Double Volume Research Articles

Double-pass quantum volume hologram

We propose a new scheme for parallel spatially multimode quantum memory for light. The scheme is based on the propagating in different directions quantum signal wave and strong classical reference wave, like in a classical volume hologram and the previously proposed quantum volume hologram [Phys. Rev. A 81, 020302(R)(2010)]. The medium for the hologram consists of a spatially extended ensemble of cold spin-polarized atoms. In absence of the collective spin rotation during the interaction, two passes of light for both storage and retrieval are required, and therefore the present scheme can be called a double pass quantum volume hologram. The scheme is less sensitive to diffraction and therefore is capable of achieving higher density of storage of spatial modes as compared to the thin quantum hologram of [Phys. Rev. A 77, 020302(R)(2008)], which also requires two passes of light for both storage and retrieval. On the other hand, the present scheme allows to achieve a good memory performance with a lower optical depth of the atomic sample as compared to the quantum volume hologram. A quantum hologram capable of storing entangled images can become an important ingredient in quantum information processing and quantum imaging.

Biochemical characterization of Santalum album (Chandan) leaf peroxidase.

The Santalum peroxidase was extracted from the leaves and precipitated with double volume of chilled acetone. The optimum percent relative activity for the Santalum peroxidase was observed at pH 5.0 and 50°C temperature. The Santalum peroxidase per cent relative activity was stimulated in the presence of phenolic compounds like ferrulic acid and caffeic acids; however, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and protocatechuic acid act as inhibitors. All divalent cations Fe(2+), Mn(2+), Mg(2+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) stimulate the relative activity of the Santalum peroxidase at concentration of 2.0μM. Amino acids like L-alanine and L-valine activate the per cent relative activity, while L-proline and DL-methionine showed moderate inhibition for the Santalum peroxidase. However, a very low a concentration of cysteine acts as a strong inhibitor of Santalum peroxidase at the concentration of 0.4mM. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Native-PAGE) was performed for isoenzyme determination and two bands were observed. Km and Vmax values were calculated from Lineweaver-Burk graph. The apparent Vmax/Km value for O-dianisidine and H2O2 were 400 and 5.0 × 105 Units/min/mL respectively.

Postoperative thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in an infant: case report and literature review

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is caused by an imbalance of von Willebrand factor and its cleaving protease, which leads to the formation of microthrombi in end-organs. It rarely occurs in the pediatric population. Plasma exchange can significantly reduce mortality and morbidity. We present a 14-month-old infant in whom clinical and laboratory abnormalities compatible with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura were noted several days after resection of a large pelvic tumor. Treatment with double volume plasma exchange on postoperative day 5 led to complete resolution of the renal failure, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and neurological manifestations. ADAMTS13 inhibitors were negative and no mutations were found in factor H, factor I, membrane cofactor protein, and thrombomodulin to account for genetic predisposition to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Postoperative anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, and neurological deficits in children should raise the suspicion of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Early diagnosis is important because the disorder is readily and efficiently treated with plasma exchange.

Eve-Marie Engels and Thomas F. Glick (eds): The Reception of Charles Darwin in Europe

Charles Darwin was anxious about how his theory would be received before he even wrote the ‘‘abstract’’ that was eventually published as The Origin of Species in 1859. It is no surprise that there was an immediate reaction in England. However the reaction to Darwin’s theory differed from country to country. In addition, Darwin’s theory became known in several countries several years after its original publication. In many cases its reception has not been studied in a systematic way. Consequently, in order to understand how his theory was received in Europe, it is necessary to examine each country separately and understand the respective cultural, political, and historical context. This is what the double volume work under the title The Reception of Charles Darwin in Europe aims to achieve. It is edited by Eve-Marie Engels, Professor of Ethics in the Life Sciences at the University of Tubingen, Germany, and Thomas Glick, Professor of History at Boston University, USA. Glick is well known as a founding figure (perhaps the founding figure) in the study of the reception of Darwin, as he was the editor of the first book ever published on the subject in 1974 (Glick 1988; a nice overview of reception studies is given in Glick 2010). There is no way that such a huge book can be reviewed in detail. I will rather provide a brief overview of the contents of the volumes and then describe how this book can be used in understanding what is at stake with the teaching of Darwin and evolution in Europe today. After a preface, the acknowledgments, and the list of contributors the first volume includes a very informative timeline, compiled by the editors, about the European reception of Charles Darwin. This is a 47-page long timeline, from 1809 until 2008. Then in their introduction, the editors provide an overview of Darwin’s reception in Europe. Most importantly, on page 3 they present a list of questions they formulated which the authors could use as a guiding thread. The questions concerned the specific factors in society which encouraged or inhibited the reception in specific disciplines, whether the general philosophical ideas and methodological standards of these disciplines influenced the reception, whether there were any scientific societies or institutions which were relevant for the acceptance or reception, whether there was any distinction among the various

On taming the warped radion with supersymmetry

In warped models that solve the hierarchy problem, there is generally no dynamical relation between the size of the fifth dimension and the scale of electroweak symmetry breaking (EWSB). The establishment of such a relation, without fine-tuning, requires that Casimir contributions to the radion potential not exceed the energy density associated with EWSB. Here, we examine the use of supersymmetry for controlling the Casimir energy density and making quantum contributions calculable. We compute the effects of supersymmetry breaking at the UV and IR boundaries of warped backgrounds, in the presence of brane localized kinetic terms. Various limits of supersymmetry breaking are examined. We find that when supersymmetry is broken on the UV brane, vacuum contributions to the radion potential can be controlled (as likely necessary for EWSB to govern the radion potential) via small soft masses as well as a “double volume suppression.” Our formalism can also provide a setup for radion stabilization by bulk fields, when supersymmetry is broken on both the UV and the IR branes.

Severe hydrops in the infant of a Rhesus D-positive mother due to anti-c antibodies diagnosed antenatally: a case report

IntroductionRhesus haemolytic disease of the newborn is a prototype of maternal isoimmunisation and fetal haemolytic disease. There are other rare blood group antigens capable of causing alloimmunisation and haemolytic disease such as c, C, E, Kell and Duffy. In India, after the confirmation of a newborn's blood group, antibodies are screened only if the mother is Rehsus D-negative negative and the father is Rhesus D-positive. Hydrops in Rhesus positive women are investigated along the lines of non-immune hydrops.Case presentationWe report the case of a patient from India where irregular antibodies were requested for an O-positive 26-year-old mother in order to investigate fetal hydrops. Anti-c antibody was revealed and the fetus was treated successfully with compatible O negative and c negative intrauterine blood transfusions. The baby was treated postnatally with double volume exchange transfusion with the same compatible blood, and was discharged 30 days after birth.ConclusionWe highlight the importance of conducting irregular antibody screening for women with significant obstetric history and fetal hydrops. This could assist in diagnosing and successfully treating the fetus with appropriate antigen negative cross-matched compatible blood. We note, however, that anti-c immunoglobulin is not yet readily available.

Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Acute Bilirubin Encephalopathy

The aim of the study was to determine the neurodevelopmental outcome of acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE) in children who underwent double volume exchange transfusion (DVET). The 25 referred newborns of ≥ 35 weeks gestation with total serum bilirubin >20 mg dl(-1) and signs of ABE were enrolled and followed up at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Denver Development Screening Test (DDST), Neurological examination along with MRI at discharge and brain stem evoked response audiometry (BERA) at 3 months were done. Abnormal neurodevelopment was defined as either (i) cerebral palsy or (ii) abnormal DDST or (iii) abnormal BERA. The mean bilirubin at admission was 37 mg dl(-1). MRI and BERA were abnormal in 61% and 76%. At 1 year, DDST and neurological abnormality were seen in 60% and 27% and 80% had combined abnormal neurodevelopment. MRI had no relation (P = 0.183) but abnormal BERA had a significant association (P = 0.004) with abnormal outcome. Intermediate and advanced stages of ABE associated with significant adverse outcome in spite of DVET.

Synthesis, Characterization and Photopolymerization of a New Dimethacrylate Monomer Based on (α-Methyl-benzylidene)bisphenol Used as Root Canal Sealer

Methacrylate resin-based sealers have attracted wide attention because of their easy handling, superior aesthetic qualities, good mechanical properties and excellent adhesive ability with dentin. 2,2-Bis[4-(2′-hydroxy-3′-methacryloyloxypropoxy)-phenyl]-propane (Bis-GMA) is the main component of the newly developed commercial root canal sealer 'Epiphany', which is one of the methacrylate resin-based sealers. In order to further reduce the polymerization volume shrinkage of Bis-GMA, 4,4′-(α-methylbenzylidene)-bis(2′-hydroxy-3′-methacryloyloxy-propoxy)benzene (4,4′-AMBHMB) with higher molecular weight and larger molecular volume was synthesized to replace Bis-GMA as one of the components of the root canal sealer used in this study. The structure of monomer 4,4′-AMBHMB was confirmed by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, mass spectrum and elemental analysis. The photopolymerization behavior of mixture of 4,4′-AMBHMB and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) was investigated by FT-IR. Degree of double bond conversion, volume shrinkage, water sorption and solubility, diffusion coefficient value, flexure strength and glass transition temperature of 4,4′-AMBHMB/TEGDMA system with a mass ratio of 50:50 were measured. A 50:50 Bis-GMA/TEGDMA formulation was used as reference. The results illustrated that 4,4′-AMBHMB/TEGDMA system had the same double bond conversion and water sorption with Bis-GMA/TEGDMA system. Polymerization shrinkage, water solubility and diffusion coefficient of 4,4′-AMBHMB/TEGDMA system were lower than that of the Bis-GMA/TEGDMA system, whereas the flexural strength and glass-transition temperature of 4,4′-AMBHMB/TEGDMA system were higher than that of the Bis-GMA/TEGDMA system.

Synthesis and characterization of a new dimethacrylate monomer based on 5,5′-bis(4-hydroxylphenyl)-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan for root canal sealer application

In this study, a new dimethacrylate monomer 5,5'-bis[4-(2'-hydroxy-3'-methacryloyloxy-propoxy)-phenyl]-hexahydro-4,7-methan-oindan (5,5'-BHMPHM) with molecular weight of 640 and large molecular volume was designed and synthesized. The structure of monomer 5,5'-BHMPHM was confirmed by FT-IR, 1H-NMR and elemental analysis. Degree of double bond conversion, volume shrinkage, contact angle, water sorption and solubility, diffusion coefficient value, flexure strength and modulus of 5,5'-BHMPHM/tri(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) based resin were measured. 2,2-bis[4-(2'-hydroxy-3'-methacryloyloxy-propoxy)-phenyl]-propane(Bis-GMA)/TEGDMA based resin was used as reference. The result illustrated that the double bond conversion, polymerization shrinkage, and diffusion coefficient value of 5,5'-BHMPHM/TEGDMA based resin were significantly lower than that of Bis-GMA/TEGDMA based resin (P<0.05). Water sorption, solubility, flexure strength and modulus of 5,5'-BHMPHM/TEGDMA based resin were higher than that of Bis-GMA/TEGDMA based resin (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between 5,5'-BHMPHM/TEGDMA based resin and Bis-GMA/TEGDMA based resin in contact angle (P>0.05).

Erratum To: Re-orienting STS: Emergent Studies of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Southeast Asia

Erratum to: East Asia Science, Technology and Society: an International Journal (2009) 3: 163–171 The originally published text and reference list of the article in the double issue Volume 3, No.2 ...

Dynamic Mobility of Rodlike Goethite Particles

In this work we consider how the spheroidal shape of colloidal particles and their concentration in suspension influence their electrokinetic properties in alternating (ac) electric fields, in particular, their electrophoretic mobility, traditionally known as dynamic mobility in the case of ac fields. Elaboration of a formula for the mobility is based on two previous models related to the electrokinetic response of spheroids in dilute suspensions, completed by means of an approximate formula to account for the finite concentration of particles. At the end, semianalytical formulas have been obtained in the form of the classical Helmholtz-Smoluchowski equation for the mobility with three frequency-dependent factors, each dealing with inertia relaxation, electric double layer polarization and volume fraction effects. The two resulting expressions differ basically in their consideration of double layer polarization processes, as one considers only Maxwell-Wagner-O'Konski polarization (related to the mismatch between the conductivities of the particles plus their double layers and the liquid medium), and the other also includes the concentration polarization effect. Since in the frequency range typically used in dynamic mobility measurements the latter polarization has already relaxed, both models are capable of accounting for the dynamic mobility data experimentally obtained on elongated goethite particles in the 1-18 MHz frequency range. Results are presented concerning the effects of volume fraction, ionic strength, and pH, and they indicate that the models are good descriptions of the electrokinetics of these systems, and that dynamic mobility is very sensitive not only to the zeta potential of the particles, but also to their concentration, shape, and average size, and to the stability of the suspensions. The effects of ionic strength and pH on the dynamic mobility are very well captured by both models, and a consistent description of the dimensions and zeta potentials of the particles is reached. Increasing the volume fraction of the suspensions produces mobility variations that are only partially described by the theoretical calculations due to the likely flocculation of the particles, mainly associated with the fact that goethite particles are not homogeneously charged, with attraction between positive and negative patches being possible.

Design and construction of a versatile dual volume heteronuclear double resonance microcoil NMR probe

Improved NMR detection of mass limited samples can be obtained by taking advantage of the mass sensitivity of microcoil NMR, while throughput issues can be addressed using multiple, parallel sample detection coils. We present the design and construction of a double resonance 300-MHz dual volume microcoil NMR probe with thermally etched 440-nL detection volumes and fused silica transfer lines for high-throughput stopped-flow or flow-through sample analysis. Two orthogonal solenoidal detection coils and the novel use of shielded inductors allowed the construction of a probe with negligible radio-frequency cross talk. The probe was resonated at 1H– 2D (upper coil) and 1H– 13C (lower coil) frequencies such that it could perform 1D and 2D experiments with active locking frequency. The coils exhibited line widths of 0.8–1.1 Hz with good mass sensitivity for both 1H and 13C NMR detection. 13C-directly detected 2D HETCOR spectra of 5% v/v 13C labeled acetic acid were obtained in less than 5 min. Demonstration of the probe characteristics as well as applications of the versatile two-coil double resonance probe are discussed.

Ethylmalonyl-CoA Mutase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides Defines a New Subclade of Coenzyme B12-dependent Acyl-CoA Mutases

Coenzyme B(12)-dependent mutases are radical enzymes that catalyze reversible carbon skeleton rearrangement reactions. Here we describe Rhodobacter sphaeroides ethylmalonyl-CoA mutase (Ecm), a novel member of the family of coenzyme B(12)-dependent acyl-CoA mutases, that operates in the recently discovered ethylmalonyl-CoA pathway for acetate assimilation. Ecm is involved in the central reaction sequence of this novel pathway and catalyzes the transformation of ethylmalonyl-CoA to methylsuccinyl-CoA in combination with a second enzyme that was further identified as promiscuous ethylmalonyl-CoA/methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase. In contrast to the epimerase, Ecm is highly specific for its substrate, ethylmalonyl-CoA, and accepts methylmalonyl-CoA only at 0.2% relative activity. Sequence analysis revealed that Ecm is distinct from (2R)-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase as well as isobutyryl-CoA mutase and defines a new subfamily of coenzyme B(12)-dependent acyl-CoA mutases. In combination with molecular modeling, two signature sequences were identified that presumably contribute to the substrate specificity of these enzymes.

Structural Investigations of Novel Indoloacridines

5,6-Dihydro-9-chloro-7-phenylindolo[3,2-c]acridinium sulfates (3a-c) were formed from 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazol-1-ones (1a-c) on reaction with 2-amino-5-chlorobenzophenone. 3b and 3c are isostructural and all three sulfates crystallize in the triclinic system with the space group P $$ \bar{1} $$ each with two crystallographically independent organic cations and one sulfate anion in the asymmetric unit. 3a exhibits the parameters a = 9.8896(17), b = 14.165(2) and c = 14.583(2) A, α = 83.184(3)°, β = 78.985(3)° and γ = 75.903(3)°; 3b a = 10.5713(9), b = 14.5667(12) and c = 14.9947(13) A, α = 90.916(1)°, β = 97.153(1)° and γ = 97.208(1)°; and 3c a = 10.5505(10), b = 14.6090(13) and c = 15.2960(14) A, and α = 91.4310(10)°, β = 98.8630(10)° and γ = 98.9100(10)°. The structure of 3c exhibits voids of 286 A3 of ill defined and disordered solvate molecules. The structure of 3a is both non-merohedrally twinned and also exhibits an interesting type of pseudosymmetry. All but the sulfate ion and the ethylene moieties also fit with a unit cell half the size with only one independent cation, and disordered ethylene moieties and sulfate anions. The choice of unit cell was made based on the diffraction pattern and the absence of disorder in the larger cell, pointing towards alternating ordered ethylene and sulfate units rather than randomly disordered ones. [The structures of three indoloacridines 3a, 3b, and 3c with similar packing motifs are described. The structure of 3a is both non-merohedrally twinned and also exhibits an interesting type of pseudosymmetry by being a double volume ordered supercell of an alternative cell with disordered ethylene and sulfate anion moieties.]

Investigation on Deactivation and Regeneration of a Commercial Ni/Al2O3 Catalyst in Coal Volatile Decomposition

The deactivation mechanism of a commercial Ni/Al2O3 catalyst used during coal volatile decomposition was investigated by transmission electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption. The existence of carbonous species in the reaction system promoted nickel particle growth during coal volatile decomposition, and subsequent coking from volatile cracking. Throughout the catalyst deactivation tests, coke deposits were observed as encapsulating carbon in the spent catalyst, and nickel particles doubled in size from around 10 to 20 nm. The spent catalyst was regenerated in oxygen at relatively moderate conditions by removing the coke deposits. As a result, the catalyst activity was restored remarkably; 1.7 times the surface area and double pore volume were present in the regenerated catalyst compared to the spent catalyst. Also, the regenerated catalyst showed high activity for coal volatile decomposition. Under catalysis of the regenerated Ni/Al2O3, the tarry material in coal volatile matter could transform much more completely, gaining both high gas yields and high carbon balance.We also found that methanation is structure sensitive to nickel particles. Under the action of the regenerated catalyst, CO formed during coal volatile decomposition could not be further converted into methane, and the product gases provided a higher CO concentration. Noticeably, tar decomposition was confirmed to be less structure sensitive to the nickel particles than CO-methanation.

Guest Editor's Preface

GUEST EDITOR'S PREFACE For successivedecades Tudor literature has had to fightforitsplace on the university curriculum. Whilst as a field of academic enquiryithas continuedto enjoy lively attentionfrom practisingacademics, independentresearchers, and graduatestudents, itsfoothold on theundergraduatesyllabus(surely one of the most significant recruiting grounds)has remainedfarfromsecure. How could theperiod between thepublicationof the MorteD'Arthur and The Shepheardes Calender be accounted for? All too frequently theanswerwas thatitcould or shouldnot: timeand space in theacademic yearwere under ever-increasing pressure. And anyway, didn'tC. S. Lewis say thatthis was 'thedrab age', 'a period inwhich, forgood or ill,poetryhas littlerichnesseitherof sound or images. The goodwork isneat and temperate, thebad flatand dry. There is more bad thangood'?' The widespread investment across theuniversity sector inmodularization and semesterization onlyrenderedthesituationintheuniversity classroom more acute. Between theScylla of 'MedievalLiterature' and Charybdis of 'The Renaissance' survey courses,there was, well, theChristmasvacation. Skelton might scamperbehind and rubshoulders with the GreenKnight and the Wife of Bath.And in thesecondpart of theyear Wyattwas allowed tomake an appearance (alltoooftenas a foretaste ofDonnean poetics), withSurreylimping behind.And then, what aboutMore's Utopia 'but wasn't that writtenfirst in Latin?', a former colleagueenquired. More recently, ithas been increasingly apparent thatfamiliarschemesof periodizationand taxonomy are failingtohave theiraccustomedpurchase. In criticalstudies of theearly modern period, theproliferation of interest ingenre theory, politicalnarrativization, women'swriting, and theinfluence of classical translation, forexample,hasmeant thatthelater Elizabethans arenow seen to do businessinamuchmore vigorousfashion with thetextualremains of earlier decades. However, given our acute sensitivities to discontinuity, irony, and anxiety,itshouldnot come as a surprisethattherepositioning of sixteenth centurytextshas failed to produce a reassuringly evolutionary narrativeof culturaland literary developmentunder theTudors. The finalessays in this collection, by Anne Lake PrescottandColin Burrow,attend most particularly to theproblemssurrounding theconflictual natureof identity politicsin thefinal decades of thecentury, and indeed theirdiscussionsengage closelywith the C. S. Lewis, English Literature in theSixteenthCenturyExcludingDrama (Oxford: Clarendon Press, I954, repr. I959), p. 64 vi Guest Editor's Preface earlierstudiesinthis volume, which, intheir different ways,pointup thecultural crisesof interpretation beingnegotiatedbyearliergenerations ofTudorwriters. The collapse of thementalite of thedrab age in academe may also be witnessed intheever-increasing growth of academic research networks devoted to the whole spanof theearly modern period,and in the widespread currency of final-year options inundergraduatedegree courses that invitestudentsto attendtoquestionsof genre,gender, politicalcontroversy, and theory. Changing patterns in thepublishing industry and the revolutionin e-resourceshave enabled us tounpick thefamiliar narrative of thecanon in theuniversity class roomaswell as in thelibrary archive.Ithas been an enormouspleasure toedit this volumeand to work for a substantiallength of time with somany dedicated scholarsofTudor literature, from whom I have learnedsomuch. Iwish to take this opportunityto thankthecontributors fortheir continuing commitmentto this project. My gratitudeisalso expressedtotheYearbook ofEnglish Studies editor JohnBatchelorand editorialassistant Allyna Ward fortheir advice and encour agementthroughout thepreparationof this double volume. Mike Pincombe,as always,has been an invaluablesourceof supportand advice as thecollection evolved.Throughout itsperiod of gestation,the textualpreparationof this volumehas beenmeticulous andwas undertakenbyLindaJones; and Iwould likeonce again tovoicemy thankstoher.Last butbynomeans least, my thanks go to my family, Sian,Bronwen,andHuw.Without their continuing supportand understanding, thiscollection would nothave been possible. UNIVERSITY OFWALEs, BANGOR ANDREw HIscOCK The nextvolumesof theYearbook will be titled Literature andReligion, in2009. Correspondence relatedto theYearbook shouldbe addressed to: ProfessorJohn Batchelor Editor,Yearbook ofEnglish Studies School of English NewcastleUniversity Newcastle NEI 7RU e-mail:j.b.batchelor@ncl.ac.uk ...

Introduction: Special Issue Ecocriticism Part 2

The introduction to Part 1 of this double volume traced the institutional history of ecocriticism by referring predominantly to the initiatives of Anglo-American ecocritics as frontrunners in the field. A common denominator shared by the collection of essays in the first volume was the focus on human behaviour and attitudes towards the environment with specific reference to the human/animal relationship in a South African context. In the second volume the focus shifts slightly to consider the of ecocritical writing/reading, the representation of landscape(s) and the potential of literary texts to promote an ecological culture. Marshall (1994) states that, despite the relative novelty of ecocriticism as a critical approach, there has always been a strong ecocritical heritage in most national literatures. Texts such as Walden (Henry David Thoreau), A Sand County Almanac (Aldo Leopold), Silent Spring (Rachel Carson), Desert Solitaire (Edward Abbey) and works by the Romantic poets have all acquired classic status as part of a green canon. In his taxonomy of green literature, Murphy (2000: 11) maintains the distinction between writing (non-fiction) and literature (fiction) when he identifies four modes and genres, each with its own idiosyncratic structural characteristics: writing, literature, environmental writing and environmental literature. Buell (1995: 6-8) suggests the following criteria for determining the ecocritical status of a text: * The non-human environment is present not merely as a framing device, but as a presence that begins to suggest that human history is implicated in natural history. * The human interest is not understood to be the only legitimate interest. * Human accountability towards the environment is part of the text's ethical orientation. * Some sense of the environment as a process rather than as a constant or a given is at least implicit in the text. Glotfelty (1996: xix) proposes a set of helpful questions to be asked when attempting an ecocritical reading of a text: How can green literature be typified as a genre? How is the environment/environmental crisis portrayed in the text? Are the values portrayed in the text consistent with basic ecological principles? How do our metaphors of the land influence the way we treat it? Should place be regarded as a separate critical category? How has the concept of and literature changed over time and within different cultures? What role does the physical setting play in the plot of a novel? How is landscape represented in the text? What cross-fertilisation is possible between literary studies and environmental discourse in related disciplines such as art, etc.? A critical engagement with the above-mentioned theoretical parameters set by Murphy, Buell and Glotfelty underpins, to some extent or another, each of the essays by Larsen, Sewlall, Yhurman, Keuris, Labuschagne and Swanepoel in this issue. In his essay To See Things for the First Time: Before and After Ecocriticism Larsen devises and introduces the imaginative concept of the boundary marker to illuminate his progressive definition of ecocriticism as essentially a critique of the basic boundary, namely that between culture and nature; human and non-human. For Larsen, the fostering and growing awareness of our collective denial of a shared responsibility for the relocation of the boundary between culture and nature constitutes the ultimate goal of ecocriticism. Subsections 2.1 and 2.2 of his essay specifically deal with the core concepts of place, space and (-)scapes. He finally presents the boundary marker as methodological support for the analysis of travel narratives by Chatwin and White set in the Australian outback. Like Larsen, Sewlall explores the culture/nature dialectic in Mda's Heart of Redness, a bioregionalist novel dealing primarily with society and its relationship with the land--a particularly forceful symbol in the South African literary imagination. …

Double volume reflection of a proton beam by a sequence of two bent crystals

The doubling of the angle of beam deflection due to volume reflection of protons by a sequence of two bent silicon crystals was experimentally observed at the 400 GeV proton beam of the CERN SPS. A similar sequence of short bent crystals can be used as an efficient primary collimator for the Large Hadron Collider.

Osmotic Selection of Human Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood

The isolation of undifferentiated adult stem/progenitor cells remains a challenging task primarily due to the rare quantity of these cells in biological samples and the lack of unique markers. Herein, we report a relatively straightforward method for isolation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) based on their unusual resistance to osmotic lysis, which we term "osmotic selection" (OS). MSCs can remarkably withstand significant exposure to hypotonic conditions (> 30 min) with only a reversible impairment in cell proliferation and with no loss of stem cell potential after exposure. Comparison of MSCs to other circulating nonhematopoietic cells revealed a time regime, by which purification of these cells would be attainable without considerable cell loss. OS showed a 50-fold enrichment of fibroblast colony-forming units from umbilical cord blood samples when compared to commonly employed techniques. After upstream processing, isolated cells using OS were immunophenotyped to be CD14-, CD34-, CD45-, CD44+, CD105+, and CD106+, and displayed multipotent differentiation. Preliminary investigations to determine mechanisms responsible for osmolytic resistance revealed MSCs to have an ineffective volume of 59%, with the ability to double cell volume at infinite dilution. Disruption of filamentous actin polymerization by cytochalasin D sensitized MSCs to osmotic lysis, which suggests a cytoskeletal element involved in osmolytic resistance.

Minocycline Blocks Acute Bilirubin-Induced Neurological Dysfunction in Jaundiced Gunn Rats

Background: Extreme hyperbilirubinemia is treated with double volume exchange transfusion, which may take hours to commence. A neuroprotective agent that could be administered immediately might be clinically useful. Minocycline, an anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic semisynthetic tetracycline, prevents hyperbilirubinemia-induced cerebellar hypoplasia in Gunn rats. Acute brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) abnormalities occur after giving sulfadimethoxine to 16-day-old jaundiced Gunn rats to displace bilirubin into tissue including brain. Objective: To assess whether minocycline is neuroprotective in this model of acute bilirubin encephalopathy. Methods: We recorded BAEPs at baseline and 6 h after injecting sulfadimethoxine. Minocycline 0.5 mg/kg (n = 4), 5 mg/kg (n = 9), 50 mg/kg (n = 9) or 500 mg/kg (n = 3, all died) was administered 15 min before sulfadimethoxine (0 h). Controls received saline followed by either sulfadimethoxine (n = 13) or saline (n = 7). Results: At 6 h total plasma bilirubin decreased from 10.84 ± 0.88 mg/dl (mean ± SD) to 0.70 ± 0.35 mg/dl (p <10^–9) in all sulfadimethoxine-injected groups. At 6 h, there was complete protection against decreased amplitudes of BAEP waves II and III and increased I-II and I-III interwave intervals (brainstem conduction times corresponding to I–III and I–V in humans) with 50 mg/kg minocycline, and partial protection with lower doses. Conclusions: Minocycline 50 mg/kg 15 min prior to an intervention that normally produces acute bilirubin neurotoxicity is neuroprotective in jaundiced Gunn rat pups. Further studies are needed to investigate the temporal course and mechanism of neuroprotection. Minocycline, administered immediately, may be clinically useful in treating extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and preventing kernicterus. We believe our model provides an efficient in vivomodel to screen and evaluate new agents that are neuroprotective against bilirubin toxicity and kernicterus.