World Conference on Transport Research - WCTR 2016 Shanghai. 10-15 July 2016

This paper summarizes the key developments of carrier selection literature, especially from the view of survey research. Based on the literature review suggestions on how to make the analysis of carrier selection more rigorous are made. In addition to the most predominant determinants of carrier selection such as cost, reliability and service level, new constructs measuring the role of information sharing capabilities and environmental issues are introduced.The second objective of the paper is to empirically test the suggested improvements in methodology with survey data. Research constructs measuring the role of both the old and new determinants of carrier selection are formulated and tested. Further, the constructs of carrier selection are tested against set of variables classifying the firms such as firm size, industry and strategic orientation of the firm in order to see if the strategic orientation of the firm is influencing the carrier selection criteria. Methods of content analysis are used to sum up the previous literature in order to identify the key determinants of carrier selection that have previously been used. Based on the literature review, updated research constructs of carrier selection are formulated. Further, these constructs are tested with factor analysis in order to analyze the validity of the constructs.The empirical data employed in the analysis consists of a self-reported survey data of 483 manufacturing and trading firms operating in Finland. The survey data is analyzed by using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and ANOVA in order to see whether the carrier selection criteria are dependent on the characteristics of the firm.The paper is expected to contribute on two separate levels. First, the paper introduces and empirically tests an improved survey methodology of how to analyse the carrier selection. As the survey methodology includes new constructs such as the role of information sharing and environmental questions, the empirical results presents evidence on what is their relative role compared to more traditional determinants of carrier selection. Further, the results provide empirical evidence on the effect of firm characteristics on the importance of carrier selection criteria. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Lipoprotein docosapentaenoic acid is associated with serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentration

BACKGROUND: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are thought to play important roles in inflammation. The n-3 series is considered as anti-inflammatory, and some studies have reported increased plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern in chronic inflammatory conditions. In this study we sought to clarify relationships of the levels of arachidonic acid and the polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acid compositions of isolated LDL, HDL(2 )and HDL(3 )particles with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a marker of inflammation. RESULTS: The subjects were divided into two groups: those with lower and those with higher than the median serum MMP-9 concentration. In all lipoprotein fractions, the mean percentage of docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5n-3) was higher in the group of subjects with higher MMP-9 level than in those with lower serum MMP-9 concentration (P < 0.01 for all). Likewise, the ratio of docosapentaenoic acid to arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) was higher in the subjects with higher MMP-9 compared with the lower MMP-9 group (P < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSION: So far, the evidence for an anti-inflammatory role of the n-3 PUFA has come from dietary interventions. Our results were obtained from a free-living population and indicate that there is a positive correlation between n-3 docosapentaenoic acid and MMP-9. What had triggered the rise in MMP-9 is not known, since serum level of MMP-9 is raised in many inflammatory conditions. These findings may indicate an increased biosynthesis of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in subclinical inflammation

Late-life coronary heart disease mortality of Finnish war veterans in the TAMRISK study, a 28-year follow-up

Background Wartime stress has been associated with increased late-life mortality of all causes of death. We evaluated whether wounded Finnish World War II veterans who were alive at the age of 55 have increased long-term coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality. Methods Health survey data were recorded in 1980 from 667 men, aged 55 years. Of them 102 had been wounded or injured in action during 1939-1945. The remaining participants served as the comparison group. The death certificates during a 28-year follow-up were obtained from the national statistics centre. Statistical comparisons were done by Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results There were altogether 140 deaths from CHD. In men who had been wounded or injured in action the crude CHD mortality rate per 10,000 population was 2843, while in the comparison group the corresponding figure was 1961. Men who had been wounded or injured in action were 1.7 times (95% CI 1.1-2.5; p = 0.01) more likely to die from CHD than the comparison group. Conclusions Physical trauma at young adulthood may extend to lifelong effects on health. This study suggests that being physically wounded or injured in war may lead to increased CHD mortality in late adulthood in a Finnish population.BioMed Central open acces

Arachidonic acid increases matrix metalloproteinase 9 secretion and expression in human monocytic MonoMac 6 cells

Background Dietary fatty acids may modulate inflammation in macrophages of the atherosclerotic plaque, affecting its stability. The n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) arachidonic acid (AA) generally promotes inflammation, while the PUFAs of the n-3 series eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are considered anti-inflammatory. We determined how these PUFAs influence MMP-9 expression and secretion by the human monocytic cell line (MonoMac 6) at baseline and after 24-hour exposure. MMP-9 protein was measured by zymography and relative levels of MMP-9 mRNA were determined using quantitative real time PCR. Results Supplementation with AA (but not the n-3 fatty acids) increased, in a dose-dependent manner, expression of MMP-9 protein. This stimulation was regulated at the mRNA level. MMP-9 secretion started after 1 h of incubation and could not be prevented by simultaneous presence of n-3 series fatty acids. Finally, the secretion could be attenuated by LY 294002, a specific phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor and by SH-5, a selective Akt inhibitor, suggesting that activation of PI3K by AA leads to augmented and sustained MMP-9 production. Conclusion This study shows that of the PUFA studied, AA alone influences the expression of MMP-9, which might have implications in MMP-9 induced plaque rupture.BioMed Central Open acces

AUTOEVALUACIÓN DEL PROGRAMA DE MEDICINA VETERINARIA Y ZOOTECNIA CON FINES DE ACREDITACIÓN DE CALIDAD

Las Facultades de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia y Agronomía se crearon en la ciudad de Montería como dependencias de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia según la Ley 103 del Congreso Nacional, de fecha 29 de Diciembre de 1962, pero dicha Ley no tuvo cumplimiento. Ante el anhelo frustrado de no contar con una Universidad seccional, pretendida con la Ley 103, el Gobierno Departamental dictó el Decreto 0319 de 1964 por el cual se le otorgó personería jurídica a la Universidad de Córdoba. En el año 1966 el Congreso de República expidió la Ley 37 por medio de la cual se crea la Universidad de Córdoba como una entidad autónoma y descentralizada que se acogía al Decreto-Ley 0277 de 1958 que regía para las universidades departamentales. Sólo hasta el año de 1970, mediante una sentencia de Estado, se enmienda el error y se le da el carácter nacional a la Institución por haber sido creada mediante Ley de la República

Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and -9 in Human Placenta during Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery and Caesarean Sectioning in Preterm Pregnancy

Preterm birth is a major public health problem in terms of loss of life, long-term and short term disabilities worldwide. The process of parturition (both term and preterm) involves intensive remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the placenta and fetal membranes by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Our previous studies show reduced docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in women delivering preterm. Further omega 3 fatty acids are reported to regulate MMP levels. This study was undertaken to examine the placental levels of MMPs and their association with placental DHA levels in women delivering preterm. The levels of MMP-1 and MMP-9 in 74 women delivering preterm (52 by spontaneous vaginal delivery and 22 by caesarean sectioning) and 75 women delivering at term (59 by spontaneous vaginal delivery and 16 by caesarean sectioning) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and their association with placental DHA was studied. Placental MMP-1 levels were higher (p<0.05) in women delivering preterm (both by spontaneous vaginal delivery and caesarean sectioning) as compared to those delivering at term. In contrast, placental MMP-9 levels in preterm pregnancies was higher (p<0.05) in women with spontaneous vaginal delivery while lower (p<0.05) in women delivering by caesarean sectioning. Low placental DHA was associated with higher placental MMP-9 levels. Our study suggests a differential effect of mode of delivery on the levels of MMPs from placenta. Further this study suggests a negative association of DHA and the levels of MMP-9 in human placenta although the mechanisms need further study