Kinetic Parameters of Thymidine Kinase and DNA Synthesis During Liver Regeneration: Role Ofthyroid Hormones

The role of thyroid hormones in DNA synthesis and in the activity of Thymidille kinase (TK), a key regulatory enzyme of DNA synthesis was studied in proliferating hepatocytes in vivo. Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy was used as a model for controlled cell division in rats having different thyroid status - euthyroid, hypothyroid and 3,3',5'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T))-heated hypothyroid. Partial hepatectomy caused a significant elevation of DNA synthesis (p<0.01) in all the three groups compared to their sham-operated counterparts. Hypothyroid liepatectomised animals showed significantly lower (p<0.01) level of DNA synthesis than euthyroid hepatectomised animals. A single subcutaneous close of 1'3 to hypothyroid shamoperated animals resulted in a significant increase (p<0.01) of DNA synthesis in the intact liver. 17tis was comparable to the level of DNA synthesis occurring in regenerating liver of euthyroid animals. In hypothyroid hepatectomised animals, "1'3 showed an additive effect on l)NA synthesis and this group exhibited maximum level of DNA synthesis (p<0.0I ). Studies of the kinetic parameters of TK show that the Michelis-Menten constant, (K111) of TK for thymidine was altered by the thyroid status. K11 increased significantly (p<0.01) in untreated hypothyroid animals when compared to the euthyroid rats. '13 treatment of hypothyroid animals reversed this effect and this group showed the lowest value for K111 (p<0.01). Thus our results indicate that thyroid hormones can influence DNA synthesis during liver regeneration and they may regulate the activity of enzymes such as 17rymidine kinase which are important for DNA synthesis and hence cell division.

”Nonlinear optical properties of polymers containing azomesogens and chiral molecules: theoretical and experimental evaluations."

The present work emphasizes the use of chirality as an efficient tool to synthesize new types of second order nonlinear materials. Second harmonic generation efficiency (SHG) is used as a measure of second order nonlinear response. Nonlinear optical properties of polymers have been studied theoretically and experimentally. Polymers were designed theoretically by ab initio and semiempirical calculations. All the polymeric systems have been synthesized by condensation polymerization. Second harmonic generation efficiency of the synthesized systems has been measured experimentally by Kurtz and Perry powder method

Human and Raptor Interactions in the Context of a Nomadic Society

This research project focuses on contemporary eagle-taming falconry practice of the Altaic Kazakhs animal herding society in Bayan Ulgii Province in Western Mongolia. It aims to contributing both theoretical and empirical criteria for cultural preservation of Asian falconry. This cultural as well as environmental discourse is illustrated with concentrated field research framed by ecological anthropology and ethno-ornithology from the viewpoint of “Human-Animal Interaction (HAI)” and “Human-Animal Behavior (HAB)”. Part I (Chapter 2 & 3) explores ethno-archaeological and ethno-ornithological dimensions by interpretive research of archaeological artefacts which trace the historical depth of Asian falconry culture. Part II (Chapter 4 & 5) provides an extensive ethnographic narrative of Altaic Kazakh falconry, which is the central part of this research project. The “Traditional Art and Knowledge (TAK)” in human-raptor interactions, comprising the entire cycle of capture, perch, feeding, training, hunting, and release, is presented with specific emphasis on its relation to environmental and societal context. Traditional falconry as integral part of a nomadic lifestyle has to face some critical problems nowadays which necessitate preventing the complete disappearance of this outstanding indigenous cultural heritage. Part III (Chapter 6 & 7) thus focuses on the cultural sustainability of Altaic Kazakh falconry. Changing livelihoods, sedentarisation, and decontextualisation are identified as major threats. The role of Golden Eagle Festivals is critically analysed with regard to positive and negative impact. This part also intends to contribute to the academic definition of eagle falconry as an intangible cultural heritage, and to provide scientific criteria for a preservation master plan, as well as stipulate local resilience by pointing to successive actions needed for conservation. This research project concludes that cultural sustainability of Altaic Kazakh falconry needs to be supported from the angles of three theoretical frameworks; (1) Cultural affairs for protection based on the concept of nature-guardianship in its cultural domain, (2) Sustainable development and improvement of animal herding productivity and herder’s livelihood, (3) Natural resource management, especially supporting the population of Golden Eagles, their potential prey animals, and their nesting environment.

Theoretical and experimental study of intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy

In this thesis, a dual mode tunable gas sensor based on intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ICLAS) principle is investigated, both, numerically and experimentally. In order to minimize the cost and size of the gas sensor, relative intensity noise (RIN) is implemented as a detection parameter. Investigation is performed to determine the effect of injection current, operating temperature, mode spacing, and cavity length on RIN. It has been found that it is best to operate the gas sensor at smaller mode spacing and near the threshold current or at larger mode spacing and far above the threshold current for the use of RIN as the readout parameter.

Some theoretical and methodological considerations for the development of a critical competences model (CCM): an operant approach

This paper develops some theoretical and methodological considerations for the development of a critical competence model (CCM). The model is defined as a set of skills and knowledge functionally organized allowing measurable results with positive consequences for the strategic business objectives. The theoretical approaches of classical model of competences, the contemporary model of competencies and human competencies model were revised for the proposal development. implementation of the model includes 5 steps: 1) conducting a job analysis considering which dimensions or facets are subject to revision, 2) identify people with the opposite performance (the higher performance and lower performance); 3) identify critical incidents most relevant to the job position, 4) develop behavioral expectation scales (bes) and 5) validate BES obtained for experts in the field. As a final consideration, is determined that the competence models require accurate measurement. Approaches considering excessive theoreticism may cause the issue of competence become a fashion business with low or minimal impact, affecting its validity, reliability and deployment in organizations.

Self-medication and related terms: a conceptual reflection

Introduction: self-medication has become a growing practice in the world population. This phenomenon has been promoted as a form of self-care, with a positive impact on reducing spending in health systems, however there is concern about the potential negative effects related to inadequate diagnosis and treatment, which can affect health of individuals. This dual perception of the phenomenon is partly related to a variety of terms and concepts used, that make difficult its theoretical and empirical approach. Harmonization of the definitions involved is required in order to make adequate epidemiological comparisons. Objectives: analyze the concept of self medication and related terms from the definitions in the literature of the subject. Conclusions: in the last four decades it has been an evolution of both the wording and the definitions related to self-medication, from a very simple concept that implies the absence of prescription, to more complex ones that encompass very diverse behaviors, even those mediated by an act of prescription but not followed or not completed by the patient. Additionally the conceptual proliferation seen, justify the ordering of the terms related to self-medication. This paper presents a proposal for classification in four groups: a. self-medication, b. self care, c. pharmaceutical preparations and medicines, and d. prescription. This proposal should facilitate the exploration and analysis of the phenomenon and allow future theoretical approaches.

Conflict and child labor: evidence from poor households in Colombia

Colombia suffers from one of the longest civil conflicts in the world, which is believed to have had several consequences on the country’s economic and development performance. This study uses measures of central government deterrence effort as instruments of conflict to estimate the impact of conflict on children’s time allocation to two different types of work: housework and work performed outside the household for poor families living in small municipalities in Colombia. I find that conflict significantly increases the amount of time children allocate to work. Both housework, for girls, and work outside the household, for boys, increase with Guerrilla attacks. However, the later effect is the opposite for Paramilitary attacks.

Publicness of goods and violent conflict : evidence from Colombia

How the degree of publicness of goods affect violent conflict? Based on the theoretical model in Esteban and Ray (2001) we find that the effect of the degree of publicness depends on the group size. When the group is small (large), the degree of publicness increases (decreases) the likelihood of conflict. This opens an empirical question that we tackle using microdata from the Colombian conflict at the municipality level. We use three goods with different publicness degree to identify the sign of the effect of publicness on conflict. These goods are coca crops (private good), road density (public good subject to congestion) and average education quality (a purer public good). After dealing with endogeneity issues using an IV approach, we find that the degree of publicness reduces the likelihood of both paramilitary and guerrilla attacks. Moreover, coca production exacerbates conflict and the provision of both public goods mitigates conflict. These results are robust to size, geographical, and welfare controls. Policies that improve public goods provision will help to fight the onset of conflict.

Economic shocks and crime: evidence from the crash of ponzi schemes

In November 2008, Colombian authorities dismantled a network of Ponzi schemes, making hundreds of thousands of investors lose tens of millions of dollars throughout the country. Using original data on the geographical incidence of the Ponzi schemes, this paper estimates the impact of their break down on crime. We find that the crash of Ponzi schemes differentially exacerbated crime in affected districts. Confirming the intuition of the standard economic model of crime, this effect is only present in places with relatively weak judicial and law enforcement institutions, and with little access to consumption smoothing mechanisms such as microcredit. In addition, we show that, with the exception of economically-motivated felonies such as robbery, violent crime is not affected by the negative shock.

Implicit priming of picture naming : a theoretical and methodological note on the implicit priming task. 'Potenciación implícita del nombrado de imágenes : una nota teórica y metodológica sobre la tarea de pontenciación implícita'.

Resumen tomado de la revista

Dietary fatty acids and chylomicron synthesis and secretion

There is currently considerable interest in potential atherogenic and thrombogenic consequences of elevated concentrations of triacylglycerols, especially in the post-prandial state. Despite this, there is limited information on the effects of dietary fatty acids on the synthesis, secretion and metabolism of chylomicrons, the large triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins synthesized in the enterocyte following the digestion and absorption of dietary fat. This brief review considers current approaches to the investigation of chylomicron synthesis and summarizes some of the human, cell and animal studies that have investigated effects of different fatty acids on these pathways. Potential sites for modulatory effects of dietary fatty acids on the molecular events of chylomicron synthesis are proposed in the light of the recent model that has been developed from cell and animal studies and observations based on abnormalities in chylomicron formation in human inherited autosomal recessive diseases.

Features of the Atlantic diet and its healthiness: Theory and evidence from social science

In order to understand diets, why and how they change and can be influenced, it is important to understand how food choices are made. The has been the subject of, considerable study within many of the social science disciplines and the humanities. The paper draws on the theoretical and empirical work of psychologists, sociologists, economists, market researchers, anthropologists, geographers and historians to understand better the forces behind food choice, derive some general empirical messages from the literature, to shed light on food choice in a European context and to address the question of whether there is, or has been, a recognisably Atlantic diet. The paper proceeds to analyse the characteristics of the food consumption patterns in the Atlantic diet countries, examines whether their food consumption patterns are homogenous (i.e. similar across the countries of this group), whether they are specific (i.e. different from the ones in other country groups) and finally evaluates the nutritional composition of the Atlantic diet against the WHO/FAO recommendations for a healthy and wholesome diet.

Dinuclear copper and zinc complexes of a hexaazamacrocycle containing p-xylyl spacers and bridging anions: theoretical and spectroscopic studies

The hexaazamacrocycle 7,22-dimethyl-3,7,11,18,22,26-hexaazatricyclo[26.2.2.2(13,16)] tetratriaconta-1(30), 13,15,28,31,33- hexaene (Me-2[30] pbz(2)N(6)) was synthesized and characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The macrocycle adopts a conformation with the two aromatic rings almost parallel at a distance of ca. 4.24 Angstrom, but displaced relative to each other by ca. 1.51 Angstrom. The protonation constants of this compound and the stability constants of its complexes with Cu2+ and Zn2+, were determined in water - methanol (9 : 1 v/v) at 25 degreesC with ionic strength 0.10 mol dm(-3) in KCl. The potentiometric and spectroscopic studies (NMR of zinc, cadmium and lead complexes, and EPR of the copper complexes) indicate the formation of only dinuclear complexes. The association constants of the dinuclear copper complex with anions ( thiocyanate, terephthalate and glyphosate) and neutral molecules (1,4-benzenedimethanol, p-xylylenediamine and terephthalic acid) were determined at 20 degreesC in methanol. The structural preferences of this ligand and of its dinuclear copper(II) complex with a variety of bridging ligands were evaluated theoretically by molecular mechanics calculations (MM) and molecular dynamics (MD) using quenching techniques.