Induction of Human Embryonic stem cell derived retinal stem cells in vitro using transient overexpression of messenger RNA for BLIMP, ONECUT1 and OTX2

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Generation of Transplantable Retinal Photoreceptors from a Current Good Manufacturing Practice-Manufactured Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Line.

Retinal degeneration often results in the loss of light-sensing photoreceptors, which leads to permanent vision loss. Generating transplantable retinal photoreceptors using human somatic cell-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) holds promise to treat a variety of retinal degenerative diseases by replacing the damaged or dysfunctional native photoreceptors with healthy and functional ones. Establishment of effective methods to produce retinal cells including photoreceptors in chemically defined conditions using current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP)-manufactured human iPSC lines is critical for advancing cell replacement therapy to the clinic. In this study, we used a human iPSC line (NCL-1) derived under cGMP-compliant conditions from CD34+ cord blood cells. The cells were differentiated into retinal cells using a small molecule-based retinal induction protocol. We show that retinal cells including photoreceptors, retinal pigmented epithelial cells and optic cup-like retinal organoids can be generated from the NCL-1 iPSC line. Additionally, we show that following subretinal transplantation into immunodeficient host mouse eyes, retinal cells successfully integrated into the photoreceptor layer and developed into mature photoreceptors. This study provides strong evidence that transplantable photoreceptors can be generated from a cGMP-manufactured human iPSC line for clinical applications. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2018;7:210-219

La Mordedura de colas en producción porcina : Efectos sobre el bienestar animal y la calidad del producto

La caudofagia representa un problema de gran importancia y está presente en la mayoría de las granjas de explotaciones porcinas intensivas a nivel mundial, afectando de forma negativa el bienestar animal y la productividad. Este estudio se llevó a cabo por medio de revisiones bibliográficas, así como observaciones directas en una granja con una explotación porcina intensiva ubicada en Girona, la cual requirió un análisis situacional acerca del bienestar en sus animales, tomando en cuenta que en el pasado tuvo problemas relacionados con caudofagia; sin embargo, durante el trabajo de campo realizado en dicha granja, no se registraron hallazgos de mordeduras (cola, orejas y laterales). Los principales factores de riesgo de las mordeduras de cola están muy ligados a la falta de material de enriquecimiento y suelos de cemento, mala ventilación (fluctuaciones importantes de temperaturas, concentración de amoníaco elevada), densidades altas, problemas gastrointestinales, salud inadecuada, dieta subóptima o desequilibrada, factores individuales (edad, genética). La caudofagia puede tener efectos adversos sobre las características de la canal y la calidad del producto final, reduciendo el tiempo de crecimiento y cebo asociados a problemas de salud, lo cual supone graves pérdidas económicas para el sector de la carne de cerdo por canales dañadas y decomiso de canales al momento del sacrificio. La producción porcina debe manejarse con mucho conocimiento y especialización, de manera que los encargados o el personal de las instalaciones son fundamentales para actuar de forma oportuna y eficaz, enfocándose en el bienestar animal para la correcta prevención de este mal comportamiento, basados en las normas de densidades máximas permitidas con el propósito de minimizar riesgos de aparición de caudofagia, así como lograr la optimización de los recursos.Caudofagia represents a problem of great importance and is present in most farms of intensive pig farms worldwide, negatively affecting animal welfare and productivity. This study was carried out through bibliographic reviews, as well as direct observations on a farm with an intensive pig farm located in Girona, which required a situational analysis about the welfare of its animals, taking into account that in the past it had problems related to tailbug; however, during the field work carried out on the farm, no bite findings (tail, ears and sides) were recorded. The main risk factors of tail bites are closely linked to the lack of enrichment material and cement floors, poor ventilation (significant temperature fluctuations, high ammonia concentration), high densities and large groups, gastrointestinal problems, inadequate health , suboptimal or unbalanced diet, individual factors (age, genetics). Caudofagia can have adverse effects on the characteristics of the carcass and the quality of the final product, reducing the time of growth and baiting associated with health problems, which supposes serious economic losses for the pork sector by damaged channels and seizure of channels at the time of sacrifice. Swine production must be managed with much knowledge and specialization, so that the managers or the personnel of the facilities are fundamental to act in a timely and effective way, focusing on animal welfare for the correct prevention of this bad behavior, based on the norms of maximum allowed densities with the purpose of minimizing risk of the appearance of tailbusting, as well as achieving the optimization of resources

Why does the adverse effect of inappropriate MRI for LBP vary by geographic location? An exploratory analysis

BACKGROUND: Early magnetic resonance imaging (eMRI) for nonspecific low back pain (LBP) not adherent to clinical guidelines is linked with prolonged work disability. Although the prevalence of eMRI for occupational LBP varies substantially among states, it is unknown whether the risk of prolonged disability associated with eMRI varies according to individual and area-level characteristics. The aim was to explore whether the known risk of increased length of disability (LOD) associated with eMRI scanning not adherent to guidelines for occupational LBP varies according to patient and area-level characteristics, and the potential reasons for any observed variations. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 59,360 LBP cases from 49 states, filed between 2002 and 2008, and examined LOD as the outcome. LBP cases with at least 1 day of work disability were identified by reviewing indemnity service records and medical bills using a comprehensive list of codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition (ICD-9) indicating LBP or nonspecific back pain, excluding medically complicated cases. RESULTS: We found significant between-state variations in the negative impact of eMRI on LOD ranging from 3.4 days in Tennessee to 14.8 days in New Hampshire. Higher negative impact of eMRI on LOD was mainly associated with female gender, state workers\u27 compensation (WC) policy not limiting initial treating provider choice, higher state orthopedic surgeon density, and lower state MRI facility density. CONCLUSION: State WC policies regulating selection of healthcare provider and structural factors affecting quality of medical care modify the impact of eMRI not adherent to guidelines. Targeted healthcare and work disability prevention interventions may improve work disability outcomes in patients with occupational LBP

The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. Methods: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. Results and Conclusion: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events

Differential cross section measurements for the production of a W boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Measurements are reported of differential cross sections for the production of a W boson, which decays into a muon and a neutrino, in association with jets, as a function of several variables, including the transverse momenta (pT) and pseudorapidities of the four leading jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT), and the difference in azimuthal angle between the directions of each jet and the muon. The data sample of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV was collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb[superscript −1]. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo generators, MadGraph + pythia and sherpa, and to next-to-leading-order calculations from BlackHat + sherpa. The differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the predictions, apart from the pT distributions of the leading jets at high pT values, the distributions of the HT at high-HT and low jet multiplicity, and the distribution of the difference in azimuthal angle between the leading jet and the muon at low values.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Alfred P. Sloan Foundatio

Optimasi Portofolio Resiko Menggunakan Model Markowitz MVO Dikaitkan dengan Keterbatasan Manusia dalam Memprediksi Masa Depan dalam Perspektif Al-Qur`an

Risk portfolio on modern finance has become increasingly technical, requiring the use of sophisticated mathematical tools in both research and practice. Since companies cannot insure themselves completely against risk, as human incompetence in predicting the future precisely that written in Al-Quran surah Luqman verse 34, they have to manage it to yield an optimal portfolio. The objective here is to minimize the variance among all portfolios, or alternatively, to maximize expected return among all portfolios that has at least a certain expected return. Furthermore, this study focuses on optimizing risk portfolio so called Markowitz MVO (Mean-Variance Optimization). Some theoretical frameworks for analysis are arithmetic mean, geometric mean, variance, covariance, linear programming, and quadratic programming. Moreover, finding a minimum variance portfolio produces a convex quadratic programming, that is minimizing the objective function ðð¥with constraintsð ð 𥠥 ðandð´ð¥ = ð. The outcome of this research is the solution of optimal risk portofolio in some investments that could be finished smoothly using MATLAB R2007b software together with its graphic analysis

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Search for stop and higgsino production using diphoton Higgs boson decays

Results are presented of a search for a "natural" supersymmetry scenario with gauge mediated symmetry breaking. It is assumed that only the supersymmetric partners of the top-quark (stop) and the Higgs boson (higgsino) are accessible. Events are examined in which there are two photons forming a Higgs boson candidate, and at least two b-quark jets. In 19.7 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collision data at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, recorded in the CMS experiment, no evidence of a signal is found and lower limits at the 95% confidence level are set, excluding the stop mass below 360 to 410 GeV, depending on the higgsino mass