Compactness in the First Baire Class and Baire-1 Operators

For a polish space M and a Banach space E let B1 (M, E) be the space of first Baire class functions from M to E, endowed with the pointwise weak topology. We study the compact subsets of B1 (M, E) and show that the fundamental results proved by Rosenthal, Bourgain, Fremlin, Talagrand and Godefroy, in case E = R, also hold true in the general case. For instance: a subset of B1 (M, E) is compact iff it is sequentially (resp. countably) compact, the convex hull of a compact bounded subset of B1 (M, E) is relatively compact, etc. We also show that our class includes Gulko compact. In the second part of the paper we examine under which conditions a bounded linear operator T : X ∗ → Y so that T |BX ∗ : (BX ∗ , w∗ ) → Y is a Baire-1 function, is a pointwise limit of a sequence (Tn ) of operators with T |BX ∗ : (BX ∗ , w∗ ) → (Y, · ) continuous for all n ∈ N. Our results in this case are connected with classical results of Choquet, Odell and Rosenthal

Targeted Photodynamic Therapy of cancer using photoimmunoconjugates based on pyropheophorbide a derivatives

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilises light, oxygen and organic macrocycles, called photosensitisers, to produce reactive oxygen species that can kill malignant cells. Conventional PDT is associated with side effects that have stifled its advance and widespread use. These include low tumour selectivity, slow blood clearance and poor formulation. We proposed that an antibody fragment could be used to carry the photosensitiser to the target cells, significantly overcoming these limitations. Pyropheophorbide-a (PPa) was synthetically modified to enhance its water solubility obtaining two compounds, PS1 and PS4 each more water soluble than PPa. The use of Sonogashira coupling and short polyethylene glycol chains gave PS1, whereas the use of Suzuki coupling and a single positive charge gave PS4. The singlet oxygen quantum yields of these were improved compared to PPa with that of PS4 being 1.5 times higher than PPa. The in vitro characterisation of PPa, PS1 and PS4 using cytotoxicity assays did not correlate with their photophysical characterisation. PS4 was significantly less potent than PPa and PS1 on SKOV3 and KB human cancer cell lines. Confocal microscopy aided further characterisation using stains for intracellular organelles. PS1 was found to localise primarily in the ER and Golgi apparatus, similarly to PPa, while PS4 was found to localise mainly in the lysosomes. PS1 was conjugated to C6.5(-k), an anti-HER2 single chain variable fragment (scFv) using lysine coupling, to obtain a photoimmunoconjugate that was characterised in vitro and subsequently in vivo. In vitro characterisation showed increased potency and specificity but non-specific cell death attributed to the non-covalently bound photosensitiser was observed. However, in vivo therapy studies showed that the C6.5(-k)-PS1 photoimmunoconjugate could be used to cure SKOV3 subcutaneous tumours in nude mice, validating the use of targeted PDT as a successful targeted therapy with the potential to lower the effective drug dose and minimise side effects

The implementation of IS/IT projects in service-centric organisations

This study explores the implementation of IS/IT projects in service-centric organisation. The study was carried out to conform to the principles of participatory action research. To undertake the study, a case study is employed. Data is collected from historical document examination and the cross referencing of service themes drawn from literature. Three themes that impact on the implementation of IS/IT in service-centric organisations emerge as being of particular importance to the implementation of IS/IT projects in service-centric organisations

Developing Mathematical Knowledge and Skills through the Awareness Approach of Teaching and Learning

Every object we think of or encounter, whether a natural or human-made, has a regular or irregular shape. In its own intrinsic conceptual design, it has elements of mathematics, science, engineering, and arts, etc., which are part of the object’s geometric shape, form and structure. Geometry is not only an important part of mathematics, but it is also an important part of daily life.  However, geometry is challenging for some students, even high-achieving students.  One way to help students understand geometry and its relevance in life is to engage students to discover them cognitively, then to research and identify them in real world examples and then to relate them to past, present, and future innovations that improved our way of thinking about ourselves and the world around us.  This interdisciplinary activity uses the Developmental Awareness Approach of Teaching and Learning (DAATL) to help students discover principles, acquire knowledge, and learn mathematical concepts including surface area, volume, dimensions, regular and irregular plane figures, solid polygons (regular polygons and polyhedra), thinking design, and graph making, etc.  It is designed to help students become acquainted with the most useful and familiar parts of mathematical geometry and its application in daily life through connections with disciplines such as science, engineering, art, design, and social studies.  The Development Awareness Approach of Teaching and Learning (DAATL) capitalizes on student's natural curiosity, inclination to comprehend as well as students love of drawing, doodling, painting, thinking and talking.  Throughout the learning process, students are engaged in authentic learning activities by real and concrete doing with clear purposes, thinking analytically, and evaluating their understanding of texts and ideas orally, in drawing, and in writing. This approach of teaching and learning has been tried and modified to ensure maximum effectiveness of acquiring understanding of the intended learning concepts.   The activities can be used with students in elementary school up to 2-year college levels. Keywords: Geometry, Learning Math, Developmental Discovery Approach, Active Learning, Student’s Active Engagement

In vitro vasculogenesis in 3D

Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis are essential neovascularisation processes. Various cell types and growth factors are involved, with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 identified as key components. The PhD project “In vitro vasculogenesis in 3D” tested the effect of parameters such as support cells, matrix composition and physiological hypoxia on the morphology and aggregation of ECs in 3D collagen hydrogels. Different aggregation patterns were identified depending on the culture conditions tested, and these were found to reflect the different developmental pathways that ECs take to form different sized tubular structures. ECs formed contiguous sheets in collagen only hydrogels, analogous to the ‘wrapping’ pathway in development. In contrast, in co-cultures in 3D collagen-laminin cultures, end-to-end networks formed, mimicking cord hollowing and cell hollowing. A relationship between matrix composition, growth factors and VEGF receptor levels in 3D collagen hydrogels was shown for the first time in this study. Results showed a key linkage between integrin expression on ECs and their uptake of VEGF, regulated by VEGFR2, resulting in end-to-end network aggregation in HBMSC-HUVEC co-cultures. The effect of physiological hypoxia on EC aggregation was also tested by lowering the oxygen tension to 5% O2 using a controlled culture environment. Angiogenic growth factors were quantified using ELISA and their levels were correlated to EC morphological progression within 3D collagen hydrogels. Overall, the findings here showed how different parameters affected EC morphology and aggregation in 3D in vitro collagen hydrogels. The study provides an understanding of how these individual parameters influence EC morphology and show the mechanisms of how this is achieved in 3D in vitro

L'archéologie soviétique moldave entre propagande étatique et savoir scientifique, le «dossier» des Slaves

La présente thèse a pour objectif de comprendre les motifs qui ont été à la base de l’apparition dans l'archéologie soviétique moldave de deux discours sur la place des peuples slaves dans l’histoire du territoire de Moldavie et du rôle qu’elles ont joué dans la genèse des Moldaves et de leur culture. Le premier discours réserve aux Slaves un rôle très important dans l’histoire médiévale de ce territoire ainsi que dans la genèse de l’ethnie moldave et de sa culture, tandis que le deuxième a tenté de minimaliser ce rôle en mettant l’accent sur l’importance d’une peuplade romanisée (néo-latine). Pour atteindre notre but, nous nous sommes inspirés de la sociologie de sciences. Nous avons donc interrogé les contextes sociopolitiques et culturels dans lesquels deux discours sont apparus, l’histoire du champ archéologique moldave, ses paradigmes, les profils personnels des archéologues, leur formation, leur attachement théorique et idéologique, leurs relations et leurs interactions à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur de ce champ. Les sources que nous avons employées sont les textes publiés (articles, monographies) et les documents d'archives.This thesis’s main goal is to understand the reasons behind the emergence of two separate discourses in Soviet Moldavian archeology. These discourses explained the place of Slavic peoples in the history of the Moldavian territory, as well as the role they played in the master narrative of the genesis of Moldavian people and their culture. While the first discourse attributed the Slavic peoples a very important role in the medieval history of this territory, and the birth of the Moldavian ethnic group and its culture, the second discourse minimized this role and focused on the importance of Romanized peoples. The present analysis used as a frame the sociology of sciences. We have therefore questioned the socio political and cultural contexts that led to the emergence of the two discourses, the history of the Moldavian archeological field, its paradigms, the personal profiles of the archeologists, their professional training, their theoretical and ideological background, their relations and interactions inside and outside their field. The sources used for this thesis were published texts such as articles and monographs, as well as archival documents

Cardiomyopathie dilatee chez l’enfant (revu)

Cardiomiopatia dilatativă este o acrdiomiopatie primară caracterizată prin dilatarea ventriculară şi afectarea funcţiei sistolice. Prevalenţa ei în populaţia generală este de 5-8/100 000 pe an, la copii sunt raportate cifre estimative de 0.57 / 100000, cu mortalitate de până la 40% la sugari şi copiii simptomatici în primul an de stabilire a diagnosticului, în absenţa unui tratament medicamentos sau chirurgical. În pofi da succeselor medicinei contemporane, la circa 57% din copiii cu CMD etiologia este necunoscută. Prezentările clinice sunt variate, implică diferite grade de dilatare ventriculară şi disfuncţie sistolică. Ecocardiografi a Doppler este metoda de examinare de elecţie, cu condiţia că aceasta este completă şi pediatric corectă. În prezent, cercetările clinice se axează pe identifi carea genelor nucleare, care interferează cu genomul mitocondrial, permiţând de a dezvolta şi a testa strategii optime de tratament al formelor pediatrice de cardiomiopatie dilatativă

Первичная дилятационная кардиомиопатия у детей. Клинический случай

Universitatea de Stat de Medicină şi Farmacie „Nicolae Testemiţanu”, Departamentul Pediatrie, IMSP ICŞDOSMşiCDilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common primary cardiomyopathy seen in adults, and children. According to epidemiological studies in two different geographical regions, the incidence of CMD in children is contained within the 1.13 to 1.24 / 100,000 children. The etiology of DCM in children involves a heterogeneous variety of factors-genetic and non-genetic. In 20-40% cases DCM in children is a consequence of late acute viral myocarditis. The article presents a clinical case of a teenager, 16 years old, where the DCM etiology was postmyocarditis and the patient presented severe heart failure. Taking into account the serious condition and the rapidly progressive cardiac decompensation, palliative intervention was performed to implant a ventricular assist device. Patient's condition greatly improved with the mechanical implant, but this method is one of the interventional steps used to perform further surgical steps such as heart transplant (fi rst pediatric case reported in Republic of Moldova).Дилатационная кардиомиопатия (ДКМП) является наиболее распространенной среди первичных кардиомиопатий наблюдаемых у взрослых и детей. По данным эпидемиологических исследований в двух раз- ных географических регионах, ДКМП встречается с частотой от 1,13 до 1,24 / 100000 детей. Этиология ДКМП у детей включает в себя различные гетерогенные факторы, как генетические, так и не генети- ческие. В 20-40% случаев ДКМП у детей является следствием острого вирусного миокардита. В статье представлен клинический случай 16-летнего подростка, у которого была диагностирована ДКМП по- сле перенесенного острого вирусного миокардита, с тяжелой застойной сердечной недостаточностью. Учитывая тяжелое состояние ребенка и быстро прогрессирующую сердечную недостаточность, было проведенно паллиативное вмешательство с имплантированием механического желудочкового устрой- ства. Механический имплантат значительно улучшил состояние больного, но этот метод является од- ним из промежуточных этапов планового хирургического вмешательства по трансплантации сердца (первый описываемый случай у детей в Молдове)