1,444 research outputs found
The Motive for Indirect Cost Control in Higher Education
Sciences de Gestion, n (65), 2008, 73-78.Colleges and universities throughout the world rely on different
funding models to cover costs. Regardless of the model used, these
institutions are experiencing intense pressure to control costs.
However, controlling indirect costs in traditional not-for-profit
institutions of higher learning is in direct conflict with a more
powerful survival motive. We propose that actions required to attract
and retain students lead to product proliferation in the form of
increased programmatic offerings and to other forms of student
support, which leads to higher costs. Cost containment is not a
realistic priority given the prevailing institutional structures
Human pancreatic cancer cell lines do not express receptors for somatostatin.
The in vivo administration of somatostatin (SS) or its analogues is capable of suppressing the growth of pancreatic cancer in experimental animals. We examined the effects of SS-14 and its analogue RC-160 on the in vitro growth of two human pancreatic cancer cell lines MiaPaCa-2 and Panc-1 stimulated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Neither SS-14 nor RC-160 inhibited the growth of either cell line. In contrast RC-160 did inhibit the EGF-stimulated growth of a rat pancreatic cancer cell line AR42J. Binding studies with 125I-Tyr11 somatostatin revealed the presence of a single class of high affinity binding sites with a Kd of 0.20 +/- 0.05 nM and a Bmax of 2.1 +/- 0.26 pmoles mg-1 protein on AR42J but not displaceable binding was observed on MiaPaCa-2 or Panc-1. We conclude that lack of receptors accounts for the failure of SS-14 and RC-160 to influence the growth of human pancreatic cancer in vitro. These results, taken together with other findings, lead us to question the therapeutic efficacy of somatostatin and its analogues as mono-therapy in the treatment of human pancreatic cancer
Pulsive feedback control for stabilizing unstable periodic orbits in a nonlinear oscillator with a non-symmetric potential
We examine a strange chaotic attractor and its unstable periodic orbits in
case of one degree of freedom nonlinear oscillator with non symmetric
potential. We propose an efficient method of chaos control stabilizing these
orbits by a pulsive feedback technique. Discrete set of pulses enable us to
transfer the system from one periodic state to another.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
Antibiotic resistance of Enterococcus species isolated from raw foods of animal origin in South West part of Slovakia
We determined the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of enterococci isolated from raw foods of animal origin. All samples were positive for enterococci. The lowest count of enterococci was found in pork (2.00 log CFU/cm2), while bryndza cheese contained the highest count (4.99 log CFU/g). Among the 349 Enterococcus isolates, 49% were E. faecalis, 29% E. faecium, and 13% Enterococcus spp. Tetracycline and gentamicin resistance was the most common. We found the highest tetracycline resistance levels (91%) in isolates from poultry samples. The isolates from the poultry samples also displayed multidrug resistance to all antibiotics tested. The most common vancomycin-resistant species in poultry and milk was E. faecalis. In contrast, the pork samples contained vancomycin-resistant E. faecium isolates. It is interesting to note that vancomycin resistance in the pork and poultry samples was found only in combination with either four (28%) or all five (14%) of the tested antibiotics. Our results suggest that raw products of animal origin are possible reservoirs of multi-antibiotic resistant enterococci in the food chain
CD4+ cytolytic effectors are inefficient in the clearance of Listeria monocytogenes
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize and lyse target cells through the interaction of the T-cell receptor complex with the class I or class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The production of class I-restricted CTL has been shown to be critical to the elimination of specific pathogens including . However, the function of class II-restricted CTL in the clearance of intracellular pathogens is poorly understood. H-2β-microglobulin-deficient mice (βM−/−) are not able to produce CD8 CTL in response to infection with . We used this model to evaluate the efficacy of class II-restricted CTL, in the absence of a class I-restricted response, during a primary infection with . We demonstrate that, despite their effectiveness in adoptive transfer of protection, -specific CD4 class II-restricted cytotoxic lymphocytes are ineffective in decreasing titres of in the spleen after an established infection. In βM−/− mice, persistence of in the spleen was found preferentially in class II-negative cells. Surprisingly, class I-restricted CTL from C57BL/6 mice were capable of decreasing bacterial titres during an established infection even in the absence of detectable class I on the surface of cells from βM−/− mice. These data strongly suggest that, in the absence of a class I-restricted response, pathogens that elicit a class II-restricted cytotoxic response may escape prompt eradication by the immune system
A differential method for bounding the ground state energy
For a wide class of Hamiltonians, a novel method to obtain lower and upper
bounds for the lowest energy is presented. Unlike perturbative or variational
techniques, this method does not involve the computation of any integral (a
normalisation factor or a matrix element). It just requires the determination
of the absolute minimum and maximum in the whole configuration space of the
local energy associated with a normalisable trial function (the calculation of
the norm is not needed). After a general introduction, the method is applied to
three non-integrable systems: the asymmetric annular billiard, the many-body
spinless Coulombian problem, the hydrogen atom in a constant and uniform
magnetic field. Being more sensitive than the variational methods to any local
perturbation of the trial function, this method can used to systematically
improve the energy bounds with a local skilled analysis; an algorithm relying
on this method can therefore be constructed and an explicit example for a
one-dimensional problem is given.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Physics
Generation of scalar-tensor gravity effects in equilibrium state boson stars
Boson stars in zero-, one-, and two-node equilibrium states are modeled
numerically within the framework of Scalar-Tensor Gravity. The complex scalar
field is taken to be both massive and self-interacting. Configurations are
formed in the case of a linear gravitational scalar coupling (the Brans-Dicke
case) and a quadratic coupling which has been used previously in a cosmological
context. The coupling parameters and asymptotic value for the gravitational
scalar field are chosen so that the known observational constraints on
Scalar-Tensor Gravity are satisfied. It is found that the constraints are so
restrictive that the field equations of General Relativity and Scalar-Tensor
gravity yield virtually identical solutions. We then use catastrophe theory to
determine the dynamically stable configurations. It is found that the maximum
mass allowed for a stable state in Scalar-Tensor gravity in the present
cosmological era is essentially unchanged from that of General Relativity. We
also construct boson star configurations appropriate to earlier cosmological
eras and find that the maximum mass for stable states is smaller than that
predicted by General Relativity, and the more so for earlier eras. However, our
results also show that if the cosmological era is early enough then only states
with positive binding energy can be constructed.Comment: 20 pages, RevTeX, 11 figures, to appear in Class. Quantum Grav.,
comments added, refs update
High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT): Definition and Research Implications for Improved Fitness
High-intensity functional training (HIFT) is an exercise modality that emphasizes functional,multi-joint movements that can be modified to any fitness level and elicit greater muscle recruitmentthan more traditional exercise. As a relatively new training modality, HIFT is often compared tohigh-intensity interval training (HIIT), yet the two are distinct. HIIT exercise is characterized byrelatively short bursts of repeated vigorous activity, interspersed by periods of rest or low-intensityexercise for recovery, while HIFT utilizes constantly varied functional exercises and various activitydurations that may or may not incorporate rest. Over the last decade, studies evaluating theeffectiveness of HIIT programs have documented improvements in metabolic and cardiorespiratoryadaptations; however, less is known about the effects of HIFT. The purpose of this manuscript is toprovide a working definition of HIFT and review the available literature regarding its use to improvemetabolic and cardiorespiratory adaptations in strength and conditioning programs among variouspopulations. Additionally, we aim to create a definition that is used in future publications to evaluatemore effectively the future impact of this type of training on health and fitness outcomes
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Scoping assessment of radiological doses to aquatic organisms and wildlife -- N Springs. [N Springs]
Estimated does rates were determined for endemic biota inhabiting the N Springs area based primarily on spring water data collected from the first 6 months of 1991. Radiological dose estimates were computed from measured values of specific radionuclides and modeled levels of radionuclides using established computer codes. The highest doses were predicted in hypothetical populations of clams, fish-eating ducks, and rabbits. The calculated dose estimates did not exceed 1 rad/d, an administrative dose rate established by the US Department of Energy for the protection of native aquatic biota. An administrative dose rate has not been established for terrestrial wildlife
Data Quality Objectives Supporting Radiological Air Emissions Monitoring for the PNNL Site
This document of Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) was prepared based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidance on Systematic Planning Using the Data Quality Objectives Process, EPA, QA/G4, 2/2006 (EPA 2006) as well as several other published DQOs. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is in the process of developing a radiological air monitoring program for the PNNL Site that is distinct from that of the nearby Hanford Site. Radiological emissions at the PNNL Site result from Physical Sciences Facility (PSF) major emissions units. A team was established to determine how the PNNL Site would meet federal regulations and address guidelines developed to monitor and estimate offsite air emissions of radioactive materials. The result is a program that monitors the impact to the public from the PNNL Site
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