How Not to Misread the North Korean Mind—Psychology and History

“Déjà vu” was my impression of the Hanoi Summit. North Korean leaders simply cannot make real steps towards denuclearization. This is obvious if you put your feet into Kim Jong-un’s shoes. Also they have many records of turning around. In order to read their minds, psychology and history are more important than following and analyzing their words or than depending on theory books.     

A case of sudden infant death due to massive hemorrhage in primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

A case of the sudden death of a 14-month-old girl due to massive hemorrhage in a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is presented along with a review of the relevant literature. PNET is a rare, malignant brain neoplasm occurring predominantly in children.     

The expression of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 in traumatic brain injury

It is well recognized that glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter, which is removed from the synaptic cleft by excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) located on the perisynaptic astrocytes and that neuronal death has been associated with an increased extracellular glutamate concentration. In this study, we have immunohistochemically demonstrated the expression of EAAT2 protein in the human brain after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The EAAT2 expression patterns can be divided into three types: continuous and highly extensive staining (E); continuous but sporadic staining (M); and sporadic pattern staining (S). In six of the nine short survival cases studied (1 h to 1 day), continuous and highly extensive staining for EAAT2 (E type) was observed in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex. On the other hand, we were able to demonstrate weak staining (S and M types) in 5 of the 7 long survival cases (> or =1 day) and in 12 of the 14 very short survival cases (<1 h) studied. Similar findings were obtained in the contralateral cerebral cortex and also in the ipsilateral hippocampus. In addition, positive staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein was detected around the cerebral contusion, but the EAAT2-positive expression was not observed in the same region for all of the six short and long survival cases (> or =1 h) after TBI. These findings clearly showed the differences in EAAT2 expression in the cerebral cortex according to the survival time and severity of cerebral contusion after TBI. Therefore, we emphasized that EAAT2 might play an important role in contributing to extracellular glutamate concentrations and secondary brain injury after TBI.     

Youth-Guided Youth Engagement: Participatory Action Research (PAR) With High-Risk,Marginalized Youth

Engaging youth who live with high-risk, marginalized conditions presents a significant challenge in our society, considering the prevalence of disconnect and distrust they often experience within their social environments/systems. Yet, meaningful youth engagement is a key concept not only for youth development, but also for a systems change to more effectively support high-risk youth and families. This article presents a framework of youth engagement developed over 9 months, using participatory action research (PAR) with 16 youth leaders in a community-based research team. Although this framework has incorporated the youth leaders’ lived experiences, talents, and voices, positive youth development (PYD) and social justice youth development (SJYD) have theoretically contextualized our research. Youth leaders guided the framework's development, including the identification of key themes/dimensions, definitions, and practical examples. The framework's three components—“Basis” (philosophy and principles), “What” (goals/outcomes), and “How” (actions/processes/pathways to change)—are supported by nine themes described in this article.     

A demonstration of spermatozoa on vaginal swabs after complete destruction of the vaginal cell deposits

The proteolytic enzyme, proteinase K, has been found to destroy all vaginal cells though it does not have the same effect on spermatozoa. In cases of sexual offenses, in which a swab has been used to wipe out the vagina, the female cells and their nuclei on that swab may also contain the heads of spermatozoa. After as short a time as 30 min of proteinase K treatment, the spermatozoa that had separated from the enzymatically destroyed vaginal cells were recovered. This proteinase destruction furnishes some spermatozoa with deformed heads and a somewhat greater number of isolated tails though a sufficient number of spermatozoan heads still remain for a reliable diagnosis. For detection of spermatozoa from a vaginal swab after proteinase K pretreatment, the heads of the spermatozoa are distinctly stained by Oppitz's method. Further, on prior treatment with proteinase K, the ABO blood grouping of the spermatozoa could also be determined on the vaginal swab by using the absorption-elution technique. The resistance of the spermatozoa to proteinase K is the basis for this method.     

Identification of novel genes expressed in hypoxic brain condition by fluorescence differential display

Fluorescence differential display (FDD) and comparative RT-PCR have been used extensively to detect differentially expressed genes. We investigated hypoxia-induced gene expression in the brain by FDD-PCR and comparative RT-PCR. Mice were anaesthetized after which hypoxia was induced by neck ligation for 1 min or 25 min, then were killed by decapitation, and the brains were dissected either immediately or 30 min after death (Group A1-0, Group A25-0, Group A1-30 and Group A25-30). Control mice without ligation of the neck were killed by decapitation under anaesthesia immediately (Group C-0) or 30 min after death (Group C-30). FDD-PCR, sequence analysis and comparative RT-PCR revealed that mitochondrial thymidine kinase 2, Rab6, selenoprotein T and two novel cDNAs were enhanced in Group A25-0 and Group A25-30 compared with the other groups. In Group A25-30, only RAP2 interacting protein and another novel cDNA were induced. In Group A25-0, one novel gene was detected. These findings were consistent with the results of statistical analysis by ANOVA. No differences of band pattern were observed among Groups A1-0, A1-30, C-0 and C-30. The genes exhibiting altered expression were associated with vital cellular functions, e.g., intracellular signaling and mitochondrial metabolism. In addition, we identified four novel genes, expressed after extended hypoxic conditions in mouse brain with suffocation. These results may contribute to clarify the pathophysiology of asphyxia in the brain and aid in the diagnosis of suffocation.     

Evolution of the Government–Business Relationship and Economic Performance in the Former Soviet States – Order State, Rescue State, Punish State

The objective of this paper is to elucidate the relationship between the reform process and economic performance in the states of the former Soviet Union (FSU). There were two strategies used by the former Soviet states to cope with the collapse of the USSR. Some of the FSU countries, in an effort to overcome the institutional vacuum caused by the disintegration of the federal economy, centralized their government authority to manage industry. Others decentralized power in an attempt to regain economic independence for domestic enterprises. To evaluate the essential differences and progress gaps among transition strategies, FSU countries can be divided into three groups, which reflect variations in institutional control of the government-business relationships. The differences in economic performance in FSU countries can be explained to some extent by examining the diversity of institutional patterns that characterize each category. The results of various empirical analyses positively support the validity of such an analytical framework. In this sense, this paper presents a new viewpoint on the transition process in FSU countries that may complement that shown in existing literature.