Cholesterol-Mediated Dysfunction of Surfactant Effects of Surfactant Protein-A and Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia

This thesis explored the effects of cholesterol and SP-A on surfactant function in vitro, and lung function in vivo. In the first experiment, we determined whether SP-A could mitigate cholesterol-mediated surfactant dysfunction. We hypothesized that SP-A can mitigate the surfactant inhibition caused by high cholesterol. In the second experiment, we tested the contribution of diet-induced serum hypercholesterolemia to surfactant composition and the development of lung injury in rats. We hypothesized that serum hypercholesterolemia would increase the amount of cholesterol in surfactant and would cause rats to develop more severe lung injury. Our results indicate that SP-A mitigates cholesterol-mediated surfactant inhibition; however, serum levels of cholesterol do not affect surfactant composition or the severity of lung injury. In conclusion, elevated cholesterol within surfactant represents a mediator of surfactant dysfunction which can impede proper lung function, but SP-A can mitigate this form of inhibition

Democratic Dialogue as a Process to Inform Public Policy

An exploration of the collaborative reconceptualization of a provincial Supervisory Officer’s Qualification Program (SOQP) through the use of dialogic approaches is the focus of this inquiry. The stories, perspectives, and lived experiences of supervisory officers, principals, teachers, parents, students, and members of the public in Ontario were included as essential voices and information sources within policy development conversations. These narratives of experience revealed the forms of knowledge, skills, dispositions, and ethical commitments necessary for effective supervisory officers today and in the future. They also illustrated the transformative nature of narrative dialogue to enlighten, deepen understanding, and alter perspectives. The policy development processes used in this publicly shared educational initiative serve as a model of democratic dialogue. The inclusive and dialogic methods employed to collectively reconceptualize a supervisory officer formation program illustrate an innovative framework for developing policies governing the public good

Effects of statins on plaque rupture assessed by optical coherence tomography in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes: insights from the optical coherence tomography (OCT)-FORMIDABLE registry

Aims Chronic pre-treatment with statins may reduce mortality and morbidity in patients experiencing acute coronary syndromes (ACS), but mechanisms accounting for these findings are not completely understood. Methods and results The optical coherence tomography (OCT)-Formidable registry retrospectively enrolled 285 consecutive patients with ACS undergoing OCT in 9 European centres. Mean age was 60.4 ± 12.8 years, 148 (51.9%) patients had hyperlipemia, 45 (15.8%) diabetes mellitus and 142 (49.8%) presented with ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Patients were stratified according to statin prescription: 150 (52.6%) were on chronic pre-treatment with statins before ACS and were more likely to present with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) at admission (111, 74%) rather than STEMI, while the opposite was observed for patients not on statins. The primary end-point of ruptured plaque at OCT occurred significantly less frequently in the patients on chronic pre-treatment with statins [odds ratio (OR) 0.375, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.185-0.759, P = 0.006]. The secondary end-point of thin-cap fibro-atheroma (TCFA) at any site was significantly less frequent in the statin group (OR 0.423, 95%CI 0.213-0.840, P = 0.014). No differences were observed for the secondary end-point of not-ruptured TCFA as the culprit lesion. Pre-specified sensitivity analysis was conducted according to the pattern of ACS: the reported differences were confirmed for NSTE-ACS patients, with a trend towards less plaque rupture and a significant reduction of TCFA at any site with statins, but not for STEMI. Conclusions Chronic pre-treatment with statins is associated with a reduced prevalence of ruptured plaques in patients presenting with ACS, particularly in those with NSTE-ACS. Statins bear hence the potential to reduce morbidity during the acute phase of ACS

A feasibility study on the manufacture of citric acid from blackstrap molasses

Name of Firm: CITRIC ACID, INCORPORATED Location: Head Office: Anayan, Pili, Camarines Sur Plant Site: Anayan, Pili, Camarines Sur. Project Description. Citric Acid, Incorporated, a subsidiary of the Bicol Development Company, will employ 97 persons in the manufacture of citric acid. This will be used by pharmaceutical firms, food processing companies and companies engaged in the production of beverages as part of their final products. At present, these companies import their citric acid. Although the company\u27s market is located within the Philippines, provisions for expansion have been made to accommodate any exportation of the acid. The inclusion of citric acid in the Fifth Export Priorities Plan should help the company in this aspect. To produce the acid, the company will employ the submerged fermentation process developed in Japan. The process uses untreated blackstrap molasses as the principal raw material and a local penicillium mold as the fermenting agent. The plants annual rated capacity of 1,440,000 pounds will require a capital investment of P14,000,000. Of this, P8,000,000 will be supplied by the proponents of the project the remaining amount will be obtained through a long-term loan. Local financing will be availed of for this purpose. Most of the equipment that will be used will be locally fabricated. Only three major pieces of equipment will be imported. Construction and installation of the equipment will be handled by local contractors. The plant is expected to start operations by the end of 1977. General Conclusion. The project is not feasible. With a payout period of over 5 years, with or without BOI incentives, and an average rate of return of less than 10% in both cases, capital can be more profitably utilized in other ventures. Recommendations. 1. Study the export market of citric acid. 2. See if it is possible to decrease the amount of calcium carbonate required by the process. 3. Design a process to separate the mycelia from the gypsum and determine the market potential of these 2 by-products. 4. Find out if the penicillium mold can grow if the fermenting mixture is placed in shallow aluminum trays

Democratic Dialogue as a Process to Inform Public Policy: Reconceptualizing a Supervisory Officer’s Qualification Program

An exploration of the collaborative reconceptualization of a provincial Supervisory Officer’s Qualification Program (SOQP) through the use of dialogic approaches is the focus of this inquiry. The stories, perspectives, and lived experiences of supervisory officers, principals, teachers, parents, students, and members of the public in Ontario were included as essential voices and information sources within policy development conversations. These narratives of experience revealed the forms of knowledge, skills, dispositions, and ethical commitments necessary for effective supervisory officers today and in the future. They also illustrated the transformative nature of narrative dialogue to enlighten, deepen understanding, and alter perspec- tives. The policy development processes used in this publicly shared educational initiative serve as a model of democratic dialogue. The inclusive and dialogic methods employed to collectively reconceptualize a supervisory officer formation program illustrate an innovative framework for developing policies governing the public good

Data - ASTM D638 universal materials testing tensile tests results for 3D printed Alloy 910 and Bridge nylon subjects

Maturation of 3D printing technologies has enabled the rapid fabrication of functional devices, including prosthetic sockets. Printing a robust socket requires an understanding of specific 3D printing parameters and their effect on the mechanical properties of the socket. In this paper, the effect of varying the shell number, infill percentage and layer height of 3D printed Alloy 910 and Bridge nylon blend subjects on their maximum tensile strength, their elasticity modulus and their yield strength is determined. In Experiment #1 the mechanical properties of the printed nylon subjects were determined by a universal load-testing machine according to ASTM D638 guidelines. Experiment #2 utilized the mechanical properties determined in Experiment #1 to define the material characteristics of a prosthetic socket to perform finite element analysis. This analysis revealed the surface stress and factor of safety of the prosthetic socket across different 3D printed material profiles. Results indicate that increasing shell number is a significant predictor of maximum tensile strength, yield strength and elasticity. Infill percentage and layer height also affect these properties; however, their effects are less pronounced. Finite element data showed quantitative changes to surface-stress experienced by the sockets with different 3D printed material qualities and affected their factor of safety. This study has shown that the mechanical properties of 3D printed objects can be affected by changing specific 3D printing parameters. The ability to modulate specific mechanical qualities of 3D printed objects is an important step towards the fabrication of functional 3D printed objects such as prosthetic sockets.Printing Out Disability: Leveraging 3D Printing Technology for Prosthetics Production in Uganda, Grand Challenges Canada’s: Stars in Global Health – Round 7. Inclusive Design Institute, Mobile and Pervasive Computing Cluster, Canada Foundation for Innovation & Ontario Research Fund. CBM Canada Faculty of Information, University of Toronto China scholarship council (CSC) under the CSC scholarship

Validation of Quantitative 3-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography Mitral Valve Analysis Using Stereoscopic Display

OBJECTIVE The use of 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in perioperative evaluation of the mitral valve (MV) is increasing progressively, including the use of 3D MV models for quantitative analysis. However, the use of 3D MV models in clinical practice still is limited by the need for specific training and the long time required for analysis. A new stereoscopic visualization tool (EchoPixel True 3D) allows virtual examination of anatomic structures in the clinical setting, but its accuracy and feasibility for intraoperative use is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of 3D holographic display and evaluate 3D quantitative measurements on a volumetric MV image using the EchoPixel system compared with the 3D MV model generated by QLAB Mitral Valve Navigation (MVN) software. DESIGN This was a retrospective comparative study. SETTING The study took place in a tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS A total of 40 patients, 20 with severe mitral regurgitation who underwent mitral valve repair and 20 controls with normal MV, were enrolled retrospectively. INTERVENTIONS The 3D-TEE datasets of the MV were analyzed using a 3D MV model and stereoscopic display. The agreement of measurements, intraobserver and interobserver variability, and time for analysis were assessed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Fair agreement between the 2 software systems was found for annular circumference and area in pathologic valves, but good agreement was reported for prolapse height and linear annular diameters. A higher agreement for all annular parameters and prolapse height was seen in normal valves. Excellent intraobserver and interobserver reliability was proved for the same parameters; time for analysis between the 2 methods in pathologic valves was substantially equivalent, although longer in pathologic valves when compared with normal MV using both tools. CONCLUSION EchoPixel proved to be reliable to display 3D TEE datasets and accurate for direct linear measurement of both MV annular sizes and prolapse height compared to QLAB MVN software; it also carries a low interobserver and intraobserver variability for most measurements