Synthesis and structure - Activity relationship study of potent cytotoxic analogues of the marine alkaloid Lamellarin D

The marine alkaloid, Lamellarin D (Lam-D), has shown potent cytotoxicity in numerous cancer cell lines, and was recently identified as a potent topoisomerase I inhibitor. A library of open lactone analogs of Lam-D was prepared from a methyl 5,6-dihydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-3- carboxylate scaffold (1) by introducing various aryl groups through sequential and regioselective bromination, followed by Pd(0)-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling chemistry. The compounds were obtained in a 24-44% overall yield, and tested in a panel of three human tumor cell lines, MDA-MB- 231 (breast), A-549 (lung), and HT-29 (colon), to evaluate their cytotoxic potential. From these data the SAR study concluded that more than 75% of the open-chain Lam-D analogs tested showed cytotoxicity in a low micromolar GI50 range.

Synthesis and structure - Activity relationship study of potent cytotoxic analogues of the marine alkaloid Lamellarin D

The marine alkaloid, Lamellarin D (Lam-D), has shown potent cytotoxicity in numerous cancer cell lines, and was recently identified as a potent topoisomerase I inhibitor. A library of open lactone analogs of Lam-D was prepared from a methyl 5,6-dihydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-3- carboxylate scaffold (1) by introducing various aryl groups through sequential and regioselective bromination, followed by Pd(0)-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling chemistry. The compounds were obtained in a 24-44% overall yield, and tested in a panel of three human tumor cell lines, MDA-MB- 231 (breast), A-549 (lung), and HT-29 (colon), to evaluate their cytotoxic potential. From these data the SAR study concluded that more than 75% of the open-chain Lam-D analogs tested showed cytotoxicity in a low micromolar GI50 range.

Towards a lightweight adaptative multicomponential affective recognition system

As part of the Affective Computing research field, the development of automatic affective recognition systems can enhance human-computer interactions by allowing the creation of interfaces that react to the user's emotional state. To that end, this Master Thesis brings affect recognition to nowadays most used human computer interface, mobile devices, by developing a facial expression recognition system able to perform detection under the difficult conditions of viewing angle and illumination that entails the interaction with a mobile device. Moreover, this Master Thesis proposes to combine emotional features detected from expression with contextual information of the current situation, to infer a complex and extensive emotional state of the user. Thus, a cognitive computational model of emotion is defined that provides a multicomponential affective state of the user through the integration of the detected emotional features into appraisal processes. In order to account for individual differences in the emotional experience, these processes can be adapted to the culture and personality of the user.

Is there a relationship between bilingual language switching and executive functions in bilingualism? Introducing a within-group analysis approach

Several studies have suggested a bilingual advantage in executive functions, presumably due to bilinguals' massive practice with language switching that requires executive resources, but the results are still somewhat controversial. Previous studies are also plagued by the inherent limitations of a natural groups design where the participant groups are bound to differ in many ways in addition to the variable used to classify them. In an attempt to introduce a complementary analysis approach, we employed multiple regression to study whether the performance of 30- to 75-year-old FinnishSwedish bilinguals (N = 38) on tasks measuring different executive functions (inhibition, updating, and set shifting) could be predicted by the frequency of language switches in everyday life (as measured by a language switching questionnaire), L2 age of acquisition, or by the self-estimated degree of use of both languages in everyday life. Most consistent effects were found for the set shifting task where a higher rate of everyday language switches was related to a smaller mixing cost in errors. Mixing cost is thought to reflect top-down management of competing task sets, thus resembling the bilingual situation where decisions of which language to use has to be made in each conversation. These findings provide additional support to the idea that some executive functions in bilinguals are affected by a lifelong experience in language switching and, perhaps even more importantly, suggest a complementary approach to the study of this issue.

Estimation of Water Circulation in a Mediterranean Salt Marsh and its Relationship with Flooding Causes

Variations in water volume in small depressions in Mediterranean salt marshes in Girona (Spain) are described and the potential causes for these variations analysed. Although the basins appear to be endorrheic, groundwater circulation is intense, as estimated from the difference between water volume observed and that expected from the balance precipitation / evaporation. The rate of variation in volume (VR = AV / VAt) may be used to estimate groundwater supply ('circulation'), since direct measurements of this parameter are impossible. Volume.conductivity figures can also be used to estimate the quantity of circulation, and to investigate the origin of water supplied to the system. The relationships between variations in the volume of water in the basins and the main causes of flooding are also analysed. Sea storms, rainfall levels and strong, dry northerly winds are suggested as the main causes of the variations in the volumes of basins. The relative importance assigned to these factors has changed, following the recent regulation of freshwater flows entering the system

Sexual dimorphism of sonic apparatus and extreme intersexual variation of sounds in Ophidion rochei (Ophidiidae): first evidence of a tight relationship between morphology and sound characteristics in Ophidiidae

Many Ophidiidae are active in dark environments and display complex sonic apparatus morphologies. However, sound recordings are scarce and little is known about acoustic communication in this family. This paper focuses on Ophidion rochei which is known to display an important sexual dimorphism in swimbladder and anterior skeleton. The aims of this study were to compare the sound producing morphology, and the resulting sounds in juveniles, females and males of O. rochei.Results: Males, females, and juveniles possessed different morphotypes. Females and juveniles contrasted with males because they possessed dramatic differences in morphology of their sonic muscles, swimbladder, supraoccipital crest, and first vertebrae and associated ribs. Further, they lacked the ‘rocker bone’ typically found in males. Sounds from each morphotype were highly divergent. Males generally produced non harmonic, multiple-pulsed sounds that lasted for several seconds (3.5 ± 1.3 s) with a pulse period of ca. 100 ms. Juvenile and female sounds were recorded for the first time in ophidiids. Female sounds were harmonic, had shorter pulse period (±3.7 ms), and never exceeded a few dozen milliseconds (18 ± 11 ms). Moreover, unlike male sounds, female sounds did not have alternating long and short pulse periods. Juvenile sounds were weaker but appear to be similar to female sounds.Conclusions: Although it is not possible to distinguish externally male from female in O. rochei, they show a sonic apparatus and sounds that are dramatically different. This difference is likely due to their nocturnal habits that may have favored the evolution of internal secondary sexual characters that help to distinguish males from females and that could facilitate mate choice by females. Moreover, the comparison of different morphotypes in this study shows that these morphological differences result from a peramorphosis that takes place during the development of the gonads

Tietotyön avainhenkilöiden sitoutuminen - Case Kymenlaakson sairaanhoitopiirin lääkärit

Tutkielmassa tarkasteltiin affektiivista eli tunnepohjaista sitoutumista organisaatioon ja selvitettiin, mitkä ovat sitä lisääviä ei-taloudellisia motivointikeinoja. Tulokset osoittivat, että organisaatioon sitoutumista lisääviä ulottuvuuksia ovat itsensä kehittäminen, työtehtävien vaihto ja työn arvostus. Lisäksi selvitettiin affektiivisen sitoutumisen ja innovatiivisuuden välistä suhdetta ja niiden välillä todettiin merkittävä positiivinen yhteys. Tarkastelun kohteena olivat tietotyön avainhenkilöt, joiden sitoutuminen organisaatioon on merkityksellisintä sen toiminnan ja tuottavuuden kannalta. Ilmiötä tarkasteltiin ensisijaisesti tilastollisin menetelmin. Teoriaa testattiin empiirisesti Kymenlaakson sairaanhoitopiirin lääkäreihin, jotka edustavat erikoisosaamista julkisella sektorilla.

Early relationship between very preterm infant and mother: The role of infant, maternal and dyadic factors

Pienipainoisen keskosen ja äidin varhainen suhde: Lapsen, äidin ja dyadisten muuttujien vaikutus Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli tutkia keskosvauvan ja äidin varhaista suhdetta. Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin myös vauvan itkukäyttäytymisen, vauvan sylissä olon ja äidin masentuneisuuden yhteyttä äidin ja keskosvauvan varhaiseen suhteeseen. Tutkimusryhmät koostuivat 32:sta (tutkimus I-II) ja 38:sta (tutkimus III-IV) keskosena syntyneestä vauvasta (syntymäpaino < 1501 g tai GI < 32 viikkoa) sekä 46:sta täysiaikaisena syntyneestä terveestä verrokkivauvasta. Lapsen ja äidin vuorovaikutusta arvioitiin 6 ja 12 kuukauden iässä (korjattu ikä) PCERAmenetelmällä. Äidin mielikuvia lapsestaan tutkittiin WMCI-haastattelulla, kun lapsi oli 12 kuukautta. Baby Day Diary -menetelmää käytettiin vauvan itkukäyttäytymisen ja sylissä olon keston mittaamisessa vauvan ollessa 5 kuukautta. Äidin masentuneisuutta arvioitiin EDPS-lomakkeella, kun lapsi oli 6 kuukautta. Tulokset osoittivat, että turvallisten kiintymyssuhdemielikuvien määrä tai vuorovaikutuksen laatu eivät keskosvauvan äideillä eronneet täysiaikaisina syntyneiden vauvojen äitien vastaavista. Ryhmien välillä ei löytynyt eroja myöskään dyadisen vuorovaikutuksen laadussa. Keskosena syntyneet lapset olivat kuitenkin vetäytyvämpiä ja heillä oli laadullisesti heikommat keskittymisen ja leikin taidot vuorovaikutustilanteessa 12 kuukauden iässä täysiaikaisina syntyneisiin lapsiin nähden. Lisäksi äidin masentuneisuus ja lapsen pitkittynyt itkuisuus olivat negatiivisessa yhteydessä vuorovaikutuksen laatuun keskosvauvojen ryhmässä. Vauvan itkukertojen määrän, sylissä olon keston sekä äidin ja vauvan vuorovaikutuksen laadun välillä löytyi positiivinen yhteys ainoastaan keskosena syntyneiden lasten ryhmässä. Tulostemme perusteelle toteamme, että lapsen ennenaikainen syntymä itsessään ei näytä muodostavan riskiä äidin vuorovaikutuksen laadulle tai turvalliselle kiintymyssuhteelle. Yhdessä muiden riskitekijöiden kanssa keskosuus kuitenkin altistaa vauvat ja heidän äitinsä varhaisen vuorovaikutuksen ongelmille. Lisäksi tuloksemme viittaavat siihen, että vauvan itku ja siitä seuraava sylissä olo toimivat suojaavana mekanismina pienipainoisen keskosen ja äidin varhaisessa suhteessa.

Supplier relationship management capability in the firm's global integration

Organizing is a general problem for global firms. Firms are seeking a balance between responsiveness at the local level and efficiency through worldwide integration. In this, supply management is the focal point where external commercial supply market relations are connected with the firm's internal functions. Here, effective supplier relationship management (SRM) is essential. Global supply integration processes create new challenges for supply management professionals and new capabilities are required. Previous research has developed several models and tools for managers to manage and categorize different supplier relationship types, but the role of the firm's internal capability of managing supplier relationships in their global integration has been a clearly neglected issue. Hence, the main objective of this dissertation is to clarify how the capability of SRM may influence the firm's global competitiveness. This objective is divided into four research questions aiming to identify the elements of SRM capability, the internal factors of integration, the effect of SRM capability on strategy and how SRM capability is linked with global integration. The dissertation has two parts. The first part presents the theoretical approaches and practical implications from previous research and draws a synthesis on them. The second part comprises four empirical research papers addressing the research questions. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are utilized in this dissertation. The main contribution of this dissertation is that it aggregates the theoretical and conceptual perspectives applied to SRM research. Furthermore, given the lack of valid scales to measure capability, this study aimed to provide a foundation for an SRM capability scale by showing that the construct of SRM capability is formed of five separate elements. Moreover, SRM capability was found to be the enabler in efforts toward value chain integration. Finally, it was found that the effect of capability on global competitiveness is twofold: it reduces conflicts between responsiveness and integration, and it creates efficiency. Thus, by identifying and developing the firm's capabilities it is possible to improve performance, and hence, global competitiveness.

Repensando la relación entre la ley y la violencia hacia las mujeres. Una aproximación a los discursos de los/las agentes del ámbito judicial en relación a la ley integral de violencia de género en España = Rethinking the relationship between law and violence against women. an approach to the juridical agents' discourses in relation to the integral law of gender-based violence

Of the many dimensions of the problem of violence exercised by men toward women in the context of the relations of partner or ex partner, this article deals with the analysis of the discursive productions of the institutional actors that are part of the judicial process. Our intention is to investigate the relationship between criminal law and gender-based violence starting from the implementation of the Law of Integral Gender-based Violence in Spain (LO. 1 / 2004) from a theoretical perspective which includes contributions from social psychology, and socio-legal feminism. We have approached the legal instrument - the Law of Integral Gender-based Violence - through the discourse of legal officers with a perspective that questions the values, so often proclaimed, of universality, objectivity and neutrality of the law

Relationship between botanical origin and antioxidants vitamins of bee-collected pollen

This study quantified vitamin C, E and β-carotene in samples of fresh bee-collected pollen and correlating them with the botanical origin. Vitamin content varied between 13.5 and 42.5 µg/g for vitamin E; 56.3 and 198.9 µg/g for β-carotene and 273.9 and 560.3 µg/g for vitamin C. It was concluded that the botanical origin and collecting season influenced the vitamin contents. There is a relationship between the vitamins and its botanical origin: Raphanus sp and Macroptilium sp, Mimosa caesalpineafolia with β-carotene; Raphanus sp, Eucalyptus sp, Macroptilium sp, Mimosa caesalpineafolia with vitamin E and Anadenanthera sp, Arecaceae type and Philodendron sp with vitamin C.

Measuring Brand Equity and Analyzing Its Relationship with Key Marketing Mix Elements

The aim of this paper is to analyze the effect of price and advertising on brand equity. The dimensionality of brand equity is thoroughly examined, and the effect price, price deals, perceived advertising spending and advertising appeal have on the dimensions of brand equity are analyzed using multiple regression analysis as well as other supporting analyses. Price and advertising are found to be of great importance to brand equity. Arguably the most influential finding is the strong positive effect low prices – an integral brand element – have on the case company brand equity, even though a negative effect was hypothesized based on prior research. The results also support separating advertising appeal from perceived advertising spending, as well as linking service quality as part of the overall perceived quality in the context of service-intensive firms.

The relationship between first-order capabilities and online innovations. A comparative case study on the publishing sector.

The objective of this thesis was to study the relationship between firstorder capabilities and online innovations. First-order capabilities can be divided into market and technology capabilities, and they play an important role in the production of innovations. The study was carried out in publishing industry, where many changes have taken place in the online environment during the last few years. In the empirical research, four companies were studied, two magazine publishers and two newspaper publishers. The analysis was done in two phases; first every case was analyzed alone and then the cases were compared in cross-case analysis. The most important finding was the positive impact of market capability to the production of online innovations. The study also increased understanding about the relationship between market and technology capabilities and online innovations in general.

The relationship between a virtual leader’s communication practices and a virtual team’s performance

A lot of research has been carried out into virtual teams and virtual leadership, yet there is hardly any research available on the communication behaviour of virtual leaders within a real business context. This research assessed the communication practices of virtual leaders and analysed the relationship between these practices and the performance of virtual teams. The objective of this research was to examine the distinctions of virtual teams, to study the leader’s role in a virtual team and its performance, and to examine the leader’s communication practices within virtual teams. The research involves a case study in which interviews have been carried out within an international technology company headquartered in Finland. Qualitative research methods were applied in the research. Based on the results of the study it can be said that there is a strong relationship between a virtual leader’s communication practices and a virtual team member’s job satisfaction. Through their communication practices, activities and message contents, leaders can affect the job satisfaction of virtual team members. In virtual leadership the focus is not in virtual but in leadership. It does not matter if the context is virtual or face-to-face; similar communication practices are good in both cases. As the global economic crisis strongly affected the sales results of the between a leader’s communication practices and a virtual team’s objective performance cannot be made.