Attitudes and Self-Stigma of overweight teachers concerning obesity in Nueva Ecija

One of the problems of the Philippines in terms of health is the growing rate of obesity. This paper used a descriptive survey method. A total of 67 educators that are categorized overweight, pre-obese and obese from private and public schools were surveyed around Nueva Ecija. The researcher distributed survey questionnaires and analyzed it through statistical data treatment such as mean and weighted mean. From the tabulated results, the researcher concluded that the respondents to a considerable degree were affected by the factors of obesity-related quality of life. Thus, most of the physiological health and work-related factors affected the respondents occasionally. It is recommended to consult a nutritionist as most of the respondents were almost always afraid of possible complications due to weight problems. In likelihood, the respondents assess the factors of weight self-stigma as usually true. Thus, the researcher recommends to raise self-control in overeating that causes weight problems

Experience with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders in solid organ transplant recipients

Nearly 6000 solid organ transplants have been performed at the University of Pittsburgh since 1981. Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) have occurred in 131 patients, at a frequency of 2.2%. The majority of cases manifest within 6 months following allograft, but individual lesions may arise several years thereafter. From 1981 to 1989, cyclosporine-A (CsA) served as the primary immunosuppressant in this population. In March of 1989, FK506 was introduced for clinical trials. Since that time, 1421 patients have received FK506 either for primary immunosuppression or as rescue therapy. The frequency of PTLD in this subpopulation is 1.5%. PTLD arising under FK506-containing regimens have clinicopathologic features similar to those arising with CsA immunosuppression. The frequency of PTLD at this point in time is approximately 1%, in kidney allograft patients, 2.7% in liver, 3.3% in heart and 3.8%, in heart/lung or lung recipients. An understanding of the range of histologic appearance is important for the diagnosis of PTLD, especially when it involves the allograft itself. Immunoglobulin heavy chain gene analysis shows that lesions with no rearrangements or with a rearrangement in only a small proportion of cells are more likely to respond to reduced immunosuppression than are those with clonal rearrangement involving a high proportion of cells. However, this distinction is not absolute, and a trial of reduced immunosuppression appears to be indicated regardless of clonal status

Caregivers Need Care, Too: Conceptualising Spiritual Care for Migrant Caregivers-Transnational Mothers

Growing research revolving around the plight of (Philippine) migrant domestic workers is noteworthy. However, the focus is largely on their role, capacity and identity as caregivers, meaning as labour migrants and transnational mothers engaged in both paid and unpaid care work. Building on the “care circulation” framework of Baldassar and Merla that conceptualises care as given and received in varying degrees by all family members across time and distance, this paper takes up the task of recognising migrant domestic workers as care receivers. In a particular way, this paper conceptualises care for migrant caregivers-transnational mothers that is based on a qualitative empirical study on the lived realities of Philippine migrant workers, who are also transnational mothers. An analysis of the participants’ narratives using the constructivist grounded theory approach reveals that their experience of God’s presence is central to how they navigate transnational mothering as labour migrants. This paper then proposes that their faith stories, significant as they are, be taken as a resource in providing them with spiritual care that takes their concerns into account

Industry 4.0 Maturity Assessment: A multi-dimensional indicator approach

Purpose - Industry 4.0 has offered significant potential for manufacturing firms to alter and rethink their business models, production processes, strategies, and objectives. Manufacturing organizations have recently undergone substantial transformation due to Industry 4.0 technologies. Hence, to successfully deploy and embed Industry 4.0 technologies in their organizational operations and practices, businesses must assess their adoption readiness. For this purpose, a multidimensional analytical indicator methodology has been developed to measure Industry 4.0 maturity and preparedness. Design/methodology/approach- A weighted average method was adopted to assess the Industry 4.0 readiness using a case study from a steel manufacturing organization. Findings- The result revealed that the firm ranks between Industry 2.0 and Industry 3.0, with an overall score of 2.32. This means that the organization is yet to achieve Industry 4.0 mature and ready organization. Practical Implications- The multi-dimensional indicator framework proposed can be used by managers, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to assess the current status of organizations in terms of Industry 4.0 maturity and readiness as well as undertake a practical diagnosis and prognosis of systems and processes for its future adoption. Originality/ value- Although research on Industry 4.0 maturity models has grown exponentially in recent years, this study is the first to develop a multi-dimensional analytical indicator to measure Industry 4.0 maturity and readiness

Determinació de fungicides en pells i en banys de procés del sector adober

La consulta íntegra de la tesi, inclosos els articles no comunicats públicament per drets d'autor, es pot realitzar prèvia petició a l'Arxiu de la UPCThis thesis is based on the development and validation of two analytical methods to determine fungicides commonly used in the tanning industry and other alternative. One of the methods determines fungicides in leather, while the other method examines fungicides in the float of the tanning processes. Both methods simultaneously determine fungicides such as benzothiazol-2-y(thio)methyl thiocyanate (TCMTB), Chlorocresol (PCMC), Biphenyl-2-ol (OPP), 2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (OIT), Benzothiazole-2-thiol (MBT) and 3-iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC). In the method applied on leather, the sample preparation and extraction process has been performed following the UNE-EN ISO 13365:2011 standard, with the introduction of some improvements. Its has been verified that the 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) does not interfere with the determination. The method of determination of fungicides on leather has expandes the scope of ISO 13365:2011, not only because ot the determination of the four molecules included in the scope of the standard, but also because of other fungicides, such as IPBC and MBT. The changes introduced improve the reliability of the identifications and the sensivity of the quantifications. The second part of this thesis is devoted to the development of an analytical method for analyzing fungicides in aqueous samples, as we previously did on leather. The extraction technique used is solid phase microextraction (SPME) and a subsequent analysis is carried out by liquid chromatography (HPLC-PDA). The determination of the concentration of fungicide in aqueous samples is particularly useful to determine the effectiveness of application of fungicides on the leather, based on knowledge of the fraction dissolved in the float. The information will additionally enable us to evaluate the toxicity of the wastewater taxes and of course the presence of fungicides greatly contributes to toxicity levels together with other products being used. Finally, real samples from baths of tanning processes are analyzed as a tool to examine the effectiveness of the application of fungicides.Aquesta es basa en el desenvolupament i validació de dos mètodes d'anàlisi per determinar fungicides d'ús comú en la indústria adobera i altres d'alternatius. Un dels mètodes determina fungicides en pell i l'altre en banys de processos d'adoberia. En ambdós mètodes es determinen simultàniament els fungicides 2-(tiocianometiltio)-benzotiazol (TCMTB), 4-cloro-3-metilfenol (PCMC), 2-fenilfenol (OPP), 2-octil-3(2H)-isotiazolona (OIT) i també 2-mercaptobenzothiazol (MBT) i 3-yodo-2-propinil-butilo (IPBC). En el mètode sobre pell, la preparació de la mostra i el procés d'extracció s'ha realitzat seguint la norma UNE-EN ISO 13365:2011, introduint unes millores. Tanmateix s'ha comprovat que el 2,4,6-triclorofenol (TCP) i el pentaclorofenol (PCP) no interfereixen en la determinació. El mètode de determinació de fungicides sobre pell ha ampliat l'abast de la norma ISO 13365:2011, no només per a la determinació de les quatre molècules incloses en l'àmbit d'aplicació de la norma, sinó també per a altres fungicides com el IPBC i el MBT. Els canvis introduïts permeten millorar la fiabilitat de les identificacions i la sensibilitat de la quantificació. La segona part d'aquesta tesi està dedicada al desenvolupament d'un mètode analític per analitzar fungicides, els mateixos que en pell, en mostres aquoses. La tècnica d'extracció emprada és la microextracció en fase sòlida (SPME) i posterior anàlisi per cromatografia líquida (HPLC-PDA). La determinació de la concentració de fungicides en mostres aquoses resulta especialment útil per poder determinar l'eficàcia d'aplicació dels fungicides a la pell, a partir del coneixement de la fracció dissolta en el bany. Aquesta darrera dada permetrà, a més, avaluar la toxicitat aportada a les aigües residuals. La toxicitat és un dels paràmetres establerts en el cànon de les aigües residuals, i la presència de fungicides hi contribueix, conjuntament amb altres productes utilitzats. Finalment s'analitzen mostres reals provinents de banys de processos d'adoberia com a eina d'anàlisi de l'eficàcia en l'aplicació dels fungicidesPostprint (published version

Microflow of fluorescently labelled red blood cells in tumours expressing single isoforms of VEGF and their response to VEGF-R tyrosine kinase inhibition

This paper was presented at the 2nd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2009), which was held at Brunel University, West London, UK. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, IPEM, the Italian Union of Thermofluid dynamics, the Process Intensification Network, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.In this work we studied the functional differences between the microcirculation of murine tumours that only express single isoforms of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF), VEGF120 and VEGF188, and the effect of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase (VEGF-R TK) inhibition on their functional response to the vascular disrupting agent, combretastatin A-4 phosphate (CA-4-P). We used measurement of fluorescentlylabelled red blood cell (RBC) velocities in tumour microvessels to study this functional response. RBC velocity for control VEGF120-expressing tumours was over 50% slower than for control VEGF188-expressing tumours, which may be due to the immature and haemorrhagic vasculature of the VEGF120 tumour. After chronic treatment with a VEGF-R tyrosine kinase inhibitor, SU5416, RBC velocities in VEGF120 tumours were significantly increased compared to control VEGF120 tumours, and similar to velocities in both VEGF188 treatment groups. Control and SU5416 treated VEGF188 tumours were not different from each other. Treatment of VEGF120 tumours with SU5416 reduced their vascular response to CA-4-P to a similar level to the VEGF188 tumours. Differential expression of VEGF isoforms not only affected vascular function in untreated tumours but also impacted on response to a vascular disrupting drug, CA-4-P, alone and in combination with an anti-angiogenic approach involving VEGF-R TK inhibition. Analysis of RBC velocities is a useful tool in measuring functional responses to vascular targeted treatments.This study is funded by the Cancer Research UK

Substitutions in the redox-sensing PAS domain of the NifL regulatory protein define an inter-subunit pathway for redox signal transmission

The Per-ARNT-Sim (PAS) domain is a conserved a/ß fold present within a plethora of signalling proteins from all kingdoms of life. PAS domains are often dimeric and act as versatile sensory and interaction modules to propagate environmental signals to effector domains. The NifL regulatory protein from Azotobacter vinelandii senses the oxygen status of the cell via an FAD cofactor accommodated within the first of two amino-terminal tandem PAS domains, termed PAS1 and PAS2. The redox signal perceived at PAS1 is relayed to PAS2 resulting in conformational reorganization of NifL and consequent inhibition of NifA activity. We have identified mutations in the cofactor-binding cavity of PAS1 that prevent 'release' of the inhibitory signal upon oxidation of FAD. Substitutions of conserved ß-sheet residues on the distal surface of the FAD-binding cavity trap PAS1 in the inhibitory signalling state, irrespective of the redox state of the FAD group. In contrast, substitutions within the flanking A'a-helix that comprises part of the dimerization interface of PAS1 prevent transmission of the inhibitory signal. Taken together, these results suggest an inter-subunit pathway for redox signal transmission from PAS1 that propagates from core to the surface in a conformation-dependent manner requiring a flexible dimer interface

CAMBIOS FISICOQUÍMICOS DE ALMIDON DE MAÍZ DURANTE LA FERMENTACION ACIDO LÁCTICA CON Lactobacillus bulgaricus

Lactic acid fermentation with L. bulgaricus induced large changes in the morphology of corn starch granules. The production of amylolytic enzymes as well as lactic acid produced fractures along the granule hilum, which led to disintegration of starch granules at long fermentation times. On the other hand, lactic acid fermentation increased crystallinity and double-helices structures, which led to increased susceptibility to acidic hydrolysis. In fact, thermal analysis results indicated than an improved internal organization of granule residues occurred. In general, the results showed that the fermentation time can be considered as a suitable parameter for modulating the physicochemical properties of corn starch granules. Additionally, it can be postulated that lactic acid fermentation of starchy food matrices has a positive effect on the acidic digestibility of starch granules, by improving the content of resistant starch fractionsLactic acid fermentation (LAF) has been used since antiquity to conserve food including starchy food. The bioaccessibility of starch depends on the food microstructures. Therefore, the understanding of the physicochemical transformations of the starch suffered during LAF will allow to develop an adequate processing of the alimentary matrices. In this work, native corn starch (NCS) dispersions were inoculated with Lactobacillus bulgaricus (2×107 cells ml−1) and fermented for 24 h at 38 ºC. Physicochemical changes of starch granules during fermentation time were monitored by XRD, FTIR and DSC. The crystallinity content achieved a maximum value (39.72±1.02%) after 12 h of fermentation. In contrast, the absorbance ratio 1047/1022 from FTIR measurements increased as the fermentation advanced. Likewise, DSC analysis showed that the gelatinization enthalpy increased 60.0% after 12 h of fermentation, reflecting the production of ordered microstructures. Thus, it is suggested that LAF increased the resistant starch content in corn starch granules