Janus-like monocytes regulate postoperative ileus

No abstract available

"Why me, why now?" Using clinical immunology and epidemiology to explain who gets nontuberculous mycobacterial infection

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease is rising. An understanding of known risk factors for disease sheds light on the immunological and physical barriers to infection, and how and why they may be overcome. This review focuses on human NTM infection, supported by experimental and in vitro data of relevance to the practising clinician who seeks to understand why their patient has NTM infection and how to further investigate. DISCUSSION: First, the underlying immune response to NTM disease is examined. Important insights regarding NTM disease susceptibility come from nature's own knockouts, the primary immune deficiency disorders. We summarise the current knowledge surrounding interferon-gamma (IFNγ)-interleukin-12 (IL-12) axis abnormalities, followed by a review of phagocytic defects, T cell lymphopenia and rarer genetic conditions known to predispose to NTM disease. We discuss how these define key immune pathways involved in the host response to NTM. Iatrogenic immunosuppression is also important, and we evaluate the impact of novel biological therapies, as well as bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy for solid organ malignancy, on the epidemiology and presentation of NTM disease, and discuss the host defence dynamics thus revealed. NTM infection and disease in the context of other chronic illnesses including HIV and malnutrition is reviewed. The role of physical barriers to infection is explored. We describe how their compromise through different mechanisms including cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and smoking-related lung disease can result in pulmonary NTM colonisation or infection. We also summarise further associations with host factors including body habitus and age. We use the presented data to develop an over-arching model that describes human host defences against NTM infection, where they may fail, and how this framework can be applied to investigation in routine clinical practice

An analysis of the factors influencing the formation and policies of professional accounting bodies in Scotland, 1850-1900

Several writers on the development of accountancy in the nineteenth century, such as Jones, have stated that the accounting profession developed as a result of the Industrial Revolution. Another claim, which is made by writers such as Stacey, is that it was the increase in company legislation that was responsible for the formation of the profession; in particular he identifies the 1862 Companies Act as being a major factor. However, the first accounting bodies in the UK were formed in Scotland in 1853, well before Stacey's date of 1862, and, although the Industrial Revolution led to an increase in the number of accountants in Scotland, it was not these accountants who formed and joined the early accounting societies.The purpose of this thesis is, first. to identify the factors that were responsible for the formation of the first Scottish accounting bodies and the socialbackground of the early members, and to examine the matters which were of major concern to those bodies during their early years.Since very few secondary sources are available in this area, it was necessary to use primary sources at the Scottish Records Office, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, British Parliamentary Papers and both private and public legislation. This established the background of the new profession. the reasons for the formation of the Scottish chartered societies, and a social analysis of the accountants who were instrumental in forming them.The second stage was to examine their development over their first fifty years by, firstly, analysing the population of the three chartered bodies to identify differences between the three groups and secondly, to study how the work of members changed during this period in response to changing legislation and economic factors. A third matter was to identify issues that were of concern to the societies and a final concern was to establish when Scottish accountancy could claim to be regarded as a profession.The study concludes, firstly, that there can be little doubt of the importance of bankruptcy work to Scottish accountants in the mid-nineteenth century or that the proposed changes in bankruptcy legislation was the most important single factor in the formation of the first Scottish chartered societies. As far as social status is concerned the accountants studied were generally middle class and of a lower status than the older professions. In addition. there were significant differences between the groups in Edinburgh and Glasgow.The issues that are recorded as being of concern to members included protecting their title against competing accounting bodies, protecting the work that they already had and attempting to obtain monopolies in new areas of work which became available. Throughout the period their main professional interest lay in bankruptcy work and they gained new work by their own individual efforts rather than by the efforts of the societies or through legislation requiring that chartered accountants be preferred to others.The influence of Scottish chartered accountancy spread to London and to the colonies throughout the whole period of study, as significant numbers found that their prospects in Scotland were limited. When they did emigrate they undoubtedly contributed to the formation and development of other accounting societies throughout the world. Although it is difficult to establish the exact date. there is no doubt that by the end of the nineteenth century the Scottish chartered accounting societies could justifiably be described as professional bodies

Intraspecific variation in the cochleae of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and its implications for comparative studies across odontocetes

In morphological traits, variation within species is generally considered to be lower than variation among species, although this assumption is rarely tested. This is particularly important in fields like palaeontology, where it is common to use a single individual as representative of a species due to the rarity of fossils. Here, we investigated intraspecific variation in the cochleae of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Interspecific variation of cochlear morphology is well characterised among odontocetes (toothed whales) because of the importance of the structure in echolocation, but generally these studies use only a single cochlea to represent each species. In this study we compare variation within the cochleae of 18 specimens of P. phocoena with variations in cochlear morphology across 51 other odontocete species. Using both 3D landmark and linear measurement data, we performed Generalised Procrustes and principal component analyses to quantify shape variation. We then quantified intraspecific variation in our sample of P. phocoena by estimating disparity and the coefficient of variation for our 3D and linear data respectively. Finally, to determine whether intraspecific variation may confound the results of studies of interspecific variation, we used multivariate and univariate analyses of variance to test whether variation within the specimens of P. phocoena was significantly lower than that across odontocetes. We found low levels of intraspecific variation in the cochleae of P. phocoena, and that cochlear shape within P. phocoena was significantly less variable than across odontocetes. Although future studies should attempt to use multiple cochleae for every species, our results suggest that using just one cochlea for each species should not strongly influence the conclusions of comparative studies if our results are consistent across Cetacea

UMP now known as Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah

KUANTAN, July 30 — After 21 years of its inception, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) is now rebranded as Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), said its vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Yuserrie Zainuddin

High energy photoproton investigations using a counter-controlled cloud chamber

This thesis describes an investigation by the author of the production of high energy photoprotons from oxygen gas by a triggered cloud chamber technique. An experiment in which this technique is applied to the measurement of the polarization of the photoprotons from carbon is also included. When the author started his research in October 1957 he joined Mr J.M. Reid and Mr B. Lalovic in work on the development of a triggered cloud chamber for use with the 300 MeV electron synchrotron at Glasgow University. At that time, although most of the instrumentation and cloud chamber equipment had been constructed, no complete experiment had been attempted and many improvements still had to be made. In December 1957 and again in March 1958 the author assisted Mr Reid and Mr Lalovic in experiments on the photodisintegratior of helium, neon and nitrogen. Although the equipment was capable of yielding results, experiments could only be performed with difficulty. The author therefore spent considerable time on modifications which are described in Chapter II. The experiment on the photodisintegration of oxygen in March 1959 which is described in Chapter III was carried out solely by the author who was also entirely responsible for the scanning of the cloud chamber photographs as well as the analysis and interpretation or the results obtained. The computer programme used for the routine calculations, and given in the Appendix, was written by the author. In April 1960 an experiment to measure the polarization of photoprotons from carbon by scattering the protons in a carbon block inside the chamber was performed. This experiment, described in Chapter IV, which had been suggested by Dr. J.G. Rutherglen, enabled the angle of scatter to be determined very accurately while still achieving a reasonable counting rate. The author built four of the five scintillation counters used in this experiment and was also responsible for the operation of the cloud chamber. The counter electronics were supplied and operated by Dr, J.G. Rutherglen, Mr J.K. Walker and Mr J.M. Paterson. The analysis of the cloud chamber photographs for this experiment was performed entirely by the author and the interpretation of results was shared with Mr Paterson

MCi-Kicker dockage machine wheat, grain sorghum, corn, & soybean

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service periodically issues revisions to its publications. The most current edition is made available. For access to an earlier edition, if available for this title, please contact the Oklahoma State University Library Archives by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-744-6311

Microwaved bacterial cellulose-based hydrogel microparticles for the healing of partial thickness burn wounds

�� 2016, Controlled Release Society. Burn wound management is a complex process because the damage may extend as far as the dermis which has an acknowledged slow rate of regeneration. This study investigates the feasibility of using hydrogel microparticles composed of bacterial cellulose and polyacrylamide as a dressing material for coverage of partial-thickness burn wounds. The microparticulate carrier structure and surface morphology were investigated by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The cytotoxicity profile of the microparticles showed cytocompatibility with L929 cells. Dermal irritation test demonstrated that the hydrogel was non-irritant to the skin and had a significant effect on wound contraction compared to the untreated group. Moreover, histological examination of in vivo burn healing samples revealed that the hydrogel treatment enhanced epithelialization and accelerated fibroblast proliferation with wound repair and intact skin achieved by the end of the study. Both the in vitro and in vivo results proved the biocompatibility and efficacy of hydrogel microparticles as a wound dressing material.Published versio

Manufacturing doubt: assessing the effects of independent vs industry-sponsored messaging about the harms of fossil fuels, smoking, alcohol, and sugar sweetened beverages

Background Manufacturers of harmful products engage in misinformation tactics long employed by the tobacco industry to emphasize uncertainty about scientific evidence and deflect negative attention from their products. This study assessed the effects of one type of tactic, the use of "alternative causation" arguments, on public understanding. Methods In five trials (one for each industry) anonymized Qualtrics panel respondents were randomized to receive a message on the risk in question from one of four industry sponsored organizations (exposure), or from one of four independent organizations (control), on risks related to alcohol, tobacco, fossil fuel and sugar sweetened beverages. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the effect of industry arguments about uncertainty on the primary outcome of public certainty about product risk, adjusting for age, gender and education. The results from all five trials were pooled in a random-effects meta-analysis. Findings In total, n=3284 respondents were exposed to industry-sponsored messaging about product-related risks, compared to n=3297 exposed to non-industry messages. Across all industries, exposure to industry-sponsored messages led to greater reported uncertainty or false certainty about risk, compared to non-industry messages [Summary odds ratio (OR) 1·60, confidence interval (CI) 1·28-1·99]. The effect was greater among those who self-rated as not/slightly knowledgeable (OR 2·24, CI 1·61-3·12), or moderately knowledgeable (OR 1·85, CI 1·38-2·48) compared to those very/extremely knowledgeable (OR 1·28, CI 1·03-1·60). Conclusions This study demonstrates that exposure to industry sponsored messages which appear intended to downplay risk significantly increases uncertainty or false certainty, with the effect being greater in less knowledgeable participants