Industrial Action and Conflict Resolution in the New Member States

With the historic enlargement of May 2004, the European Union faces new challenges. How the industrial relations systems of the new Member States respond to the challenges of accession, the single market and, eventually, EMU will play a crucial role in determining the ease of their assimilation within the enlarged Union. This article, based on a research and development project undertaken by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, investigates and assesses a specific aspect of their industrial relations institutions, the mechanisms of extra-judicial conflict resolution. The existence of effective and efficient collective conflict resolution procedures and institutions strengthens social dialogue and the latter, again, plays an important role in the creation or reform of the existing dispute resolution procedures. Consequently, the article concludes that successful dispute resolution is directly correlated with the nature, scope and quality of collective bargaining and social dialogue in the new Member States

Mapping Varieties of Industrial Relations: Eurofound\u27s Analytical Framework Applied

Eurofound’s 2016 report Mapping key dimensions of industrial relations identified four key dimensions of industrial relations: industrial democracy, industrial competitiveness, social justice, and quality of work and employment. This report builds upon that earlier study, developing a dashboard of 45 indicators to assess how and to what extent the conceptual framework of these key dimensions can be applied at national level. The indicators were tested across the Member States by Eurofound’s Network of European Correspondents and show reasonable accuracy when used to map the predominant features and trends of the national industrial relations systems. The study confirms that a dashboard of indicators that can accurately measure and summarise the complex reality of industrial relations across the EU is a valuable tool for comparative research and a useful instrument for supporting policymakers, social partners and stakeholders. The report sets out a range of options for further developing this conceptual approach

Osseointegrative Eigenschaften einer Silberbeschichtung von Hüftendoprothesen bei Hunden

Im Rahmen der Tierversuche zur Untersuchung der osseointegrativen Eigenschaften von silberbeschichteten Endoprothesen wurden 10 Beagle Hunden eine silberbeschichtete Hüftendoprothese implantiert. 10 weiteren Hunden wurden zum Vergleich baugleiche Titan Prothesen implantiert. Die Tiere wurden nach einem Zeitraum von 12 Monaten der zyklischen Implantatbelastung eutanasiert und der biomechanischen Untersuchung zugeführt. 3 Hunde fielen aus dem Versuch heraus wegen Komplikationen, die zum Abbruch des Versuches führten. Mittels Pull-out Versuchen wurden die maximale Auszugskraft und die Steifigkeit für die silberbeschichteten- und die Titan Implantat-Knochen Strukturen bestimmt. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass alle Silberimplantate durch geringe Auszugskräfte (0 - 186 N) imponierten, während alle Titanimplantate hohe Werte (1755 - 5967 N) erreichten

Larval migration in PERL chambers as an in vitro model for percutaneous infection stimulates feeding in the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Ancylostoma caninum </it>third-stage larvae are the non-feeding infective stage of this parasite and are able to infect potential hosts via different infection routes. Since percutaneous infection is one of the most important routes and skin penetration is the first step into parasitic life, an existing <it>in vitro </it>model for percutaneous migration was modified and evaluated. The main parameter used to evaluate migration was the migration ratio (migrated larvae as a percentage of total number of larvae recovered). Additionally, the skin lag was calculated, expressing the percentage of larvae remaining in the skin and therefore not being recovered. Since initiation of feeding is proposed to be an important step in the transition from free-living to parasitic <it>A. caninum </it>larvae, feeding assays were performed with <it>in vitro </it>percutaneously migrated larvae. Additionally, infective larvae of <it>A. caninum </it>were activated via serum-stimulation and feeding behaviour was analysed and compared between percutaneously migrated and serum-stimulated larvae.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Maximum skin migration levels of infective larvae were observed at temperatures above 32°C when larvae were placed on the epidermal side of skin for more than 12 hours. The medium beneath the skin had no effect on migration ratio, and no significant difference between the migration ratios through fresh and frozen/thawed skin was observed.</p> <p>Maximum feeding levels of 93.2% were observed for percutaneously migrated larvae after 48 h incubation, whereas serum-stimulated larvae reached the maximum of 91.0% feeding larvae after 24 h.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The PERL chamber system was optimised and standardised as an <it>in vitro </it>model for percutaneous migration. The larvae recovered after percutaneous migration showed characteristic signs of activation similar to that of serum-stimulated larvae. The observed difference in time course of resumption of feeding indicates that percutaneously migrated larvae are not identical to serum-stimulated larvae, which are currently representing the model for early parasitic stages.</p

Restoration of Sensitivity in Chemo

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive brain tumor in adults. Despite multimodal treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy the prognosis remains poor and relapse occurs regularly. The alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) has been shown to improve the overall survival in patients with malignant gliomas, especially in tumors with methylated promoter of the O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) gene. However, intrinsic and acquired resistance towards TMZ makes it crucial to find new therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the prognosis of patients suffering from malignant gliomas. Cold atmospheric plasma is a new auspicious candidate in cancer treatment. In the present study we demonstrate the anti-cancer properties of different dosages of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) both in TMZ-sensitive and TMZ-resistant cells by proliferation assay, immunoblotting, cell cycle analysis, and clonogenicity assay. Importantly, CAP treatment restored the responsiveness of resistant glioma cells towards TMZ therapy. Concomitant treatment with CAP and TMZ led to inhibition of cell growth and cell cycle arrest, thus CAP might be a promising candidate for combination therapy especially for patients suffering from GBMs showing an unfavorable MGMT status and TMZ resistance

Glastemperaturmessung mit Thermovisionskamera unter Ausnutzung spektraler Emissionseigenschaften des Glases

[no abstract available

Primary cold atmospheric plasma combined with low dose cisplatin as a possible adjuvant combination therapy for HNSCC cells—an in-vitro study

Background The aim of the present study was to examine the cytostatic effects of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on different head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines either in isolation or in combination with low dose cisplatin. The effect of CAP treatment was investigated by using three different HNSCC cell lines (chemo-resistant Cal 27, chemo-sensitive FaDu and OSC 19). Materials and method Cell lines were exposed to CAP treatment for 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 s (s). Cisplatin was added concurrently (cc) or 24 h after CAP application (cs). Cell viability, DNA damage and apoptosis was evaluated by dye exclusion, MTT, alkaline microgel electrophoresis assay and Annexin V-Fit-C/PI respectively. Results In all cell lines, 120 s of CAP exposure resulted in a significant reduction of cell viability. DNA damage significantly increased after 60 s. Combined treatment of cells with CAP and low dose cisplatin showed additive effects. A possible sensitivity to cisplatin could be restored in Cal 27 cells by CAP application. Conclusion CAP shows strong cytostatic effects in HNSCC cell lines that can be increased by concurrent cisplatin treatment, suggesting that CAP may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of low dose cisplatin

Regionale Wertschöpfungsketten für ökologische Tier- und Fleischprodukte (REGINA): Abschlussbericht zur Machbarkeitsstudie

Die Broschüre beinhaltet eine Machbarkeitsstudie für eine digitale Plattform zur gemeinsamen regionalen Vermarktung im Ökolandbau. Eine solche Plattform ermöglicht eine bessere Direktvermarktung ökologisch erzeugter Produkte. Die Broschüre enthält eine ausführliche Anleitung, wie eine solche Vermarktungsplattform entwickelt und betrieben werden kann. Die Machbarkeitsstudie richtet sich an Landwirte, Verarbeiter und Vermarkter von Lebensmitteln sowie an Entwickler digitaler Plattformen. Redaktionsschluss: 31.05.202