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Chronic Activation Of The Prostaglandin Receptor Ep4 Promotes Hyaluronan-Mediated Neointimal Formation In The Ductus Arteriosus, Utako Yokoyama, Susumu Minamisawa, Hong Quan, Shibnath Ghatak, Toru Akaike, Eri Segi-Nishida, Shiho Iwasaki, Mari Iwamoto, Suniti Misra, Kouichi Tamura, Hideaki Hori, Shumpei Yokota, Bryan P. Toole, Yukihiko Sugimoto, Yoshihiro Ishikawa

MUSC Faculty Journal Articles

PGE, a potent vasodilator, plays a primary role in maintaining the patency of the ductus arteriosus (DA). Genetic disruption of the PGE-specific receptor EP4, however, paradoxically results in fatal patent DA (PDA) in mice. Here we demonstrate that EP4-mediated signals promote DA closure by hyaluronic acid-mediated (HA-mediated) intimal cushion formation (ICF). Chronic EP4 stimulation by ONO-AE1-329, a selective EP4 agonist, significantly enhanced migration and HA production in rat DA smooth muscle cells. When HA production was inhibited, EP4-mediated migration was negated. Activation of EP4, adenylyl cyclase, and PKA all increased HA production and the level of HA synthase 2 (HAS2) …

Comments On “On The Distribution Of The Product Of Independent Rayleigh Random Variables”, Saralees Nadarajah, Samuel Kotz

Department of Statistics: Faculty Publications

It is pointed out that the result in Salo et al. “The Distribution of the Product of Independent Rayleigh Random Variables” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., vol. 54, pp. 639–643, Feb. 2006, is a particular case of a much more general result known since the 1970s. A general technique (known as the H function technique) is described that can be used derive a wide range of results similar to Salo et al.

Comments On “On The Distribution Of The Product Of Independent Rayleigh Random Variables”, Saralees Nadarajah, Samuel Kotz

Department of Statistics: Faculty Publications

It is pointed out that the result in Salo et al. “The Distribution of the Product of Independent Rayleigh Random Variables” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., vol. 54, pp. 639–643, Feb. 2006, is a particular case of a much more general result known since the 1970s. A general technique (known as the function technique) is described that can be used derive a wide range of results similar to Salo et al.

服務研習通訊第一期 Office Of Service-Learning Newsletters, Volume 1, Office Of Service-Learning, Lingnan University

SLant 嶺召

透過今期通訊，您不但能夠認識服務研習的基本概念，亦可以從學生的分享中，了解到他們對服務研習的看法。

In this issue, a general idea of Service-Learning is introduced. In the meantime, you can know more about students’ views on Service-Learning from their sharing.

As Much Upon Tradition As Upon Principle: A Critique Of The Privilege Of Necessity Destruction Under The Fifth Amendment, Derek T. Muller

Notre Dame Law Review

No abstract provided.

Torch (November 2006), Amy Homans, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Behind The Veil An American Woman's Memoir Of The 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis, Debra Johanyak

University of Akron Press Publications

In Behind the Veil, Debra Johanyak weaves the personal with the historical in fascinating detail. Through her own story, a Midwestern woman married to an Iranian man and living in Iran during the hostage crisis, Johanyak provides the reader with sharp insights into similarities as well as differences between the two cultures. The memoir offers a thoughtful perspective on cultural chasms and the bridges we could build to conquer them. —Nahid Rachlin, author of Persian Girls, a memoir, and Jumping Over Fire, a novel

Debra Johanyak, a young American wife with an Iranian husband, gives a moving …

Information Outlook, November 2006, Special Libraries Association

Information Outlook, 2006

Volume 10, Issue 11

Unilever's Michael Polk: It's All About 'Dislocating Ideas', Knowledge@Smu

Knowledge@SMU

To drive home the subject of his speech at the recent third annual Wharton Marketing conference, Michael Polk, president of Unilever United States, flashed up a definition straight from the dictionary: 'Innovation: a new idea or method; a change in something established.' Polk, who manages such brands as Dove, Axe, Slim-Fast, Country Crock, Wishbone and Q-Tips, said innovation, not invention, lies at the heart of successful marketing campaigns.

Making The Global Grade: Chinese Managers Are The Latest Enrollees In Western Executive Education Classes, Knowledge@Smu

Knowledge@SMU

As Chinese firms increasingly turn their attention to strengthening their ability to compete in the global economy, they have a new challenge -- developing international expertise. One way they are doing this is by turning to Western executive education programs, which can include everything from courses in finance, marketing and corporate governance to a visit to Bloomingdale's and meals at noted Western restaurants.

Tarble Arts Center Newsletter November 2006, Tarble Arts Center

Tarble Arts Center Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Chechnya, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For the past 10 years, a violent conflict between the Russian military and Chechen rebels has resulted in accusations of kidnapping, rape, looting and other atrocities from both sides. Instances of violence constantly plague the Chechen population, including accidents involving unexploded ordnance and landmines.

Humanitarian Landmine Action In China And The Role Of The Ngo, Zhai Dequan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Though China is not a State Party to the Ottawa Convention, the country has long been involved in humanitarian efforts to alleviate the landmine problem. Nationally, China has launched mine clearance campaigns, and has become a State Party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Two organizations have also been established to alleviate the landmine problem. Internationally, China has sponsored several mine-clearance workshops, and has promoted international partnerships to work toward mine clearance.

Explosive Remnants Of War And The Reality Of Azerbaijan, Nazim Ismaylov, Emil M. Hasanov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article explains the danger of explosive remnants of war when located within communities and the precautions that need to be taken in order to get rid of this problem. It also describes how the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action is trying to address the problem of abandoned ammunition storage in one of the most highly contaminated areas among existing abandoned ammunition storages in the world.

2006 Unmao Planning Process In Sudan, Hansie Heymans

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A national strategic framework for mine-action efforts in Sudan drives the development of several planning documents that involved several national and international organisations to ensure the successful implementation of a successful framework. The author discusses the development process for the various national mine-action planning documents.

Mine-Risk Education And The Amateur Scrap-Metal Hunter, Allan R. Vosburgh

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In many countries where landmines and unexploded ordnance threaten populations, people ignore warnings about these hazardous explosives to collect explosive remnants of war for the valuable scrap metal they contain. The author discusses a program proposed by the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation to manage this dangerous practice.

Restorative Rigging And The Safe Indication Account, Steven Luper

Philosophy Faculty Research

Typical Gettieresque scenarios involve a subject, S, using a method, M, of believing something, p, where, normally, M is a reliable indicator of the truth of p, yet, in S’s circumstances, M is not reliable: M is deleteriously rigged. A different sort of scenario involves rigging that restores the reliability of a method M that is deleteriously rigged: M is restoratively rigged. Some theorists criticize (among others) the safe indication account of knowledge defended by Luper, Sosa, and Williamson on the grounds that it treats such cases as knowledge. But other theorists also criticize the safe indication account because it …

How To Take Into Account Dependence Between The Inputs: From Interval Computations To Constraint-Related Set Computations, With Potential Applications To Nuclear Safety, Bio- And Geosciences, Martine Ceberio, Scott Ferson, Vladik Kreinovich, Sanjeev Chopra, Gang Xiang, Adrian Murguia, Jorge Santillan

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In many real-life situations, in addition to knowing the intervals Xi of possible values of each variable xi, we also know additional restrictions on the possible combinations of xi; in this case, the set X of possible values of x=(x1,..,xn) is a proper subset of the original box X1 x ... x Xn. In this paper, we show how to take into account this dependence between the inputs when computing the range of a function f(x1,...,xn).

The Mine Action Express… Or The Wreck Of The ‘09, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author discusses current challenges relating to an effective global mine action strategy; he considers approaches and policies that could enhance or impede demining efforts worldwide. There are many emerging concepts to consider in order to improve mine action, such as mainstreaming, risk management and national ownership. The author discusses potential future plans of action the community must undertake regarding these issues in order to deal effectively with landmines and explosive remnants of war.

Cambodia, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Cambodia is one of the countries most heavily contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance, a result of nearly three decades of conflict. The nation was occupied by the Japanese during World War II, and through the 1960s and 1970s Cambodia was involved in the Indochina Wars, seeing significant bombing. In 1975, the Khmer Rouge occupied Phnom Penh, taking over every town and city; they were not entirely removed from Cambodia until 1999. Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia in 1978 displaced the Khmer Rouge; the Vietnamese occupied Cambodia for 10 years, which invoked almost 13 years of civil war. Pol Pot, leader …

Finally, Safe Demining, Vinicius Souza, Maria Eugênia Sá

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following a series of mistakes that caused hundreds of accidents—many fatal—a new battalion of the National Police of Peru now ensures demining quality for 1,711 power transmission towers.

The Killer Toy, Bounpheng Sisawath

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In June 2004, in the village of Nongsoung of the Paksong district in Champassak province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-year-old Pheng and four of her five children went out to plant vegetables. At noontime, while she was cooking lunch for the children, three of them began playing with something she could not see. Shortly thereafter, villagers two kilometres (one mile) away heard the sound of an explosion coming from the direction of Pheng’s garden.

Imsma® Version 4: A Collaborative Approach, Daniele Ressler

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

From July 24 to 27, 2006, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining hosted a workshop in Murten, Switzerland, to introduce and discuss the release of the Information Management System for Mine Action version 4. Participants included management, operations and technology professionals involved in mine-action information management. During this workshop, results from IMSMA v4 pilot field tests were presented, v4 changes and innovations were explained, and a demonstration of IMSMA v4 with new handheld and Geographic Information System components was offered. IMSMA v4 reflects a collaborative effort to improve the accuracy and ease of mine-action information management in the field.

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining provides operational assistance to mine-action programmes and operators, creates and disseminates knowledge, works to improve quality management and standards, and provides support to instruments of international law.

Information Management System For Mine Action In Sudan, Mohammad Kabir

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Information Management System for Mine Action is a globally used and internationally accepted database and software system that allows mine-action programmes to efficiently correlate and evaluate information. In addition, IMSMA provides powerful tools to rapidly disseminate information on hazardous areas and other important aspects of mine action by providing digital as well as printed maps and statistics.

Throwing Out Mines: The Effects Of A Flail, Ian Mclean, Rebecca Sargisson, Johannes Dirscherl, Håvard Bach

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The authors discuss a study conducted on flail machines to prove the effectiveness of this technology in destroying anti-personnel mines.

Minewolf Flail And Tiller Machines: Testing The Differences Between Two Demining Technologies, Heinz Rath, Dieter Schröder

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

MineWolf is the first demining concept, manufactured in Germany by Arthur Willibald Maschinenbau GmbH (AHWI), that overcomes the limitations of flail and tiller machines by combining the advantages of both systems. Extensive tests with live anti-tank and fragmentation mines were carried out at the German Army proving ground to determine whether the MineWolf meets the operational requirements for humanitarian demining. The aim was to discover the effects of detonations on the operator, MineWolf, clearing tools and cabin, and to work out instructions for reparability.

Guinea Bissau, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Past wars continue to haunt Guinea Bissau as remnants from previous conflicts are a constant reminder of what the country has undergone. Though the Liberation War lasted 11 years and finally ended in 1974, neighboring Senegal's internal conflict and Guinea Bissau's own civil war near the Casamance region would leave behind uglier scars.

The Aftermath Of War, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The recent conflict between Hezbollah and Israel resulted in many civilian victims and though the fighting has ended, the problems are nowhere near over for the civilians of Lebanon whose country is littered with cluster bomblets. This article explains the effects of the conflict on Lebanese civilians and describes how organizations are trying to eradicate the cluster-submunitions problem and provide aid to affected civilians.

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 10.2 (2006), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Editorial | Feature: Quality Assurance for Mined and Survey Areas | Focus: ERW: A Dangerous Legacy | Profiles | Making it Personal | Notes from the Field | Book Reviews | Research and Development | News Briefs