208 research outputs found
To Leave or to Stay: Faculty Mobility in the Middle East
Existing research on faculty mobility generally investigates the issue in the context of Western postsecondary institutions. This study adds to the body of knowledge through studying higher education faculty in six Middle Eastern countries. Participants of the study were higher education faculty members in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Out of 600 faculty members initially invited, 139 completed the electronic survey, whichwas administered in the 2017–2018 academic year. The findings show that factors both internal and external to an institution contributed to a faculty member’s decision to stay or leave. It also shows that gender and experience in the GCC Universities had no significant effect on faculty members’ intentions to leave or to stay
Comparative Analysis of Nuclear Transfer Embryo Derived Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Part I: Cellular characterization
Embryonic stem cells derived from nuclear transfer embryos (ntESCs) are particularly valuable for regenerative medicine, as they are a patient-specific and histocompatible cell source for the treatment of varying diseases.
However, currently, little is known about their cellular and molecular profile. In the present study, in a mouse model different donor cell-derived ntESCs from various genetic backgrounds were compared with reference
ESCs and analyzed comprehensively at the cellular level. A number of pluripotency marker genes were compared
by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry analysis. Significant differences at the protein level were
observed for POU5F1, SOX2, FGF4, NANOG, and SSEA-1. However, such differences had no effect on in vitro
cell differentiation and cell fate: derivatives of the three germ layers were detected in all ntESC lines. The neural
and cardiac in vitro differentiation revealed minor differences between the cell lines, both at the mRNA and
protein level. Karyotype analyses and cell growth studies did not reveal any significant variations. Despite some
differences observed, the present study revealed that ntESC lines had similar differentiation competences
compared to other ESCs. The results indicate that the observed differences may be related to the genotype rather
than to the nuclear transfer technology
The Impact of School-Connected Behavioral and Emotional Health Interventions on Student Academic Performance
This annotated bibliography provides a systematic review of current literature published between 2001 and 2013 and summarizes findings on the relationship between prevention-focused behavioral health interventions, such as social and emotional (SEL) learning programs, and their impact on academic outcomes
Diagnosis and treatment evolution of the impacted canines
Rezumat.
Introducere: Scopul acestei lucrări este de a determina poziţia cât mai
precisă a dintelui inclus și a gradului său de mobilitate pentru alinierea lui
pe arcada dentară cu un minim impact asupra dintelui tracţionat și a dinţilor
adiacenţi.
Materiale și metode: Acest studiu s-a bazat pe examinarea pacienţilor
cu malocluzii, asociate cu incluzii dentare. A fost selectat un lot de 35 de
pacienţi cu malocluzii, dintre care 22 de pacienţi cu incluzie de canin. Din
acești pacienţi, 15 prezintă incluzia unui singur canin; 4 -prezintă incluzia
a 2 canini și 2 — incluzii multiple asociate cu hipodonţie. Din numărul de
pacienţi cu un singur canin inclus, 40 % prezintă incluzia dintelui 13, 47 %
prezintă incluzia dintelui 23 și 13% prezintă incluzia dintelui 33. Toţi pacienţi
au fost supuși unui examen clinic și paraclinic complex urmat de tratament,
în perioada anilor 2013—2016. Pe parcursul intervenţiilor chirgicale
s-au înregistrat indici importanţi de mobilitate a dintelui inclus cu ajutorul
periotestului. Acești indici ne-au ajutat să alegem cea mai corectă metodă
de tracţiune a dintelui pe arcada dentară și să stabilim forţa de tracţiune
necesară care trebuie aplicată pentru a evita suprasolicitarea structurilor
adiacente și a obţine rezultatul dorit.
Rezultate: În baza protocolului de tratament și metodelor paraclinice
de rX-imagistică a fost stabilită metoda de ancorare a dintelui fie prin implanuri
ortodontice, a arcurilor NITI sau a arcurilor Kilroy și s-a obţinut
deplasarea dintelui spre arcada dentară. Pentru deplasarea caninului inclus
și alinierea dinţilor pe arcada dentară, pacienţilor li s-au aplicat aparatele
ortodontice fixe. Putem afirma că in majoritatea cazurilor, dinţii incluși pot
fi aliniaţi pe arcadă prin diagnosticarea timpurie a unghiului de înclinaţie
a axului longitudinal și prin aplicarea tratamentului ortodontic-chirurgical,
ceea ce ne permite restabilirea funcţiei și a echilibrului ocluzal.
Concluzii: Cu ajutorul metodelor paraclinice și în special a periotestului,
am reușit să obţinem informaţii despre gradul de mobilitate a dintelui
și ce forţă trebuie să aplicăm asupra lui pentru a-l readuce în cavitatea bucală
și a-l alinia pe arcada dentară. În urma acestui studiu, am demonstrat
importanţa metodelor paraclinice de diagnostic a dintelui inclus punând
accent pe metoda periotestul, ea fiind una suficient de obiectivă pentru
tracţiunea caninului.Summary. Introduction: Research purpose is to determine the most accurate position
of the impacted tooth for obtaining a good alignment of the teeth in
the dental arcade with less impact on canines and adjacent teeth at the end
of treatment.
Material and methods: This study was based on the examination of the
patients with malocclusions, associated with dental impaction. It was selected
a group of 35 orthodontic patients, from which 22 were patients with
canine impactions. From these 15 -had just one impacted canine; 4 had two
impacted canines and just 2 had multiple impactions associated with hypodontia.
From patients that had just one impacted canine 40 % had 13 tooth
impacted; 47% had 23 tooth impacted and 13% had 33 tooth impacted.
All patients passed a complex clinical and preclinical examination followed by treatment. During the surgical treatment,
were registered important indexes of impacted
tooth mobility with the help of periotest. These
indexes have priority in choosing the most
correct way for tooth’s traction on dental arch
and for establishing the necessary force that
must be applied, as not to damage the adjacent
structures and to obtain the desired result.
Discussion results: Based on treatment
protocol and preclinical methods as X-rays
we have selected the type of anchorage of the
tooth either with the help of orthodontic implants,
NITI arches or Kilroy arches for shifting
the tooth to the dental arch. For moving,
straightening and placing the tooth on dental
arcade, patients have had to wear fixed orthodontic
appliances. We can surely say that in
majority of cases, impacted teeth can be aligned
on arch by having an early diagnosis of the
inclination angle of the longitudinal axis of the
tooth and by having a mixed treatment both
surgical and orthodontic. This options will
establish a good functional situation and an
ocluzal equilibrium.
Conclusions: With the help of preclinical
methods of examination and especially with
the help of periotest, we managed to obtain
sufficient information about the mobility degree
of the tooth and to decide what type of
force must we apply to the impacted tooth as
to bring and align it in dental arcade. In this
study I was trying to prove the importance of
preclinical diagnosis of impacted tooth, making
a significant accent on periotest method,
this one being very objective for tooth traction
Antecedents and outcomes of consumer environmentally friendly attitudes and behaviour
With the intensification of problems relating to the environment, a growing number of consumers are becoming more ecologically conscious in their preferences and purchases of goods. This paper presents the results of a study conducted among 500 Cypriot consumers, focusing on the factors that shape consumer environmental attitudes and behaviour, as well as on the resulting outcomes. The findings confirmed that both the inward and outward environmental attitudes of a consumer are positively influenced by his/her degree of collectivism, long-term orientation, political involvement, deontology, and law obedience, but have no connection with liberalism. The adoption of an inward environmental attitude was also found to be conducive to green purchasing behaviour that ultimately leads to high product satisfaction. On the other hand, an outward environmental attitude facilitates the adoption of a general environmental behaviour, which is responsible for greater satisfaction with life. The findings of the study have important implications for shaping effective company offerings to consumers in target markets, as well as formulating appropriate policies at the governmental level to enhance environmental sensitivity among citizens
Support through patient internet-communities: Lived experience of Russian in vitro fertilization patients
The article is concerned with the life experiences of infertile women going through infertility treatment and their need for social and psychological support, which they try to find in their immediate social environment. The Internet has become one place where everyone can find “people like oneself.” The best support is received from these people who are in the same life situation and are able and willing to share their lived experiences with each other. Communication via the Internet and the formation of a virtual community of patients has both positive and negative aspects, all of which are examined in the article. On the one hand, it creates a psychologically favorable atmosphere and might potentially increase the success rate of IVF treatment. On the other, this leads to the seclusion of patients within the circle of “similar people” and sometimes to negative attitudes towards people outside the circle. The article is based on the author's “netnography” research of a virtual community of Russian In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)1 patients
Supporting an Innovation Agenda for the Western Balkans - Tools and Methodologies
The Western Balkan region has significantly improved in terms of innovation performance in the
last ten years. However, in catching up with other European regions, the focus of innovation efforts
should be enhanced. Exports are still far more focused on medium- and low-technology products.
Innovative efforts mostly accommodate traditionally strong sectors, which do not necessarily reflect
the ideal competitiveness paths for economies in the region. Although some Western Balkan
economies record increases in patent activity, patent intensity in the region is still low, while, on the
other hand, scientific publication production displays a stable growth trend.
While Western Balkan economies are at different stages in the formation of research and innovation
(R&I) policy governance systems, national research and innovation policy frameworks are
continuously being improved. The enhancement of governance in the area of R&I came as the
result of increased capacity building activities in the region, as well as of the real needs emerging
as a result of social and economic transformation. On the other hand, R&I systems in the Western
Balkan economies need to continue shifting their focus towards businesses to provide better balance
between public and private sector orientation.
The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission is committed to supporting the shift in
innovation policies and improvement of R&I efforts and governance in the Western Balkan economies
through a number of tools and activities, allowing policy instruments to be matched with
the specific needs of the economy. This approach seeks efficient governance mechanisms for R&I
policy by reaching out to the business sector and other important actors of the innovation ecosystem.
It determines sustainable development directions for economies and ensures the continuity
of policy monitoring and evaluation cycles. This ambitious challenge is translated into four specific
lines of activity: (i) the application of the smart specialisation methodology to design and implement
innovation strategies; (ii) capacity-building activities for technology transfer, in particular
through specialised workshops, tools and instruments specifically designed to assist the academic
institutions in the regional economies; (iii) support to transnational collaboration and linkages in the
context of EU macro-regional strategies; and (iv) data quality enhancement.
The analysis of the development potential of the Western Balkan region in terms of economic,
innovative and scientific capabilities in this report is supported with the good practices addressing
specific challenges in the region.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen
A synthetic biological quantum optical system
In strong plasmon–exciton coupling, a surface plasmon mode is coupled to an array of localized emitters to yield new hybrid light–matter states (plexcitons), whose properties may in principle be controlled via modification of the arrangement of emitters. We show that plasmon modes are strongly coupled to synthetic light-harvesting maquette proteins, and that the coupling can be controlled via alteration of the protein structure. For maquettes with a single chlorin binding site, the exciton energy (2.06 ± 0.07 eV) is close to the expected energy of the Qy transition. However, for maquettes containing two chlorin binding sites that are collinear in the field direction, an exciton energy of 2.20 ± 0.01 eV is obtained, intermediate between the energies of the Qx and Qy transitions of the chlorin. This observation is attributed to strong coupling of the LSPR to an H-dimer state not observed under weak coupling
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