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Defining Filipinoness has been problematic throughout history. Previous studies have focused on the persistent impact of the colonial experience on Filipinos (Bernad, 1971; Constantino, 1977; Enriquez, 1992; Yacat, 2005). Some scholars have framed their understanding vis-a-vis the search for a national consciousness resulting in a unif ied Filipino identity (Anderson, 1983; Constantino, 1969). But in the age of globalization, statehood and nationhood have become questionable concepts (Adamson & Demetriou, 2007; Ahmad & Eijaz, 2011; Guéhenno, 1995; Omae, 1995). Who has the Filipino become amid a modern-day diaspora? I propose an analysis of history not as archival and disconnected from the present but as part of an ongoing story of identity formation. Recognition is given to kapwa, a view of self-and-other as one. This indigenous ontology offers a postmodern lens to understand the complexities of being Filipino through time and space. For contemporary Filipinos, identity formation may involve a continuing resistance against colonialism now set amid the diaspora in the digital age. This article further presents an alternative view of Filipinoness by arguing that diasporics remain Filipino despite physical estrangement from the Philippines. An essential point echoed from other scholars is how cultural identity should not be seen as singular and unchanging (Hall, 1990; Said, 1993/2012). Rather, Filipinoness may refer to evolving, varied and fluid Filipino identities. This evolution involves a past that folds into the present and impacts the future in locations around the world.

The benefits attributed to field trips by science educators are: social development; observation and perception skills; giving meaning to learning; providing first-hand experience and stimulating interest and motivation. Arguably, the "real value" of field work is attributed by students. In this study, 100 first-year students took part in an analysis of the value of a residential field trip. The field trip was a purposeful combination of personal development and academic activities. Pairwise comparison showed that the attributed value score for "Personal and Social Development" was significantly higher than scores for "Provide First-hand Experience" and "Observation and Perception Skills". The attributed value for "Stimulate Interest and Motivation in the Subject" also scored more highly than "Provide First-hand Experience", and "Observation and Perception Skills"; "Give meaning to Learning" was significantly higher than that for "Observation and Perception Skills". In addition, the "educator" was also able to significantly improve students' scores for "Stimulate Interest and Motivation". This insight into students' perceptions of field work recasts our thinking as educators; social capital is a key factor in student persistence and subsequence academic success. Field trips should be considered a valuable addition to retention strategies in a way that is tangible for students themselves.

Nipah virus is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that causes disease outbreaks in South-East Asia with high case fatality rates. It is considered to be a public health risk and there are limited medical countermeasures for treatment or prevention, and as a Biosafety Level 4 pathogen, limited places able to work with Nipah virus. Animal models are required for the evaluation of medical countermeasures. Female hamsters, in groups of three or six were infected IP with a sixlog10 range doses of Nipah virus Malaysia. Hamsters were weighed daily and checked every four hours. Animals were scored on the condition of coat, posture, eyes, respiration, activity and neurological signs. Hamsters were monitored for 14 post-infection. Organ samples were taken for histopathological analysis and for viral load determination. Immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-Nipah virus glycoprotein antibody. Hamsters were susceptible to infection with NiV-M by the IP. route at all challenge doses. Animals started showing signs of infection and succumbing to disease in a dose-dependent manner, succumbing between days 4 and 9. The progression of clinical signs was rapid. Viable virus could not be detected in any of the organs, or in the blood of any of the eight animals that survived the infection. No viable virus was recovered from six of the animals that succumbed to infection. Where viable virus was recovered, it was predominantly in the spleen, brain or lung. No pathological changes were observed in the brain whislt many pathological changes were observed in the lungs. Immunohistochemistry showed NiV was localised to the lung blood vessel endothelial cells in animals that succumbed. We demonstrated that, similar to previously known data, the hamster is susceptible to Nipah virus. We have shown that disease progressed rapidly, and that the lungs were the main site for viral replication and pathological changes. © Crown copyright (2022), Dstl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the amplitude stabilization of a 2.85 THz quantum cascade laser with a graphene loaded split-ring-resonator array acting as an external amplitude modulator. The transmittance of the modulator can be actively changed by modifying the graphene conductivity via electrostatic back-gating. The modulator operates at room temperature and is capable of actively modulating the quantum cascade laser power level and thus stabilizing the power output via a proportional-integral-derivative feedback control loop. The stability was enhanced by more than 10 times through actively tuning the modulation. Furthermore, this approach can be used to externally control the laser power with a high level of stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In 2020, Asian countries accounted for almost two-third of the 377,000 new cases of Oral Cancer (OC) globally. High OC incidence poses a significant burden on the Asian population, but there is a lack of recent studies examining OC in Asia. Hence, an update on the epidemiology of OC in Asia is warranted. This review aims to consolidate epidemiological data on OC in Asia published between 2012 and 2021. Method: ology: A search was conducted on PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar for articles published between 2012 and 2021. There was no language restriction for articles. Articles reporting on the epidemiology of OC in Asia were included. The identified articles were critically appraised with the Joanna Brigs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal tool for Prevalent Studies. Results: 39 papers were identified that provided data across 27 countries in Asia. Most Asian countries reported rising incidence except among Hong Kong and Korean males, and Mumbai females. Besides Laos, Cambodia and certain regions in Thailand, all other regions in Asia showed male predilection. The mean age was in the late fifties. Tongue was the predominant site for most countries. Most OC presented as Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). Growing OC trends among females and in the younger populations were found in some Asian countries. Conclusion: The lack of comprehensive epidemiologic data on OC in Asia despite its significant disease burden highlights the need to implement national-level registries to provide accessible data on OC in Asia, which will help to formulate effective prevention and treatment programs. An optimistic association between abstinence from tobacco and alcohol consumption and declining incidence rates bodes well for efforts directed at lifestyle modifications to reduce OC incidence.

Defining Filipinoness has been problematic throughout history. Previous studies have focused on the persistent impact of the colonial experience on Filipinos (Bernad, 1971; Constantino, 1977; Enriquez, 1992; Yacat, 2005). Some scholars have framed their understanding vis-a-vis the search for a national consciousness resulting in a unif ied Filipino identity (Anderson, 1983; Constantino, 1969). But in the age of globalization, statehood and nationhood have become questionable concepts (Adamson & Demetriou, 2007; Ahmad & Eijaz, 2011; Guéhenno, 1995; Omae, 1995). Who has the Filipino become amid a modern-day diaspora? I propose an analysis of history not as archival and disconnected from the present but as part of an ongoing story of identity formation. Recognition is given to kapwa, a view of self-and-other as one. This indigenous ontology offers a postmodern lens to understand the complexities of being Filipino through time and space. For contemporary Filipinos, identity formation may involve a continuing resistance against colonialism now set amid the diaspora in the digital age. This article further presents an alternative view of Filipinoness by arguing that diasporics remain Filipino despite physical estrangement from the Philippines. An essential point echoed from other scholars is how cultural identity should not be seen as singular and unchanging (Hall, 1990; Said, 1993/2012). Rather, Filipinoness may refer to evolving, varied and fluid Filipino identities. This evolution involves a past that folds into the present and impacts the future in locations around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overweight and obesity are increasingly contributing to disease burden among military populations. The purpose of this study was to calculate and examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the veteran population. Data were obtained from the 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Overweight (body mass index > or = 25 kg/m2) prevalence in veterans was 73.3% (SE, 0.4%) for males and 53.6% (SE 1.7%) for females. Obesity (body mass index > or = 30 kg/m2) prevalence in veterans was 25.3% (SE, 0.4%) for males and 21.2% (SE, 1.4%) for females. After adjusting for sociodemographics and health status, veterans were no more likely to be overweight (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.11) or obese (odds ratio 0.99; confidence interval, 0.93-1.05) than nonveterans. Despite previous participation in a culture and environment that selects for and enforces body weight standards, veterans have a high prevalence of overweight and obesity that is similar to general population estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reflection anisotropy spectra (RAS) of a Au( 110) surface in an HClO4 electrolyte have been measured as the potential is cycled into the oxidation region. RAS spectral signatures are obtained for the adsorption of OH- and the oxidation of the surface. RA spectra indicate that both processes destroy surface states associated with the Au( 110) (1 × 2). surface, that the oxidation of the Au( 110) surface is reversible, and that there are no significant kinetic barriers to any of the surface processes that occur as the potential is cycled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cynomolgus macaques are frequently used in biomedical research. However, in contrast to their closest relative, the rhesus macaque, little is known about their Mhc genes except for the DQB1 locus. In this study, 33 DRB-sequences belonging to 17 allelic lineages were detected in a total of 68 macaques, 58 originating from Mauritius and 10 from China. The majority of the sequences were detected in the few macaques from China, confirming the low degree of genetic variation in macaques from Mauritius. In summary, the DRB region in cynomolgus macaques is polymorphic. The sequences belong in general to the same allelic lineages as in their closest relative, the rhesus macaque. Two exon 2 DNA sequences were identical in both species and may represent a trans-species origin. In addition, protein sequences of members of the DRB*W1 lineage seem to be rather conserved in the three macaque species examined so far. Six DRB-haplotypes were detected in the macaques from Mauritius. While single DRB-alleles or some protein sequences seemed to be conserved among macaque species, we could not detect any evidence for a trans-species conservation of a complete DRB region. Overall, the data indicate that reorganization of the DRB region by recombination is a major force in creating diversity in cynomolgus macaques as it is in rhesus macaques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the UK, and indeed in many countries, Direct Capital Comparison (DCC) remains central to the practice of residential property valuers. Theoretically well founded, statistically or heuristically-based alternatives, usually embodying regression techniques, have failed to penetrate professional practice despite long pedigrees. For several years, neural networks, in which values are not so much derived or assigned but discovered, have also been propounded as potential alternatives. Yet DCC clings to its pre-eminent position because it is readily understood and it is thought to produce more accurate results. In order to improve upon DCC, complementary or alternative methods will need to enhance accuracy, and be equally intelligible and transparent. This paper reports empirical findings, discusses some of the obstacles that will need to be overcome and some of the constituents that may comprise an improved model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A temporal relationship has been demonstrated between persisting immune complexes and non-antigen-specific immunodepression. Mice were given intraperitoneal injections of Bordetella pertussis at weekly intervals. After 7 weeks they developed circulating immune complexes, the levels of which increased with continued administration of pertussis. The increase in immune complex levels was accompanied by a diminished primary immune response to intraperitoneally injected sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) as judged by a reduction in their direct and indirect plaque-forming cell response and serum agglutination titres. Spleen cells from immunodepressed pertussisatreated mice were transferred to irradiated normal recipients and displayed a normal response to SRBC. By contrast, spleen cells transferred from normal donors to irradiated pertussis-treated recipients had an impaired response to SR BC. Thus, the immunodepression caused by pertussis treatment is a property of the environment and not the lymphocytes themselves. It is considered that chronic circulating immune complexes induced by pertussis administration may cause non-antigen-specific immunodepression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifteen patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon received captopril 25 mg or placebo, three times daily for 6 weeks, in a randomized double-blind cross-over study. Compared with placebo, captopril produced a significant improvement in cutaneous blood flow but did not alter the frequency or severity of attacks of Raynaud's phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-phosphoryl choline antibody responses of resistant and susceptible strains of mice infected with microfilariae of Dipetalonema viteae or the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Trichinella spiralis were determined. The responses were characterized both in terms of their kinetics and the constituent role played by each immunoglobulin heavy-chain class. Infection with either parasite elicited detectable responses in all strains investigated. However, the kinetics of the response of each heavy-chain class within each strain could vary independently. Furthermore, differences were observed between the responses of inbred mouse strains that differ in their ability to control infection. It was not possible, however, to correlate these differences in the serological response with the ability of these animals to control infection. The results are discussed in relation to attempts to improve serological diagnostic assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Current data suggest that an efficacious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine should elicit both adaptive humoral and cell mediated immune responses. Such a vaccine will also need to protect against infection from a range of heterologous viral variants. Here we have developed a simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) based model in cynomolgus macaques to investigate the breadth of protection conferred by HIV-1W61D recombinant gp120 vaccination against SHIVsbg and SHIVSF33 challenge, and to identify correlates of protection. Results High titres of anti-envelope antibodies were detected in all vaccinees. The antibodies reacted with both the homologous HIV-1W61D and heterologous HIV-1IIIB envelope rgp120 which has an identical sequence to the SHIVsbg challenge virus. Significant titres of virus neutralising antibodies were detected against SHIVW61D expressing an envelope homologous with the vaccine, but only limited cross neutralisation against SHIVsbg, SHIV-4 and SHIVSF33 was observed. Protection against SHIVsbg infection was observed in vaccinated animals but none was observed against SHIVSF33 challenge. Transfer of immune sera from vaccinated macaques to naive recipients did not confer protection against SHIVsbg challenge. In a follow-up study, T cell proliferative responses detected after immunisation with the same vaccine against a single peptide present in the second conserved region 2 of HIV-1 W61D and HIV-1 IIIB gp120, but not SF33 gp120. Conclusions Following extended vaccination with a HIV-1 rgp120 vaccine, protection was observed against heterologous virus challenge with SHIVsbg, but not SHIVSF33. Protection did not correlate with serological responses generated by vaccination, but might be associated with T cell proliferative responses against an epitope in the second constant region of HIV-1 gp120. Broader protection may be obtained with recombinant HIV-1 envelope based vaccines formulated with adjuvants that generate proliferative T cell responses in addition to broadly neutralising antibodies.

Abstract Background Vaccination with live attenuated SIV can protect against detectable infection with wild-type virus. We have investigated whether target cell depletion contributes to the protection observed. Following vaccination with live attenuated SIV the frequency of intestinal CD4+CCR5+ T cells, an early target of wild-type SIV infection and destruction, was determined at days 3, 7, 10, 21 and 125 post inoculation. Results In naive controls, modest frequencies of intestinal CD4+CCR5+ T cells were predominantly found within the LPL TTrM-1 and IEL TTrM-2 subsets. At day 3, LPL and IEL CD4+CCR5+ TEM cells were dramatically increased whilst less differentiated subsets were greatly reduced, consistent with activation-induced maturation. CCR5 expression remained high at day 7, although there was a shift in subset balance from CD4+CCR5+ TEM to less differentiated TTrM-2 cells. This increase in intestinal CD4+CCR5+ T cells preceded the peak of SIV RNA plasma loads measured at day 10. Greater than 65.9% depletion of intestinal CD4+CCR5+ T cells followed at day 10, but overall CD4+ T cell homeostasis was maintained by increased CD4+CCR5- T cells. At days 21 and 125, high numbers of intestinal CD4+CCR5- naive TN cells were detected concurrent with greatly increased CD4+CCR5+ LPL TTrM-2 and IEL TEM cells at day 125, yet SIV RNA plasma loads remained low. Conclusions This increase in intestinal CD4+CCR5+ T cells, following vaccination with live attenuated SIV, does not correlate with target cell depletion as a mechanism of protection. Instead, increased intestinal CD4+CCR5+ T cells may correlate with or contribute to the protection conferred by vaccination with live attenuated SIV.

Abstract Background Vaccination of macaques with live attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) provides significant protection against the wild-type virus. The use of a live attenuated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as AIDS vaccine in humans is however considered unsafe because of the risk that the attenuated virus may accumulate genetic changes during persistence and evolve to a pathogenic variant. We earlier presented a conditionally live HIV-1 variant that replicates exclusively in the presence of doxycycline (dox). Replication of this vaccine strain can be limited to the time that is needed to provide full protection through transient dox administration. Since the effectiveness and safety of such a conditionally live virus vaccine should be tested in macaques, we constructed a similar dox-dependent SIV variant. The Tat-TAR transcription control mechanism in this virus was inactivated through mutation and functionally replaced by the dox-inducible Tet-On regulatory system. This SIV-rtTA variant replicated in a dox-dependent manner in T cell lines, but not as efficiently as the parental SIVmac239 strain. Since macaque studies will likely require an efficiently replicating variant, we set out to optimize SIV-rtTA through in vitro viral evolution. Results Upon long-term culturing of SIV-rtTA, additional nucleotide substitutions were observed in TAR that affect the structure of this RNA element but that do not restore Tat binding. We demonstrate that the bulge and loop mutations that we had introduced in the TAR element of SIV-rtTA to inactivate the Tat-TAR mechanism, shifted the equilibrium between two alternative conformations of TAR. The additional TAR mutations observed in the evolved variants partially or completely restored this equilibrium, which suggests that the balance between the two TAR conformations is important for efficient viral replication. Moreover, SIV-rtTA acquired mutations in the U3 promoter region. We demonstrate that these TAR and U3 changes improve viral replication in T-cell lines and macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) but do not affect dox-control. Conclusion The dox-dependent SIV-rtTA variant was optimized by viral evolution, yielding variants that can be used to test the conditionally live virus vaccine approach and as a tool in SIV biology studies and vaccine research.