Issues for the Global Construction Market

This paper examines issues of the global construction environment. The core theses developed is that globalization will create a new construction industry. A conceptual framework initiates discussion in relation to four selected perspectives vis. neo-classic theory; a comparison with manufacturing; construction industry development; and ownership structure. Conclusions drawn indicate that analysis is only just emerging, and that future examination will require a shift in current understanding so as to consider the global firm as operating in a new and totally separate market

The Effect of Some Polyphenols on Minced Pork during Refrigeration Compared with Ascorbic Acid

Quality of meat and meat products by two oxidative processes is affected. The two processes are lipid peroxidation and myoglobin oxidation. To delay oxidative processes, in meat and meat products are added compounds with antioxidant activity.The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of (±)-catechin, quercetin, and gallic acid, on oxidative processes in minced pork, comparatively with ascorbic acid in the same concentration. The ability of antioxidants to reduce DPPH• and to chelate Fe (II) were determinated. Minced pork samples separately with the chemicals were treated. The treated samples with antioxidants were preserved for seven days at refrigeration temperature. Myoglobin, oxymyoglobin, metmyoglobin concentrations, peroxide value, conjugated dienes and trienes levels and TBARS value were determined. Polyphenols have showed important hydrogen radical donator and iron chelator activity, higher as ascorbic acid activities. All antioxidants were effective in myoglobin oxidation and lipid peroxidation inhibition on minced pork, but the three polyphenols ((±)-catechin, quercetin, and gallic acid) protected better myoglobin than ascorbic acid as showed the results

Use of drugs, perceived drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children: implications for home management of fever

BACKGROUND: Community distribution of anti-malarials and antibiotics has been recommended as a strategy to reduce the under-five mortality due to febrile illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa. However, drugs distributed in these interventions have been considered weak by some caretakers and utilization of community medicine distributors has been low. The aim of the study was to explore caretakers' use of drugs, perceptions of drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children in order to make suggestions for community management of pneumonia and malaria. METHODS: The study was conducted in eastern Uganda using four focus group discussions with fathers and mothers of children under five; and eight key informant interviews with health workers in government and non-governmental organization facilities, community medicine distributors, and attendants in drug shops and private clinics. Caretakers were asked the drugs they use for treatment of fever, why they considered them efficacious, and the providers they go to and why they go there. Health providers were interviewed on their opinions of caretakers' perceptions of drugs and providers. Analysis was done using content analysis. RESULTS: Drugs that have been phased out as first-line treatment for malaria, such as chloroquine and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine, are still perceived as efficacious. Use of drugs depended on perception of the disease, cost and drug availability. There were divergent views about drug efficacy concerning drug combinations, side effects, packaging, or using drugs over time. Bitter taste and high cost signified high efficacy for anti-malarials. Government facilities were preferred for conducting diagnostic investigations and attending to serious illnesses, but often lacked drugs and did not treat people fast. Drug shops were preferred for having a variety of drugs, attending to clients promptly and offering treatment on credit. However, drug shops were considered disadvantageous since they lacked diagnostic capability and had unqualified providers. CONCLUSION: Community views about drug efficacy are divergent and some may divert caretakers from obtaining efficacious drugs for febrile illness. Interventions should address these perceptions, equip community medicine distributors with capacity to do diagnostic investigations and provide a constant supply of drugs. Subsidized efficacious drugs could be made available in the private sector

Personhood

The motives for bringing about the Hellenic-Serbian Dialogue Series originate from the sentiment that mutual relations between Greeks and Sebs far surpass the cultural exchange between Greece and Serbia. Knowing that cooperation does not simply fall into one’s lap, but must be initiated by human will and energy, a group of philosophers from Athens and Novi Sad, the proverbial “Athens of Serbia,” committed themselves to improving this state of affairs, at least within the confines of their area of expertise, philosophy. It is our firm intent to carry out the promise of the title of this series in the following years. Apart from mere cooperation between our two institutions, our aim is also to facilitate an international dialogue that would involve a wide range of thinkers, regardless of their place of employment. The topic of this second volume is personhood, which was spurred on by the need to investigate the condition of humanity in the twenty-first century. With this second volume of the Hellenic-Serbian Philosophical Dialogue Series we have done our best to produce a rich, multi-faceted, broadly scoped, and inspiring book; we wish it becomes for the reader the ideal vehicle for an intellectually stimulating journey.Publishe

Mediterranean Region

This book provides for the first time a Europe-wide overview on the state of the art of management of recreation and nature tourism in forests. It describes the current situation and conflicts in the different regions of Europe and provides solutions illustrated by good practise examples. It addresses traditions, differences and similarities in European forests as well as new tasks, goals and strategies. The final discussion provides a profound insight into future trends regarding forest recreation and nature based tourism. The Mediterranean countries participating in the COST Action E33 are: Cyprus, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina (Fig. 5.1). Geographically, these countries are distributed from the eastern Mediterranean area to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. Parts of France, which is treated as one of the central European countries has also parts with Mediterranean character and similar features to the other countries discussed in this chapter. Spain was not part of the Cost Action, so that there is no data available.COST E3

An Analysis of PubMed Abstracts From 1946 to 2021 to Identify Organizational Affiliations in Epidemiological Criminology: Descriptive Study

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological criminology refers to health issues affecting incarcerated and nonincarcerated offender populations, a group recognized as being challenging to conduct research with. Notwithstanding this, an urgent need exists for new knowledge and interventions to improve heath, justice, and social outcomes for this marginalized population. OBJECTIVE: To better understand research outputs in the field of epidemiological criminology, we examined the lead author's affiliation by analyzing peer-reviewed published outputs to determine countries and organizations (eg, universities, governmental and nongovernmental organizations) responsible for peer-reviewed publications. METHODS: We used a semiautomated approach to examine the first-author affiliations of 23,904 PubMed epidemiological studies related to incarcerated and offender populations published in English between 1946 and 2021. We also mapped research outputs to the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index to better understand whether there was a relationship between research outputs and the overall standard of a country's justice system. RESULTS: Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark) had the highest research outputs proportional to their incarcerated population, followed by Australia. University-affiliated first authors comprised 73.3% of published articles, with the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) being the most published, followed by the University of New South Wales (Australia). Government-affiliated first authors were on 8.9% of published outputs, and prison-affiliated groups were on 1%. Countries with the lowest research outputs also had the lowest scores on the Rule of Law Index. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides important information on who is publishing research in the epidemiological criminology field. This has implications for promoting research diversity, independence, funding equity, and partnerships between universities and government departments that control access to incarcerated and offending populations

Structural, morphological, compositional, and mechanical changes of palatal implants after use: a retrieval analysis

Purpose The aim of this study was to characterize the surface, elemental, and mechanical alterations of orthodontic palatal implants after intraoral aging. Materials and method Nineteen consecutively retrieved implants (RET) after orthodontic treatment and three unused implants used as control (CON) were included in this study. Both groups were characterized non-destructively by Stereomicroscopy, Optical Profilometry (Sa, Sq, Sz, Sc), and SEM/EDX analysis and then destructively after metallogaphic preparation employing instrumented indentation testing (HM, EIT, ηIT, and HV) and SEM/EDX at bone-implant interface. Results All retrieved implants showed a loss of gloss with the formation of bone-like formation on the majority of them. However, no differences in surface roughness parameters were identified between macroscopically intact and retrieved regions of implants. The elements precipitated on the surface were O, C, Ca, and P while traces of Na, K, Al, S, Cl, and Mg were also identified. The surface of control sample is characterized by small pits while only Ti and Al traces were identified by EDX analysis. The presence of all the aforementioned elements apart from Ti and Al on the retrieved implants' surface should be appended to the contact of implant with bone and biological fluids while Interfacial analysis revealed a well-formed bone-implant interface. However, no significant differences were found for all mechanical properties tested between RET and CON groups. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that retrieved palatal implant surface has undergone morphological and elemental alterations probably associated with the osseointegration process during service. Insertion and functional loading did not affect the mechanical properties of implants tested

A Submillimeter Study of the Star-Forming Region NGC7129

New molecular (13CO J=3-2) and dust continuum (450 and 850 micron) SCUBA maps of the NGC7129 star forming region are presented, complemented by C18O J=3-2 spectra at several positions within the mapped region. The maps include the Herbig Ae/Be star LkHalpha 234, the far-infrared source NGC 7129 FIRS2 and several other pre-stellar sources embedded within the molecular ridge. The SCUBA maps help us understand the nature of the pre-main sequence stars in this actively star forming region. A deeply embedded submillimeter source, SMM2, not clearly seen in any earlier data set, is shown to be a pre-stellar core or possibly a protostar. The highest continuum peak emission is identified with the deeply embedded source IRS6, a few arcseconds away from LkHalpha 234, and also responsible for both the optical jet and the molecular outflow. The gas and dust masses are found to be consistent, suggesting little or no CO depletion onto grains. The dust emissivity index is lower towards the dense compact sources, beta ~1 - 1.6, and higher, beta ~ 2.0, in the surrounding cloud, implying small size grains in the PDR ridge, whose mantles have been evaporated by the intense UV radiation.Comment: Accepted by Ap

Variants in TPMT, ITPA, ABCC4 and ABCB1 genes as predictors of 6-mercaptopurine induced toxicity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Uvod: Akutna limfoblastna leukemija je najčešća maligna bolest decjeg doba. Optimalna upotreba antileukemijskih lekova dovela je do smanjenja toksičnosti i neželjenih događaja, kao i do povećanja stope preživljavanja. Tiopurinski lekovi, uključujući 6-merkaptopurin, predstavljaju najčešće korišćene antileukemijske lekove u lečenju dece obolele od akutne limfoblastne leukemije, koji se koriste u toku faze održavanja. Persona lizovana terapija 6-merkaptopurinom, prilagođena TPMT genotipu svakog pacijenta, već je implementirana u terapijske protokole. Cilj ove studije je bio da ispita ulogu varijanti u genima TPMT, ITPA, ABCC4 i ABCB1 kao prediktora ishoda i toksičnosti uzrokovane 6-merkaptopurinom u toku faze održavanja u lečenju pedijatrijske akutne limfoblastne leukemije. Metode: U studiju je bilo uključeno 68 dece obolele od akutne limfoblastne leukemije. Pacijenti su lečeni primenom A LL IC-BFM 2002 ili A LL IC-BFM 2009 protokola. Toksičnost i neželjeni događaji su posmatrani i beleženi upotrebom surogat markera (broj nedelja bez terapije, broj epizoda leukopenije i prosecna doza 6-merkaptopurina) a probabilisticki modeli su korišćeni za predikciju ukupne toksicnosti uzrokovane primenom 6-merkaptopurina. Rezultati: Studija je potvrdila da pacijenti oboleli od akutne limfoblastne leukemije koji imaju neaktivni TPMT alel zahtevaju redukciju doze 6-merkaptopurina. Varijante u genima ITPA i ABCC4 nisu bile povezane sa toksicnošću koja je uzrokovana primenom 6-merkaptopurina u toku faze održavanja. Nosioci varijante u genu ABCB1 su ispoljili veću hepatotoksicnost. Probabilisticki model Neural net kojim su posmatrane sve analizirane genske varijante se pokazao kao najbolji predikcioni model. Primenom ovog modela bilo je moguće razlikovati A LL pacijente sa lošom i dobrom tolerancijom 6-merkaptopurina u 71% slucajeva (AUC=0,71). Zaključak: Ova studija doprinosi dizajniranju panela farmakogenetskih markera koji bi se koristili za predikciju toksicnosti uzrokovane primenom tiopurinskih lekova kod dece obolele od akutne limfoblastne leukemije.Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common childhood malignancy. Optimal use of anti leukemic drugs has led to less toxicity and adverse reactions, and a higher survival rate. Thiopurine drugs, including 6-mercaptopurine, are mostly used as antileukemic medications in the maintenance phase of treatment for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For those patients, TPMT genotype-tailored 6-mercaptopurine therapy is already implemented in the treatment protocols. We investigated the role of TPMT, ITPA, ABCC4 and ABCB1 genetic variants as predictors of outcome and 6-mercaptopurine induced toxicity during the maintenance phase of treatment in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Methods: Sixty-eight children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were enrolled in this study. Patients have been treated according to A LL IC-BFM 2002 or ALL IC-BFM 2009 protocols. Toxicity and adverse events have been monitored via surrogate markers (off-therapy weeks, episodes of leukopenia and average 6-mercaptopurine dose) and a probabilistic model was employed to predict overall 6-mercaptopurine related toxicity. Results: We confirmed that patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia that carry inactive TPMT allele(s) require 6mercaptopurine dose reduction. ITPA and ABCC4 genetic variants failed to show an association with 6-mercapto - purine induced toxicity during the maintenance phase. Carriers of ABCB1 variant allele experienced greater hepatotoxicity. The probabilistic model Neural net which considered all the analysed genetic variants was assessed to be the best prediction model. It was able to discriminate ALL patients with good and poor 6-mercaptopurin tolerance in 71% of cases (A U C = 0 .7 l). Conclusions: This study contributes to the design of a panel of pharmacogenetic markers for predicting thiopurineinduced toxicity in pediatric ALL