Could Somebody Call a Doctor--On-Call Physicians and the Duty to Treat

The law of negligence imposes few affirmative duties on actors in society. In the medical profession specifically, negligence law traditionally contains no requirement that a physician provide medical treatment to those in need absent an existing relationship between the doctor and patient. Yet there has long been the sense that doctors owe a higher duty to the public, and courts are finding ways to redefine the doctor-patient relationship to allow plaintiffs greater access to claims for a physician’s failure to render care. In Millard v. Corrado, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Easter District of Missouri provides plaintiffs with two new potential avenues of recovery when an on-call physician fails or refuses to treat: (1) a traditional medical malpractice claim, even though the physician had not contact with the plaintiff, and (2) a claim for general negligence based on public policy and the foreseeability of harm

Cultural clusters as a local economic development strategy in rural, small town areas: the Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape of South Africa

It is increasingly recognized that the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) can play an important role in economic growth and development. Governments around the world, including South Africa, are implementing culture‐led economic growth and development strategies on national and regional scales. CCIs tend to cluster around large cities because of existing hard and soft infrastructure such as networking advantages and access to skilled labour, however, much less is known about the potential of the CCIs to drive rural development. This thesis thus investigates the potential of the CCIs to cluster in small towns and rural areas. Moreover, it examines the relationship between the CCIs and socio‐economic development. The CCIs have been touted as a catalyst for economic growth and development and so have often been used in urban regeneration schemes. The Sarah Baartman District (SBD) of South Africa’s Eastern Cape has identified culture as a potential new economic driver. Establishing a new development path is necessary as the former economic mainstay, agriculture, has declined in the region, creating poverty and unemployment problems. However, the SBD has only small towns which, according to the literature, are not suited to CCI clustering. Despite this, there is evidence of cultural clustering in some of the SBD’s small towns like Nieu Bethesda and Bathurst. This research therefore conducted an audit of the CCIs in the district and used geographic information systems (GIS) to map their locations by UNESCO Framework of Cultural Statistics (FCS) domains in order to determine the extent to which clustering has occurred in a small town setting. The audit identified 1 048 CCIs operating in the district and determined that clustering is possible within some small towns, depending on their demographic, economic, social, geographic and historic characteristics. For small towns where clusters exist or the potential for cluster formation is present, the domains in which the town holds a comparative advantage, based on domain proportions and location quotients, should be pursued for local economic development (LED). In this case, Visual Arts and Crafts and Cultural Heritage were prominent throughout the district while Design and Creative Services and Performance and Celebration had small regional concentrations. Theory suggests that the presence of CCIs is linked to higher levels of economic development as the creative class is more likely to be attracted to more highly developed areas, usually large cities. Furthermore, spillover effects from cultural activity promotes further development under the virtuous cycle. To investigate the relationship between CCI clusters and socio‐economic development, the locational data of municipal level CCI numbers is overlaid with a regional development indicator, a socio‐economic status index, which is based on census data and includes economic and social components. Results show that there is a general positive trend of CCIs locating in larger numbers (clustering) in areas with higher socio‐economic development performances

ISBDD model for classification of hyperspectral remote sensing imagery

The diverse density (DD) algorithm was proposed to handle the problem of low classification accuracy when training samples contain interference such as mixed pixels. The DD algorithm can learn a feature vector from training bags, which comprise instances (pixels). However, the feature vector learned by the DD algorithm cannot always effectively represent one type of ground cover. To handle this problem, an instance space-based diverse density (ISBDD) model that employs a novel training strategy is proposed in this paper. In the ISBDD model, DD values of each pixel are computed instead of learning a feature vector, and as a result, the pixel can be classified according to its DD values. Airborne hyperspectral data collected by the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) sensor and the Push-broom Hyperspectral Imager (PHI) are applied to evaluate the performance of the proposed model. Results show that the overall classification accuracy of ISBDD model on the AVIRIS and PHI images is up to 97.65% and 89.02%, respectively, while the kappa coefficient is up to 0.97 and 0.88, respectively

Heterologous expression of the gcc gene cluster and subsequent characterisation of the glycocin F biosynthetic pathway : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biochemistry at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand

The rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has motivated research into new treatments to prevent the resurgence of infectious and deadly diseases. GccF is a diglycosylated, 43-amino acid, bacteriostatic peptide produced by the generally regarded as safe bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum KW30. It is active against many Lactobacillus plantarum strains as well as the pathogens Enterococcus faecium and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis, stopping the growth of susceptible species at low (1-20 nM) concentrations within 2 minutes. Understanding this novel bacteriostatic mechanism could provide a blueprint for the design of a new family of antibiotics. Reported here is the development of an easily modifiable 11.2-kbp plasmid-based heterologous expression system of the gcc cluster that is capable of producing active GccF in L. plantarum NC8 and Lactobacillus sakei 790. Expression of the gccF gene relies on the promotors found naturally within the cluster and results in the production of active GccF matching the concentration produced by the native host. Additionally, the activity of the GccF produced by this system is identical to that of the native producer with 2 nM being sufficient to inhibit the growth of L. plantarum ATCC 8014 by 50 %. Mutations introduced within the coding sequence of five of the cluster genes (gccA and gccC-F), confirmed their roles in the production and maturation of GccF that had previously been predicted using bioinformatic analyses

Targeting a custom-engineered flavonoid to the mitochondria protects against acute oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is caused when there are more reactive oxygen species (ROS), than antioxidants to scavenge them, resulting in damage to cellular components. It has been implicated as a major player at multiple points in the disease process of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and many other conditions. For example, evidence suggests oxidative damage to the α-synuclein protein may affect its aggregation propensity. In addition, α-synuclein may increase ROS production. However, how this oxidative stress relates to neurodegeneration is not known. Therefore, there is a need for models of α-synucleinopathies and tools to assess the involvement of oxidative stress in the disease process. In order to model α-synucleinopathies, overexpression of the α-synuclein protein was used. A BacMam viral expression system containing human α-synuclein was generated and used to assess toxicity. α-Synuclein overexpression in undifferentiated or differentiated SH-SY5Y cells failed to show toxicity. However, the stability of α-synuclein protein expression and the cell line used may have influenced in the lack of toxicity. The current work provides important guidance for future experimental design. Flavonoids are found in plants and have antioxidant capability. AO-1-530 is a synthetic compound with a flavonoid head group and a long hydrocarbon tail. It is highly cell permeable and localises to the mitochondria. In order to investigate its protective properties, toxin-induced oxidative stress cell assays were established. AO-1-530, in the low micromolar range, was protective against high doses of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP), whereas natural antioxidants, such as myricetin and quercetin, showed limited protection or required at least 10-fold higher concentrations to achieve similar protection. The ability of AO-1-530 to directly scavenge radicals was assessed cell-free in solution and in a cell-based assay. In solution the mechanism of action was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. AO-1-530 had similar scavenging ability to myricetin, but was a slightly stronger scavenger than quercetin. The intracellular scavenging ability was quantified by CellROX® Deep Red live imaging. Although the compounds had similar cell-free scavenging abilities, AO-1-530 significantly out-performed both myricetin and quercetin in the intracellular assay, suggesting the mitochondrial localisation is critical to its highly protective properties. AO-1-530 is a powerful, novel tool to study the involvement of oxidative stress in diverse disease models

Opening Pandora's Box: Exploring Educators' Conceptions of Culture and Multicultural Education

This case study explores educators' conceptions of culture and multicultural education in four schools (three elementary and one middle), in a relatively large urban district in the state of New Mexico, where multicultural education policies have been in place and supported since the early 1970s. A great deal has been written regarding both effective pedagogical practices and the relationship between educators' beliefs about their students (racial biases, setting high expectations, etc.) and their students' academic success. However, understanding the forces that influence and shape local educators' conceptions of culture and multicultural education remains a relatively unexplored area. Because the purpose of multicultural education has always been to increase equity for students from non-dominant backgrounds or, in other words, those who are more likely to be negatively impacted by teacher bias and reductive notions of culture, this omission needed to be addressed. In order to study these influences, interviews with two focal teachers at each of four participating schools, the principals of all four schools, and district level administrators were used as the primary data source; however, there were observations, additional interviews, and two focus groups as data sources as well. The results of the analysis indicated that educators' conceptions of culture and multicultural education are most significantly influenced by personal experiences. Further, the data suggested that certain types of experiences related to the development of particular conceptions of culture and understandings of learning. In related analyses to explore whether these educators' conceptions were connected to their pedagogical practices in predictable ways, the data suggested that educators' chose and implemented multicultural education practices idiosyncratically. In other words, their reported practices were not necessarily consistent with their reported conceptions of culture and multicultural education. These findings may be particularly useful for teacher preparation and professional development programs as they illuminate potential entry points for helping prospective and current teachers develop more robust notions of culture and better understand its central role in learning processes. Based on the study results, I suggest that multicultural education programs, practices, and policies, could potentially be more effective if they were based on robust conceptions of culture and were more tightly aligned to expansive theories of learning such as sociocultural theory

Evaluation of an initiative providing omega-3 rich snacks to preschool children in a deprived area of Edinburgh

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Pregnancy Protects Hyperandrogenemic Female Rats from Postmenopausal Hypertension

Polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, is characterized by hyperandrogenemia, obesity, insulin resistance, and elevated blood pressure. However, few studies have focused on the consequences of pregnancy on postmenopausal cardiovascular disease and hypertension in polycystic ovary syndrome women. In hyperandrogenemic female (HAF) rats, the hypothesis was tested that previous pregnancy protects against age-related hypertension. Rats were implanted with dihydrotestosterone (7.5 mg/90 days, beginning at 4 weeks and continued throughout life) or placebo pellets (controls), became pregnant at 10 to 15 weeks, and pups were weaned at postnatal day 21. Dams and virgins were then aged to 10 months (still estrous cycling) or 16 months (postcycling). Although numbers of offspring per litter were similar for HAF and control dams, birth weights were lower in HAF offspring. At 10 months of age, there were no differences in blood pressure, proteinuria, nitrate/nitrite excretion, or body composition in previously pregnant HAF versus virgin HAF. However, by 16 months of age, despite no differences in dihydrotestosterone, fat mass/or lean mass/body weight, previously pregnant HAF had significantly lower blood pressure and proteinuria, higher nitrate/nitrite excretion, with increased intrarenal mRNA expression of endothelin B receptor and eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase), and decreased ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme), AT1aR (angiotensin 1a receptor), and endothelin A receptor than virgin HAF. Thus, pregnancy protects HAF rats against age-related hypertension, and the mechanism(s) may be due to differential regulation of the nitric oxide, endothelin, and renin-angiotensin systems. These data suggest that polycystic ovary syndrome women who have experienced uncomplicated pregnancy may be protected from postmenopausal hypertension.Fil: Shawky, Noha M.. University Of Mississippi Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Patil, Chetan N.. Medical College Of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Dalmasso, Carolina. University of Kentucky; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Grupo Vinculado Centro de Investigación en Medicina Traslacional Severo R. Amuchástegui - Cimetsa | Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Grupo Vinculado Centro de Investigación en Medicina Traslacional Severo R. Amuchástegui - Cimetsa | Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Grupo Vinculado Centro de Investigación en Medicina Traslacional Severo R. Amuchástegui - Cimetsa; ArgentinaFil: Marañón, Rodrigo Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Romero, Damián Gastón. University Of Mississippi Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Drummond, Heather. University Of Mississippi Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Reckelhoff, Jane F.. University Of Mississippi Medical Center; Estados Unido

A multicentre randomised controlled trial of day hospital-based falls prevention programme for a screened population of community-dwelling older people at high risk of falls

Objective: to determine the clinical effectiveness of a day hospital-delivered multifactorial falls prevention programme, for community-dwelling older people at high risk of future falls identified through a screening process