Viable Group A Streptococci in Macrophages during Acute Soft Tissue Infection

BACKGROUND: Group A streptococcal severe soft tissue infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis, are rapidly progressive infections associated with high mortality. Group A streptococcus is typically considered an extracellular pathogen, but has been shown to reside intracellularly in host cells. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We characterized in vivo interactions between group A streptococci (GAS) and cells involved in innate immune responses, using human biopsies (n = 70) collected from 17 patients with soft tissue infections. Immunostaining and in situ image analysis revealed high amounts of bacteria in the biopsies, even in those collected after prolonged antibiotic therapy. Viability of the streptococci was assessed by use of a bacterial viability stain, which demonstrated viable bacteria in 74% of the biopsies. GAS were present both extracellularly and intracellularly within phagocytic cells, primarily within macrophages. Intracellular GAS were predominantly noted in biopsies from newly involved tissue characterized by lower inflammation and bacterial load, whereas purely extracellular GAS or a combination of intra- and extracellular GAS dominated in severely inflamed tissue. The latter tissue was also associated with a significantly increased amount of the cysteine protease streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin SpeB. In vitro studies confirmed that macrophages serve as reservoirs for viable GAS, and infection with a speB-deletion mutant produced significantly lower frequencies of cells with viable GAS following infection as compared to the wild-type bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate that GAS survive intracellularly in macrophages during acute invasive infections. This intracellular presence may have evolved as a mechanism to avoid antibiotic eradication, which may explain our finding that high bacterial load is present even in tissue collected after prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy. This new insight into the pathogenesis of streptococcal soft tissue infections highlights a need for alternative therapeutic strategies

Survival and differentiation of central noradrenergic neurons

About half of all central noradrenergic (NA) neurons reside in the locus coeruleus (LC). Projections from the LC reach target regions throughout the entire brain and regulate a variety of functions, such as mood, vigilance, arousal, sleep, attention and memory acquisition. The development of LC noradrenergic neurons is severely affected by reductions in the availability of BMPs in vivo, and by the lack of the basic helix-loophelix protein Mash1, or the Phox2a, Phox2b or Rnx homeodomain proteins, as shown in null mutant mice. To produce NA neurons we generated neural stem cell clones with stable overexpression of Mash1 or Phox2b and treated them with combinations of BDNF, NT-4, BMPs and FGF to induce a noradrenergic phenotype, but no TH expression was detected. To characterize the survival requirements of developing LC neurons, we examined the involvement of rhombomere I patterning proteins. FGF8, BMP2, BMP5 and BMP7 were able to increase the number of TH positive LC neurons in E13.5 LC cultures. Of all the Writs expressed in the first rhombomere by E12.5 in mice, Wnt5a was the only one that was expressed in the vicinity of the LC and Wnt5a increased the survival of TH positive neurons in LC cultures. These results suggest that patterning signals of rhombomere I may work as survival factors in the LC at later stages of development. Analysis of GDNF and NT-3 double null mutant mice revealed no LC abnormalities, just as in the individual knockouts. Treatment of E13.5 LC cultures with GDNF, NTN and NT-3 did not affect LC neuron survival, suggesting that these molecules are not essential for embryonic LC development. However, we show, both in vivo and in vitro, that GDNF and NTN are neuritogenic factors for LC noradrenergic neurons. The two neurotrophins NT-4 and BDNF and their preferred receptor, TrkB, were studied for their role in LC development. We conclude that they play critical roles for the survival and phenotypic differentiation of developing LC noradrenergic neurons, possibly by linking the CREB and the Mash1-Phox2 pathways of catecholaminergic phenotype induction. TrkB is expressed in the developing mouse LC and TrkB knockout mice suffer deficient LC development. BDNF and NT-4 dramatically increase the number of TH and Phox2a immunoreactive neurons in E 13.5 rat LC primary cultures. Examination of more mature LC neurons (E15) treated with BMP2 and/or forskolin suggested that stimulation of these cells by BMPs and cAMP plays an important role in conferring NA neurons responsiveness to several trophic factors

The effect of SMMA on Purchase Intention through the mediator Brand Image : A quantitative study in the Swedish electronic industry

Background: Due to the digital era and a constant increase in social media usage, new ways to interact with customers can be done through adopting Social Media Marketing Activities (SMMA). The concept SMMA is constituted by the five dimensions ‘Entertainment’, ‘Interaction’, ‘Trendiness’, ‘Customization’ and ‘Word-of-mouth’. By reviewing recent research, indications that SMMA has a relationship with other items in the form of Brand Image and Purchase intention becomes clear. Therefore, the authors attempt to examine this relationship even further in order to contribute to the already established scientific body. Furthermore, previous research declared a gap in terms of context which this study aimed to fulfill.  Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how Social Media Marketing Activities affect consumer purchase intention through brand image as the mediator. The authors aimed to contribute to already existing research and propose implications, especially of the electronic industry context which can be further examined in the future.  Methodology: The study was of quantitative nature with a deductive approach which enabled the authors to deduce and create four hypotheses from the basis of existing literature. The research design of the thesis was cross-sectional where the authors created an online questionnaire in order to gather primary data. The sample was gathered through a non-probability sampling technique called convenience sampling which gathered 141 responses.  Findings: Of the four hypotheses stated, all of them were accepted. Therefore, the authors of this paper could argue for the findings that SMMA was shown to have a significant impact on brand image. Secondly, brand image was evident to have a significant impact on purchase intention. Thirdly, brand image was shown to mediate the relation between SMMA and purchase intention. Lastly, SMMA also showed a significant impact on purchase intention. Another finding was that none of the control variables (gender, frequency of online purchase) was shown to have a significant impact on the results.  Conclusion: The authors of this paper concludes that SMMA affects consumer purchase intention through brand image as a mediator within the context of the Swedish electronic industry

Why CSR is a win-win concept : An explanatory study of the impact of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) on the attractiveness towards an employer

Background: ​The concept of CSR has become a more discussed topic in relation to employer attractiveness in recent years. Recent research pointed in the direction of CSR to be a vital tool to be utilised in order for employers to enhance their employer attractiveness. By implementing CSR within an organisations agenda, will initially increase the number of job applicants. However, employer attractiveness in relation to CSR was still treated as a generic term, and not divided into specific values. Therefore, the authors divided​ ​the values within employer attractiveness (Interest, Social, Economic, Development and Application Value) and investigated which of the five values within employer attractiveness that were positively impacted by CSR. Purpose: ​The purpose of this paper was to explain how CSR impact employer attractiveness. Methodology: ​This thesis had a quantitative research method based on previous studies, hence, a deductive approach. The purpose was of an explanatory nature and the authors utilized a cross-sectional research design. The authors created an online survey that gathered 280 responses through the use of non-probability sampling in the form of a convenience sample. Findings: ​In this study, four out of the five hypotheses were accepted meaning that CSR positively impacts employer attractiveness. Furthermore, the authors cross-checked the independent and dependent variables together with control questions such as gender, age and occupation. Resulting in gender, age and occupation not having a significant impact on the result. Conclusion: ​The authors conclude that CSR positively impacts employer attractiveness through the measured values of Interest, Social, Development and Application Value. The authors could not conclude that CSR had a positive impact on Economic Value meaning that the hypothesis (H3) was rejected

WHY DO SOME MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS RELOCATE THEIR HEADQUARTERS OVERSEAS?

This paper examines the decision by a multinational corporation (MNC) to relocate itsbusiness unit and/or corporate HQ overseas. We argue that business unit HQs move overseasin response to changes in the internal configuration of their unit’s activities and the demandsof the product markets in which they operate, whereas corporate HQs move overseas isresponse to the demands of external stakeholders, in particular global financial markets andshareholders. Using data on 125 business unit HQs and 35 corporate HQs, we test and findsupport for these arguments. The research highlights important differences betweencorporate- and business-level strategy, and it suggests ways in which the theory of the MNCneeds to be reconsidered.QC 20120208</p

Gender Equality and Gender Role Stereotypes in Media in Baltic Countries (1991–2009)

Dzimumu līdztiesība ir demokrātiskas sabiedrības pamatprincips, tā ir situācija, kad vīriešu un sieviešu loma sabiedrības attīstībā tiek atzīta par līdzvērtīgu, viņiem tiek piešķirtas vienādas tiesības un atbildība, nodrošināta vienāda pieeja resursiem un to izmantošanas iespējas. Maģistra darbs „Dzimumu līdztiesība un dzimumu lomu stereotipi medijos Baltijas valstīs (1991-2009)” aplūko de jure un de facto dzimumu līdztiesību Latvijā un Lietuvā, analizējot būtiskākās atšķirības starp formālo, valsts likumdošanā garantēto, un reālo, ikdienas līdztiesību, kā arī, pielietojot kontenta analīzi, izvērtē medijos pozicionētās dzimumu stereotipiskās lomas. Darba gaitā tiek secināts, lai gan likuma normu esamība garantē sievietēm un vīriešiem vienādas tiesības, tās netiek pilnībā pielietotas, tādējādi kavējot de facto līdztiesību ekonomikā, politikā un citās dzīves sfērās. Turklāt dzimumu stereotipi ir viens no būtiskākajiem šķēršļiem ceļā uz abu dzimumu vienādu iespēju realizēšanu. Atslēgas vārdi: dzimumu līdztiesība, dzimtes stereotipi, mediji, Latvija, LietuvaGender equality is a fundamental feature of a democratic society, it exists when both men and women are afforded equal social value, rights and responsibilities, as well as given equal access to resources and opportunities in all spheres of public and private life. The aim of the Master Thesis is to analyze de jure and de facto gender equality in Latvia and Lithuania. In general, the work explores major disparities between legal and practical gender equality and analyzes media portrayed gender role stereotypes. The Thesis explains theoretical concepts of gender, gender stereotypical role socialization, the role of the media in providing gender related stereotypes, analyzes de jure gender equality - legal basis, responsible institutional framework, gender related development and main gender inequality problem domains as well as applying content analysis examines de facto gender equality, gender role stereotypes in Lithuanian and Latvian media. With this Thesis the author discovers that disparities between de jure and de facto gender equality are visible in Latvia and Lithuania and gender related stereotypes are a major obstacle in achieving de facto gender equality. Keywords: gender equality, gender stereotypes, media, Latvia, Lithuani

WHY DO SOME MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS RELOCATE THEIR HEADQUARTERS OVERSEAS?

This paper examines the decision by a multinational corporation (MNC) to relocate its business unit and/or corporate HQ overseas. We argue that business unit HQs move overseas in response to changes in the internal configuration of their unit’s activities and the demands of the product markets in which they operate, whereas corporate HQs move overseas is response to the demands of external stakeholders, in particular global financial markets and shareholders. Using data on 125 business unit HQs and 35 corporate HQs, we test and find support for these arguments. The research highlights important differences between corporate- and business-level strategy, and it suggests ways in which the theory of the MNC needs to be reconsidered.Multinational Corporation; Headquarters; Corporate Strategy; Internationalization

Loss- and gain-of-function analyses reveal targets of Pax6 in the developing mouse telencephalon.

Appropriate neurogenesis and patterning of the forebrain requires the transcription factor Pax6, yet it is largely unknown how Pax6 exerts its effects at the molecular level. To characterize Pax6-mediated regulation of gene expression during murine forebrain neurogenesis, we performed microarray analysis with tissue from the dorsal Pax6-dependent telencephalon and the ventral Pax6-negative telencephalon at the onset of neurogenesis (E12) and at mid-neurogenesis (E15) in wild-type and Pax6-deficient mutant littermates. In the Pax6-deficient cortex the expression levels of various transcription factors involved in neurogenesis (like Satb2, Nfia, AP-2 gamma, NeuroD6, Ngn2, Tbr2, Bhlhb5) and the retinoic acid signalling molecule Rlbp1 were reduced. Regulation by Pax6 could be confirmed upon electroporation of a Pax6- and a dominant-negative Pax6-containing vector into embryonic cortex. Taken together, our data reveal novel insights into the molecular pathways regulated by Pax6 during cortical neurogenesis. Most intriguingly, this analysis revealed time- and region-specific differences in Pax6-mediated transcription, explaining the specific function of Pax6 at early and later stages of neurogenesis. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved