[On quality of life after surgical therapy of oral cancer - a retrospective multi-center study: the connection between dedentition, denture, quality of life, and dysphagia, and the resulting rehabilitation schemes]

PURPOSE: The surgical treatment of oral cancer results in functional and aesthetical impairments. Patients' quality of life is considerably impaired by oral symptoms resulting from therapy of oral cancer. In many cases the inevitable resection of the tumor, as well as the adjuvant radiochemotherapy will cause the destruction of physiologically and anatomically important structures. One focus of research was the specific rehabilitation of dental loss by functional dentures. Another was the course of 19 impairments (comprehension of speech for unknown others, comprehension of speech for familiar others, eating/swallowing, mobility of the tongue, opening range of the mouth, mobility of lower jaw, mobility of neck, mobility of arms and shoulders, sense of taste, sense of smell, appearance, strength, appetite, respiration, pain, swelling, xerostomia, halitosis). METHODS: Commissioned by the German, Austrian and Swiss cooperative group on tumors of the maxillofacial region (DOSAK), data were collected in 3.894 questionnaires at 43 hospitals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The catalogue comprised 147 items in 9 chapters. At the end of the enquiry, 1.761 anonymous questionnaires were returned by 38 hospitals. 1.652 of these could be evaluated regarding the question. RESULTS: The sum score of the 19 impairments was highly increased immediately after the operation and recovered over the next 6 months, without, however, reaching the pre-surgery level. Of 1.652 patients, only 35% did not lose any teeth during therapy. 23% lost up to 5, 17% up to 10 teeth. A quarter of the patients lost more than 10 teeth. The more teeth were lost, the greater the decline of quality of life (p < or = 0.001), although this could be allayed by the functionality of the dentures (p < or = 0.001). There is a reciprocal dependence between the functionality of dental prosthetics and impairment by eating/swallowing (p < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients' quality of life after radical surgery of a carcinoma of the oral cavity depends not only on the functionality of dentures and the specificity of rehabilitation, but also from the initial findings, the extent and location of the resection, the chosen therapy, the general circumstances of the patient's life as well as their strategies of coping. These factors, however, unlike those of functionality of dental prosthesis and rehabilitation, are not modifiable.

Functional and expression analysis of the metal-inducible dmeRF system from Rhizobium legumionosarum bv. viciae

A gene encoding a homolog to the cation diffusion facilitator protein DmeF from Cupriavidus metallidurans has been identified in the genome of Rhizobium leguminosarum UPM791. The R. leguminosarum dmeF gene is located downstream of an open reading frame (designated dmeR) encoding a protein homologous to the nickel- and cobalt-responsive transcriptional regulator RcnR from Escherichia coli. Analysis of gene expression showed that the R. leguminosarum dmeRF genes are organized as a transcriptional unit whose expression is strongly induced by nickel and cobalt ions, likely by alleviating the repressor activity of DmeR on dmeRF transcription. An R. leguminosarum dmeRF mutant strain displayed increased sensitivity to Co(II) and Ni(II), whereas no alterations of its resistance to Cd(II), Cu(II), or Zn(II) were observed. A decrease of symbiotic performance was observed when pea plants inoculated with an R. leguminosarum dmeRF deletion mutant strain were grown in the presence of high concentrations of nickel and cobalt. The same mutant induced significantly lower activity levels of NiFe hydrogenase in microaerobic cultures. These results indicate that the R. leguminosarum DmeRF system is a metal-responsive efflux mechanism acting as a key element for metal homeostasis in R. leguminosarum under free-living and symbiotic conditions. The presence of similar dmeRF gene clusters in other Rhizobiaceae suggests that the dmeRF system is a conserved mechanism for metal tolerance in legume endosymbiotic bacteria.

Pro-American non-alignment. Sweden and Finland develop closer military co-operation with the United States. OSW COMMENTARY NUMBER 205/31.03.2016

Russia’s increasingly aggressive policy and its enhanced military activity in the Nordic-Baltic region has led to revaluations in Sweden’s and Finland’s security and defence policies and a rethinking of the formats of their military co-operation. While remaining outside NATO, the two states have been developing closer bilateral defence co-operation and working more closely with the United States, while at the same time developing co-operation with NATO. Sweden and Finland perceive the United States as the guarantor of regional and European security. From their point of view, the United States is currently the country that has both the necessary military capabilities and the political will to react in the event of a conflict between Russia and NATO in the Nordic-Baltic region, in which both countries would inevitably become involved despite their non-aligned status. For Sweden and Finland, intensified co-operation with the United States offers an alternative to NATO membership, which is currently out of the question for domestic political reasons. Meanwhile, the US has also become increasingly aware of the strategic importance of the two states, which, for the purposes of contingency planning, are in fact an extension of NATO’s north-eastern flank.

United we stand: A call for collective cooperation of SME's when they trade globally using internet technology

This paper examines the potential for cluster associations to act globally, enabled by information computer technology (ICT). In particular, it explores the relationship between cooperation and organizational structures and systems of action in developing an ICT capability. The slow up-take of ICT and the problems involved is also becoming of increased interest to policymakers. This paper outlines how, through the use of cluster associations based on co-operation and effective structures and systems, this can be maximized. The proposition introduced in this paper argues that cluster associations with low power-dependence and decentralized structures are better able to provide the necessary support that such SMEs require to utilize the technology

2012 Community Tree Management Plan, Alburnett, IA, June 24, 2013

This plan was developed to assist Alburnett with the management, budgeting and future planning of their urban forest. Across the state, forestry budgets continue to decrease with more and more of that money spent on tree removal. With the anticipated arrival of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive pest that kills native ash trees, it is time to prepare for the increased costs of tree removal and replacement planting. With proper planning and management of the current canopy in Alburnett, these costs can be extended over years and public safety issues from dead and dying ash trees mitigated. Trees are an important component of Alburnett’s infrastructure and one of the greatest assets to the community. The benefits of trees are immense. Trees provide the community with improved air quality, stormwater runoff interception, energy conservation, lower traffic speeds, increased property values, reduced crime, improved mental health and create a desirable place to live, to name just a few benefits. It is essential that these benefits be maintained for the people of Alburnett and future generations through good urban forestry management. Good urban forestry management involves setting goals and developing management strategies to achieve these goals. An essential part of developing management strategies is a comprehensive public tree inventory. The inventory supplies information that will be used for maintenance, removal schedules, tree planting and budgeting. Basing actions on this information will help meet Alburnett’s urban forestry goals.

2012 Community Tree Management Plan, Avoca, IA, May 2, 2013

This plan was developed to assist Avoca with the management, budgeting and future planning of their urban forest. Across the state, forestry budgets continue to decrease with more and more of that money spent on tree removal. With the anticipated arrival of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive pest that kills native ash trees, it is time to prepare for the increased costs of tree removal and replacement planting. With proper planning and management of the current canopy in Avoca, these costs can be extended over years and public safety issues from dead and dying ash trees mitigated. Trees are an important component of Avoca’s infrastructure and one of the greatest assets to the community. The benefits of trees are immense. Trees provide the community with improved air quality, stormwater runoff interception, energy conservation, lower traffic speeds, increased property values, reduced crime, improved mental health and create a desirable place to live, to name just a few benefits. It is essential that these benefits be maintained for the people of Avoca and future generations through good urban forestry management. Good urban forestry management involves setting goals and developing management strategies to achieve these goals. An essential part of developing management strategies is a comprehensive public tree inventory. The inventory supplies information that will be used for maintenance, removal schedules, tree planting and budgeting. Basing actions on this information will help meet Avoca’s urban forestry goals.

2012 Community Tree Management Plan, Belle Plaine, IA, June 24, 2013

This plan was developed to assist Belle Plaine with the management, budgeting and future planning of their urban forest. Across the state, forestry budgets continue to decrease with more and more of that money spent on tree removal. With the anticipated arrival of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive pest that kills native ash trees, it is time to prepare for the increased costs of tree removal and replacement planting. With proper planning and management of the current canopy in Belle Plaine, these costs can be extended over years and public safety issues from dead and dying ash trees mitigated. Trees are an important component of Belle Plaine’s infrastructure and one of the greatest assets to the community. The benefits of trees are immense. Trees provide the community with improved air quality, stormwater runoff interception, energy conservation, lower traffic speeds, increased property values, reduced crime, improved mental health and create a desirable place to live, to name just a few benefits. It is essential that these benefits be maintained for the people of Belle Plaine and future generations through good urban forestry management. Good urban forestry management involves setting goals and developing management strategies to achieve these goals. An essential part of developing management strategies is a comprehensive public tree inventory. The inventory supplies information that will be used for maintenance, removal schedules, tree planting and budgeting. Basing actions on this information will help meet Belle Plaine’s urban forestry goals.

Integrating CRIS and repository – an overview of the situation in Finland and in three other Nordic countries

Presentation at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014

Plan exportador Comercializadora Point Ltda.

A lo largo de la historia los mercados poco a poco se fueron abasteciendo de productos que buscaban brindar beneficios extras a sus compradores, tales que pudieran verse reflejados ya sea en facilitar las tareas habituales de los seres humanos, o simplemente brindar satisfacción por su consumo o percepción; A partir del nuevo milenio y dadas las cualidades dinámicas del mercado, las tendencias de compra del mercado de los bienes para el consumo humano han venido teniendo una desviación un poco más naturista; esta consiste en la búsqueda de alimentos producidos bajo altos estándares de calidad, pero diferentes a los productos convencionales. Actualmente se han venido desarrollando nuevas prácticas agrícolas, para evitar contaminar la tierra y lograr obtener alimentos más sanos, todos estos se llaman productos orgánicos, y su principal cualidad es que son más saludables y de valor agregado, ya que no se cultivan con ningún tipo de producto de síntesis química, lo que permite una mayor fertilidad de los suelos e incremento de la biodiversidad. Por estas razones y agregando la globalización de los mercados mundiales, es que queremos desarrollar un plan de exportación de Café Orgánico mediante la comercializadora POINT LTDA, aprovechando además brindarle a la empresa las herramientas necesarias para una futura internacionalización, teniendo en cuenta las grandes oportunidades que hay en estos momentos de expandir y tener negocios rentables en todo el mundo.

Growth for Europe – Is the Juncker Plan the answer? EPC Discussion Paper, 20 March 2015

Executive Summary. The euro area is still suffering from low growth and high unemployment. For the recovery to become a reality, there needs to be a balance between fiscal discipline, supply side improvements and actions aimed at stimulating demand and growth. Increasing investment, both private and public, are important components in overcoming the recession. This becomes especially clear when comparing investment dynamics during the crisis with pre-crisis levels. Total investment is still much lower than before the crisis and public investment is well below its pre-crisis peak as well. In late November 2014, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker submitted a long-awaited proposal for a European Investment Plan that aims to stimulate private investment. Apart from the creation of the new European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), through which private investors will receive public guarantees, the investment plan also aims to provide project assistance and improve the Single Market by removing sector-specific or other financial barriers to investment. While generally perceived as a first positive step towards increasing private investment, some commentators have expressed reservations about the plan. These include, among others, the lack of fresh money for the initial contributions to EFSI. Since a substantial amount of these contributions is reshuffled from other places in the European budget, the question was raised whether EFSI can fund additional projects or just replicates investment projects that would have happened without the plan. Other criticism relates to the high estimate of the expected leverage ratio of 1:15, and to the risk that the plan will only have a limited impact on stressed economies. The Juncker Plan addresses private investment, but so far there really is no clear strategy to stimulate productive public investment on the European and national level. Countries with fiscal space are reluctant to engage in higher spending, while those willing and in need of it the most are restricted by the rules. Member States and the Commission should therefore discuss options for further improving the euro area's economic governance. In addition to urging countries with fiscal space to increase investing in national public goods, investment could be treated with budget flexibility. One could, for instance, upgrade the importance of public investment in the European Semester. Additional deficit granted for public investment purposes could be attached to certain Country-Specific Recommendations. Another solution would be to allow some form of budget flexibility, such as the formulation of a new Golden Rule for productive public investment becoming part of the Stability and Growth Pact's application. Besides relying on a larger amount of flexibility in the rules, the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) could be another solution to fund investment in European public goods. It will also be necessary to overcome the mistrust among Member States that is preventing further action. The political bargain of stronger conditionality, such as through contractual arrangements, could improve the situation. Increased trust will also be an important condition for tackling long-reaching economic governance reforms such as the creation of a Fiscal Capacity, which could take the form of a macroeconomic shock insurance. Such a Fiscal Capacity could make a real difference in providing the necessary funding to maintain productive public investment, even in times of deep recessions. The proposals presented do not attempt to be conclusive, but shall rather be an input for a wider debate on how to increase growth and employment in Europe. The paper draws heavily on the discussion of a Workshop on Growth and Investment, which the European Policy Centre (EPC) hosted on 10 December 2014 under Chatham-House Rule, with a group of economists and representatives from the European institutions.

Plan de mejoramiento del área comercial de la empresa cartonería Mosquera S. A.

Cartonería Mosquera S.A. es una empresa familiar, que se encarga de la producción y distribución de diferentes empaques de cartón. La compañía pertenece al sector de artes gráficas colombiano, que se desagrega en las siguientes categorías: empaques y etiquetas; publicidad y comercial; editoriales, periódicos y revistas. Cartonería Mosquera S.A. se encuentra en la categoría de empaques y etiquetas. A 2016 la empresa cuenta con un área que administra tanto el mercadeo como la parte comercial conjuntamente y que tiene como objetivo final la gestión de la publicidad, la satisfacción del cliente y la fidelización del mismo. Aunque desde sus inicios, la compañía ha venido trabajando con esta estructura y ha cumplido hasta ahora con algunos de los resultados esperados, los nuevos retos del mercado tales como; el compromiso con el medio ambiente, la necesidad de realizar registros que avalen la calidad de la compañía, la entrada de competidores internos como externos al mercado y el desarrollo de nuevos insumos, ha creado la necesidad de buscar nuevas herramientas que mejoren el desempeño del área comercial y promover así el incremento de las ventas. Este Trabajo surgió inicialmente con la idea de realizar un plan de mercadeo a fin de incentivar y proponer una estrategia que generara un impacto positivo en las ventas de la empresa. Sin embargo, en el proceso de desarrollo, se vio la necesidad de realizar primero un plan de mejoramiento con una orientación a la parte comercial de la compañía. Es importante resaltar que el enfoque de este documento investigativo no solo proveerá herramientas para el mejoramiento de las ventas y financiero, sino también pretende mejorar la percepción de los asesores comerciales hacia su trabajo, sus jefes y la compañía.

Increased Arterial Stiffness In Resistant Hypertension Is Associated With Inflammatory Biomarkers.

Increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), 10 (IL-10), 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) are associated with arterial stiffness in hypertension. Indeed, resistant hypertension (RHTN) leads to unfavorable prognosis attributed to poor blood pressure (BP) control and target organ damage. This study evaluated the potential impact of inflammatory biomarkers on arterial stiffness in RHTN. In this cross-sectional study, 32 RHTN, 20 mild hypertensive (HTN) and 20 normotensive (NT) patients were subjected to office BP and arterial stiffness measurements assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV). Inflammatory biomarkers were measured in plasma samples. PWV was increased in RHTN compared with HTN and NT (p < 0.05). TNF-α levels were significantly higher in RHTN and HTN than NT patients. No differences in IL-6 levels were observed. RHTN patients had a higher frequency of subjects with increased levels of IL-10 and IL-1β compared with HTN and NT patients. Finally, IL-1β was independently associated with PWV (p < 0.001; R(2) = 0.5; β = 0.077). RHTN subjects have higher levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10) as well as increased arterial stiffness, and detectable IL-1β levels are associated arterial stiffness. These findings suggest that inflammation plays a possible role in the pathophysiology of RHTN.

Thermoregulatory Efficiency is Increased after Heat Acclimation in Tropical Natives

To evaluate the effects of heat acclimation on sweat rate redistribution and thermodynamic parameters, 9 tropical native volunteers were submitted to 11 days of exercise-heat exposures (40 +/- 0 degrees C and 45.1 +/- 0.2% relative humidity). Sudomotor function was evaluated by measuring total and local (forehead, chest, arm, forearm, and thigh) sweat rates, local sweat sodium concentration, and mean skin and rectal temperatures. We also calculated heat production (H), heat storage (S), heat exchange by radiation (R) and by convection (C), evaporated sweat (E(sw)), sweating efficiency (eta(sw)), skin wettedness (w(sk)), and the ratio between the heat storage and the sum of heat production and heat gains by radiation and convection (S/(H+R+C)). The heat acclimation increased the whole-body sweat rate and reduced the mean skin temperature. There were changes in the local sweat rate patterns: on the arm, forearm, and thigh it increased significantly from day 1 to day 11 (all p<0.05) and the sweat rates from the forehead and the chest showed a small nonsignificant increase (p=0.34 and 0.17, respectively). The relative increase of local sweat rates on day 11 was not different among the sites; however, when comparing the limbs (arm, forearm, and thigh) with the trunk (forehead and chest), there was a significant higher increase in the limbs (32 +/- 5%) in comparison to the trunk (11 +/- 2%, p=0.001). After the heat acclimation period we observed higher w(sk) and E(sw) and reduced S/(H+R+C), meaning greater thermoregulatory efficiency. The increase in the limb sweat rate, but not the increase in the trunk sweat rate, correlated with the increased w(sk), E(sw), and reduced S/(H+R+C) (p<0.05 to all). Altogether, it can be concluded that heat acclimation increased the limbs` sweat rates in tropical natives and that this increase led to increased loss of heat through evaporation of sweat and this higher sweat evaporation was related to higher thermoregulatory efficiency. J Physiol Anthropol 29(1): 1-12, 2010 http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/jpa2 [DOI: 10.2114/jpa2.29.1]

TNF-alpha Knockout Mice Have Increased Corpora Cavernosa Relaxation

Erectile dysfunction is considered an early clinical manifestation of vascular disease and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, suppresses endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression. Considering that nitric oxide (NO) is of critical importance in penile erection, we hypothesized that blockade of TNF-alpha actions would increase cavernosal smooth muscle relaxation. In vitro organ bath studies were used to measure cavernosal reactivity in wild type and TNF-alpha knockout (TNF-alpha KO) mice and NOS expression was evaluated by western blot. In addition, spontaneous erections (in vivo) were evaluated by videomonitoring the animals (30 minutes). Collagen and elastin expression were evaluated by Masson trichrome and Verhoff-van Gieson stain reaction, respectively. Corpora cavernosa from TNF-alpha KO mice exhibited increased NO-dependent relaxation, which was associated with increased eNOS and neuronal NOS (nNOS) cavernosal expression. Cavernosal strips from TNF-alpha KO mice displayed increased endothelium-dependent (97.4 +/- 5.3 vs. Control: 76.3 +/- 6.3, %) and nonadrenergic-noncholinergic (93.3 +/- 3.0 vs. Control: 67.5 +/- 16.0; 16 Hz) relaxation compared to control animals. These responses were associated with increased protein expression of eNOS and nNOS (P < 0.05). Sympathetic-mediated (0.69 +/- 0.16 vs. Control: 1.22 +/- 0.22; 16 Hz) as well as phenylephrine-induced contractile responses (1.6 +/- 0.1 vs. Control: 2.5 +/- 0.1, mN) were attenuated in cavernosal strips from TNF-alpha KO mice. Additionally, corpora cavernosa from TNF-alpha KO mice displayed increased collagen and elastin expression. In vivo experiments demonstrated that TNF-alpha KO mice display increased number of spontaneous erections. Corpora cavernosa from TNF-alpha KO mice display alterations that favor penile tumescence, indicating that TNF-alpha plays a detrimental role in erectile function. A key role for TNF-alpha in mediating endothelial dysfunction in ED is markedly relevant since we now have access to anti-TNF-alpha therapies. Carneiro FS, Sturgis LC, Giachini FRC, Carneiro ZN, Lima VV, Wynne BM, Martin SS, Brands MW, Tostes RC, and Webb RC. TNF-alpha knockout mice have increased corpora cavernosa relaxation. J Sex Med 2009;6:115-125.

Increased circulating vasopressin may account for ethanol-induced hypertension in rats

BACKGROUND Long-term ethanol intake has been reported to evoke both hypertension and increase of systemic vasopressin levels in rats. METHODS In this work, we investigated the involvement of systemic vasopressin in the hypertension evoked in rats by long-term ethanol (20% vol/vol) intake for 2 weeks, by systemic treatment with the VI-vasopressin receptor antagonist dTyr(CH2)5(Me)AVP (50 mu g/kg). Moreover, plasma arginine-vasopressin (AVP) content was quantified using an AVP radioimmunoassay and the expression of vasopressin mRNA in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei was measured using real-time PCR. RESULTS Mild hypertension was observed after 2 weeks of ethanol treatment when compared with control animals. Moreover, an increase in both the expression of vasopressin mRNA and the vasopressin blood content was observed in ethanol-treated rats in comparison to the OF control group. Basal blood pressure levels of ethanol-treated animals were significantly reduced by IV treatment with the V1-vasopressin receptor antagonist dTyr(CH2)5(Me)AVR However, dTyr(CH2)5(Me) AVP had no effect on the blood pressure of control animals. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that mild hypertension is already observed at an early phase of ethanol consumption in rats. Because the content of circulating vasopressin was increased in ethanol-treated rats and their basal blood pressure returned to control levels after IV treatment with a VI-vasopressin receptor antagonist, it is proposed that increased circulating vasopressin content may mediate the hypertension observed in ethanol-treated rats.