The Australian Farm Business Management Network: Industry, Education, Consultancy and Research Coming Together

Under the sponsorship of the University of Sydney, on 5-6th December 2002 the future of farm management in Australia was discussed. The fundamental conclusion achieved by key primary industry representatives, corporate executives, academics, consultants and researchers is that farm management will have a more significant role to play in the future than previously in servicing the primary sector. The idea of farm management as a profession was proposed. Its basis would be business management supported by farming systems and technology, and using an holistic approach to action (i.e. finance, people and environment). The new profession of Farm Business Management would seek to influence education, research, consultancy and extension in Australia. Interested parties participating of the 2002 National Farm Management Workshop came away with the idea of championing a consultative network, constituted by interested institutions and interested individuals, as a first step in the process of nurturing the future development of farm business management. By integrating farmers and academics with corporate executives, consultants and researchers the objective is to behave as a consultative group. This group will influence educational models, implement consultancy and research strategies, and network in social and professional terms. Moreover, this network will provide a systematic opportunity for the channelling of farm business management and farming systems related information at different levels for education, extension and scientific purposes. This network is called the Australian Farm Business Management Network (AFBMnetwork).Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Проблемы медицинского обслуживания моряков в Украине

Стаття присвячена деяким проблемам медичного обслуговування моряків в Україні, в тому числі питанням професійних оглядів, які визначають придатність моряка по стану здоров‘я до роботи на суднах. Розглядаються проекти пропозицій до наказу, який готується і який буде регламентувати медичні огляди моряків.The article is devoted some problems of medical service of seafarers in Ukraine, in particular to the questions of professional examinations, determining the fitness of seafarer to be fit for work on ships. The projects of appendixes are examined to the preparing order, to regulating physical examinations of seafarers

Numerical and functional defects of blood dendritic cells in early- and late-stage breast cancer

The generation of antitumour immunity depends on the nature of dendritic cell (DC)–tumour interactions. These have been studied mostly by using in vitro-derived DC which may not reflect the natural biology of DC in vivo. In breast cancer, only one report has compared blood DC at different stages and no longitudinal evaluation has been performed. Here we conducted three cross-sectional and one one-year longitudinal assessments of blood DC in patients with early (stage I/II, n=137) and advanced (stage IV, n=36) disease compared to healthy controls (n=66). Patients with advanced disease exhibit markedly reduced blood DC counts at diagnosis. Patients with early disease show minimally reduced counts at diagnosis but a prolonged period (1 year) of marked DC suppression after tumour resection. While differing in frequency, DC from both patients with early and advanced disease exhibit reduced expression of CD86 and HLA-DR and decreased immunostimulatory capacities. Finally, by comparing a range of clinically available maturation stimuli, we demonstrate that conditioning with soluble CD40L induces the highest level of maturation and improved T-cell priming. We conclude that although circulating DC are compromised by loco-regional and systemic breast cancer, they respond vigorously to ex vivo conditioning, thus enhancing their immunostimulatory capacity and potential for immunotherapy

How a network-based start-up ecosystem supports new venture performance: Management perspectives and future research.

The literature on how a start-up ecosystem has an impact on a start-up’s performance has significantly grown and contributed to the management field. Nevertheless, these theoretical developments have been scattered, inconsistent, lacking in theoretical depth. Therefore, in this review, we use three perspectives to organise the knowledge field, refine concepts and generate a prospectus for future studies. The perspectives reviewed are the Resource-Based View, Open Innovation and Social Capital Theory. The results have generally shown that the network-based start-up ecosystem contributes resources, capabilities, learning, collaboration, relationship, knowledge shared and social capital to new ventures. The influence of these benefits for new venture performance is uncertain. Conceptual development in start-up ecosystem research will gain value from management perspectives that address these benefits. We propose a plan for future studies on network-based start-ups that is oriented towards a more robust framework with which to consider the role and influence of a start-up ecosystem that goes beyond general descriptions of the positive effect of start-ups network-ecosystem on performance

Efecto del fósforo y potasio en los componentes de rendimiento en arroz (Oryza sativa).

Este trabajo fue realizado en la Hacienda "Manzanares" localizada en la Zona Bananera próxima al. Corregimiento de Orihueca. Geográficamente ésta se encuentra enmarcada dentro de las siguientes coordenadas: 74°18´14" y 74°05´36" de longitud al Oeste del Meridiano de Greenwich; 11° 00´36" y 10° 31´ 36" de latitud Norte, con una altura de 20 m.s.n.m correspondiendo una precipitación de 1.400 mm. anual. El trabajo consistió en una fertilización en arroz (Cica 6) con fósforo y potasio. Se emplearon cinco niveles de fósforo (0 -20 - 40 -60 - 80 Kg/Ha.) y cinco de potasio (0 -15 - 30 -45- 60 Kg/ Ha.) Como fuente de fósforo se utilizó Superfosfato triple de 46% y como fuente de potasio el Cloruro de potasio de 60%. Estos fueron aplicados al momento de la siembra. El diseño utilizado fue el de composición central con bloques al Azar. El número total de tratamientos fue de 13 con 3 replicaciones, lo que da un total de 39 parcelas. El área de cada parcela fue de 50 m2 y un área total de 2000 m2. Entre bloques y parcelas se dejó una distancia de 1 m. para facilitar el acceso a ellas. La siembra y aplicación de fertilizantes se hizo al voleo utilizando 200 Kg. /Ha de semilla. La recolección se hizo con hoz evitando el efecto de borde. Lo cosechado en cada parcela se pasó por separado por una trilladora, luego se pesó tomando los datos de los rendimientos obtenidos. La duración del ensayo fue de 120 días. No hubo respuesta significativa de los tratamientos como puede verse en las tablas números 1,2,3, 4 con excepción de la tabla número 5 (peso de 1.000 granos)

Caracterización de mujeres que cometieron homicidio contra su pareja o expareja

16 p.Esta investigación se enmarca en el eje correspondiente a la Psicología Criminológica, en la línea de perfilación y caracterización de hombres y mujeres que cometen homicidio contra sus parejas. El propósito de este estudio fue identificar las características de los casos de mujeres que cometen homicidio o tentativa de homicidio hacia sus parejas heterosexuales. Para lograr el objetivo, se tomaron los modelos propuestos por Garrido y Sobral (2008) y Morales (2003) para recoger y analizar la información a partir de la revisión de los expedientes judiciales de dicha población.Introducción Metodología Resultados Discusión Referencia

Immunomodulation by imiquimod in patients with high-risk primary melanoma.

Imiquimod is a synthetic Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist approved for the topical treatment of actinic keratoses, superficial basal cell carcinoma, and genital warts. Imiquimod leads to an 80-100% cure rate of lentigo maligna; however, studies of invasive melanoma are lacking. We conducted a pilot study to characterize the local, regional, and systemic immune responses induced by imiquimod in patients with high-risk melanoma. After treatment of the primary melanoma biopsy site with placebo or imiquimod cream, we measured immune responses in the treated skin, sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs), and peripheral blood. Treatment of primary melanomas with 5% imiquimod cream was associated with an increase in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the skin, and CD4+ T cells in the SLN. Most of the CD8+ T cells in the skin were CD25 negative. We could not detect any increases in CD8+ T cells specifically recognizing HLA-A(*)0201-restricted melanoma epitopes in the peripheral blood. The findings from this small pilot study demonstrate that topical imiquimod treatment results in enhanced local and regional T-cell numbers in both the skin and SLN. Further research into TLR7 immunomodulating pathways as a basis for effective immunotherapy against melanoma in conjunction with surgery is warranted

IRX-2, a Novel Immunotherapeutic, Enhances Functions of Human Dendritic Cells

Background: In a recent phase II clinical trial for HNSCC patients, IRX-2, a cell-derived biologic, promoted T-cell infiltration into the tumor and prolonged overall survival. Mechanisms responsible for these IRX-2-mediated effects are unknown. We hypothesized that IRX-2 enhanced tumor antigen-(TA)-specific immunity by up-regulating functions of dendritic cells (DC). Methodology/Principal Findings: Monocyte-derived DC obtained from 18 HNSCC patients and 12 healthy donors were matured using IRX-2 or a mix of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 ("conv. mix"). Multicolor flow cytometry was used to study the DC phenotype and antigen processing machinery (APM) component expression. ELISPOT and cytotoxicity assays were used to evaluate tumor-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). IL-12p70 and IL-10 production by DC was measured by Luminex® and DC migration toward CCL21 was tested in transwell migration assays. IRX-2-matured DC functions were compared with those of conv. mix-matured DC. IRX-2-matured DC expressed higher levels (p<0.05) of CD11c, CD40, CCR7 as well as LMP2, TAP1, TAP2 and tapasin than conv. mix-matured DC. IRX-2-matured DC migrated significantly better towards CCL21, produced more IL-12p70 and had a higher IL12p70/IL-10 ratio than conv. mix-matured DC (p<0.05 for all). IRX-2-matured DC carried a higher density of tumor antigen-derived peptides, and CTL primed with these DC mediated higher cytotoxicity against tumor targets (p<0.05) compared to the conv. mix-matured DC. Conclusion: Excellent ability of IRX-2 to induce ex vivo DC maturation in HNSCC patients explains, in part, its clinical benefits and emphasizes its utility in ex vivo maturation of DC generated for therapy. © 2013 Schilling et al

Consumer perceptions of co-branding alliances: Organizational dissimilarity signals and brand fit

This study explores how consumers evaluate co-branding alliances between dissimilar partner firms. Customers are well aware that different firms are behind a co-branded product and observe the partner firms’ characteristics. Drawing on signaling theory, we assert that consumers use organizational characteristics as signals in their assessment of brand fit and for their purchasing decisions. Some organizational signals are beyond the control of the co-branding partners or at least they cannot alter them on short notice. We use a quasi-experimental design and test how co-branding partner dissimilarity affects brand fit perception. The results show that co-branding partner dissimilarity in terms of firm size, industry scope, and country-of-origin image negatively affects brand fit perception. Firm age dissimilarity does not exert significant influence. Because brand fit generally fosters a benevolent consumer attitude towards a co-branding alliance, the findings suggest that high partner dissimilarity may reduce overall co-branding alliance performance