1,909 research outputs found
Life-style orientation and contents of websites in personas industry
Electronic commerce challenges personas companies to design electronic system to increase interaction which leads to retain customers and increase sales. This exploratory study examines the correlation between lifestyle and emphasis on contents of website in personas industry. The study finds that market segment of lifestyle can be divided into four groups: ‘opinion leader’, ‘opinion follower’, ‘conservative’ and ‘challenger’. This paper tries to suggest a checklist to a vendor. We conclude that AIO can be a base of market segment in personas industry. We suggest some important factors which are included of the customized services, the safety of use factors, the store information and the menu illustration. Finally, we also conclude that the first three important factors of websites have significant influences on market segments of personas industry except for the store information factor.AIO, market segmentation, personas industry.
Metastatic Cardiac Angiosarcoma to the Lung, Spine, and Brain: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Background
Metastatic angiosarcoma to the brain is a rare entity without an established management protocol.
Case Description
A man with primary cardiac angiosarcoma presented with a rare brain metastasis. The patient underwent successful resection of the brain metastasis and was initiated on chemotherapy only for his systemic disease. The patient did not develop local recurrence. A review of primary and metastatic central nervous system angiosarcoma, its pathologic features, clinical disease course, treatment strategies, and genomics is also provided.
Conclusions
Angiosarcomas are rare tumors that are difficult to treat. Gross total resection of a central nervous system metastasis is recommended before initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Close follow-up is still required given the propensity for continued metastasis of these tumors. Future treatments may be developed based on the genomics of angiosarcomas
A Narrative Review of Innovative Responses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020
Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. While existing studies on innovation have typically focused on technology, health providers still only have a vague understanding of the features of emergency responses during resource exhaustion in the early stage of a pandemic. Thus, a better understanding of innovative responses by healthcare systems during a crisis is urgently needed.Methods: Using content analysis, this narrative review examined articles on innovative responses during the COVID-19 pandemic that were published in 2020.Results: A total of 613 statements about innovative responses were identified from 296 articles and were grouped under the following thematic categories: medical care (n = 273), workforce education (n = 144), COVID-19 surveillance (n = 84), medical equipment (n = 59), prediction and management (n = 34), and governance (n = 19). From the four types of innovative responses extracted, technological innovation was identified as the major type of innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by process innovations, frugal innovation, and repurposing.Conclusion: Our review provides insights into the features, types, and evolution of innovative responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review can help health providers and society show better and quicker responses in resource-constrained conditions in future pandemics
Avaliação da transferência de nitrogênio da alfafa nodulada para as gramíneas associadas em condições de campo
The contribution of N2 . fixation to the nitrogen nutrition of alfafa (Medicaga sativa L.) and transference of N to associated grasses timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and bromegrass (Bromus inennis Leyss.) when grown in mixture, were estimated using the 15N isotope dilution technique. The percentage of alfafa N derived from atmosphere (% Ndfa) increased throughout the growing seasons ranging from 63 to 83%. The total amount of N2 fixed by alfafa has shown a pattern similar to % Ndfa with slight increases to the absolute amount of N2 fixed by alfalfa in mixed stands. N transfer from alfafa to an associated grass was evident, and contributed 26, 46 and 38% of the total annual N yield of grass and represented an absolute amount of about 5.0, 20.0 and 19.0 kg. ha-1 during the first, second and third year. The results showed that all grass species benefitted from N transfer from alfafa, although the early maturity species with greater competitive ability are slightly more responsive.Um experimento de campo foi conduzido para avaliar a contribuição da fixação biológica de N2 na nutrição nitrogenada da alfafa (Medicago sativa L.) e sobre a transferência de N para as gramíneas Phleum pratense L. e Bromus inermis Leyss., usando a técnica de diluição de isótopos (15N). A percentagem do N em alfafa derivado da atmosfera (% Ndfa) aumentou durante os cortes e variou de 63 a 83%. A quantidade total de N2 fixado apresentou um padrão similar a % Ndfa, com ligeiro incremento da quantidade absoluta de N2 fixado pela alfafa em associação. A transferência de N da alfafa para a gramínea foi evidente e contribuiu com 26, 46 e 38% do rendimento total de N das gramíneas, representando uma quantidade de 5,0, 20,0 e 19,0kg N.ha-1 no primeiro, segundo e terceiro ano, respectivamente. Os resultados mostraram que as gramíneas foram beneficiadas com a transferência de N, embora a espécie com maturidade precoce e maior habilidade de competição tenha sido ligeiramente mais responsiva
The NIH-NIAID Schistosomiasis Resource Center
A bench scientist studying schistosomiasis must make a large commitment to maintain the parasite's life cycle, which necessarily involves a mammalian (definitive) host and the appropriate species of snail (intermediate host). This is often a difficult and expensive commitment to make, especially in the face of ever-tightening funds for tropical disease research. In addition to funding concerns, investigators usually face additional problems in the allocation of sufficient lab space to this effort (especially for snail rearing) and the limited availability of personnel experienced with life cycle upkeep. These problems can be especially daunting for the new investigator entering the field. Over 40 years ago, the National Institutes of Health–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH-NIAID) had the foresight to establish a resource from which investigators could obtain various schistosome life stages without having to expend the effort and funds necessary to maintain the entire life cycle on their own. This centralized resource translated into cost savings to both NIH-NIAID and to principal investigators by freeing up personnel costs on grants and allowing investigators to divert more funds to targeted research goals. Many investigators, especially those new to the field of tropical medicine, are only vaguely, if at all, aware of the scope of materials and support provided by this resource. This review is intended to help remedy that situation. Following a short history of the contract, we will give a brief description of the schistosome species provided, provide an estimate of the impact the resource has had on the research community, and describe some new additions and potential benefits the resource center might have for the ever-changing research interests of investigators
Identification of fetal DNA and cells in skin lesions from women with systemic sclerosis
BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis is a disease of unknown origin which often occurs in women after their childbearing years. It has many clinical and histopathological similarities to chronic graft-versus-host disease. Recent studies indicate that fetal stem cells can survive in the maternal circulation for many years post partum. This finding suggests that fetal cells persisting in the maternal circulation or tissues could be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis by initiating a graft-versus-host reaction.
METHODS: We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify Y-chromosome sequences in DNA extracted from peripheral-blood cells and skin lesions from women with systemic sclerosis of recent onset. To confirm the PCR findings, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization of peripheral-blood cells and cells within chronic inflammatory-cell infiltrates in biopsy specimens of affected skin.
RESULTS: Y-chromosome sequences were found in DNA from peripheral-blood cells in 32 of 69 women with systemic sclerosis (46 percent), as compared with 1 of 25 normal women (4 percent, P\u3c0.001), and in T lymphocytes from 3 women with systemic sclerosis who had male offspring. Furthermore, Y-chromosome sequences were identified in skin-biopsy specimens from 11 of 19 women with systemic sclerosis (58 percent); 9 of the 11 were known to have carried male fetuses. Nucleated cells containing Y chromosomes were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in paraffin-embedded sections of skin lesions from all seven women we tested whose skin-biopsy specimens contained Y-chromosome sequences.
CONCLUSIONS: Fetal antimaternal graft-versus-host reactions may be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis in some women
Evolutionary relationships between Rhynchosporium lolii sp. nov. and other Rhynchosporium species on grass.
Copyright: 2013 King et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are creditedThe fungal genus Rhynchosporium (causative agent of leaf blotch) contains several host-specialised species, including R. commune (colonising barley and brome-grass), R. agropyri (couch-grass), R. secalis (rye and triticale) and the more distantly related R. orthosporum (cocksfoot). This study used molecular fingerprinting, multilocus DNA sequence data, conidial morphology, host range tests and scanning electron microscopy to investigate the relationship between Rhynchosporium species on ryegrasses, both economically important forage grasses and common wild grasses in many cereal growing areas, and other plant species. Two different types of Rhynchosporium were found on ryegrasses in the UK. Firstly, there were isolates of R. commune that were pathogenic to both barley and Italian ryegrass. Secondly, there were isolates of a new species, here named R. lolii, that were pathogenic only to ryegrass species. R. lolii was most closely related to R. orthosporum, but exhibited clear molecular, morphological and host range differences. The species was estimated to have diverged from R. orthosporum ca. 5735 years before the present. The colonisation strategy of all of the different Rhynchosporium species involved extensive hyphal growth in the sub-cuticular regions of the leaves. Finally, new species-specific PCR diagnostic tests were developed that could distinguish between these five closely related Rhynchosporium species.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio
Regular breakfast consumption and type 2 diabetes risk markers in 9- to 10-year-old children in the child heart and health study in England (CHASE): a cross-sectional analysis.
BACKGROUND: Regular breakfast consumption may protect against type 2 diabetes risk in adults but little is known about its influence on type 2 diabetes risk markers in children. We investigated the associations between breakfast consumption (frequency and content) and risk markers for type 2 diabetes (particularly insulin resistance and glycaemia) and cardiovascular disease in children.
METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 4,116 UK primary school children aged 9-10 years. Participants provided information on breakfast frequency, had measurements of body composition, and gave fasting blood samples for measurements of blood lipids, insulin, glucose, and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). A subgroup of 2,004 children also completed a 24-hour dietary recall. Among 4,116 children studied, 3,056 (74%) ate breakfast daily, 450 (11%) most days, 372 (9%) some days, and 238 (6%) not usually. Graded associations between breakfast frequency and risk markers were observed; children who reported not usually having breakfast had higher fasting insulin (percent difference 26.4%, 95% CI 16.6%-37.0%), insulin resistance (percent difference 26.7%, 95% CI 17.0%-37.2%), HbA1c (percent difference 1.2%, 95% CI 0.4%-2.0%), glucose (percent difference 1.0%, 95% CI 0.0%-2.0%), and urate (percent difference 6%, 95% CI 3%-10%) than those who reported having breakfast daily; these differences were little affected by adjustment for adiposity, socioeconomic status, and physical activity levels. When the higher levels of triglyceride, systolic blood pressure, and C-reactive protein for those who usually did not eat breakfast relative to those who ate breakfast daily were adjusted for adiposity, the differences were no longer significant. Children eating a high fibre cereal breakfast had lower insulin resistance than those eating other breakfast types (p for heterogeneity <0.01). Differences in nutrient intakes between breakfast frequency groups did not account for the differences in type 2 diabetes markers.
CONCLUSIONS: Children who ate breakfast daily, particularly a high fibre cereal breakfast, had a more favourable type 2 diabetes risk profile. Trials are needed to quantify the protective effect of breakfast on emerging type 2 diabetes risk. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
Longer fixation duration while viewing face images
The spatio-temporal properties of saccadic eye movements can be influenced by the cognitive demand and the characteristics of the observed scene. Probably due to its crucial role in social communication, it is argued that face perception may involve different cognitive processes compared with non-face object or scene perception. In this study, we investigated whether and how face and natural scene images can influence the patterns of visuomotor activity. We recorded monkeys’ saccadic eye movements as they freely viewed monkey face and natural scene images. The face and natural scene images attracted similar number of fixations, but viewing of faces was accompanied by longer fixations compared with natural scenes. These longer fixations were dependent on the context of facial features. The duration of fixations directed at facial contours decreased when the face images were scrambled, and increased at the later stage of normal face viewing. The results suggest that face and natural scene images can generate different patterns of visuomotor activity. The extra fixation duration on faces may be correlated with the detailed analysis of facial features
A novel isolator-based system promotes viability of human embryos during laboratory processing
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) and related technologies are arguably the most challenging of all cell culture applications. The starting material is a single cell from which one aims to produce an embryo capable of establishing a pregnancy eventually leading to a live birth. Laboratory processing during IVF treatment requires open manipulations of gametes and embryos, which typically involves exposure to ambient conditions. To reduce the risk of cellular stress, we have developed a totally enclosed system of interlinked isolator-based workstations designed to maintain oocytes and embryos in a physiological environment throughout the IVF process. Comparison of clinical and laboratory data before and after the introduction of the new system revealed that significantly more embryos developed to the blastocyst stage in the enclosed isolator-based system compared with conventional open-fronted laminar flow hoods. Moreover, blastocysts produced in the isolator-based system contained significantly more cells and their development was accelerated. Consistent with this, the introduction of the enclosed system was accompanied by a significant increase in the clinical pregnancy rate and in the proportion of embryos implanting following transfer to the uterus. The data indicate that protection from ambient conditions promotes improved development of human embryos. Importantly, we found that it was entirely feasible to conduct all IVF-related procedures in the isolator-based workstations
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