Beacons of Excellence in Stress Prevention

NoThis report describes the work of Robertson Cooper Ltd and UMIST to identify good practice in stress prevention and then identify organisations within the UK that could be called beacons of excellence in comparison to this model. Part one of this report summarises and draws conclusions from all of the substantive academic studies on stress prevention over the last decade and uses this information, as well as advice gained from a panel of international experts, to develop a comprehensive stress prevention model. Part two of the report uses this model to describe examples of stress prevention practices that Robertson Cooper Ltd has identified within a wide range of UK organisations. Case studies are presented for each aspect of the good practice model. Examples of real documentation and organisational practice are presented.Health and Safety Executive (HSE

Antioxidant Activity of Apis Mellifera SP. Propolis Extract From Java (Indonesia)

Propolis was one of natural antioxidant source in the flavonoid and phenolic acid form. The propolis antioxidant potential was influenced by the plant factors that grow in geographic area wherein the bees alive. The propolis biological effect was known and have been used since antiquity. This research was intended to investigate the propolis antioxidant potential originating from Java (Indonesia). The method that was used to test its antioxidant character with the total of flavonoid activity test and the total of phenol. The strength for its antioxidant was measured by DPPH IC50 test. The result was obtained that propolis antioxidant potential from Java has a very strong potency with DPPH 35,6 µg/ml. The conclusion was Apis Mellifera sp propolis from Java has a high potential to be developed. The high drug activity and propolis therapeutic effectiveness were expected to giving a positive value and contribution to dentistry practice

Serum levels of Cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hytpertensive co-mobidity in Uduth, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) are co-morbid conditions that may predispose to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the serum levels of Cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and Hypertension. Materials and methods: A case -control study was conducted at Department of Medicine, endocrinology unit of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, from June 2015 to February 2016. A total of 180 subjects were recruited for the study and categorized into three groups. 60 patients diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension, 60 patients diagnosed with diabetes and 60 apparently healthy individuals were included in this study. Blood specimens were collected and processed from all group participants. Serum cardiac troponin I (CTnI) was analyzed using ELISA method, total Creatine Kinase (CK), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) was measured using IFCC reference procedure and plasma fasting plasma glucose levels were measured using enzymatic glucose oxidase method. Results: Twenty three 23(19%) of the subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus studied had increased CTnI levels above the 99th percentile (1.3ng/mL). Significant increase in CTnI was observed among participants with DM and HTN co-morbidity. In addition, the diabetic groups had significantly increase levels of total CK and CK-MB (p=0.001) compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation existed between CTnI, total CK and CK-MB (r-value 0.450, 0.569, p<0.01), and with CTnI and FPG (rvalue 0.160, p<0.05). Conclusion: The study suggests increased levels of CTnI and CKMB above safe values which may be a pointer to silent myocardial injury. Key words: Cardiac troponin I; Creatine kinase; Diabetes mellitus; Hypertension

A new flat shell finite element for the linear analysis of thin shell structures

In this paper, a new rectangular flat shell element denoted ‘ACM_RSBE5’ is presented. The new element is obtained by superposition of the new strain-based membrane element ‘RSBE5’ and the well-known plate bending element ‘ACM’. The element can be used for the analysis of any type of thin shell structures, even if the geometry is irregular. Comparison with other types of shell elements is performed using a series of standard test problems. A correlation study with an experimentally tested aluminium shell is also conducted. The new shell element proved to have a fast rate of convergence and to provide accurate results

Indonesian Propolis Reduces Malondialdehyde Level and Increase Osteoblast Cell Number in Wistar Rats with Orthodontic Tooth Movement

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity of Indonesian propolis gel 5% in Wistar rats alveolar bone, toward malondialdehyde serum levels and osteoblast cells number caused by orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). METHODS: This was an experimental study using the post-test only group design. The samples were 28 male Wistar rats, divided into four groups: G1 (control group) – group without OTM and without propolis, G2 – group without OTM and with propolis, G3 – group with OTM and without propolis, and G4 – group with OTM and with propolis. Propolis available in the form of 5% gel and 30 gf helical spring force of OTM applied. Spring was applied in rat maxilla incisors. OTM treatment was given 17 days, and on day 18, blood samples were taken for the measurement of malondialdehyde levels, then tested using the ELISA test. Variable of osteoblast was calculated histologically using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The data of malondialdehyde level and the osteoblast number obtained were tested using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The result indicated that osteoblast number was higher with propolis application compared to those without propolis in the control group and orthodontic tooth treatment group (G2>G1, 23.97 ± 2.95 vs. 18.63 ± 3.04 and G4>G3, 34.17 ± 5.57 vs. 28.26 ± 2.62) with significant difference (p < 0.05). Propolis application also reduces malondialdehyde serum level when compared to both groups without propolis (control and OTM group) (G2<G1, 1.02 ± 0.18 nmol/ml vs. 1.55 ± 0.24 nmol/ml and G4<G3 1.29 ± 0.22 nmol/ml vs. 1.83 ± 0.21 nmol/ml) and significantly different (p < 0.05). OTM increased the malondialdehyde level compared to the control group, with a significant difference (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Propolis gel 5% application can reduce malondialdehyde serum level and could increase the number of osteoblast

Antioxidant activity of apis mellifera sp. propolis extract from Java (Indonesia)

Propolis was one of natural antioxidant source in the flavonoid and phenolic acid form. The propolis antioxidant potential was influenced by the plant factors that grow in geographic area wherein the bees alive. The propolis biological effect was known and have been used since antiquity. This research was intended to investigate the propolis antioxidant potential originating from Java (Indonesia). The method that was used to test its antioxidant character with the total of flavonoid activity test and the total of phenol. The strength for its antioxidant was measured by DPPH IC50 test. The result was obtained that propolis antioxidant potential from Java has a very strong potency with DPPH 35,6 µg/ml. The conclusion was Apis Mellifera sp propolis from Java has a high potential to be developed. The high drug activity and propolis therapeutic effectiveness were expected to giving a positive value and contribution to dentistry practice

Grothendieck ring of varieties with finite groups actions

We define a Grothendieck ring of varieties with finite groups actions and show that the orbifold Euler characteristic and the Euler characteristics of higher orders can be defined as homomorphisms from this ring to the ring of integers. We describe two natural [landa]-structures on the ring and the corresponding power structures over it and show that one of these power structures is effective. We define a Grothendieck ring of varieties with equivariant vector bundles and show that the generalized ("motivic") Euler characteristics of higher orders can be defined as homomorphisms from this ring to the Grothendieck ring of varieties extended by powers of the class of the complex affine line. We give an analogue of the Macdonald type formula for the generating series of the generalized higher order Euler characteristics of wreath products

Systematic study of incomplete fusion reactions: Role of various entrance channel parameters

263-266The evaporation residues, populated through complete and incomplete fusion processes in the reaction of 18O+ 165Ho, have been analyzed via excitation function measurements at projectile energies ≈ 4-7 MeV/nucleon. The cross-sections measured experimentally have been compared with the predictions of the compound nucleus model code PACE-4 calculations which only considers complete fusion (CF) reaction cross-sections. The experimental cross-section of the reaction residues populated through xn and pxn channels matches well with the theoretical model code PACE-4 predictions. On the other hand, α-emitting channels show an enhancement in the measured cross-section over PACE-4 calculations which reveals the occurrence of incomplete fusion (ICF) at the studied energy range. The relative percentage of incomplete fusion has been calculated from the experimental data and its dependence on various entrance channel parameters like projectile energy, mass-asymmetry, α-Q value and Coulomb factor (ZPZT) has been studied. The strength of incomplete fusion function obtained in the 18O+ 165Ho interaction has been compared with the previously studied systems. Results of the present study indicate that 18O (two neutron excess) projectile shows more incomplete fusion contribution as compared to 12C,13C and 16O projectiles due to its relatively small negative α-Q value

Taking forward a 'One Health' approach for turning the tide against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and other zoonotic pathogens with epidemic potential

The appearance of novel pathogens of humans with epidemic potential and high mortality rates have threatened global health security for centuries. Over the past few decades new zoonotic infectious diseases of humans caused by pathogens arising from animal reservoirs have included West Nile virus, Yellow fever virus, Ebola virus, Nipah virus, Lassa Fever virus, Hanta virus, Dengue fever virus, Rift Valley fever virus, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, and Zika virus. The recent Ebola Virus Disease epidemic in West Africa and the ongoing Zika Virus outbreak in South America highlight the urgent need for local, regional and international public health systems to be be more coordinated and better prepared. The One Health concept focuses on the relationship and interconnectedness between Humans, Animals and the Environment, and recognizes that the health and wellbeing of humans is intimately connected to the health of animals and their environment (and vice versa). Critical to the establishment of a One Health platform is the creation of a multidisciplinary team with a range of expertise including public health officers, physicians, veterinarians, animal husbandry specialists, agriculturalists, ecologists, vector biologists, viral phylogeneticists, and researchers to co-operate, collaborate to learn more about zoonotic spread between animals, humans and the environment and to monitor, respond to and prevent major outbreaks. We discuss the unique opportunities for Middle Eastern and African stakeholders to take leadership in building equitable and effective partnerships with all stakeholders involved in human and health systems to take forward a 'One Health' approach to control such zoonotic pathogens with epidemic potential

Dynamic coupling of fast channel gating with slow ATP-turnover underpins protein transport through the Sec translocon.

The Sec translocon is a highly conserved membrane assembly for polypeptide transport across, or into, lipid bilayers. In bacteria, secretion through the core channel complex-SecYEG in the inner membrane-is powered by the cytosolic ATPase SecA. Here, we use single-molecule fluorescence to interrogate the conformational state of SecYEG throughout the ATP hydrolysis cycle of SecA. We show that the SecYEG channel fluctuations between open and closed states are much faster (~20-fold during translocation) than ATP turnover, and that the nucleotide status of SecA modulates the rates of opening and closure. The SecY variant PrlA4, which exhibits faster transport but unaffected ATPase rates, increases the dwell time in the open state, facilitating pre-protein diffusion through the pore and thereby enhancing translocation efficiency. Thus, rapid SecYEG channel dynamics are allosterically coupled to SecA via modulation of the energy landscape, and play an integral part in protein transport. Loose coupling of ATP-turnover by SecA to the dynamic properties of SecYEG is compatible with a Brownian-rachet mechanism of translocation, rather than strict nucleotide-dependent interconversion between different static states of a power stroke