The artiodactyl astragalus has been modified to exhibit two trochleae, creating a double pullied structure allowing for significant dorso-plantar motion, and limited mediolateral motion. The astragalus structure is partly influenced by environmental substrates, and correspondingly, morphometric studies can yield paleohabitat information. The present study establishes terminology and describes d...

Three new species of the genus Neophyllobius Berlese, 1886 are described and illustrated from Iran: Neophyllobius edwardi sp. nov. and Neophyllobius seemani sp. nov. collected from soil under oak trees; and Neophyllobius dogani sp. nov. collected from soil under Astragalus bushes. A key to the species of Iran is provided.

Astragalus membranaceus, dried root extract, also known as Astragali radix, is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic remedy. Moreover, it has been reported that Astragalus membranaceus could attenuate intestinal inflammation; however, the underlying mechanism for its anti-inflammatory activity in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated Astragalu...

Vegetarianism is an old classic eating behavior that leads to lessening of several health risk factors. Vegetarian diet is reported to improve control of blood glucose concentration, to lower insulin requirement and to aid in weight control in diabetic patients. However, there is no evidence for the prevalence of diabetes mellitus to be significantly lower in vegetarians than in non-vegetarians...

How much does language influence how we think? How far are the categories of our language contingent and culture-specific? Few questions are of greater significance to the social sciences. In this paper we attempt to demonstrate that linguistic semantics can address these questions with rigour and precision, by analysing some examples of cultural 'key words' in several languages. We want to arg...

This study explored touchscreen keyboards using high precision touchscreen strategies. Phase one evaluated three possible monitor positions: 30, 45, and 75 degrees from horizontal. Results indicate that the 75 degree angle, approximately the standard monitor position, resulted in more fatigue and lower preference ratings. Phase two collected touch bias and key size data for the 30 degree angle....

BACKGROUND In traditional Chinese medicine, astragalus injection is used to treat diabetic nephropathy (DN). The current study was conducted to determine the effects of astragalus injection on DN by assessing potential modulation of the transforming growth factor beta TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway. METHODS Diabetic, male KKAy mice, aged 14 weeks were randomly divided into a model group and an a...