolutions issued by the World Health Organization recognize the need to bring regulatory systems closer to the reality of national healthcare systems, and underscore the advantages of using existing local guidelines as input for cooperation with regulatory authorities.

Assortative mating and fragmentation within dog breeds.

PubMed

Björnerfeldt, Susanne; Hailer, Frank; Nord, Maria; Vilà, Carles

2008-01-28

There are around 400 internationally recognized dog breeds in the world today, with a remarkable diversity in size, shape, color and behavior. Breeds are considered to be uniform groups with similar physical characteristics, shaped by selection rooted in human preferences. This has led to a large genetic difference between breeds and a large extent of linkage disequilibrium within breeds. These characteristics are important for association mapping of candidate genes for diseases and therefore make dogs ideal models for gene mapping of human disorders. However, genetic uniformity within breeds may not always be the case. We studied patterns of genetic diversity within 164 poodles and compared it to 133 dogs from eight other breeds. Our analyses revealed strong population structure within poodles, with differences among some poodle groups as pronounced as those among other well-recognized breeds. Pedigree analysis going three generations back in time confirmed that subgroups within poodles result from assortative mating imposed by breed standards as well as breeder preferences. Matings have not taken place at random or within traditionally identified size classes in poodles. Instead, a novel set of five poodle groups was identified, defined by combinations of size and color, which is not officially recognized by the kennel clubs. Patterns of genetic diversity in other breeds suggest that assortative mating leading to fragmentation may be a common feature within many dog breeds. The genetic structure observed in poodles is the result of local mating patterns, implying that breed fragmentation may be different in different countries. Such pronounced structuring within dog breeds can increase the power of association mapping studies, but also represents a serious problem if ignored. In dog breeding, individuals are selected on the basis of morphology, behaviour, working or show purposes, as well as geographic population structure. The same processes which have historically created dog breeds are still ongoing, and create further subdivision within current dog breeds.

Assortative mating and fragmentation within dog breeds

PubMed Central

2008-01-01

Background There are around 400 internationally recognized dog breeds in the world today, with a remarkable diversity in size, shape, color and behavior. Breeds are considered to be uniform groups with similar physical characteristics, shaped by selection rooted in human preferences. This has led to a large genetic difference between breeds and a large extent of linkage disequilibrium within breeds. These characteristics are important for association mapping of candidate genes for diseases and therefore make dogs ideal models for gene mapping of human disorders. However, genetic uniformity within breeds may not always be the case. We studied patterns of genetic diversity within 164 poodles and compared it to 133 dogs from eight other breeds. Results Our analyses revealed strong population structure within poodles, with differences among some poodle groups as pronounced as those among other well-recognized breeds. Pedigree analysis going three generations back in time confirmed that subgroups within poodles result from assortative mating imposed by breed standards as well as breeder preferences. Matings have not taken place at random or within traditionally identified size classes in poodles. Instead, a novel set of five poodle groups was identified, defined by combinations of size and color, which is not officially recognized by the kennel clubs. Patterns of genetic diversity in other breeds suggest that assortative mating leading to fragmentation may be a common feature within many dog breeds. Conclusion The genetic structure observed in poodles is the result of local mating patterns, implying that breed fragmentation may be different in different countries. Such pronounced structuring within dog breeds can increase the power of association mapping studies, but also represents a serious problem if ignored. In dog breeding, individuals are selected on the basis of morphology, behaviour, working or show purposes, as well as geographic population structure. The same processes which have historically created dog breeds are still ongoing, and create further subdivision within current dog breeds. PMID:18226210

Ready for a world without antibiotics? The Pensières Antibiotic Resistance Call to Action

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Resistance to antibiotics has increased dramatically over the past few years and has now reached a level that places future patients in real danger. Microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are commensals and pathogens for humans and animals, have become increasingly resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. Moreover, in certain countries, they are also resistant to carbapenems and therefore susceptible only to tigecycline and colistin. Resistance is primarily attributed to the production of beta-lactamase genes located on mobile genetic elements, which facilitate their transfer between different species. In some rare cases, Gram-negative rods are resistant to virtually all known antibiotics. The causes are numerous, but the role of the overuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals is essential, as well as the transmission of these bacteria in both the hospital and the community, notably via the food chain, contaminated hands, and between animals and humans. In addition, there are very few new antibiotics in the pipeline, particularly for Gram-negative bacilli. The situation is slightly better for Gram-positive cocci as some potent and novel antibiotics have been made available in recent years. A strong and coordinated international programme is urgently needed. To meet this challenge, 70 internationally recognized experts met for a two-day meeting in June 2011 in Annecy (France) and endorsed a global call to action ("The Pensières Antibiotic Resistance Call to Action"). Bundles of measures that must be implemented simultaneously and worldwide are presented in this document. In particular, antibiotics, which represent a treasure for humanity, must be protected and considered as a special class of drugs. PMID:22958833

FRAX(®) Clinical Task Force of the 2010 Joint International Society for Clinical Densitometry & International Osteoporosis Foundation Position Development Conference.

PubMed

McCloskey, Eugene V; Binkley, Neil

2011-01-01

The World Health Organization fracture risk assessment tool, FRAX(®), is an advance in clinical care that can assist in clinical decision-making. However, with increasing clinical utilization, numerous questions have arisen regarding how to best estimate fracture risk in an individual patient. Recognizing the need to assist clinicians in optimal use of FRAX(®), the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) in conjunction with the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) assembled an international panel of experts that ultimately developed joint Official Positions of the ISCD and IOF advising clinicians regarding FRAX(®) usage. As part of the process, the charge of the FRAX(®) Clinical Task Force was to review and synthesize data surrounding a number of recognized clinical risk factors including rheumatoid arthritis, smoking, alcohol, prior fracture, falls, bone turnover markers and glucocorticoid use. This synthesis was presented to the expert panel and constitutes the data on which the subsequent Official Positions are predicated. A summary of the Clinical Task Force composition and charge is presented here. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.

What could a strengthened right to health bring to the post-2015 health development agenda?: interrogating the role of the minimum core concept in advancing essential global health needs.

PubMed

Forman, Lisa; Ooms, Gorik; Chapman, Audrey; Friedman, Eric; Waris, Attiya; Lamprea, Everaldo; Mulumba, Moses

2013-12-01

Global health institutions increasingly recognize that the right to health should guide the formulation of replacement goals for the Millennium Development Goals, which expire in 2015. However, the right to health's contribution is undercut by the principle of progressive realization, which links provision of health services to available resources, permitting states to deny even basic levels of health coverage domestically and allowing international assistance for health to remain entirely discretionary. To prevent progressive realization from undermining both domestic and international responsibilities towards health, international human rights law institutions developed the idea of non-derogable "minimum core" obligations to provide essential health services. While minimum core obligations have enjoyed some uptake in human rights practice and scholarship, their definition in international law fails to specify which health services should fall within their scope, or to specify wealthy country obligations to assist poorer countries. These definitional gaps undercut the capacity of minimum core obligations to protect essential health needs against inaction, austerity and illegitimate trade-offs in both domestic and global action. If the right to health is to effectively advance essential global health needs in these contexts, weaknesses within the minimum core concept must be resolved through innovative research on social, political and legal conceptualizations of essential health needs. We believe that if the minimum core concept is strengthened in these ways, it will produce a more feasible and grounded conception of legally prioritized health needs that could assist in advancing health equity, including by providing a framework rooted in legal obligations to guide the formulation of new health development goals, providing a baseline of essential health services to be protected as a matter of right against governmental claims of scarcity and inadequate international assistance, and empowering civil society to claim fulfillment of their essential health needs from domestic and global decision-makers.

What could a strengthened right to health bring to the post-2015 health development agenda?: interrogating the role of the minimum core concept in advancing essential global health needs

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Global health institutions increasingly recognize that the right to health should guide the formulation of replacement goals for the Millennium Development Goals, which expire in 2015. However, the right to health’s contribution is undercut by the principle of progressive realization, which links provision of health services to available resources, permitting states to deny even basic levels of health coverage domestically and allowing international assistance for health to remain entirely discretionary. Discussion To prevent progressive realization from undermining both domestic and international responsibilities towards health, international human rights law institutions developed the idea of non-derogable “minimum core” obligations to provide essential health services. While minimum core obligations have enjoyed some uptake in human rights practice and scholarship, their definition in international law fails to specify which health services should fall within their scope, or to specify wealthy country obligations to assist poorer countries. These definitional gaps undercut the capacity of minimum core obligations to protect essential health needs against inaction, austerity and illegitimate trade-offs in both domestic and global action. If the right to health is to effectively advance essential global health needs in these contexts, weaknesses within the minimum core concept must be resolved through innovative research on social, political and legal conceptualizations of essential health needs. Summary We believe that if the minimum core concept is strengthened in these ways, it will produce a more feasible and grounded conception of legally prioritized health needs that could assist in advancing health equity, including by providing a framework rooted in legal obligations to guide the formulation of new health development goals, providing a baseline of essential health services to be protected as a matter of right against governmental claims of scarcity and inadequate international assistance, and empowering civil society to claim fulfillment of their essential health needs from domestic and global decision-makers. PMID:24289096

Sci—Fri PM: Topics — 03: The Global Task Force on Radiotherapy for Cancer Control: Core Investments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Van Dyk, J.; Jaffray, D. A.; MacPherson, M. S.

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is a membership-based, non-governmental organization with a mandate to “…to unite the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden, to promote greater equity, and to integrate cancer control into the world health and development agenda.” COMP is an associate member of the UICC. It is well recognized by the UICC that there are major gaps between high, and low and middle income countries, in terms of access to cancer services including access to radiation therapy. In this context, the UICC has developed a Global Task Force on Radiotherapy for Cancer Control withmore » a charge to answer a single question: “What does it cost to close the gap between what exists today and reasonable access to radiotherapy globally?” The Task Force consists of leaders internationally recognized for their radiation treatment related expertise (radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiation therapists) as well as those with global health and economics specialization. The Task Force has developed three working groups: (1) to look at the global burden of cancer; (2) to look at the infrastructure requirements (facilities, equipment, personnel); and (3) to consider outcomes in terms of numbers of lives saved and palliated patients. A report is due at the World Cancer Congress in December 2014. This presentation reviews the infrastructure considerations under analysis by the second work group. The infrastructure parameters being addressed include capital costs of buildings and equipment and operating costs, which include human resources, equipment servicing and quality control, and general overhead.« less

Find the Right Fit

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arboleda, John

2013-01-01

International alumni relations is about recognizing an important population that wants to be connected but often feels disengaged. This article shows how to engage international alumni by customizing programs to meet their needs. It suggests four areas of programming: brand awareness; career and life networking; resource development (fundraising…

Academic Libraries in Japan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cullen, Rowena; Nagata, Haruki

2008-01-01

Academic libraries in Japan are well resourced by international standards, and support Japan's internationally recognized research capability well, but there are also ways in which they reflect Japan's strong bureaucratic culture. Recent changes to the status of national university libraries have seen a new interest in customer service, and…

Early Childhood Indicators.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bartlett, Kathy; Zimanyi, Louise

2001-01-01

Recognizing the need to identify the level, nature, and impact of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs on children and their families, this theme issue of "Coordinators' Notebook" seeks to complement and further the international efforts at collecting information on ECCD for use at national and international levels.…

The educational and professional status of clinical embryology and clinical embryologists in Europe.

PubMed

Kovačič, B; Plas, C; Woodward, B J; Verheyen, G; Prados, F J; Hreinsson, J; De los Santos, M J; Magli, M C; Lundin, K; Plancha, C E

2015-08-01

What is the recognition of clinical embryology and the current status of clinical embryologists in European countries, regarding educational levels, responsibilities and workload, and need for a formal education in assisted reproductive technology (ART)? It is striking that the profession of clinical embryology, almost 40 years after the introduction of IVF, is still not officially recognized in most European countries. Reproductive medicine has developed into a sophisticated multidisciplinary medical branch since the birth of Louise Brown 37 years ago. The European Board & College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG) has recognized reproductive medicine as a subspeciality and has developed a subspeciality training for gynaecologists in collaboration with the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). However, nothing similar exists for the field of clinical embryology or for clinical embryologists. A questionnaire about the situation in clinical embryology in the period of 2012-2013 in the respective European country was sent to ESHRE National representatives (basic scientists only) in December 2013. At this time, 28 European countries had at least one basic scientist in the ESHRE Committee of National Representatives. The survey consisted of 46 numeric, dichotomous (yes/no) or descriptive questions. Answers were obtained from 27 out of 28 countries and the data were tabulated. Data about the numbers of 'ESHRE Certified Embryologists' were taken from the ESHRE Steering Committee for Embryologist Certification. In 2012, more than 7000 laboratory staff from 1349 IVF clinics in 27 European countries performed over 700 000 fresh and frozen ART cycles. Despite this, clinical embryology is only recognized as an official profession in 3 out of 27 national health systems. In most countries clinical embryologists need to be registered under another profession, and have limited possibilities for organized education in clinical embryology. Mostly they are trained for practical work by senior colleagues. ESHRE embryologist certification so far constitutes the only internationally recognized qualification; however this cannot be considered a subspecialization. Data were obtained through different methods, by involving national embryologist societies and cycle registers, collecting information from centre to centre, and in some cases by individual assessment of the situation. For these reasons, the results should be interpreted with caution. This paper presents the current status of clinical embryology and clinical embryologists in Europe and is an important step towards implementation of clinical embryology as an officially recognized profession. None. No. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Installation Management Command - Flattening or Flat-lining?

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-22

3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215) 662-5606. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by...3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215) 662-5606. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by...for functional support. Key account management is a concept used in the corporate realm, with companies such as Pepsi Bottling Group, International

Robotic situational awareness of actions in human teaming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tahmoush, Dave

2015-06-01

When robots can sense and interpret the activities of the people they are working with, they become more of a team member and less of just a piece of equipment. This has motivated work on recognizing human actions using existing robotic sensors like short-range ladar imagers. These produce three-dimensional point cloud movies which can be analyzed for structure and motion information. We skeletonize the human point cloud and apply a physics-based velocity correlation scheme to the resulting joint motions. The twenty actions are then recognized using a nearest-neighbors classifier that achieves good accuracy.

[Third preparatory committee for the International Conference on Population and Development. Peru presentation].

PubMed

Lopez, C

1994-01-01

This address by the Peruvian delegation to the Third Preparatory Committee Meeting for the International Conference on Population and Development focuses on four points in the proposed Plan of Action that might require further development. First, the link between drug trafficking and environmental degradation should be recognized. Cultivation of narcotic plants contributes to deforestation of the tropical forest and contamination of rivers, and along with terrorism has caused considerable population movement in Peru. The second point is that widespread poverty, limited investment in human capital, insufficient institutional capacity, and the external debt burden of the developing countries are clearly interrelated with sociodemographic processes and decisively affect the capacity of the nation to implement population policies and programs as a function of current and future international commitments. The third point is that, in the area of information, education, and communication, attention should be given to the entire life cycle and the entirety of themes related to population. Finally, coordinated programs between public and private institutions and nongovernmental organizations at the national level, and between the U.N. Population Fund, the Population Commission, and the Commission on Sustainable Development at the international level, should be organized to assure effective follow-up on Plan of Action proposals and agreements. Peru has participated in a wide variety of international conferences and activities related to population, and was a major participant in the subregional preparatory conference of the Andean nations.

Immune recognition of botulinum neurotoxin B: antibody-binding regions on the heavy chain of the toxin.

PubMed

Dolimbek, Behzod Z; Steward, Lance E; Aoki, K Roger; Atassi, M Zouhair

2008-02-01

The purpose of this work was to map the continuous regions recognized by human, horse and mouse anti-botulinum neurotoxin B (BoNT/B) antibodies (Abs). We synthesized a panel of sixty 19-residue peptides (peptide C31 was 24 residues) that overlapped consecutively by 5 residues and together encompassed the entire heavy chain of BoNT/B (H/B, residues 442-1291). Abs from the three host species recognized similar, but not identical, peptides. There were also peptides recognized by two or only by one host species. Where a peptide was recognized by Abs of more than one host species, these Abs were at different levels among the species. Human, horse and mouse Abs bound, although in different amounts, to regions within peptides 736-754, 778-796, 848-866, 932-950, 974-992, 1058-1076 and 1128-1146. Human and horse Abs bound to peptides 890-908 and 1170-1188. Human and mouse Abs recognized peptides 470-488/484-502 overlap, 638-656, 722-740, 862-880, 1030-1048, 1072-1090, 1240-1258 and 1268-1291. We concluded that the antigenic regions localized with the three antisera are quite similar, exhibiting in some cases a small shift to the left or to the right. This is consistent with what is known about protein immune recognition. In the three-dimensional structure, the regions recognized on H/B by anti-BoNT/B Abs occupied surface locations and analysis revealed no correlation between these surface locations and surface electrostatic potential, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, or temperature factor. A region that bound mouse Abs overlapped with a recently defined site on BoNT/B that binds to mouse and rat synaptotagmin II, thus providing a molecular explanation for the blocking (protecting) activity of these Abs. The regions thus localized afford candidates for incorporation into a synthetic vaccine design.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

D'Aiuto, L.; Marzella, R.; Archidiacono, N.

The authors have isolated and characterized two human alphoid DNA clones: p4n1/4 and pZ4.1. Clone p4n1/4 identifies specifically the centromeric region of chromosome 4; pZ4.1 recognizes a subset of alphoid DNA shared by chromosomes 4 and 9. The specificity was determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization experiments on metaphase spreads and Southern blotting analysis of human-hamster somatic cell hybrids. The genomic organization of both subsets was also investigated. Comparative mapping on chimpanzee and gorilla chromosomes was performed. p4n1/4 hybridizes to chimpanzee chromosomes 11 and 13, homologs of human chromosomes 9 and 2q, respectively. On gorilla metaphase spreads, p4n1/4 hybridizes exclusivelymore » to the centromeric region of chromosome 19, partially homologous to human chromosome 17. No hybridization signal was detected on chromosome 3 of both chimpanzee and gorilla, in both species homolog of human chromosome 4. Identical comparative mapping results were obtained using pZ4.1 probe, although the latter recognizes an alphoid subset distinct from the one recognized by p4n1/4. The implications of these results in the evolution of centromeric regions of primate chromosomes are discussed. 33 refs., 4 figs.« less

26 CFR 1.475(a)-4 - Valuation safe harbor.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

...(a)-4 Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY (CONTINUED) INCOME TAX (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES Inventories § 1.475(a)-4 Valuation safe harbor. (a) Overview—(1) Purpose. This... portions of the payments have been recognized for tax purposes before the valuation and appropriate...

Literature: Internal Forms.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Regional Curriculum Project, Atlanta, GA.

This curriculum guide in literature, developed as part of a total English curriculum for pre-kindergarten through grade 10, suggests that students can best understand literature by recognizing its internal forms (i.e., characteristics that recur in settings, characters, and narrative patterns). Materials cover (1) an overview for teachers on the…

Comparison of Engineering Education in Norway and China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, Xiaodong; Jia, Yanrui; Li, Zhenchun; Song, Yu

2018-01-01

The Washington Accord is an internationally recognized agreement in engineering education of undergraduates. China joined the agreement as the 18th member country in 2016. The exploration technology and engineering major of China University of Petroleum has obtained the professional certification from international engineering education system and…

Evaluating Sustainability Education: Lessons from International Development Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koehn, Peter H.; Uitto, Juha I.

2014-01-01

Since the mid 1970s, a series of international declarations that recognize the critical link between environmental sustainability and higher education have been endorsed and signed by universities around the world. While academic initiatives in sustainability are blossoming, higher education lacks a comprehensive evaluation framework that is…

A monoclonal antibody, DL10, which recognizes a sugar moiety of MHC class I antigens expressed on NK cells, NK+ T cells, and granulocytes in humans.

PubMed

Shirai, K; Watanabe, H; Weerasinghe, A; Sakai, T; Sekikawa, H; Abo, T

1997-11-01

One mAb, DL10, was established from mice injected with dolphin lymphocytes. In addition to its reactivity against all dolphin lymphocytes, it reacted with some human leukocytes, including NK cells, NK+ T cells, and granulocytes. When its reactivity was examined in various animals, bovine, ovine, and equine leukocytes were DL10+. Murine, rat, and canine leukocytes were DL10-. Although the reactivity of DL10+ was similar to those of CD56 and CD57 antigens in humans, the actual molecules it recognized were different. Thus, all reactivity of DL10 disappeared after treatment of cells with glycopeptidase or after culture of cells with tunicamycin. Furthermore, the immunoprecipitation method revealed that DL10 indirectly recognized the heavy chain (45kD) of MHC class I antigen in humans and animals. Considering data from analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the DL10 molecule and the HLA typing of reactive cells, DL10 recognized a sugar moiety of some monomorphic MHC antigens and polymorphic MHC antigens such as HLA-B60 and -B61. If the donors are HLA-B60- and -B61 (> 80% in Japan and > 95% in the United States), DL10 would appear to be a very useful agent for the detection of pan-NK+ T cells.

Addressing Professionalism, Social, and Communication Competencies in Surgical Residency Via Integrated Humanities Workshops: A Pilot Curriculum.

PubMed

Colvin, Jennifer; French, Judith; Siperstein, Allan; Capizzani, Tony R; Krishnamurthy, Vikram D

We aimed to conduct professionalism and social competencies (PSC) training by integrating humanities into structured workshops, and to assess reception of this curriculum by first-year surgical residents. An IRB-approved, pilot curriculum consisting of 4 interactive workshops for surgical interns was developed. The workshops were scheduled quarterly, often in small group format, and supplemental readings were assigned. Humanities media utilized to illustrate PSC included survival scenarios, reflective writing, television portrayals, and social media. Emphasis was placed on recognizing personal values and experiences that influence judgment and decision-making, using social media responsibly, identifying and overcoming communication barriers related to generational changes in training (especially technology and work-life balance), and tackling stereotypes of surgeons. Anonymous and voluntary pre- and postcurriculum surveys were administered. Univariate analysis of responses was performed with JMP Pro v12 using Fisher's exact, χ 2 , and Students' t-tests for categorical and continuous variables. The study took place at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH, within the general surgery program. Surgical interns at the Cleveland Clinic were included in the study. A total of 16 surgical interns completed the curriculum. Sixteen surgical interns participated in the curriculum: 69% were domestic medical school graduates (DG) and 31% were international medical school graduates (IMG). Overall, the majority (81%) of residents had received PSC courses during medical school: 100% of DG compared to 40% of IMG (p = 0.02). Before beginning the curriculum, 86% responded that additional PSC training would be useful during residency, which increased to 94% upon completion (p = 0.58). Mean number of responses supporting the usefulness of PSC training increased from 1.5 ± 0.2 before the curriculum to 1.75 ± 0.2 upon completion (p = 0.4). When describing public and medical student perceptions of surgeons, 60% and 83% of adjectives used were negative, respectively. When describing perceptions of female surgeons, 88% of adjectives used were negative. Most interns received prior PSC coursework; however, the majority still desired additional training during residency. After completion, a greater percentage of interns responded that PSC training was important and choose more reasons in favor of the curriculum. Formalized didactics should be strongly considered, especially in programs with IMG. Future areas of investigation include expanding the cohort to additional years of residency; potentially identifying unique PSC needs for each postgraduate year. Copyright © 2018 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Human rights from the grassroots up: Vermont's campaign for universal health care.

PubMed

McGill, Mariah

2012-06-15

In 2008, the Vermont Workers' Center launched the "Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign," a grassroots campaign to secure the creation of a universal health care system in Vermont. Campaign organizers used a human rights framework to mobilize thousands of voters in support of universal health care. In response to this extraordinary grassroots effort, the state legislature passed health care legislation that incorporates human rights principles into Vermont law and provides a framework for universal health care. The United States has often lagged behind other nations in recognizing economic, social, and cultural (ESC) rights, including the right to health. Nonetheless, activists have begun to incorporate ESC rights into domestic advocacy campaigns, and state and local governments are beginning to respond where the federal government has not. Vermont serves as a powerful example of how a human rights framework can inform health care policy and inspire grassroots campaigns in the United States. This three-part article documents the Vermont Workers' Center campaign and discusses the impact that human rights activity at the grassroots level may have on attitudes towards ESC rights in the United States. The first part describes the Vermont health care crisis and explains why the center adopted international human rights principles for their campaign. The article then goes on to discuss the three-year campaign and analyze the health care reform bill that the Vermont legislature passed. Finally, the article discusses the campaign's local and national impact. Copyright © 2012 McGill.

Of Monkeys and Men: Immunomic Profiling of Sera from Humans and Non-Human Primates Resistant to Schistosomiasis Reveals Novel Potential Vaccine Candidates

PubMed Central

Pearson, Mark S.; Becker, Luke; Driguez, Patrick; Young, Neil D.; Gaze, Soraya; Mendes, Tiago; Li, Xiao-Hong; Doolan, Denise L.; Midzi, Nicholas; Mduluza, Takafira; McManus, Donald P.; Wilson, R. Alan; Bethony, Jeffrey M.; Nausch, Norman; Mutapi, Francisca; Felgner, Philip L.; Loukas, Alex

2015-01-01

Schistosoma haematobium affects more than 100 million people throughout Africa and is the causative agent of urogenital schistosomiasis. The parasite is strongly associated with urothelial cancer in infected individuals and as such is designated a group I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Using a protein microarray containing schistosome proteins, we sought to identify antigens that were the targets of protective IgG1 immune responses in S. haematobium-exposed individuals that acquire drug-induced resistance (DIR) to schistosomiasis after praziquantel treatment. Numerous antigens with known vaccine potential were identified, including calpain (Smp80), tetraspanins, glutathione-S-transferases, and glucose transporters (SGTP1), as well as previously uncharacterized proteins. Reactive IgG1 responses were not elevated in exposed individuals who did not acquire DIR. To complement our human subjects study, we screened for antigen targets of rhesus macaques rendered resistant to S. japonicum by experimental infection followed by self-cure, and discovered a number of new and known vaccine targets, including major targets recognized by our human subjects. This study has further validated the immunomics-based approach to schistosomiasis vaccine antigen discovery and identified numerous novel potential vaccine antigens. PMID:25999951

Innate Immune Response to Streptococcus pyogenes Depends on the Combined Activation of TLR13 and TLR2

PubMed Central

Fieber, Christina; Janos, Marton; Koestler, Tina; Gratz, Nina; Li, Xiao-Dong; Castiglia, Virginia; Aberle, Marion; Sauert, Martina; Wegner, Mareike; Alexopoulou, Lena; Kirschning, Carsten J.; Chen, Zhijian J.; von Haeseler, Arndt; Kovarik, Pavel

2015-01-01

Innate immune recognition of the major human-specific Gram-positive pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes is not understood. Here we show that mice employ Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2- and TLR13-mediated recognition of S. pyogenes. These TLR pathways are non-redundant in the in vivo context of animal infection, but are largely redundant in vitro, as only inactivation of both of them abolishes inflammatory cytokine production by macrophages and dendritic cells infected with S. pyogenes. Mechanistically, S. pyogenes is initially recognized in a phagocytosis-independent manner by TLR2 and subsequently by TLR13 upon internalization. We show that the TLR13 response is specifically triggered by S. pyogenes rRNA and that Tlr13 −/− cells respond to S. pyogenes infection solely by engagement of TLR2. TLR13 is absent from humans and, remarkably, we find no equivalent route for S. pyogenes RNA recognition in human macrophages. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that TLR13 occurs in all kingdoms but only in few mammals, including mice and rats, which are naturally resistant against S. pyogenes. Our study establishes that the dissimilar expression of TLR13 in mice and humans has functional consequences for recognition of S. pyogenes in these organisms. PMID:25756897

Applying human rights to improve access to reproductive health services.

PubMed

Shaw, Dorothy; Cook, Rebecca J

2012-10-01

Universal access to reproductive health is a target of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5B, and along with MDG 5A to reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters, progress is currently too slow for most countries to achieve these targets by 2015. Critical to success are increased and sustainable numbers of skilled healthcare workers and financing of essential medicines by governments, who have made political commitments in United Nations forums to renew their efforts to reduce maternal mortality. National essential medicine lists are not reflective of medicines available free or at cost in facilities or in the community. The WHO Essential Medicines List indicates medicines required for maternal and newborn health including the full range of contraceptives and emergency contraception, but there is no consistent monitoring of implementation of national lists through procurement and supply even for basic essential drugs. Health advocates are using human rights mechanisms to ensure governments honor their legal commitments to ensure access to services essential for reproductive health. Maternal mortality is recognized as a human rights violation by the United Nations and constitutional and human rights are being used, and could be used more effectively, to improve maternity services and to ensure access to drugs essential for reproductive health. Copyright © 2012 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dendritic Cells: A Double-Edged Sword in Immune Responses during Chagas Disease

PubMed Central

Gil-Jaramillo, Natalia; Motta, Flávia N.; Favali, Cecília B. F.; Bastos, Izabela M. D.; Santana, Jaime M.

2016-01-01

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most important member of the antigen presenting cells group due to their ability to recognize antigen at the infection site and their high specialized antigen internalization capacity. These cells have central role in connecting the innate and adaptive immune responses against Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. These first line defense cells modulate host immune response depending on type, maturation level, cytokine milieu and DC receptor involved in the interactions with T. cruzi, influencing the development of the disease clinic forms. Here, we present a review of DCs–T. cruzi interactions both in human and murine models, pointing out the parasite ability to manipulate DCs activity for the purpose of evading innate immune response and assuring its own survival and persistence. PMID:27471496

Drivers and Effects of Virtual Water Cycling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Odorico, P.

2016-12-01

The increasing global demand for farmland products by the growing and increasingly burgeoning human population is placing unprecedented pressure on the global agricultural system and its water resources. Many regions of the world that are not self-sufficient because of their chronic water scarcity or lack of suitable agricultural land strongly depend on the importation of agricultural commodities and associated embodied (or "virtual") water. International trade, however, may become unreliable when the supplies in the international food market are scarce. As a result, transboundary investments in agricultural land have become a priority for a number of governments and corporations that are trying to expand their agricultural production while securing good profits. This global "land rush" is often driven by the need for a secure access to water resources for agriculture. The globalization of water and land through trade and foreign land acquisitions is leading to a displacement of land use and a disconnection between human populations and the water resources they rely on. Despite the recognized importance of these phenomena in reshaping the patterns of water dependency through teleconnections between consumer behavior and production areas, their effect on global and regional food security, remains poorly quantified. New teleconnections are also emerging from the increasing water use for energy production. Competition in water use for food and energy security constitutes the core of an emerging debate that is generating new questions on the environmental, ethical, economic, and policy implications of human appropriation of water resources. This lecture will examine the ways societies virtually modify their access to water through trade and foreign land acquisitions to meet their growing food and energy needs.

Evaluation of speech recognizers for use in advanced combat helicopter crew station research and development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simpson, Carol A.

1990-01-01

The U.S. Army Crew Station Research and Development Facility uses vintage 1984 speech recognizers. An evaluation was performed of newer off-the-shelf speech recognition devices to determine whether newer technology performance and capabilities are substantially better than that of the Army's current speech recognizers. The Phonetic Discrimination (PD-100) Test was used to compare recognizer performance in two ambient noise conditions: quiet office and helicopter noise. Test tokens were spoken by males and females and in isolated-word and connected-work mode. Better overall recognition accuracy was obtained from the newer recognizers. Recognizer capabilities needed to support the development of human factors design requirements for speech command systems in advanced combat helicopters are listed.

[A comparative presentation of the population policies of Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal].

PubMed

Dabo, K

1992-07-01

Population policies are currently at the center of debates about demography and development, and are a preoccupation of most governments, international organizations, and research institutions working in the areas of population, development, and human resources. Between 1988-93, 4 Sahel countries adopted populations policies. this article compares the policies of Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The 3 policy documents have similar structures, with preambles recalling the international agreements concerning population and development entered into by their governments. A chapter on population and development describes the demo-economic problem in each country at regional, sectorial, and global levels. After the analysis of demo-economic problems, each of the 3 has a chapter presenting the population policy. Each presentation covers the foundations and basic principles of the policy, its objectives, the strategies to be pursued, and the organizational structure. Development of each policy was technically supervised by the Planning Ministry in collaboration with the national population councils. In general terms, the 3 countries recognize in their basic principles that the population is the primary source of wealth of a nation. Each country states its desire to translate the recommendations of different African and world population conferences into concrete acts. The principles avow respect for fundamental human rights including the right to informed decision making by couples on number and spacing of children. The principles also recognize the need for an integrated approach to population and development. The ultimate objective of the population policies is improvement in the standard and quality of life. The number of general objectives outlined in the policies varied from 7 in Senegal to 13 in Burkina Faso. Senegal was the only country of the 3 to specify reduction of the fertility rate and the growth rate as an objective. Senegal and Burkina Faso included quantified mortality objectives. The strategies of the 3 countries include improving the health of the population and of mothers and children in particular, promoting family planning, providing IEC on health and population topics, integrating women into development by improving their socioeconomic status, developing human resources through employment and education, developing territorial management systems for control of spatial distribution and internal migration, satisfying the basic needs of the population, protecting the environment, and providing training and research in relevant disciplines such as demography, statistics, and economics. Specific contraceptive prevalence goals stated in the policies were 24.04% of fertile aged women in Senegal in 2011, 60% in Burkina Faso in 2005, and 60% in Mali in 2020. Each country specified different entities for decision making, consultation, and execution of different phases of the population policy.

Space strategy for Europe and the International Lunar Decade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beldavs, VZ

2017-09-01

The 2020-2030 decade offers extraordinary opportunity for the European space sector that is largely not recognized in present space strategy which does not recognize commercial space activities beyond communications satellites, launchers, and earth observation and navigation and downstream activities. Lunar and cislunar development can draw on the extensive experience of Europe in mining, clean energy, ecological systems as well as deep experience in managing the development of technologies through TRL1 through commercial sale via Horizon 2020 and previous Framework programs. The EU has unrivalled experience in coordinating research and advanced technology development from research centers, major firms and SMEs across multiple sovereign states. This capacity to coordinate across national boundaries can be a significant contribution to a global cooperative program like the International Lunar Decade. This paper will present a European space strategy for beyond 2020 and how this can mesh with the International Lunar Decade.

Sounding the Alarm: Health in the Anthropocene.

PubMed

Butler, Colin D

2016-06-30

There is growing scientific and public recognition that human actions, directly and indirectly, have profoundly changed the Earth system, in a still accelerating process, increasingly called the "Anthropocene". Planetary transformation, including of the atmosphere, climate, ecosystems and biodiversity, has enormous implications for human health, many of which are deeply disturbing, especially in low-income settings. A few health consequences of the Anthropocene have been partially recognized, including within environmental epidemiology, but their long-term consequences remain poorly understood and greatly under-rated. For example Syria could be a "sentinel" population, giving a glimpse to a much wider dystopian future. Health-Earth is a research network, co-founded in 2014, which seeks, with other groups, to catalyse a powerful curative response by the wider health community. This paper builds on a symposium presented by Health-Earth members at the 2015 conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. It reviews and synthesizes parts of the large literature relevant to the interaction between the changing Earth system and human health. It concludes that this topic should be prominent within future environmental epidemiology and public health. Created by our species, these challenges may be soluble, but solutions require far more understanding and resources than are currently being made available.

The Role of Adipokines in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

PubMed

Sharma, Anirudh

2018-04-24

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is an important cause of low back pain. Recent evidence suggests that in addition to abnormal and excessive mechanical loading, inflammation may be a key driver for both IDD and low back pain. Obesity, a known mechanical risk factor of IDD, is now increasingly being recognized as a systemic inflammatory state with adipokines being postulated as likely inflammatory mediators. The aim of this review was to summarize the current literature regarding the inflammatory role of adipokines in the pathophysiology of IDD. A systematic literature search was performed using the OVID Medline, EMBASE and PubMed databases to identify all studies assessing IDD and adipokines. Fifteen studies were included in the present review. Leptin was the most commonly assessed adipokine. Ten of 15 studies were conducted in humans; three in rats and two in both humans and rats. Studies focused on a variety of topics ranging from receptor identification, pathway analysis, genetic associations, and proteonomics. Currently, data from both human and animal experiments demonstrate significant effects of leptin and adiponectin on the internal milieu of intervertebral discs. However, future studies are needed to determine the molecular pathway relationships between adipokines in the pathophysiology of IDD as avenues for future therapeutic targets.

The Health Impact of Rabies in Haiti and Recent Developments on the Path Toward Elimination, 2010–2015

PubMed Central

Wallace, Ryan; Etheart, Melissa; Ludder, Fleurinord; Augustin, Pierre; Fenelon, Natael; Franka, Richard; Crowdis, Kelly; Dely, Patrick; Adrien, Paul; Pierre-Louis, J.; Osinubi, Modupe; Orciari, Lillian; Vigilato, Marco; Blanton, Jesse; Patel, Roopal; Lowrance, David; Liverdieu, Andrecy; Coetzer, Andre; Boone, John; Lindenmayer, Joanne; Millien, M.

2017-01-01

Abstract. Haiti, a Caribbean country of 10.5 million people, is estimated to have the highest burden of canine-mediated human rabies deaths in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the highest rates of human rabies deaths in the world. Haiti is also the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and has numerous economic and health priorities that compete for rabies-control resources. As a result, primary rabies-control actions, including canine vaccination programs, surveillance systems for human and animal rabies, and appropriate postbite treatment, have not been fully implemented at a national scale. After the 2010 earthquake that further hindered the development of public health program infrastructure and services, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worked with the Ministry of Public Health and Population and key health development partners (including the Pan-American Health Organization) to provide technical expertise and funding for general disease surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, and selected disease control programs; including rabies. In 2011, a cross-ministerial rabies consortium was convened with participation from multiple international rabies experts to develop a strategy for successful rabies control in Haiti. The consortium focused on seven pillars: 1) enhancement of laboratory diagnostic capacity, 2) development of comprehensive animal surveillance system, 3) development of comprehensive human rabies surveillance system, 4) educational outreach, 5) sustainable human rabies biologics supply, 6) achievement of sustained canine vaccination rates of ≥ 70%, and 7) finalization of a national rabies control strategy. From 2010 until 2015, Haiti has seen improvements in the program infrastructure for canine rabies control. The greatest improvements were seen in the area of animal rabies surveillance, in support of which an internationally recognized rabies laboratory was developed thereby leading to an 18-fold increase in the detection of rabid animals. Canine rabies vaccination practices also improved, from a 2010 level of approximately 12% to a 2015 dog population coverage level estimated to be 45%. Rabies vaccine coverage is still below the goal of 70%, however, the positive trend is encouraging. Gaps exist in the capacity to conduct national surveillance for human rabies cases and access to human rabies vaccine is lacking in many parts of the country. However, control has improved over the past 5 years as a result of the efforts of Haiti’s health and agriculture sectors with assistance from multiple international organizations. Haiti is well situated to eliminate canine-mediated human rabies deaths in the near future and should serve as a great example to many developing countries struggling with similar barriers and limitations. PMID:29064363

The Health Impact of Rabies in Haiti and Recent Developments on the Path Toward Elimination, 2010-2015.

PubMed

Wallace, Ryan; Etheart, Melissa; Ludder, Fleurinord; Augustin, Pierre; Fenelon, Natael; Franka, Richard; Crowdis, Kelly; Dely, Patrick; Adrien, Paul; Pierre-Louis, J; Osinubi, Modupe; Orciari, Lillian; Vigilato, Marco; Blanton, Jesse; Patel, Roopal; Lowrance, David; Liverdieu, Andrecy; Coetzer, Andre; Boone, John; Lindenmayer, Joanne; Millien, M

2017-10-01

Haiti, a Caribbean country of 10.5 million people, is estimated to have the highest burden of canine-mediated human rabies deaths in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the highest rates of human rabies deaths in the world. Haiti is also the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and has numerous economic and health priorities that compete for rabies-control resources. As a result, primary rabies-control actions, including canine vaccination programs, surveillance systems for human and animal rabies, and appropriate postbite treatment, have not been fully implemented at a national scale. After the 2010 earthquake that further hindered the development of public health program infrastructure and services, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worked with the Ministry of Public Health and Population and key health development partners (including the Pan-American Health Organization) to provide technical expertise and funding for general disease surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, and selected disease control programs; including rabies. In 2011, a cross-ministerial rabies consortium was convened with participation from multiple international rabies experts to develop a strategy for successful rabies control in Haiti. The consortium focused on seven pillars: 1) enhancement of laboratory diagnostic capacity, 2) development of comprehensive animal surveillance system, 3) development of comprehensive human rabies surveillance system, 4) educational outreach, 5) sustainable human rabies biologics supply, 6) achievement of sustained canine vaccination rates of ≥ 70%, and 7) finalization of a national rabies control strategy. From 2010 until 2015, Haiti has seen improvements in the program infrastructure for canine rabies control. The greatest improvements were seen in the area of animal rabies surveillance, in support of which an internationally recognized rabies laboratory was developed thereby leading to an 18-fold increase in the detection of rabid animals. Canine rabies vaccination practices also improved, from a 2010 level of approximately 12% to a 2015 dog population coverage level estimated to be 45%. Rabies vaccine coverage is still below the goal of 70%, however, the positive trend is encouraging. Gaps exist in the capacity to conduct national surveillance for human rabies cases and access to human rabies vaccine is lacking in many parts of the country. However, control has improved over the past 5 years as a result of the efforts of Haiti's health and agriculture sectors with assistance from multiple international organizations. Haiti is well situated to eliminate canine-mediated human rabies deaths in the near future and should serve as a great example to many developing countries struggling with similar barriers and limitations.

The Arctic Human Health Initiative: a legacy of the International Polar Year 2007–2009

PubMed Central

Parkinson, Alan J.

2013-01-01

Background The International Polar Year (IPY) 2007–2008 represented a unique opportunity to further stimulate cooperation and coordination on Arctic health research and increase the awareness and visibility of Arctic regions. The Arctic Human Health Initiative (AHHI) was a US-led Arctic Council IPY coordinating project that aimed to build and expand on existing International Union for Circumpolar Health (IUCH) and Arctic Council human health interests. The project aimed to link researchers with potential international collaborators and to serve as a focal point for human health research, education, outreach and communication activities during the IPY. The progress of projects conducted as part of this initiative up until the end of the Arctic Council Swedish chairmanship in May 2013 is summarized in this report. Design The overall goals of the AHHI was to increase awareness and visibility of human health concerns of Arctic peoples, foster human health research, and promote health strategies that will improve health and well-being of all Arctic residents. Proposed activities to be recognized through the initiative included: expanding research networks that will enhance surveillance and monitoring of health issues of concern to Arctic peoples, and increase collaboration and coordination of human health research; fostering research that will examine the health impact of anthropogenic pollution, rapid modernization and economic development, climate variability, infectious and chronic diseases, intentional and unintentional injuries, promoting education, outreach and communication that will focus public and political attention on Arctic health issues, using a variety of publications, printed and electronic reports from scientific conferences, symposia and workshops targeting researchers, students, communities and policy makers; promoting the translation of research into health policy and community action including implementation of prevention strategies and health promotion; and promoting synergy and strategic direction of Arctic human health research and health promotion. Results As of 31 March, 2009, the official end of the IPY, AHHI represented a total of 38 proposals, including 21 individual Expressions of Intent (EoI), and 9 full proposals (FP), submitted to the IPY Joint Committee for review and approval from lead investigators from the US, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden and the Russian Federation. In addition, there were 10 National Initiatives (NI-projects undertaken during IPY beyond the IPY Joint Committee review process). Individual project details can be viewed at www.arctichealth.org. The AHHI currently monitors the progress of 28 individual active human health projects in the following thematic areas: health network expansion (5 projects), infectious disease research (7 projects), environmental health research (7 projects), behavioral and mental health research (4 projects), and outreach education and communication (5 projects). Conclusions While some projects have been completed, others will continue well beyond the IPY. The IPY 2007–2008 represented a unique opportunity to further stimulate cooperation and coordination on Arctic health research and increase the awareness and visibility of Arctic regions. PMID:23971017

The Arctic Human Health Initiative: a legacy of the International Polar Year 2007-2009.

PubMed

Parkinson, Alan J

2013-01-01

The International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 represented a unique opportunity to further stimulate cooperation and coordination on Arctic health research and increase the awareness and visibility of Arctic regions. The Arctic Human Health Initiative (AHHI) was a US-led Arctic Council IPY coordinating project that aimed to build and expand on existing International Union for Circumpolar Health (IUCH) and Arctic Council human health interests. The project aimed to link researchers with potential international collaborators and to serve as a focal point for human health research, education, outreach and communication activities during the IPY. The progress of projects conducted as part of this initiative up until the end of the Arctic Council Swedish chairmanship in May 2013 is summarized in this report. The overall goals of the AHHI was to increase awareness and visibility of human health concerns of Arctic peoples, foster human health research, and promote health strategies that will improve health and well-being of all Arctic residents. Proposed activities to be recognized through the initiative included: expanding research networks that will enhance surveillance and monitoring of health issues of concern to Arctic peoples, and increase collaboration and coordination of human health research; fostering research that will examine the health impact of anthropogenic pollution, rapid modernization and economic development, climate variability, infectious and chronic diseases, intentional and unintentional injuries, promoting education, outreach and communication that will focus public and political attention on Arctic health issues, using a variety of publications, printed and electronic reports from scientific conferences, symposia and workshops targeting researchers, students, communities and policy makers; promoting the translation of research into health policy and community action including implementation of prevention strategies and health promotion; and promoting synergy and strategic direction of Arctic human health research and health promotion. As of 31 March, 2009, the official end of the IPY, AHHI represented a total of 38 proposals, including 21 individual Expressions of Intent (EoI), and 9 full proposals (FP), submitted to the IPY Joint Committee for review and approval from lead investigators from the US, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden and the Russian Federation. In addition, there were 10 National Initiatives (NI-projects undertaken during IPY beyond the IPY Joint Committee review process). Individual project details can be viewed at www.arctichealth.org. The AHHI currently monitors the progress of 28 individual active human health projects in the following thematic areas: health network expansion (5 projects), infectious disease research (7 projects), environmental health research (7 projects), behavioral and mental health research (4 projects), and outreach education and communication (5 projects). While some projects have been completed, others will continue well beyond the IPY. The IPY 2007-2008 represented a unique opportunity to further stimulate cooperation and coordination on Arctic health research and increase the awareness and visibility of Arctic regions.

26 CFR 601.505 - Revocation, change in representation and substitution or delegation of representative.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... authorizes the substitution or delegation. An employee of a recognized representative may not be substituted... substitution or delegation of representative. 601.505 Section 601.505 Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE... Practice Requirements § 601.505 Revocation, change in representation and substitution or delegation of...

Fighting Domestic and International Fraud in the Admissions and Registrar's Offices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koenig, Ann M.; Devlin, Edward

2012-01-01

The education sector is no stranger to fraud, unfortunately. This article provides best practice guidance in recognizing and dealing with fraud, with emphasis on domestic and international academic credential fraud. It includes practical approaches to academic document review and verification. Success in fighting fraud requires becoming informed,…

Recognition of International Education in Japanese Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yoshida, Masami

2017-01-01

Education for international understanding in Japan was focused to develop its own national identity as well as to recognize its coexistence through intercultural education. Then, we have investigated the opinions of Japanese school teachers in terms of their recognition of the necessary content to introduce school instruction of intercultural…

An Informational Analysis and Communications Squadron Survey of Cyberspace Mission Assurance

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

such things as fraud, 11 business ethics, financial reporting, internal controls, and enterprise risk management . COSO is an organization...recognized world-wide and is highly respected. In 1992, COSO published a framework for risk management . It reopened the framework for modification to...The enterprise risk management facet of the COSO framework is pertinent to the cyber mission assurance discussion. COSO recognized the importance

26 CFR 1.684-1 - Recognition of gain on transfers to certain foreign trusts and estates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... required to recognize gain at the time of the transfer equal to the excess of the fair market value of the...) of this section, A recognizes gain at the time of the transfer equal to 800X. Example 4. Exchange of... 26 Internal Revenue 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Recognition of gain on transfers to certain...

26 CFR 1.684-1 - Recognition of gain on transfers to certain foreign trusts and estates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... required to recognize gain at the time of the transfer equal to the excess of the fair market value of the...) of this section, A recognizes gain at the time of the transfer equal to 800X. Example 4. Exchange of... 26 Internal Revenue 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Recognition of gain on transfers to certain...

Gently does it: Humans outperform a software classifier in recognizing subtle, nonstereotypical facial expressions.

PubMed

Yitzhak, Neta; Giladi, Nir; Gurevich, Tanya; Messinger, Daniel S; Prince, Emily B; Martin, Katherine; Aviezer, Hillel

2017-12-01

According to dominant theories of affect, humans innately and universally express a set of emotions using specific configurations of prototypical facial activity. Accordingly, thousands of studies have tested emotion recognition using sets of highly intense and stereotypical facial expressions, yet their incidence in real life is virtually unknown. In fact, a commonplace experience is that emotions are expressed in subtle and nonprototypical forms. Such facial expressions are at the focus of the current study. In Experiment 1, we present the development and validation of a novel stimulus set consisting of dynamic and subtle emotional facial displays conveyed without constraining expressers to using prototypical configurations. Although these subtle expressions were more challenging to recognize than prototypical dynamic expressions, they were still well recognized by human raters, and perhaps most importantly, they were rated as more ecological and naturalistic than the prototypical expressions. In Experiment 2, we examined the characteristics of subtle versus prototypical expressions by subjecting them to a software classifier, which used prototypical basic emotion criteria. Although the software was highly successful at classifying prototypical expressions, it performed very poorly at classifying the subtle expressions. Further validation was obtained from human expert face coders: Subtle stimuli did not contain many of the key facial movements present in prototypical expressions. Together, these findings suggest that emotions may be successfully conveyed to human viewers using subtle nonprototypical expressions. Although classic prototypical facial expressions are well recognized, they appear less naturalistic and may not capture the richness of everyday emotional communication. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

The asbestos cancer epidemic.

PubMed Central

LaDou, Joseph

2004-01-01

The asbestos cancer epidemic may take as many as 10 million lives before asbestos is banned worldwide and exposures are brought to an end. In many developed countries, in the most affected age groups, mesothelioma may account for 1% of all deaths. In addition to mesotheliomas, 5-7% of all lung cancers can be attributed to occupational exposures to asbestos. The asbestos cancer epidemic would have been largely preventable if the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) had responded early and responsibly. The WHO was late in recognizing the epidemic and failed to act decisively after it was well under way. The WHO and the ILO continue to fail to address the problem of asbestos mining, manufacturing, and use and world trade of a known human carcinogen. Part of the problem is that the WHO and the ILO have allowed organizations such as the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) and other asbestos industry advocates to manipulate them and to distort scientific evidence. The global asbestos cancer epidemic is a story of monumental failure to protect the public health. PMID:14998741

A novel in vivo method for isolating antibodies from a phage display library by neuronal retrograde transport selectively yields antibodies against p75(NTR.).

PubMed

Tani, Hiroaki; Osbourn, Jane K; Walker, Edward H; Rush, Robert A; Ferguson, Ian A

2013-01-01

The neurotrophin receptor p75(NTR) is utilized by a variety of pathogens to gain entry into the central nervous system (CNS). We tested if this entry portal might be exploited using a phage display library to isolate internalizing antibodies that target the CNS in vivo. By applying a phage library that expressed human single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies on their surface to a transected sciatic nerve, we showed that (1) phage conjugated to anti-p75(NTR) antibody or phage scFv library pre-panned against p75(NTR) are internalized by neurons expressing p75(NTR); (2) subsequent retrograde axonal transport separates internalized phage from the applied phage; and, (3) internalized phage can be recovered from a proximal ligature made on a nerve. This approach resulted in 13-fold increase in the number of phage isolated from the injured nerve compared with the starting population, and isolation of 18 unique internalizing p75(NTR) antibodies that were transported from the peripheral nerve into the spinal cord, through the blood-brain barrier. In addition, antibodies recognizing other potentially internalized antigens were identified through in vivo selection using a fully diverse library. Because p75(NTR) expression is upregulated in motor neurons in response to injury and in disease, the p75(NTR) antibodies may have substantial potential for cell-targeted drug/gene delivery. In addition, this novel selection method provides the potential to generate panels of antibodies that could be used to identify further internalization targets, which could aid drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier.

A novel in vivo method for isolating antibodies from a phage display library by neuronal retrograde transport selectively yields antibodies against p75NTR

PubMed Central

Tani, Hiroaki; Osbourn, Jane K.; Walker, Edward H.; Rush, Robert A.; Ferguson, Ian A.

2013-01-01

The neurotrophin receptor p75NTR is utilized by a variety of pathogens to gain entry into the central nervous system (CNS). We tested if this entry portal might be exploited using a phage display library to isolate internalizing antibodies that target the CNS in vivo. By applying a phage library that expressed human single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies on their surface to a transected sciatic nerve, we showed that (1) phage conjugated to anti-p75NTR antibody or phage scFv library pre-panned against p75NTR are internalized by neurons expressing p75NTR; (2) subsequent retrograde axonal transport separates internalized phage from the applied phage; and, (3) internalized phage can be recovered from a proximal ligature made on a nerve. This approach resulted in 13-fold increase in the number of phage isolated from the injured nerve compared with the starting population, and isolation of 18 unique internalizing p75NTR antibodies that were transported from the peripheral nerve into the spinal cord, through the blood-brain barrier. In addition, antibodies recognizing other potentially internalized antigens were identified through in vivo selection using a fully diverse library. Because p75NTR expression is upregulated in motor neurons in response to injury and in disease, the p75NTR antibodies may have substantial potential for cell-targeted drug/gene delivery. In addition, this novel selection method provides the potential to generate panels of antibodies that could be used to identify further internalization targets, which could aid drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier. PMID:23549155

Real-time Human Activity Recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albukhary, N.; Mustafah, Y. M.

2017-11-01

The traditional Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) system requires human to monitor the CCTV for 24/7 which is inefficient and costly. Therefore, there’s a need for a system which can recognize human activity effectively in real-time. This paper concentrates on recognizing simple activity such as walking, running, sitting, standing and landing by using image processing techniques. Firstly, object detection is done by using background subtraction to detect moving object. Then, object tracking and object classification are constructed so that different person can be differentiated by using feature detection. Geometrical attributes of tracked object, which are centroid and aspect ratio of identified tracked are manipulated so that simple activity can be detected.

Human XPA and RPA DNA repair proteins participate in specific recognition of triplex-induced helical distortions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasquez, Karen M.; Christensen, Jesper; Li, Lei; Finch, Rick A.; Glazer, Peter M.

2002-04-01

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) plays a central role in maintaining genomic integrity by detecting and repairing a wide variety of DNA lesions. Xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group A protein (XPA) is an essential component of the repair machinery, and it is thought to be involved in the initial step as a DNA damage recognition and/or confirmation factor. Human replication protein A (RPA) and XPA have been reported to interact to form a DNA damage recognition complex with greater specificity for damaged DNA than XPA alone. The mechanism by which these two proteins recognize such a wide array of structures resulting from different types of DNA damage is not known. One possibility is that they recognize a common feature of the lesions, such as distortions of the helical backbone. We have tested this idea by determining whether human XPA and RPA proteins can recognize the helical distortions induced by a DNA triple helix, a noncanonical DNA structure that has been shown to induce DNA repair, mutagenesis, and recombination. We measured binding of XPA and RPA, together or separately, to substrates containing triplexes with three, two, or no strands covalently linked by psoralen conjugation and photoaddition. We found that RPA alone recognizes all covalent triplex structures, but also forms multivalent nonspecific DNA aggregates at higher concentrations. XPA by itself does not recognize the substrates, but it binds them in the presence of RPA. Addition of XPA decreases the nonspecific DNA aggregate formation. These results support the hypothesis that the NER machinery is targeted to helical distortions and demonstrate that RPA can recognize damaged DNA even without XPA.

Episodic Reasoning for Vision-Based Human Action Recognition

PubMed Central

Martinez-del-Rincon, Jesus

2014-01-01

Smart Spaces, Ambient Intelligence, and Ambient Assisted Living are environmental paradigms that strongly depend on their capability to recognize human actions. While most solutions rest on sensor value interpretations and video analysis applications, few have realized the importance of incorporating common-sense capabilities to support the recognition process. Unfortunately, human action recognition cannot be successfully accomplished by only analyzing body postures. On the contrary, this task should be supported by profound knowledge of human agency nature and its tight connection to the reasons and motivations that explain it. The combination of this knowledge and the knowledge about how the world works is essential for recognizing and understanding human actions without committing common-senseless mistakes. This work demonstrates the impact that episodic reasoning has in improving the accuracy of a computer vision system for human action recognition. This work also presents formalization, implementation, and evaluation details of the knowledge model that supports the episodic reasoning. PMID:24959602

Histological observations on adipocere in human remains buried for 21 years at the Tomašica grave-site in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

PubMed

Salihbegović, Adis; Clark, John; Sarajlić, Nermin; Radović, Svjetlana; Finlay, Finlay; Jogunčić, Anes; Spahić, Emina; Tuco, Vedo

2018-04-18

The Tomašica grave-site near Prijedor in the north of Bosnia is reported to be the largest primary mass grave discovered thus far relating to the 1992-95 war. A total of 275 complete bodies and 125 body parts were exhumed from it in 2013. Post mortem examinations of the victims showed that nearly all had died from gunshot injuries but an additional striking feature was the degree of preservation of many of the bodies, even 21 years on, with skin, soft tissues and internal organs still present in abundance and gross structures clearly identifiable. Histology was performed on 68 samples of soft tissue from a total 13 bodies, on both skin and internal organs, and the degree of preservation was assessed in terms of the ability to recognize microscopic structure. Further comparison was made with samples taken a month or so later (56 tissue samples from 9 bodies, all but one different from the first group), after the bodies had been covered in salt as a means of general preservation. Generally, at a microscopic level, skin and subcutaneous tissues were better preserved than internal organs, while tissues sampled at the time of autopsy were better preserved than those sampled weeks later.

History of mass spectrometry at the Olympic Games.

PubMed

Hemmersbach, Peter

2008-07-01

Mass spectrometry has played a decisive role in doping analysis and doping control in human sport for almost 40 years. The standard of qualitative and quantitative determinations in body fluids has always attracted maximum attention from scientists. With its unique sensitivity and selectivity properties, mass spectrometry provides state-of-the-art technology in analytical chemistry. Both anti-doping organizations and the athletes concerned expect the utmost endeavours to prevent false-positive and false-negative results of the analytical evidence. The Olympic Games play an important role in international sport today and are milestones for technical development in doping analysis. This review of the part played by mass spectrometry in doping control from Munich 1972 to Beijing 2008 Olympics gives an overview of how doping analysis has developed and where we are today. In recognizing the achievements made towards effective doping control, it is of the utmost importance to applaud the joint endeavours of the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee, the international federations and national anti-doping agencies to combat doping. Advances against the misuse of prohibited substances and methods, which are performance-enhancing, dangerous to health and violate the spirit of sport, can be achieved only if all the stakeholders work together. Copyright 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The IUGS/IAGC Task Group on Global Geochemical Baselines

USGS Publications Warehouse

Smith, David B.; Wang, Xueqiu; Reeder, Shaun; Demetriades, Alecos

2012-01-01

The Task Group on Global Geochemical Baselines, operating under the auspices of both the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the International Association of Geochemistry (IAGC), has the long-term goal of establishing a global geochemical database to document the concentration and distribution of chemical elements in the Earth’s surface or near-surface environment. The database and accompanying element distribution maps represent a geochemical baseline against which future human-induced or natural changes to the chemistry of the land surface may be recognized and quantified. In order to accomplish this long-term goal, the activities of the Task Group include: (1) developing partnerships with countries conducting broad-scale geochemical mapping studies; (2) providing consultation and training in the form of workshops and short courses; (3) organizing periodic international symposia to foster communication among the geochemical mapping community; (4) developing criteria for certifying those projects whose data are acceptable in a global geochemical database; (5) acting as a repository for data collected by those projects meeting the criteria for standardization; (6) preparing complete metadata for the certified projects; and (7) preparing, ultimately, a global geochemical database. This paper summarizes the history and accomplishments of the Task Group since its first predecessor project was established in 1988.

Discrimination of Complex Human Behavior by Pigeons (Columba livia) and Humans

PubMed Central

Qadri, Muhammad A. J.; Sayde, Justin M.; Cook, Robert G.

2014-01-01

The cognitive and neural mechanisms for recognizing and categorizing behavior are not well understood in non-human animals. In the current experiments, pigeons and humans learned to categorize two non-repeating, complex human behaviors (“martial arts” vs. “Indian dance”). Using multiple video exemplars of a digital human model, pigeons discriminated these behaviors in a go/no-go task and humans in a choice task. Experiment 1 found that pigeons already experienced with discriminating the locomotive actions of digital animals acquired the discrimination more rapidly when action information was available than when only pose information was available. Experiments 2 and 3 found this same dynamic superiority effect with naïve pigeons and human participants. Both species used the same combination of immediately available static pose information and more slowly perceived dynamic action cues to discriminate the behavioral categories. Theories based on generalized visual mechanisms, as opposed to embodied, species-specific action networks, offer a parsimonious account of how these different animals recognize behavior across and within species. PMID:25379777

Reducing Health Disparity in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Report from Health Issues Special Interest Research Group of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scheepers, M.; Kerr, M.; O'Hara, D.; Bainbridge, D.; Cooper, S.-A.; Davis, R.; Fujiura, G.; Heller, T.; Holland, A.; Krahn, G.; Lennox, N.; Meaney, J.; Wehmeyer, M.

2005-01-01

Disparities in the health status and care experienced by people with intellectual disabilities are increasingly being recognized. This special report presents the results of an international expert consensus workshop held under the auspices of the Health Issues Special Interest Research Group of the International Association for the Scientific…

The Evolution of General Internal Medicine (GIM)in Canada: International Implications.

PubMed

Card, Sharon E; Clark, Heather D; Elizov, Michelle; Kassam, Narmin

2017-05-01

General internal medicine (GIM), like other generalist specialties, has struggled to maintain its identity in the face of mounting sub-specialization over the past few decades. In Canada, the path to licensure for general internists has been through the completion of an extra year of training after three core years of internal medicine. Until very recently, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) did not recognize GIM as a distinct entity. In response to a societal need to train generalist practitioners who could care for complex patients in an increasingly complex health care setting, the majority of universities across Canada voluntarily developed structured GIM training programs independent of RCPSC recognition. However, interest amongst trainees in GIM was declining, and the GIM workforce in Canada, like that in many other countries, was in danger of serious shortfalls. After much deliberation and consultation, in 2010, the RCPSC recognized GIM as a distinct subspecialty of internal medicine. Since this time, despite the challenges in the educational implementation of GIM as a distinct discipline, there has been a resurgence of interest in this field of medicine. This paper outlines the journey of the Canadian GIM to educational implementation as a distinct discipline, the impact on the discipline, and the implications for the international GIM community.

21 CFR 182.8223 - Calcium pyrophosphate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Calcium pyrophosphate. 182.8223 Section 182.8223... FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Nutrients § 182.8223 Calcium pyrophosphate. (a) Product. Calcium pyrophosphate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized...

21 CFR 182.8223 - Calcium pyrophosphate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2010-04-01 2009-04-01 true Calcium pyrophosphate. 182.8223 Section 182.8223... FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Nutrients § 182.8223 Calcium pyrophosphate. (a) Product. Calcium pyrophosphate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized...

A triaxial accelerometer-based physical-activity recognition via augmented-signal features and a hierarchical recognizer.

PubMed

Khan, Adil Mehmood; Lee, Young-Koo; Lee, Sungyoung Y; Kim, Tae-Seong

2010-09-01

Physical-activity recognition via wearable sensors can provide valuable information regarding an individual's degree of functional ability and lifestyle. In this paper, we present an accelerometer sensor-based approach for human-activity recognition. Our proposed recognition method uses a hierarchical scheme. At the lower level, the state to which an activity belongs, i.e., static, transition, or dynamic, is recognized by means of statistical signal features and artificial-neural nets (ANNs). The upper level recognition uses the autoregressive (AR) modeling of the acceleration signals, thus, incorporating the derived AR-coefficients along with the signal-magnitude area and tilt angle to form an augmented-feature vector. The resulting feature vector is further processed by the linear-discriminant analysis and ANNs to recognize a particular human activity. Our proposed activity-recognition method recognizes three states and 15 activities with an average accuracy of 97.9% using only a single triaxial accelerometer attached to the subject's chest.

Aerially transmitted human fungal pathogens: what can we learn from metagenomics and comparative genomics?

PubMed

Aliouat-Denis, Cécile-Marie; Chabé, Magali; Delhaes, Laurence; Dei-Cas, Eduardo

2014-01-01

In the last few decades, aerially transmitted human fungal pathogens have been increasingly recognized to impact the clinical course of chronic pulmonary diseases, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thanks to recent development of culture-free high-throughput sequencing methods, the metagenomic approaches are now appropriate to detect, identify and even quantify prokaryotic or eukaryotic microorganism communities inhabiting human respiratory tract and to access the complexity of even low-burden microbe communities that are likely to play a role in chronic pulmonary diseases. In this review, we explore how metagenomics and comparative genomics studies can alleviate fungal culture bottlenecks, improve our knowledge about fungal biology, lift the veil on cross-talks between host lung and fungal microbiota, and gain insights into the pathogenic impact of these aerially transmitted fungi that affect human beings. We reviewed metagenomic studies and comparative genomic analyses of carefully chosen microorganisms, and confirmed the usefulness of such approaches to better delineate biology and pathogenesis of aerially transmitted human fungal pathogens. Efforts to generate and efficiently analyze the enormous amount of data produced by such novel approaches have to be pursued, and will potentially provide the patients suffering from chronic pulmonary diseases with a better management. This manuscript is part of the series of works presented at the "V International Workshop: Molecular genetic approaches to the study of human pathogenic fungi" (Oaxaca, Mexico, 2012). Copyright © 2013 Revista Iberoamericana de Micología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Globalization, international law, and emerging infectious diseases.

PubMed Central

Fidler, D. P.

1996-01-01

The global nature of the threat posed by new and reemerging infectious diseases will require international cooperation in identifying, controlling, and preventing these diseases. Because of this need for international cooperation, international law will certainly play a role in the global strategy for the control of emerging diseases. Recognizing this fact, the World Health Organization has already proposed revising the International Health Regulations. This article examines some basic problems that the global campaign against emerging infectious diseases might face in applying international law to facilitate international cooperation. The international legal component of the global control strategy for these diseases needs careful attention because of problems inherent in international law, especially as it applies to emerging infections issues. PMID:8903206

26 CFR 2.1 - Statutory provisions; sections 511 and 905, Merchant Marine Act, 1936, and related statutes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... elects in his income-tax return for the taxable year in which the gain was realized, or (2) In case a... Internal Revenue with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, no gain shall be recognized to the... the sum of (1) the adjusted basis of the vessel and (2) the amount of gain which would be recognized...

26 CFR 2.1 - Statutory provisions; sections 511 and 905, Merchant Marine Act, 1936, and related statutes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... elects in his income-tax return for the taxable year in which the gain was realized, or (2) In case a... Internal Revenue with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, no gain shall be recognized to the... the sum of (1) the adjusted basis of the vessel and (2) the amount of gain which would be recognized...

A resolution supporting the goals of "International Women's Day" and recognizing this year's centennial anniversary of International Women's Day.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH

2011-03-03

Senate - 03/03/2011 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Embedding International Experiences in Business Curriculum Design: Cultivating a Study Abroad Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Babb, Jeffry; Womble, Lynsee A.; De'Armond, De'Arno

2013-01-01

In business education, the impacts of the globalization of markets, financial institutions, and economies exert increasing influence on the curriculum in business schools. Schools of business recognize the need to embed international experiences into their curriculum in order to prepare students for global context of the marketplace. Often,…

Promoting Global Initiatives and Cross-Cultural Understanding in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brand, Susan Trostle; Snodgress, Faye

2012-01-01

As an "international" honor society in education, Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) recognizes the importance of encouraging and promoting education internationally in the 21st century. The challenge shared by educators in many countries is to achieve higher levels of learning for all students. Committed educators around the globe are already working…

"Bad" Boys and "Sad" Girls? Examining Internalizing and Externalizing Effects on Parasuicides among Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peter, Tracey; Roberts, Lance W.

2010-01-01

Suicide and parasuicides (i.e. suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt) have long been recognized as serious social problems, especially among youth. A series of logistic regression models were developed incorporating various internalizing and externalizing risk factors experienced by young people with the goal of predicting parasuicides among…

SREB States Maintain Lead in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collins, Crystal

2009-01-01

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states lead the nation in student participation in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. The region also continued to match the nation in the success rates of high school students on AP exams in 2008. SREB's "Challenge to Lead" Goals for Education recognize the…

Global Justice and Intellectual Property Rights: Reforming the International IPR Regime for Balanced Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salokannel, Marjut

2006-01-01

Today it is widely recognized that a uniform global intellectual property (IP) system requiring a high level of protection is inherently unjust and affects countries differently depending upon their level of technological and economic development. This article analyzes the functioning of the current international treaty framework having…

World Environmental Quality, A Challenge to the International Community.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Department of State, Washington, DC.

The quality of the world environment cannot be dependent upon the efforts of a single nation. This fact is now recognized by most nations. Only through cooperative international actions can effective pollution control and natural resource conservation be realized. The purpose of this booklet is to publicize the work that the United States and…

Internal Audit in Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holmes, Alison, Ed.; Brown, Sally, Ed.

This book describes a range of examples of internal audit in higher education as part of a process of the exchange of good practice. The book recognizes well-established links with audit theory from other contexts and makes use of theoretical perspectives explored in the financial sector. The chapters are: (1) "Quality Audit Issues"…

An international nomenclature for forest work study

Treesearch

Rolf Bjorheden; Michael A. Thompson

2000-01-01

Knowledge gained in the study of forest work is used to improve operational efficiency through better planning and control of future work. Internationally recognized standard methods for recording, evaluating and reporting performance in forest work will greatly enhance the usefulness of this information to managers and planners. A subcommittee of IUFRO Working Party...

An international nomenclature for forest work study

Treesearch

Rolf Björheden; Michael A.  Thompson

2000-01-01

Knowledge gained in the study of forest work is used to improve operational efficiency through better planning and control of future work. Internationally recognized standard methods for recording, evaluating and reporting performance in forest work will greatly enhance the usefulness of this information to managers and planners. A subcommittee of IUFRO Working Party $...

International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

World Health Organization, Geneva (Switzerland).

The World Health Organization's final draft of the "International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes" is presented in its entirety. Recognizing that breast-feeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants, the Code's aim is to contribute to the safe and adequate nutrition of…

Building a University Brand from within: A Comparison of Coaches' Perspectives of Internal Branding

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Judson, Kimberly M.; Gorchels, Linda; Aurand, Timothy W.

2006-01-01

Branding efforts have typically focused on external promotional strategies to develop brand image. Recently, the brand messages conveyed to employees of an organization have been recognized as being equally as important as the brand messages sent to external stakeholders. This study investigates the internal communication of the university brand…

Silence in Teaching and Learning: Perspectives of a Nepalese Graduate Student

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bista, Krishna

2012-01-01

The nature of silence is complex in any classroom with international or domestic students. Instructors sometimes fail to recognize that the classroom silence of foreign students is unlike their native counterparts. With an insider perspective, this article explores the concept of silence among international students by examining the existing body…

A high affinity monoclonal antibody recognizing the light chain of human coagulating factor VII.

PubMed

Sarial, Sheila; Asadi, Farzad; Jeddi-Tehrani, Mahmood; Hadavi, Reza; Bayat, Ali Ahmad; Mahmoudian, Jafar; Taghizadeh-Jahed, Masoud; Shokri, Fazel; Rabbani, Hodjattallah

2012-12-01

Factor VII (FVII) is a serine protease-coagulating element responsible for the initiation of an extrinsic pathway of clot formation. Here we generated and characterized a high affinity monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes human FVII. Recombinant human FVII (rh-FVII) was used for the production of a monoclonal antibody using BALB/c mice. The specificity of the antibody was determined by Western blot using plasma samples from human, mouse, sheep, goat, bovine, rabbit, and rat. Furthermore, the antibody was used to detect transiently expressed rh-FVII in BHK21 cell line using Western blot and sandwich ELISA. A mouse IgG1 (kappa chain) monoclonal antibody clone 1F1-B11 was produced against rh-FVII. The affinity constant (K(aff)) of the antibody was calculated to be 6.4×10(10) M(-1). The antibody could specifically recognize an epitope on the light chain of hFVII, with no reactivity with factor VII from several other animals. In addition, transiently expressed rh-FVII in BHK21 cells was recognized by 1F1-B11. The high affinity as well as the specificity of 1F1-B11 for hFVII will facilitate the affinity purification of hFVII and also production of FVII deficient plasma and minimizes the risk of bovine FVII contamination when fetal bovine serum-supplemented media are used for production and subsequent purification of rh-FVII.

International military operations and mental health--A review.

PubMed

Kaikkonen, Noora M; Laukkala, Tanja

2016-01-01

Volunteering in international military missions has been scrutinized for its effects on mental health. Different kinds of exposures to traumatic events are associated with a variety of mental disorders, mainly heightened rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol abuse. Based on the literature we discuss risk and protective factors concerning the psychological well-being of soldiers attending to international military operations. A systematic literature search was carried out using relevant search terms to identify the articles for this review. The ability to recognize and treat acute stress reactions during deployments is important. Post-deployment psychosocial support and services have a role in lowering barriers to care, diminishing stigma and also in recognizing individuals who suffer from psychological distress or psychiatric symptoms, to connect them with appropriate care. Further investigation of gender differences and the role of stigmatization is warranted. Most of those participating in international military operations are repatriated without problems, but repeated exposure to combat situations and other stressors may affect mental health in various ways. Stigmatization is still a barrier to care.

Cross-cultural recognition of basic emotions through nonverbal emotional vocalizations

PubMed Central

Sauter, Disa A.; Eisner, Frank; Ekman, Paul; Scott, Sophie K.

2010-01-01

Emotional signals are crucial for sharing important information, with conspecifics, for example, to warn humans of danger. Humans use a range of different cues to communicate to others how they feel, including facial, vocal, and gestural signals. We examined the recognition of nonverbal emotional vocalizations, such as screams and laughs, across two dramatically different cultural groups. Western participants were compared to individuals from remote, culturally isolated Namibian villages. Vocalizations communicating the so-called “basic emotions” (anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, and surprise) were bidirectionally recognized. In contrast, a set of additional emotions was only recognized within, but not across, cultural boundaries. Our findings indicate that a number of primarily negative emotions have vocalizations that can be recognized across cultures, while most positive emotions are communicated with culture-specific signals. PMID:20133790

The discovery of the enteroviruses and the classification of poliovirus among them.

PubMed

Melnick, J L

1993-12-01

The history of the enteroviruses is described, and how poliovirus came to be recognized as the prototype species of the genus, a subdivision of the family Picornaviridae. Albert Sabin was one of the main contributors. He isolated several enterovirus types and established them as causative agents of human disease. The enteroviruses were discovered only after new methods were introduced for working with viruses. They are now recognized as constituting one of the genera of the picornavirus family. Pico-rna-virus stands for viruses which are small (pico), and have an RNA genome. The enterovirus genus includes the polioviruses, the coxsackieviruses and the echoviruses of humans, plus a number of enteroviruses of lower animals (e.g., monkeys, cattle, pigs, mice). Over 100 serotypes are now recognized, the first having been the polioviruses.

77 FR 70163 - Recognition of Entities for the Accreditation of Qualified Health Plans

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-23

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [CMS-9961-N] Recognition of Entities for the Accreditation... as recognized accrediting entities for the purposes of fulfilling the accreditation requirement as... a recognized accrediting entity on a uniform timeline established by the applicable Exchange. On...

21 CFR 182.8252 - Choline chloride.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Choline chloride. 182.8252 Section 182.8252 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Nutrients § 182.8252 Choline chloride. (a) Product. Choline chloride. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.8252 - Choline chloride.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Choline chloride. 182.8252 Section 182.8252 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Nutrients § 182.8252 Choline chloride. (a) Product. Choline chloride. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.8250 - Choline bitartrate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Choline bitartrate. 182.8250 Section 182.8250 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Nutrients § 182.8250 Choline bitartrate. (a) Product. Choline bitartrate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.8250 - Choline bitartrate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Choline bitartrate. 182.8250 Section 182.8250 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Nutrients § 182.8250 Choline bitartrate. (a) Product. Choline bitartrate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.8252 - Choline chloride.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Choline chloride. 182.8252 Section 182.8252 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Nutrients § 182.8252 Choline chloride. (a) Product. Choline chloride. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.8250 - Choline bitartrate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2010-04-01 2009-04-01 true Choline bitartrate. 182.8250 Section 182.8250 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Nutrients § 182.8250 Choline bitartrate. (a) Product. Choline bitartrate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.8250 - Choline bitartrate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Choline bitartrate. 182.8250 Section 182.8250 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Nutrients § 182.8250 Choline bitartrate. (a) Product. Choline bitartrate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.6197 - Calcium diacetate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Calcium diacetate. 182.6197 Section 182.6197 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Sequestrants 1 § 182.6197 Calcium diacetate. (a) Product. Calcium diacetate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.6197 - Calcium diacetate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2010-04-01 2009-04-01 true Calcium diacetate. 182.6197 Section 182.6197 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Sequestrants 1 § 182.6197 Calcium diacetate. (a) Product. Calcium diacetate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.6757 - Sodium gluconate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Sodium gluconate. 182.6757 Section 182.6757 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Sequestrants 1 § 182.6757 Sodium gluconate. (a) Product. Sodium gluconate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.6757 - Sodium gluconate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Sodium gluconate. 182.6757 Section 182.6757 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Sequestrants 1 § 182.6757 Sodium gluconate. (a) Product. Sodium gluconate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.6757 - Sodium gluconate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Sodium gluconate. 182.6757 Section 182.6757 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Sequestrants 1 § 182.6757 Sodium gluconate. (a) Product. Sodium gluconate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.6757 - Sodium gluconate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2010-04-01 2009-04-01 true Sodium gluconate. 182.6757 Section 182.6757 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Sequestrants 1 § 182.6757 Sodium gluconate. (a) Product. Sodium gluconate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.6197 - Calcium diacetate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Calcium diacetate. 182.6197 Section 182.6197 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Sequestrants 1 § 182.6197 Calcium diacetate. (a) Product. Calcium diacetate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

21 CFR 182.6197 - Calcium diacetate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Calcium diacetate. 182.6197 Section 182.6197 Food... HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE Sequestrants 1 § 182.6197 Calcium diacetate. (a) Product. Calcium diacetate. (b) Conditions of use. This substance is generally recognized as...

Consciousness Counseling: New Roles and New Goals.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Thomas Bradford

1979-01-01

Presents a systematic attempt to help counselors operate within the areas of transcendence and states of consciousness. Consciousness counseling recognizes that human experience includes the person and that it also goes beyond the self to include transpersonal experiences. Consciousness counseling recognizes that people experience many states of…

Analysis of the internal nuclear matrix. Oligomers of a 38 kD nucleolar polypeptide stabilized by disulfide bonds.

PubMed

Fields, A P; Kaufmann, S H; Shaper, J H

1986-05-01

When rat liver nuclei are treated with the sulfhydryl cross-linking reagent sodium tetrathionate (NaTT) prior to nuclease treatment and extraction with 1.6 M NaCl, residual nucleoli and an extensive non-chromatin intranuclear network remain associated with the nuclear envelope. Subsequent treatment of this structure with 1 M NaCl containing 20 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) solubilizes the intranuclear material, while the nuclear envelope remains structurally intact. We have isolated and partially characterized a major polypeptide of the disulfide-stabilized internal nuclear matrix. The polypeptide, which has an apparent molecular mass 38 kD and isoelectric point 5.3, has been localized to the nucleolus of rat liver nuclei by indirect immunofluorescence using a specific polyclonal chicken antiserum. Based on its molecular mass, isoelectric point, intracellular localization and amino acid composition, the 38 kD polypeptide appears to be analogous to the nucleolar phosphoprotein B23 described by Prestayko et al. (Biochemistry 13 (1974) 1945) [20]. Immunologically related polypeptides have likewise been localized to the nucleoli of both hamster and human tissue culture cell lines as well as the cellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum. By immunoblotting, a single 38 kD polypeptide is recognized by the antiserum in rat, mouse, hamster and human cell lines. The antiserum has been utilized to investigate the oligomeric structure of the 38 kD polypeptide and the nature of its association with the rat liver nuclear matrix. By introducing varying numbers of disulfide bonds, we have found that the 38 kD polypeptide becomes incorporated into the internal nuclear matrix in a two-step process. Soluble disulfide-bonded homodimers of the polypeptide are first formed and then are rendered salt-insoluble by more extensive disulfide cross-linking.

The Global Impact of Biomass Burning: An Interview with EPA's Robert Huggett

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sevine, Joel S.

1995-01-01

The extent of biomass burning has increased significantly over the past 100 years because of human activities, and such burning is much more frequent and widespread than was previously believed. Biomass burning is now recognized as a significant global source of emissions, contributing as much as 40% of gross carbon dioxide and 38% of tropospheric ozone. Most of the world's burned biomass matter is from the savannas, and because two-thirds of the Earth's savannas are located in Africa, that continent is now recognized as the "burn center" of the planet. In the past few years the international scientific community has conducted field experiments using ground-based and airborne measurements in Africa, South America. and Siberia to better assess the global production of gases and particulates by biomass burning. Researchers are gathering this month in Williamsburg, VA, to discuss the results of these and other investigations at the Second Chapman Conference on Biomass Burning and Global Change, sponsored by the American Geophysical Union. The first international biomass burning conference, held in 1990, was attended by atmospheric chemists, climatologists, ecologists, forest and soil scientists, fire researchers, remote- sensins specialists, and environmental planners and managers from more than 25 countries.When we hear about biomass burning, we usually think of the burning of the worlds tropical forests for permanent land clearing. However, biomass burning serves a variety of land use changes, including the clearing of forests and savannas for agricultural and grazing use; shifting agriculture practices; the control of grass, weeds, and litter on agricultural and grazing lands; the elimination of stubble and waste on agricultural lands after the harvest; and the domestic use of biomass matter.

[Multi-Target Recognition of Internal and External Defects of Potato by Semi-Transmission Hyperspectral Imaging and Manifold Learning Algorithm].

PubMed

Huang, Tao; Li, Xiao-yu; Jin, Rui; Ku, Jing; Xu, Sen-miao; Xu, Meng-ling; Wu, Zhen-zhong; Kong, De-guo

2015-04-01

The present paper put forward a non-destructive detection method which combines semi-transmission hyperspectral imaging technology with manifold learning dimension reduction algorithm and least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) to recognize internal and external defects in potatoes simultaneously. Three hundred fifteen potatoes were bought in farmers market as research object, and semi-transmission hyperspectral image acquisition system was constructed to acquire the hyperspectral images of normal external defects (bud and green rind) and internal defect (hollow heart) potatoes. In order to conform to the actual production, defect part is randomly put right, side and back to the acquisition probe when the hyperspectral images of external defects potatoes are acquired. The average spectrums (390-1,040 nm) were extracted from the region of interests for spectral preprocessing. Then three kinds of manifold learning algorithm were respectively utilized to reduce the dimension of spectrum data, including supervised locally linear embedding (SLLE), locally linear embedding (LLE) and isometric mapping (ISOMAP), the low-dimensional data gotten by manifold learning algorithms is used as model input, Error Correcting Output Code (ECOC) and LSSVM were combined to develop the multi-target classification model. By comparing and analyzing results of the three models, we concluded that SLLE is the optimal manifold learning dimension reduction algorithm, and the SLLE-LSSVM model is determined to get the best recognition rate for recognizing internal and external defects potatoes. For test set data, the single recognition rate of normal, bud, green rind and hollow heart potato reached 96.83%, 86.96%, 86.96% and 95% respectively, and he hybrid recognition rate was 93.02%. The results indicate that combining the semi-transmission hyperspectral imaging technology with SLLE-LSSVM is a feasible qualitative analytical method which can simultaneously recognize the internal and external defects potatoes and also provide technical reference for rapid on-line non-destructive detecting of the internal and external defects potatoes.

The past, present, and future of soils and human health studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brevik, E. C.; Sauer, T. J.

2015-01-01

The idea that human health is tied to the soil is not a new one. As far back as circa 1400 BC the Bible depicts Moses as understanding that fertile soil was essential to the well-being of his people. In 400 BC the Greek philosopher Hippocrates provided a list of things that should be considered in a proper medical evaluation, including the properties of the local ground. By the late 1700s and early 1800s, American farmers had recognized that soil properties had some connection to human health. In the modern world, we recognize that soils have a distinct influence on human health. We recognize that soils influence (1) food availability and quality (food security), (2) human contact with various chemicals, and (3) human contact with various pathogens. Soils and human health studies include investigations into nutrient supply through the food chain and routes of exposure to chemicals and pathogens. However, making strong, scientific connections between soils and human health can be difficult. There are multiple variables to consider in the soil environment, meaning traditional scientific studies that seek to isolate and manipulate a single variable often do not provide meaningful data. The complete study of soils and human health also involves many different specialties such as soil scientists, toxicologists, medical professionals, anthropologists, etc. These groups do not traditionally work together on research projects, and do not always effectively communicate with one another. Climate change and how it will affect the soil environment/ecosystem going into the future is another variable affecting the relationship between soils and health. Future successes in soils and human health research will require effectively addressing difficult issues such as these.

Humans and Great Apes Cohabiting the Forest Ecosystem in Central African Republic Harbour the Same Hookworms

PubMed Central

Hasegawa, Hideo; Modrý, David; Kitagawa, Masahiro; Shutt, Kathryn A.; Todd, Angelique; Kalousová, Barbora; Profousová, Ilona; Petrželková, Klára J.

2014-01-01

Background Hookworms are important pathogens of humans. To date, Necator americanus is the sole, known species of the genus Necator infecting humans. In contrast, several Necator species have been described in African great apes and other primates. It has not yet been determined whether primate-originating Necator species are also parasitic in humans. Methodology/Principal Findings The infective larvae of Necator spp. were developed using modified Harada-Mori filter-paper cultures from faeces of humans and great apes inhabiting Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic. The first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene of mtDNA obtained from the hookworm larvae were sequenced and compared. Three sequence types (I–III) were recognized in the ITS region, and 34 cox1 haplotypes represented three phylogenetic groups (A–C). The combinations determined were I-A, II-B, II-C, III-B and III-C. Combination I-A, corresponding to N. americanus, was demonstrated in humans and western lowland gorillas; II-B and II-C were observed in humans, western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees; III-B and III-C were found only in humans. Pairwise nucleotide difference in the cox1 haplotypes between the groups was more than 8%, while the difference within each group was less than 2.1%. Conclusions/Significance The distinctness of ITS sequence variants and high number of pairwise nucleotide differences among cox1 variants indicate the possible presence of several species of Necator in both humans and great apes. We conclude that Necator hookworms are shared by humans and great apes co-habiting the same tropical forest ecosystems. PMID:24651493

The Human Side of Library Automation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morris, Anne; Barnacle, Stephen

1989-01-01

Discusses the importance of recognizing the human component in library automation systems to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the system. Human factors considerations are discussed in terms of health and safety aspects, ergonomics, workplace design, and job organization. (41 references) (CLB)

Recognizing human activities using appearance metric feature and kinematics feature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Huimin; Zhou, Jun; Lu, Xinbiao; Wu, Xinye

2017-05-01

The problem of automatically recognizing human activities from videos through the fusion of the two most important cues, appearance metric feature and kinematics feature, is considered. And a system of two-dimensional (2-D) Poisson equations is introduced to extract the more discriminative appearance metric feature. Specifically, the moving human blobs are first detected out from the video by background subtraction technique to form a binary image sequence, from which the appearance feature designated as the motion accumulation image and the kinematics feature termed as centroid instantaneous velocity are extracted. Second, 2-D discrete Poisson equations are employed to reinterpret the motion accumulation image to produce a more differentiated Poisson silhouette image, from which the appearance feature vector is created through the dimension reduction technique called bidirectional 2-D principal component analysis, considering the balance between classification accuracy and time consumption. Finally, a cascaded classifier based on the nearest neighbor classifier and two directed acyclic graph support vector machine classifiers, integrated with the fusion of the appearance feature vector and centroid instantaneous velocity vector, is applied to recognize the human activities. Experimental results on the open databases and a homemade one confirm the recognition performance of the proposed algorithm.

Addressing women concerns. Philippines. The Hague Forum.

PubMed

Medalla, F M

1999-01-01

Since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the Philippine government has worked closely with nongovernmental and peoples' organizations to push reforms which promote development which is broad-based, sustainable, and focused upon human resources. These initiatives recognized the important role of population and human development, and try to achieve rapid economic growth while protecting the environment. The government worked closely with civil society to draft a medium-term development plan for 1993-98 to improve the quality of life for all Filipinos. Reproductive health will be an important component of the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for 1999-2004. However, the necessary resources must be mobilized to carry out all elements of the program of action. Since the ICPD, total funding for reproductive health and family planning reached Philippine P 1 billion, of which 58% was provided by the foreign donor community. So far, the Philippine government has been blocked by the Catholic Church from allocating more public funds for contraception. Local government units need to take a more direct and active role in implementing rural health programs in general and reproductive health programs in particular.

Inorganic Arsenic Determination in Food: A Review of Analytical Proposals and Quality Assessment Over the Last Six Years.

PubMed

Llorente-Mirandes, Toni; Rubio, Roser; López-Sánchez, José Fermín

2017-01-01

Here we review recent developments in analytical proposals for the assessment of inorganic arsenic (iAs) content in food products. Interest in the determination of iAs in products for human consumption such as food commodities, wine, and seaweed among others is fueled by the wide recognition of its toxic effects on humans, even at low concentrations. Currently, the need for robust and reliable analytical methods is recognized by various international safety and health agencies, and by organizations in charge of establishing acceptable tolerance levels of iAs in food. This review summarizes the state of the art of analytical methods while highlighting tools for the assessment of quality assessment of the results, such as the production and evaluation of certified reference materials (CRMs) and the availability of specific proficiency testing (PT) programmes. Because the number of studies dedicated to the subject of this review has increased considerably over recent years, the sources consulted and cited here are limited to those from 2010 to the end of 2015.

Institute of social justice and medicine: developing a think tank to promote policy formation.

PubMed

Boozary, Andrew; Dugani, Sagar B

2011-10-01

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a "resource for everyday living, not the objective of living"; however, worldwide, there remains an unmistakable inequity in level of health and access to healthcare. The WHO has published documents on financing health systems towards universal health coverage [1], promoting healthy life [2], improving performance of health systems [3], and enriching humanity [4], highlighting our shared responsibility towards improving both national and global health and access to healthcare. These documents also recognize that, despite our local and regional priorities, there is a global desire to develop international strategies to improve healthcare. [1] WHO Report. Health systems financing and the path to universal coverage. 2010. http://www.who.int/bulletin/health_financing/en/index.html [2] WHO Report. Reducing risks, promoting healthy life. 2002. http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/index.html [3] WHO Bulletin. Health systems: improving performance. 2000. http://www.who.int/whr/2000/en/index.html [4] WHO Bulletin. Conquering suffering, enriching humanity 1997. http://www.who.int/whr/1997/en/index.html.

Human Papillomavirus as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Tool in Cancer of Unknown Primary in the Head and Neck Region.

PubMed

Sivars, Lars; Tani, Edneia; Näsman, Anders; Ramqvist, Torbjörn; Munck-Wikland, Eva; Dalianis, Tina

2016-02-01

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is recognized as a risk factor for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), especially tonsillar and base of tongue cancer. Furthermore, HPV-positive tonsillar and base of tongue SCC have a significantly better prognosis than their HPV-negative counterparts and head and neck cancer (HNSCC) in general. HPV has recently also been implicated in cancer of unknown primary (CUP) in the head and neck region, where a primary tumour is not found despite extensive workup. Using fine-needle aspiration cytology to determine CUP HPV status in cervical lymph nodes could be of advantage, since it is minimally invasive and it is assumed that an HPV-positive lymph node metastasis likely has an HPV-positive otopharyngeal SCC origin. We review the current knowledge of HPV in HNSCC, with an emphasis on CUP of the head and neck region, its relation to oropharyngeal, tonsillar and base of tongue SCC and implications of HPV status for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

Political rape as persecution: a legal perspective.

PubMed

Kelly, N

1997-01-01

The use of rape as a tool of persecution is not new, but recognition of the political rape of women as a violation of internationally protected human rights and as a basis for political asylum is. Over the last several years, a number of advances have been made, including human rights instruments that recognize the need to protect women from rape and other sexual abuse; guidelines from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and several countries that acknowledge the political nature of rape and the difficulties experienced by women attempting to assert claims to asylum based on rape or other sexual abuse; and a number of important decisions by individual governments to provide protection to survivors of rape. Legal advancements for women in this area have depended largely on the assistance of medical and psychological experts who have been able to educate adjudicators and advocates on the effects of sexual harm, provide expert testimony in individual asylum cases, and provide critical treatment and support to survivors as they work their way through the process of obtaining legal protection.

Ethics in medical technologies: the Roman Catholic viewpoint.

PubMed

Zyciński, Joseph

2006-06-01

New medical techniques and novel scientific discoveries bring many basic questions concerning the role of human dignity in medical research as well as in the society of the future. This paper presents the Roman Catholic approach to the use of new technologies, the research of human embryos, the ethical aspects of studies on the human genome. The concept of "human ecology", as proposed by John Paul II, is introduced to reconcile the academic freedom of research with insurmountable ethical barriers which must be recognized to defend human dignity. In critical appraisal of Peter Singer's concept of the quality of life the author points out that it is irrational to try to reduce this quality to the level of biological parameters. Human dignity as well as the sanctity of life express also a quality of life so important for the cultural growth of Homo sapiens. To protect human ecology it is our moral duty to defend human dignity and to recognize the importance of those values that are fundamental in the process of development of the human species.

Great Apes' Capacities to Recognize Relational Similarity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haun, Daniel B. M.; Call, Josep

2009-01-01

Recognizing relational similarity relies on the ability to understand that defining object properties might not lie in the objects individually, but in the relations of the properties of various object to each other. This aptitude is highly relevant for many important human skills such as language, reasoning, categorization and understanding…

What is compassion and how can we measure it? A review of definitions and measures.

PubMed

Strauss, Clara; Lever Taylor, Billie; Gu, Jenny; Kuyken, Willem; Baer, Ruth; Jones, Fergal; Cavanagh, Kate

2016-07-01

The importance of compassion is widely recognized and it is receiving increasing research attention. Yet, there is lack of consensus on definition and a paucity of psychometrically robust measures of this construct. Without an agreed definition and adequate measures, we cannot study compassion, measure compassion or evaluate whether interventions designed to enhance compassion are effective. In response, this paper proposes a definition of compassion and offers a systematic review of self- and observer-rated measures. Following consolidation of existing definitions, we propose that compassion consists of five elements: recognizing suffering, understanding the universality of human suffering, feeling for the person suffering, tolerating uncomfortable feelings, and motivation to act/acting to alleviate suffering. Three databases were searched (Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Medline) and nine measures included and rated for quality. Quality ratings ranged from 2 to 7 out of 14 with low ratings due to poor internal consistency for subscales, insufficient evidence for factor structure and/or failure to examine floor/ceiling effects, test-retest reliability, and discriminant validity. We call our five-element definition, and if supported, the development of a measure of compassion based on this operational definition, and which demonstrates adequate psychometric properties. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of international recruitment of health professionals in England.

PubMed

Young, Ruth; Noble, Jenny; Mahon, Ann; Maxted, Mairead; Grant, Janet; Sibbald, Bonnie

2010-10-01

To explore whether a period of intensive international recruitment by the English National Health Service (NHS) achieved its objectives of boosting workforce numbers and to set this against the wider costs, longer-term challenges and questions arising. A postal survey of all pre-2006 NHS providers, Strategic Health Authorities and Deans of Postgraduate Medical Education obtained information on 284 (45%) organizations (142 completed questionnaires). Eight subsequent case studies (74 interviews) covered medical consultant, general practitioner, nurse, midwife and allied health professional recruitment. Most respondents had undertaken or facilitated international recruitment between 2001 and 2006 and believed that it had enabled them to address immediate staff shortages. Views on longer-term implications, such as recruit retention, were more equivocal. Most organizations had made only a limited value-for-money assessment, balancing direct expenditure on overseas recruitment against savings on temporary staff. Other short and long-term transaction and opportunity costs arose from pressures on existing staff, time spent on induction/pastoral support, and human resource management and workforce planning challenges. Though recognized, these extensive 'hidden costs' for NHS organizations were harder to assess as were the implications for source countries and migrant staff. The main achievement of the intensive international recruitment period from a UK viewpoint was that such a major undertaking was seen through without major disruption to NHS services. The wider costs and challenges meant, however, that large-scale international recruitment was not sustainable as a solution to workforce shortages. Should such approaches be attempted in future, a clearer upfront appraisal of all the potential costs and implications will be vital.

Antibodies against Escherichia coli O24 and O56 O-Specific Polysaccharides Recognize Epitopes in Human Glandular Epithelium and Nervous Tissue

PubMed Central

Korzeniowska-Kowal, Agnieszka; Kochman, Agata; Gamian, Elżbieta; Lis-Nawara, Anna; Lipiński, Tomasz; Seweryn, Ewa; Ziółkowski, Piotr; Gamian, Andrzej

2015-01-01

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, contains the O-polysaccharide, which is important to classify bacteria into different O-serological types within species. The O-polysaccharides of serotypes O24 and O56 of E. coli contain sialic acid in their structures, already established in our previous studies. Here, we report the isolation of specific antibodies with affinity chromatography using immobilized lipopolysaccharides. Next, we evaluated the reactivity of anti-O24 and anti-O56 antibody on human tissues histologically. The study was conducted under the assumption that the sialic acid based molecular identity of bacterial and tissue structures provides not only an understanding of the mimicry-based bacterial pathogenicity. Cross-reacting antibodies could be used to recognize specific human tissues depending on their histogenesis and differentiation, which might be useful for diagnostic purposes. The results indicate that various human tissues are recognized by anti-O24 and anti-O56 antibodies. Interestingly, only a single specific reactivity could be found in the anti-O56 antibody preparation. Several tissues studied were not reactive with either antibody, thus proving that the presence of cross-reactive antigens was tissue specific. In general, O56 antibody performed better than O24 in staining epithelial and nervous tissues. Positive staining was observed for both normal (ganglia) and tumor tissue (ganglioneuroma). Epithelial tissue showed positive staining, but an epitope recognized by O56 antibody should be considered as a marker of glandular epithelium. The reason is that malignant glandular tumor and its metastasis are stained, and also epithelium of renal tubules and glandular structures of the thyroid gland are stained. Stratified epithelium such as that of skin is definitely not stained. Therefore, the most relevant observation is that the epitope recognized by anti-O56 antibodies is a new marker specific for glandular epithelium and nervous tissue. Further studies should be performed to determine the structure of the tissue epitope recognized. PMID:26086646

Octopuses (Enteroctopus dofleini) recognize individual humans.

PubMed

Anderson, Roland C; Mather, Jennifer A; Monette, Mathieu Q; Zimsen, Stephanie R M

2010-01-01

This study exposed 8 Enteroctopus dofleini separately to 2 unfamiliar individual humans over a 2-week period under differing circumstances. One person consistently fed the octopuses and the other touched them with a bristly stick. Each human recorded octopus body patterns, behaviors, and respiration rates directly after each treatment. At the end of 2 weeks, a body pattern (a dark Eyebar) and 2 behaviors (reaching arms toward or away from the tester and funnel direction) were significantly different in response to the 2 humans. The respiration rate of the 4 larger octopuses changed significantly in response to the 2 treatments; however, there was no significant difference in the 4 smaller octopuses' respiration. Octopuses' ability to recognize humans enlarges our knowledge of the perceptual ability of this nonhuman animal, which depends heavily on learning in response to visual information. Any training paradigm should take such individual recognition into consideration as it could significantly alter the octopuses' responses.

The Study of Pre-sight for the Air Transportation Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Wenzhi; Guo, Zhi

The internal reasons of the deceptive air crashes were studied for the purpose of explanation its nature to reduce the accidents and the injuries. An approach of synthetic comparison is deployed. The Concorde aircraft accident was analyzed detailed to recognize what the real human error is. All the passengers were killed in the crash. Other similar accidents relating aircraft DC-10, Tu-154 and Tu-144 were discussed about the risk perception of the pilots and system. Certain higher survival rate was reached in these cases. Then the conclusion is obtained that the real problem is the lack of pre-sight for the risk in operation and system management relating to the pilots and the organizations. The conclusion suggests some changes be made in complex system management regulations and in thinking mode for the general applications to safety.

Action, outcome, and value: a dual-system framework for morality.

PubMed

Cushman, Fiery

2013-08-01

Dual-system approaches to psychology explain the fundamental properties of human judgment, decision making, and behavior across diverse domains. Yet, the appropriate characterization of each system is a source of debate. For instance, a large body of research on moral psychology makes use of the contrast between "emotional" and "rational/cognitive" processes, yet even the chief proponents of this division recognize its shortcomings. Largely independently, research in the computational neurosciences has identified a broad division between two algorithms for learning and choice derived from formal models of reinforcement learning. One assigns value to actions intrinsically based on past experience, while another derives representations of value from an internally represented causal model of the world. This division between action- and outcome-based value representation provides an ideal framework for a dual-system theory in the moral domain.

Distribution of heavy metals in muscles and internal organs of Korean cephalopods and crustaceans: risk assessment for human health.

PubMed

Mok, Jong Soo; Kwon, Ji Young; Son, Kwang Tae; Choi, Woo Seok; Shim, Kil Bo; Lee, Tae Seek; Kim, Ji Hoe

2014-12-01

Samples of seven species of cephalopods and crustaceans were collected from major fish markets on the Korean coast and analyzed for mercury (Hg) using a direct Hg analyzer and for the metals cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium, silver, nickel, copper, and zinc using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The distributions of heavy metals in muscles, internal organs, and whole tissues were determined, and a risk assessment was conducted to provide information concerning consumer safety. The heavy metals accumulated to higher levels (P < 0.05) in internal organs than in muscles for all species. The mean concentrations of Cd, which had the highest concentrations of the three hazardous metals (Cd, Pb, and Hg), in all internal organs (except those of blue crab) exceeded the regulatory limits set by Korea and the European Union. The Cd concentrations in all whole tissues of squid and octopus (relatively large cephalopods), red snow crab, and snow crab exceeded the European Union limits. The estimated dietary intake of Cd, Pb, and Hg for each part of all species accounted for 1.73 to 130.57%, 0.03 to 0.39%, and 0.93 to 1.67%, respectively, of the provisional tolerable daily intake adopted by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives; the highest values were found in internal organs. The hazard index (HI) is recognized as a reasonable parameter for assessing the risk of heavy metal consumption associated with contaminated food. Because of the high HI (>1.0) of the internal organs of cephalopods and the maximum HI for whole tissue of 0.424, consumers eating internal organs or whole tissues of cephalopods could be at risk of high heavy metal exposure. Therefore, the internal organs of relatively large cephalopods and crabs (except blue crab) are unfit for consumption. However, consumption of flesh after removing internal organs is a suitable approach for decreasing exposure to harmful metals.

Potential application of LIBS to NNSA next generation safeguards initiative (NGSI)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barefield Ii, James E; Clegg, Samuel M; Veirs, Douglas K

2009-01-01

In a climate in which states and nations have been and perhaps currently are involved in the prol iferation of nuclear materials and technologies, advanced methodologies and improvements in current measurement techniques are needed to combat new threats and increased levels of sophistication. The Department of Energy through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has undertaken a broad review of International Safeguards. The conclusion from that review was that a comprehensive initiative to revitalize international safeguards technology and the human resource base was urgently needed to keep pace with demands and increasingly sophisticated emerging safeguards challenges. To address these challenges,more » NNSA launched the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI) to develop policies, concepts, technologies, expertise, and infrastructure necessary to sustain the international safeguards system as its mission evolves for the next 25 years. NGSI is designed to revitalize and strengthen the U.S. safeguards technical base, recognizing that without a robust program the United States of America will not be in a position to exercise leadership or provide the necessary support to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). International safeguards as administrated by the IAEA are the primary vehicle for verifying compliance with the peaceful use and nonproliferation of nuclear materials and technologies. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy or LIBS has the potential to support the goals of NGSI as follows: by providing (1) automated analysis in complex nuclear processing or reprocessing facilities in real-time or near real-time without sample preparation or removal, (2) isotopic and important elemental ratio (Cm/Pu, Cm/U, ... etc) analysis, and (3) centralized remote control, process monitoring, and analysis of nuclear materials in nuclear facilities at multiple locations within the facility. Potential application of LIBS to international safeguards as outlined in the NGSI will be discussed.« less

Molecular typing and characterization of a new serotype of human enterovirus (EV-B111) identified in China.

PubMed

Zhang, Yong; Hong, Mei; Sun, Qiang; Zhu, Shuangli; Tsewang; Li, Xiaolei; Yan, Dongmei; Wang, Dongyan; Xu, Wenbo

2014-04-01

Molecular methods, based on sequencing the region encoding the complete VP1 or P1 protein, have enabled the rapid identification of new enterovirus serotypes. In the present study, the complete genome of a newly discovered enterovirus serotype, strain Q0011/XZ/CHN/2000 (hereafter referred to as Q0011), was sequenced and analyzed. The virus, isolated from a stool sample from a patient with acute flaccid paralysis in the Tibet region of China in 2000, was characterized by amplicon sequencing and comparison to a GenBank database of enterovirus nucleotide sequences. The nucleotide sequence encoding the complete VP1 capsid protein is most closely related to the sequences of viruses within the species enterovirus B (EV-B), but is less than 72.1% identical to the homologous sequences of the recognized human enterovirus serotypes, with the greatest homology to EV-B101 and echovirus 32. Moreover, the deduced amino acid sequence of the complete VP1 region is less than 84.7% identical to those of the recognized serotypes, suggesting that the strain is a new serotype of enterovirus within EV-B. The virus was characterized as a new enterovirus type, named EV-B111, by the Picornaviridae Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Low positive rate and titer of neutralizing antibody against EV-B111 were found in the Tibet region of China. Nearly 50% of children ≤5 years had no neutralizing antibody against EV-B111. So the extent of transmission and the exposure of the population to this new EV are very limited. This is the first identification of a new serotype of human enterovirus in China, and strain Q0011 was designated the prototype strain of EV-B111. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ghost-in-the-Machine reveals human social signals for human–robot interaction

PubMed Central

Loth, Sebastian; Jettka, Katharina; Giuliani, Manuel; de Ruiter, Jan P.

2015-01-01

We used a new method called “Ghost-in-the-Machine” (GiM) to investigate social interactions with a robotic bartender taking orders for drinks and serving them. Using the GiM paradigm allowed us to identify how human participants recognize the intentions of customers on the basis of the output of the robotic recognizers. Specifically, we measured which recognizer modalities (e.g., speech, the distance to the bar) were relevant at different stages of the interaction. This provided insights into human social behavior necessary for the development of socially competent robots. When initiating the drink-order interaction, the most important recognizers were those based on computer vision. When drink orders were being placed, however, the most important information source was the speech recognition. Interestingly, the participants used only a subset of the available information, focussing only on a few relevant recognizers while ignoring others. This reduced the risk of acting on erroneous sensor data and enabled them to complete service interactions more swiftly than a robot using all available sensor data. We also investigated socially appropriate response strategies. In their responses, the participants preferred to use the same modality as the customer’s requests, e.g., they tended to respond verbally to verbal requests. Also, they added redundancy to their responses, for instance by using echo questions. We argue that incorporating the social strategies discovered with the GiM paradigm in multimodal grammars of human–robot interactions improves the robustness and the ease-of-use of these interactions, and therefore provides a smoother user experience. PMID:26582998

Education Mecca: Will New England Continue to Attract the World's Students?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Altbach, Philip G.

2005-01-01

New England is internationally recognized as a center of educational excellence, attracting "the best and brightest" from across the United States and around the world since higher education became an international enterprise at the end of the 19th century with the rise of research universities. Now, in the early 21st century, as the…

Quality Global/International Education: What Political Stance? Issues in Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeKock, Anita

Recognizing that global education did not speak with one voice, that global educators could not even always find ways to speak to each other, and that this internal situation made it very confusing for those outside the field, the conference planners brought together a group of global educators to discuss what assumptions and beliefs should…

17 CFR 240.17g-2 - Records to be made and retained by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... rating. (9) Internal documents that contain information, analysis, or statistics that were used to... account record for each subscriber to the credit ratings and/or credit analysis reports of the nationally... consideration the internal credit analysis of another person; or (iv) Determining credit ratings or private...

17 CFR 240.17g-2 - Records to be made and retained by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... rating. (9) Internal documents that contain information, analysis, or statistics that were used to... account record for each subscriber to the credit ratings and/or credit analysis reports of the nationally... consideration the internal credit analysis of another person; or (iv) Determining credit ratings or private...

17 CFR 240.17g-2 - Records to be made and retained by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... rating. (9) Internal documents that contain information, analysis, or statistics that were used to... account record for each subscriber to the credit ratings and/or credit analysis reports of the nationally... consideration the internal credit analysis of another person; or (iv) Determining credit ratings or private...

17 CFR 240.17g-2 - Records to be made and retained by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... rating. (9) Internal documents that contain information, analysis, or statistics that were used to... account record for each subscriber to the credit ratings and/or credit analysis reports of the nationally... consideration the internal credit analysis of another person; or (iv) Determining credit ratings or private...

Establishment of an Internationally Based Offshore Branch Campus: An Australian Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wood, Raynie L.

2017-01-01

As a result of the changes in society due to globalization, higher-education organizations are working to prepare graduates for a more global workplace. One of the methods of transnational education recognized for providing access to a global education is the international branch campus (IBC). While there are various types of international…

Diagnosis - the limiting focus of taxonomy.

PubMed

Sturmberg, Joachim P; Martin, Carmel M

2016-02-01

The focus on the diagnosis is a pivotal aspect of medical practice since antiquity. Diagnostic taxonomy helped to categorize ailments to improve medical care, and in its social sense resulted in validation of the sick role for some, but marginalization or stigmatization for others. In the medical industrial complex, diagnostic taxonomy structured health care financing, management and practitioner remuneration. However, with increasing demands from multiple agencies, there are increasing unintended and unwarranted consequences of our current taxonomies and diagnostic processes resulting from the conglomeration of underpinning concepts, theories, information and motivations. We argue that the increasing focus on the diagnosis resulted in excessive compartmentalization - 'partialism' - of medical practice, diminishing medical care and being naively simplistic in light of the emerging understanding of the interconnected nature of the diseasome. The human is a complex organic system of interconnecting dynamics and feedback loops responding to internal and external forces including genetic, epigenetic and environmental attractors, rather than the sum of multiple discrete organs which can develop isolated diseases or multiple morbidities. Solutions to these unintended consequences of many contemporary health system processes involve revisiting the nature of diagnostic taxonomies and the processes of their construction. A dynamic taxonomic framework would shift to more relevant attractors at personal, clinical and health system levels recognizing the non-linear nature of health and disease. Human health at an individual, group and population level is the ability to adapt to internal and external stressors with resilience throughout the life course, yet diagnostic taxonomies are increasingly constructed around fixed anchors. Understanding diagnosis as dissecting, pigeonholing or bean counting (learning by dividing) is no longer useful, the challenge for the future is to understand the big picture (learning by connecting). Diagnostic categorization needs to embrace a meta-learning approach open to human variability. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Development of an International Research Project of Monsoon Asia Integrated Regional Study (MAIRS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, C.

2006-05-01

Monson Asia has been recommended as one of the critical regions of integrated study of global change. Among a number of reasons, the most significant features of Monsoon Asia is that this is a region where the major features of landscape, such as vegetation, soil and water system are mainly developed under the most representative monsoon climate. On the other hand, the Monsoon Asia is a region with the most active human development. It has more than 5000 years long history of civilization and highest population density of the world, reaching 57 percent of word population. It also had the most rapid development in last decades and is projected to maintain its high growth rates in the foreseeable future. The human-monsoon system interactions and their linkages with the earth system dynamics could be a challenge issue of global change research and a sustainable Asia . A science plan of MAIRS is under drafting by SSC of MAIRS under the guidance of START and an international project office of MAIRS was formally opened in IAP/Chinese Academy of Sciences under the support of Chinese government. The overall objectives of the MAIRS that will combine field experiments, process studies, and modeling components are: 1) To better understand how human activities in regions are interacting with and altering natural regional variability of the atmospheric, terrestrial, and marine components of the environment; 2) To contribute to the provision of a sound scientific basis for sustainable regional development; 3) To develop a predictive capability of estimating changes in global-regional linkages in the Earth System and to recognize on a sound scientific basis the future consequences of such changes.

Nanoliposomes protect against AL amyloid light chain protein-induced endothelial injury.

PubMed

Truran, Seth; Weissig, Volkmar; Ramirez-Alvarado, Marina; Franco, Daniel A; Burciu, Camelia; Georges, Joseph; Murarka, Shishir; Okoth, Winter A; Schwab, Sara; Hari, Parameswaran; Migrino, Raymond Q

2014-03-01

A newly-recognized pathogenic mechanism underlying light chain amyloidosis (AL) involves endothelial dysfunction and cell injury caused by misfolded light chain proteins (LC). Nanoliposomes (NL) are artificial phospholipid vesicles that could attach to misfolded proteins and reduce tissue injury. To test whether co-treatment with NL reduces LC-induced endothelial dysfunction and cell death. Abdominal subcutaneous adipose arterioles from 14 non-AL subjects were cannulated; dilator response to acetylcholine and papaverine were measured at baseline and following 1-hour exposure to LC (20 µg/mL, 2 purified from AL subjects' urine, 1 from human recombinant LC [AL-09]) ± NL (phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol/phosphatidic acid 70/25/5 molar ratio) or NL alone. Human aortic artery endothelial cells (HAEC) were exposed to Oregon Green-labeled LC ± NL for 24 hours and intracellular LC and apoptosis (Hoechst stain) were measured. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was performed on AL-09 LC ± NL to follow changes in secondary structure and protein thermal stability. LC caused impaired dilation to acetylcholine that was restored by NL (control - 94.0 ± 1.8%, LC - 65.0 ± 7.1%, LC + NL - 95.3 ± 1.8%, p ≤ 0.001 LC versus control or LC + NL). NL protection was inhibited by L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester. NL increased the beta sheet structure of LC, reduced endothelial cell internalization of LC and protected against LC-induced endothelial cell death. LC induced human adipose arteriole endothelial dysfunction and endothelial cell death, which were reversed by co-treatment with NL. This protection may partly be due to enhancing LC protein structure and reducing LC internalization. Nanoliposomes represent a promising new class of agents to ameliorate tissue injury from protein misfolding diseases such as AL.

Agroecology and Health: Lessons from Indigenous Populations.

PubMed

Suárez-Torres, José; Suárez-López, José Ricardo; López-Paredes, Dolores; Morocho, Hilario; Cachiguango-Cachiguango, Luis Enrique; Dellai, William

2017-06-01

The article aims to systematize and disseminate the main contributions of indigenous ancestral wisdom in the agroecological production of food, especially in Latin America. For this purpose, it is necessary to ask whether such knowledge can be accepted by academia research groups and international forums as a valid alternative that could contribute to overcome the world's nutritional problems. Although no new findings are being made, the validity of ancestral knowledge and agroecology is recognized by scientific research, and by international forums organized by agencies of the United Nations. These recommend that governments should implement them in their policies of development, and in the allocation of funds to support these initiatives. Agroecology and ancestral knowledge are being adopted by a growing number of organizations, indigenous peoples and social groups in various parts of the world, as development alternatives that respond to local needs and worldviews. Its productive potential is progressively being recognized at an international level as a model that contributes to improve the condition of people regarding nutritional food.

Human Immune Response to Dengue Infections

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-07-31

flavivirus-crossreactive clone recognized dengue-l, -2, -3, and -4 virus and West Nile virus (WNV), but did not recognize yellow fever virus ( YFV ), while...three flavivirus-crossreactive clones recognized dengue-1, -2, -3 and -4 virus, WNV and YFV . We also examined the recognition of purified NS3 proteins of...dengue-l, YFV or WNV Ag. JK44 lysed target cells cultured with dengue-1, -2, and -3, but did not lyse target cells cultured with dengue-4, YFV or WNV Ag

Acoustical and Intelligibility Test of the Vocera(Copyright) B3000 Communication Badge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Archer, Ronald; Litaker, Harry; Chu, Shao-Sheng R.; Simon, Cory; Romero, Andy; Moses, Haifa

2012-01-01

To communicate with each other or ground support, crew members on board the International Space Station (ISS) currently use the Audio Terminal Units (ATU), which are located in each ISS module. However, to use the ATU, crew members must stop their current activity, travel to a panel, and speak into a wall-mounted microphone, or use either a handheld microphone or a Crew Communication Headset that is connected to a panel. These actions unnecessarily may increase task times, lower productivity, create cable management issues, and thus increase crew frustration. Therefore, the Habitability and Human Factors and Human Interface Branches at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) are currently investigating a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) wireless communication system, Vocera(C), as a near-term solution for ISS communication. The objectives of the acoustics and intelligibility testing of this system were to answer the following questions: 1. How intelligibly can a human hear the transmitted message from a Vocera(c) badge in three different noise environments (Baseline = 20 dB, US Lab Module = 58 dB, Russian Module = 70.6 dB)? 2. How accurate is the Vocera(C) badge at recognizing voice commands in three different noise environments? 3. What body location (chest, upper arm, or shoulder) is optimal for speech intelligibility and voice recognition accuracy of the Vocera(C) badge on a human in three different noise environments?

The Extracellular Protein Factor Epf from Streptococcus pyogenes Is a Cell Surface Adhesin That Binds to Cells through an N-terminal Domain Containing a Carbohydrate-binding Module*

PubMed Central

Linke, Christian; Siemens, Nikolai; Oehmcke, Sonja; Radjainia, Mazdak; Law, Ruby H. P.; Whisstock, James C.; Baker, Edward N.; Kreikemeyer, Bernd

2012-01-01

Streptococcus pyogenes is an exclusively human pathogen. Streptococcal attachment to and entry into epithelial cells is a prerequisite for a successful infection of the human host and requires adhesins. Here, we demonstrate that the multidomain protein Epf from S. pyogenes serotype M49 is a streptococcal adhesin. An epf-deficient mutant showed significantly decreased adhesion to and internalization into human keratinocytes. Cell adhesion is mediated by the N-terminal domain of Epf (EpfN) and increased by the human plasma protein plasminogen. The crystal structure of EpfN, solved at 1.6 Å resolution, shows that it consists of two subdomains: a carbohydrate-binding module and a fibronectin type III domain. Both fold types commonly participate in ligand receptor and protein-protein interactions. EpfN is followed by 18 repeats of a domain classified as DUF1542 (domain of unknown function 1542) and a C-terminal cell wall sorting signal. The DUF1542 repeats are not involved in adhesion, but biophysical studies show they are predominantly α-helical and form a fiber-like stalk of tandem DUF1542 domains. Epf thus conforms with the widespread family of adhesins known as MSCRAMMs (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules), in which a cell wall-attached stalk enables long range interactions via its adhesive N-terminal domain. PMID:22977243

The extracellular protein factor Epf from Streptococcus pyogenes is a cell surface adhesin that binds to cells through an N-terminal domain containing a carbohydrate-binding module.

PubMed

Linke, Christian; Siemens, Nikolai; Oehmcke, Sonja; Radjainia, Mazdak; Law, Ruby H P; Whisstock, James C; Baker, Edward N; Kreikemeyer, Bernd

2012-11-02

Streptococcus pyogenes is an exclusively human pathogen. Streptococcal attachment to and entry into epithelial cells is a prerequisite for a successful infection of the human host and requires adhesins. Here, we demonstrate that the multidomain protein Epf from S. pyogenes serotype M49 is a streptococcal adhesin. An epf-deficient mutant showed significantly decreased adhesion to and internalization into human keratinocytes. Cell adhesion is mediated by the N-terminal domain of Epf (EpfN) and increased by the human plasma protein plasminogen. The crystal structure of EpfN, solved at 1.6 Å resolution, shows that it consists of two subdomains: a carbohydrate-binding module and a fibronectin type III domain. Both fold types commonly participate in ligand receptor and protein-protein interactions. EpfN is followed by 18 repeats of a domain classified as DUF1542 (domain of unknown function 1542) and a C-terminal cell wall sorting signal. The DUF1542 repeats are not involved in adhesion, but biophysical studies show they are predominantly α-helical and form a fiber-like stalk of tandem DUF1542 domains. Epf thus conforms with the widespread family of adhesins known as MSCRAMMs (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules), in which a cell wall-attached stalk enables long range interactions via its adhesive N-terminal domain.

Human Rights: The Struggle for Freedom, Dignity and Equality. Resource Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Connecticut State Dept. of Education, Hartford.

Every human being deserves the right to live in freedom and dignity. Yet human rights violations dominate the headlines. In addition to becoming sensitive to human pain and suffering, young adults must also begin the lifelong process of creating, recognizing, and exercising options. This resource guide contains suggested questions and projects…

"The Path of Social Justice": A Human Rights History of Social Justice Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grant, Carl A.; Gibson, Melissa Leigh

2013-01-01

Although not often recognized, social justice education in the U.S. is historically and philosophically tied to the twentieth century's human rights initiatives. The efforts of human rights pioneers, such as those who authored the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, have indelibly shaped social justice efforts, including within education, in…

Effects of international law on migration policy and practice: the uses of hypocrisy.

PubMed

Martin, D A

1989-01-01

Classical learning recognizes no role for international law in affecting migration policy and practice, but in modern times the salutary effects are increasing, although they remain modest. International law influences migration policy primarily through effective invocation of various forms of "soft law" in internal and international political forums. More limited prospects exist for beneficial changes enforced by international institutions and domestic courts. The article cautions against inflated expectations in the latter settings, however, particularly because overly ambitious claims can be counterproductive. It then offers a few predictions about near-term effects of international law, having to do with departures from a country, refugee law, and the integration of migrants into their new homelands.

Measuring global surgical disparities: a survey of surgical and anesthesia infrastructure in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Lebrun, Drake G; Dhar, Debashish; Sarkar, Md Imran H; Imran, T M Tanzil A; Kazi, Sayadat N; McQueen, K A Kelly

2013-01-01

Surgically treatable diseases weigh heavily on the lives of people in resource-poor countries. Though global surgical disparities are increasingly recognized as a public health priority, the extent of these disparities is unknown because of a lack of data. The present study sought to measure surgical and anesthesia infrastructure in Bangladesh as part of an international study assessing surgical and anesthesia capacity in low income nations. A comprehensive survey tool was administered via convenience sampling at one public district hospital and one public tertiary care hospital in each of the seven administrative divisions of Bangladesh. There are an estimated 1,200 obstetricians, 2,615 general and subspecialist surgeons, and 850 anesthesiologists in Bangladesh. These numbers correspond to 0.24 surgical providers per 10,000 people and 0.05 anesthesiologists per 10,000 people. Surveyed hospitals performed a large number of operations annually despite having minimal clinical human resources and inadequate physical infrastructure. Shortages in equipment and/or essential medicines were reported at all hospitals and these shortages were particularly severe at the district hospital level. In order to meet the immense demand for surgical care in Bangladesh, public hospitals must address critical shortages in skilled human resources, inadequate physical infrastructure, and low availability of equipment and essential medications. This study identified numerous areas in which the international community can play a vital role in increasing surgical and anesthesia capacity in Bangladesh and ensuring safe surgery for all in the country.

A Systems Approach to Agricultural Biosecurity.

PubMed

Anand, Manish

This article highlights the importance of systems approaches in addressing agricultural biosecurity threats. On the basis of documentary analysis and stakeholder interaction, a brief survey of agricultural biosecurity threats and vulnerabilities from global and Indian perspectives is provided, followed by an exploration of technological and institutional capabilities. Finally, a perspective on the agricultural disease diagnostic networks is provided, drawing instances from global developments. Technical barriers to agroterrorism are lower than those to human-targeted bioterrorism, and the sector is unique as even a very small disease outbreak could prompt international export restrictions. Key vulnerabilities in the agriculture sector stem from, among others, the structure of agricultural production; insufficient monitoring, surveillance, and controls systems at the borders and in the food chain; inefficient systems for reporting unusual occurrences and outbreaks of disease; and lack of sufficiently trained human resources capable of recognizing or treating transboundary pathogens and diseases. An assessment of technology and institutions pertaining to crop and animal protection management suggests certain gaps. Investment in developing new technologies for civilian application in agriculture, as well as for legitimate actions pertaining to defense, detection, protection, and prophylaxis, and in upgrading laboratory facilities can increase the agricultural sector's level of preparedness for outbreaks. To address potential threats and vulnerabilities of agroterrorism effectively requires the development of a comprehensive strategy and a combined, interagency approach, ideally on an international level. It is proposed that a systems-oriented approach for developing knowledge and innovation networks and strengthening skills and capacities would enable a more resilient agricultural biosecurity system.

Keyword extraction, ranking, and organization for the neuroinformatics platform.

PubMed

Usui, S; Palmes, P; Nagata, K; Taniguchi, T; Ueda, N

2007-04-01

Brain-related researches encompass many fields of studies and usually involve worldwide collaborations. Recognizing the value of these international collaborations for efficient use of resources and improving the quality of brain research, the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) started to coordinate the effort of establishing neuroinformatics (NI) centers and portal sites among the different participating countries. These NI centers and portal sites will serve as the conduit for the interchange of information and brain-related resources among different countries. In Japan, several NI platforms under the support of NIJC (NI Japan Center) are being developed with one platform called, Visiome, already operating and publicly accessible at "http://www.platform.visiome.org". Each of these platforms requires their own set of keywords that represent important terms covering their respective fields of study. One important function of this predefined keyword list is to help contributors classify the contents of their contributions and group related resources. It is vital, therefore, that this predefined list should be properly chosen to cover the necessary areas. Currently, the process of identifying these appropriate keywords relies on the availability of human experts which does not scale well considering that different areas are rapidly evolving. This problem prompted us to develop a tool to automatically filter the most likely terms preferred by human experts. We tested the effectiveness of the proposed approach using the abstracts of the Vision Research Journal (VR) and Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science Journal (IOVS) as source files.

Using a social robot to teach gestural recognition and production in children with autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

So, Wing-Chee; Wong, Miranda Kit-Yi; Lam, Carrie Ka-Yee; Lam, Wan-Yi; Chui, Anthony Tsz-Fung; Lee, Tsz-Lok; Ng, Hoi-Man; Chan, Chun-Hung; Fok, Daniel Chun-Wing

2017-07-04

While it has been argued that children with autism spectrum disorders are responsive to robot-like toys, very little research has examined the impact of robot-based intervention on gesture use. These children have delayed gestural development. We used a social robot in two phases to teach them to recognize and produce eight pantomime gestures that expressed feelings and needs. Compared to the children in the wait-list control group (N = 6), those in the intervention group (N = 7) were more likely to recognize gestures and to gesture accurately in trained and untrained scenarios. They also generalized the acquired recognition (but not production) skills to human-to-human interaction. The benefits and limitations of robot-based intervention for gestural learning were highlighted. Implications for Rehabilitation Compared to typically-developing children, children with autism spectrum disorders have delayed development of gesture comprehension and production. Robot-based intervention program was developed to teach children with autism spectrum disorders recognition (Phase I) and production (Phase II) of eight pantomime gestures that expressed feelings and needs. Children in the intervention group (but not in the wait-list control group) were able to recognize more gestures in both trained and untrained scenarios and generalize the acquired gestural recognition skills to human-to-human interaction. Similar findings were reported for gestural production except that there was no strong evidence showing children in the intervention group could produce gestures accurately in human-to-human interaction.

77 FR 1453 - Sunshine Act Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-10

... resolution honoring the 70th anniversary of the Voice of America (VOA), recognize the anniversaries of Agency... censorship circumvention funds. The BBG will receive reports from the International Broadcasting Bureau...

Scleromyxoedema in a dog.

PubMed

Laprais, Aurore F; Bizikova, Petra; Lashnits, Erin W; Tucker, Alison; Linder, Keith E

2017-10-01

In humans, scleromyxoedema is a chronic progressive skin condition traditionally characterized by deposits of mucin, increased number of fibroblasts and fibrosis in the skin, and by systemic disease. Thyroid disease is typically absent. A monoclonal gammopathy is usually present, as are other comorbidities. Descriptions of scleromyxoedema in the veterinary literature are limited to a single feline case. One dog, previously reported as having papular mucinosis, exhibited features that matched the more current diagnostic criteria of scleromyxoedema. To describe generalized papular mucinosis in a dog with systemic illness and to compare the signs with those of human lichen myxoedematosus conditions, specifically scleromyxoedema. A nine-year-old female, spayed English springer spaniel dog presented with generalized papules and nodules (0.5-5 cm) on the body and proximal fore and hind limbs, sparing the face and distal limbs distal to carpi/tarsi. Larger nodules were erythematous. Nodules occurred in proximal limb muscles. The dog had concurrent osteoarthritis of the elbows and coxofemoral joints, developed generalized weakness, declined in health and was euthanized. Thyroid disease was lacking and a monoclonal gammopathy was not present. Histopathological evaluation revealed the classic triad of mucin, fibroblast proliferation and fibrosis with very mild inflammation, as described for humans. We document scleromyxoedema in a dog with significant morbidity and features of the human disease. Recognizing the typical histopathology is important for identifying cases and to establish a diagnosis. Systemic evaluation is important to identify evidence of internal disease and associated comorbidities, which are common, variable, and impact classification and prognosis in humans. © 2017 ESVD and ACVD.

The brain's emotional foundations of human personality and the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales.

PubMed

Davis, Kenneth L; Panksepp, Jaak

2011-10-01

Six of the primary-process subcortical brain emotion systems - SEEKING, RAGE, FEAR, CARE, GRIEF and PLAY - are presented as foundational for human personality development, and hence as a potentially novel template for personality assessment as in the Affective Neurosciences Personality Scales (ANPS), described here. The ANPS was conceptualized as a potential clinical research tool, which would help experimentalists and clinicians situate subjects and clients in primary-process affective space. These emotion systems are reviewed in the context of a multi-tiered framing of consciousness spanning from primary affect, which encodes biological valences, to higher level tertiary (thought mediated) processing. Supporting neuroscience research is presented along with comparisons to Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory and the Five Factor Model (FFM). Suggestions are made for grounding the internal structure of the FFM on the primal emotional systems recognized in affective neuroscience, which may promote substantive dialog between human and animal research traditions. Personality is viewed in the context of Darwinian "continuity" with the inherited subcortical brain emotion systems being foundational, providing major forces for personality development in both humans and animals, and providing an affective infrastructure for an expanded five factor descriptive model applying to normal and clinical human populations as well as mammals generally. Links with ontogenetic and epigenetic models of personality development are also presented. Potential novel clinical applications of the CARE maternal-nurturance system and the PLAY system are also discussed. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mother Knows Best: Epigenetic Inheritance, Maternal Effects, and the Evolution of Human Intelligence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bjorklund, David F.

2006-01-01

Contemporary evolution biology has recognized the role of development in evolution. Evolutionarily oriented psychologists have similarly recognized the role that behavioral plasticity, particularly early in development, may have had on the evolution of species, harking back to the ideas of Baldwin (the Baldwin effect). Epigenetic theories of…

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Kailang; Li, Weikai; Peng, Guiqing

NL63 coronavirus (NL63-CoV), a prevalent human respiratory virus, is the only group I coronavirus known to use angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as its receptor. Incidentally, ACE2 is also used by group II SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). We investigated how different groups of coronaviruses recognize the same receptor, whereas homologous group I coronaviruses recognize different receptors. We determined the crystal structure of NL63-CoV spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) complexed with human ACE2. NL63-CoV RBD has a novel {beta}-sandwich core structure consisting of 2 layers of {beta}-sheets, presenting 3 discontinuous receptor-binding motifs (RBMs) to bind ACE2. NL63-CoV and SARS-CoV have no structural homologymore » in RBD cores or RBMs; yet the 2 viruses recognize common ACE2 regions, largely because of a 'virus-binding hotspot' on ACE2. Among group I coronaviruses, RBD cores are conserved but RBMs are variable, explaining how these viruses recognize different receptors. These results provide a structural basis for understanding viral evolution and virus-receptor interactions.« less

Use of short-term test systems for the prediction of the hazard represented by potential chemical carcinogens

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Glass, L.R.; Jones, T.D.; Easterly, C.E.

1990-10-01

It has been hypothesized that results from short-term bioassays will ultimately provide information that will be useful for human health hazard assessment. Historically, the validity of the short-term tests has been assessed using the framework of the epidemiologic/medical screens. In this context, the results of the carcinogen (long-term) bioassay is generally used as the standard. However, this approach is widely recognized as being biased and, because it employs qualitative data, cannot be used to assist in isolating those compounds which may represent a more significant toxicologic hazard than others. In contrast, the goal of this research is to address themore » problem of evaluating the utility of the short-term tests for hazard assessment using an alternative method of investigation. Chemicals were selected mostly from the list of carcinogens published by the International Agency for Research on Carcinogens (IARC); a few other chemicals commonly recognized as hazardous were included. Tumorigenicity and mutagenicity data on 52 chemicals were obtained from the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) and were analyzed using a relative potency approach. The data were evaluated in a format which allowed for a comparison of the ranking of the mutagenic relative potencies of the compounds (as estimated using short-term data) vs. the ranking of the tumorigenic relative potencies (as estimated from the chronic bioassays). Although this was a preliminary investigation, it offers evidence that the short-term tests systems may be of utility in ranking the hazards represented by chemicals which may contribute to increased carcinogenesis in humans as a result of occupational or environmental exposures. 177 refs., 8 tabs.« less

Human CD8 T lymphocytes recognize Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens presented by HLA-E during active tuberculosis and express type 2 cytokines.

PubMed

Caccamo, Nadia; Pietra, Gabriella; Sullivan, Lucy C; Brooks, Andrew G; Prezzemolo, Teresa; La Manna, Marco P; Di Liberto, Diana; Joosten, Simone A; van Meijgaarden, Krista E; Di Carlo, Paola; Titone, Lucina; Moretta, Lorenzo; Mingari, Maria C; Ottenhoff, Tom H M; Dieli, Francesco

2015-04-01

CD8 T cells contribute to protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In humans, M. tuberculosis reactive CD8 T cells typically recognize peptides associated to classical MHC class Ia molecules, but little information is available on CD8 T cells recognizing M. tuberculosis Ags presented by nonclassical MHC class Ib molecules. We show here that CD8 T cells from tuberculosis (TB) patients recognize HLA-E-binding M. tuberculosis peptides in a CD3/TCR αβ mediated and CD8-dependent manner, and represent an additional type of effector cells playing a role in immune response to M. tuberculosis during active infection. HLA-E-restricted recognition of M. tuberculosis peptides is detectable by a significant enhanced ex vivo frequency of tetramer-specific circulating CD8 T cells during active TB. These CD8 T cells produce type 2 cytokines upon antigenic in vitro stimulation, help B cells for Ab production, and mediate limited TRAIL-dependent cytolytic and microbicidal activity toward M. tuberculosis infected target cells. Our results, together with the finding that HLA-E/M. tuberculosis peptide specific CD8 T cells are detected in TB patients with or without HIV coinfection, suggest that this is a new human T-cell population that participates in immune response in TB. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Production of a germline-humanized cetuximab scFv and evaluation of its activity in recognizing EGFR- overexpressing cancer cells.

PubMed

Banisadr, Arsham; Safdari, Yaghoub; Kianmehr, Anvarsadat; Pourafshar, Mahdieh

2018-04-03

The aim of this study was to produce a humanized single chain antibody (scFv) as a potential improved product design to target EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) overexpressing cancer cells. To this end, CDR loops of cetuximab (an FDA-approved anti-EGFR antibody) were grafted on framework regions derived from type 3 (VH3 and VL3 kappa) human germline sequences to obtain recombinant VH and VL domainslinked together with a flexible linker [(Gly 4 Ser) 3 ] to form a scFv. Codon optimized synthetic gene encoding the scFv (with NH2-VH-linker-VL-COOH orientation) was expressed in E. coli Origami™ 2(DE3) cells and the resultant scFv purified by using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The scFv, called cet.Hum scFv, was evaluated in ELISA and immunoblot to determine whether it can recognize EGFR. The scFv was able to recognize EGFR over-expressing cancer cells (A-431) but failed to detect cancer cells with low levels of EGFR (MCF-7 cells). Although the affinity of the scFv forA-431 cells was 9 fold lower than that of cetuximab, it was strong enough to recognize these cells. Considering its ability to bind EGFR molecules, the scFv may exhibit a potential application for the detection of EGFR-overexpressing cancer cells.

Study of recognizing multiple persons' complicated hand gestures from the video sequence acquired by a moving camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dan, Luo; Ohya, Jun

2010-02-01

Recognizing hand gestures from the video sequence acquired by a dynamic camera could be a useful interface between humans and mobile robots. We develop a state based approach to extract and recognize hand gestures from moving camera images. We improved Human-Following Local Coordinate (HFLC) System, a very simple and stable method for extracting hand motion trajectories, which is obtained from the located human face, body part and hand blob changing factor. Condensation algorithm and PCA-based algorithm was performed to recognize extracted hand trajectories. In last research, this Condensation Algorithm based method only applied for one person's hand gestures. In this paper, we propose a principal component analysis (PCA) based approach to improve the recognition accuracy. For further improvement, temporal changes in the observed hand area changing factor are utilized as new image features to be stored in the database after being analyzed by PCA. Every hand gesture trajectory in the database is classified into either one hand gesture categories, two hand gesture categories, or temporal changes in hand blob changes. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method by conducting experiments on 45 kinds of sign language based Japanese and American Sign Language gestures obtained from 5 people. Our experimental recognition results show better performance is obtained by PCA based approach than the Condensation algorithm based method.

The Humanities Are Not a Luxury: A Manifesto for the Twenty-First Century

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Martha Nell

2011-01-01

The humanities are at the heart of knowing about the human condition; they are not a luxury. The erosion of support for the humanities and the perennial anxiety about the state of the humanities are systemic. The author contends that until people acknowledge this fact, they will keep lurching from one point to another, unable to recognize the…

HapMap scanning of novel human minor histocompatibility antigens.

PubMed

Kamei, Michi; Nannya, Yasuhito; Torikai, Hiroki; Kawase, Takakazu; Taura, Kenjiro; Inamoto, Yoshihiro; Takahashi, Taro; Yazaki, Makoto; Morishima, Satoko; Tsujimura, Kunio; Miyamura, Koichi; Ito, Tetsuya; Togari, Hajime; Riddell, Stanley R; Kodera, Yoshihisa; Morishima, Yasuo; Takahashi, Toshitada; Kuzushima, Kiyotaka; Ogawa, Seishi; Akatsuka, Yoshiki

2009-05-21

Minor histocompatibility antigens (mHags) are molecular targets of allo-immunity associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and involved in graft-versus-host disease, but they also have beneficial antitumor activity. mHags are typically defined by host SNPs that are not shared by the donor and are immunologically recognized by cytotoxic T cells isolated from post-HSCT patients. However, the number of molecularly identified mHags is still too small to allow prospective studies of their clinical importance in transplantation medicine, mostly due to the lack of an efficient method for isolation. Here we show that when combined with conventional immunologic assays, the large data set from the International HapMap Project can be directly used for genetic mapping of novel mHags. Based on the immunologically determined mHag status in HapMap panels, a target mHag locus can be uniquely mapped through whole genome association scanning taking advantage of the unprecedented resolution and power obtained with more than 3 000 000 markers. The feasibility of our approach could be supported by extensive simulations and further confirmed by actually isolating 2 novel mHags as well as 1 previously identified example. The HapMap data set represents an invaluable resource for investigating human variation, with obvious applications in genetic mapping of clinically relevant human traits.

Sounding the Alarm: Health in the Anthropocene

PubMed Central

Butler, Colin D.

2016-01-01

There is growing scientific and public recognition that human actions, directly and indirectly, have profoundly changed the Earth system, in a still accelerating process, increasingly called the “Anthropocene”. Planetary transformation, including of the atmosphere, climate, ecosystems and biodiversity, has enormous implications for human health, many of which are deeply disturbing, especially in low-income settings. A few health consequences of the Anthropocene have been partially recognized, including within environmental epidemiology, but their long-term consequences remain poorly understood and greatly under-rated. For example Syria could be a “sentinel” population, giving a glimpse to a much wider dystopian future. Health-Earth is a research network, co-founded in 2014, which seeks, with other groups, to catalyse a powerful curative response by the wider health community. This paper builds on a symposium presented by Health-Earth members at the 2015 conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. It reviews and synthesizes parts of the large literature relevant to the interaction between the changing Earth system and human health. It concludes that this topic should be prominent within future environmental epidemiology and public health. Created by our species, these challenges may be soluble, but solutions require far more understanding and resources than are currently being made available. PMID:27376314

The point-of-care colorimetric detection of the biomarker of phenylamine in the human urine based on Tb3+ functionalized metal-organic framework.

PubMed

Qin, Si-Jia; Yan, Bing

2018-07-05

Phenylamine has been recognized as one of the most important industrially relevant ingredient and a crucial intermediate in chemical products. Yet, its internal exposure detection in human remains largely elusive due to the lack of potent monitoring method. Hereby this issue is addressed with a probe based on lanthanide functionalized organic-inorganic hybrid material Al(OH)(bpydc) (1) through post-synthetically modified metal-organic framework. The as-synthesized Tb 3+ @1 exhibits the strong luminescence of Tb 3+ originated from efficient energy transfer from the ligand, which can sense the biological metabolite p-aminophenol (PAP) of the phenylamine in the human urine. Linear correlation between the integrated fluorescence intensity and the concentration of PAP was investigated, enabling quantitative analysis of PAP in physiologically ranges (0.005-5 mg mL -1 ) with low detection limit (5 μg mL -1 ). This probe demonstrates excellent sensitivity, high selectivity, good reusability and quick response to PAP. Furthermore, a simple and rapid smartphone-based medical portable test paper was developed, whose quantitative color change can be easily distinguished visually. Hence, the PAP sensing platform can serve as a potential diagnostic tool for home monitoring of PAP. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Vaccine-elicited antibody that neutralizes H5N1 influenza and variants binds the receptor site and polymorphic sites

DOE PAGES

Winarski, Katie L.; Thornburg, Natalie J.; Yu, Yingchun; ...

2015-07-13

Antigenic drift of circulating seasonal influenza viruses necessitates an international vaccine effort to reduce the impact on human health. A critical feature of the seasonal vaccine is that it stimulates an already primed immune system to diversify memory B cells to recognize closely related, but antigenically distinct, influenza glycoproteins (hemagglutinins). Influenza pandemics arise when hemagglutinins to which no preexisting adaptive immunity exists acquire the capacity to infect humans. Hemagglutinin 5 is one subtype to which little preexisting immunity exists and is only a few acquired mutations away from the ability to transmit efficiently between ferrets, and possibly humans. In thismore » paper, we describe the structure and molecular mechanism of neutralization by H5.3, a vaccine-elicited antibody that neutralizes hemagglutinin 5 viruses and variants with expanded host range. H5.3 binds in the receptor-binding site, forming contacts that recapitulate many of the sialic acid interactions, as well as multiple peripheral interactions, yet is not sensitive to mutations that alter sialic acid binding. H5.3 is highly specific for a subset of H5 strains, and this specificity arises from interactions to the periphery of the receptor-binding site. Finally, H5.3 is also extremely potent, despite retaining germ line-like conformational flexibility.« less

[Analysis of the mainstreaming of the perspective of the Human Right to Adequate Food in the institutional design of the National School Nutrition Program].

PubMed

de Siqueira, Renata Lopes; Cotta, Rosângela Minardi Mitre; Ribeiro, Rita de Cássia Lanes; Sperandio, Naiara; Priore, Sílvia Eloíza

2014-01-01

Being a signatory to international agreements that recognize the Human Right to Adequate Food (HRAF) and having enshrined this right into its Constitution, the Brazilian state imposes a duty to provide, protect and promote the HRAF. For this it is necessary to incorporate the principles of the HRAF into the process of planning and executing the actions of Food and Nutrition Security (FNS). The objective was to analyze the process of mainstreaming of the HRAF in the new institutional design of the National School Nutrition Program (NSNP). This is in line with the principles laid down in General Comment No 12 of the Guide for Policy Analysis and Public Programs and nutritional Food Security under the Perspective of Human Rights and the Organic Law on Food and Nutrition Security (OLFNS). The results show that the new regulatory framework of the NSNP indicates a paradigm shift that is characterized by a gradual decline in the perception of NSNP as policy of a welfare nature. Concomitantly, there is an increase in the concept of the benefit of school food as a right, with the caveat that the construction of a new regulatory framework, although essential, is not sufficient for full implementation of the HRAF.

Vaccine-elicited antibody that neutralizes H5N1 influenza and variants binds the receptor site and polymorphic sites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Winarski, Katie L.; Thornburg, Natalie J.; Yu, Yingchun

Antigenic drift of circulating seasonal influenza viruses necessitates an international vaccine effort to reduce the impact on human health. A critical feature of the seasonal vaccine is that it stimulates an already primed immune system to diversify memory B cells to recognize closely related, but antigenically distinct, influenza glycoproteins (hemagglutinins). Influenza pandemics arise when hemagglutinins to which no preexisting adaptive immunity exists acquire the capacity to infect humans. Hemagglutinin 5 is one subtype to which little preexisting immunity exists and is only a few acquired mutations away from the ability to transmit efficiently between ferrets, and possibly humans. In thismore » paper, we describe the structure and molecular mechanism of neutralization by H5.3, a vaccine-elicited antibody that neutralizes hemagglutinin 5 viruses and variants with expanded host range. H5.3 binds in the receptor-binding site, forming contacts that recapitulate many of the sialic acid interactions, as well as multiple peripheral interactions, yet is not sensitive to mutations that alter sialic acid binding. H5.3 is highly specific for a subset of H5 strains, and this specificity arises from interactions to the periphery of the receptor-binding site. Finally, H5.3 is also extremely potent, despite retaining germ line-like conformational flexibility.« less

Emerging and Reemerging Neglected Tropical Diseases: a Review of Key Characteristics, Risk Factors, and the Policy and Innovation Environment

PubMed Central

Liang, Bryan A.; Cuomo, Raphael; Hafen, Ryan; Brouwer, Kimberly C.; Lee, Daniel E.

2014-01-01

SUMMARY In global health, critical challenges have arisen from infectious diseases, including the emergence and reemergence of old and new infectious diseases. Emergence and reemergence are accelerated by rapid human development, including numerous changes in demographics, populations, and the environment. This has also led to zoonoses in the changing human-animal ecosystem, which are impacted by a growing globalized society where pathogens do not recognize geopolitical borders. Within this context, neglected tropical infectious diseases have historically lacked adequate attention in international public health efforts, leading to insufficient prevention and treatment options. This subset of 17 infectious tropical diseases disproportionately impacts the world's poorest, represents a significant and underappreciated global disease burden, and is a major barrier to development efforts to alleviate poverty and improve human health. Neglected tropical diseases that are also categorized as emerging or reemerging infectious diseases are an even more serious threat and have not been adequately examined or discussed in terms of their unique risk characteristics. This review sets out to identify emerging and reemerging neglected tropical diseases and explore the policy and innovation environment that could hamper or enable control efforts. Through this examination, we hope to raise awareness and guide potential approaches to addressing this global health concern. PMID:25278579

Clone and genomic repositories at the American Type Culture Collection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maglott, D.R.; Nierman, W.C.

1990-01-01

The American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) has a long history of characterizing, preserving, and distributing biological resource materials for the scientific community. Starting in 1925 as a repository for standard bacterial and fungal strains, its collections have diversified with technologic advances and in response to the requirements of its users. To serve the needs of the human genetics community, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), established an international Repository of Human DNA Probes and Libraries at the ATCC in 1985. This repository expanded the existing collections of recombinant clones and librariesmore » at the ATCC, with the specific purposes of (1) obtaining, amplifying, and distribution probes detecting restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs); (2) obtaining, amplifying, and distributing genomic and cDNA clones from known genes independent of RFLP detection; (3) distributing the chromosome-specific libraries generated by the National Laboratory Gene Library Project at the Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories and (4) maintaining a public, online database describing the repository materials. Because it was recognized that animal models and comparative mapping can be crucial to genomic characterization, the scope of the repository was broadened in February 1989 to include probes from the mouse genome.« less

The International Association for Promoting Geoethics: Mission, Organization, and Activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kieffer, S. W.; Peppoloni, S.; Di Capua, G.

2017-12-01

The International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG) was founded in 2012, during the 34th IGC in Brisbane (Australia), to provide a multidisciplinary platform for widening the discussion and creating awareness about principles and problems of ethics as applied to the geosciences. It is a scientific, non-governmental, non-political, non-profit, non-party institution, headquartered at the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Rome, Italy. IAPG focuses on behaviors and practices where human activities interact with the Earth system, and deals with the ethical, social and cultural implications of geoscience knowledge, education, research, practice and communication. Its goal is to enhance awareness of the social role and responsibility of geoscientists in conducting their activities such as geoeducation, sustainability, and risk prevention. IAPG is a legally recognized non-profit association with members in 115 countries on 5 continents, and currently has 26 national sections. As of the date of this abstract, IAPG has been involved with approximately 70 international meetings (scientific conferences, symposia, seminars, workshops, expositions, etc.). Other activities range from exchanging information with newsletters, blogs, social networks and publications; promoting the creation of working groups and encouraging the participation of geoscientists within universities and professional associations for the development of geoethics themes; and cooperating with national and international organizations whose aims are complementary, e.g., International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), American Geosciences Institute (AGI), Geological Society of America (GSA), Geological Society of London (GSL), Geoscience Information in Africa - Network (GIRAF), American Geophysical Union (AGU), International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG), International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (AEG), International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO), etc. Finally, IAPG is involved in activities to disseminate geological knowledge in society through "ad hoc" events for the general public and courses for professionals and students. More about IAPG at www.geoethics.org.

Splicing regulation and dysregulation of cholinergic genes expressed at the neuromuscular junction.

PubMed

Ohno, Kinji; Rahman, Mohammad Alinoor; Nazim, Mohammad; Nasrin, Farhana; Lin, Yingni; Takeda, Jun-Ichi; Masuda, Akio

2017-08-01

We humans have evolved by acquiring diversity of alternative RNA metabolisms including alternative means of splicing and transcribing non-coding genes, and not by acquiring new coding genes. Tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific alternative RNA splicing is achieved by tightly regulated spatiotemporal regulation of expressions and activations of RNA-binding proteins that recognize their cognate splicing cis-elements on nascent RNA transcripts. Genes expressed at the neuromuscular junction are also alternatively spliced. In addition, germline mutations provoke aberrant splicing by compromising binding of RNA-binding proteins, and cause congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS). We present physiological splicing mechanisms of genes for agrin (AGRN), acetylcholinesterase (ACHE), MuSK (MUSK), acetylcholine receptor (AChR) α1 subunit (CHRNA1), and collagen Q (COLQ) in human, and their aberration in diseases. Splicing isoforms of AChE T , AChE H , and AChE R are generated by hnRNP H/F. Skipping of MUSK exon 10 makes a Wnt-insensitive MuSK isoform, which is unique to human. Skipping of exon 10 is achieved by coordinated binding of hnRNP C, YB-1, and hnRNP L to exon 10. Exon P3A of CHRNA1 is alternatively included to generate a non-functional AChR α1 subunit in human. Molecular dissection of splicing mutations in patients with CMS reveals that exon P3A is alternatively skipped by hnRNP H, polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1, and hnRNP L. Similarly, analysis of an exonic mutation in COLQ exon 16 in a CMS patient discloses that constitutive splicing of exon 16 requires binding of serine arginine-rich splicing factor 1. Intronic and exonic splicing mutations in CMS enable us to dissect molecular mechanisms underlying alternative and constitutive splicing of genes expressed at the neuromuscular junction. This is an article for the special issue XVth International Symposium on Cholinergic Mechanisms. © 2017 International Society for Neurochemistry.

Redefining the Role, Scope, and Mission of Community Colleges in an International Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manns, Derrick

2014-01-01

In an age of globalization, the need exists to understand international affairs, to recognize cultural values other than our own, and to understand world events from a variety of perspectives. Community colleges can play an important role in this context in preparing students to meet the new demands of the 21st century knowledge-based economy. We…

Environmental Analytical Measurement Uncertainty Estimation: Nested Hierarchical Approach

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-01-01

recognized. The International Organization of Standardization ( ISO / IEC 17025 ) standard for the general requirements for competence of testing and...Uncertainty in Measurement” (GUM) was published by the International Organization of Standardization ( ISO ) in collaboration with the seven member...the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) adoption of the ISO GUM. The ANSI adoption of the ISO GUM provides the mathematical model and

Law in Translation: Challenges and Opportunities in Teaching International Students in Business Law and Legal Environment Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dove, Laura R.; Bryant, Natalie P.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this article is to outline the unique challenges faced by international students enrolled in business law or legal environment of business courses. It is also imperative to recognize the numerous opportunities that instructors can create in business law classrooms that will enhance the experience of all students given the…

Whispering Selves and Reflective Transformations in the Internal Dialogue of Teachers and Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chohan, Sukhdeep Kaur

2010-01-01

It is beyond debate that the way one perceives oneself is influenced by the way one speaks to oneself. Becoming aware of the conversations that take place within the mind has the potential to assist one in recognizing whether the internal voice is self-limiting or self-encouraging. Making classrooms places where teachers and learners are inviting…

Investigating Differences in the Writing Performance of International and Generation 1.5 Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

di Gennaro, Kristen

2009-01-01

Practitioners working closely with second language (L2) writers in the US recognize at least two types of L2 students: international (IL2) and Generation 1.5 (G1.5) students. Some argue that specific differences in each group's writing performance are evident (cf. Harklau, 2003; Reid, 2006); however, investigations into observable and measurable…

UN Peacemaking and Peacekeeping. Report of the United Nations Issues Conference (20th, Harriman, New York, February 24-26, 1989).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stanley Foundation, Muscatine, IA.

The United Nations (UN) enjoyed a renewed prominence in the international spotlight during 1988 as the world recognized UN successes in the areas of peacemaking and peacekeeping. Conference participants agreed that the lessening of tensions between the superpowers has had a very positive impact on the general international political atmosphere.…

APEX-CAMBIUM: A Case Study in Advantages and Challenges of International Cooperation for the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cox, David; Buckley, Nicole

2008-01-01

It is generally agreed that space science benefits from an international collaboration. There are different mechanisms to make this happen but to recognize opportunities requires a keen awareness of the activities, people and respective strengths. Apex- Cambium is a joint Canadian Space Agency (CSA)-National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initiative. It was made possible in large part through the good relations and shared willingness to meet a common objective, that of doing exciting science in space. The actual mechanics of bringing an international project together can be divided into two perspectives: programmatic and implementation. The programmatic component includes recognizing complementarities, bringing science together, and the need to have Agencies approve and accept joint responsibility for the mission. The implementation component involves working to define science requirements, available resources and assigning individual responsibilities while keeping the overall success criteria as a collective objective. The APEX-CAMB11.JM mission will be described from the point of view of both CSA and NASA. Suggestions on how to facilitate these types of initiatives will be provided and highlights of the APEX-Cambium collaboration will be provided.

Genetic analysis and antigenic characterization of swine origin influenza viruses isolated from humans in the United States, 1990-2010.

PubMed

Shu, Bo; Garten, Rebecca; Emery, Shannon; Balish, Amanda; Cooper, Lynn; Sessions, Wendy; Deyde, Varough; Smith, Catherine; Berman, LaShondra; Klimov, Alexander; Lindstrom, Stephen; Xu, Xiyan

2012-01-05

Swine influenza viruses (SIV) have been recognized as important pathogens for pigs and occasional human infections with swine origin influenza viruses (SOIV) have been reported. Between 1990 and 2010, a total of twenty seven human cases of SOIV infections have been identified in the United States. Six viruses isolated from 1990 to 1995 were recognized as classical SOIV (cSOIV) A(H1N1). After 1998, twenty-one SOIV recovered from human cases were characterized as triple reassortant (tr_SOIV) inheriting genes from classical swine, avian and human influenza viruses. Of those twenty-one tr_SOIV, thirteen were of A(H1N1), one of A(H1N2), and seven of A(H3N2) subtype. SOIV characterized were antigenically and genetically closely related to the subtypes of influenza viruses circulating in pigs but distinct from contemporary influenza viruses circulating in humans. The diversity of subtypes and genetic lineages in SOIV cases highlights the importance of continued surveillance at the animal-human interface. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Is vitronectin the velcro that binds the gametes together?

PubMed

Fusi, F M; Bernocchi, N; Ferrari, A; Bronson, R A

1996-11-01

Evidence has been presented that the adhesion of human spermatozoa to the oolemma is mediated by integrins recognizing the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence (RGD). Fibronectin and vitronectin, glycoproteins that contain functional RGD sequences, are both present on human spermatozoa, and integrins that recognize these ligands have been detected on spermatozoa and eggs. In this work, we studied the effects of oligopeptides specifically designed to block fibronectin or vitronectin receptors on the interaction of human spermatozoa with zona-free hamster oocytes. GRGDdSP, a peptide blocking cell attachment to fibronectin, was without effect, while GdRGDSP, which blocks both fibronectin and vitronectin receptors, significantly inhibited the binding of human spermatozoa to the oolemma of zona-free hamster eggs, in a concentration-dependent manner, over a range 1-100 microM. As these experiments suggested that a vitronectin receptor plays a role in sperm-oolemmal adhesion, we performed a series of experiments studying the effects of exogenous vitronectin, when added to spermatozoa and oocytes, on gamete interactions. Sperm-oolemmal adherence, as well as sperm aggregation, was promoted by vitronectin, over range of 2.2 nM to 1 microM, but only in the presence of calcium ions. We propose that vitronectin released during the sperm acrosome reaction is recognized by both gametes and plays a role in their adhesion.

A chimpanzee recognizes synthetic speech with significantly reduced acoustic cues to phonetic content.

PubMed

Heimbauer, Lisa A; Beran, Michael J; Owren, Michael J

2011-07-26

A long-standing debate concerns whether humans are specialized for speech perception, which some researchers argue is demonstrated by the ability to understand synthetic speech with significantly reduced acoustic cues to phonetic content. We tested a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) that recognizes 128 spoken words, asking whether she could understand such speech. Three experiments presented 48 individual words, with the animal selecting a corresponding visuographic symbol from among four alternatives. Experiment 1 tested spectrally reduced, noise-vocoded (NV) synthesis, originally developed to simulate input received by human cochlear-implant users. Experiment 2 tested "impossibly unspeechlike" sine-wave (SW) synthesis, which reduces speech to just three moving tones. Although receiving only intermittent and noncontingent reward, the chimpanzee performed well above chance level, including when hearing synthetic versions for the first time. Recognition of SW words was least accurate but improved in experiment 3 when natural words in the same session were rewarded. The chimpanzee was more accurate with NV than SW versions, as were 32 human participants hearing these items. The chimpanzee's ability to spontaneously recognize acoustically reduced synthetic words suggests that experience rather than specialization is critical for speech-perception capabilities that some have suggested are uniquely human. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of preferential flow pathways in a siliciclastic aquifer system using human enteric viruses and groundwater geochemistry

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Human enteric viruses have been recognized as an emerging groundwater contaminant and are found only in human waste. In urban environments the most likely source of human waste is from sanitary sewers. Determining the travel time for near-surface contaminants to reach deep public supply wells is i...

[Influence of the Nuremberg physicians' trials--beginning a new era in the ethical judging of human experiments].

PubMed

Kerpel-Fronius, Sándor

2008-02-03

This short historical review attempts to shed light on the tortuous road on which society moved toward the general acceptance of the idea of experimenting on human beings. Unfortunately people had to realize that under antihuman or lenient political leadership, some physicians might apply their knowledge against their fellow beings, or might endanger them while pursuing their scientific goals. For this reason, it became necessary to codify the ethical requirements of medical experiments. This was done first by the Prussian government in 1900. The historical significance of the Nuremberg physicians' trials is that, by recognizing the enormous scientific importance of human experiments, they led to the formulation of general ethical principles governing human studies, which became known as the Nuremberg Code. Broad, international regulations were developed as the consequence of the trial. Unfortunately human experiments performed on prison inmates were judged at the trial as ethically acceptable, provided an informed consent was signed. Misusing this possibility many unethical experiments were done primarily in the US after the war. The great indignation due to ethical misconduct in prison trials and the highly unethical Tuskegee experiments performed on black Americans' suffering from syphilis, led much later to the organization of independent ethics committees. Through these committees, society exercises supervision of human trials. However, in case of severely ill patients the physician might be left alone to make a quick, and ethically correct, decision corresponding to the situation. In the final analysis the safety and ethical protection of research subjects remain the joint responsibility of society and of the experimenting physicians.

Preface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Young Mee; Baranska, Malgorzata

2018-05-01

This special issue of the Spectrochimica Acta A is dedicated to the retirement of Professor Yukihiro Ozaki of Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan as an internationally well recognized scientist in molecular spectroscopy studies including vibrational and electronic spectroscopy.

46 CFR 8.310 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... classification societies; and (b) All U.S. flag vessels that are certificated for international voyages and are classed by a recognized classification society that is authorized by the Coast Guard to issue the...

46 CFR 8.310 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... classification societies; and (b) All U.S. flag vessels that are certificated for international voyages and are classed by a recognized classification society that is authorized by the Coast Guard to issue the...

Modern science for better quality control of medicinal products "Towards global harmonization of 3Rs in biologicals": The report of an EPAA workshop.

PubMed

Schutte, Katrin; Szczepanska, Anna; Halder, Marlies; Cussler, Klaus; Sauer, Ursula G; Stirling, Catrina; Uhlrich, Sylvie; Wilk-Zasadna, Iwona; John, David; Bopst, Martin; Garbe, Joerg; Glansbeek, Harrie L; Levis, Robin; Serreyn, Pieter-Jan; Smith, Dean; Stickings, Paul

2017-07-01

This article summarizes the outcome of an international workshop organized by the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA) on Modern science for better quality control of medicinal products: Towards global harmonization of 3Rs in biologicals. As regards the safety testing of biologicals, the workshop participants agreed to actively encourage the deletion of abnormal toxicity tests and target animal batch safety tests from all relevant legal requirements and guidance documents (country-specific guidelines, pharmacopoeia monographs, WHO recommendations). To facilitate the global regulatory acceptance of non-animal methods for the potency testing of, e.g., human diphtheria and tetanus vaccines and veterinary swine erysipelas vaccines, international convergence on the scientific principles of the use of appropriately validated in vitro assays for replacing in vivo methods was identified as an overarching goal. The establishment of scientific requirements for new assays was recognized as a further means to unify regulatory approaches in different jurisdictions. It was recommended to include key regulators and manufacturers early in the corresponding discussions. Manufacturers and responsible expert groups, e.g. at the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Health Care of the Council of Europe or the European Medicines Agency, were invited to consider leadership for international collaboration. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

A Comparison of Current Guidelines of Five International Societies on Clostridium difficile Infection Management.

PubMed

Fehér, Csaba; Mensa, Josep

2016-09-01

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is increasingly recognized as an emerging healthcare problem of elevated importance. Prevention and treatment strategies are constantly evolving along with the apperance of new scientific evidence and novel treatment methods, which is well-reflected in the differences among consecutive international guidelines. In this article, we summarize and compare current guidelines of five international medical societies on CDI management, and discuss some of the controversial and currently unresolved aspects which should be addressed by future research.

21 CFR 330.5 - Drug categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 5 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Drug categories. 330.5 Section 330.5 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) DRUGS FOR HUMAN USE OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) HUMAN DRUGS WHICH ARE GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND NOT...

21 CFR 330.5 - Drug categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 5 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Drug categories. 330.5 Section 330.5 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) DRUGS FOR HUMAN USE OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) HUMAN DRUGS WHICH ARE GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND NOT...

21 CFR 330.5 - Drug categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 5 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Drug categories. 330.5 Section 330.5 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) DRUGS FOR HUMAN USE OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) HUMAN DRUGS WHICH ARE GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND NOT...

21 CFR 330.5 - Drug categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 5 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Drug categories. 330.5 Section 330.5 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) DRUGS FOR HUMAN USE OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) HUMAN DRUGS WHICH ARE GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND NOT...

21 CFR 330.5 - Drug categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 5 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Drug categories. 330.5 Section 330.5 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) DRUGS FOR HUMAN USE OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) HUMAN DRUGS WHICH ARE GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND NOT...

Human Dignity Through History.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Satterlie, Arthur L.

A major educational need, as assessed by a committee of teachers, students, and community members, is to recognize acceptance of human dignity as the ultimate value in decision making. This concept provides a basis for the elementary and secondary social studies program. Although the concept of human dignity was promoted with the signing of the…

Stimulus-Dependent Flexibility in Non-Human Auditory Pitch Processing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bregman, Micah R.; Patel, Aniruddh D.; Gentner, Timothy Q.

2012-01-01

Songbirds and humans share many parallels in vocal learning and auditory sequence processing. However, the two groups differ notably in their abilities to recognize acoustic sequences shifted in absolute pitch (pitch height). Whereas humans maintain accurate recognition of words or melodies over large pitch height changes, songbirds are…

Linking Career Development and Human Resource Planning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gutteridge, Thomas G.

When organizations integrate their career development and human resources planning activities into a comprehensive whole, it is the exception rather than the rule. One reason for the frequent dichotomy between career development and human resource planning is the failure to recognize that they are complements rather than synonyms or substitutes.…

Structure of CARDS toxin, a unique ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating cytotoxin from Mycoplasma pneumoniae

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Becker, Argentina; Kannan, T. R.; Taylor, Alexander B.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) infections cause tracheobronchitis and “walking” pneumonia, and are linked to asthma and other reactive airway diseases. As part of the infectious process, the bacterium expresses a 591-aa virulence factor with both mono-ADP ribosyltransferase (mART) and vacuolating activities known as Community-Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome Toxin (CARDS TX). CARDS TX binds to human surfactant protein A and annexin A2 on airway epithelial cells and is internalized, leading to a range of pathogenetic events. In this paper, we present the structure of CARDS TX, a triangular molecule in which N-terminal mART and C-terminal tandem β-trefoil domains associate to form anmore » overall architecture distinct from other well-recognized ADP-ribosylating bacterial toxins. We demonstrate that CARDS TX binds phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin specifically over other membrane lipids, and that cell surface binding and internalization activities are housed within the C-terminal β-trefoil domain. Finally, the results enhance our understanding of Mp pathogenicity and suggest a novel avenue for the development of therapies to treat Mp-associated asthma and other acute and chronic airway diseases.« less

Structure of CARDS toxin, a unique ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating cytotoxin from Mycoplasma pneumoniae

DOE PAGES

Becker, Argentina; Kannan, T. R.; Taylor, Alexander B.; ...

2015-04-06

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) infections cause tracheobronchitis and “walking” pneumonia, and are linked to asthma and other reactive airway diseases. As part of the infectious process, the bacterium expresses a 591-aa virulence factor with both mono-ADP ribosyltransferase (mART) and vacuolating activities known as Community-Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome Toxin (CARDS TX). CARDS TX binds to human surfactant protein A and annexin A2 on airway epithelial cells and is internalized, leading to a range of pathogenetic events. In this paper, we present the structure of CARDS TX, a triangular molecule in which N-terminal mART and C-terminal tandem β-trefoil domains associate to form anmore » overall architecture distinct from other well-recognized ADP-ribosylating bacterial toxins. We demonstrate that CARDS TX binds phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin specifically over other membrane lipids, and that cell surface binding and internalization activities are housed within the C-terminal β-trefoil domain. Finally, the results enhance our understanding of Mp pathogenicity and suggest a novel avenue for the development of therapies to treat Mp-associated asthma and other acute and chronic airway diseases.« less

The truth lies somewhere in the middle: Swinging between globalization and regionalization of medical education in Japan.

PubMed

Saiki, Takuya; Imafuku, Rintaro; Suzuki, Yasuyuki; Ban, Nobutaro

2017-10-01

Japan is well known as a super-aging society, with a low birth rate, and has been ranked as one of the countries having the highest quality of healthcare system. Japan's society is currently approaching a major turning point with regard to societal and healthcare reforms, which are influenced by international trends and regional needs. Development of Japanese healthcare human resources, including medical students, is now expected to ride the wave of globalization, while resolving regional problems in the training and delivery of healthcare. Terms and global trends in medical education, such as outcome-based education, community-based education, reflective learning, international accreditation of medical education, and professionalization of educators are well translated into the Japanese language and embraced positively among the Japanese medical educators. However, these trends occasionally sit uncomfortably with cultural variations that are often a common approach in Japan; notably, "hansei" (introspection) and "kaizen" (change for the better). In the world facing a new era where people are unsettled between globalism and regionalism, Japan's future mission is to steer a balanced route that recognizes both global and regional influences and produce global health professionals educators.

Proportion hyperglycosylated hCG: a new test for discriminating gestational trophoblastic diseases.

PubMed

Cole, Laurence A

2014-11-01

Hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a variant of hCG with large oligosaccharide side chains. Although hCG is produced by syncytiotrophoblast cells, hyperglycosylated hCG marks cytotrophoblast cell. Hyperglycosylated hCG signals placental implantation. Total hCG in serum and urine is measured by the Siemens Immulite hCG pregnancy test; the result is in milli-international unit per milliliter. Hyperglycosylated hCG is determined by the B152 microtiter plate assay; the result is in nanogram per milliliter. Hyperglycosylated hCG results can be converted to milli-international unit per milliliter equivalents by multiplying by 11. The test measures proportion hyperglycosylated hCG, hyperglycosylated hCG / total hCG. Proportion hyperglycosylated hCG marks cases intent on developing persistent hydatidiform mole (68% detection at 17% false detection). Proportion hyperglycosylated hCG also marks persistent hydatidiform mole (100% detection at 5.1% false detection). Proportion hyperglycosylated hCG distinguishes choriocarcinoma and gestational trophoblastic neoplasm cases, absolutely discriminating aggressive cases and minimally aggressive cases. Proportion hyperglycosylated hCG identifies quiescent gestational trophoblastic disease cases. It recognizes quiescent cases that become persistent disease (100% detection at 0% false positive). Proportion hyperglycosylated hCG is an invaluable test for discriminating gestational trophoblastic diseases.

INCOMPLETE REPAIR OF RETINAL STRUCTURE AFTER VITRECTOMY WITH INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING.

PubMed

Hisatomi, Toshio; Tachibana, Takashi; Notomi, Shoji; Nakatake, Shunji; Fujiwara, Kohta; Murakami, Yusuke; Ikeda, Yasuhiro; Yoshida, Shigeo; Enaida, Hiroshi; Murata, Toshinori; Sakamoto, Taiji; Sonoda, Koh-Hei; Ishibashi, Tatsuro

2017-08-01

To examine retinal changes after vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, we used a cynomolgus monkey model and focused on surgical damages of ILM peeling for long observational period of 3 years. Vitrectomy was performed followed by ILM peeling similar to clinical settings in humans. Ultrastructural changes of the retina were investigated by light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy at 3 months and 3 years after ILM peeling. Ultrastructural study showed that the ILM peeled area was still clearly recognized after 3 years. The Müller cell processes covered most of the retina; however, the nerve fiber layer was partly uncovered and exposed to the vitreous space. The arcuate linear nerve fiber bundles were observed as comparable with dissociated optic nerve fiber layer appearance. Small round retinal surface defects were also observed around macula, resembling the dimple sign. Forceps-related retinal thinning was also found on the edge of ILM peeling, where we started peeling with fine forceps. The ultrastructural studies showed that most of ILM peeling area was covered with glial cells during wound healing processes. Retinal changes were found comparable with dissociated optic nerve fiber layer appearance or dimple sign, which were clinically observed with optical coherence tomography.

Mapping of cat albumin using monoclonal antibodies: identification of determinants common to cat and dog.

PubMed Central

Boutin, Y; Hébert, J; Vrancken, E R; Mourad, W

1989-01-01

Cat and dog albumins from commercial extracts were used to produce monoclonal antibodies (MoAb). Anti-cat albumin MoAb recognized both cat and dog albumin equally, as did anti-dog albumin MoAb; this confirms cross-reactivity between cat and dog. The MoAb were separated into two groups according to their epitopic specificity; they recognized two overlapping epitopes of cat albumin. Furthermore, by competitive inhibition of radio-allergosorbent test (RAST), it was shown that one MoAb group inhibited significantly the binding of human IgE antibodies (from a pool of 13 patients allergic to both cats and dogs) to insolubilized cat or dog extracts. These observations suggest that murine anti-cat or anti-dog MoAb and human IgE antibodies recognize identical or closely related determinants on cat and dog albumin. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 2 PMID:2478325

Using Noninvasive Wearable Computers to Recognize Human Emotions from Physiological Signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lisetti, Christine Lætitia; Nasoz, Fatma

2004-12-01

We discuss the strong relationship between affect and cognition and the importance of emotions in multimodal human computer interaction (HCI) and user modeling. We introduce the overall paradigm for our multimodal system that aims at recognizing its users' emotions and at responding to them accordingly depending upon the current context or application. We then describe the design of the emotion elicitation experiment we conducted by collecting, via wearable computers, physiological signals from the autonomic nervous system (galvanic skin response, heart rate, temperature) and mapping them to certain emotions (sadness, anger, fear, surprise, frustration, and amusement). We show the results of three different supervised learning algorithms that categorize these collected signals in terms of emotions, and generalize their learning to recognize emotions from new collections of signals. We finally discuss possible broader impact and potential applications of emotion recognition for multimodal intelligent systems.

Protein-targeted corona phase molecular recognition

PubMed Central

Bisker, Gili; Dong, Juyao; Park, Hoyoung D.; Iverson, Nicole M.; Ahn, Jiyoung; Nelson, Justin T.; Landry, Markita P.; Kruss, Sebastian; Strano, Michael S.

2016-01-01

Corona phase molecular recognition (CoPhMoRe) uses a heteropolymer adsorbed onto and templated by a nanoparticle surface to recognize a specific target analyte. This method has not yet been extended to macromolecular analytes, including proteins. Herein we develop a variant of a CoPhMoRe screening procedure of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and use it against a panel of human blood proteins, revealing a specific corona phase that recognizes fibrinogen with high selectivity. In response to fibrinogen binding, SWCNT fluorescence decreases by >80% at saturation. Sequential binding of the three fibrinogen nodules is suggested by selective fluorescence quenching by isolated sub-domains and validated by the quenching kinetics. The fibrinogen recognition also occurs in serum environment, at the clinically relevant fibrinogen concentrations in the human blood. These results open new avenues for synthetic, non-biological antibody analogues that recognize biological macromolecules, and hold great promise for medical and clinical applications. PMID:26742890

Human Exploration Science Office (KX) Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calhoun, Tracy A.

2014-01-01

The Human Exploration Science Office supports human spaceflight, conducts research, and develops technology in the areas of space orbital debris, hypervelocity impact technology, image science and analysis, remote sensing, imagery integration, and human and robotic exploration science. NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) resides in the Human Exploration Science Office. ODPO provides leadership in orbital debris research and the development of national and international space policy on orbital debris. The office is recognized internationally for its measurement and modeling of the debris environment. It takes the lead in developing technical consensus across U.S. agencies and other space agencies on debris mitigation measures to protect users of the orbital environment. The Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) project evaluates the risks to spacecraft posed by micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD). HVIT facilities at JSC and White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) use light gas guns, diagnostic tools, and high-speed imagery to quantify the response of spacecraft materials to MMOD impacts. Impact tests, with debris environment data provided by ODPO, are used by HVIT to predict risks to NASA and commercial spacecraft. HVIT directly serves NASA crew safety with MMOD risk assessments for each crewed mission and research into advanced shielding design for future missions. The Image Science and Analysis Group (ISAG) supports the International Space Station (ISS) and commercial spaceflight through the design of imagery acquisition schemes (ground- and vehicle-based) and imagery analyses for vehicle performance assessments and mission anomaly resolution. ISAG assists the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) Program in the development of camera systems for the Orion spacecraft that will serve as data sources for flight test objectives that lead to crewed missions. The multi-center Imagery Integration Team is led by the Human Exploration Science Office and provides expertise in the application of engineering imagery to spaceflight. The team links NASA programs and private industry with imagery capabilities developed and honed through decades of human spaceflight, including imagery integration, imaging assets, imagery data management, and photogrammetric analysis. The team is currently supporting several NASA programs, including commercial demonstration missions. The Earth Science and Remote Sensing Team is responsible for integrating the scientific use of Earth-observation assets onboard the ISS, which consist of externally mounted sensors and crew photography capabilities. This team facilitates collaboration on remote sensing and participates in research with academic organizations and other Government agencies, not only in conjunction with ISS science, but also for planetary exploration and regional environmental/geological studies. Human exploration science focuses on science strategies for future human exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, asteroids, and beyond. This function provides communication and coordination between the science community and mission planners. ARES scientists support the operation of robotic missions (i.e., Mars Exploration Rovers and the Mars Science Laboratory), contribute to the interpretation of returned mission data, and translate robotic mission technologies and techniques to human spaceflight.

The Story of Mangrove Depletion: Using Socioscientific Cases to Promote Ocean Literacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luther, Rachel A.; Tippins, Deborah J.; Bilbao, Purita P.; Tan, Andrew; Gelvezon, Ruth L.

2013-01-01

The value of mangroves and mangrove ecosystems has not always been recognized. In fact, mangroves were historically regarded largely as wastelands with little or no value. Over time, humans began to recognize the multiple ways in which they could be used, particularly through development, making the mangrove ecosystem vulnerable to destruction and…

Overview of the HFM-181 Symposium Programme, Medical Technology Repurposed to Enhance Human Performance

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-01

BIO -INSPIRED HUMAN PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT 3.1 Biological performance currently outside of the bounds of the human species HPE opportunities may...strategies to preferentially burn fat in weight reduction (85). 3.2 Bio -inspired opportunities for human performance There are many interesting...solutions to assist human performance Nonmedical applications of bio -inspired engineering and computing technologies are a recognized priority in

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76 FR 34977 - Science Advisory Board Staff Office Notification of a Public Meeting of the Science Advisory...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-15

... of nationally and internationally recognized scientists and engineers with demonstrated expertise and..., invasive species, water chemistry, environmental engineering, environmental monitoring, and environmental...

Perspectives on global change theory

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Human-caused global changes in ecological drivers, such as carbon dioxide concentrations, climate, and nitrogen deposition, as well as direct human impacts (land use change, species movements and extinctions, etc.) are increasingly recognized as key to understanding contemporary ecosystem dynamics, ...

5 CFR 9701.501 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Administrative Personnel DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY-OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT) DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HUMAN RESOURCES... Department's mission foremost in mind. The regulations also recognize the rights of DHS employees to organize...

2017 Outstanding Contributions to ISCB Award: Fran Lewitter.

PubMed

Fogg, Christiana N; Kovats, Diane E; Berger, Bonnie

2017-01-01

The Outstanding Contributions to the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Award was launched in 2015 to recognize individuals who have made lasting and valuable contributions to the Society through their leadership, service, and educational work, or a combination of these areas. Fran Lewitter is the 2017 winner of the Outstanding Contributions to ISCB Award and will be recognized at the 2017 Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB)/European Conference on Computational Biology, meeting in Prague, Czech Republic being held from July 21-25, 2017.

2017 Outstanding Contributions to ISCB Award: Fran Lewitter

PubMed Central

Fogg, Christiana N.; Kovats, Diane E.; Berger, Bonnie

2017-01-01

The Outstanding Contributions to the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Award was launched in 2015 to recognize individuals who have made lasting and valuable contributions to the Society through their leadership, service, and educational work, or a combination of these areas. Fran Lewitter is the 2017 winner of the Outstanding Contributions to ISCB Award and will be recognized at the 2017 Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB)/European Conference on Computational Biology, meeting in Prague, Czech Republic being held from July 21-25, 2017. PMID:28713545

Parallel structures in human and computer memory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanerva, Pentti

1986-08-01

If we think of our experiences as being recorded continuously on film, then human memory can be compared to a film library that is indexed by the contents of the film strips stored in it. Moreover, approximate retrieval cues suffice to retrieve information stored in this library: We recognize a familiar person in a fuzzy photograph or a familiar tune played on a strange instrument. This paper is about how to construct a computer memory that would allow a computer to recognize patterns and to recall sequences the way humans do. Such a memory is remarkably similar in structure to a conventional computer memory and also to the neural circuits in the cortex of the cerebellum of the human brain. The paper concludes that the frame problem of artificial intelligence could be solved by the use of such a memory if we were able to encode information about the world properly.

Unrecognized "AIDS" in Monkeys, 1969-1980: Explanations and Implications.

PubMed

Hammett, Theodore M; Bronson, Roderick T

2016-06-01

AIDS was recognized in humans in 1981 and a simian form was described in the years 1983 to 1985. However, beginning in the late 1960s, outbreaks of opportunistic infections of AIDS were seen in monkeys in the United States. This apparent syndrome went unrecognized at the time. We have assembled those early cases in monkeys and offer reasons why they did not result in earlier recognition of simian or human AIDS, including weaknesses in understanding disease mechanisms, absence of evidence of human retroviruses, and a climate of opinion that devalued investigation of infectious disease and immunologic origins of disease. The "epistemological obstacle" explains important elements of this history in that misconceptions blocked understanding of the dependent relationship among viral infection, immunodeficiency, and opportunistic diseases. Had clearer understanding of the evidence from monkeys allowed human AIDS to be recognized earlier, life-saving prevention and treatment interventions might have been implemented sooner.

A voice region in the monkey brain.

PubMed

Petkov, Christopher I; Kayser, Christoph; Steudel, Thomas; Whittingstall, Kevin; Augath, Mark; Logothetis, Nikos K

2008-03-01

For vocal animals, recognizing species-specific vocalizations is important for survival and social interactions. In humans, a voice region has been identified that is sensitive to human voices and vocalizations. As this region also strongly responds to speech, it is unclear whether it is tightly associated with linguistic processing and is thus unique to humans. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging of macaque monkeys (Old World primates, Macaca mulatta) we discovered a high-level auditory region that prefers species-specific vocalizations over other vocalizations and sounds. This region not only showed sensitivity to the 'voice' of the species, but also to the vocal identify of conspecific individuals. The monkey voice region is located on the superior-temporal plane and belongs to an anterior auditory 'what' pathway. These results establish functional relationships with the human voice region and support the notion that, for different primate species, the anterior temporal regions of the brain are adapted for recognizing communication signals from conspecifics.

Parallel structures in human and computer memory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kanerva, P.

1986-01-01

If one thinks of our experiences as being recorded continuously on film, then human memory can be compared to a film library that is indexed by the contents of the film strips stored in it. Moreover, approximate retrieval cues suffice to retrieve information stored in this library. One recognizes a familiar person in a fuzzy photograph or a familiar tune played on a strange instrument. A computer memory that would allow a computer to recognize patterns and to recall sequences the way humans do is constructed. Such a memory is remarkably similiar in structure to a conventional computer memory and also to the neural circuits in the cortex of the cerebellum of the human brain. It is concluded that the frame problem of artificial intelligence could be solved by the use of such a memory if one were able to encode information about the world properly.

Unrecognized “AIDS” in Monkeys, 1969–1980: Explanations and Implications

PubMed Central

Bronson, Roderick T.

2016-01-01

AIDS was recognized in humans in 1981 and a simian form was described in the years 1983 to 1985. However, beginning in the late 1960s, outbreaks of opportunistic infections of AIDS were seen in monkeys in the United States. This apparent syndrome went unrecognized at the time. We have assembled those early cases in monkeys and offer reasons why they did not result in earlier recognition of simian or human AIDS, including weaknesses in understanding disease mechanisms, absence of evidence of human retroviruses, and a climate of opinion that devalued investigation of infectious disease and immunologic origins of disease. The “epistemological obstacle” explains important elements of this history in that misconceptions blocked understanding of the dependent relationship among viral infection, immunodeficiency, and opportunistic diseases. Had clearer understanding of the evidence from monkeys allowed human AIDS to be recognized earlier, life-saving prevention and treatment interventions might have been implemented sooner. PMID:27077355

Nature of the Lowstand Surface on the Gulf of Cádiz Shelf and the Guadiana Incised-Valley System: Preliminary Results from the LASEA 2013 Cruise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lobo, F.; Lebreiro, S.; Antón, L.; Delivet, S.; Espinosa, S.; Fernández-Puga, M. C.; García, M.; Ibáñez, J.; Luján, M.; Mendes, I.; Reguera, M. I.; Sevillano, P.; Sinde, C.; Van Rooij, D.; Zarandona, P.

2014-12-01

The LASEA 2013 cruise was executed in August 2013 in the northern margin of the Gulf of Cádiz, with the main goal of collecting data from the Guadiana River-influenced shelf, in order to: (1) study changes affecting the entire drainage basin; (2) correlate shelf unit sequences with the upper slope sedimentary record, composed dominantly of contourite deposits in specific stretches of the margin. As a first approach, attention is paid to the most obvious sedimentary manifestation of the influence of the river on the shelf domain, represented by the Guadiana incised-valley system. The database comprises both geophysical and sedimentological records. Geophysical data include multibeam bathymetry, TOPAS profiles and single-channel Sparker seismic profiles. Sedimentological data include sediment cores collected with gravity- and vibro-corer devices. The lowstand erosional surface was mapped across the shelf. The lowstand surface exhibits two clearly contrasting patterns. In the outer shelf the surface isrepresented by an erosional truncation that can be planar or irregular. The lowstand surface is much more difficult to follow in the inner shelf, due to the amalgamation of erosional surfaces and the frequent stacking of coarse-grained deposits. Incised valleys are recognized at shallow waters (20-30 m) the most significant of them is at least 1.5 km wide in the most proximal (recognized) section, decreasing seawards in width. The internal architecture of the valley exhibits the intercalation of laterally prograding sediment bodies and high-amplitude, subparallel configurations laterally related to valley margin prograding wedges. The internal facies architecture suggests a transition from relatively high-energy fluvial to proximal estuarine environment to a lower-energy estuarine depositional environment. Thus, the study of the valley extension into the shelf is expected to provide clues for the recent reorganization of the entire fluvial system, during the course of the postglacial sea-level rise and ensuing sea-level stabilization. Acknowledgements: this study was completed in the framework of the project CGL2011-30302-C02-02. It is also a contribution to the INQUA International Focus Group on Rapid environmental changes and human activity impacting continental shelf systems.

THE COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE OF WORKING MEMORY

PubMed Central

D’Esposito, Mark; Postle, Bradley R.

2015-01-01

For over 50 years, psychologists and neuroscientists have recognized the importance of a “working memory” to coordinate processing when multiple goals are active, and to guide behavior with information that is not present in the immediate environment. In recent years, psychological theory and cognitive neuroscience data have converged on the idea that information is encoded into working memory via the allocation of attention to internal representations – be they semantic long-term memory (e.g., letters, digits, words), sensory, or motoric. Thus, information-based multivariate analyses of human functional MRI data typically find evidence for the temporary representation of stimuli in regions that also process this information in nonworking-memory contexts. The prefrontal cortex, on the other hand, exerts control over behavior by biasing the salience of mnemonic representations, and adjudicating among competing, context-dependent rules. The “control of the controller” emerges from a complex interplay between PFC and striatal circuits, and ascending dopaminergic neuromodulatory signals. PMID:25251486

[Surrogate maternity--literature review and practice].

PubMed

Pilka, L; Rumpík, D; Pilka, R; Koudelka, M; Prudil, L

2009-04-01

This review summarizes opinions on surrogacy including internatinal and governmental organizations attitudes, as well as some religious concerns. Literature review. Reprofit International, Brno, Reproductive medicine and gynecology centre, Zlin, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Palacky University, Olomouc. The developments in the field of assissted reproduction during the last twenty years have attracted unexpected public interest in some of its ethical and moral aspects. It is very difficult to find a uniform attitude to ethical concerns of assisted conception in plural society. Surrogate mother is defined as a woman who bears and relinquishes a child for another person. The european congress on human reproduction in Barcelona 2008 adopted following résumé on surrogacy: Public opinion has shifted to a position where surrogacy is recognized as an appropriate response to infertility in some circumstances and it is to be expected that this approach will be further strenghtened with stress on positive aspects of familiar life.

Orbital Debris: the Growing Threat to Space Operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Nicholas L.

2010-01-01

For nearly 50 years the amount of man-made debris in Earth orbit steadily grew, accounting for about 95% of all cataloged space objects over the past few decades. The Chinese anti-satellite test in January 2007 and the accidental collision of two spacecraft in February 2009 created more than 4000 new cataloged debris, representing an increase of 40% of the official U.S. Satellite Catalog. The frequency of collision avoidance maneuvers for both human space flight and robotic operations is increasing along with the orbital debris population. However, the principal threat to space operations is driven by the smaller and much more numerous uncataloged debris. Although the U.S. and the international aerospace communities have made significant progress in recognizing the hazards of orbital debris and in reducing or eliminating the potential for the creation of new debris, the future environment is expected to worsen without additional corrective measures.

Understanding sexual and reproductive violence: an overview.

PubMed

Barzelatto, J

1998-12-01

International agreements recognizing different forms of violence as violations of human rights and the definition provided by the 1993 UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women are taken as a starting point and its implications analyzed, emphasizing gender roles and stereotypes. Violence against women is related to violence in general, to the so-called culture of violence. Factors influencing a culture of violence are discussed, as well as the differences between public and private violence, emphasizing the need to understand their interaction to be effective in preventing violence against women. It is concluded that all violence stems from unbalanced exercise of power, creating injustice and lack of real democratic interaction. When left unchallenged such situations become part of the culture of individuals and societies, reinforcing the use of violence to solve conflicts. Hence, preventing violence against women requires cultural, social, economic, and political changes that are only possible by mobilizing society as a whole.

Foundation and progress of Japanese society of toxicologic pathology*.

PubMed

Konishi, Yoichi; Enomoto, Makoto; Hayashi, Yuzo

2011-03-01

The Japanese Society of Toxicologic Pathology (JSTP) has a differing conceptual framework from the Japanese Society of Pathology (JSP) and Japanese Society of Toxicology (JST) and was founded in 1985 by the leadership of late Dr. Yasukazu Nishiyama with the cooperation of several founding members and the support of JSP. The aim of the JSTP is to improve the human and animal health using an interdisciplinary scientific approach based on pathology and toxicology. In its development as a professional society, the JSTP has established society rules and activities. The JSTP has grown in terms of membership and financial aspects and is now recognized not only domestically but also internationally as a well-organized scientific society. To maintain the high professional standard and visibility of JSTP, we here provide the historical background of the society as a basis for current members to contribute to the continued improvement of our scientific organization.

Physician-Researchers' Experiences of the Consent Process in the Sociocultural Context of a Developing Country

PubMed Central

Malik, Aisha Y.

2011-01-01

Background: International guidelines for medical research involving human subjects maintain the primacy of informed consent while recognizing cultural diversity. Methods: This article draws on empirical data obtained from interviews with physician-researchers in teaching hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan, to identify social and cultural factors that affect the consent process for participants in research. Results: This article presents variable findings with regards to communication, comprehension, and decision making. While some physicians consider that social factors such as lack of education, a patriarchal family system, and skepticism about research can make patients dependent on either the physician-researcher or the family, others believe that patients do make independent decisions. Conclusions: In light of the findings, the article ends with a recommendation for communication and decision making that is sensitive to the local sociocultural environment while at the same time meeting the ethical imperative of respect for persons. PMID:22816063

Physician-Researchers' Experiences of the Consent Process in the Sociocultural Context of a Developing Country.

PubMed

Malik, Aisha Y

2011-07-01

Background: International guidelines for medical research involving human subjects maintain the primacy of informed consent while recognizing cultural diversity. Methods: This article draws on empirical data obtained from interviews with physician-researchers in teaching hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan, to identify social and cultural factors that affect the consent process for participants in research. Results: This article presents variable findings with regards to communication, comprehension, and decision making. While some physicians consider that social factors such as lack of education, a patriarchal family system, and skepticism about research can make patients dependent on either the physician-researcher or the family, others believe that patients do make independent decisions. Conclusions: In light of the findings, the article ends with a recommendation for communication and decision making that is sensitive to the local sociocultural environment while at the same time meeting the ethical imperative of respect for persons.

Wildlife strike risk assessment in several Italian airports: lessons from BRI and a new methodology implementation.

PubMed

Soldatini, Cecilia; Albores-Barajas, Yuri Vladimir; Lovato, Tomas; Andreon, Adriano; Torricelli, Patrizia; Montemaggiori, Alessandro; Corsa, Cosimo; Georgalas, Vyron

2011-01-01

The presence of wildlife in airport areas poses substantial hazards to aviation. Wildlife aircraft collisions (hereafter wildlife strikes) cause losses in terms of human lives and direct monetary losses for the aviation industry. In recent years, wildlife strikes have increased in parallel with air traffic increase and species habituation to anthropic areas. In this paper, we used an ecological approach to wildlife strike risk assessment to eight Italian international airports. The main achievement is a site-specific analysis that avoids flattening wildlife strike events on a large scale while maintaining comparable airport risk assessments. This second version of the Birdstrike Risk Index (BRI2) is a sensitive tool that provides different time scale results allowing appropriate management planning. The methodology applied has been developed in accordance with the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, which recognizes it as a national standard implemented in the advisory circular ENAC APT-01B.

A glance at Spanish embryology and teratology during the XX century through the academic life of Francisco Orts-Llorca (1905-1993).

PubMed

Aréchaga, Juan; Jiménez-Collado, Juan; Ruano-Gil, Domingo

2009-01-01

Francisco Ort-Llorca (1905-1993) was one of the most outstanding Spanish embryologists of the XX century. He was disciple of Henri Rouvire in Paris (France), Alfred Fischel in Vienna (Austria), Walther Vogt in Munich (Germany) and Pedro Ara in Madrid (Spain). From 1935, he was professor of Human Anatomy at the Faculty of Medicine of Cadiz, belonged then to the University of Seville (accidentally, in the University of Valencia, during the Spanish Civil War from 1936-1939) and, later on, at the Faculty of Medicine of Madrid (Complutense University) from 1954 to 1975. He was internationally recognized in anatomical sciences and stood out for his contributions to descriptive and experimental Embryology and Teratology, particularly in those aspects connected to the normal and pathological development of the heart and visual organs.

Wildlife Strike Risk Assessment in Several Italian Airports: Lessons from BRI and a New Methodology Implementation

PubMed Central

Soldatini, Cecilia; Albores-Barajas, Yuri Vladimir; Lovato, Tomas; Andreon, Adriano; Torricelli, Patrizia; Montemaggiori, Alessandro; Corsa, Cosimo; Georgalas, Vyron

2011-01-01

The presence of wildlife in airport areas poses substantial hazards to aviation. Wildlife aircraft collisions (hereafter wildlife strikes) cause losses in terms of human lives and direct monetary losses for the aviation industry. In recent years, wildlife strikes have increased in parallel with air traffic increase and species habituation to anthropic areas. In this paper, we used an ecological approach to wildlife strike risk assessment to eight Italian international airports. The main achievement is a site-specific analysis that avoids flattening wildlife strike events on a large scale while maintaining comparable airport risk assessments. This second version of the Birdstrike Risk Index (BRI2) is a sensitive tool that provides different time scale results allowing appropriate management planning. The methodology applied has been developed in accordance with the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, which recognizes it as a national standard implemented in the advisory circular ENAC APT-01B. PMID:22194950

[Micronuclei in mucose cells and colonization of human stomach epithelium with coccoid forms of Helicobacter pylori].

PubMed

Kitaeva, L V; Mikhaĭlova, I A; Semov, D; Proshin, S N; Kravtsov, V Iu

2008-01-01

International Agency for Research on Cancer recognized as sufficient the evidence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection carcinogenicity and placed it into the 1 st group of carcinogens. Micronucleus level in gastric epithelial cells of antral stomach region of patients with chronic non-atrophy gastritis (n = 62) was studied. 40 patients of 62 had HP-associated gastritis. The HP-bacterium exists in a spiral and coccoid form. Both morphological forms were examined using immunocytochemistry. Significantly increased micronucleus number was observed in the cells of HP-infected patients compared with non-infected person (P < 0.05). The frequency of stomach epithelium cells with micronuclei was enhanced considerably in the patients infected with the coccoid HP form. Therefore the patients with HP-associated chronic gastritis caused by the coccoid form with high degree of colonization must be considered as a group of enhanced risk of gastric carcinogenesis.

The natural antibody repertoire of sharks and humans recognizes the potential universe of antigens.

PubMed

Adelman, Miranda K; Schluter, Samuel F; Marchalonis, John J

2004-02-01

In ancestral sharks, a rapid emergence in the evolution of the immune system occurred, giving jawed-vertebrates the necessary components for the combinatorial immune response (CIR). To compare the natural antibody (NAb) repertoires of the most divergent vertebrates with the capacity to produce antibodies, we isolated NAbs to the same set of antigens by affinity chromatography from two species of Carcharhine sharks and from human polyclonal IgG and IgM antibody preparations. The activities of the affinity-purified anti-T-cell receptor (anti-TCR) NAbs were compared with those of monoclonal anti-TCR NAbs that were generated from a systemic lupus erythematosus patient. We report that sharks and humans, representing the evolutionary extremes of vertebrate species sharing the CIR, have NAbs to human TCRs, Igs, the human senescent cell antigen, and to numerous retroviral antigens, indicating that essential features of the combinatorial repertoire and the capacity to recognize the potential universe of antigens is shared among all jawed-vertebrates.

Analysis of Receptor for Vibrio cholerae El Tor Hemolysin with a Monoclonal Antibody That Recognizes Glycophorin B of Human Erythrocyte Membrane

PubMed Central

Zhang, Dongyan; Takahashi, Junko; Seno, Taiko; Tani, Yoshihiko; Honda, Takeshi

1999-01-01

El Tor hemolysin (ETH), a pore-forming toxin secreted by Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype El Tor and most Vibrio cholerae non-O1 isolates, is able to lyse erythrocytes and other mammalian cells. To study the receptor for this toxin or the related molecule(s) on erythrocyte, we first isolated a monoclonal antibody, B1, against human erythrocyte membrane, which not only blocks the binding of ETH to human erythrocyte but also inhibits the hemolytic activity of ETH. Biochemical characterization and immunoblotting revealed that this antibody recognized an epitope on the extracellular domain of glycophorin B, a sialoglycoprotein of erythrocyte membrane. Erythrocytes lacking glycophorin B but not glycophorin A were less sensitive to the toxin than were normal human erythrocytes. These results indicate that glycophorin B is a receptor for ETH or at least an associated molecule of the receptor for ETH on human erythrocytes. PMID:10496913

Dogs recognize dog and human emotions.

PubMed

Albuquerque, Natalia; Guo, Kun; Wilkinson, Anna; Savalli, Carine; Otta, Emma; Mills, Daniel

2016-01-01

The perception of emotional expressions allows animals to evaluate the social intentions and motivations of each other. This usually takes place within species; however, in the case of domestic dogs, it might be advantageous to recognize the emotions of humans as well as other dogs. In this sense, the combination of visual and auditory cues to categorize others' emotions facilitates the information processing and indicates high-level cognitive representations. Using a cross-modal preferential looking paradigm, we presented dogs with either human or dog faces with different emotional valences (happy/playful versus angry/aggressive) paired with a single vocalization from the same individual with either a positive or negative valence or Brownian noise. Dogs looked significantly longer at the face whose expression was congruent to the valence of vocalization, for both conspecifics and heterospecifics, an ability previously known only in humans. These results demonstrate that dogs can extract and integrate bimodal sensory emotional information, and discriminate between positive and negative emotions from both humans and dogs. © 2016 The Author(s).

Corporate Culture: An Opportunity for Professional Communicators.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Corbett, William J.

1986-01-01

Discusses how culture drives an organization and suggests steps to strengthen the positive cultural ties that bind a company, including distributing internal newsletters and showing employees that excellence and creativity will be recognized. (DF)

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2018

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Since 2009, EPA has exhibited and shared information about environmental protection with the ISEF participants and visitors. recognizes one student whose work demonstrates a commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship with an award.

77 FR 50505 - Science Advisory Board Staff Office Request for Nominations of Experts for the SAB Hydraulic...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

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... and internationally recognized scientists and engineers having experience and expertise related to...; geochemistry and analytical chemistry; environmental monitoring; conducting laboratory and/or field-based...

36 CFR 67.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... part 60 et seq. Owner means a person, partnership, corporation, or public agency holding a fee-simple interest in a property or any other person or entity recognized by the Internal Revenue Code for purposes...

22 CFR 203.6 - IPVO conditions of registration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... its headquarters in the same country. (b) Condition No. 2 (Private). Is a nongovernmental organization... purposes; and (3) Is not recognized as a Public International Organization according to USAID's ADS 308.3...

22 CFR 203.6 - IPVO conditions of registration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... its headquarters in the same country. (b) Condition No. 2 (Private). Is a nongovernmental organization... purposes; and (3) Is not recognized as a Public International Organization according to USAID's ADS 308.3...

22 CFR 203.6 - IPVO conditions of registration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... its headquarters in the same country. (b) Condition No. 2 (Private). Is a nongovernmental organization... purposes; and (3) Is not recognized as a Public International Organization according to USAID's ADS 308.3...

Healthcare reform in the Middle East and the USA.

PubMed

Younis, Mustafa Z

2017-01-01

Mustafa Z Younis speaks to Laura Dormer, Commissioning Editor: Dr Mustafa Z Younis is an internationally recognized scholar and was a member of the Executive Committee of the International Society for Research of Healthcare Financial Management. Dr Younis has authored and published over 200 articles, abstracts and presentations in refereed journals and meetings, and has presented at national and international conferences. Dr Younis has administrative experience as Senior Adviser for the President at Zirve University, Turkey and as Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Florida International University (FL, USA) where he led the accreditation efforts for the Healthcare Management Program. Dr Younis has a history of playing visible roles on the editorial boards of journals as Chief Editor, Guest Editor and Editorial board member of leading journals such as Journal of International Medical Research, Journal of Health Care Finance, Inquiry, Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management. Dr Younis is a frequent speaker for both academic and professional audiences. His talks often feature his latest research and work in progress as well as cross-industry trends and strategy implications. He has provided workshops and presentation for wide organizations. His research and findings applied to for-profit, non-profit settings, and government. Dr Younis has consulted with several organizations on healthcare finance, and economics. Dr Younis is often invited to speak about the challenges in the healthcare industry and other related topics to health economics, finance, and research. He has presented topics such as, healthcare reform, ownership structure, profitability, unit cost, payment system and efficiency in management, at a variety of forums and conferences in Europe, Asia and Middle East.

Global knowledge of medicine: Experiences from Tuzla and Banjaluka, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

PubMed

Igić, Rajko

2017-01-01

When English became lingua franca, a significant change in the language of scientific publication in Central and Eastern European countries occurred; many journals instead of the local language, and German, French or Russian used English. The shift occurred due to the intention of both the journal editors and contributors to achieve international recognition and inclusion of the journal in prestigious international medical databases. As a consequence, publications in English are cited on average six times more frequently than those in German, Japanese or French. In the Northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), three medical journals are published in English. However, these journals are not yet included in the Medline indexing base. In unenviable socio-economic state such as B&H, one cannot expect enough quality submissions to recognized journals. Gross domestic product per capita in 2012 in B&H, neighboring Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia was 9,545; 21,314; 13,020 and 27,474 US$, respectively. Thus gross domestic expenditure on research and development in 2009 of about 0.02%, 0.85%, 0.923% and 1.86% in these states clearly shows incapability of B&H to support adequately recognized scientific research. Temporarily, the main goal for the majority of the medical professionals is to keep health of patients in modest circumstances, and reproduce new generations of qualified practitioners. For that reason, there is a long way to reach the noble point of "the internationally recognized evaluation criteria" for assessing scientific accomplishments.

Information Superhighway: The Role of Librarians, Information Scientists, and Intermediaries. Proceedings of the International Essen Symposium (17th, Essen, Germany, October 24-27, 1994).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Helal, Ahmed H., Ed.; Weiss, Joachim W., Ed.

The emphasis of the symposium was the Internet, or information superhighway, and the provision of information services to end users. Many internationally recognized librarians shared their experiences and expressed their ideas on new developments and possibilities related to the information superhighway. The 34 papers presented at the symposium…

"Not Everything That the Bourgeois World Created Is Bad": Aesthetics and Politics in Women Workers' Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tamboukou, Maria

2015-01-01

In this paper, I look into the papers of Fannia Cohn, an immigrant labour organizer, who served the Education Department of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) between 1918 and 1962 and became one of its few women vice-presidents. As an internationally recognized figure in the history of workers' education, Cohn left a rich…