91 research outputs found
“The Persian Prince in Londonâ€: Autoethnography and Positionality in Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan
No full textThis paper explores the strategies and dynamics of Asian representation of the self and the colonial other in Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan (1810). I argue that while the process of autoethnography in an early period of colonisation anticipates the subsequent oscillation between submission and resistance, such representations are made complex by the positionality of the author within his milieu. Taleb’s text is marked by the ambiguity of his response to colonialism, engaging in a simultaneous admiration and critique of western practices, a critique that is made possible by his identity as the “Persian Prince.†Yet in its history of print, circulation and reception it becomes a tool in the propagation of colonial power
Preparation, optimisation and characterisation of sequence selective compounds
No full textDNA is the pharmacological target for most platinum drugs; however, the majority of these drugs show little or no specificity for particular base pairs. Considerable progress has been made in the design of sequence selective compounds, such that an antiparallel association of a polyamide can have high affinity for selected DNA base pairs. Hairpin polyamides have distinct advantages as they achieve affinities and specificities that are comparable to that of DNA-binding proteins. Platinum(II) hairpin polyamides are expected to display antitumour activity and target specific sequences of DNA. Five DNA-sequence-selective hairpin polyamide platinum(II) complexes, containing pyrrole (Py) and imidazole (Im) heterocyclic rings, have been synthesised using a combination of solid and solution phase chemistry. One mononuclear sequence selective complex, β-Ala-PyPyPy-L4-ImImIm-L4-Pt (HLSP-6) [β-Ala is β-alanine, L4 is 4-(Fmoc-amino)butyric acid and Pt is transplatin], and two dinuclear sequence selective complexes, β-Ala-PyPyPy-L4-ImImIm-L6'-Pt-(Pt) (DNHLSP-6) [L6' is 2,6-Fmoc-Lysine-(Fmoc)-OH] and β-Ala-PyPyImImIm-L4'-PyPyPyPyPy-L6'-Pt-(Pt) (DNHLSP-10) (L4' is 2-Boc-4-Fmoc-L-diaminobutyric acid), were synthesised entirely using solid phase chemistry. Two mononuclear sequence selective complexes, Pt-L6-β-Ala-Py-L4-Im (HSP-2) and Pt-L6-β-Ala-PyPyPy-L4-ImImIm (HSP-6), were synthesised using a combination of solid and solution phase chemistry. The synthesis of a trinuclear sequence selective polyamide was also attempted using a combination of solid and solution phase chemistry. The polyamides were synthesised in a series of reaction steps. Each heterocyclic ring and linker was coupled through solid phase chemistry using 2-(1H-benzotriazole-1-y1)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HBTU). Once the organic components were assembled, the platinum(II) group/s was/were added using either solid or solution phase chemistry. The polyamide sequence of PyPyPy-L4-ImImIm was designed to target the guanine rich telomere region of DNA. The metal complexes reported in this study will span sequences between 2, 5 or 7 DNA base pairs (depending on their length), which include 5'-(A/T)GGG(A/T)-3' and 5'-(A/T)(A/T)(A/T)GGG(A/T)-3'. All complexes were characterised using 1H and 195Pt NMR, high resolution mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The binding of HLSP-6 and DNHLSP-6 to guanosine was also monitored by 1H NMR
Prevalence and determinants of albuminuria in a cohort of diabetic patients in Lebanon
No full textBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Few data are available on the extent of albuminuria in diabetic populations in the Middle East generally and in Lebanon specifically. We conducted this study to determine the prevalence of albuminuria and its major risk factors in a cohort of diabetic patients in Lebanon. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Diabetic patients followed in the outpatient department at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) were included in a prospective observational study. AUBMC is a tertiary referral center and the outpatient department typically handles patients of low socioeconomic status with advvanced disease. Patients were classified according to their urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) as having normoalbuminuria (ACR30 mg-g creatinine), microalbuminuria (ACR=30 to 300 mg-g creatinine), or macroaalbuminuria (ACR =300 mg-g creatinine). The three groups were compared to analyze the association between albuminuria and its risk factors. In addition, independent predictors of albuminuria were determined using multivariate logistic regression and presented as an odds ratio. RESULTS: Microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were present in 33.3percent and 12.7percent of 222 patients (mean age 56.4 years, mean deviation of diabetes 8.6 years, 58.7percent women, 43.8percent obese), respectively. Factors significcantly associated with microalbuminuria included glycemic control, insulin use, and total and LDL cholesterol. Those associated with macroalbuminuria included in addition to glycemic control and insulin use, duration of diabetes, hypertension, elevated mean arterial pressure (MAP), and presence of neuropathy, retinopathy and peripheral vascular disease by bivariate analysis. Only glycemic control was an independent risk factor for both in addition to MAP and retinopathy for macroalbuminuria by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Albuminuria is highly prevalent among this cohort of diabetic patients in Lebanon. Both glycemmic control and blood pressure need to be better targeted in its management. © Annals of Saudi Medicine.Adler AI, 2003, KIDNEY INT, V63, P225, DOI 10.1046-j.1523-1755.2003.00712.x; Amos A F, 1997, Diabet Med, V14 Suppl 5, pS1; BAKRIS G, OVERVIEW DIABETIC NE; Brenner BM, 2001, NEW ENGL J MED, V345, P861, DOI 10.1056-NEJMoa011161; CHATURVEDI N, 1995, DIABETES CARE, V18, P785, DOI 10.2337-diacare.18.6.785; de Boer IH, 2007, J AM SOC NEPHROL, V18, P235, DOI 10.1681-ASN.2006040394; de Zeeuw D, 2004, CIRCULATION, V110, P921, DOI 10.1161-01.CIR.0000139860.33974.28; Ewens KG, 2005, DIABETES, V54, P3305, DOI 10.2337-diabetes.54.11.3305; Gelber RP, 2005, AM J KIDNEY DIS, V46, P871, DOI 10.1053-j.ajkd.2005.08.015; GIRACH A, 2006, INT J CLIN PRACT, V11, P1471; Gross JL, 2005, DIABETES CARE, V28, P164, DOI 10.2337-diacare.28.1.164; HOMMEL E, 1986, DIABETOLOGIA, V29, P211, DOI 10.1007-BF00454877; MARRE M, 1987, BRIT MED J, V294, P1448; Ritz E, 1999, NEW ENGL J MED, V341, P1127, DOI 10.1056-NEJM199910073411506; Rosario Rey F, 2006, Curr Diab Rep, V6, P455, DOI 10.1007-s11892-006-0079-7; SAWICKI PT, 1994, DIABETES CARE, V17, P126, DOI 10.2337-diacare.17.2.126; Taleb N, 2008, BR J DIABETES VASC D, V8, P80, DOI 10.1177-14746514080080020501; Turner RC, 1998, LANCET, V352, P837; Unnikrishnan R, 2007, DIABETES CARE, V30, P2019, DOI 10.2337-dc06-255421
Państwowość zachodnioukraińska 1918–1923 oraz teorie losowości XX – początku XXI wieku
No full textIn the article author focused on the understudied and disputable aspects of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1914–1923, mainly on how Western Ukrainian statehood was established and developed in 1918–1919, as well as some specific issues of the political history of the West-Ukrainian People’s Republic (WUPR) in 1918–1923. By applying the theories of randomness introduced by scientists in the 20th – early 21st centuries (generally, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Michele Wucker, Peter Grassberger, Edward Lorenz), the author puts forward an approach to the events of the early 20th century Ukrainian history, which is completely different to what has been suggested before, in its “Galician” form. W artykule autor skupił się na niedostatecznie zbadanych i dyskusyjnych aspektach rewolucji ukraińskiej w latach 1914–1923, głównie na sposobie tworzenia i rozwoju zachodnio-ukraińskiej państwowości w latach 1918–1919, a także na niektórych specyficznych zagadnieniach historii politycznej Zachodnio-Ukraińskiej Republiki Ludowej (ZURL) w latach 1918–1923. Stosując teorie losowości wprowadzone przez naukowców na przełomie XX i XXI w. (generalnie – Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Michele Wucker, Peter Grassberger, Edward Lorenz), autor proponuje zupełnie odmienne od dotychczas sugerowanego podejście do wydarzeń z historii Ukrainy początku XX w., w jej pośtaci „galicyjskiej”
Qaddafi's Libya: a politicosocioeconomic treatise, 1981
No full textThis study seeks to measure the success and consistency of the Qaddafi regime in introducing basic changes and real development in Libya in accordance with the ideology of Qaddafi which has found its full expression in his Green Book dealing with the political, economic and social matters. After the 1969 coup which brought the military regime of Qaddafi to power, Libya began to experience new events in its political life. In order to realize popular democracy, Qaddafi initiated the system of peopIe's congresses and popular committees. This was designed to involve people directly in politics to fulfill the principle of self-government propounded in the Green Book I. It seemed, however, despite some degree of increased popular participation, generally mass interest in politics was lacking due to the firm control exercised from above. With the aim of achievement of self-sufficiency in its economy and eradication of dependence on foreign economies, the Qaddafi regime launched various ambitious projects. These programs, ironically tended to deepen Libya's status as a rentier state. Serious shortage of skilled manpower was seemingly aggravated by the unsound employment and educational policies. The study suggests that the development process pursued by Libya was not a self-directed and independent course, as it relied heavily on the imported highly-advanced technology and labor. Since 1969 standard of living of the Libyan people had drastically changed, quality social services were provided for the masses. Among these medical care and housing policies were the most successful ones. The onefamily one-house rule, based on the second chapter of Green Book, was particularly popular. Despite the promising short run prospects, the long term perspective for Libya was not quite bright. In its rush to realize development the present Libyan generation was dissipating resources far beyong its real needs and capacity. The study concludes that achievement of genuine change and development would not bt possible but through long term planning which would take into consideration the existing constraints of nature and shortage of human labo
Narrative fallacies: An analysis of narrative as a mode of argumentative proof in contemporary American political rhetoric
No full textNarrative, though a crucial process by which we interpret the meaning of events and communicate with one another, has come under increasing criticism as to its merit as a mode of argumentative proof. This project situates itself by contrasting Walter Fisher\u27s proposal that narrative is the fundamental human communicative paradigm with Nassim Taleb\u27s rejection of narrative as an analytical tool. It is my contention that because narrative is both fundamental as well as flawed the best way to process is to endeavor to improve narrative as a mode of argumentative proof. This project develops a concept of narrative fallacies to maintenance our storytelling capacity to run parallel to the informal logical fallacies that maintenance our rational capacity. Narrative fallacies are patterns of story that appeal to one\u27s desire as to what stories should be by imposing expectations of fictional stories on historical ones. Such fallacies are further grouped by the certain aspect of a story (e.g. protagonist, climax, economy, denouement etc.) that they emphasize. Drawing on examples from the political arena in which political actors construct and consume stories to foster understanding of their political reality and achieve their persuasive goals, this project proposes a preliminary typography of narrative fallacies. The goal of this typography is to begin a conversation that focuses on how the features of fictional stories come to be expected of stories in the political arena. Finally, this project examines one particular case-study—that of narrative destiny. I propose that narrative destiny imposes the expectation of a strong positive climactic outcome on historical stories and may thus be identified as fallacious. Destiny throughout American history and as a pattern of life-story is considered, and the case of Newt Gingrich\u27s 2012 political campaign in particular is used as an example of how the concept of narrative fallacious can be applied in the field
The Investigation of residential architecture in the Bronze Age. Tape Yal, Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran
No full textThe first villages were formed during the Neolithic period, when people began building residential architecture. Villages continued to exist in Iran until the 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC, when the first cities appeared. Settlement in Shahr-i Sokhta had begun during this period, and in the 3rd millennium BC, the city’s size expanded and many related-settlement sites were formed in the Sistan plain. A prominent related-settlement site of Shahr-i Sokhta is Tape Yal or Taleb Khan 2, located 11 kilometres from the city. An excavation was conducted at this site by one of the author. This article analyses the architectural features of this site, a Bronze Age village of the Hirmand civilization, based on the findings of this excavation. It has been determined that this site contains residential buildings, workshops, and storage rooms with mudbrick construction. The above residential buildings probably belonged to the craftsmen of this village who lived next to their workshops.The first villages were formed during the Neolithic period, when people began building residential architecture. Villages continued to exist in Iran until the 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC, when the first cities appeared. Settlement in Shahr-i Sokhta had begun during this period, and in the 3rd millennium BC, the city’s size expanded and many related-settlement sites were formed in the Sistan plain. A prominent related-settlement site of Shahr-i Sokhta is Tape Yal or Taleb Khan 2, located 11 kilometres from the city. An excavation was conducted at this site by one of the author. This article analyses the architectural features of this site, a Bronze Age village of the Hirmand civilization, based on the findings of this excavation. It has been determined that this site contains residential buildings, workshops, and storage rooms with mudbrick construction. The above residential buildings probably belonged to the craftsmen of this village who lived next to their workshops
Assessment of Toxic Metals and Phthalates in Children’s Toys and Clays
No full textToxic metals and phthalates are introduced in the manufacturing of plastic toys and modeling clays. In Lebanon, inexpensive plastic toys and modeling clays (sold in dollar stores) are affordable and popular, and there is no legislation to monitor or regulate such toys. This study aimed to assess the quality of inexpensive plastic toys and modeling clays imported in Lebanon. Metal concentrations in toys, namely, zinc [not detectable (ND) to 3,708 μg/g], copper (ND to 140), chromium (ND to 75 μg/g), tin (ND to 39 μg/g), and cadmium (Cd) (ND to 20 μg/g), were lower than the European Union (EU) Directive limits, whereas lead (ND to 258 μg/g) in 10 % of samples and antimony (Sb) (ND to 195 μg/g) in 5 % of samples were greater than the EU limits. In modeling clays, most of the metals were lower than the EU Directive limits except for Cd and arsenic (As). Cd was detected in 83 % of samples, with a mean level of 9.1 μg/g, which is far greater than the EU Directive limit (1.9 μg/g). The As mean level of 4.5 μg/g was greater than the EU limit (4.0 μg/g) and was detected in 9 % of samples. Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) were found in 60 % of children’s toys and 77 % of modeling clays. Phthalic acid butyl ester had the highest-level PAE encountered and was ≤59.1 % in one type of clay. However, among children’s toys, di(4-octyl) ester terephthalic acid was the highest encountered phthalate at a concentration of 25.7 %. The community survey indicated that 82 % of households purchase their toys from inexpensive shops and that only 17 % of parents were aware of the health hazard of such toys. Consequently, an intervention plan was proposed for the provision of safe toys to children.PublishedN/
The Problem of Money Illusion in Economics
No full textMoney illusion in economic theory has been an assumption rejected for academic economists for quite some time. However, with the gradual diffusion of behavioural economics based on experimental research this has changed. Now, it has become a respected fact to accept money illusion as a stylized fact of human behaviour. However, it still needs a better understanding why monetary phenomena especially related to financial markets play an important role in understanding the real economy, the production, consumption and exchange of commodities and services. The author of this paper suggests that financial markets are particular engaged in intertemporal valuation problems which are common to any kind of economic activity. Since money is the unit of account, accounting problems related to the uncertain nature of future economic development makes a continuous readjustment of valuations in money units necessary. However, financial markets are imperfect as Minsky has pointed out. Because of these imperfections the possibility of significant long-lasting valuation problems emerges. One reason for this is that in standard economic reasoning the problem of intentional cheating is neglected. Furthermore major innovations like e.g. the ICT revolution with the Internet or the introduction of securitization as a means to redistribute risk as general purpose innovations make valuations of the long term to medium term impacts on the economy extremely difficult. The recent financial market bubbles are significantly related to such general purpose innovations. If monetary policy fails to control for irrational exuberance of investors about the future benefits and profits of such innovations, this inherently embodies the risk of a financial market shock, if expectations of the general public have to adjust after overoptimistic prediction about the future economic development. The author, however, considers that there are some early warning indicators which would give the possibility of timely action of policy makers to control financial market bubbles. The complacency of monetary authorities of the past decades to do so, has not primarily a diagnostic problem to deal with money illusion, but even more so with vested interests of insiders of private investors on the institution to control unlawful behaviour. By weakening the regulatory framework, failing to establish transparency and accountability of agents eager to get rich as fast as possible without taking into regard the rules of good governance the current global financial crisis of institutional failure to contain the instability of financial markets to an acceptable social level. Money illusion is so as well an expression that unfounded optimism about the self-regulatory discipline of market participates is sufficient to stop financial markets get out of control to an historical unprecedented level.Money Illusion; Imperfect Financial Markets; Regulatory Failure; Behavioural Finance
On the design of energy-aware 3G-WiFi heterogeneous networks under realistic conditions
No full textIn this paper, we consider the design of 3G-WiFi heterogeneous networks under realistic operational conditions. The aim is reduce the energy consumed from batteries on mobile devices by utilizing the multiple available wireless interfaces and dynamically switching between 3G and WiFi. We conduct a set of experimental measurements in various network scenarios in order to identify the main components that impact energy consumption in mobile devices while connected to 3G and WiFi networks. The measurement results are then used to derive a generic analytical energy model as a function of the download data size and the effective download bit rate. A basic algorithm to switch dynamically between 3G and WiFi is designed based on the derived analytical energy model. An Android-based mobile application is developed to test the performance of the switching algorithm in real scenarios. Experimental results demonstrate notable energy reduction gains and, thus, highlight the potential benefits of intelligent switching in heterogeneous networks. © 2013 IEEE.Arakawa Y., 2012, INT WORKSH SMART MOB; Balasubramanian N., 2009, 9 ACM SIGCOMM C INT; Chamodrakas I, 2012, APPL SOFT COMPUT, V12, P1929, DOI 10.1016-j.asoc.2012.04.016; Hao J., 2011, 2 ANN ACM C MULT SYS; Majlesi A., 2002, 13 IEEE INT S PERS I; Rahmati A., 2007, 5 INT C MOB SYST APP; Schulman A., 2010, 16 ANN INT C MOB COM; Song Q., 2004, IEEE GLOB TEL C GLOB; Zhang L., 2010, IEEE ACM IFIP INT C; Zhang P., 2010, 2 IEEE INT C NETW IN0
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