High pressure research on materials

In this part of the article, various experimental techniques for investigating materials under high pressure are discussed. The effect of pressure on the behaviour of materials is discussed with suitable examples. P Ch Sahu (left) is at the Materials Science Division of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam. He is a specialist in the field of high pressure science and is presently heading this activity at his institute. N V Chandra Shekar (right) is a Senior Scientist at the Materials Science Division of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam. His primary research areas are in high pressure phase transitions and in synthesis and study of novel materials under extreme pressure and temperature conditions.     

Mutants of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin and cholera toxin as mucosal adjuvants

Heat-labile enterotoxin(LT) and cholera toxin(CT) are highly homologous (82 % at the amino acid level), they are the causative factors of travelers diarrhea and cholera respectively[1]. When co-stimulating the surface of the mucosal with antigens, these toxins induce significantly immunological reaction [2]. Because of this character, LT and CT are widely used as mucosal adjuvants in non-human animal models. But the high toxicity and allergenicity caused by IgE antibody (Ab) responded to b…     

An easy, rapid and cost-effective method of microtitration

An economical and less time consuming microtitration method is presented. The method has been applied to two types of titration, viz., neutralization and complexometric. The results obtained by the new method are comparable to those obtained by conventional method using burette and pipette. It is proposed that this method can be implemented in high school and undergraduate classes as the quantities of chemicals consumed are far less and the experiment can be completed within the given laboratory period.     

Statistics usage by French academic libraries: a survey

The article presents a survey on usage statistics management in academic libraries in France. The objective is to provide empirical evidence on real methods and processes, best practices and problems experienced by librarians. The survey adapted Baker and Read's methodology to the French context. One‐third of French academic libraries answered the survey. Results show that usage statistics are crucial for librarians' daily work. COUNTER reports are mostly used, specifically the JR1 format. Two‐thirds of the libraries enhance the usage statistics with other data. Librarians face three major difficulties: lack of time, lack of usage data produced by French vendors, and the need for customized tools. The article contains a short literature review and ends with recommendations for further studies. It is the first published survey on usage data management in France and allows for comparison with results from other countries.     

重庆市居民体育消费现状调研

采用问卷调查、数理统计等方法 ,对重庆市居民 2 0 0 0年体育消费情况进行了调查研究 ,结果表明 :重庆市居民参加体育活动主要为自发型 ,体育消费的主要形式为物质性消费 ,不同年龄人群体育消费的对象、态度显示出不同的特点 ;消费观念、经济条件和闲暇时间等是影响重庆市居民体育消费的主要因素。     

麻阳仡佬问题初探

“仡佬”这一称呼在麻阳广为流传 ,而且有特定的地域、语言和群体。从历史上看 ,麻阳曾有仡佬族长期居住生活 ,且逐渐与当地汉、苗、土家等民族相融合 ,但依然保存了一些仡佬族固有的风俗习惯并形成了独特的被称为“仡佬腔”的汉方言。     

“News with an Accent”: Hispanic Television and the Re-negotiation of US Latino Speech

Using Bourdieu's concept of “linguistic capital” as an analytical concept, I examine the value of language as both a means of comprehension and a product that has currency in the television marketplace. Focusing on Fusion, an upstart cable network designed to engage Latinos civically and in English, I examine the ways in which television networks employ language as a device through which to create audiences. I argue that Fusion and other networks are attempting to re-constitute the Latino audience in ways that more closely align with the dominant culture, leading to forms of erasure that challenge the legitimacy of Spanish altogether. I further argue that in the process of pursuing the acculturated Latino, the network pivots away from those most isolated from civic discourses.     

Critical liberal education: an undergraduate pedagogy for teacher candidates in socially diverse university settings

This article addresses the lack of attention universities have given to adjusting liberal education, the undergraduate major for teachers in California, to the increase of multi‐ethnic, multi‐racial, and social class heterogeneity in state universities. This article argues for a revised pedagogy for undergraduate liberal arts education for teacher candidates in California called critical liberal education. This pedagogy emphasizes the interdisciplinary knowledge and inquiry skills of a traditional program in conjunction with intercultural competence, civic engagement and an ethical stance toward social justice. This pedagogy brings liberal arts education in line with living in our complex multicultural democracy to create analytic, engaged teacher‐citizens for the twenty‐first century.     

Self-rated wellbeing and physical activity associations in European older adults

Background: Physical activity and self-rated wellbeing have important benefits to health. However, scientific knowledge regarding their relationship among older adults is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the associations between physical activity frequency and several dimensions of self-rated wellbeing, in a representative sample of European older adults from 28 countries. Methods: This study is based on the European Social Survey round 6, 2012. It had a total sample size of 12,341 older adults (5100 men, 7241 women) with mean age 73.8?±?6.6 years. Information was collected through a questionnaire, filled-in during an hour-long face-to-face interview. Physical activity was accessed using the question “On how many of the last 7 days you were physically active continuously for 20 minutes or longer?” and six dimensions of self-rated wellbeing were used. Results: Physical activity in the last 7 days was linearly related with all dimension of the self-rated wellbeing and with wellbeing total score for both sexes (men, β?=?0.09, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.10, p?β?=?0.10, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.11, p?Conclusions: Physical activity promotion should be stressed as a meaningful strategy to improve people's wellbeing overall. This strategy has special importance when considering the older adult population.