Detection of non-deletional type of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) condition associated with 619 bp β°-thalassemia deletion

DNA samples from a family (parents and a son) with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) condition were subjected to amplification of a 1.214 kbp DNA fragment from β-globin gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The aim of this study was to identify the type of HPFH i.e. deletional or non deletional. Non deletional type of HPFH was identified in two samples and moreover, these samples were found to be associated with 619bp β^°-thalassemia deletion. This is the first report on the association of non deletional HPFH with 619bp β^°-thalassemia deletion.     

The continuing bonds of US expatriates living in Egypt

This study used the continuing bonds model, which describes the process of loss and mourning, to build a theory about the acculturation process of US expatriates. We examined six case studies of US expatriates permanently residing and working in Egypt. Participants were interviewed about the loss of their US culture and their cultural experiences in Egypt. All participants acknowledged losing aspects of their US culture, and kept continuing bonds with it, but these bonds took different forms depending on the way they responded to their loss and the way they negotiated the influences of both host and native cultures. We present three of these case studies in this paper due to space limitations. One participant believed that his continuing bonds might be imagined or outdated and used religion to avoid the influences of both US and Egyptian cultures in his life. Another participant used his continuing bonds to inspire marginalized Egyptians and refugees. The third participant used his continuing bonds to isolate himself from the Egyptian culture and lead an exclusive American lifestyle. External factors such as political climate of host country, family members, privilege, circumstances of coming to Egypt, and age influenced the mourning process.     

The changing faces of politics and repression in Malaysia

Abstract

For a long time popular music and aesthetics have been considered as mutually exclusive categories within the musicological discourse. Based on the predominance of idealistic autonomy aesthetics, the concept of the (musical) ‘work of art’, at its core, legitimised the exclusion of popular music from the realm of aesthetics. Since the concept of autonomy constituted the beauty of art as a sphere free from social functions and independent from interests of the culture industries, two antithetical strategies in researching pop music have recently emerged: on the one hand pop music has been described as art, on the other hand it has been considered as a cultural phenomenon solely explored through sociological approaches. This paper looks for an alternative way in order to overcome the dualisms of art and everyday life, aesthetics and society, without neglecting the inherent aesthetic dimension of popular music cultures or the processes of identity‐making of the involved people. For this purpose, concepts developed in theatre and ritual studies seem to be fruitful for describing pop music as ritual in social space (musicking), and in terms of an aesthetic of the performative. Based on participant observations and interviews, the paper discusses a rock concert that the Yoon Band from South Korea held in Germany. In view of the event character and of liminal and transformative processes within the performance, it gives an example of how Korean people in Germany negotiate their identities and draw national boundaries through actively participating in and through music. Thereby, the way popular music constitutes the diasporic community can be detected in the underlying social, symbolic, and sound patterns of the performance.     

巴基斯坦高等学校设置制度:缘起、程序及标准

在巴基斯坦现行高等教育行政管理机构及组织体系下,巴基斯坦高等学校设置制度的构建缘起、设置程序及标准具有一定的特色.研究发现,巴基斯坦高等学校设置程序围绕申请、审核、考察、赋权等四个环节进行,具备系统的设置标准,涵盖师资队伍建设、设备场地规范、经费使用、管理若干方面.巴基斯坦高等学校设置制度较为完备,符合本国国情,利益主体均衡,标准刚柔相济,但也存在重硬件、轻科研,未能为高等教育国际化纵深发展预留对接平台,以及“一刀切”色彩过重等问题.     

哈萨克斯坦高校汉语专业调查

通过对哈萨克斯坦高校汉语专业的抽样调查,了解到该国的汉语专业存在着课程设置较为单一、汉语师资队伍的数量和质量不高、缺乏适合哈萨克斯坦国情的汉语教材及哈萨克斯坦本国出版的教材、汉语图书资料缺乏、教学硬件使用有待加强、没有统一的汉语水平考试等问题,并从改变课程设置、加强哈萨克斯坦本国汉语教师培养、合作编写教材、设立统一的评估体系、建立交流平台等方面提出了相关建议.     

Analysis of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Coagulation Pathway Factors in OCP Treated PCOS Women

Human polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—a cluster of diseases displays various symptoms associated with endocrine and gynecological disorders in childbearing women. Oral contraceptive pills (OCP) being a drug of choice minimizes symptoms and complications associated with the disorder. But, the controversial data available in literature regarding use of OCPs compels us to setup a study design regarding effect of OCP treatment in PCOS subjects and the possible outcomes specifically regarding coagulation pathways. Two PCOS study groups have been selected according to Rotterdam Criteria: one with OCP treatment (n = 50) and other without any drug treatment i.e., drug naive (n = 50). Anthropometry, Biochemistry, Hormones, Insulin and various clotting factors like Factor XI, Factor V, tPA, TAT-III and D-dimer were analyzed in both groups. The results showed worsening of IR, Metabolic parameters and coagulopathy in OCP group comparative to drug naive group indicating adverse effects of the OCP treatment which puts these women at risk for number of future clinical implications especially Cardiovascular and metabolic complications.     

Entrepreneurship education in Malaysian universities

Entrepreneurship education in the strongly emerging market of Malaysia was examined throughout the country’s 20 public universities. A broad based interview process amongst multiple stakeholders profiled educational policies as well as revealing shortcomings in practice. Observers noted that students showed a preference for salaried jobs after graduation rather than setting up their own businesses, despite participation in entrepreneurship classes and programmes. Policymakers indicated that curricula had deficiencies despite their hype. Passive lectures were far more common than more interactive methods. It is suggested that if Malaysian universities are to promote entrepreneurship education in an effective way, they must address these issues.

     

Phytochemical composition,biological potential and enzyme inhibition activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scandix pecten-veneris</Emphasis> L.

Objective

Scandix pecten-veneris L. is a less studied wild edible herb and is considered an extinct plant species in many parts of the world. This study was designed to evaluate its phytochemical composition and biological potential of S. pecten-veneris L.

Methods

Phytochemicals including alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins were determined in extracts of S. pecten-veneris. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), while reducing power was tested by ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial and four fungal strains was evaluated using agar well diffusion assay. Enzymes inhibition study was performed for urease, phosphodiesterase-I, and catalase-II.

Results

S. pecten-veneris showed moderate antiradical activity and reducing potential of hydroxyl radicals to about 20% of the initial value. The antioxidant activity of various extracts of S. pecten-veneris showed a linear correlation with total phenolic contents in the order of water>n-butanol>chloroform>ethyl acetate>methanol extracts. S. pecten-veneris leaves showed the highest inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus while the highest antifungal activity was observed against Candida albicans. The plant extract was most potent against urease enzymes but showed moderate activity against phosphodiestrase-I and carbonic anhydrase-II.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that in addition to its culinary uses, S. pecten-veneris has good medicinal potential and hence could be used for treating some specific health ailments.