Evaluation of New Public Management Reforms in Switzerland

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the empirical results of NPM evaluations in Switzerland. A number of evaluation studies are available to perform this task. Second, we compare the results of NPM reforms in Switzerland with those from abroad. For the purposes of the comparison we use the Pollitt and Bouckaert (2000) overview of the results of NPM projects in ten countries. We devote the third part of the article to methodological considerations for evaluation of public management reform

Genetic Analysis of White Facial and Leg Markings in the Swiss Franches-Montagnes Horse Breed

White markings and spotting patterns in animal species are thought to be a result of the domestication process. They often serve for the identification of individuals but sometimes are accompanied by complex pathological syndromes. In the Swiss Franches-Montagnes horse population, white markings increased vastly in size and occurrence during the past 30 years, although the breeding goal demands a horse with as little depigmented areas as possible. In order to improve selection and avoid more excessive depigmentation on the population level, we estimated population parameters and breeding values for white head and anterior and posterior leg markings. Heritabilities and genetic correlations for the traits were high (h2 > 0.5). A strong positive correlation was found between the chestnut allele at the melanocortin-1-receptor gene locus and the extent of white markings. Segregation analysis revealed that our data fit best to a model including a polygenic effect and a biallelic locus with a dominant-recessive mode of inheritance. The recessive allele was found to be the white trait-increasing allele. Multilocus linkage disequilibrium analysis allowed the mapping of the putative major locus to a chromosomal region on ECA3q harboring the KIT gen

Helicobacter pylori CagL dependent induction of gastrin expression via a novel αvβ5-integrin-integrin linked kinase signalling complex

One of the most important hormones in the human stomach is the peptide gastrin. It is mainly required for the regulation of gastric pH but is also involved in growth and differentiation of gastric epithelial cells. In Helicobacter pylori infected patients, gastrin secretion can be upregulated by the pathogen, resulting in hypergastrinaemia. H pylori induced hypergastrinaemia is described as being a major risk factor for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma

Populationsstruktur und genetische Diversität von Schweizer Schafrassen

Das Jahr 2010 wurde von den Vereinten Nationen zum Jahr der Biodiversität erklärt. Der Schweizerische Schafzuchtverband stellte in diesem Kontext Herdebuchdaten der vier grössten Schweizer Schafrassen zur Analyse der genetischen Diversität zur Verfügung. Untersucht wur-den das Braunköpfige Fleischschaf (BFS; n=10 858), das Schwarzbraune Bergschaf (SBS; n=10 964), das Walliser Schwarznasenschaf (SN; n=14 371) und das Weisse Alpenschaf (WAS; n=32 169). Die Analysen beruhen auf allen Herdebuchtieren der Geburtsjahre 1996–2008 und ihren Ahnen bis und mit Geburtsjahr 1970. Ausgewertet wurden die Daten mit gängiger Software für populationsgenetische Fragestellungen. Die grösste Zunahme beim mittleren Inzuchtkoeffizienten konnte im untersuchten Zeitraum bei der Rasse SN (5,9 → 9,3 %) gefolgt von denRassen BFS (2,4 → 4,3 %), SBS (2,4 → 3,8 %) und WAS (1,4 → 2,5 %) beobachtet werden. Obwohl die Inzuchtraten im Zeitraum 1996 bis 2008 teilweise starke Schwankungen aufwiesen, zeigte sich bei allen vier Rassen grundsätzlich ein steigender Trend. Damit einher ging ein sinkender Trend bei der effektiven Populationsgrösse. Die grösste Anzahl an effektiven Gründertieren, Ahnen und Gründergenomen fanden sich beim weissen Alpenschaf. Bei allen vier Rassen war bei diesen drei Parametern im Laufe der Jahre eine sinkende Tendenz erkennbar, wobei die Abnahme bei der Rasse WAS im Vergleich mit den anderen Rassen viel ausgeprägter war. Ein weiterer Indikator für eine abnehmende genetische Vielfalt von 1996 bis 2008 ist der marginale Genanteil des wichtigsten Ahnen. Dieser ist bei allen vier Rassen angestiegen (SN 11,05 → 19,79 %; BFS 7,67 →11,27 %; SBS 4,45 → 5,19 %; WAS 2,84 →4,69 %).Aufgrund der Ergebnisse stellt sich die Frage nach gezielten Managementmassnahmen nur bei der SN-Population. Bei den anderen drei Rassen sollten die Trends der genetischen Diversitäts-parameter jedoch regelmässig überprüft werden

Züchterische Aspekte der Tiere im Projekt Weidekuh-Genetik

Auf der Suche nach der idealen Weidekuh lancierte die SHL Zollikofen zusammen mit der KTI, der IG Weidemilch, Swissgenetics und weiteren Partnern im Jahr 2007 das Projekt «Weidekuh-Genetik». In diesem Projekt werden aus Irland importierte Holstein-Kühe mit neuseeländischem Vater und Grossvater (Mutterseite) mit den drei Schweizer Milchviehrassen Braunvieh, Fleckvieh und Holstein bezüglich ihrer Vollweidetauglichkeit verglichen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden die Versuchstiere des Projekts hinsichtlich der Abstammung, des Exterieurs, des genetischen Leistungspotenzials sowie der Rangierung in ihrer Herkunftspopulation beschrieben. Die Auswahlkriterien und die hohen Häufigkeiten bei den Vätern und Grossvätern der importierten Tiere zeigen auf, dass es sich bei dieser Versuchsgruppe um eine selektierte Stichprobe handelt. Zudem liegen die irischen Gesamtzuchtwerte dieser Tiere deutlich über dem Durchschnitt der irischen Herdebuchpopulation. Aufgrund der selektiven Auswahl sind Rückschlüsse auf die gesamte irische oder gar neuseeländische Herdebuchpopulation nicht zulässig. Die Gesamtzuchtwerte der Schweizer Versuchstiere liegen innerhalb einer Standardabweichung der Mittelwerte ihrer Herkunftspopulationen. Die Tiere sind somit typische Vertreter ihrer Populationen. Unterschiede im Exterieur zwischen den importierten und den Schweizer Kühen findet man bei den Merkmalen Widerrist- und Kreuzbeinhöhe, hintere Beinlänge und Fesseln. Die importierten Tiere sind signifikant kleiner und weisen signifikant weichere Fesseln auf

Linear seesaw model with hidden SU(2)H×U(1)XSU(2)_H \times U(1)_X gauge symmetry

We propose a linear seesaw model with a hidden gauge symmetry $SU(2)_H \times U(1)_X$ where two types of standard model singlet fermions in realizing a linear seesaw mechanism are unified into $SU(2)_H$ doublet. Then we formulate scalar and gauge sector, neutrino mass matrix and lepton flavor violations. In our gauge sector, $Z$-$Z'$ mixing appears after spontaneous symmetry breaking and we investigate constraint from $\rho$-parameter. In addition we discuss $Z'$ production at the large hadron collider via $Z$-$Z'$ mixing, where $Z'$ tends to dominantly decay into heavy neutrinos.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure

Allelic Heterogeneity at the Equine KIT Locus in Dominant White (W) Horses

White coat color has been a highly valued trait in horses for at least 2,000 years. Dominant white (W) is one of several known depigmentation phenotypes in horses. It shows considerable phenotypic variation, ranging from ∼50% depigmented areas up to a completely white coat. In the horse, the four depigmentation phenotypes roan, sabino, tobiano, and dominant white were independently mapped to a chromosomal region on ECA 3 harboring the KIT gene. KIT plays an important role in melanoblast survival during embryonic development. We determined the sequence and genomic organization of the ∼82 kb equine KIT gene. A mutation analysis of all 21 KIT exons in white Franches-Montagnes Horses revealed a nonsense mutation in exon 15 (c.2151C>G, p.Y717X). We analyzed the KIT exons in horses characterized as dominant white from other populations and found three additional candidate causative mutations. Three almost completely white Arabians carried a different nonsense mutation in exon 4 (c.706A>T, p.K236X). Six Camarillo White Horses had a missense mutation in exon 12 (c.1805C>T, p.A602V), and five white Thoroughbreds had yet another missense mutation in exon 13 (c.1960G>A, p.G654R). Our results indicate that the dominant white color in Franches-Montagnes Horses is caused by a nonsense mutation in the KIT gene and that multiple independent mutations within this gene appear to be responsible for dominant white in several other modern horse populations

The selective phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor roflumilast and phosphodiesterase 3/4 inhibitor pumafentrine reduce clinical score and TNF expression in experimental colitis in mice.

The specific inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE)4 and dual inhibition of PDE3 and PDE4 has been shown to decrease inflammation by suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis. We examined the effect of roflumilast, a selective PDE4 inhibitor marketed for severe COPD, and the investigational compound pumafentrine, a dual PDE3/PDE4 inhibitor, in the preventive dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model. The clinical score, colon length, histologic score and colon cytokine production from mice with DSS-induced colitis (3.5% DSS in drinking water for 11 days) receiving either roflumilast (1 or 5 mg/kg body weight/d p.o.) or pumafentrine (1.5 or 5 mg/kg/d p.o.) were determined and compared to vehicle treated control mice. In the pumafentrine-treated animals, splenocytes were analyzed for interferon-γ (IFNγ) production and CD69 expression. Roflumilast treatment resulted in dose-dependent improvements of clinical score (weight loss, stool consistency and bleeding), colon length, and local tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) production in the colonic tissue. These findings, however, were not associated with an improvement of the histologic score. Administration of pumafentrine at 5 mg/kg/d alleviated the clinical score, the colon length shortening, and local TNFα production. In vitro stimulated splenocytes after in vivo treatment with pumafentrine showed a significantly lower state of activation and production of IFNγ compared to no treatment in vivo. These series of experiments document the ameliorating effect of roflumilast and pumafentrine on the clinical score and TNF expression of experimental colitis in mice

The Cosmogrid Simulation: Statistical Properties of Small Dark Matter Halos

We present the results of the "Cosmogrid" cosmological N-body simulation suites based on the concordance LCDM model. The Cosmogrid simulation was performed in a 30Mpc box with 2048^3 particles. The mass of each particle is 1.28x10^5 Msun, which is sufficient to resolve ultra-faint dwarfs. We found that the halo mass function shows good agreement with the Sheth & Tormen fitting function down to ~10^7 Msun. We have analyzed the spherically averaged density profiles of the three most massive halos which are of galaxy group size and contain at least 170 million particles. The slopes of these density profiles become shallower than -1 at the inner most radius. We also find a clear correlation of halo concentration with mass. The mass dependence of the concentration parameter cannot be expressed by a single power law, however a simple model based on the Press-Schechter theory proposed by Navarro et al. gives reasonable agreement with this dependence. The spin parameter does not show a correlation with the halo mass. The probability distribution functions for both concentration and spin are well fitted by the log-normal distribution for halos with the masses larger than ~10^8 Msun. The subhalo abundance depends on the halo mass. Galaxy-sized halos have 50% more subhalos than ~10^{11} Msun halos have.Comment: 15 pages, 18 figures, accepted by Ap