Q-Griffithsin interactions and utility for the prevention and treatment of Mucosal infections.

Griffithsin (GRFT) is a carbohydrate binding agent (lectin) that was originally identified in the red alga Griffithsia sp. Q-Griffithsin (Q-GRFT) is an oxidation stable analog of GRFT. GRFT has demonstrated inhibitory activity against HIV-1, Coronaviruses, Hepatitis C, influenza and Ebola viruses. The broad-spectrum activity suggests the potential utility of this lectin in a wide range of viral infections. However, the lectin’s activity in mucosal infections has not been extensively studied. Using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo assays, we have demonstrated that Q-GRFT maintains the ability to bind glycosylated ligands following incubation in murine, macaque and human rectal fluids. Additionally, we demonstrated the first reported in vitro findings of antifungal activity by Q-GRFT. Furthermore, in murine prophylaxis and therapeutic infection models, Q-GRFT was efficacious against vaginal candidiasis. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have demonstrated that in engineered human cornea and airway epithelia, repeated topical application resulted in Q-GRFT accumulation in mucosal tissues. In addition, in a human cadaver study, intranasal administration resulted in adequate drug dispersion on the nasal, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal cavities, with the drug detected in fluids collected from these anatomic sites. These findings support the development of a protocol for a Phase 1a first-in-human intranasal Q-GRFT administration to evaluate safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of the drug product for pre-exposure prophylaxis against coronaviruses. Altogether, these data demonstrated Q-GRFT’s stability in the mucosal environment and support its incorporation in multipurpose STI prevention modalities given the novel antifungal activity. Epithelial accumulation and ability to detect Q-GRFT in nasal specimens supports the feasibility of successfully performing the Phase 1a study and future drug development as a prophylaxis against coronaviruses

Digital financial inclusion and fiscal solvency in Uganda’s local governments: A review of regulation mediation

Fiscal solvency has become a popular phenomenon in numerous decentralizing countries in recent years. The ability to mobilize adequate revenue to fund expenditure in a given budget period, and provide public goods and services, makes fiscal solvency very pertinent, especially in local government. However, policy, practice, and research, claim that most local entities, both in the developed and developing world, rarely achieve required fiscal solvency standards. While no clear explanation of the problem abounds, digital financial inclusion dominates the ongoing debate. Besides, regulation is also considered a very crucial factor for fiscal solvency. This study examines the probable mediation effect regulation has on the digital financial inclusion-fiscal solvency relationship in local governments in Uganda, East Africa. Based on a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 21 districts, nine municipalities, and many sub-counties in the country’s post-conflict northern regions. The data were then subjected to structural equation modeling analysis. Its findings reveal that digital financial inclusion explains changes in fiscal solvency in surveyed local governments. Moreover, regulation has an indirect influence on the digital financial inclusion-fiscal solvency formation. Findings implications to practice and theory are discussed, and future research direction is provide

Identification of Potential Plasma Protein Biomarkers for Feline Pancreatic Carcinoma by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

In both humans and cats, pancreatic carcinoma is an aggressive cancer with a grave prognosis. Proteomics techniques have successfully identified several blood-based biomarkers of human pancreatic neoplasia. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether similar biomarkers can be identified in the plasma of cats with FePAC by using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). To facilitate evaluation of the low abundance plasma proteome, a human-based immunodepletion device (MARS-2) was first validated for use with feline plasma. Marked reduction and/or complete removal of albumin and immunoglobulins was confirmed by analysis of electrophoretograms and mass spectral data. Subsequently, plasma collected from 9 cats with pancreatic carcinoma (FePAC), 10 cats with symptomatic pancreatitis, and 10 healthy control cats was immunodepleted and subjected to LC-MS/MS. Thirty-seven plasma proteins were found to be differentially expressed (p2 in fold change analysis). Among these proteins, ETS variant transcription factor 4 (p<0.05) was overexpressed, while gelsolin (p<0.01), tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (p<0.05), serpin family F member 1 (p<0.01), apolipoprotein A-IV (p<0.01), and phosphatidylinositol-glycan-specific phospholipase D (p<0.05) were down-regulated in cats with FePAC. Further studies on these potential biomarkers are needed to investigate their diagnostic value

Is Financial Inclusion Effective in Eradicating Poverty?

This paper examines the relationship between financial inclusion and poverty in Uganda taking into account the effect of social intermediation and financial literacy. We employed a cross-sectional study design in rural western Uganda among 310 clients of Microfinance. Households of married people were more financially included and hence they were able to reduce their poverty status, Social intermediation was positively linked to financial inclusion, a positive link between financial literacy and financial inclusion was established. Education level and Financial Literacy does not have a significant positive effect on Financial Inclusion and Education interacts with Social Intermediation to positively influence the Financial Inclusion. Policies should emphasize the social aspects in the society to derive financial inclusion and hence tackle poverty. The study contributes to the existing research in the area of financial inclusion and enables future researchers to have a wide research base. The theoretical contribution is that we were able to integrate the theory of human capital in explaining financial inclusion from a developing country perspective

A parametric investigation into the effect of the dish depth and spoke angle on the crashworthiness characteristic of a four-spoke steering wheel armature.

This thesis investigates the effect of geometric variations on the crashworthiness performance of new steering wheels. Experimental tests were carried out on steering wheel armatures from popular 1996--2001 compact vehicles. The armatures were subjected to impact loading using a drop tower testing device in which a 57 kg rigid plate impacted a steering wheel with a velocity of 3.2 m/s. The purpose of the experimental tests was to investigate the crashworthiness characteristics of steering wheel armatures from a similar vehicle line in terms of peak loads, Crush Force Efficiency, elastic response, energy efficiency, specific energy absorption and the Energy Absorption Factor. In order to obtain comparable results a rigid plate was used to impact the steering wheel armatures. Based on the findings, a parametric study investigating the effects of dish depth and 3 o\u27clock and 9 o\u27clock spoke angle was conducted. A safety rating system for steering wheel armatures was developed and the armatures were ranked in descending order. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2003 .N33. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 42-03, page: 1041. Adviser: W. Altenhof. Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2003

Corporate Image and Organizational Performance of State Owned Enterprises Monitored by Privatization Unit (PU) Uganda

This study was carried out to establish whether corporate image has any influence on organizational performance in state-owned enterprises in Uganda. This was consider relevant as a study area after a realization that state-owned enterprises operate with huge backing from the state unlike the privately owned enterprises. This prompted to ask the big question of whether corporate image has any impact on the overall performance of these entities. A cross sectional research design was adopted for the study. The unit of analysis considered was an entity. The entities were divided into four groups in relation to the industry. Out of a population of 140 firms, 104 were selected to form a sample. All the 103 firms successfully responded representing 100% response rate. In the analysis phase, Correlation and Regression Analyses were used. Findings indicated that Corporate Image of state-owned enterprises has a significant influence on the organizational performance (Sig=0.000; Sig &lt; 0.01; ? = 0.337). Basing on this finding, it has been recommended that the state-owned companies stop counting on the backing of the state and start working on their image so that they can get a wider acceptance in the Ugandan Market. Keywords: Corporate image, Organizational performance, State-owned enterprise

Unmasking histoplasmosis immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in a patient recently started on antiretroviral therapy

Histoplasmosis is the most common endemic mycoses among HIV-infected people. Patients with suppressed cell immunity mainly due to HIV are at increased risk of disseminated disease. Dermatological manifestations of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and cutaneous manifestations of histoplasmosis similar to an IRIS event have been previously described. We report the case of a 43-year-old male who presented with cutaneous disseminated histoplasmosis due to Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum 4 months after the onset of the antiretroviral therapy and some improvement in the immune reconstitution. After 2 weeks of amphotericin B and itraconazole therapy, the scheduled treatment involved fluconazole maintenance therapy, which resulted in an improvement of his skin lesion