Discovery of ultrahigh-T spinel-garnet granulite with pure CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> fluid inclusions from the Altay orogenic belt,NW China

We first report discovery of the spinel-garnet-orthopyroxene granulite with pure CO₂ fluid inclusions from the Fuyun region of the late Paleozoic Altay orogenic belt in Central Asia, NW China. The rock is characterized by an assemblage of garnet, orthopyroxene spinel, cordierite, biotite, plagioclase and quartz. Symplectites of orthopyroxene and spinel, and orthopyroxene and cordierite indicate decompression under UHT conditions. Mineral chemistry shows that the orthopyroxenes have high X_Mg and Al₂O₃ contents (up to 9.23 wt%). Biotites are enriched in TiO₂ and X_Mg and are stable under granulite facies conditions. The garnet and quartz from the rock carry monophase fluid inclusions which show peak melting temperatures of around-56.7°C, indicating a pure CO₂ species being presented during the ultrahigh-T metamorphism in the Altay orogenic belt. The inclusions homogenize into a liquid phase at temperatures around 15.3–23.8°C translating into CO₂ of the order of 0.86–0.88 g/cm³. Based on preliminary minerals paragenesis, reaction textures and petrogenetic grid considerations, we infer that the rock was subjected to UHT conditions. The CO₂-rich fluids were trapped during exhumation along a clockwise P-T path following isothermal decompression under UHT conditions. Project supported by the National Basic Research Program (973) of China (No. 2001CB409801), the Exemplary Young Teacher Education and Scientific Research Award Plan of China University, and Postdoctoral Fund of China (No. 2003033033), Postdoctoral Fund of Zhejiang Province, and Starting Fund of Education Ministry, China     

The Minimization of Public Health Risks in Newspapers after Hurricane Katrina

During natural disasters, mass media facilitate the timely provision of accurate information about health risks to the public. This study informs our understanding of such public health discourse, utilizing a content-analysis of 235 newspaper articles in four major metropolitan newspapers published in the five weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August 2005. These data reveal that a small and diminishing number of articles included public health information over time, detailed the hurricane impact on affected communities, and used reliable health sources. The implications for future research from a public health and media relations perspective are discussed.     

Xylem hydraulics: Rising up and higher!

This article attempts to examine how xylem hydraulic function is related to the size and redundancy of conduits and whether xylem hydraulic constraint limits tree height.     

Analyzing credibility of arguments in a web-based intelligent argumentation system for collective decision support based on <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis>-means clustering algorithm

We developed an intelligent argumentation and collaborative decision support system which allows stakeholders to exchange arguments and captures their rationale. Arguments with lack of credibility in an argumentation tree may negatively affect decisions in a collaborative decision making process if they are not identified collectively by the group. To address this issue, we perform clustering analysis on an argumentation tree using K-means clustering algorithm on credibility factors of arguments such as degree of an argument, and collective determination of an argument. Arguments are classified into multiple groups: from highly credible to lack of credibility. It helps capture rationale of selection of the most favorable solution alternative by the system. It helps decision makers identify arguments with high credibility based on collective determination. We perform an empirical study of the method and its results indicate that it is effective in supporting collective decision making using the system.     

β-Adrenoreceptor Agonist Isoproterenol Alters Oxidative Status,Inflammatory Signaling,Injury Markers and Apoptotic Cell Death in Myocardium of Rats

Sustained high levels of circulating catecholamines are reported to induce cardiotoxicity. Isoproterenol (ISP), a synthetic catecholamine has been widely employed to induce myocardial injury, though the role of inflammation and apoptosis is not well established. This study was designed to investigate the underlying mechanism of oxidative damage, inflammatory signaling, cell death in ISP induced myocardial infarction in rats. Wistar albino rats were divided in two groups: group I (sham control) and group II (ischemic control). ISP (85 mg/kg, s.c.) was administered at an interval of 24 h to group II for two consecutive days. On day third, after 48 h of the first injection of ISP, blood was collected from retro orbital plexus of rat eyes to estimate the biochemical parameters. Glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured for antioxidant status. Similarly, malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured as an index of lipid peroxidation. Cardiac markers (SGOT, CK-MB, TropI and LDH) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, CRP and TNF-α) were also estimated in ISP-induced rats. At the end of experiments animals were sacrificed for histopathological studies. GSH and SOD showed significant decrease after ISP challenge as compared to sham (control) group (p < 0.01) while MDA level, increased significantly (p < 0.01). ISP, also increased the level of cardiac markers and markers of inflammation significantly (p < 0.01), which was further verified by histopathological studies of the heart tissues. The study confirmed that ISP causes detrimental changes in the myocardium by altering cardiac and inflammatory markers, which leads to severe necrosis. The deleterious effects produced by ISP substantiate its suitability as a novel animal model for evaluation of cardioprotective agents/drugs.     

Antidyslipidaemic activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycyrrhiza glabra</Emphasis> in high fructose diet induced dsyslipidaemic Syrian golden hamsters

The root of Glycyrrhiza glabra is a traditional medicine used mainly for the treatment of peptic ulcer, hepatitis C, pulmonary and skin diseases, although clinical and experimental studies suggest that it has several other useful pharmacological properties such as antiinflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidative, anticancer activities, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and cardioprotective effects. Glycyrrhizinic acid, a major component of licorice, has antiulcer effect by raising the local concentration of prostaglandins that promote mucous secretion and cell proliferation in the stomach. Glycyrrhizin shows hepatoprotective effect by preventing changes in cell membrane permeability, inhibiting phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) and increasing survival rate of hepatocytes. Glabridin has effect in melanogenesis and inflammation by inhibiting the tyrosinase activity of melanocytes. α-glycyhrritinic acid exhibits anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting glucocorticoid metabolism. In present study ethanolic (95%) extract of root of Glycyrrhiza glabra and its fractions were investigated for its antidyslipidaemic activity on HFD induced dyslipidaemic hamsters. Ethanolic extract and its ethyl acetate soluble, water soluble and hexane soluble fractions decreased serum level of total cholesterol by 25.9, 38.0, 39.0 and 26.3%, respectively. On the other hand ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate soluble, water soluble and hexane soluble fraction increased the serum HDL-cholesterol level by 14.8, 34.3, 27.3 and 17.2%, respectively. Ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate fraction, aqueous fraction and hexane fraction decreased triglyceride level by 31.3, 37.2, 41.2 and 28.9%, respectively. The reduction in LDL-cholesterol level by ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate soluble fraction and water soluble fraction were 43.9, 31.0, 33.4 and 24.6%, respectively.     

Education for All: Policy Lessons from High-Achieving Countries

This paper draws upon case studies of countries which universalised primary education early in their development process and rapidly increased secondary enrolments thereafter. It examines the common elements of social, and specifically, education policy among these high achievers, and also evaluates the policy lessons for other developing countries from the experience of these countries. The supply and demand-side factors which help in explaining this success are compared with the situation prevailing in the rest of the developing world.     

中小企业管理和创新领域远程学习材料的设计与开发

本文主要阐述了当代远程学习的变化特征,其中包括学习的情境化、学习共同体与实践者共同体的结合、混合培训的运用等;同时,本文还对传统远程学习和现代在线学习环境下的课程设计和开发的各种模式进行了介绍.本案例中,学习资源的设计主要分为三个模块,即存在的技能、持续性的更新,以及全球化技能的发展.结合中小企业本身特点以及上述所提及的方面,为我们发展和清晰地表达一个中小企业持续性专业发展的框架奠定了基础.通过这个框架,在线学习共同体与离线的实践者共同体相结合,可以促进在某一特定文化背景下人们专业认同度和实践水平的提高.     

Interactive Distance Education for In-service Teachers In India

English: This paper discusses the interactive television technologies that are under development and experimentation in India. India, has developed Satellite based analogue and digital transmission systems for training and development purposes. The National Council of Educational Research and Training and Indira Gandhi National Open University have successfully conducted several experiments in training of in-service teachers using one-way video and two-way audio system. Use of VSAT and ISDN delivery channels is under experimentation, which provide two-way audio and video interaction during the teaching-learning process. The success of these programmes in teacher training has far reaching implications for teacher education in India.

Français: Cet article décrit les technologies de télévision interactive qui sont développées et experimentées en Inde. L'Inde a mis au point des systèmes de transmission analogues et digitaux par satellite. Le Conceil National pour la Recherche et la Formation en Èducation et l'Université Ouverte Nationale Indira Ghandi ont conduit avec succès plusieurs expériences sur la formation continue des enseignants utilisant la vidéo et un système émetteur-récepteur. L'utilisation des systèmes de diffusion VSAT et ISDN est expérimentée, ce qui fournit un système audio emetteur-récepteur et une interaction vidéo durant le processus de formation. Le succès de ces programmes dans la formation des mâitres a des implications à longue échéance pour l'éducation en Inde.

Deutsch: In diesem beitrag werden die interaktiven fernsehtechnologien, die in Indien gegenwärtig entwickelt und erprobt werden, vorgestellt. Indien hat satelliten-basierte analoge und digitale Übertragungssysteme für Aus-und Weiterbildungsswecke gebaut. Der National Council of Educational Research and Training und die Indira Gandhi National Open University haben mehrere lehrerfortbildungsprojekte erfolgreich mit mono-direktionalem fernsehen und bi-direktionalem audiosystem durchgefuhrt. Der erfolg dieses programmes in der lehrerfortbildung wird weitreichende folgen für die lehrerausbildung in Indien haben.