5,530 research outputs found
Balancing contractual and relational approaches for PPP success and sustainability
No full textUseful synergies are targeted by proposing a convergence of hitherto parallel international endeavours towards: (1) developing better and sustainable relationships for more productive construction project teams, in general; and (2) optimising the necessarily long term contractual arrangements of PPPs in particular. Examples are drawn from Africa and Latin America to reinforce reported PPP experiences from other regions, in building up a case for injecting ‘relational contracting approaches’ in order to develop more productive and sustainable PPPs. Strong and sustainable relationships are shown to be essential, and complementary to appropriate contractual incentives, that would together empower PPP project teams to focus on developing sustainable infrastructure and ultimately on overall sustainable development. These propositions are merged into a basic model that merits further investigation and development, in order to ensure that planned PPPs benefit the community at large, in respect of both present and future generations
Ferroportin expression and regulation in human placenta/fetal membranes: Implications for ferroptosis and adverse pregnancy outcomes
No full textIron overload is associated with pregnancy complications. Ferroportin (FPN) is the only known iron exporter in mammalian cells. We hypothesize that FPN is functionally important in ferrotopsis, a process of iron-dependent non-apoptotic programmed cell death, and may have a critical role to play in pregnancy success. We investigated the expression of FPN in placenta/fetal membranes by immunohistochemistry in tissues collected from pregnancies with/without preeclampsia (PE) and spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB). FPN was highly expressed in both trophoblasts and decidual cells found in placenta/fetal membranes. Staining was significantly reduced in fetal membranes from SPTB versus healthy pregnancies (P = 0.046). FPN expression in immortalized human endometrial stromal cells (HESC) increased with in vitro decidualization induction using 1 μM of medroxyprogesterone acetate and 0.5 mM of dibutyryl-cAMP. In addition, both HESC cells and immortalized extravillous trophoblast SW71 cells with FPN knockdown showed significant sensitivity to ferroptosis inducer, erastin (P < 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively). The survival of both HESC and SW71 cells was not negatively affected by iron supplementation with ferric ammonium citrate in the medium. However, SW71 cells were more sensitive than HESC cells to physiologic iron in the presence of a non-lethal dose of erastin (P < 0.001). Taken together, our data demonstrating increased sensitivity of FPN knockdown HESC and SW71 cells to erastin and increased sensitivity of trophoblasts to iron overload under ferroptotic stress support the hypothesis that FPN protects against ferroptosis during pregnancy.No Full Tex
Simultaneously inhibition <i>Nlu-miR-34</i> and <i>NlInR2</i> in SW strain induced the decrease of SW BPHs.
No full text(A) Antagomir-34 (with two different quantities) and dsNlInR2 (0.84 ng) were injected into the third instar SW strain nymphs, showed that injection of antagomir-34 decreased the ratio of SW type BPH (Chi-square test, 40ng: χ2 = 5.8, df = 1, p = 0.003; 60ng: χ2 = 7.9, df = 1, p = 0.042). (B) The antagomir-34 (40 ng) and dsNlInR2 (with three different quantities) were simultaneously injected into the third instar SW strain nymphs. The results showed that effect of low level of dsNlInR2 (0.42 ng) with antagomir-34 is familiar with control, while higher level of dsNlInR2 (0.84 and 3.38 ng) with antagomir-34 induced a bias towards the development of LW BPHs compared to the control. Injection of antagomir-34 (40 ng) and dsNlInR2 (0.84 ng) decreased ratio of SW BPH to around 20% (Chi-square test, χ2 = 8.4, df = 1, p = 0.004). High level of dsInR2 (3.38 ng) with antagomir-34 decreased the ratio of SW BPH (Chi-square test, χ2 = 3.3, df = 1, p = 0.068). 200 insects were used for each experiment. Data are means ± SEM, three replicates. *p p < 0.01.</p
G2 & G1 plants species of SW Colorado
No full textPresented at the 16th symposium held on September 27, 2019 in Grand Junction, Colorado.2019 G2 species of SW Colorado -- 2019 G1 species of SW Colorado
DIGITAL PATTERN SEARCH AND ITS HYBRIDIZATION WITH GENETIC ALGORITHMS FOR BOUND CONSTRAINED GLOBAL OPTIMIZATION
No full textIn this paper, we present a recently developed pattern search method called Genetic Pattern Search algorithm (GPSA) for the global optimization of cost function subject to simple bounds. GPSA is a combined global optimization method using genetic algorithm (GA) and Digital Pattern Search (DPS) method, which has the digital structure represented by binary strings and guarantees convergence to stationary points from arbitrary starting points. The performance of GPSA is validated through extensive numerical experiments on a number of well known functions and on robot walking application. The optimization results confirm that GPSA is a robust and efficient global optimization method.open11sciescopu
Dependence of unsaturated chloride diffusion on the pore structure in cementitious materials
No full textConceptual analysis is performed to examine the effects of pore features on the water continuity in unsaturated porous systems. The roles of pore features in relative chloride diffusion coefficient (Drc) of mortar specimens at various degrees of water saturation (Sw) were studied based on mercury intrusion porosimetry and resistivity tests. It is found that the role of pore structure in the Drc-Sw relationship is a result of its effect on the water continuity. Porosity and tortuosity are not relevant to the Drc-Sw relationship. A finer pore size distribution or lower pore connectivity tends to result in a lower Drc. The pore size effect on the Drc is pronounced primarily at high Sw, while the Drc is dominated by the pore connectivity at low Sw. Cement mortar with a higher water-to-binder ratio shows larger chloride diffusion at high relative humidity levels but smaller chloride diffusion at low relative humidity levels.Accepted Author ManuscriptMaterials and Environmen
Total Cost of Ownership for Application Replatform by Open-source SW
No full textAbstractIn intra-company IT environment, the use of open-source software (OSS) should be expanded to reduce IT costs and to establish SW governance. This requires the migration of systems from the existing commercial SW to open-source SW, but the attempt of application replatform is prevented by the expenses for application reprogramming and data migration. This study proposes a methodology for TCO calculation of application replatform using open-source SW. In practice, a five-year TCO shows a cost reduction effect of 78% - 83%. This TCO could be further reduced if the application size is increased due to data accumulation and the company gets open-source SW capabilities internally. In addition, it is possible to directly apply an application developed from open-source SW to a virtualized infrastructure environment, which enables to operate in a hybrid cloud environment. This enables a scalable, efficient and flexible IT operation and a sustainable TCO reduction in the futur
Review of previous meetings, Part 3: Montrose, SW Colorado, G2G3 species
No full textSymposium held on September 28, 2012 in Canyon City, Colorado.Title from website.2008 Montrose: SW Colorado G2G3 species -- 2009 Loveland: NW & central Colorado G2G3 species
Expression and Function of the Iron Transport Protein, Ferroportin, at the Maternal-Fetal Interface.
No full textIntroduction: Iron is required to support feto-placental development. However, iron overload has been associated with abnormal decidualization, pregnancy complications including pre-eclampsia (PE) and spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), and endometriosis. Ferroportin (Fpn) is the only known mammalian iron exporter, and plays an essential role in the export of iron from storage to blood for distribution to tissues. We hypothesize that Fpn is a critical regulator of iron homeostasis and ferroptosis (irondependent programmed cell death) at the maternal-fetal interface. To this end, we investigated the expression of Fpn in placentas/fetal membranes from normal/abnormal pregnancies and endometriosis tissues. Fpn function was tested in immortalized human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) and first trimester extravillous trophoblast cells (Sw.71) with knockdown of Fpn expression. Methods: Immunohistochemistry for Fpn expression was performed in placentas/fetal membranes from 7 term births, 8 PE, and 3 sPTB, as well as 8 endometriosis tissues. HESC and Sw.71 cell lines with stable knockdown of Fpn expression were established using lentiviral short-hairpin RNAs. Iron overload was induced by increasing doses of ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) and the effect on cell growth measured by MTT assay. Results: Fpn was highly expressed in amnion, chorion, and decidual cells in fetal membranes; in placental trophoblasts; and in epithelial and stromal cells in endometriosis tissues. Fpn expression was significantly different in fetal membranes from term birth, PE, and sPTB (P=0.014, Kruskal-Wallis test), with a reduction in sPTB versus term birth (P=0.046, Mann-Whitney analysis with Bonferroni correction). Fpn staining in fetal membranes was also significantly correlated with gestational length (r=0.617, P=0.006). In contrast, Fpn staining in the placenta was not significantly different between the three groups (P=0.052), and did not correlate with gestational length (P=0.147). Fpn knockdown in Sw. cells did not affect cell proliferation under basal conditions. However, in the setting of iron overload, Fpn knockdown in Sw.71 cells increased sensitivity of the cells to high doses of FAC. Conclusion: The iron export protein Fpn is highly expressed in eutopic and ectopic endometrium, placental tissues, and fetal membranes. Fpn expression was significantly reduced in fetal membranes from sPTB. Functional studies suggest a critical role for Fpn in maintaining iron homeostasis and ferroptosis at the maternal-fetal interface.No Full Tex
Fig. 2 in A New Species Of Phalium Link, 1807 (Gastropoda: Tonnoidea: Cassidae) From The Sunda Shelf
No full textFig. 2. Shells of Phalium pseudobandatum, new species (A–C), P. bandatum (Perry, 1811) (D–E), and P. glaucum (Linnaeus, 1758) (F–G). A, off Sedili, Johor, Malaysia, (SH 60.3 × SW 34.4) (ZRC.MOL.3689; paratype #1); B–C, Natuna Islands, Riau, Indonesia, (SH 55.2 × SW 33.6, SH 59.3 × SW 37.3) (ZRC.MOL.3690; paratype #5 & #6). D, Townsville, Queensland, Australia (SH 83.1 × SW 52.1) (CLN); E, Olango Island, Cebu, Philippines (SH 110.9 × SW 72.2) (CNHE). F, Endau, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia (SH 101.4 × SW 67.4) (CNHE); G, Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin, Singapore (SH 73.8 × SW 50.6) (ZRC.MOL.3687).Published as part of Tan, S. K., Ng, H. E. & Nguang, L. H. S., 2013, A New Species Of Phalium Link, 1807 (Gastropoda: Tonnoidea: Cassidae) From The Sunda Shelf, pp. 507-514 in Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 61 (2) on page 509, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.450864
- …
