The role of L-carnitine in preventing mitochondrial dysfunction after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) represents an intractable clinical condition that lacks an effective treatment and results in blindness, cerebral palsy, and cognitive deficits. A primary mechanism of cell death induced by neonatal HI is mitochondrial dysfunction leading to metabolic crisis and apoptosis. L-carnitine (LCAR) is an endogenous compound that transports fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane for metabolism, buffers endogenous acyl-coA pools and improves the health and efficiency of the mitochondria. In light of the mitochondrial dysfunction observed after HI we hypothesized treatment with LCAR would reduce cell death after HI. Using a novel rat hippocampal slice culture model we observed a decrease in cell death in RHSC treated with 5mM LCAR for 2 hours prior to oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD). Under the same conditions we observed an LCAR induced decrease in both necrosis and mitochondrially-mediated apoptosis. To elucidate the mechanism for these data we studied the effect of LCAR on reactive oxygen species (ROS) before and after OGD. We observed a decrease in superoxide and H2O2 in RHSC treated with LCAR and exposed to OGD. In further experiments we observed LCAR treatment increased the expression and activity of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and catalase prior to OGD and this effect resulted in decreased cell death after OGD. In addition to increased (ROS) scavenging, we observed an LCAR mediated increase in levels of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP-2). In a series of experiments we observed a correlation between UCP-2 expression, the reversible modulation of mitochondrial membrane potential, and a decrease in cell death after OGD. These observations taken together suggest LCAR decreases cell death in RHSC after OGD by increasing ROS scavenging and UCP-2 expression in the mitochondria prior to OGD

The Scintillation Index In Moderate To Strong Turbulence For The Gaussian Beam Wave Along A Slant Path

Scintillation is one of the most common statistics in the literature of mathematical modeling of laser propagation through random media. One approach to estimating scintillation is through the Rytov approximation, which is limited to weak atmospheric turbulence. Recently, an improvement of the Rytov approximation was developed employing a linear filter function technique. This modifies the Rytov approximation and extends the validity into the moderate to strong regime. In this work, an expression governing scintillation of a Gaussian beam along an uplink slant path valid in all regimes of turbulence is presented, as well as results for the limiting cases of a plane wave and a spherical wave

Design of a beta-ray-excited homogeneous x-ray source for industrial applications

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3762205

Market share as an indicator for corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending: The study of Coca Cola’s market

African Journal of Business Management Vol. 6(6) pp. 2234-2247, 15 February, 2012 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJBM DOI: 10.5897/AJBM11.2133Although, prior research has addressed the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on perceived customer responses, market value, and bottom line, among other drivers for CSR, it is not clear whether the market share of a firm is an indicator for CSR spending in different markets. The study examined the relation between Cola-Cola’s market share in traditional soft-drinks markets and new markets to see if there is a correlation between spending on CSR and market share. The hypothesis that there is a negative correlation between market share and CSR spending was not corroborated with clear evidence. However, the interesting finding was that markets with low relative market share were found to have low spending, markets with medium relative market share (MS) show rather high spending and from there, generally speaking, the social spending declines with increasing market share. Hence, managers appear to invest more on CSR in areas with fierce rivalry, where they have medium market share.Although, prior research has addressed the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on perceived customer responses, market value, and bottom line, among other drivers for CSR, it is not clear whether the market share of a firm is an indicator for CSR spending in different markets. The study examined the relation between Cola-Cola’s market share in traditional soft-drinks markets and new markets to see if there is a correlation between spending on CSR and market share. The hypothesis that there is a negative correlation between market share and CSR spending was not corroborated with clear evidence. However, the interesting finding was that markets with low relative market share were found to have low spending, markets with medium relative market share (MS) show rather high spending and from there, generally speaking, the social spending declines with increasing market share. Hence, managers appear to invest more on CSR in areas with fierce rivalry, where they have medium market share

Relationship Between Entrepreneurial Process and Success of Business of Entrepreneurs with Disability in Western Kenya, Kenya

Anchored on Empowerment theory, the study adopted a crosssectional research design on the Relationship between entrepreneurial process and success of business of entrepreneurs with disability in Western Kenya, Kenya. The target population was 73 registered businesses of entrepreneurs with disability. Saturated sampling was used in this study. The respondents were 69 business owners, out of which 4 were used for piloting, being 5-10% of sample size considered as a sufficient representation. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires while secondary data were obtained through document review. The findings revealed that Entrepreneurial processes significantly contributed to business success (β=.609, t(69)=6.285, p=.000) and accounted for 37.1% change in business success (R 2=0.371, F(1,67=39.496, p=.000. The study concluded that an increase in entrepreneurial processes and procurement affirmative action practices will lead to improved business success. The study recommends that entrepreneurship stakeholders and the government assist in improving procurement practices for the persons with disabilities so as to help them improve on their businesses. The study is expected to inform policy makers both entrepreneurship stakeholders and the government on how entrepreneurial process can be used as a tool in improving persons with disabilities access to procurement opportunities and how to empower them

The Swabian League and the German Peasants' War - Vol. 1

Mit einer editorischen Begleitnotiz von Prof. Gerd Schwerhoff, TU Dresden (28. Juli 2022

The Triple Bottom Line and Strategic Sourcing Decisions among Commercial Banks in Kenya

The Triple Bottom Line is a concept that brings together three important dimensions: the economic; the social and the environmental. These three dimensions are important in addressing sustainability in business operations. This study aimed at establishing the relationship between TBL and strategic sourcing decisions among commercial banks in Kenya. The study also sought to establish the extent to which commercial banks in Kenya have adopted TBL in making strategic sourcing decisions. The study adopted a descriptive research design of cross sectional type where a census of all the 43 commercial banks was conducted. Data was successfully collected from 39 commercial banks through a questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics where percentages and frequencies were used to establish the extent of TBL adoption in making strategic sourcing decisions while regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between TBL and strategic sourcing. The findings indicate that most commercial banks in Kenya have adopted TBL in their strategic sourcing decisions to varying degrees. The areas where TBL application was evident include: management of suppliers; meeting customer needs; environmental conservation and community social responsibility. The study also encountered a few limitations such as uncooperative respondents who were unwilling to fill the questionnaires. Some respondents also feared filling the questionnaires due to the high degree of confidentiality that is required in banking. Keywords: Triple Bottom Line, Strategic Sourcing, Sustainabilit

Hard Sayings: The Rhetoric of Christian Orthodoxy in Late Modern Fiction

Introduction : Christian orthodoxy and the rhetoric of fiction -- Flannery O'Connor, the irreducibility of belief, and the problem of audience -- Catholicism for "really intelligent people" : the rhetoric of Muriel Spark -- John Updike's rhetoric of Christian American narcissism -- Walker Percy's rhetoric of time, apocalypse, and the modern predicament -- The uses of orthodoxy : Mary Gordon and Marilynne Robinson -- Epilogue : on belief and academic humility.Item embargoed for five year