Calcium-activated chloride currents in olfactory sensory neurons from mice lacking bestrophin-2

none8noOlfactory sensory neurons use a chloride-based signal amplification mechanism to detect odorants. The binding of odorants to receptors in the cilia of olfactory sensory neurons activates a transduction cascade that involves the opening of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels and the entry of Ca2+ into the cilia. Ca2+ activates a Cl- current that produces an efflux of Cl- ions and amplifies the depolarization. The molecular identity of Ca2+-activated Cl- channels is still elusive, although some bestrophins have been shown to function as Ca2+ -activated Cl- channels when expressed in heterologous systems. In the olfactory epithelium, bestrophin-2 (Best2) has been indicated as a candidate for being a molecular component of the olfactory Ca2+-activated Cl- channel. In this study, we have analysed mice lacking Best2. We compared the electrophysiological responses of the olfactory epithelium to odorant stimulation, as well as the properties of Ca2+-activated Cl- currents in wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice for Best2. Our results confirm that Best2 is expressed in the cilia of olfactory sensory neurons, while odorant responses and Ca2+ -activated Cl- currents were not significantly different between WT and KO mice. Thus, Best2 does not appear to be the main molecular component of the olfactory channel. Further studies are required to determine the function of Best2 in the cilia of olfactory sensory neurons. © 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 The Physiological Society.openPifferi S.; Dibattista M.; Sagheddu C.; Boccaccio A.; Al Qteishat A.; Ghirardi F.; Tirindelli R.; Menini A.Pifferi, S.; Dibattista, M.; Sagheddu, C.; Boccaccio, A.; Al Qteishat, A.; Ghirardi, F.; Tirindelli, R.; Menini, A

The “Is mpMRI Enough” or IMRIE Study: A Multicentre Evaluation of Prebiopsy Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Compared with Biopsy

Background: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is now recommended prebiopsy in numerous healthcare regions based on the findings of high-quality studies from expert centres. Concern remains about reproducibility of mpMRI to rule out clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in real-world settings. / Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of mpMRI for csPCa in a real-world setting. / Design, setting, and participants: A multicentre, retrospective cohort study, including men referred with raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or an abnormal digital rectal examination who had undergone mpMRI followed by transrectal or transperineal biopsy, was conducted. Patients could be biopsy naïve or have had previous negative biopsies. / Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The primary definition for csPCa was International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group (GG) ≥2 (any Gleason ≥7); the accuracy for other definitions was also evaluated. / Results and limitations: Across ten sites, 2642 men were included (January 2011–November 2018). Mean age and PSA were 65.3 yr (standard deviation [SD] 7.8 yr) and 7.5 ng/ml (SD 3.3 ng/ml), respectively. Of the patients, 35.9% had “negative MRI” (scores 1–2); 51.9% underwent transrectal biopsy and 48.1% had transperineal biopsy, with 43.4% diagnosed with csPCa overall. The sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) for ISUP GG ≥ 2 were 87.3% and 87.5%, respectively. The NPVs were 87.4% and 88.1% for men undergoing transrectal and transperineal biopsy, respectively. Specificity and positive predictive value of MRI were 49.8% and 49.2%, respectively. The sensitivity and NPV increased to 96.6% and 90.6%, respectively, when a PSA density threshold of 0.15 ng/ml/ml was used in MRI scores 1–2; these metrics increased to 97.5% and 91.2%, respectively, for PSA density 0.12 ng/ml/ml. ISUP GG ≥ 3 (Gleason ≥4 + 3) was found in 2.4% (15/617) of men with MRI scores 1–2. They key limitations of this study are the heterogeneity and retrospective nature of the data. / Conclusions: Multiparametric MRI when used in real-world settings is able to rule out csPCa accurately, suggesting that about one-third of men might avoid an immediate biopsy. Men should be counselled about the risk of missing some significant cancers. / Patient summary: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool for ruling out prostate cancer, especially when combined with prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD). Previous results published from specialist centres can be reproduced at smaller institutions. However, patients and their clinicians must be aware that an early diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer could be missed in nearly 10% of patients by relying on MRI and PSAD alone

THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN INFLUENCING THE POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST: A COMPARATIVE EXAMINATION OF THE RUSSIAN AND TURKISH HIGHER EDUCATION MODELS

Higher education has seen an unprecedented global development which led to its increased political, economic and cultural role. As knowledge and the capacity to apply it in practice become the strategic resources in contemporary time. Today, the role of higher education is increasingly growing in the foreign policy of countries as a tool for soft power. Developing the country's soft power and a positive image abroad by working with foreign publics is now key to creating an enabling environment for its foreign policy strategies and international standing in general. This article discusses the impact of higher education as a soft power on foreign policy the case study of Russia and Turkey in the Middle East and North Africa. The concepts of soft power and public diplomacy have become the catchwords among Turkish and Russian foreign policy. Over the past twenty years, Russia's and Turkey's vision and understanding of soft power have developed. Starting by focusing on an image-heavy perspective of Russia's and Turkey's soft power tools development, one of the spheres in Russia and Turkey with a strong public diplomacy potential in terms of promoting direct and long-term people-to-people contacts is higher education. Russia and Turkey have a long history of higher education cooperation with foreign countries particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Positioning Russian higher education system as one of its soft power tools is not only an efficient way of boosting the country's attractiveness and global competitiveness, it is equally a key means of developing its most resource. Higher education is one of the soft power tools of Turkish foreign policy and to enhance the attractiveness it's in the middle east and north Africa. The article responds to the question, the extent to which higher education is a soft power on Russian and Turkish public diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa

ASSESSMENTS OF QATAR'S EDUCATION REFORMS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GLOBAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

This paper analytically examines the current education improvement efforts in Qatar, and the vicissitudes taking place in numerous levels of education, as well as their initial effects on the human capital progress for Qatar. Statistics were composed through content examination of the reports on the homogeneous international test results including TIMSS and PISA, results of research examines, as well as the outputs of local valuations and the national reports on education. The examination shows that since the introduction of the new education reform in 2002, Qatar concentrated on education as the key to its future development, and comprehended that success is contingent on the ability to contend in a global knowledge economy, rather than relying on gas and oil assets. To present, important vicissitudes have arisen in the educational scenery from many aspects. Nevertheless, despite of the considerable investments made, no high quality pointer was gathered in education and there existed many concerns about the challenges and difficulties of the new reform, having direct or indirect effect on many investors in education including students, parents, teachers, the community and the administrators entirely. After one and half decade of improvement, the findings designate that Qatar is still far from meeting its national curriculum ideals and has a long way to go for providing quality education, especially in mathematics and science education. The results show an overall review of the quality of education system in Qatar and plan liberal policy endorsements for future years

ASSESSMENTS OF QATAR’S EDUCATION REFORMS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GLOBAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

This paper analytically examines the current education improvement efforts in Qatar, and the vicissitudes taking place in numerous levels of education, as well as their initial effects on the human capital progress for Qatar. Statistics were composed through content examination of the reports on the homogeneous international test results including TIMSS and PISA, results of research examines, as well as the outputs of local valuations and the national reports on education. The examination shows that since the introduction of the new education reform in 2002, Qatar concentrated on education as the key to its future development, and comprehended that success is contingent on the ability to contend in a global knowledge economy, rather than relying on gas and oil assets. To present, important vicissitudes have arisen in the educational scenery from many aspects. Nevertheless, despite of the considerable investments made, no high quality pointer was gathered in education and there existed many concerns about the challenges and difficulties of the new reform, having direct or indirect effect on many investors in education including students, parents, teachers, the community and the administrators entirely. After one and half decade of improvement, the findings designate that Qatar is still far from meeting its national curriculum ideals and has a long way to go for providing quality education, especially in mathematics and science education. The results show an overall review of the quality of education system in Qatar and plan liberal policy endorsements for future year

The Turn of the Month Anomaly in Amman Stock Exchange: Evidence and Implications

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THE PERCEIVED LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES IN EDUCATION IN QATAR AND ITS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

This paper examines how high school principals’ management can unswervingly and incidentally distress supposed obstacles in STEM classes, with precise reference to teachers in Qatar. Design/methodology/approach: A large suitability sample of 424 high school STEM teachers in Qatar was measured. Using SPSS and two appropriateness tests—the Kaisers-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling tolerability and the Bartless test of sphericity—the researcher recognized the hypothesis validity of the apparatus. The 11 extracted scopes were found to be dependable and binding. Main Results: Findings from a reversion examination demonstrates that only 3 out of 11 independent variables are noteworthy in forecasting apparent obstacles in STEM classes with an unambiguous orientation to teachers in Qatar. In addition, the consequences of the track causal model disclose that the straight effect of each descriptive variable is supported via the consequence of the other independent variables. Applied insinuations: Findings of this study deliver strategic understandings and applied thinking that have significant insinuations for sympathetic and overwhelming obstacles in STEM classes as perceived by teachers in Qatar. Furthermore, this study donates to the incomplete information about the direct and indirect effects of leadership on such experiments via strategic variables such as classroom difficulties and classroom management methods. Originality: Empirically, this paper bonds the gap between three fields: leadership, classroom management, and STEM education