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Ilan Gur-Ze'ev and education : pedagogies of transformation and peace
\"Ilan Gur-Ze'ev and Education: Pedagogies of Transformation and Peace critically analyses and introduces the main ideas of Ilan Gur-Ze'ev, reflecting on their continuing theoretical and practical relevance for the field of education. This book offers an accessible, higher-level critical discussion on the thought of Ilan Gur-Ze'ev with an impressive breadth and contemporary focus. The book focuses on Gur-Ze'ev's 'counter-pedagogy' project, which brought him much attention and attempts to establish an alternative and non-dogmatic form of education. Gur Ze'ev's views go against 'critical pedagogy' and 'neoliberalism', because while the former advocates achieving an utopia in which there is no oppression, the later defends the idea that 'wants and desires' need to be satisfied through a process of 'marketisation'. This book brings into notice Gur-Ze'ev's concepts of 'counter-education' and 'diasporic education' which seeks to pursue the truth in everyday life, rather than achieving a utopian goal, or the Promised Land. This unique and up-to-date monograph will be of great interest for researchers, academics and postgraduate students in the fields of philosophy of education, theory of education, peace education, Jewish education, neoliberalism, and sociology of education\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
Quantitative Precipitation Estimation over Antarctica Using Different Ze-SR Relationships Based on Snowfall Classification Combining Ground Observations
Snow plays a crucial role in the hydrological cycle and energy budget of the Earth, and remote sensing instruments with the necessary spatial coverage, resolution, and temporal sampling are essential for snowfall monitoring. Among such instruments, ground-radars have scanning capability and a resolution that make it possible to obtain a 3D structure of precipitating systems or vertical profiles when used in profiling mode. Radars from space have a lower spatial resolution, but they provide a global view. However, radar-based quantitative estimates of solid precipitation are still a challenge due to the variability of the microphysical, geometrical, and electrical features of snow particles. Estimations of snowfall rate are usually accomplished using empirical, long-term relationships between the equivalent radar reflectivity factor (Ze) and the liquid-equivalent snowfall rate (SR). Nevertheless, very few relationships take advantage of the direct estimation of the microphysical characteristics of snowflakes. In this work, we used a K-band vertically pointing radar collocated with a laser disdrometer to develop Ze-SR relationships as a function of snow classification. The two instruments were located at the Italian Antarctic Station Mario Zucchelli. The K-band radar probes the low-level atmospheric layers, recording power spectra at 32 vertical range gates. It was set at a high vertical resolution (35 m), with the first trusted range gate at a height of only 100 m. The disdrometer was able to provide information on the particle size distribution just below the trusted radar gate. Snow particles were classified into six categories (aggregate, dendrite aggregate, plate aggregate, pristine, dendrite pristine, plate pristine). The method was applied to the snowfall events of the Antarctic summer seasons of 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, with a total of 23,566 min of precipitation, 15.3% of which was recognized as showing aggregate features, 33.3% dendrite aggregate, 7.3% plates aggregate, 12.5% pristine, 24% dendrite pristine, and 7.6% plate pristine. Applying the appropriate Ze-SR relationship in each snow category, we calculated a total of 87 mm water equivalent, differing from the total found by applying a unique Ze-SR. Our estimates were also benchmarked against a colocated Alter-shielded weighing gauge, resulting in a difference of 3% in the analyzed periods.
Journal Article
Curating revolution : politics on display in Mao's China
\"How did China's Communist revolution transform the nation's political culture? In this rich and vivid history of the Mao period (1949-1976), Denise Y. Ho examines the relationship between its exhibitions and its political movement\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
St. John's Wort for Depression: From Neurotransmitters to Membrane Plasticity
Depression is a multifactorial disorder shaped by genetic, psychosocial, and biological influences, with hypotheses ranging from monoamine deficiency and neuroplasticity deficits to inflammation and stress-induced dysregulation. St. John's wort (
L.) has long been used as an herbal antidepressant and is supported by clinical evidence for efficacy and safety in mild-to-moderate depression. While its multimodal mechanisms have been linked to neurotransmitter reuptake inhibition, neuroendocrine regulation, and modulation of neuroplasticity, recent findings suggest an additional role at the membrane level. Emerging lipidomic studies highlight that Ze 117, a low-hyperforin
extract, counteracts stress- and glucocorticoid-induced increases in membrane fluidity by modulating lipid composition and cholesterol metabolism. These effects normalize receptor mobility and signal transduction, particularly of β1-adrenoceptors, and modulate glycerophospholipid metabolism in both cellular and animal models. Such membrane-stabilizing properties may represent a novel mechanistic pathway complementing classical neurochemical actions. This review revisits the mechanisms of St. John's wort with a special focus on its impact on membrane lipids, positioning lipidomics as a promising tool for elucidating antidepressant activity. These insights may open avenues toward personalized therapeutic strategies in depression.
Journal Article
Valerenic Acid and Pinoresinol as Positive Allosteric Modulators: Unlocking the Sleep-Promoting Potential of Valerian Extract Ze 911
Valerian root extracts are widely used as mild sedatives to promote sleep, with clinical studies confirming their efficacy. Their sleep-promoting effects are associated with the adenosine A1 receptor (A1AR), a key regulator of sleep through neural activity inhibition. Adenosine, a neuromodulator that accumulates during wakefulness, activates A1ARs to facilitate sleep transitions. Using advanced analytics, we detected adenosine at 0.05% in the valerian extract Ze 911, supporting direct A1AR activation in vitro. Additionally, we explored A1ARs’ allosteric sites for modulatory activity. Valerenic acid and pinoresinol, key constituents of Ze 911, were identified as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of A1ARs. Valerenic acid exhibited strong PAM activity, with high cooperativity (αβ = 4.79 for adenosine and αβ = 23.38 for CPA) and intrinsic efficacy (τB = 5.98 for adenosine and τB = 3.14 for CPA). Pinoresinol displayed weaker PAM activity, with moderate cooperativity (αβ = 3.42 for adenosine and αβ = 0.79 for CPA) and limited efficacy (τB = 0.93 for adenosine and τB = 1.66 for CPA). The allosteric modulation observed in valerian extract Ze 911 suggests a mechanism of action in which valerenic acid and pinoresinol enhance receptor activation through allosteric interactions, potentially amplifying the effects of endogenous adenosine. By targeting A1ARs’ allosteric sites, valerian extract Ze 911 offers increased therapeutic selectivity and reduced off-target effects, emphasizing its potential for managing sleep disorders.
Journal Article
Treatment of Early Allergic and Late Inflammatory Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis with Petasites Hybridus Leaf Extract (Ze 339): Results of a Noninterventional Observational Study in Switzerland
The primary objective of this noninterventional, observational study was to assess the effectiveness of the Petasites hybridus leaf extract (Ze 339) on early allergic and late inflammatory symptoms of allergic rhinitis in Swiss outpatients. This study was conducted by general practitioners and allergologists. Data from 226 patients were collected during three documented visits. The intermediate visit was ideally made 2–4 weeks after the baseline visit, followed by the final visit approximately 2–4 months later. The mean study duration was 63 days, with 75% of patients being treated for at least 4 weeks. Of the patients, 58.5% started with Ze 339 monotherapy, and 41.5% received other antiallergic and/or sympathomimetic drugs. In both groups, the allergic total symptom score and the inflammatory total symptom scores were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced, and the scores for quality of life were improved. Both physicians and patients were very satisfied with the treatment and the concept of therapy, not only for short-term (seasonal) therapy but also for long-term therapy. The tolerability was good: only three mild gastrointestinal adverse events occurred. In summary, the effectiveness of P. hybridus leaf extract Ze 339 for the treatment of early allergic and late inflammatory symptoms of allergic rhinitis could be confirmed.
Journal Article
Wild Harvesting vs. Cultivation: Total Petasin Content in Petasites hybridus Rhizome Extracts Determines Spasmolytic Effects
The use of herbal medicines containing Petasites hybridus extracts has a long history in the treatment of various ailments. The observed effects are primarily due to pharmacologically active compounds such as petasin, isopetasin, and neopetasin. In evidence-based phytotherapy, extracts from leaves and rhizomes are applied for different indications. While leaf extracts are administered to treat allergic rhinitis symptoms, rhizome extracts are utilized among others in the management of gastrointestinal spasms and migraines. The quality and source of plants are critical for producing authorized herbal medicinal products. Although the preparation of P. hybridus leaf extracts from cultivated plant material is already established, the rhizomes used for preparing extracts are still derived from commercial wild collections. However, switching to cultivation is desirable to ensure consistent quality and availability. For regulatory purposes, comparative pharmacological studies are needed to assess the bioactivity of plant material from different sources. Therefore, this study analyzed rhizome extracts from wild harvesting and cultivation for their petasin composition (i.e., isopetasin, neopetasin, petasin) and spasmolytic effects on Ca2+-dependent precontracted guinea pig ileum ex vivo. The results confirm petasins as active compounds of P. hybridus rhizome extracts. Moreover, they demonstrate that the total content of petasins determines the spasmolytic effects, regardless of the individual composition of the different petasins. No significant differences in efficacy were found between cultivated and wild-collected rhizomes, demonstrating that cultivated material is a reliable, consistent, and sustainable alternative for P. hybridus rhizome extract production.
Journal Article
Null cyp1b1 Activity in Zebrafish Leads to Variable Craniofacial Defects Associated with Altered Expression of Extracellular Matrix and Lipid Metabolism Genes
CYP1B1 loss of function (LoF) is the main known genetic alteration present in recessive primary congenital glaucoma (PCG), an infrequent disease characterized by delayed embryonic development of the ocular iridocorneal angle; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. To model CYP1B1 LoF underlying PCG, we developed a cyp1b1 knockout (KO) zebrafish line using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. This line carries the c.535_667del frameshift mutation that results in the 72% mRNA reduction with the residual mRNA predicted to produce an inactive truncated protein (p.(His179Glyfs*6)). Microphthalmia and jaw maldevelopment were observed in 23% of F0 somatic mosaic mutant larvae (144 hpf). These early phenotypes were not detected in cyp1b1-KO F3 larvae (144 hpf), but 27% of adult (four months) zebrafish exhibited uni- or bilateral craniofacial alterations, indicating the existence of incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. These phenotypes increased to 86% in the adult offspring of inbred progenitors with craniofacial defects. No glaucoma-related phenotypes were observed in cyp1b1 mutants. Transcriptomic analyses of the offspring (seven dpf) of cyp1b1-KO progenitors with adult-onset craniofacial defects revealed functionally enriched differentially expressed genes related to extracellular matrix and cell adhesion, cell growth and proliferation, lipid metabolism (retinoids, steroids and fatty acids and oxidation–reduction processes that include several cytochrome P450 genes) and inflammation. In summary, this study shows the complexity of the phenotypes and molecular pathways associated with cyp1b1 LoF, with species dependency, and provides evidence for the dysregulation of extracellular matrix gene expression as one of the mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity associated with cyp1b1 disruption.
Journal Article
St. John’s Wort Extract Ze 117 and Escitalopram Alter Plasma and Hippocampal Lipidome in a Rat Model of Chronic-Stress-Induced Depression
Chronic stress is a key factor in the development of depression. It leads to hyperactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which in turn increases the formation of glucocorticoids (GCs). Chronically elevated GC levels disrupt neuroplasticity and affect brain lipid metabolism, which may, ultimately, contribute to the development of depression. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the antidepressants St. John’s Wort extract and escitalopram on lipid metabolism in vivo. Therefore, repeated corticosterone injections were used to induce depression-like behavior in rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were stressed with corticosterone injections (40 mg/kg, s.c.) over 22 consecutive days and were concomitantly treated with varying doses of the St. John’s wort extract Ze 117 (30, 90 or 180 mg/kg, p.o.) or escitalopram (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and behavioral changes were evaluated using a modified forced swim test. The results indicate that repeated corticosterone injections significantly decreased the latency to first immobility. Furthermore, co-treatment of corticosterone with Ze 117 increased latency to first immobility significantly compared to rats treated with corticosterone alone. To further investigate the biochemical effects of corticosterone-induced stress, as well as the possible counter-regulation by antidepressants, the lipidomes of the plasma and hippocampus samples were analyzed by shotgun mass spectrometry. Corticosterone-induced stress significantly altered key lipid metabolites in the plasma but not in the hippocampal samples. In the hippocampus, however, specific glycerophospholipids such as lysophosphatidylethanolamines (LPEs) increased with escitalopram treatment and with Ze 117, both showing significant correlations with behavioral parameters. In summary, our study shows significant behavioral- and lipidome-altering processes with Ze 117 and escitalopram in rat plasma and hippocampal samples, thereby providing new targets and biomarker ideas for clinical diagnosis and antidepressant intervention.
Journal Article
The lights that failed : European international history, 1919-1933
This book is first and foremost a history of ruling-class diplomacy, but other factors are not ignored: the Bolsheviks, the Turks, and the insurgencies in Europe. This book provides detailed narrative and cogent analysis of the all that happened in Paris in 1919 and all that came out of it, with the aftermath of the peace process and the difficulty of avoiding war for twenty years. This book falls into two parts. Part 1 shows how the peacemakers and their successors dealt with the problems of a shattered Europe. The war had fundamentally altered both the internal structures of many of the European states and transformed the traditional order. The book shows that the management of the European state system in the decade after 1919, while in some ways resembling that of the past, assumed a shape that distinguished it both from the pre-war decades and the post-1933 period. Part II covers the ‘hinge years’ 1929 to 1933. These were the years in which many of the experiments in internationalism came to be tested and their weakness revealed. Many of the difficulties stemmed from the enveloping economic depression. The way was open to the movements towards étatism, autarcy, virulent nationalism, and expansionism which characterized the post-1933 European scene. The events of these years were critical to both Hitler's challenge to the European status quo and the reactions of the European statesmen to his assault on what remained of an international system.
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