Asymmetric glottal jet deflection: differences of two- and three-dimensional models

Flow is studied through a channel with an oscillating orifice mimicking the motion of the glottal-gap during phonation. Simulations with prescribed flow and wall-motion are carried out for different orifice geometries, a 2D slit-like and a 3D lens-like one. Although the jet emerges from a symmetric orifice a significant deflection occurs in case of the slit-like geometry, contrary to the 3D lens-like one. The results demonstrate the dependency of jet entrainment and vortex dynamics on the orifice geometry and the interpretation of asymmetric jet deflection with regard to the relevance of the Coanda effect in the process of human phonation

Diversity of Listeria monocytogenes strains of clinical and food chain origins in Belgium between 1985 and 2014

Listeriosis is a rare but severe disease, mainly caused by Listeria monocytogenes. This study shows the results of the laboratory-based surveillance of Listeriosis in Belgium over the period 1985-2014. Besides the incidence and some demographic data we present also more detailed microbiological and molecular characteristics of human strains isolated since 2000. The strains from the latter period were compared to food and animal strains from the same period. Our study shows that different food matrices were commonly contaminated with L. monocytogenes presenting the same PFGE profile as in patient's isolates. Since 1985, we observed a significant decrease in incidence of the Materno-Neonatal cases (from 0.15 to 0.04 cases /100,000 inhabitants-year), which is probably to be attributed to active prevention campaigns targeting pregnant women. Despite the strengthening of different control measures by the food industry, the incidence of non-Materno-Neonatal listeriosis increased in Belgium (from 0.3 to 0.7 cases /100,000 inhabitants-year), probably due to the rise of highly susceptible patients in an aging population. This significant increase found in non-Materno-Neonatal cases (slope coefficient 7.42%/year, P< 0.0001) can be attributed to significant increase in incidence of isolates belonging to serovars 1/2a (n = 393, slope coefficient 6.62%/year, P< 0.0001). Although resistance to antimicrobials is rare among L. monocytogenes isolates, a trend to increasing MIC values is evident with chloramphenicol, amoxicillin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. We show that fluoroquinolone resistance is not linked to chromosomal mutations, but caused by a variety of efflux pumps. Our study also shows that huge majority of known underlying pathologies (426 out of 785 cases) were cancers (185/426, 43.1%) and haematological malignancies (75/185, 40.5%). Moreover the risk population is susceptible to low levels of contamination in food stressing the need of prevention campaigns specifically targeting these persons

Territorial and industry analysis of the fulfillment of Zaporizhian regional projects

The subject matter of the regional project in the context of regional and inter-regional influences has been determined. A comparative analysis of the economic potential of Dnieper economic region has been held. Characteristics and the purpose of major regional projects in Zaporizhzhya region have been established. Tendencies of the regional programs and projects use in the context of the fulfillment of the regional territory development strategy have been determined

Stromal Hedgehog signalling is downregulated in colon cancer and its restoration restrains tumour growth

A role for Hedgehog (Hh) signalling in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been proposed. In CRC and other solid tumours, Hh ligands are upregulated; however, a specific Hh antagonist provided no benefit in a clinical trial. Here we use Hh reporter mice to show that downstream Hh activity is unexpectedly diminished in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer, and that downstream Hh signalling is restricted to the stroma. Functionally, stroma-specific Hh activation in mice markedly reduces the tumour load and blocks progression of advanced neoplasms, partly via the modulation of BMP signalling and restriction of the colonic stem cell signature. By contrast, attenuated Hh signalling accelerates colonic tumourigenesis. In human CRC, downstream Hh activity is similarly reduced and canonical Hh signalling remains predominantly paracrine. Our results suggest that diminished downstream Hh signalling enhances CRC development, and that stromal Hh activation can act as a colonic tumour suppressor

Things We Dare Not See: Media Revisions of Incestuous Relationships

Nowadays we can see a steadily growing acceptance of queer relationships in our films and novels, whether they are romance films or violent war movies. What we don’t get to see are examples of incestuous relationships that are consensual and harmless. For example, when Luke and Leia accidentally share some romantic feelings in Star Wars, that bond is suppressed. We don’t get an acknowledgment of a brother and sister’s emotional support in the movie adaptation of V.C Andrews’ Flowers in the Attic. This erasure stems from a long history of cultural and legal censorship of incest that only discusses harm. Even though we can imagine stories of genuine care and compassion, our novels, films, and television series still produce and censor along traditional ideas regarding what is taboo. In light of contemporary theorists of sexuality, these taboos can be challenged. Thinkers like David Lexter in “Incest” focus our attention on implicit research biases that read acts of incest and violence as the same experience. They reveal how the prevalence of survivor discourses have skewed the way people are expected to understand incestuous narratives. Representations of incest are not implicitly harmful. If we, as both creators and audiences, keep these relationships behind closed doors or wrapped up in rape stories, we stand to lose viewing an aspect of life that can beautiful and supportive. Despite a history of cultural and legal actions against these relationships, this thesis argues that censorship practices on representations of taboo incestuous sexualities must be reexamined and ultimately rejected. With an acknowledgment of the history of film censorship, this thesis looks to deconstruct these practices by examining four modern, mainstream works: George Lucas’s Star Wars movie franchise, George R.R. Martin’s “A Game of Thrones” novels and television adaptation by David Benioff, both the 1987 and 2014 film adaptations of V.C. Andrews’s novel, Flowers in the Attic, and Joao Emanuel Carneiro’s recent Brazilian novella A Regra do Jogo. In examining these works, I look to understand how portrayals of incest differ between standalone films and film franchises, and between genres as it performs before an imagined audience. To do this, I will first examine the social, religious, and legal perceptions of incest. From there, I will discuss both the brief romance and gradual revision of twins Luke and Leia’s relationship in Star Wars as model for revising even harmless incestual relationships. Next, I will address the differences between novel and film adaptations of Flowers in the Attic, focusing specifically on how it sets a precedence for rewriting consensual relationships as violence. I compare these revisions with the secret relationship between Cersei and Jaimie Lannister in A Game of Thrones. These relationships will be read alongside the romance of two cousins in the Brazilian novella, A Regra do Jogo, and the brother and sister relationship in Flowers in the Attic. This paper will analyze the ways incestuous relationships are: introduced or implied, defended or criticized within the narrative, maintained as focus of the main plot, and resolved if they need to be. Promotional material for serialized works, Star Wars and A Game of Thrones, will also be addressed. Some attention will be given to changes between novel and film/television adaptations of A Game of Thrones and Flowers in the Attic

Intra-and inter-group perceptions of Chinese and Tanzanian employees in intercultural cooperation

The cooperation between Chinese and Tanzanian employees and organisations has a very long tradition in Tanzanian history. The purpose of this paper is to explore and understand how Chinese and Tanzanian employees see themselves and “the other” while cooperating. This research presents a study of a single case, conducted in a selected Chinese organisation in Tanzania. It uses a hermeneutical research paradigm. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and observation and analysed through content analysis, following Terre Blanche’s model. Findings demonstrate and explain the perspectives which Chinese and Tanzanian employees hold mutually with regard to the group image of self and other within the organisation, as well as perceptions of self and other in terms of organisational, environmental and cultural contexts. Since this is a qualitative single organisational case study, the findings are limited to this single organisation and are not generalisable. Conclusions drawn from the new research insights are provided and recommendations are given in terms of how Chinese and Tanzanian perceptions present themselves and how organisations could work with self-image and counter images to improve intercultural cooperation

Redox-controlled potassium intercalation into two polyaromatic hydrocarbon solids

Alkali metal intercalation into polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been studied intensely after reports of superconductivity in a number of potassium- and rubidium-intercalated materials. There are, however, no reported crystal structures to inform our understanding of the chemistry and physics because of the complex reactivity of PAHs with strong reducing agents at high temperature. Here we present the synthesis of crystalline K2Pentacene and K2Picene by a solid–solid insertion protocol that uses potassium hydride as a redox-controlled reducing agent to access the PAH dianions, and so enables the determination of their crystal structures. In both cases, the inserted cations expand the parent herringbone packings by reorienting the molecular anions to create multiple potassium sites within initially dense molecular layers, and thus interact with the PAH anion π systems. The synthetic and crystal chemistry of alkali metal intercalation into PAHs differs from that into fullerenes and graphite, in which the cation sites are pre-defined by the host structure