3,565 research outputs found
Factors that influenced mothers and/or caregivers in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa, to purchase infant formula for their infants
Objective: The objective of the study was to identify and categorise factors that influence the choice behind the purchase of an infant formula brand by mothers and/or caregivers, and the reasons for their choice.Design: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in the quantitative research domain.Setting: The setting was a pharmacy in Centurion Mall, and large food retail stores in Centurion Mall, Centurion Lifestyle Centre, Lyttleton Centre, Attlyn (Atteridgeville) and the Quagga Centre (Pretoria West) in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa.Subjects and outcome measures: The 200 participants who were selected using purposive sampling completed a point-of-purchase questionnaire.Results: The majority of the participants who purchased infant formula were aged 25-34 years, married, educated, affluent and employed full-time. Influencing factors were advice from others [76% (of which 32% was advice from a paediatrician)], a perceived claim that the infant formula provided a specific health benefit (49.5%), brand loyalty (13.5%), having seen an infant formula being used in hospital (10.5%) and the infant’s taste preference (9%). Half of the participants (51%) purchased infant formula manufactured by one of the largest manufacturers of this product globally.Conclusion: Paediatricians’ recommendations, as well as perceived health claims, were considered to be primary influencing factors with regard to the purchase of infant formula by mothers. Appropriate training should target paediatricians and other healthcare professionals to ensure that they advocate breastfeeding uncompromisingly, and advise mothers and/or caregivers on appropriate indications for infant formula
Service Orientation and the Smart Grid state and trends
The energy market is undergoing major changes, the most notable of which is the transition from a hierarchical closed system toward a more open one highly based on a “smart” information-rich infrastructure. This transition calls for new information and communication technologies infrastructures and standards to support it. In this paper, we review the current state of affairs and the actual technologies with respect to such transition. Additionally, we highlight the contact points between the needs of the future grid and the advantages brought by service-oriented architectures.
Determination of Pericardial Adipose Tissue Increases the Prognostic Accuracy of Coronary Artery Calcification for Future Cardiovascular Events
Objectives: Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) is associated with coronary artery plaque accumulation and the incidence of coronary heart disease. We evaluated the possible incremental prognostic value of PAT for future cardiovascular events. Methods: 145 patients (94 males, age 60 10 years) with stable coronary artery disease underwent coronary artery calcification (CAC) scanning in a multislice CT scanner, and the volume of pericardial fat was measured. Mean observation time was 5.4 years. Results: 34 patients experienced a severe cardiac event. They had a significantly higher CAC score (1,708 +/- 2,269 vs. 538 +/- 1,150, p 400, 3.5 (1.9-5.4; p = 0.007) for scores > 800 and 5.9 (3.7-7.8; p = 0.005) for scores > 1,600. When additionally a PAT volume > 200 cm(3) was determined, there was a significant increase in the event rate and relative risk. We calculated a relative risk of 2.9 (1.9-4.2; p = 0.01) for scores > 400, 4.0 (2.1-5.0; p = 0.006) for scores > 800 and 7.1 (4.1-10.2; p = 0.005) for scores > 1,600. Conclusions:The additional determination of PAT increases the predictive power of CAC for future cardiovascular events. PAT might therefore be used as a further parameter for risk stratification. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base
Compactification on negatively curved manifolds
We show that string/M theory compactifications to maximally symmetric
space-times using manifolds whose scalar curvature is everywhere negative, must
have significant warping, large stringy corrections, or both.Comment: 18 pages, JHEP3.cl
Actinopolyspora algeriensis sp. nov., a novel halophilic actinomycete isolated from a Saharan soil
A halophilic actinomycete strain designated H19T, was isolated from a Saharan soil in the Bamendil region (Ouargla province, South Algeria) and was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. The morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of the
strain were consistent with those of members of the genus
Actinopolyspora, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed that strain H19T was a novel species of the genus
Actinopolyspora. DNA–DNA hybridization value between strain H19T and the nearest Actinopolyspora species, A. halophila, was clearly below the 70 % threshold. The genotypic and phenotypic data showed that the organism represents a novel species of the genus Actinopolyspora for which the name Actinopolyspora algeriensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain H19T (= DSM 45476T = CCUG 62415T)
The survival and function of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells are negatively controlled by SLAMF5
B cells have essential functions in multiple sclerosis and in its mouse model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, both as drivers and suppressors of the disease. The suppressive effects are driven by a regulatory B cell (Breg) population that functions, primarily but not exclusively, via the production of IL-10. However, the mechanisms modulating IL-10-producing Breg abundance are poorly understood. Here we identify SLAMF5 for controlling IL-10+ Breg maintenance and function. In EAE, the deficiency of SLAMF5 in B cells causes accumulation of IL10+ Bregs in the central nervous system and periphery. Blocking SLAMF5 in vitro induces both human and mouse IL-10-producing Breg cells and increases their survival with a concomitant increase of a transcription factor, c-Maf. Finally, in vivo SLAMF5 blocking in EAE elevates IL-10+ Breg levels and ameliorates disease severity. Our results suggest that SLAMF5 is a negative moderator of IL-10+ Breg cells, and may serve as a therapeutic target in MS and other autoimmune diseases
Atomic excitation during recollision-free ultrafast multi-electron tunnel ionization
Modern intense ultrafast pulsed lasers generate an electric field of
sufficient strength to permit tunnel ionization of the valence electrons in
atoms. This process is usually treated as a rapid succession of isolated
events, in which the states of the remaining electrons are neglected. Such
electronic interactions are predicted to be weak, the exception being
recollision excitation and ionization caused by linearly-polarized radiation.
In contrast, it has recently been suggested that intense field ionization may
be accompanied by a two-stage `shake-up' reaction. Here we report a unique
combination of experimental techniques that enables us to accurately measure
the tunnel ionization probability for argon exposed to 50 femtosecond laser
pulses. Most significantly for the current study, this measurement is
independent of the optical focal geometry, equivalent to a homogenous electric
field. Furthermore, circularly-polarized radiation negates recollision. The
present measurements indicate that tunnel ionization results in simultaneous
excitation of one or more remaining electrons through shake-up. From an atomic
physics standpoint, it may be possible to induce ionization from specific
states, and will influence the development of coherent attosecond XUV radiation
sources. Such pulses have vital scientific and economic potential in areas such
as high-resolution imaging of in-vivo cells and nanoscale XUV lithography.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, original format as accepted by Nature Physic
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