Copolymer of maleic acid and acrylic acid （PMA-100）, combining with polyvinyl butyral （PVB） ultrafiltration membrane was used for the removal of Mn（II） from waste water by complexation-ultrafiltration. The carbo...Copolymer of maleic acid and acrylic acid （PMA-100）, combining with polyvinyl butyral （PVB） ultrafiltration membrane was used for the removal of Mn（II） from waste water by complexation-ultrafiltration. The carboxylic group content of PMA-100 and the rate of complexation reaction were measured. Effects of the mass ratio of PMA-100 to Mn（II） （n）, pH, background electrolyte, etc on the rejection rate （R） and permeate flux （J） were investigated. The results show that carboxylic group content of PMA-100 is 9.5 mmol/g. The complexation of Mn（II） with PMA-100 is rapid and completed within 5 min at pH 6.0. Both R and J increase with pH increasing in the range of 2.5-7.0, and R increases with the increase of n at pH 6.0 while J is little affected. The background electrolyte leads to the decrease of R, and CaCl2 has much greater effect on R than NaCl at the same ionic strength.展开更多
Objective Machado-Joseph disease （MJD）/Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 （SCA3） is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of polyglutamine tract near the C-terminus of the MJD1 gene pr...Objective Machado-Joseph disease （MJD）/Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 （SCA3） is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of polyglutamine tract near the C-terminus of the MJD1 gene product, ataxin-3. The precise mechanism of the MJD/SCA3 pathogenesis remains unclear. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that phosphorylation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. However, few kinases are known to phosphorylate ataxin-3. The present study is to explore whether ataxin-3 is a substrate of casein kinase 2 （CK2）. Methods The interaction between ataxin-3 and CK2 was identified by glutathione S-transferase （GST） pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipition assay. The phosphorylation of ataxin-3 by CK2 was measured by in vitro phosphorylation assays. Results （1） Both wild type and expanded ataxin-3 interacted with CK2α and CK2β in vitro. （2） In 293 cells, both wild type and expanded ataxin-3 interacted with CK2β, but not CK2α. （3） CK2 phosphorylated wild type and expanded ataxin-3. Conclusion Ataxin-3 is a substrate of protein kinase CK2.展开更多
To investigate the effects of long-term low dose hormone replacement therapy （HRT） on postmenopaosal women in homone level, cognition score, hippocampus volume, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy （MRS） parameters...To investigate the effects of long-term low dose hormone replacement therapy （HRT） on postmenopaosal women in homone level, cognition score, hippocampus volume, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy （MRS） parameters. Methods A total of 182 postmenopausal women aged 50-87 years were chosen at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and assigned to HRT group and control group. The volunteers of HRT group had taken low dose hormone [ estradiol （E2 ） 0. 5-1.0 mg and progesterone 0.5-2.0 mg, once a day ] for 4-33 years. The concentrations of E2, progesterone, and testosterone were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The gene types of apolipoprotein E （ApoE） were measured by polymerase chain reaction, and the subjects with susceptible genes （ ApoE ε3/ε4） of Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） were screened. Their hippocampus volumes and MRS parameters were obtained through magnetic resonance imaging （MRI）, and results in two groups were analyzed by statistical method. Results Compared with control group, the concentrations of E2 at each age stage in HRT group were significantly higher （P 〈0. 05） except the 80-89 years old subgroup; yet, there were no statistical differences in the concentrations of progesterone and testosterone between the two groups. There was no obvious difference in ApoE subtypes distribution between the two groups The results of hippocampus MRI for the subjects with susceptible genes ApoE ε3/ε4 （HRT group 14 cases, control group 11 cases） showed that the ratio of bilateral hippocampus volume to whole brain volume in HRT group （0. 406 ± 0.028） was signiticantlyhigher than control gronp （0.369±0.031, P〈0.05）. Theresults of ^1H MRS for the subjects with susceptible genes ApoE ε3/ε4 （ HRT group 12 cases, control group 11 cases） showed that the N-acetylaspartate/total creatine at the area of hippocampus in HRT group （ 1.54±0. 08 ） were significantly higher than control group （ 1.45±0. 13, P 〈 0. 05）. Conclusions For postmenopausal women, long-term low dose HRT can maintain the physiological concentration of E2 in plasma. Furthermore, the hippocampus MRI performed on those with ApoE ε3/ε3 genes shows that long-term low dose HRT can prevent hippocampus atrophy, which is beneficial to maintain the brain function and prevent AD.展开更多
Combination of a bus system and cable car system can reduce the overall congestion of traffic in urban areas, where surrounding hills or mountains hold larger settlements or tourist and recreational infrastructure. Wi...Combination of a bus system and cable car system can reduce the overall congestion of traffic in urban areas, where surrounding hills or mountains hold larger settlements or tourist and recreational infrastructure. With this kind of integration number of individual car trips can be significantly reduced. In this paper, the authors present an analysis of the pilot project implementation, which was held in Maribor. The authors conducted a limited test trial of two means of transportation, combining them into a single operating transport offer for inhabitants and tourists. Combined transport option proved to be a good starting point for reduction of traffic and parking congestion during winter tourist season and beyond. Method used in the research, in order to gain actual potential of integrating two systems and improving public transport offer, was establishment and implementation of the pilot project in Maribor during January 2011. Data was gathered through interviews of two interest groups. The first covered the users who were brought to the foothills of Pohorje＇s ski center by bus. The second covered the cable car users that were traveling to the top of Pohorje. For a limited time period, a trial principle of a single ticket was established, which gave ski-pass holders free bus ride on bus line No. 6. With the aim of reducing CO2, test drives of hybrid bus and compressed natural gas bus were conducted alongside many promotional activities with which users were informed of importance of environmentally friendly mobility options.展开更多
Objective Machado-Joseph disease （MJD）, also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 （SCA3）, is a dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of the polyglutamine （polyQ） tract in MJD-1 gene produc...Objective Machado-Joseph disease （MJD）, also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 （SCA3）, is a dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of the polyglutamine （polyQ） tract in MJD-1 gene product, ataxin-3 （AT3）. This disease is characterized by the formation of intraneuronal inclusions, but the mechanism underlying their formation is still poorly understood. The present study is to explore the relationship between wild type （WT） AT3 and polyQ expanded AT3. Methods Mouse neuroblastoma （N2a） cells or HEK293 cells were co-transfected with WTAT3 and different truncated forms of expanded AT3. The expressions of WT AT3 and the truncated forms of expanded AT3 were detected by Western blotting, and observed by an inverted fluorescent microscope. The interactions between AT3 and different truncated forms of expanded AT3 were detected by immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays. Results Using fluorescent microscope, we observed that the truncated forms of expanded AT3 aggregate in transfected cells, and the full-length WT AT3 is recruited onto the aggregates. However, no aggregates were observed in cells transfected with the truncated forms of WT AT3. Immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down analyses indicate that WT AT3 interacts with the truncated AT3 in a polyQ length-dependent manner. Conclusion WT AT3 deposits in the aggregation that was formed by polyQ expanded AT3, which suggests that the formation of AT3 aggregation may affect the normal function of WT AT3 and increase polyQ protein toxicity in MJD.展开更多
Objective To evaluate metabolic abnormalities in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy （MTLE） with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy （MRS） using a 3.0T MR scanner. Methods Sixty-three patients （32 wom...Objective To evaluate metabolic abnormalities in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy （MTLE） with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy （MRS） using a 3.0T MR scanner. Methods Sixty-three patients （32 women and 31 men） with diagnosed MTLE underwent diagnostic MR imaging （MRI） and proton MRS using a 3.0T MR scanner. The clinical history and interictal epileptiform discharges （IEDs） were recorded. Sixteen healthy volunteers served as control. The results of proton MRS were compared with the findings of electroencephalogram and structural MRI findings. Results Twenty-seven of the 63 patients with MTLE showed unilateral hippocampal sclerosis, and 9 showed bilateral hippocampal sclerosis. The concentration ratio of N-acytelaspartate （NAA） / [ creatine （ Cr ） ＋ choline （Cho） ] in the hippocampal region of MTLE patients （0. 64±0. 07） was significantly lower than control （0. 80±0. 05, P = 0.023）. In the patients with unilateral hippocampal sclerosis, NAA/（Cr ＋ Cho） in the hippocampal region ipsilateral to the sclerotic hippocampus （0.56±0.06） was significantly lower than the ratio in the contralateral hippocampal region （0.69±0.07, P 〈 0. 001 ）. There was significant difference in hippocampal NAA/（ Cr ＋ Cho） between the refractory patients and the non-refractory patients （0. 64±0. 05 vs.0.71±0. 07, P =0. 04）. Forty-five patients were lateralized by IEDs, while 49 patients were lateralized by metabolite ratio. And lateralization determined by proton MRS and IEDs was concordant in 33 patients. Conclusions MRS as a noninvasive tool adds helpful metabolite information to routine MRI in evaluation of MTLE. The method is well established and should be a routine clinical application in the investigation of epilepsy.展开更多
Unlike most brood parasites, several species of cowbird (Molothrus) are generalists that parasitize multiple host species across their range and within the same communities; likewise, there is little evidence that ind...Unlike most brood parasites, several species of cowbird (Molothrus) are generalists that parasitize multiple host species across their range and within the same communities; likewise, there is little evidence that individuals within a population specialize on host species. This situation has variously been attributed to the recency of cowbird evolution (the 'evolutionary lag' hypothesis) or to hidden costs of rejection by hosts (the 'equilibrium' hypothesis). Both hypotheses have some support as cowbirds are indeed a relatively young clade compared with more specialized cuckoos and cowbirds are capable of sophisticated behaviors such as retaliation against rejection ('mafia' behaviors) that would select for acceptance of cowbird eggs. Nevertheless, many species in the Americas have evolved specialized defenses against cowbird parasitism, almost all of which live in more open habitats (e. g., grasslands, shrublands, riparian strips), which indicates that coevolutionary processes can operate in ways that select for host defenses in spite of cowbird counterdefenses. We propose that the structure of landscapes in North America may explain why forest-nesting birds lack defenses against parasitism and reinforce the long-term maintenance of generalized brood parasitism in cowbirds. Because cowbirds require open habitats in which to feed, they are rare or absent in large forest tracts, which dominate much of the forest cover of the Americas. These tracts act as 'source habitats' that produce surplus young that recolonize populations in smaller, fragmented forest patches in which rates of both cowbird parasitism and nest predation are very high ('sink' habitats). Evolution of antiparasite adaptations would be very slow in this situation because most hosts are produced in areas where there is little or no cowbird parasitism. In addition, the interplay of host breeding dispersal, source-sink metapopulation dynamics, and fragmented forest habitat could further deter the evolution of host defenses against parasitism. Therefore, as long as large forest tracts remain widespread in North America, most forest birds will likely continue to lack defenses against cowbird parasitism, guaranteeing a steady supply of na ve hosts in forest habitats, even in fragmented landscapes. This situation will, in turn, favor host generalist cowbirds that actively avoid more open habitats in favor of parasitizing forest bird communities. These forest communities may also act as source populations for cowbirds, which might pump surplus generalist cowbirds into more open habitats further slowing the coevolutionary process. As long as large forest tracts are a common part of the landscape, generalist parasitism may persist indefinitely.展开更多
Marshall Plan is an important declaration that dominated world economy and politics after the World War II. It is also evidence that policy of the United States of America to make for its internal politics between two...Marshall Plan is an important declaration that dominated world economy and politics after the World War II. It is also evidence that policy of the United States of America to make for its internal politics between two world wars was abandoned and it was intended to dominate world politics. Likewise, it can be considered as the smoking gun for power loss of continental Europe, including England, against the Soviet Union. When Turkey had to find its way into Western alliance in this new period divided into two poles and called as ＂Cold War＂, it intended to enter into economic acquis formed by Marshall Plan. Turkey, in the process to prevent the spread of communism against the Soviet Union that started mainly by Truman Doctrine, was of the first priority status by the USA just like Greece. It can be said that Turkish economy made an important progress to move into liberal system from its statist structure through Marshall Plan. Accession process to European Union integration mandated by the USA was started by Republican People＇s Party （CHP） and it was also continued in Democratic Party period with liberal program that took over the power as a result of elections in Turkey. Although Marshall Plan created economic added value in Turkey at the beginning, it could not create a sustainable welfare process as consultants coming from the USA had insisted on unilateral economic policies and Turkey was directed towards military spending due to being seen mainly as a buffer state against the Soviet Union and Middle East. It can be also said that arrangements arising from double standards in the application compared to European countries caused economic instabilities in the long run.展开更多
In this paper, I revisit the question of the consistency of Thrasymachus＇ position on justice in the First Book of the Republic. The paper falls into four parts. （The first part is an introduction.） In the second p...In this paper, I revisit the question of the consistency of Thrasymachus＇ position on justice in the First Book of the Republic. The paper falls into four parts. （The first part is an introduction.） In the second part, I examine two influential interpretations of the sophist＇s views, George B. Kerferd＇s and Timothy D. J. Chappell＇s, and argue that neither one fully resolves the riddle of Thrasymachus. In the third part, I claim that the sophist has a ＂descriptive＂ theory of justice, not a ＂prescriptive＂ one, and that no moral command to act in any particular way follows from this theory. In the fourth and final part, I propose a new approach to the whole issue by arguing that the essential problem with Thrasymachus＇ theory is not the incompatibility between his two definitions of justice in 338c and 343c, as it is usually assumed, but the fact that in Book One he uses two different and irreconcilable conceptions of justice. It is because the sophist uses the term ＂justice＂ to mean different things in different parts of the text that his overall position is ultimately inconsistent.展开更多
This paper will assess the way in which consumerism is used to manipulate individuals within marginalized groups, specifically those based on race and gender. Following a Marxist framework, this paper will illustrate ...This paper will assess the way in which consumerism is used to manipulate individuals within marginalized groups, specifically those based on race and gender. Following a Marxist framework, this paper will illustrate a symbiotic relationship between the laborer and the capitalist, a hierarchal relationship where mutual dependence encourages unrelenting exploitation. Further focus will center on how these social hierarchies perpetuate a continuous enslavement of individuals politically defined as black and politically defined as woman. These identities are outlined within the framework of two active dichotomies： black/white and man/woman. Both gender and race are key factors in determining an individual＇s identity. Because the hegemonic gender is man, while the hegemonic race is white, any person who does not fit into those two categories simultaneously is underprivileged. Hence the reason why black and woman, both of which have been historically deemed subordinate to white and man, is automatically a part of the underprivileged working class. Since the hierarchal laborer-capitalist relationship is greatly validated by socializations, it cannot be voided by taking legal action alone. However, policy changes addressing education gaps, gender wage gaps, and hiring discrepancies, can assist in decoupling the social constructs of race and gender from class therefore minimizing racial and gender privileges.展开更多
基金Project (21176264) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject (11JJ2010) supported by Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject (LC13076) supported by Undergraduate Innovation Foundation of Central South University,China
文摘Copolymer of maleic acid and acrylic acid （PMA-100）, combining with polyvinyl butyral （PVB） ultrafiltration membrane was used for the removal of Mn（II） from waste water by complexation-ultrafiltration. The carboxylic group content of PMA-100 and the rate of complexation reaction were measured. Effects of the mass ratio of PMA-100 to Mn（II） （n）, pH, background electrolyte, etc on the rejection rate （R） and permeate flux （J） were investigated. The results show that carboxylic group content of PMA-100 is 9.5 mmol/g. The complexation of Mn（II） with PMA-100 is rapid and completed within 5 min at pH 6.0. Both R and J increase with pH increasing in the range of 2.5-7.0, and R increases with the increase of n at pH 6.0 while J is little affected. The background electrolyte leads to the decrease of R, and CaCl2 has much greater effect on R than NaCl at the same ionic strength.
基金the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No. 30770664)a grant from Educational Committee of Anhui Province, China (No. ZD2008008-2).
文摘Objective Machado-Joseph disease （MJD）/Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 （SCA3） is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of polyglutamine tract near the C-terminus of the MJD1 gene product, ataxin-3. The precise mechanism of the MJD/SCA3 pathogenesis remains unclear. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that phosphorylation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. However, few kinases are known to phosphorylate ataxin-3. The present study is to explore whether ataxin-3 is a substrate of casein kinase 2 （CK2）. Methods The interaction between ataxin-3 and CK2 was identified by glutathione S-transferase （GST） pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipition assay. The phosphorylation of ataxin-3 by CK2 was measured by in vitro phosphorylation assays. Results （1） Both wild type and expanded ataxin-3 interacted with CK2α and CK2β in vitro. （2） In 293 cells, both wild type and expanded ataxin-3 interacted with CK2β, but not CK2α. （3） CK2 phosphorylated wild type and expanded ataxin-3. Conclusion Ataxin-3 is a substrate of protein kinase CK2.
文摘To investigate the effects of long-term low dose hormone replacement therapy （HRT） on postmenopaosal women in homone level, cognition score, hippocampus volume, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy （MRS） parameters. Methods A total of 182 postmenopausal women aged 50-87 years were chosen at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and assigned to HRT group and control group. The volunteers of HRT group had taken low dose hormone [ estradiol （E2 ） 0. 5-1.0 mg and progesterone 0.5-2.0 mg, once a day ] for 4-33 years. The concentrations of E2, progesterone, and testosterone were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The gene types of apolipoprotein E （ApoE） were measured by polymerase chain reaction, and the subjects with susceptible genes （ ApoE ε3/ε4） of Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） were screened. Their hippocampus volumes and MRS parameters were obtained through magnetic resonance imaging （MRI）, and results in two groups were analyzed by statistical method. Results Compared with control group, the concentrations of E2 at each age stage in HRT group were significantly higher （P 〈0. 05） except the 80-89 years old subgroup; yet, there were no statistical differences in the concentrations of progesterone and testosterone between the two groups. There was no obvious difference in ApoE subtypes distribution between the two groups The results of hippocampus MRI for the subjects with susceptible genes ApoE ε3/ε4 （HRT group 14 cases, control group 11 cases） showed that the ratio of bilateral hippocampus volume to whole brain volume in HRT group （0. 406 ± 0.028） was signiticantlyhigher than control gronp （0.369±0.031, P〈0.05）. Theresults of ^1H MRS for the subjects with susceptible genes ApoE ε3/ε4 （ HRT group 12 cases, control group 11 cases） showed that the N-acetylaspartate/total creatine at the area of hippocampus in HRT group （ 1.54±0. 08 ） were significantly higher than control group （ 1.45±0. 13, P 〈 0. 05）. Conclusions For postmenopausal women, long-term low dose HRT can maintain the physiological concentration of E2 in plasma. Furthermore, the hippocampus MRI performed on those with ApoE ε3/ε3 genes shows that long-term low dose HRT can prevent hippocampus atrophy, which is beneficial to maintain the brain function and prevent AD.
文摘Combination of a bus system and cable car system can reduce the overall congestion of traffic in urban areas, where surrounding hills or mountains hold larger settlements or tourist and recreational infrastructure. With this kind of integration number of individual car trips can be significantly reduced. In this paper, the authors present an analysis of the pilot project implementation, which was held in Maribor. The authors conducted a limited test trial of two means of transportation, combining them into a single operating transport offer for inhabitants and tourists. Combined transport option proved to be a good starting point for reduction of traffic and parking congestion during winter tourist season and beyond. Method used in the research, in order to gain actual potential of integrating two systems and improving public transport offer, was establishment and implementation of the pilot project in Maribor during January 2011. Data was gathered through interviews of two interest groups. The first covered the users who were brought to the foothills of Pohorje＇s ski center by bus. The second covered the cable car users that were traveling to the top of Pohorje. For a limited time period, a trial principle of a single ticket was established, which gave ski-pass holders free bus ride on bus line No. 6. With the aim of reducing CO2, test drives of hybrid bus and compressed natural gas bus were conducted alongside many promotional activities with which users were informed of importance of environmentally friendly mobility options.
基金the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No.30770664)a grant from Anhui Educational Committee(No. ZD2008008-2)
文摘Objective Machado-Joseph disease （MJD）, also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 （SCA3）, is a dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of the polyglutamine （polyQ） tract in MJD-1 gene product, ataxin-3 （AT3）. This disease is characterized by the formation of intraneuronal inclusions, but the mechanism underlying their formation is still poorly understood. The present study is to explore the relationship between wild type （WT） AT3 and polyQ expanded AT3. Methods Mouse neuroblastoma （N2a） cells or HEK293 cells were co-transfected with WTAT3 and different truncated forms of expanded AT3. The expressions of WT AT3 and the truncated forms of expanded AT3 were detected by Western blotting, and observed by an inverted fluorescent microscope. The interactions between AT3 and different truncated forms of expanded AT3 were detected by immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays. Results Using fluorescent microscope, we observed that the truncated forms of expanded AT3 aggregate in transfected cells, and the full-length WT AT3 is recruited onto the aggregates. However, no aggregates were observed in cells transfected with the truncated forms of WT AT3. Immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down analyses indicate that WT AT3 interacts with the truncated AT3 in a polyQ length-dependent manner. Conclusion WT AT3 deposits in the aggregation that was formed by polyQ expanded AT3, which suggests that the formation of AT3 aggregation may affect the normal function of WT AT3 and increase polyQ protein toxicity in MJD.
文摘Objective To evaluate metabolic abnormalities in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy （MTLE） with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy （MRS） using a 3.0T MR scanner. Methods Sixty-three patients （32 women and 31 men） with diagnosed MTLE underwent diagnostic MR imaging （MRI） and proton MRS using a 3.0T MR scanner. The clinical history and interictal epileptiform discharges （IEDs） were recorded. Sixteen healthy volunteers served as control. The results of proton MRS were compared with the findings of electroencephalogram and structural MRI findings. Results Twenty-seven of the 63 patients with MTLE showed unilateral hippocampal sclerosis, and 9 showed bilateral hippocampal sclerosis. The concentration ratio of N-acytelaspartate （NAA） / [ creatine （ Cr ） ＋ choline （Cho） ] in the hippocampal region of MTLE patients （0. 64±0. 07） was significantly lower than control （0. 80±0. 05, P = 0.023）. In the patients with unilateral hippocampal sclerosis, NAA/（Cr ＋ Cho） in the hippocampal region ipsilateral to the sclerotic hippocampus （0.56±0.06） was significantly lower than the ratio in the contralateral hippocampal region （0.69±0.07, P 〈 0. 001 ）. There was significant difference in hippocampal NAA/（ Cr ＋ Cho） between the refractory patients and the non-refractory patients （0. 64±0. 05 vs.0.71±0. 07, P =0. 04）. Forty-five patients were lateralized by IEDs, while 49 patients were lateralized by metabolite ratio. And lateralization determined by proton MRS and IEDs was concordant in 33 patients. Conclusions MRS as a noninvasive tool adds helpful metabolite information to routine MRI in evaluation of MTLE. The method is well established and should be a routine clinical application in the investigation of epilepsy.
文摘Unlike most brood parasites, several species of cowbird (Molothrus) are generalists that parasitize multiple host species across their range and within the same communities; likewise, there is little evidence that individuals within a population specialize on host species. This situation has variously been attributed to the recency of cowbird evolution (the 'evolutionary lag' hypothesis) or to hidden costs of rejection by hosts (the 'equilibrium' hypothesis). Both hypotheses have some support as cowbirds are indeed a relatively young clade compared with more specialized cuckoos and cowbirds are capable of sophisticated behaviors such as retaliation against rejection ('mafia' behaviors) that would select for acceptance of cowbird eggs. Nevertheless, many species in the Americas have evolved specialized defenses against cowbird parasitism, almost all of which live in more open habitats (e. g., grasslands, shrublands, riparian strips), which indicates that coevolutionary processes can operate in ways that select for host defenses in spite of cowbird counterdefenses. We propose that the structure of landscapes in North America may explain why forest-nesting birds lack defenses against parasitism and reinforce the long-term maintenance of generalized brood parasitism in cowbirds. Because cowbirds require open habitats in which to feed, they are rare or absent in large forest tracts, which dominate much of the forest cover of the Americas. These tracts act as 'source habitats' that produce surplus young that recolonize populations in smaller, fragmented forest patches in which rates of both cowbird parasitism and nest predation are very high ('sink' habitats). Evolution of antiparasite adaptations would be very slow in this situation because most hosts are produced in areas where there is little or no cowbird parasitism. In addition, the interplay of host breeding dispersal, source-sink metapopulation dynamics, and fragmented forest habitat could further deter the evolution of host defenses against parasitism. Therefore, as long as large forest tracts remain widespread in North America, most forest birds will likely continue to lack defenses against cowbird parasitism, guaranteeing a steady supply of na ve hosts in forest habitats, even in fragmented landscapes. This situation will, in turn, favor host generalist cowbirds that actively avoid more open habitats in favor of parasitizing forest bird communities. These forest communities may also act as source populations for cowbirds, which might pump surplus generalist cowbirds into more open habitats further slowing the coevolutionary process. As long as large forest tracts are a common part of the landscape, generalist parasitism may persist indefinitely.
文摘Marshall Plan is an important declaration that dominated world economy and politics after the World War II. It is also evidence that policy of the United States of America to make for its internal politics between two world wars was abandoned and it was intended to dominate world politics. Likewise, it can be considered as the smoking gun for power loss of continental Europe, including England, against the Soviet Union. When Turkey had to find its way into Western alliance in this new period divided into two poles and called as ＂Cold War＂, it intended to enter into economic acquis formed by Marshall Plan. Turkey, in the process to prevent the spread of communism against the Soviet Union that started mainly by Truman Doctrine, was of the first priority status by the USA just like Greece. It can be said that Turkish economy made an important progress to move into liberal system from its statist structure through Marshall Plan. Accession process to European Union integration mandated by the USA was started by Republican People＇s Party （CHP） and it was also continued in Democratic Party period with liberal program that took over the power as a result of elections in Turkey. Although Marshall Plan created economic added value in Turkey at the beginning, it could not create a sustainable welfare process as consultants coming from the USA had insisted on unilateral economic policies and Turkey was directed towards military spending due to being seen mainly as a buffer state against the Soviet Union and Middle East. It can be also said that arrangements arising from double standards in the application compared to European countries caused economic instabilities in the long run.
文摘In this paper, I revisit the question of the consistency of Thrasymachus＇ position on justice in the First Book of the Republic. The paper falls into four parts. （The first part is an introduction.） In the second part, I examine two influential interpretations of the sophist＇s views, George B. Kerferd＇s and Timothy D. J. Chappell＇s, and argue that neither one fully resolves the riddle of Thrasymachus. In the third part, I claim that the sophist has a ＂descriptive＂ theory of justice, not a ＂prescriptive＂ one, and that no moral command to act in any particular way follows from this theory. In the fourth and final part, I propose a new approach to the whole issue by arguing that the essential problem with Thrasymachus＇ theory is not the incompatibility between his two definitions of justice in 338c and 343c, as it is usually assumed, but the fact that in Book One he uses two different and irreconcilable conceptions of justice. It is because the sophist uses the term ＂justice＂ to mean different things in different parts of the text that his overall position is ultimately inconsistent.
文摘This paper will assess the way in which consumerism is used to manipulate individuals within marginalized groups, specifically those based on race and gender. Following a Marxist framework, this paper will illustrate a symbiotic relationship between the laborer and the capitalist, a hierarchal relationship where mutual dependence encourages unrelenting exploitation. Further focus will center on how these social hierarchies perpetuate a continuous enslavement of individuals politically defined as black and politically defined as woman. These identities are outlined within the framework of two active dichotomies： black/white and man/woman. Both gender and race are key factors in determining an individual＇s identity. Because the hegemonic gender is man, while the hegemonic race is white, any person who does not fit into those two categories simultaneously is underprivileged. Hence the reason why black and woman, both of which have been historically deemed subordinate to white and man, is automatically a part of the underprivileged working class. Since the hierarchal laborer-capitalist relationship is greatly validated by socializations, it cannot be voided by taking legal action alone. However, policy changes addressing education gaps, gender wage gaps, and hiring discrepancies, can assist in decoupling the social constructs of race and gender from class therefore minimizing racial and gender privileges.
