The differences of learning and memory between males and females have been well documented and confirmed by both human and animal studies. The sex differences in cognition started from early stage of neuronal developm...The differences of learning and memory between males and females have been well documented and confirmed by both human and animal studies. The sex differences in cognition started from early stage of neuronal development and last through entire lifespan. The major biological basis of the gender-dependent cognitive activity includes two major components: sex hormone and sex-related characteristics, such as sex- determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY) protein. However, the knowledge of how much biology of sex contributes to normal cogni- tive function and elite athletes in various sports are still pretty limited. In this review, we will be focusing on sex differences in spatial learning and memory -- especially the role of male- and female-type cognitive behaviors in sports.展开更多
This study is aimed at investigating the potentials of ex vivo expansion and pluri-differentiation of cryopreservation of adult human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into chondrocytes, adipocytes and neur...This study is aimed at investigating the potentials of ex vivo expansion and pluri-differentiation of cryopreservation of adult human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into chondrocytes, adipocytes and neurocytes. Cryopreserved hMSCs were resuscitated and cultured for 15 passages, and then induced into chondrocytes, adipocytes and neurocytes with corresponding induction medium. The induced cells were observed for morphological properties and detected for expressions of type II collagen, triglyceride or neuron-specific enolase and nestin. The result showed that the resuscitated cells could differentiate into chondrocytes after exposure to transforming growth factor 61 (TGF-~0, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and vitamin C (Vc), and uniformly changed morphologically from a spindle-like fibroblastic appearance to a polygonal shape in three weeks. The induced cells were heterochromatic to safranin O and expressed cartilage matrix-procollagenal (If) mRNA. The resuscitated cells cultured in induction medium consisting of dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine, indomethacin and IGF-I showed adipogenesis, and lipid vacuoles accumulation was detectable after 21 d. The resuscitated hMSCs were also induced into neurocytes and expressed nestin and neuron specific endolase (NSE) that were special surface markers associated with neural cells at different stage. This study suggested that the resuscitated hMSCs should be still a population ofpluripotential cells and that it could be used for establishing an abundant bMSC reservoir for further experiment and treatment of various clinical discases.展开更多
Thinking about the problem of terrorism, the author finds its origins in the myth of the Trojan War, treating it as a battle for space, which was the primary basis for the civilizational leap--the expansion of the Gre...Thinking about the problem of terrorism, the author finds its origins in the myth of the Trojan War, treating it as a battle for space, which was the primary basis for the civilizational leap--the expansion of the Greek world to the east, which led to the flourishing of Greek culture, creating a precedent of justified colonialism, provided strategy and tactics-the causal apology of violence-all subsequent wars, colonial campaigns, which was no exception for the migratory flows of the XX century, as a result of which the word "terrorism" sounded with by force of the song of B. Brecht. The theme of "space"-chucked away, lost, taken away, destroyed, compressed, anarchic, empty, boundless, virtual-remains vital in our time, when the limitless possibilities lead to the limitation of man himself, his emptiness, and "complete shortuess" (Platonov), when the treaty as the basis of human existence is rejected, and when you become the Other yourself. The metaphysics of "violence" is buried in anthropology-in ignorance of one's limits by man, in denying the boundaries of "another's," in unwillingness to ask a question mad find the answer, in laziness and, in fact, in the loss of oneself.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the proficiency level reached in laparoscopic splenectomy using the learning curve method.METHODS:All patients in need of splenectomy for benign causes in whom laparoscopic splenectomy was attempted...AIM:To investigate the proficiency level reached in laparoscopic splenectomy using the learning curve method.METHODS:All patients in need of splenectomy for benign causes in whom laparoscopic splenectomy was attempted by a single surgeon during a time period of 6 years were included in the study (n=33). Besides demographics, operation-related variables and the response to surgery were recorded. The patients were allocated to groups of five, ranked according to the date of the operation. Operation duration, complications, postoperative length of stay, conversion to laparotomy and splenic weight were then compared between these groups.RESULTS: There was a significant difference regarding operation times between the groups (P = 0.001). An improvement was observed after the first 5 cases. The learning curve was flat up to the 25th case. Following the 25th case the operation times decreased still further. There was no difference between the groups regarding the other parameters.CONCLUSION: Unlike the widely accepted "L" shape, the learning curve for laparoscopic splenectomy is a horizontal lazy "S" with two distinct slopes. Privileges may be granted after the first 5 cases. However proficiency seems to require 25 cases.展开更多
Protrusion of the lumbar intervertebral disc is adisease commonly encountered in orthopedics andtraumatology clinic.At present removal of thenucleus pulposus to relieve the compression on thenerve root is usually adop...Protrusion of the lumbar intervertebral disc is adisease commonly encountered in orthopedics andtraumatology clinic.At present removal of thenucleus pulposus to relieve the compression on thenerve root is usually adopted in the treatment of thedisease.From April,1990 to October,1997,theauthor treated 62 cases of protrusion of the lumbarintervertebral disc by massotherapy afterintravertebral blocking,with satisfactory展开更多
With the popularization of the Intemet, permeation of sensor networks, emergence of big data, increase in size of the information community, and interlinking and fusion of data and information throughout human society...With the popularization of the Intemet, permeation of sensor networks, emergence of big data, increase in size of the information community, and interlinking and fusion of data and information throughout human society, physical space, and cyberspace, the information environment related to the current development of artificial intelligence (AI) has profoundly changed. AI faces important adjustments, and scientific foundations are confronted with new breakthroughs, as AI enters a new stage: AI 2.0. This paper briefly reviews the 60-year developmental history of AI, analyzes the external environment promoting the formation of AI 2.0 along with changes in goals, and describes both the beginning of the technology and the core idea behind AI 2.0 development. Furthermore, based on combined social demands and the information environment that exists in relation to Chinese development, suggestions on the develoDment of Al 2.0 are given.展开更多
AIM: To establish a culture system of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)from hepatitis B patients and normal adults and to compare their biological characteristics. METHODS: MSCs were isolated from bone marrow in 34...AIM: To establish a culture system of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)from hepatitis B patients and normal adults and to compare their biological characteristics. METHODS: MSCs were isolated from bone marrow in 34 male hepatitis B patients and 15 male normal adults and cultivated in vitro. Their biological characteristics including surface markers, shapes and appearances, growth curves, first passage time and passage generations were compared. RESULTS: Cultivation achievement ratio of hepatitis B patients was lower than that of normal adults, no statistical significance (82.35% vs 100%, P > 0.05). Compared with MSCs of normal adults, MSCs of hepatitis B patients presented a statistical lower growth curve, longer first passage time (13.0 ± 1.6 d vs 11.4 ± 1.5 d, P < 0.05), fewer passaging generation numbers (10.5 ± 1.4 generations vs 12.3 ± 1.7 generations, P < 0.05), though both shared same appearances, shapes and surface markers. MSCs in hepatitis B patients would expand, spread out and age more easily and there were more refractive particles in the cytoplasm. CONCLUSION: MSCs from hepatitis B patients can be cultured in vitro. Although their appearance, shape and surface marker are similar to those of MSCs from normal adults, there are differences in their biological characteristics.展开更多
General English course at Iranian universities has always been a controversial issue since the students taking this course are rather weak in English proficiency and need more authentic instructions based on accurate ...General English course at Iranian universities has always been a controversial issue since the students taking this course are rather weak in English proficiency and need more authentic instructions based on accurate need analysis. The materials applied in this course are mainly focused on reading comprehension. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to improve General English university students' main sub-skills of reading comprehension and see the effect of the possible changes in terms of time and the fields of study of the students. To do this, 168 university students taking General English course at university of Bojnord, including humanities, engineering, physical education, and sciences, received instruction on the main sub-skills of reading comprehension after taking a pre-test sample TOELF section of reading comprehension. After 16 sessions of 90 minute instruction, they took the post-test section of TOEFL sample of reading comprehension. Mixed between within subject analysis of variance was used to assess the impact of instruction for the four groups of students from pre-test to post-test. The findings of the study indicated that the effect of instruction in terms of time, from pre-test to post-test, and the interaction of time and fields of study were significant. Besides, changes for 10 sub-skills were the same among the four fields of study.展开更多
Life was full of pathos and stress to Tagore. Tagore remains preoccupied with the irrecoverable losses but finally has felt--soothing thought spring out of human suffering. He did not grieve rather find strengths in w...Life was full of pathos and stress to Tagore. Tagore remains preoccupied with the irrecoverable losses but finally has felt--soothing thought spring out of human suffering. He did not grieve rather find strengths in what remains behind. The poet has gained abundant pleasure from the natural world knowing nature never did betray. Psychodynamically by identifying and introjecting mother figure he felt the most enduring human passion--"Serenity". Thus despite the barriers of time and space, nation and race, Tagore as an affectionate father may embrace fellow human beings most endearingly. The principal objective is to probe Tagore's psychodynamics and creative processes. Dynamic analysis was done by following the methods of Freud, Jung, and Kris. Findings highlighted that Tagore was a man who could be rightly called "Lord of speech with mind for all".展开更多
Eastern philosophy and western science have convergent and divergent viewpoints for their explanation of consciousness. Convergence is found for the practice of meditation allowing besides a time dependent consciousne...Eastern philosophy and western science have convergent and divergent viewpoints for their explanation of consciousness. Convergence is found for the practice of meditation allowing besides a time dependent consciousness, the experience of a timeless consciousness and its beneficial effect on psychological wellbeing and medical improvements, which are confirmed by multiple scientific publications. Theories of quantum mechanics with non-locality and timelessness also show astonishing correlation to eastern philosophy, such as the theory of Penrose-Hameroff (ORC-OR), which explains consciousness by reduction of quantum superposition in the brain. Divergence appears in the interpretation of the subjective experience of timeless consciousness. In eastern philosophy, meditation at a higher level of awareness allows the personal experience of timeless and non-dual consciousness, considered as an empirical proof for the existence of pure consciousness or spirituality existing before the material world and creating it by design. Western science acknowledges the subjective, non-dual experience, and its multiple beneficial effects, however, the interpretation of spirituality designing the material universe is in disagreement with the Darwinian Theory of mutation and selection. A design should create an ideal universe without the injustice of 3% congenital birth defects and later genetic health problems. The western viewpoint of selection is more adapted to explain congenital errors. The gap between subjectivity and objectivity, the mind-body problem, is in eastern philosophy reduced to the dominance of subjectivity over objectivity, whereas western science attributes equal values to both. Nevertheless, there remains an astonishing complementarity between eastern and western practices.展开更多
The dynamic modeling and solution of the 3-RRS spatial parallel manipulators with flexible links were investigated. Firstly, a new model of spatial flexible beam element was proposed, and the dynamic equations of elem...The dynamic modeling and solution of the 3-RRS spatial parallel manipulators with flexible links were investigated. Firstly, a new model of spatial flexible beam element was proposed, and the dynamic equations of elements and branches of the parallel manipulator were derived. Secondly, according to the kinematic coupling relationship between the moving platform and flexible links, the kinematic constraints of the flexible parallel manipulator were proposed. Thirdly, using the kinematic constraint equations and dynamic model of the moving platform, the overall system dynamic equations of the parallel manipulator were obtained by assembling the dynamic equations of branches. FtLrthermore, a few commonly used effective solutions of second-order differential equation system with variable coefficients were discussed. Newmark numerical method was used to solve the dynamic equations of the flexible parallel manipulator. Finally, the dynamic responses of the moving platform and driving torques of the 3-RRS parallel mechanism with flexible links were analyzed through numerical simulation. The results provide important information for analysis of dynamic performance, dynamics optimization design, dynamic simulation and control of the 3-RRS flexible parallel manipulator.展开更多
The recent social processes that are striking the Republic of Macedonia are distorting the nature of many sophisticated socio-anthropological phenomena, including the artistic practices. Thus, we will try to briefly e...The recent social processes that are striking the Republic of Macedonia are distorting the nature of many sophisticated socio-anthropological phenomena, including the artistic practices. Thus, we will try to briefly elaborate on several tendencies about contemporary art in the Republic of Macedonia, by "screening" the theoretical discourses on the issue and by critical perception of recent practices concerning the field. Today's views on the creative practices, incorporated in "conceptual" packages that should develop a new culture of living, are manifested in the creative industries, have been just recently recognized in the Macedonian society. The "propaganda" character of the treatment of artistic practice changes only formally the media of their manifestations. The idea about the possible and necessary engaged attitude of art towards society had its place also in the modern as well in the postmodern concept of art. In the Republic of Macedonia this "ideological" attitude towards art regretfully has also become the main mechanism for political domination, manifested mainly in architecture and landscaping of public space. The commercialisation of art supported by the media imposes the discourses of popular art over the content of high art. It seems that art is represented in the field of "education and science" in the Republic of Macedonia only when certain pragmatic, frequently politicised, interests need to be satisfied.展开更多
基金supported by the American Health Assistance Foundation(G2006-118)the National Institutes of Health(R01AG032441-01 and R01AG025888)
文摘The differences of learning and memory between males and females have been well documented and confirmed by both human and animal studies. The sex differences in cognition started from early stage of neuronal development and last through entire lifespan. The major biological basis of the gender-dependent cognitive activity includes two major components: sex hormone and sex-related characteristics, such as sex- determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY) protein. However, the knowledge of how much biology of sex contributes to normal cogni- tive function and elite athletes in various sports are still pretty limited. In this review, we will be focusing on sex differences in spatial learning and memory -- especially the role of male- and female-type cognitive behaviors in sports.
基金Project supported by the Science Foundation (No. 2003C23015) and the Natural Science Foundation (No. Y204139) of Zhejiang Province, China
文摘This study is aimed at investigating the potentials of ex vivo expansion and pluri-differentiation of cryopreservation of adult human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into chondrocytes, adipocytes and neurocytes. Cryopreserved hMSCs were resuscitated and cultured for 15 passages, and then induced into chondrocytes, adipocytes and neurocytes with corresponding induction medium. The induced cells were observed for morphological properties and detected for expressions of type II collagen, triglyceride or neuron-specific enolase and nestin. The result showed that the resuscitated cells could differentiate into chondrocytes after exposure to transforming growth factor 61 (TGF-~0, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and vitamin C (Vc), and uniformly changed morphologically from a spindle-like fibroblastic appearance to a polygonal shape in three weeks. The induced cells were heterochromatic to safranin O and expressed cartilage matrix-procollagenal (If) mRNA. The resuscitated cells cultured in induction medium consisting of dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine, indomethacin and IGF-I showed adipogenesis, and lipid vacuoles accumulation was detectable after 21 d. The resuscitated hMSCs were also induced into neurocytes and expressed nestin and neuron specific endolase (NSE) that were special surface markers associated with neural cells at different stage. This study suggested that the resuscitated hMSCs should be still a population ofpluripotential cells and that it could be used for establishing an abundant bMSC reservoir for further experiment and treatment of various clinical discases.
文摘Thinking about the problem of terrorism, the author finds its origins in the myth of the Trojan War, treating it as a battle for space, which was the primary basis for the civilizational leap--the expansion of the Greek world to the east, which led to the flourishing of Greek culture, creating a precedent of justified colonialism, provided strategy and tactics-the causal apology of violence-all subsequent wars, colonial campaigns, which was no exception for the migratory flows of the XX century, as a result of which the word "terrorism" sounded with by force of the song of B. Brecht. The theme of "space"-chucked away, lost, taken away, destroyed, compressed, anarchic, empty, boundless, virtual-remains vital in our time, when the limitless possibilities lead to the limitation of man himself, his emptiness, and "complete shortuess" (Platonov), when the treaty as the basis of human existence is rejected, and when you become the Other yourself. The metaphysics of "violence" is buried in anthropology-in ignorance of one's limits by man, in denying the boundaries of "another's," in unwillingness to ask a question mad find the answer, in laziness and, in fact, in the loss of oneself.
文摘AIM:To investigate the proficiency level reached in laparoscopic splenectomy using the learning curve method.METHODS:All patients in need of splenectomy for benign causes in whom laparoscopic splenectomy was attempted by a single surgeon during a time period of 6 years were included in the study (n=33). Besides demographics, operation-related variables and the response to surgery were recorded. The patients were allocated to groups of five, ranked according to the date of the operation. Operation duration, complications, postoperative length of stay, conversion to laparotomy and splenic weight were then compared between these groups.RESULTS: There was a significant difference regarding operation times between the groups (P = 0.001). An improvement was observed after the first 5 cases. The learning curve was flat up to the 25th case. Following the 25th case the operation times decreased still further. There was no difference between the groups regarding the other parameters.CONCLUSION: Unlike the widely accepted "L" shape, the learning curve for laparoscopic splenectomy is a horizontal lazy "S" with two distinct slopes. Privileges may be granted after the first 5 cases. However proficiency seems to require 25 cases.
文摘Protrusion of the lumbar intervertebral disc is adisease commonly encountered in orthopedics andtraumatology clinic.At present removal of thenucleus pulposus to relieve the compression on thenerve root is usually adopted in the treatment of thedisease.From April,1990 to October,1997,theauthor treated 62 cases of protrusion of the lumbarintervertebral disc by massotherapy afterintravertebral blocking,with satisfactory
文摘With the popularization of the Intemet, permeation of sensor networks, emergence of big data, increase in size of the information community, and interlinking and fusion of data and information throughout human society, physical space, and cyberspace, the information environment related to the current development of artificial intelligence (AI) has profoundly changed. AI faces important adjustments, and scientific foundations are confronted with new breakthroughs, as AI enters a new stage: AI 2.0. This paper briefly reviews the 60-year developmental history of AI, analyzes the external environment promoting the formation of AI 2.0 along with changes in goals, and describes both the beginning of the technology and the core idea behind AI 2.0 development. Furthermore, based on combined social demands and the information environment that exists in relation to Chinese development, suggestions on the develoDment of Al 2.0 are given.
基金Technology Project Fund of Guangdong Province, No. 2003A3020303
文摘AIM: To establish a culture system of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)from hepatitis B patients and normal adults and to compare their biological characteristics. METHODS: MSCs were isolated from bone marrow in 34 male hepatitis B patients and 15 male normal adults and cultivated in vitro. Their biological characteristics including surface markers, shapes and appearances, growth curves, first passage time and passage generations were compared. RESULTS: Cultivation achievement ratio of hepatitis B patients was lower than that of normal adults, no statistical significance (82.35% vs 100%, P > 0.05). Compared with MSCs of normal adults, MSCs of hepatitis B patients presented a statistical lower growth curve, longer first passage time (13.0 ± 1.6 d vs 11.4 ± 1.5 d, P < 0.05), fewer passaging generation numbers (10.5 ± 1.4 generations vs 12.3 ± 1.7 generations, P < 0.05), though both shared same appearances, shapes and surface markers. MSCs in hepatitis B patients would expand, spread out and age more easily and there were more refractive particles in the cytoplasm. CONCLUSION: MSCs from hepatitis B patients can be cultured in vitro. Although their appearance, shape and surface marker are similar to those of MSCs from normal adults, there are differences in their biological characteristics.
文摘General English course at Iranian universities has always been a controversial issue since the students taking this course are rather weak in English proficiency and need more authentic instructions based on accurate need analysis. The materials applied in this course are mainly focused on reading comprehension. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to improve General English university students' main sub-skills of reading comprehension and see the effect of the possible changes in terms of time and the fields of study of the students. To do this, 168 university students taking General English course at university of Bojnord, including humanities, engineering, physical education, and sciences, received instruction on the main sub-skills of reading comprehension after taking a pre-test sample TOELF section of reading comprehension. After 16 sessions of 90 minute instruction, they took the post-test section of TOEFL sample of reading comprehension. Mixed between within subject analysis of variance was used to assess the impact of instruction for the four groups of students from pre-test to post-test. The findings of the study indicated that the effect of instruction in terms of time, from pre-test to post-test, and the interaction of time and fields of study were significant. Besides, changes for 10 sub-skills were the same among the four fields of study.
文摘Life was full of pathos and stress to Tagore. Tagore remains preoccupied with the irrecoverable losses but finally has felt--soothing thought spring out of human suffering. He did not grieve rather find strengths in what remains behind. The poet has gained abundant pleasure from the natural world knowing nature never did betray. Psychodynamically by identifying and introjecting mother figure he felt the most enduring human passion--"Serenity". Thus despite the barriers of time and space, nation and race, Tagore as an affectionate father may embrace fellow human beings most endearingly. The principal objective is to probe Tagore's psychodynamics and creative processes. Dynamic analysis was done by following the methods of Freud, Jung, and Kris. Findings highlighted that Tagore was a man who could be rightly called "Lord of speech with mind for all".
文摘Eastern philosophy and western science have convergent and divergent viewpoints for their explanation of consciousness. Convergence is found for the practice of meditation allowing besides a time dependent consciousness, the experience of a timeless consciousness and its beneficial effect on psychological wellbeing and medical improvements, which are confirmed by multiple scientific publications. Theories of quantum mechanics with non-locality and timelessness also show astonishing correlation to eastern philosophy, such as the theory of Penrose-Hameroff (ORC-OR), which explains consciousness by reduction of quantum superposition in the brain. Divergence appears in the interpretation of the subjective experience of timeless consciousness. In eastern philosophy, meditation at a higher level of awareness allows the personal experience of timeless and non-dual consciousness, considered as an empirical proof for the existence of pure consciousness or spirituality existing before the material world and creating it by design. Western science acknowledges the subjective, non-dual experience, and its multiple beneficial effects, however, the interpretation of spirituality designing the material universe is in disagreement with the Darwinian Theory of mutation and selection. A design should create an ideal universe without the injustice of 3% congenital birth defects and later genetic health problems. The western viewpoint of selection is more adapted to explain congenital errors. The gap between subjectivity and objectivity, the mind-body problem, is in eastern philosophy reduced to the dominance of subjectivity over objectivity, whereas western science attributes equal values to both. Nevertheless, there remains an astonishing complementarity between eastern and western practices.
基金Projects(50875002, 60705036) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(3062004) supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation, China+1 种基金Project(20070104) supported by the Key Laboratory of Complex Systems and Intelligence Science, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of SciencesProject(2009AA04Z415) supported by the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China
文摘The dynamic modeling and solution of the 3-RRS spatial parallel manipulators with flexible links were investigated. Firstly, a new model of spatial flexible beam element was proposed, and the dynamic equations of elements and branches of the parallel manipulator were derived. Secondly, according to the kinematic coupling relationship between the moving platform and flexible links, the kinematic constraints of the flexible parallel manipulator were proposed. Thirdly, using the kinematic constraint equations and dynamic model of the moving platform, the overall system dynamic equations of the parallel manipulator were obtained by assembling the dynamic equations of branches. FtLrthermore, a few commonly used effective solutions of second-order differential equation system with variable coefficients were discussed. Newmark numerical method was used to solve the dynamic equations of the flexible parallel manipulator. Finally, the dynamic responses of the moving platform and driving torques of the 3-RRS parallel mechanism with flexible links were analyzed through numerical simulation. The results provide important information for analysis of dynamic performance, dynamics optimization design, dynamic simulation and control of the 3-RRS flexible parallel manipulator.
文摘The recent social processes that are striking the Republic of Macedonia are distorting the nature of many sophisticated socio-anthropological phenomena, including the artistic practices. Thus, we will try to briefly elaborate on several tendencies about contemporary art in the Republic of Macedonia, by "screening" the theoretical discourses on the issue and by critical perception of recent practices concerning the field. Today's views on the creative practices, incorporated in "conceptual" packages that should develop a new culture of living, are manifested in the creative industries, have been just recently recognized in the Macedonian society. The "propaganda" character of the treatment of artistic practice changes only formally the media of their manifestations. The idea about the possible and necessary engaged attitude of art towards society had its place also in the modern as well in the postmodern concept of art. In the Republic of Macedonia this "ideological" attitude towards art regretfully has also become the main mechanism for political domination, manifested mainly in architecture and landscaping of public space. The commercialisation of art supported by the media imposes the discourses of popular art over the content of high art. It seems that art is represented in the field of "education and science" in the Republic of Macedonia only when certain pragmatic, frequently politicised, interests need to be satisfied.