11 research outputs found

    A survey of acceptance of e-government services in the UK

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    This paper gives an insight into the readiness of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) for accepting e-government services in he UK. We conducted a survey of 128 SMEs, which revealed that there is a moderate demand for e-government services, but they were not rated as efficient and essential for SMEs' businesses as conventional services. The proliferation of the UK government's Web sites, which requires co-ordination between several organisations/multiple sites, and inadequate awareness of such services, do not comply with the common concepts of e-governance and consequently have an impact on the SMEs acceptance of e-government services in the UK

    Performance of a hydromagnetic squeeze film on a rough circular step bearing: a comparision of different porous structures

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    This investigation deals with a comparative analysis of the impact of spongy structure based on the model of Kozeny-Carman and Irmay on a hydromagnetic squeeze film in a rough circular step bearing. Christensen and Tonder’s stochastic averaging process has been utilized to determine the role of an arbitrary transverse surface irregularity. The distribution of the pressure in the bearing is obtained by solving the concerned generalised stochastically averaged equation of Reynolds’ with appropriate boundary conditions. The outcomes show that increasing values of magnetization results in an augmented load. The impact of the surface irregularity (transverse) has been found to be adverse. In addition, the negative effect of the surface irregularity and porosity can be minimised by the positive impact of magnetization, at least in the case of the globular sphere model of Kozeny-Carman. Furthermore, the lower strength of the magnetic field results in an approximately similar performance for both these models. This study offers the possibility that the Kozeny-Carman model could be deployed in comparison with Irmay’s model

    Gastrointestinal manifestations after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes

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    Abstract Background: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is an effective treatment for obesity, which improves cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of premature mortality. However, some reports have suggested that RYGB may predispose patients to adverse health outcomes, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer. Objectives: The present prospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of RYGB surgery on cardiovascular risk factors and gastrointestinal inflammation in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). Setting: University hospital setting in Finland. Methods: Blood and fecal samples were collected at baseline and 6 months after surgery from 30 individuals, of which 16 had T2D and 14 were nondiabetics. There were also single study visits for 6 healthy reference patients. Changes in cardiovascular risk factors, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides were investigated before and after surgery. Fecal samples were analyzed for calprotectin, anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae immunoglobulin A antibodies (ASCA), active lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity, and methylglyoxal-hydro-imidazolone (MG-H1) protein adducts formation. Results: After RYGB, weight decreased on average −21.6% (−27.2 ± 7.8 kg), excess weight loss averaged 51%, and there were improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. Fecal calprotectin levels (P < 0.001), active LPS concentration (P < 0.002), ASCA (P < 0.02), and MG-H1 (P < 0.02) values increased significantly, whereas fecal SCFAs, especially acetate (P < 0.002) and butyrate (P < 0.03) levels, were significantly lowered. Conclusion: The intestinal homeostasis is altered after RYGB, with several fecal markers suggesting increased inflammation; however, clinical significance of the detected changes is currently uncertain. As chronic inflammation may predispose patients to adverse health effects, our findings may have relevance for the suggested association between RYGB and increased risks of incident IBD and colorectal cancer

    Long-chain polyphosphates inhibit type I interferon signaling and augment LPS-induced cytokine secretion in human leukocytes

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    Abstract Inorganic polyphosphates are evolutionarily conserved bioactive phosphate polymers found as various chain lengths in all living organisms. In mammals, polyphosphates play a vital role in the regulation of cellular metabolism, coagulation, and inflammation. Long-chain polyphosphates are found along with endotoxins in pathogenic gram-negative bacteria and can participate in bacterial virulence. We aimed to investigate whether exogenously administered polyphosphates modulate human leukocyte function in vitro by treating the cells with 3 different chain lengths of polyphosphates (P14, P100, and P700). The long-chain polyphosphates, P700, had a remarkable capacity to downregulate type I interferon signaling dose dependently in THP1-Dual cells while only a slight elevation could be observed in the NF-κB pathway with the highest dose of P700. P700 treatment decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced IFNβ transcription and secretion, reduced STAT1 phosphorylation, and downregulated subsequent interferon-stimulated gene expression in primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. P700 also augmented lipopolysaccharide-induced secretion of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IFNγ. Furthermore, P700 has previously been reported to increase the phosphorylation of several intracellular signaling mediators, such as AKT, mTOR, ERK, p38, GSK3α/β, HSP27, and JNK pathway components, which was supported by our findings. Taken together, these observations demonstrate the extensive modulatory effects P700 has on cytokine signaling and the inhibitory effects specifically targeted to type I interferon signaling in human leukocytes

    Total fecal IgA levels increase and natural IgM antibodies decrease after gastric bypass surgery

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    Abstract Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation and increased systemic oxidative stress. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is known to ameliorate the obesity-induced metabolic dysfunctions. We aimed to study the levels of natural antibodies in feces, before and 6 months after RYGB surgery in obese individuals with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). Sixteen individuals with T2D and 14 non-diabetic (ND) individuals were operated. Total IgA, IgG and IgM antibody levels and specific antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde adducts (MAA adducts), Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipain A hemagglutinin domain (Rgp44) and phosphocholine (PCho) were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Total fecal IgA was elevated, while total IgM and IgG were not affected by the surgery. Fecal natural IgM specific to oxLDL decreased significantly in both T2D and ND individuals, while fecal IgM to Rgp44 and PCho decreased significantly in T2D individuals. A decrease in IgG to MAA-LDL, Rgp44 and PCho was detected. RYGB surgery increases the levels of total fecal IgA and decreases fecal natural IgG and IgM antibodies specific to oxLDL. Natural antibodies and IgA are important in maintaining the normal gut homeostasis and first-line defense against microbes, and their production is markedly altered with RYGB surgery
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