Analysis and visualization of Arabidopsis thaliana GWAS using web 2.0 technologies

With large-scale genomic data becoming the norm in biological studies, the storing, integrating, viewing and searching of such data have become a major challenge. In this article, we describe the development of an Arabidopsis thaliana database that hosts the geographic information and genetic polymorphism data for over 6000 accessions and genome-wide association study (GWAS) results for 107 phenotypes representing the largest collection of Arabidopsis polymorphism data and GWAS results to date. Taking advantage of a series of the latest web 2.0 technologies, such as Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML), GWT (Google-Web-Toolkit), MVC (Model-View-Controller) web framework and Object Relationship Mapper, we have created a web-based application (web app) for the database, that offers an integrated and dynamic view of geographic information, genetic polymorphism and GWAS results. Essential search functionalities are incorporated into the web app to aid reverse genetics research. The database and its web app have proven to be a valuable resource to the Arabidopsis community. The whole framework serves as an example of how biological data, especially GWAS, can be presented and accessed through the web. In the end, we illustrate the potential to gain new insights through the web app by two examples, showcasing how it can be used to facilitate forward and reverse genetics research. Database URL: http://arabidopsis.usc.edu

Does type of hospital ownership influence physicians' daily work schedules? An observational real-time study in German hospital departments

Background: During the last two decades the German hospital sector has been engaged in a constant process of transformation. One obvious sign of this is the growing amount of hospital privatization. To date, most research studies have focused on the effects of privatization regarding financial outcomes and quality of care, leaving important organizational issues unexplored. Yet little attention has been devoted to the effects of privatization on physicians' working routines. The aim of this observational real-time study is to deliver exact data about physicians' work at hospitals of different ownership. By analysing working hours, further impacts of hospital privatization can be assessed and areas of improvement identified. Methods: Observations were made by shadowing 100 physicians working in private, for-profit or non-profit as well as public hospital departments individually during whole weekday shifts in urban German settings. A total of 300 days of observations were conducted. All working activities were recorded, accurate to the second, by using a mobile personal computer. Results: Results have shown significant differences in physicians' working activities, depending on hospital ownership, concerning working hours and time spent on direct and indirect patient care. Conclusion: This is the first real-time analysis on differences in work activities depending on hospital ownership. The study provides an objective insight into physicians' daily work routines at hospitals of different ownership, with additional information on effects of hospital privatization

Therapeutic targeting of cathepsin C::from pathophysiology to treatment

Cathepsin C (CatC) is a highly conserved tetrameric lysosomal cysteine dipeptidyl aminopeptidase. The best characterized physiological function of CatC is the activation of pro-inflammatory granule-associated serine proteases. These proteases are synthesized as inactive zymogens containing an N-terminal pro-dipeptide, which maintains the zymogen in its inactive conformation and prevents premature activation, which is potentially toxic to the cell. The activation of serine protease zymogens occurs through cleavage of the N-terminal dipeptide by CatC during cell maturation in the bone marrow. In vivo data suggest that pharmacological inhibition of pro-inflammatory serine proteases would suppress or attenuate deleterious effects of inflammatory/auto-immune disorders mediated by these proteases. The pathological deficiency in CatC is associated with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome. The patients however do not present marked immunodeficiency despite the absence of active serine proteases in immune defense cells. Hence, the transitory pharmacological blockade of CatC activity in the precursor cells of the bone marrow may represent an attractive therapeutic strategy to regulate activity of serine proteases in inflammatory and immunologic conditions. A variety of CatC inhibitors have been developed both by pharmaceutical companies and academic investigators, some of which are currently being employed and evaluated in preclinical/clinical trials

Influenza dello stress da caldo sulla secrezione di leptina in capre di razza Saanen

International audienc

The effect of ethical work climate on the organizational citizenship behavior of academic nurses

Aim This study demonstrates the effect of academic nurses' perceptions of ethical work climate on their organizational citizenship behaviour. Background Establishing healthy relationships in organizations and ensuring organizational effectiveness depend on workers' perception of organizational ethics and voluntary behaviours that improve their organizations. Methods This study was conducted with 644 academic nurses working in public institutions of higher education that offer nursing education at the undergraduate level in Turkey. The data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics form, the Ethical Climate Scale and the Organizational Citizenship Behaviour Scale. The data were evaluated using statistical software. Approvals for the study were obtained from the institutions and their ethics committees, and the participants' consent was obtained. Results This study found there was a significant relationship between academic nurses' perception of ethical work climate and their organizational citizenship behaviour. Ethical work climate based on social responsibility had the most effect on organizational citizenship behaviour. Conclusions Academic nurses' perceptions of ethical work climate affect their organizational citizenship behaviour. Implications for Nursing Policy Academic nurses should act in accordance with the laws and both professional and personal moral codes in the work environment, take into account team and institutional interests, be aware of their social responsibilities and be efficient. In this way, they can provide an ethical work environment and be a good organizational citizen based on volunteering and courtesy, thinking about team members, acting with advanced task awareness and supporting the development of the organization

Light Induced Curing (LIC) of Passivation Layers Deposited on Native Silicon Oxide

AbstractThis work presents a novel insight to the aspects of silicon surface passivation and the influence of thin intermediate layers generated by chemically grown silicon oxides. Strong light induced effects on passivation properties are investigated. After exposure to light (0.25 suns) for about 60 s, samples based on a PECVD layer system consisting of SiNx and SiO2 deposited on crystalline silicon with native silicon oxides show an improvement of more than 100% in minority carrier lifetime. These improvements are stable over months and lead to effective surface recombination velocities as low as 10cm/s on chemically polished p-type FZ wafers. With the use of different light sources, corona charging and annealing experiments the effect is investigated in detail. Finally, the effect is proposed to be a photo induced curing process of defects in the Si/SiO2 interface with the incorporation of hydrogen

Influence of heat stress or feed restriction on plasma progesterone, oestradiol-17 beta, LH, FSH, prolactin and cortisol in Holstein heifers

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of heat stress and feed restriction on hormonal secretion (progesterone, oestradiol-17 beta, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin and cortisol) in Holstein heifers. Ten pubertal heifers were divided into two groups of five (A and B) and housed in climatic chambers. After a pre-experimental period, the heifers were synchronised for oestrus and monitored for three (group B) or four (group A) consecutive oestrus cycles (OC). In the first OC, both groups were maintained under thermal comfort (TC) and fed on an ad libitum basis. In the second OC, group A was maintained under TC whereas group B was exposed to high air temperatures (HAT); both groups were fed on an ad libitum basis. In the third OC and until day 17 of the fourth OC, group A was kept under TC and fed a restricted diet (the same ration ingested by group B under HAT). At the end of HAT exposure, group B was removed from the study. Exposure to HAT caused development of ovarian cysts in two heifers, an increase in plasma concentrations of prolactin, a decrease in concentrations of cortisol and progesterone, and a 23% reduction in dry matter intake. Feed restriction did not modify any of the parameters considered. Results of this study indicated that the effects of HAT on the above parameters are not altered by a reduction in feed intake. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved