Multiple Organ System Defects and Transcriptional Dysregulation in the Nipbl+/− Mouse, a Model of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) is a multi-organ system birth defects disorder linked, in at least half of cases, to heterozygous mutations in the NIPBL gene. In animals and fungi, orthologs of NIPBL regulate cohesin, a complex of proteins that is essential for chromosome cohesion and is also implicated in DNA repair and transcriptional regulation. Mice heterozygous for a gene-trap mutation in Nipbl were produced and exhibited defects characteristic of CdLS, including small size, craniofacial anomalies, microbrachycephaly, heart defects, hearing abnormalities, delayed bone maturation, reduced body fat, behavioral disturbances, and high mortality (75–80%) during the first weeks of life. These phenotypes arose despite a decrease in Nipbl transcript levels of only ∼30%, implying extreme sensitivity of development to small changes in Nipbl activity. Gene expression profiling demonstrated that Nipbl deficiency leads to modest but significant transcriptional dysregulation of many genes. Expression changes at the protocadherin beta (Pcdhb) locus, as well as at other loci, support the view that NIPBL influences long-range chromosomal regulatory interactions. In addition, evidence is presented that reduced expression of genes involved in adipogenic differentiation may underlie the low amounts of body fat observed both in Nipbl+/− mice and in individuals with CdLS

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

An economy in transition: Costs of pension reform in an overlapping generations model

Ageing, as a phenomenon, is slowly becoming a much debated topic of research by pension reform authorities of differing economics. Neither industrialized nor developing economies is immune to the impending ageing phenomenon that is predicted by the United Nations (UN) Population Report to reach its peak by 2050. Authors have been consistent in forwarding the idea of pension reforms to economies that are struggling with the financial sustainability of their traditional Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) system. Modern pension systems such as Mixed and Fully Funded pension systems have been determined suitable by comparing the steady state welfare effects that an economy might achieve under either of the concerned the steady state welfare effects that an economy might achieve under either of the concerned pension system. Conveniently, from independent calculations using of the stylized overlapping generations model (OLG) under a closed economy framework, this paper has also arrived at the predominant conclusion that a Fully Funded pension system induces a greater positive welfare effect. There is however a lack of literature that takes into account the transitional costs inherent in pension reforms. Such cost considerations are crucial in helping economies strategize on the more cost-minimizing pension reform path to undertake. Hence, it has also been the goal of this paper to provide a theoretical framework that highlights transitional costs incurred by taking varying transition paths towards reaching a desired pension system. Through comparing aggregate costs of shifting, it is apparent that the PAYG-Mixed-Fully Funded pension system-a two tier pension reform path –showcases a less costly alternative compared to the single tiered PAYG-Fully Funded and Mixed-Fully Funded pension reform paths. In terms of providing policy makers with the right theoretical bases for making decisions concerning policy reforms, these findings can allow such economies to mitigate financial and social cost of transition

Overseas contract worker returnees: Their adjustments and coping

This study examined the adjustment and coping of OCW returnees in terms of their economic, social, psychological, and spiritual conditions. Purposive sampling method was utilized to select the twelve respondents, six males and six females. The interview method was used in gathering the data and these data were content-analyze. In terms of their economic condition, they have major adjustments particularly with their work and their low salary. There has been an improved relationship with their family particularly with their spouse. Improved attitude towards themselves and work are personal gains that they derived from working abroad. They were also able to establish a closer relationship with God and express their faith. Despite these numerous adjustments, they are able to find ways of improving their situations, especially through prayer. These findings are discussed in the light of previous studies on OCWs and other literature on adjustment and coping of OCW returnees

Firefighter volunteerism in Chinese Filipino brigades

Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study aimed to identify the motivations behind firefighter volunteerism, as well as its positive and negative physical and psychological consequences. The Volunteer Function Inventory by Clary et al. (1998) was used to measure six motivating functions, while interview questions based on the said instrument were used to verify responses. Based on data gathered from 69 survey respondents and 26 interviewees, it was concluded that while all six motivating functions were of varied importance or relevance to volunteers, the career function was considered more as a benefit than a motivation. Other benefits (including physical incentives, psychological stress reduction, and social connections) and the stressors (such as physical injury and psychological stress) experienced by volunteers were also identified

A climatological analysis of the southwest monsoon rainfall in the Philippines

The historical behavior of the southwest monsoon (SWM) rainfall in the Philippines is described using observed rainfall during the months of June to September from 1961 to 2010. Data are obtained from meteorological stations situated in the western half of the country where the impact of SWM is well pronounced. Time series analysis indicates significant decreasing trends from 0.026% to 0.075% per decade in the total SWM rainfall in six of the nine stations (Ambulong, Baguio, Coron, Dagupan, Iba and Vigan) in the past 50 years. A rainfall anomaly index is derived to characterize the inter-annual variability and the influence of the El Niño Southern Oscillation on the SWM rainfall. Results show no above normal rainfall events associated with La Niña years and few occurrences of below normal rainfall associated with El Niño events. Years where the SWM rainfall significantly deviates from its climate mean are also identified. Furthermore, an examination of the rainfall extremes indicate an increasing trend in the number of days without rain, which can be detected with statistical confidence in Ambulong (2.9% per decade), Baguio (5.9% per decade) and Dagupan (4.0% per decade), as well as a decreasing trend in the heavy rainfall days. These findings suggest a climatic change towards a prolonged dry period and an overall decreasing trend in rainfall during the SWM season over western Philippines in the recent decades, which can have serious implications on the country\u27s agricultural sector

A service plan for Philippine Daily Inquirer: Job market online

The main objective of this service plan is to: To establish Job Market Online as a service body distinct from the Philippine Daily Inquirer\u27s Classified Ads printed Job Board Job Market through increase in overall brand awareness and site usership among employers who utilize online job boards for recruitment needs. We hope to accomplish this by recommending some changes to the way the Philippine Daily Inquirer currently operates Job Market Online, to use as basis for our recommendations we created a Usage, Attitude and Image survey which we used on employers who currently use online job boards to gain an insight into their preference when it comes to choosing, using and partnering with online job boards. As a result of this survey we are able to propose some improvements to the current feature offerings of the online job board through adding things like: employers Board, avenues for employer exposure and edits to the current search criteria and others. We have also proposed some things as to how we could improve the brand and image of the online job board through branding, advertising and communications as well as promotional initiatives that the Philippine Inquirer can do. It is our hope that through implementing these changes and adding new features we will be able to get more employers to use the Job Market Online. We created feasibility report in the form of a financial plan as well as an implementation performance analysis plan. In the financial plan we took into consideration the budgeting PDI has for the next year with regards to the initiative and we use this to make sure our initiatives will not create a deficit by taking into consideration the budget and planning accordingly. Our evaluation plan also includes key performance indicators in which PDI will be able to gauge the successfulness of the proposals if so ever they choose to implement them

Inferior vena cava filters do not increase the risk of blood stream infections in patients with newly diagnosed VTE

•We have found that in patients with a new diagnosis of venous thromboembolism, presence of an IVC filter was not associated with an increased incidence of bloodstream infection after 1 year.•This is the first study to compare the rates of infection between patients who have had an IVC filter and patients who have suffered from venous thromboembolism but who have not have had a filter placed.•Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and gram negative bacilli were the most commonly cultured infectious organisms in our study, regardless of if the patient had an IVC filter present or not. The association between inferior vena cava (IVC) filter presence and subsequent bloodstream infection (BSI) is unknown. We hypothesized among patients with a new diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), incidence of BSI after 1 year would be higher in patients who had presence of an IVC filter. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with newly diagnosed VTE but no IVC filter (N = 4,053) and patients with IVC filter (N = 635) admitted to a metropolitan hospital system from 2006 to 2009 comparing incidence of BSI within 1 year of inclusion. Multivariable regression modeling was used to evaluate the association of IVC filter placement with BSI 1 year after placement. Patients with an IVC filter placed were more likely to be older with higher Charlson co-morbidity score (median 4 vs 1; P < .001). The incidence of BSI was not different between the group with IVC filter and the group without (10.7% vs 8.8%; P = .12). There was no association with IVC filter placement and BSI before or after multivariable adjustment. In patients newly diagnosed with VTE, we found no association between IVC filter placement and increased incidence of BSI after 1 year