The Impact of Qardhul Hasan Financing Using Zakah Funds on Economic Empowerment (Case Study of Dompet Dhuafa, West Java, Indonesia)

Poverty has been one of the major economic issues that have been troubling in Indonesia for decades. This study intends to investigate whether the Qardhul Hasan Financing through Sinergi of Dompet Dhuafa in West Java, Indonesia, as zakah managing organization, is able to improve the recipients’ Economic Empowerment. The statistical results of the study show that the Qardhul Hasan Financing implemented by the organization is able to improve Economic Empowerment

Impaired T Cell Death and Lupus-like Autoimmunity in T Cell–specific Adapter Protein–deficient Mice

T cell–specific adaptor protein (TSAd) is a T lineage–restricted signaling adaptor molecule that is thought to participate in the assembly of intracellular signaling complexes in T cells. Previous studies of TSAd-deficient mice have revealed a role for TSAd in the induction of T cell interleukin 2 secretion and proliferation. We now show that TSAd-deficient mice are susceptible to lupus-like autoimmune disease. On the nonautoimmune-prone C57BL/6 genetic background, TSAd deficiency results in hypergammaglobulinemia that affects all immunoglobulin (Ig)G subclasses. Older C57BL/6 TSAd-deficient mice (1 yr of age) accumulate large numbers of activated T and B cells in spleen, produce autoantibodies against a variety of self-targets including single stranded (ss) and double stranded (ds) DNA, and, in addition, develop glomerulonephritis. We further show that immunization of younger C57BL/6 TSAd-deficient mice (at age 2 mo) with pristane, a recognized nonspecific inflammatory trigger of lupus, results in more severe glomerulonephritis compared with C57BL/6 controls and the production of high titer ss and ds DNA antibodies of the IgG subclass that are not normally produced by C57BL/6 mice in this model. The development of autoimmunity in TSAd-deficient mice is associated with defective T cell death in vivo. These findings illustrate the role of TSAd as a critical regulator of T cell death whose absence promotes systemic autoimmunity

Fas engagement induces the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), the release of interleukin (IL)-1beta, and the production of interferon gamma in the absence of IL-12 during DC-T cell cognate interaction: a new role for Fas ligand in inflammatory responses

Ligation of the Fas (CD95) receptor leads to an apoptotic death signal in T cells, B cells, and macrophages. However, human CD34(+)-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and mouse DCs, regardless of their maturation state, are not susceptible to Fas-induced cell death. This resistance correlates with the constitutive expression of the Fas-associated death domain-like IL-1beta-converting enzyme (FLICE)-inhibitory protein (FLIP) ligand. We demonstrate a new role of Fas in DC physiology. Engagement of Fas on immature DCs by Fas ligand (FasL) or by anti-Fas antibodies induces the phenotypical and functional maturation of primary DCs. Fas-activated DCs upregulate the expression of the major histocompatibility complex class II, B7, and DC-lysosome-associated membrane protein (DC-LAMP) molecules and secrete proinflammatory cytokines, in particular interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Mature DCs, if exposed to FasL, produce even higher amounts of IL-1beta. Importantly, it is possible to reduce the production of IL-1beta and interferon (IFN)-gamma during DC-T cell interaction by blocking the coupling of Fas-FasL with a Fas competitor. Finally, during cognate DC-T cell recognition, IL-12 (p70) could not be detected at early or late time points, indicating that Fas-induced, IFN-gamma secretion is independent of IL-12

HIV/SIV Infection Primes Monocytes and Dendritic Cells for Apoptosis

Subversion or exacerbation of antigen-presenting cells (APC) death modulates host/pathogen equilibrium. We demonstrated during in vitro differentiation of monocyte-derived macrophages and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) that HIV sensitizes the cells to undergo apoptosis in response to TRAIL and FasL, respectively. In addition, we found that HIV-1 increased the levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and Bak molecules and decreased the levels of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 and FLIP proteins. To assess the relevance of these observations in the context of an experimental model of HIV infection, we investigated the death of APC during pathogenic SIV-infection in rhesus macaques (RMs). We demonstrated increased apoptosis, during the acute phase, of both peripheral blood DCs and monocytes (CD14+) from SIV+RMs, associated with a dysregulation in the balance of pro- and anti-apoptotic molecules. Caspase-inhibitor and death receptors antagonists prevented apoptosis of APCs from SIV+RMs. Furthermore, increased levels of FasL in the sera of pathogenic SIV+RMs were detected, compared to non-pathogenic SIV infection of African green monkey. We suggest that inappropriate apoptosis of antigen-presenting cells may contribute to dysregulation of cellular immunity early in the process of HIV/SIV infection

The Impact of Qardhul Hasan Financing Using Zakah Funds on Economic Empowerment (Case Study of Dompet Dhuafa, West Java, Indonesia)

Poverty has been one of the major economic issues that have been troubling in Indonesia for decades. This study intends to investigate whether the Qardhul Hasan Financing through Sinergi of Dompet Dhuafa in West Java, Indonesia, as zakah managing organization, is able to improve the recipients ’ Economic Empowerment. The statistical results of the study show that the Qardhul Hasan Financing implemented by the organization is able to improve Economic Empowerment

Experimental investigation of process parameters on layer thickness and density in direct metal laser sintering: a response surface methodology approach

Direct metal laser sintering is an additive manufacturing method which allows manufacturing of complex parts without using dies in short time. In the present study, direct metal laser sintering of steel 316 powder has been studied. Response surface methodology has been used for the design and analysis of experiments. Nd:YAG laser with a maximum power of 75 W has used to sinter the powder. The effect of current, scan speed and laser frequency has been investigated on layer thickness and density of fabricated samples. In addition, by using multi response optimisation; appropriate setting to maximise layer thickness and density and also minimise applied energy was suggested. It can be seen that increases in current and frequency lead to increases in thickness and density of samples. Also increasing scan speed decreases layer thickness and density of samples

Digital Library: Gross Structure and Requirements (Report from aWorkshop)

The overall workshop goals were: 1) to define those digital library parameters which especially influences issues of access to, retrieval of, and interaction with information; 2) to identify key problems which must be solved to make digital library service an effective reality; 3) to identify a general structure or framework for integrating research and solutions; and 4) to propose and encourage specific, high-priority research directions within such a framework