Montelukast: much more than an antiasthma drug

Montelukast (MK), a selective leukotriene D4 receptor antagonist, is used mainly to reduce eosinophilic inflammation in asthmatic patients. The primary objective of this mini-review is to describe novel additional targets for MK besides the lung and to highlight its antioxidant potential. Literature published between 2002 and 2013 was reviewed for significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of MK in various experimental models of inflammation rather than that in the airways of asthmatics. Evidence suggests the potential use of MK in many inflammatory diseases rather than asthma therapy

Smoking, SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a review of reviews considering implications for public health policy and practice

IntroductionThere has been significant speculation regarding the association between Severe Acute RespiratorySyndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathogen, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and smoking.We provide an overview of the available literature regarding the association between smoking, risk ofSARS-CoV-2 infection, and risk of severe COVID-19 and poor clinical outcomes, with the aim ofinforming public health policy and practice in England.MethodsPublications were identified utilising a systematic search approach on PUBMED and Google Scholar.Publications presenting a systematic review or meta-analysis considering the association betweensmoking and SARS-COV-2 infection or COVID-19 outcomes were included.ResultsEight studies were identified. One considered the relationship between smoking and the probability ofSARS-CoV-2 infection, three considered the association between COVID-19 hospitalisation andsmoking history and six reviewed the association between smoking history and development ofsevere COVID-19. One study specifically investigated the risk of mortality. The studies consideringrisk of severe disease indicate that there is a significant association between COVID-19 and currentor ever smoking.ConclusionsThis is a rapidly evolving topic. Current analysis remains limited due to the quality of primary data,although early results indicate an association between smoking and COVID-19 severity. We highlyrecommend public health messaging to continue focusing on smoking cessation efforts

Lean hos masskundanpassande producenter : Att masskundanpassa produkter effektivt

Massproduktion har varit viktigt för producerande företag genom många decennier. Massproduktionär förmågan att kunna producera och erbjuda stora volymer till låga priser. Utvecklingenav kunders efterfrågan har däremot den senaste tiden gått mot kundanpassade produkter. Priset förväntas ligga på samma nivå som massproducerade produkter. Utmaningen förföretagen är att kunna massproducera samtidigt som kunders varierande behov tillgodoses. Kundanpassning innebär att produkter utformas och produceras för att tillgodose kunders specifikabehov. För att produktionen av kundanpassade produkter ska nå en hög volym fordrasanvändning av moduler. En modul är en komponent som kan kombineras ihop med andramoduler för att producera olika varianter av produkter. Mintzberg har delat in kundanpassning i olika grader, som sträcker sig från högt kundanpassadeprodukter (Pure) till lågt kundanpassade produkter (Standardized). Vidare har Ulrish och Tung delat in modularitet med hänsyn till var i produktionscykeln som modularitet används. Beroende på var modularitet i produktionscykeln används och var kundorderpunkten ligger delas masskundanpassning in i låg- respektive högnivå enligt Stump. Lean är en produktionsfilosofi vars syfte är att söka efter och eliminera slöserier i produktionen. Produktionsfilosofin fungerar bäst om hela organisationen genomsyras av Lean. En lyckad implementering leder till högre produktivitet med mindre användning av resurser. Lean brukar visualiseras i formen av ett hus för att göra Lean konkret. Teorin som presenteras i denna rapport har kompletterats med ett studiebesök på Scanias växellådsmontering i Södertälje. Arbetets syfte är att ge svar på om masskundanpassad produktion kan resurseffektiviseras med Lean. Slutsatsen som dragits är att Lean går att tillämpa på en produktion där nivån av kundanpassningenär låg och att det inte går att tillämpa som en helhet där nivån av kundanpassning är hög.Mass production has been important for manufacturing companies for several decades. Massproduction is the ability to produce and offer large volumes at low prices. The development of customer demand has however recently shifted towards customized products. The price is expected to be at the level of mass produced products. The challenge for companies is to be able to produce in large volumes while customers varying needs are met. Customization means that a product is designed and produced to meet customers specific needs. In order for the production of customized products to achieve a high volume, the production requires the use of modules. A module is a component which can be combined with other modules in order to produce different variety of products. Mintzberg has divided customization into various levels, ranging from high customized products (Pure) to low customized products (Standardized). Furthermore Ulrish and Tung divided modularity with consideration to where in the production cycle the modules are used. Depending on where modularity in the production cycle is used and where the point of customer involvement is in the production cycle, mass customization is divided into low and high level according to Stump. Lean is a production philosophy which aims at searching for and eliminating wastes in the production. The production philosophy works best if the entire organization is influenced by Lean. A successful implementation of Lean leads to higher productivity with fewer resources used. Lean is usually visualized in the form of a house to make Lean more concrete. The theory that is presented in this report has been complemented with a study at Scania’s gearbox assembly line in Södertälje. This work aims to provide answers to if masscustomization can be resource efficient with Lean. The conclusion is that Lean can be applied to low-level mass customization and cannot be applied entirely to a high-level mass customization

Hantering av organisatoriska faktorer i teknisk assimilering för webbaserad business-to-business e-handel

Introduction: The use of Web-based Business-to-Business E-commerce is increasing, however many companies who previously adopted e-commerce technology have failed to utilize it. Meanwhile, research has mostly focused on quantitative research regarding factors affecting the adoption of e-commerce, leaving a research gap regarding the routinization of the technology. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide knowledge regarding the management of the entire web-based business-to-business e-commerce assimilation process from initiation, to adoption and routinization. Method: The study addresses which factors affect the assimilation process, where in the process they are relevant and how they may be managed. A multiple case study with six large companies has been conducted through semi-structured interviews. The cases were compared to each other, as well as to previous research within e-business and/or e-commerce assimilation and adoption. Furthermore, change management literature has been used to aid the analysis of how certain factors may be managed. Findings: We have found the assimilation of web-based e-commerce to be a complex and iterative process that involves several interconnected factors which organizations manage in various ways. Seventeen factors within the technological, organizational and environmental contexts were identified to be relevant in the different phases of the assimilation process. A discussion regarding how these factors may be managed is conducted, including some indications on what approaches seem to be more or less viable. Practical Implications: Managers may use the findings of this study as guidance in their webbased e-commerce assimilation process. Originality/value: This study contributes with qualitative research on which factors affect the entire assimilation process of web-based e-commerce and how the factors may be managed. Paper Category: Master ThesisIntroduktion: Användningen av webbaserad e-handel i business-to-business-företag ökar, men många företag som redan har implementerat detta har misslyckats med att använda dess fulla potential. Samtidigt har forskningen huvudsakligen fokuserat på att kvantitativt studera faktorer som påverkar själva implementationen, medan aspekter rörande den efterföljande användningen av e-handeln har lämnats outforskade. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att bidra med kunskap kring hanteringen gällande hela processen, från initiering till implementation till att slutligen uppnå ett utbrett användande av den webbaserade e-handeln i business-to-business företag. Metod: Studien utreder vilka faktorer som påverkar processen, var i processen de är relevanta och hur de kan hanteras. Genom intervjuer genomfördes en komparativ fallstudie mellan sex stycken stora företag i Sverige. Företagens hantering av faktorerna jämfördes sinsemellan, samt med tidigare forskning inom implementation och hantering av e-handel. Detta jämfördes dessutom med teorier inom förändringsledning för att styrka analysen angående hur processen skulle kunna genomföras. Resultat: I vår studie har vi sett att den kringliggande processen runt implementationen av webbaserad e-handel är komplex och iterativ, samt att den har hanterats med varierande tillvägagångssätt. 17 faktorer inom tekniska-, organisatoriska- och miljösammanhang har hittats relevanta för de olika faserna i processen. Slutligen har det förts en diskussion angående hur dessa faktorer skulle kunna hanteras, samt indikationer på vilka tillvägagångssätt som verkar mer eller mindre gångbara. Praktisk Betydelse: Chefer och ledare kan använda resultaten och slutsatserna från denna studie som handledning under deras process för implementation av webbaserad e-handel i business-tobusiness-företag. Originalitet/Värde: Denna studie bidrar med kvalitativ forskning angående vilka faktorer som påverkar den organisatoriska processen för implementation av webbaserad e-handel samt hur dessa faktorer skulle kunna hanteras. Rapporttyp: Examensarbete, avancerad nivå

Hantering av organisatoriska faktorer i teknisk assimilering för webbaserad business-to-business e-handel

Introduction: The use of Web-based Business-to-Business E-commerce is increasing, however many companies who previously adopted e-commerce technology have failed to utilize it. Meanwhile, research has mostly focused on quantitative research regarding factors affecting the adoption of e-commerce, leaving a research gap regarding the routinization of the technology. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide knowledge regarding the management of the entire web-based business-to-business e-commerce assimilation process from initiation, to adoption and routinization. Method: The study addresses which factors affect the assimilation process, where in the process they are relevant and how they may be managed. A multiple case study with six large companies has been conducted through semi-structured interviews. The cases were compared to each other, as well as to previous research within e-business and/or e-commerce assimilation and adoption. Furthermore, change management literature has been used to aid the analysis of how certain factors may be managed. Findings: We have found the assimilation of web-based e-commerce to be a complex and iterative process that involves several interconnected factors which organizations manage in various ways. Seventeen factors within the technological, organizational and environmental contexts were identified to be relevant in the different phases of the assimilation process. A discussion regarding how these factors may be managed is conducted, including some indications on what approaches seem to be more or less viable. Practical Implications: Managers may use the findings of this study as guidance in their webbased e-commerce assimilation process. Originality/value: This study contributes with qualitative research on which factors affect the entire assimilation process of web-based e-commerce and how the factors may be managed. Paper Category: Master ThesisIntroduktion: Användningen av webbaserad e-handel i business-to-business-företag ökar, men många företag som redan har implementerat detta har misslyckats med att använda dess fulla potential. Samtidigt har forskningen huvudsakligen fokuserat på att kvantitativt studera faktorer som påverkar själva implementationen, medan aspekter rörande den efterföljande användningen av e-handeln har lämnats outforskade. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att bidra med kunskap kring hanteringen gällande hela processen, från initiering till implementation till att slutligen uppnå ett utbrett användande av den webbaserade e-handeln i business-to-business företag. Metod: Studien utreder vilka faktorer som påverkar processen, var i processen de är relevanta och hur de kan hanteras. Genom intervjuer genomfördes en komparativ fallstudie mellan sex stycken stora företag i Sverige. Företagens hantering av faktorerna jämfördes sinsemellan, samt med tidigare forskning inom implementation och hantering av e-handel. Detta jämfördes dessutom med teorier inom förändringsledning för att styrka analysen angående hur processen skulle kunna genomföras. Resultat: I vår studie har vi sett att den kringliggande processen runt implementationen av webbaserad e-handel är komplex och iterativ, samt att den har hanterats med varierande tillvägagångssätt. 17 faktorer inom tekniska-, organisatoriska- och miljösammanhang har hittats relevanta för de olika faserna i processen. Slutligen har det förts en diskussion angående hur dessa faktorer skulle kunna hanteras, samt indikationer på vilka tillvägagångssätt som verkar mer eller mindre gångbara. Praktisk Betydelse: Chefer och ledare kan använda resultaten och slutsatserna från denna studie som handledning under deras process för implementation av webbaserad e-handel i business-tobusiness-företag. Originalitet/Värde: Denna studie bidrar med kvalitativ forskning angående vilka faktorer som påverkar den organisatoriska processen för implementation av webbaserad e-handel samt hur dessa faktorer skulle kunna hanteras. Rapporttyp: Examensarbete, avancerad nivå

Hantering av organisatoriska faktorer i teknisk assimilering för webbaserad business-to-business e-handel

Introduction: The use of Web-based Business-to-Business E-commerce is increasing, however many companies who previously adopted e-commerce technology have failed to utilize it. Meanwhile, research has mostly focused on quantitative research regarding factors affecting the adoption of e-commerce, leaving a research gap regarding the routinization of the technology. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide knowledge regarding the management of the entire web-based business-to-business e-commerce assimilation process from initiation, to adoption and routinization. Method: The study addresses which factors affect the assimilation process, where in the process they are relevant and how they may be managed. A multiple case study with six large companies has been conducted through semi-structured interviews. The cases were compared to each other, as well as to previous research within e-business and/or e-commerce assimilation and adoption. Furthermore, change management literature has been used to aid the analysis of how certain factors may be managed. Findings: We have found the assimilation of web-based e-commerce to be a complex and iterative process that involves several interconnected factors which organizations manage in various ways. Seventeen factors within the technological, organizational and environmental contexts were identified to be relevant in the different phases of the assimilation process. A discussion regarding how these factors may be managed is conducted, including some indications on what approaches seem to be more or less viable. Practical Implications: Managers may use the findings of this study as guidance in their webbased e-commerce assimilation process. Originality/value: This study contributes with qualitative research on which factors affect the entire assimilation process of web-based e-commerce and how the factors may be managed. Paper Category: Master ThesisIntroduktion: Användningen av webbaserad e-handel i business-to-business-företag ökar, men många företag som redan har implementerat detta har misslyckats med att använda dess fulla potential. Samtidigt har forskningen huvudsakligen fokuserat på att kvantitativt studera faktorer som påverkar själva implementationen, medan aspekter rörande den efterföljande användningen av e-handeln har lämnats outforskade. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att bidra med kunskap kring hanteringen gällande hela processen, från initiering till implementation till att slutligen uppnå ett utbrett användande av den webbaserade e-handeln i business-to-business företag. Metod: Studien utreder vilka faktorer som påverkar processen, var i processen de är relevanta och hur de kan hanteras. Genom intervjuer genomfördes en komparativ fallstudie mellan sex stycken stora företag i Sverige. Företagens hantering av faktorerna jämfördes sinsemellan, samt med tidigare forskning inom implementation och hantering av e-handel. Detta jämfördes dessutom med teorier inom förändringsledning för att styrka analysen angående hur processen skulle kunna genomföras. Resultat: I vår studie har vi sett att den kringliggande processen runt implementationen av webbaserad e-handel är komplex och iterativ, samt att den har hanterats med varierande tillvägagångssätt. 17 faktorer inom tekniska-, organisatoriska- och miljösammanhang har hittats relevanta för de olika faserna i processen. Slutligen har det förts en diskussion angående hur dessa faktorer skulle kunna hanteras, samt indikationer på vilka tillvägagångssätt som verkar mer eller mindre gångbara. Praktisk Betydelse: Chefer och ledare kan använda resultaten och slutsatserna från denna studie som handledning under deras process för implementation av webbaserad e-handel i business-tobusiness-företag. Originalitet/Värde: Denna studie bidrar med kvalitativ forskning angående vilka faktorer som påverkar den organisatoriska processen för implementation av webbaserad e-handel samt hur dessa faktorer skulle kunna hanteras. Rapporttyp: Examensarbete, avancerad nivå

Effect of age on the contractile response of the rat carotid artery in the presence of sympathetic drugs and L-NAME

For evaluating the age-related change in noradrenaline (NA)-induced contraction of isolated rat carotid artery (CA), the effect of α and β adrenoreceptor (AR) blockers and the role of nitric oxide (NO) were investigated. Methods: Concentration-response curves to NA (10−10–10−4 M) and α1 agonist phenylephrine (PE; 10−10–10−5 M) were constructed in isolated CA rings from young and middle-aged rats. The effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor (L-NAME; 100 μM), α1-AR antagonist (prazosin; 0.1 μM), α2-AR antagonist (yohimbine; 0.1 μM) and β-AR antagonist (propranolol; 1 μM) on NA-induced contraction of isolated CA rings were examined. In CA rings preconstricted with NA, the responses to α2-AR agonist (clonidine; 10−7–10−5 M), β-AR agonist (isoprenaline; 10−8–10−5 M),), sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 10−9–10−5 M) were assessed. Results: The maximum contractile response of CA to NA and to PE was higher in younger than in middle-aged rats. Prazosin reduced the contractile response to NA in both groups, while propranolol, yohimbine and L-NAME did not affect NA-induced contraction in either of them. Clonidine, isoprenaline and SNP produced a dose-dependent vasorelaxation of CA rings, isoprenaline-induced vasodilatation was lower in middle-aged rats, while there was no difference in clonidine or SNP-induced relaxant effect between the two groups. Conclusions: NA-induced contraction of isolated rat CA rings is decreased in old rats, this is related to α1-AR. β-AR mediated dilatation was compromised in middle-aged rats (endothelium-dependent). α2-AR and SNP-mediated dilator effect seems to be unchanged

Purification, characterization and immunogenicity assessment of glutaminase free L-asparaginase from Streptomyces brollosae NEAE-115

Abstract Background L-asparaginase is a potential therapeutic enzyme widely used in the chemotherapy protocols of pediatric and adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, its use has been limited by a high rate of hypersensitivity in the long-term used. Hence, there is a continuing need to search for other L-asparaginase sources capable of producing an enzyme with less adverse effects. Methods Production of extracellular L-asparaginase by Streptomyces brollosae NEAE-115 was carried out using submerged fermentation. L-asparaginase was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and pure enzyme was reached using ion-exchange chromatography, followed by enzyme characterization. Anticancer activity towards Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells was investigated in female Swiss albino mice by determination of tumor size and the degree of tumor growth inhibition. The levels of anti-L-asparaginase IgG antibodies in mice sera were measured using ELISA method. Results The purified L-asparaginase showed a total activity of 795.152 with specific activity of 76.671 U/mg protein and 7.835 − purification fold. The enzyme purity was confirmed by using SDS–PAGE separation which revealed only one distinctive band with a molecular weight of 67 KDa. The enzyme showed maximum activity at pH 8.5, optimum temperature of 37 °C, incubation time of 50 min and optimum substrate concentration of 7 mM. A Michaelis-Menten constant analysis showed a Km value of 2.139 × 10− 3 M with L-asparagine as substrate and Vmax of 152.6 UmL− 1 min− 1. The half-life time (T1/2) was 65.02 min at 50°С, while being 62.65 min at 60°С. Furthermore, mice treated with Streptomyces brollosae NEAE-115 L-asparaginase showed higher cytotoxic effect (79% tumor growth inhibition) when compared to commercial L-asparaginase group (67% tumor growth inhibition). Conclusions The study reveals the excellent property of this enzyme which makes it highly valuable for development of chemotherapeutic drug