When Service Ecosystems Collapse: Understanding the Demise of the UK Green Deal

The concept of the service ecosystem is increasingly being drawn upon to explain the drivers, occurrences and consequences of socio-economic actors’ service exchanges towards value creation. Existing research has proposed how service ecosystems may successfully transform, but no work to our knowledge has examined how transformations may fail. To address this gap, this paper examines how a service ecosystem fails to transform and survive by developing a conceptual framework based on the concept of entropy from systems theory. A series of propositions are formulated, linking inadequate management of entropy to a service ecosystem’s subsequent state of disorder and collapse. The conceptual framework is illustrated through a unique case: the introduction and demise of the Green Deal in the UK. We propose that entropy is intrinsically embedded in systems’ trajectories and can be understood as the tendency towards loss of value co-creation. The viability of a service ecosystem depends on its capacity to reduce entropy, which requires continuous action to import resources from the environment, achieve heteropathic resource integration and/or re-institutionalise. Where systemic actors and networks of actors within the system fail to manage increasing entropy, resources from the system are dissipated back to the environment and institutional arrangements collapse

Types of poisoning in a tertiary care hospital in center of Iran (2014 to 2017)

The global problem of acute poisoning has steadily increased over the past decade. It is an importantcause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Better preventive and management strategiescan be developed if the incidence and pattern of acute poisoning is known. The study aims at analyzingthe pattern, cause and mortality rate of poisoning.The study was conducted in aurban and rural area in the center of Iran. This retrospective study was conducted fromJanuary 2014-March 2017. The data was analysed using descriptive and analytical statistics.:Out of the 1329 cases 754 were males and 575 females. Poisoning was common in the age group of 21-30 years. The poisons consumed were as follows:63.8 were suicides, 17.8 accidental and 18.4 had a variety of different reasons. Mortality rate was 6.5.The results of the study showed that the highest rate of poisoning in the young age group was due to suicidal ideation. Accurate training for youth and counseling is of particular importance.Establishment of strict policies against the sale and availability of pesticides and over the counter drugs is an effective way to control drug poisoning. © 2019, Advanced Scientific Research. All rights reserved

NOUVELLE APPROCHE DE LA METHODE DES VOLUMES FINIS ‘MVF’ DEDIEE A LA RESOLUTION DES PROBLEMES ELECTROMAGNETIQUES 3D

Nous proposons dans le cadre de ce travail une nouvelle approche de la méthode des volumes finis dédié principalement à lamodélisation tridimensionnelle des phénomènes électromagnétiques au sein des dispositifs électrotechniques. Le maillageadopté est un maillage non-structuré qui requiert un mailleur indépendant, spécifique, parfaitement adapté à l’algorithmenumérique. Son rôle est de partitionner l’application étudiée en cellules élémentaires de forme aussi variée que des trianglesdans le cas bidimensionnel et tétraèdres voir prismatique dans le cas tridimensionnel. Cette approche est avantageuse comparéeaux approches présentées dans des travaux précédents par le faite quelle s’adapte parfaitement à la modélisationtridimensionnelle des problèmes électromagnétiques dans des dispositifs ayants des géométries complexe d’une part, d’autrepart, elle peut résoudre des problèmes électromagnétiques où les matériaux magnétiques sont utilisés dans la conception desdispositifs étudiés, contrairement à celles déjà présenté précédemment, où seulement on peut traiter les problèmes ayant desdispositifs conçut à partir des matériaux amagnétiques [1] voir diamagnétiques [2] comme par exemple les matériauxsupraconducteurs à haute température critique. L’ensemble des modèles mathématiques et numériques est implémenté dans uncode de calcul tridimensionnel sous environnement Matlab. La validité du travail présenté est atteinte par la comparaison desrésultats obtenus avec des résultats expérimentaux trouvés dans la littérature [3]

Sputum macrophage diversity and activation in asthma: role of severity and inflammatory phenotype

BACKGROUND:Macrophages control innate and acquired immunity, but their role in severe asthma remains ill-defined. We investigated gene signatures of macrophage subtypes in the sputum of 104 asthmatics and 16 healthy volunteers from the U-BIOPRED cohort. METHODS:Forty-nine gene signatures (modules) for differentially stimulated macrophages, one to assess lung tissue-resident cells (TR-Mφ) and two for their polarization (classically and alternatively activated macrophages: M1 and M2, respectively) were studied using gene set variation analysis. We calculated enrichment scores (ES) across severity and previously identified asthma transcriptome-associated clusters (TACs). RESULTS:Macrophage numbers were significantly decreased in severe asthma compared to mild-moderate asthma and healthy volunteers. The ES for most modules were also significantly reduced in severe asthma except for 3 associated with inflammatory responses driven by TNF and Toll-like receptors via NF-κB, eicosanoid biosynthesis via the lipoxygenase pathway and IL-2 biosynthesis (all P < .01). Sputum macrophage number and the ES for most macrophage signatures were higher in the TAC3 group compared to TAC1 and TAC2 asthmatics. However, a high enrichment was found in TAC1 for 3 modules showing inflammatory pathways linked to Toll-like and TNF receptor activation and arachidonic acid metabolism (P < .001) and in TAC2 for the inflammasome and interferon signalling pathways (P < .001). Data were validated in the ADEPT cohort. Module analysis provides additional information compared to conventional M1 and M2 classification. TR-Mφ were enriched in TAC3 and associated with mitochondrial function. CONCLUSIONS:Macrophage activation is attenuated in severe granulocytic asthma highlighting defective innate immunity except for specific subsets characterized by distinct inflammatory pathways

Assessment of acute and sub-acute toxicity of olive pomace in female Wistar rats

Objective: Olive Pomace (OP) is considered to be a rich source of phenolic compounds. Recently many researches showed a broad biological activity of this by-product of the olive oil production process in addition to their emergence as value-added materials with potential applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and nutraceutical industries. The present study is aimed to evaluate in vivo toxicological activities of OP. Materials and Methods: The qualitative phytochemical analysis aims to determine the key phytoconstituents found in OP. For the in vivo study, two types of tests are performed: acute and 28-day repeated oral toxicity studies in Wistar rats for evaluation of hematological, biochemical, and histological parameters. Results: The qualitative phytochemical analysis has revealed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, quinones, anthraquinones, terpenoids, and compounds reduced in our methanol extract of OP. In acute oral toxicity, no treatment-related death or toxic signs are observed in female rats for 14 days in 200, 2000, 3000, and 5000 mg/kg doses, besides LD50 value is found to be up to 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. As for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. 28-days sub-acute toxicity study is carried in female rats at four dose levels (3.12, 31.25, 125 and 500 mg/kg), no changes in observation related death and toxic signs when compared with control. The hematological and biochemical investigation shows a significant change (p>0.05) in the high-level doses (500 mg/kg). Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, OP extract has the potential to be used to generate new anti-cancer and antioxidant additives for pharmaceutical and food manufacturing. Long-term in vivo toxicological tests should also be conducted to determine a safe dosage of OP extract

Performance, kinetic, and biodegradation pathway evaluation of anaerobic fixed film fixed bed reactor in removing phthalic acid esters from wastewater

Emerging and hazardous environmental pollutants like phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are one of the recent concerns worldwide. PAEs are considered to have diverse endocrine disrupting effects on human health. Industrial wastewater has been reported as an important environment with high concentrations of PAEs. In the present study, four short-chain PAEs including diallyl phthalate (DAP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), and phthalic acid (PA) were selected as a substrate for anaerobic fixed film fixed bed reactor (AnFFFBR). The process performances of AnFFFBR, and also its kinetic behavior, were evaluated to find the best eco-friendly phthalate from the biodegradability point of view. According to the results and kinetic coefficients, removing and mineralizing of DMP occurred at a higher rate than other phthalates. In optimum conditions 92.5, 84.41, and 80.39% of DMP, COD, and TOC were removed. DAP was found as the most bio-refractory phthalate. The second-order (Grau) model was selected as the best model for describing phthalates removal

A conventional multiplex PCR for the detection of four common soil-transmitted nematodes in human feces : development and validation

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, mainly caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworms, are among the most common intestinal parasites that infect humans. The infections are widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical countries, including Malaysia, particularly in underprivileged communities. Microscopic and culture techniques have been used as a gold standard for diagnostic techniques. However, these methods yield low sensitivity and specificity, laborious and time-consuming. Therefore, simple, rapid, and accurate alternative methods are needed for the simultaneous detection of STH infections. Although advanced technologies such as real-time multiplex PCR have been established, the use of this technique as a routine diagnostic is limited due to the high cost of the instrument. Therefore, a single-round multiplex conventional PCR assay for rapid detection of four STH species in the fecal sample was developed in this study. To perform the single-round multiplex PCR, each pair of species-specific primers was selected from target genes, including Ancylostoma duodenale (Internal Transcribed Spacer 2; accession No. AJ001594; 156 base pair), Necator americanus (ITS 2; accession No. AJ001599; 225 base pair), Ascaris lumbricoides (Internal Transcribed Spacer 1; accession No. AJ000895; 334 base pair) and Trichuris triciura (partial ITS 1, 5.8s rRNA and partial ITS 2; accession No. AM992981; 518 base pair). The results showed that the newly designed primers could detect the DNA of STH at low concentrations (0.001 ng/μl) with no cross-amplification with other species. This assay enables the differentiation of single infections as well as mixed infections. It could be used as an alternative and is a convenient method for the detection of STHs, especially for the differentiation of N. americanus and A. duodenale

HtrA1 Mediated Intracellular Effects on Tubulin Using a Polarized RPE Disease Model

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss. The protein HtrA1 is enriched in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells isolated from AMD patients and in drusen deposits. However, it is poorly understood how increased levels of HtrA1 affect the physiological function of the RPE at the intracellular level. Here, we developed hfRPE (human fetal retinal pigment epithelial) cell culture model where cells fully differentiated into a polarized functional monolayer. In this model, we fine-tuned the cellular levels of HtrA1 by targeted overexpression. Our data show that HtrA1 enzymatic activity leads to intracellular degradation of tubulin with a corresponding reduction in the number of microtubules, and consequently to an altered mechanical cell phenotype. HtrA1 overexpression further leads to impaired apical processes and decreased phagocytosis, an essential function for photoreceptor survival. These cellular alterations correlate with the AMD phenotype and thus highlight HtrA1 as an intracellular target for therapeutic interventions towards AMD treatment