Механізми вдосконалення управління інноваційною діяльністю в умовах економічної нестабільності

Розглядаються особливості глобально-постіндустріального розвитку. Досліджено методичні основи системи моніторингу, прогнозування, планування і забезпечення реалізації інноваційної діяльності та головні засади механізму її функціонування.Peculiarities of the global post-industrial development are reviewed. Methodical fundamentals of the system for monitoring, forecasting, planning and provision of innovation activity implementation and main principles of its functioning mechanisms are reviewed

Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in patients with life-threatening COVID-19

Interindividual clinical variability in the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is vast. We report that at least 101 of 987 patients with life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia had neutralizing immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies (auto-Abs) against interferon-w (IFN-w) (13 patients), against the 13 types of IFN-a (36), or against both (52) at the onset of critical disease; a few also had auto-Abs against the other three type I IFNs. The auto-Abs neutralize the ability of the corresponding type I IFNs to block SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. These auto-Abs were not found in 663 individuals with asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infection and were present in only 4 of 1227 healthy individuals. Patients with auto-Abs were aged 25 to 87 years and 95 of the 101 were men. A B cell autoimmune phenocopy of inborn errors of type I IFN immunity accounts for life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia in at least 2.6% of women and 12.5% of men

Artery ligation in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease

The aim of this thesis was to study the working principle in relation to the outcome of the artery ligation procedure; a treatment for hemorrhoidal disease. Hemorrhoidal artery ligation, known as HAL (hemorrhoidal artery ligation) or THD (transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization) procedure, is a common treatment modality for hemorrhoidal disease in which a Doppler transducer is used to locate the supplying arteries that are subsequently ligated. It has been suggested that the use of the Doppler transducer does not contribute to the beneficial effect of these ligation procedures. We first aimed to evaluate the artery ligation procedure from a patient perspective. In a retrospective study the clinical status of patients, who had undergone HAL for the treatment of grade II and III hemorrhoidal disease, was investigated. Second we elucidated the vascular anatomy of the anal canal in the distal rectum and its role in the artery ligation procedure by means of an anatomical study. Finally the contributory value of the Doppler transducer in the artery ligation procedure was assessed. A randomized controlled trial (HEMARTY) was initiated for the determination of the added value of the use of Doppler during HAL. In this study patients suffering from hemorrhoidal disease grade II and III were either treated by means of the conventional HAL with or without the use of Doppler. Further the vascular anatomy of the corpus cavernosum recti in patients suffering from hemorrhoidal disease was investigated in the preoperative and postoperative situation. In conclusion may HAL be regarded as an attractive, easy to learn and perform procedure for the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. Studies by us and others show that patients may benefit from the procedure, although most patients develop some degree of recurrence of complaints in the long term. The studies in this thesis reveal that in HAL, the contributory value of the Doppler transducer is highly overrated, to the extent that, in our opinion, it can safely be omitted. The existing literature reveals only limited attempts to define the role of HAL between all other available treatment entities. We therefore strongly support the execution of a broad and multicenter randomized trial on the effectivity of HAL in relation to other standard procedures, particularly rubber band ligation

Artery ligation in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease

The aim of this thesis was to study the working principle in relation to the outcome of the artery ligation procedure; a treatment for hemorrhoidal disease. Hemorrhoidal artery ligation, known as HAL (hemorrhoidal artery ligation) or THD (transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization) procedure, is a common treatment modality for hemorrhoidal disease in which a Doppler transducer is used to locate the supplying arteries that are subsequently ligated. It has been suggested that the use of the Doppler transducer does not contribute to the beneficial effect of these ligation procedures. We first aimed to evaluate the artery ligation procedure from a patient perspective. In a retrospective study the clinical status of patients, who had undergone HAL for the treatment of grade II and III hemorrhoidal disease, was investigated. Second we elucidated the vascular anatomy of the anal canal in the distal rectum and its role in the artery ligation procedure by means of an anatomical study. Finally the contributory value of the Doppler transducer in the artery ligation procedure was assessed. A randomized controlled trial (HEMARTY) was initiated for the determination of the added value of the use of Doppler during HAL. In this study patients suffering from hemorrhoidal disease grade II and III were either treated by means of the conventional HAL with or without the use of Doppler. Further the vascular anatomy of the corpus cavernosum recti in patients suffering from hemorrhoidal disease was investigated in the preoperative and postoperative situation. In conclusion may HAL be regarded as an attractive, easy to learn and perform procedure for the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. Studies by us and others show that patients may benefit from the procedure, although most patients develop some degree of recurrence of complaints in the long term. The studies in this thesis reveal that in HAL, the contributory value of the Doppler transducer is highly overrated, to the extent that, in our opinion, it can safely be omitted. The existing literature reveals only limited attempts to define the role of HAL between all other available treatment entities. We therefore strongly support the execution of a broad and multicenter randomized trial on the effectivity of HAL in relation to other standard procedures, particularly rubber band ligation

Bacillus subtilis spore protein SpoVAC functions as a mechanosensitive channel

A critical event during spore germination is the release of Ca-DPA (calcium in complex with dipicolinic acid). The mechanism of release of Ca-DPA through the inner membrane of the spore is not clear, but proteins encoded by the Bacillus subtilis spoVA operon are involved in the process. We cloned and expressed the spoVAC gene in Escherichia coli and characterized the SpoVAC protein. We show that SpoVAC protects E.¿coli against osmotic downshift, suggesting that it might act as a mechanosensitive channel. Purified SpoVAC was reconstituted in unilamellar lipid vesicles to determine the gating mechanism and pore properties of the protein. By means of a fluorescence-dequenching assay, we show that SpoVAC is activated upon insertion into the membrane of the amphiphiles lysoPC and dodecylamine. Patch clamp experiments on E.¿coli giant spheroplast as well as giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) containing SpoVAC show that the protein forms transient pores with main conductance values of about 0.15 and 0.1 nS respectively. Overall, our data indicate that SpoVAC acts as a mechanosensitive channel and has properties that would allow the release of Ca-DPA and amino acids during germination of the spore

Economic evaluation of pressure ulcer care: a cost minimization analysis of preventive strategies.

Contains fulltext : 80890.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)The purpose of this study was to determine the cost for prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers from a hospital perspective and to identify the least resource-intensive pressure ulcer prevention strategy. Cost analyses were examined from a hospital perspective using direct costs. The study was carried out alongside a prospective cohort study on the incidence and risk factors for pressure ulcers. Two large teaching hospitals in the Netherlands with (partly) opposing approaches in prevention, a technological versus a human approach, were analyzed. The main outcome measures were resource use, costs of preventive measures and treatment, and pressure ulcer incidence in both hospitals. Pressure ulcer prevention through a predominantly technical approach resulted in a similar incidence rate as prevention through a predominantly human approach. However, the technical approach was considerably less expensive

A Paradigm Shift in Teaching Aerospace Engineering: From Campus Learners to Professional Learners – a Case Study on Online Courses in Smart Structures and Air Safety Investigation

In this paper, the transition from teaching on-campus to an online audience consisting of working professionals in an Aerospace Engineering context is described. The differences in the learner’s needs and the transition in teaching methods and style that is required from teaching staff is discussed. This is illustrated by two case studies: for Smart Structures and for Air Safety Investigation. Recommendations on how universities can contribute to Life Long Learning are given.Aerospace Structures & MaterialsStructural Integrity & CompositesAerospace Structures & Computational MechanicsInformation Managemen