Kvinnors rättigheter i det nationalistiska Ungern : en feministisk ideologianalys

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the underlying tendencies of the Hungarian nationalism in relation to women's rights. Thus, the study aims to analyse which actual effects these nationalist tendencies have on women's rights. This is done using feminist critical ideology analysis. The thesis focuses on women's right to protection from discrimination in relation to family, work and political participation, as stipulated in the UN Women's rights Convention. Through analysis of the actual content of the government’s report to the UN Women's rights Commission together with a contextual analysis, it is possible to outline the Hungarian government's impact on women’s rights. To give the thesis a further depth the theory and practice of the Hungarian nationalism is examined from two different feminist theories; standpoint feminist theory and postmodern feminist theory. Though the theories assume different problem formulations, the study shows that both of the theories indicate a decline regarding women's rights in the areas mentioned. Standpoint feminist theory criticizes the fact that women's experiences have not been taken into account in the formation of the nationalist politics. The postmodern feminism is critical towards the narrow definition of family and women demonstrated in the report. Based on these theories, it is possible to distinguish a sharp criticism regarding the impact of the Hungarian nationalism on women's rights. The nationalist government of Hungary has failed to take women’s experience into account and if women are seen as actors, it is in the narrow sense of reproductive actors and as mothers

Trial sequential analysis for assessing imprecision in GRADE evaluations – protocol for a methodological study

Abstract Background: Assessing statistical imprecision of summary estimates is an essential element in evaluating the strength of evidence. The GRADE framework recommends assessing imprecision by confidence intervals (CI) in relation to thresholds of interest and in selected cases to assess the relationship between the acquired information size and the calculated optimal information size (OIS). Trial sequential analysis (TSA) calculates multiplicity-adjusted confidence intervals and can be used to calculate a required information size. In a recent methodological study of 544 systematic reviews and meta-analysis reports of clinical trials with TSA, we gathered data regarding the methods used for grading imprecision, specifically regarding the impact of TSA (the METSA project). The questions regarding GRADE imprecision were initially superficially defined and were substantialized only during the project and in the preparations for this protocol. With this add-on study, we investigate the methods of grading imprecision in the GRADE framework by authors of systematic reviews and meta-analysis reports of clinical trials with TSA. Methods: The outlined methodological study will be pre-planned but designed with knowledge about existing but not yet reviewed data on the study questions. The METSA project was not initially designed for the questions raised in the current study protocol, which warrants a critical review of the collected data. We aim to improve precision and accuracy of the collected data regarding imprecision methodology by a redesign of selected data fields, adding new data fields to the data extraction form and a subsequent revision of the existing data extraction accordingly. For each individual study, we will extract or review data regarding the specified methodology including methods for calculating CI and OIS, and thresholds of interest (definitions of important benefit and/or harm). For each topic, we will assess completeness in transparency of described methods and protocolisation, including coherence with the protocol (if relevant). Results: We will report frequencies of observed methods, lack of transparency, and protocolisation. From data gathered in the METSA project, we will report the proportion of imprecision assessments that may have differed in their conclusions if the results of the TSA had been used. Informed by our findings, we will outline new suggestions on how to grade imprecision using TSA. Conclusion: This protocol outlines a methodological study of methods and reporting characteristics imprecision assessment within the GRADE framework in recent systematic reviews and meta-analysis reports of clinical trials utilising trial sequential analysis

Progressive Rearrangement of Telomeric Sequences Added to Both the ITR Ends of the Yeast Linear pGKL Plasmid

Relocation into the nucleus of the yeast cytoplasmic linear plasmids was studied using a monitor plasmid pCLU1. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the nuclearly-relocated pCLU1 replicated in a linear form (termed pTLU-type plasmid) which carried the host telomeric repeats TG(1-3) of 300-350 bp at both ends. The telomere sequences mainly consisted of a major motif TGTGTGGGTGTGG which was complementary to part of the RNA template of yeast telomerase and were directly added to the very end of the pCLU1-terminal element ITR (inverted terminal repeat), suggesting that the ITR end played a role as a substrate of telomerase. The telomere sequences varied among isolated pTLU-type plasmids, but the TG(1-3) organization was symmetrically identical on both ends of any one plasmid. During cell growth under non-selective condition, the telomeric repeat sequences were progressively rearranged on one side, but not on the opposite side of pTLU plasmid ends. This indicates that the mode of telomeric DNA replication or repair differed between both ends. Clonal analysis showed that the intense rearrangement of telomeric DNA was closely associated with extreme instability of pTLU plasmids

Impaired Cerebral Autoregulation during Head Up Tilt in Patients with Severe Brain Injury

Early mobilization is of importance for improving long-term outcome for patients after severe acquired brain injury. A limiting factor for early mobilization by head-up tilt is orthostatic intolerance. The purpose of the present study was to examine cerebral autoregulation in patients with severe acquired brain injury and a low level of consciousness. Fourteen patients with severe acquired brain injury and orthostatic intolerance and fifteen healthy volunteers were enrolled. Blood pressure was evaluated by pulse contour analysis, heart rate and RR-intervals were determined by electrocardiography, middle cerebral artery velocity was evaluated by transcranial Doppler, and near-infrared spectroscopy determined frontal lobe oxygenation in the supine position and during head-up tilt. Cerebral autoregulation was evaluated as the mean flow index calculated as the ratio between middle cerebral artery mean velocity and estimated cerebral perfusion pressure. Patients with acquired brain injury presented an increase in mean flow index during head-up tilt indicating impaired autoregulation (P < 0.001). Spectral analysis of heart rate variability in the frequency domain revealed lower magnitudes of ~0.1 Hz spectral power in patients compared to healthy controls suggesting baroreflex dysfunction. In conclusion, patients with severe acquired brain injury and orthostatic intolerance during head-up tilt have impaired cerebral autoregulation more than one month after brain injury

Reliability, usability and coverage of AMSTAR 2 assessing 544 systematic reviews and meta analysis reports - protocol for a descriptive analytic study

Background: The AMSTAR 2 tool (second version of Assessing Methodological Quality in Systematic Reviews) is useful for critical appraisal of systematic reviews of clinical trials. In a methodological study of systematic reviews and meta-analysis reports of randomised clinical trials which used the sequential meta-analysis trial sequential analysis (the METSA study), we used the AMSTAR 2 to assess the overall quality of each included study. With the study outlined in this protocol, we aim to explore the interrater reliability of the AMSTAR 2, qualitatively describe our experiences using the tool, and discuss the tool’s coverage of critical domains. Methods: In the METSA study, we investigated statistical methodology and transparency in 544 systematic reviews and meta-analysis reports of randomised clinical trials which used trial sequential analysis (TSA). All systematic reviews (with a protocol) were assessed with AMSTAR 2 by two independent authors (n=270). Meta-analysis reports – defined as not having a protocol – were automatically rated as ‘critically low confidence’ and did no undergo further AMSTAR 2 assessment. Disagreement on the AMSTAR 2 rating was resolved through discussion between the authors. Principal issues were discussed at weekly meetings. Thoughts on the usability and coverage of AMSTAR 2 was shared at these meetings and noted throughout and will be collected post-hoc for the current study. Here, we will analyse the level of agreement on the initial ratings by raw agreement rates and Cohen’s kappa and test for trends concerning the effect of the consensus process (rating up or down confidence) as well as the overall effect of assessor experience. We will compare the AMSTAR 2 rating with the assessments of TSA transparency performed during the METSA study. Conclusion: This methodological study will provide insights in some of the characteristics of AMSTAR 2, including interrater reliability and usability in the context of assessing 270 systematic reviews of clinical trials. We will provide group consensus-based suggestions regarding usability and coverage

Insight into innate immune response in “Yusho”: The impact of natural killer cell and regulatory T cell on inflammatory prone diathesis of Yusho patients

Background: In 1968 in western Japan, polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated “Kanemi rice oil” was used in cooking, causing food poisoning in many people. More than 50 years have passed since the Yusho incident, and although inflammatory disorders such as suppuration have been observed in Yusho patients, the etiology of this inflammation susceptibility remains obscure. Objectives: To investigate the mechanisms of susceptibility to inflammation in Yusho patients, peripheral immune cell fractions and concentrations of inflammatory cytokines were evaluated in blood samples collected from both Yusho patients and age-matched healthy subjects undergoing medical examination in Nagasaki. Methods: To exclude diagnostic uncertainty, serum levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), polychlorinated quarterphenyl (PCQ), and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) were measured. Immune cell (e.g. natural killer and regulatory T cell) populations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Serum cytokines involved in immune cell activation were measured by ELISA. Results: The relative proportion of natural killer cells was higher in Yusho patients than in healthy subjects, while the proportion of regulatory T cells did not differ between groups. Serum concentrations of IL-36 and IFN-γ were significantly lower in Yusho patients than in healthy subjects. Conversely, serum cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), which is a cytokine related to activated NK cells, was higher in Yusho patients than in healthy subjects and was positively correlated with PCDF blood levels. Conclusion: Increased numbers of NK cells in Yusho patients suggests that the innate immune response has been activated in Yusho patients. The seemingly paradoxical results for CTLA-4 and IFN-γ may reflect counterbalancing mechanisms preventing excessive NK cell activation. This dysregulation of innate immunity might contribute to the inflammation observed in Yusho patients

Introducing a new breed of wine yeast: interspecific hybridisation between a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeast and Saccharomyces mikatae

Interspecific hybrids are commonplace in agriculture and horticulture; bread wheat and grapefruit are but two examples. The benefits derived from interspecific hybridisation include the potential of generating advantageous transgressive phenotypes. This paper describes the generation of a new breed of wine yeast by interspecific hybridisation between a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeast strain and Saccharomyces mikatae, a species hitherto not associated with industrial fermentation environs. While commercially available wine yeast strains provide consistent and reliable fermentations, wines produced using single inocula are thought to lack the sensory complexity and rounded palate structure obtained from spontaneous fermentations. In contrast, interspecific yeast hybrids have the potential to deliver increased complexity to wine sensory properties and alternative wine styles through the formation of novel, and wider ranging, yeast volatile fermentation metabolite profiles, whilst maintaining the robustness of the wine yeast parent. Screening of newly generated hybrids from a cross between a S. cerevisiae wine yeast and S. mikatae (closely-related but ecologically distant members of the Saccharomyces sensu stricto clade), has identified progeny with robust fermentation properties and winemaking potential. Chemical analysis showed that, relative to the S. cerevisiae wine yeast parent, hybrids produced wines with different concentrations of volatile metabolites that are known to contribute to wine flavour and aroma, including flavour compounds associated with non-Saccharomyces species. The new S. cerevisiae x S. mikatae hybrids have the potential to produce complex wines akin to products of spontaneous fermentation while giving winemakers the safeguard of an inoculated ferment.Jennifer R. Bellon, Frank Schmid, Dimitra L. Capone, Barbara L. Dunn, Paul J. Chamber

Non-canonical DNA transcription enzymes and the conservation of two-barrel RNA polymerases

DNA transcription depends on multimeric RNA polymerases that are exceptionally conserved in all cellular organisms, with an active site region of >500 amino acids mainly harboured by their Rpb1 and Rpb2 subunits. Together with the distantly related eukaryotic RNA-dependent polymerases involved in gene silencing, they form a monophyletic family of ribonucleotide polymerases with a similarly organized active site region based on two double-Ψ barrels. Recent viral and phage genome sequencing have added a surprising variety of putative nucleotide polymerases to this protein family. These proteins have highly divergent subunit composition and amino acid sequences, but always contain eight invariant amino acids forming a universally conserved catalytic site shared by all members of the two-barrel protein family. Moreover, the highly conserved ‘funnel’ and ‘switch 2’ components of the active site region are shared by all putative DNA-dependent RNA polymerases and may thus determine their capacity to transcribe double-stranded DNA templates