Electro-acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels and transplantation of umbilical cord bloodderived mesenchymal stem cells for treating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is a novel means of treating cerebral ischemia/reper- fusion, and can promote angiogenesis and neurological functional recovery. Acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels also has positive effects as a treatment for cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion. Therefore, we hypothesized that electro-acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels plus mesenchymal stem cell transplantation may have better therapeutic effects on the promotion of angiogenesis and recovery of neurological function than either treatment alone. In the present study, human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated, cultured, identified and intracranially transplanted into the striatum and subcortex of rats at 24 hours following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Subsequently, rats were electro-acupunctured at Conception and Governor vessels at 24 hours after transplantation. Modified neurological severity scores and immunohistochemistry findings revealed that the combined interventions of electro-acupuncture and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation clearly improved neurological impairment and up-regulated vascular endothelial growth factor expression around the isch- emic focus. The combined intervention provided a better outcome than mesenchymal stem cell transplantation alone. These findings demonstrate that electro-acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation have synergetic effects on promot- ing neurological function recovery and angiogenesis in rats after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Cerebral Vascular Accidents (CVA) Victims Conception and Birth Time-Links to Longevity, Lithuania, 1989-2013

In year 2001 a paper in the ANAS considered links between month of birth and longevity. In the following years we published four papers related to “big killers” (cardiac and oncology) that showed some differences in birth months distribution of this group and studied by LA, NS Gavrilov’s centenarians. The aim of this study was to study conception and birth months of another modern “big killer”—cerebral stroke (CVA) that is taking a leading role among cardiovascular causes of death in the last decades. Methods: 130,120 deaths of both gender CVA victims in Lithuania at 1989-2013 were studied. In addition to birth month, the months of conception (9 months before birth) were studied. Our data were compared with results of centenarians (birth of LA, NS Gavrilov’s study and transformed by authors also their conception month). Results: The maximum of births were January, March and May for CVA victims, while the analogical conception maximum were in April, June, May and July. The similar data for centenarians were that maximal births were in November, September, October (LA, NS Gavrilov) and conception in December, January, February. These results are similar to data related to cardiac and oncology deaths published in our previous publications. Conclusion: The conception and birth month of victims of CVA is different of similar data obtained by centenarians study. Different environmental conditions at different parts of the year and solar cycle can play a role affecting the embryo at early stages of development, predisposing to some pathologies in coming years of life.

Time of Conception and Birth-Relation of “Big Killers” Patients and Longevity

In recent years some interrelationships between time of birth and longevity were published. Concomitant publications appeared demonstrating links between Space Weather and the timing of medical events;in part of both these studies it was shown that Space Weather indices are stronger connected with the time of conception as with the birth time. The aim of these study was to consider birth and conception month of patients suffering from a number of “big killer” pathologies, affecting human longevity and comparing with published data on centenarians—100 - 112 years old persons in the USA. Patients and Methods: We included monthly births distribution of our four papers including patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)—n-3765, and admitted in another tertiary medical facility for AMI—n-22,047, and, also patients suffering Rapid—n-1239 and Sudden Cardiac Death—n-327 and, also, patients with oncologic malignancies—n-44587. At all in this group 71,965 patients were included. Their birth and conception months were compared with analogical data of 1574 people of 100 - 112 years old using data of L.A. and N.S. Gavrilov for USA centenarians. Results: The birth months of the cardiovascular and oncology patients were maximal in January, March and April (above 10% at each of these months);their conception was maximal in April, June and July. The monthly distribution of conception and birth of the studied population is presented in Tables 1-3. The maximal birth months of the centenarians were November, September, and October;the maximal conception months were December, January, and February. Conclusion: People suffering Myocardial Infarction, Sudden Cardiac Death and Oncologic Malignancies are in higher numbers born in the first four months of the year and conception in April, June and July. The maximal birth months of the very old people were November, September and October and conception were December, January and February.

Human Rights in Civil Judicial Documents:Conception and Function

Traditional human rights theory tends to hold that human rights should be aimed at defending public authority and that the legal issue of human rights is a matter of public law.However,the development of human rights concepts and practices is not just confined to this.A textual search shows that the term“human rights”exists widely in China’s civil judicial documents.Among the 3,412 civil judicial documents we researched,the concept of“human rights”penetrates all kinds of disputes in lawsuits,ranging from property rights,contracts,labor,and torts to marital property,which is embedded in both the claims of the parties concerned and the reasoning of judges.Human rights have become the discourse and yardstick for understanding and evaluating social behavior.The widespread use of the term“human rights”in civil judicial documents reflects at least three concepts related to human rights:first,the rights to subsistence and development are the primary basic human rights;second,the judicial protection of human rights is a bottom-line guarantee;third,the protection of human rights aims to achieve equal rights.Today,judges quote the theory of human rights in judicial judgments from time to time,evidencing that human rights have a practical function in judicial adjudication activities,and in practice this is mainly manifested in declaring righteous values and strengthening arguments with the values and ideas related to human rights,using the provisions concerning human rights in the Constitution to interpret the constitutionality,and using the principles of human rights to interpret blurred rules and rank the importance of different rights.

On Stephen Crane's Naturalistic Conception and Symbolic Techniques

Stephen Crane spent a very productive life in his short span of life. His challenge against convention helps him to accept new ideas that were popular in his time, like naturalism, symbolism and impressionism. In particular, Crane gave the perfect union of naturalistic conception and symbolic techniques in his novels, which are valued by critics as American literary classic works with highly artistic value, and his scant legacy was a rich one to the America literature. This paper tells us that, no matter how literary scholarships interpret and misinterpret Stephen Crane's literary works, the significance of Crane's achievement in the development of American literature has not been and will not be ignored.

Thinking on the Artistic Conception Creation of Plant Landscaping Design in Chinese Style Garden

In modern Chinese style garden, the designer could express the emotions in garden creation to produce artistic conception with landscape plants, which could make the sightseers desire to integrate with the nature and led to sympathizing with the concept, thereby motivating and arousing people＇s emotion to return to and close to nature. Through the 6 specific characteristics of ＂shape, color, aroma, shadow, sound and art＂ of landscape plants, some ways to build artistic conception in Chinese style garden were introduced in this study to provide references for the creation of artistic conception creation through senses in the future landscaping design.

Application of Aesthetic Value of the World Modern Garden City and Exploration & Design of Its Artistic Conception——Using Chengdu City as a Case Study

This study explored the origin and development of modern garden city,by integrating concepts of world modern garden city and characteristics of Chengdu cultures,analyzed the application of its aesthetic value and the design of its artistic conception.It was found that Chengdu City had high aesthetic value such as a large area of green spaces and unique recreational cultures,as well as a great potential of unifying idyllic images and natural cultures.To design Chengdu into a world modern garden city,the planning of its urban green space system should be taken as the foundation,"one group and three districts" as the construction system,urban folk cultures,logistics and traffic,information and other such networks as the support to achieve the "beauty of nature,social equity and urban-rural integration".

Classical Chinese Gardens and Their Artistic Conceptions

Elementary knowledge of classical Chinese gardens was introduced,its history was studied in 3 stages:initial phase,development phase and prosperous phase,component system of classical Chinese gardens was introduced from different perspectives,cultural background and specific demonstrations of its artistic conceptions were expounded as key points,and it was proposed that its artistic conceptions were actually reverence and respect for the nature,and also expressions of various philosophical doctrines and religious cultures.On this basis,construction techniques and connotations of artistic conception were researched as well as its components and expression ways.It was proposed that construction elements of artistic conceptions included buildings,hill stones,water and plants;image-building in the landscaping should be stressed,and artistic conception integrated into key points to bring out the theme,garden scenes and paintings combined.This study aimed at providing references for relevant researches through introducing classical Chinese gardens and their artistic conceptions.

A Comparative Study of Chinese and Western Conceptions of Effective Teaching in Tertiary Education

Effective teaching has always been a goal pursued by teachers as a part of education both from the western and eastern society,for it to some extend is considered an effective way to improve society.In this essay,both Chinese and western conceptions of teaching and learning will be discussed.In doing so,their differences and similarities can be seen clearly,which will help the cross-cultural educators to understand their teaching environment and learning styles.

Combinatorial effects of conception and governor vessel electroacu-puncture and human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells on pathomorphologic lesion and cellular apoptosis in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the combinatorial effects of conception and governor vessel electroacupuncture(EA) and human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells(HUCB-MSCs) on pathomorphologic lesion and cellular apoptosis in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. METHODS: With the HUCB-MSCs isolated, cultured and identified and the models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion established, the HUCB-MSCs of passage three were intracranially transplanted and the EA at conception and governor vessels was applied. The pathomorphologic lesion by hematoxylin-eosin staining and the cellular apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling method around the ischemic focus were observed. RESULTS: The cultured adherent HUCB-MSCs exhibited a spindle shape and expressed MSC-specific markers, with the cell purity and proliferation rate significantly increasing after the primary passage. HE staining showed that there were no pathological changes observed in the sham surgery group. However, in the PBS transplantation group, degeneration and necrosis of a great number of nerve cells were seen. In both the HUCB-MSCs transplantation group and the HUCB-MSCs transplantation + EA group, reparative changes of the pathomorphism of the tissue were found. Both combination treatment and simple MSCs treatment were able to improve the pathomorphorlogic lesion following cerebral ischemia and reduce the abnormal TUNEL-positive numbers, with former better than latter. CONCLUSION: HUCB-MSCs improve pathological lesions and inhibit the cellular apoptosis around the cerebral ischemic area. EA at conception and governor vessels also improve pathological lesion and inhibit the cellular apoptosis in rats treated with HUCB-MSCs transplantation, which effects were superior to that of simple HUCB-MSCs transplantation.

The evolving conception and practice of acupuncture-moxibustion

With the emergence of the modified forms of acupuncture-moxibustion such as dry needle,the discipline acupuncture-moxibustion faces significant opportunities and challenges.The concept and treatment of acupuncture-moxibustion need to combine with modern medicine to consolidate the effectiveness and apply the research results to guide clinical treatment.By reviewing the brief history of acupuncture-moxibustion in the Western countries and summarizing the definitions,this article was to propose the trend and development strategies of this discipline in the future.

The Association between Researchers’Conceptions of Research and Their Strategic Research Agendas

Purpose:In studies of the research process,the association between how researchers conceptualize research and their strategic research agendas has been largely overlooked.This study aims to address this gap.Design/methodology/approach:This study analyzes this relationship using a dataset of more than 8,500 researchers across all scientific fields and the globe.It studies the associations between the dimensions of two inventories:the Conceptions of Research Inventory(CoRI)and the Multi-Dimensional Research Agenda Inventory—Revised(MDRAI-R).Findings:The findings show a relatively strong association between researchers’conceptions of research and their research agendas.While all conceptions of research are positively related to scientific ambition,the findings are mixed regarding how the dimensions of the two inventories relate to one another,which is significant for those seeking to understand the knowledge production process better.Research limitations:The study relies on self-reported data,which always carries a risk of response bias.Practical implications:The findings provide a greater understanding of the inner workings of knowledge processes and indicate that the two inventories,whether used individually or in combination,may provide complementary analytical perspectives to research performance indicators.They may thus offer important insights for managers of research environments regarding how to assess the research culture,beliefs,and conceptualizations of individual researchers and research teams when designing strategies to promote specific institutional research focuses and strategies.Originality/value:To the best of the authors’knowledge,this is the first study to associate research agendas and conceptions of research.It is based on a large sample of researchers working worldwide and in all fields of knowledge,which ensures that the findings have a reasonable degree of generalizability to the global population of researchers.

The Management and Associated Costs of Rearing Heifers on UK Dairy Farms from Weaning to Conception

Dairy heifers only start to produce a return on investment at first calving. The length of the non-productive rearing period is largely governed by farmer decisions on plane of nutrition and reproduction management. Primary data were collected from 101 dairy farms and a cost analysis workbook developed to calculate individual inputs in each of three periods to determine which management decisions and farm factors have the greatest influence on the total costs associated with rearing. This paper covers weaning until conception. Heifers were weaned at 62 d (range 42 - 112 d) and conceived by 509 d (range 365 - 700 d) giving an average weaning to conception period of 447 ± 60 d (range 253 to 630 d). The mean daily cost of rearing during this period was ￡1.65 (range ￡0.75 to ￡2.97 on different farms) giving a mean total cost of ￡745.94 per heifer (range ￡295.32 to ￡1745.85). This large variation was mostly due to the duration, which was mainly determined by age at first breeding (mean 476 days, range 365 - 700 d). The main contributors to total costs were feed (35.6%), labour (24.7%) and bedding (8.9%). The variables most strongly associated with the total costs were age at conception, calving pattern and breed. A multivariable model predicted an increase in mean cost of ￡2.26 for each extra day in age at conception. The total cost was highest in herds with all year round calving, intermediate in multi-block and lowest in spring and autumn calving herds, with Friesian x and Jersey herds having the lowest cost of rearing.

Jane Eyre and Her Female Conception about Love

Jane Eyre is a famous image in literature history.Her strong will about women's independence influenced a lot of women readers.In this thesis,we analyze Jane Eyre through her Love and conscience,female conception and Searching for home and real love.

Live birth rates of assisted reproductive technology treatment and spontaneous conception among subfertile couples in Singapore: A follow-up study

Objective: To explore the potential predictors of a live birth (LB) outcome among subfertile couples of Asian ethnicity undergoing the first fertility treatment cycle;to assess the cumulative live birth rates after successive cycles;and to determine the incidence rate of spontaneous conception (SC).Methods:Subfertile couples were grouped according to treatment modalities at the first fertility treatment cycle: intrauterine insemination (IUI),in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and no treatment, and were followed-up for duration up to seven years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used for statistical analyses. Results: Age of female subjects [35-38 years, odds ratio (OR): 0.39;≥39 years, OR: 0.14], uterine factor subfertility (OR: 5.24), and treatment modalities (ORs: IUI 0.25, IVF 2.33 and ICSI 1.91) significantly predicted a LB outcome (P<0.05). The cumulative live birth rates were 11.7% IUI, 41.5% IVF, 27.5% ICSI and 22.6% from frozen embryo transfer cycles. The cumulative SC rate was 24.6% in the non-treated group and 10.7% in the treated group. All LBs from IVF cycles were delivered by the second cycle and within four years, compared to SC delivery of within five years in the non-treated group and six years in the treated group. Conclusions:Age of female subject, uterine factor and modalities of treatment are significant predictors for LB outcome at the first cycle. Higher delivery rates could be achieved following fewer successive IVF cycles and within a shorter duration compared to SC.

Medical,behavioural and social preconception and interconception risk factors among pregnancy planning and recently pregnant Canadian women

Objectives The objective of this study is to describe the clustering of medical,behavioural and social preconception and interconception health risk factors and determine demographic factors associated with these risk clusters among Canadian women.Design Cross-sectional data were collected via an online questionnaire assessing a range of preconception risk factors.Prevalence of each risk factor and the total number of risk factors present was calculated.Multivariable logistic regression models determined which demographic factors were associated with having greater than the mean number of risk factors.Exploratory factor analysis determined how risk factors clustered,and Spearman’s r determined how demographic characteristics related to risk factors within each cluster.Setting Canada.Participants Participants were recruited via advertisements on public health websites,social media,parenting webpages and referrals from ongoing studies or existing research datasets.Women were eligible to participate if they could read and understand English,were able to access a telephone or the internet,and were either planning a first pregnancy(preconception)or had≥1 child in the past 5 years and were thus in the interconception period.Results Most women(n=1080)were 34 or older,and were in the interconception period(98%).Most reported risks in only one of the 12 possible risk factor categories(55%),but women reported on average 4 risks each.Common risks were a history of caesarean section(33.1%),miscarriage(27.2%)and high birth weight(13.5%).Just over 40%had fair or poor eating habits,and nearly half were not getting enough physical activity.Three-quarters had a body mass index indicating overweight or obesity.Those without a postsecondary degree(OR 2.35;95%CI 1.74 to 3.17)and single women(OR 2.22,95%CI 1.25 to 3.96)had over twice the odds of having more risk factors.Those with two children or more had 60%lower odds of having more risk factors(OR 0.68,95%CI 0.52 to 0.86).Low education and being born outside Canada were correlated with the greatest number of risk clusters.Conclusions Many of the common risk factors were behavioural and thus preventable.Understanding which groups of women are prone to certain risk behaviours provides opportunities for researchers and policy-makers to target interventions more efficiently and effectively.

Conceptions in Teaching and Didactic Activities and Assessment of University Teachers

The aim of this study was to detect and analyze the conceptions of teaching, learning activities and assessment of learning in classroom, and blended courses for university professor＇s face-to-face courses. The study design was non-experimental, descriptive, and mixed cut. The sample was not random with participation of 129 university professors＇ face-to-face courses. As was applied, the open questions questionnaire on teaching and learning conceptions of teachers and data reported six questions related to the conception of teaching, didactic activities and assessment of learning of courses in classroom and blended courses. The data were worked through content analysis and percentages. The findings showed a conception of classroom teaching with a focus on learning and a conception blended teaching with a strong focus on teaching. The most reported didactic activities in classroom courses at a decreasing hierarchy were： exposition and presentation, se, discussion forums, chat and Wikis. In classroom assessment participation, and research and blended courses the research, Wikis, teachers did not specify evaluation resources case study and mixed courses, technology per courses predominated, in the abstract tests, forums and blog,

Influence of “Conception Forming” in Traditional Chinese Landscape Painting on Landscape Art

"Conception forming" in traditional Chinese landscape painting is created by artists to describe mental state, but not images, so it is also called "virtual environment". In the construction of Chinese gardens, participation of literati and artists successfully transformed the "virtual environment" of traditional Chinese landscape painting into "real environment". This paper explored the inf luence of "form and spirit" in "conception forming" of traditional Chinese landscape painting on landscape art from 4 perspectives, so as to figure out the relationship between "form and spirit" and "virtuality and reality", and that the most artistic part of the relationship between "form and spirit" is the natural transformation between "virtuality and reality".

Spirituality in Vocational Training of Information and Communication Technology Professionals in the Light of David Hay’s Conception

The key objective of this article is to use the David Hay’s conception of spirituality in the vocational training of Information and Communication Technology （ICT） professionals. The purpose of this research is to investigate the connection between spirituality and vocational training of ICT professionals. The spirituality model founded by David Hay has been used in this research article which contains awareness sensing, mystery sensing, and value sensing. The paper has used qualitative methodology and instruments for data collection are biographical interview. Qualitative data have been analyzed by using Nvivo 11. Initial results show the preliminary picture of the role of spirituality in vocational training of ICT professionals.

Kuhnian Understanding of Incommensurability and Implications of Paradigmatic Conception of Knowledge in International Relations

In international relations theory （maybe more than in any other discipline of social sciences）, the paradigmatic construction of Thomas Kuhn and his model of incommensurability might be applied to the theoretical interpretation of phenomena; and it is one of the cornerstones of the methodological toolkit for the interpretation in this field. The paper explores the reason why Kuhn＇s understanding of incommensurability seems to be necessary for the conception of knowledge in international relations： the concept of incommensurability can be considered typical as it is meant to indicate a conflict, of one form or another, between theories. And the discipline of international relations is more than a perfect ground for considering this concept when one is having in mind the high degree of polarized debate among rivalry theoretical schools （for interpreting and describing the identical phenomena） that is present from the very beginning of the discipline. Recalling the Kuhnian conception of science in paradigmatic view with an aim for understanding--international relations theory, the paper analyzes furthermore his rejection of the traditional dichotomy between “objectivisn”and ＂subjectivism.＂