30 research outputs found
Detrimental synergy; Deciphering the roles of Aquaporins in Parkinson’s Disease
No full textParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive selective loss of dopaminergic neurons (DN) in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The etiology of PD is unknown, though environmental toxins and neuroinflammation are identified as potential key factors in the pathogenesis. The protein channels aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and aquaporin 9 (AQP9) are expressed in a variety of brain regions, including the SN, where AQP9 is found expressed in the DN. AQP4 is selectively permeable to water and has been coupled to several neurodegenerative diseases, where neuroinflammation is a common denominator. AQP9 is on the contrary permeable to a broad spectrum of solutes.
The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the potential pathophysiological roles of AQP4 and AQP9 in PD by focusing on glial aspects of neuroinflammation and toxic contribution. Using two different mouse models of PD, through subcutaneous and intrastriatal injections of the parkinsonogenic toxin MPTP/MPP+, we show that AQP4 is highly expressed in SNpc under physiological conditions and further increased in the PD mouse models. We show that treatment with MPP+ lead to upregulation of genes known to activate microglia in SNpc in WT mice and not in Aqp4-/- mice. WT mice showed higher degree of dopaminergic cell death. To investigate the theory that AQP9 functions as a gateway channel for parkinsonogenic toxins, we established AQP9 permeability to MPP+ by using Xenopus oocytes expressing AQP9. Targeted deletion of Aqp9 proved protective of dopaminergic cell death both in vitro and in vivo in the MPP+ mouse model.
In conclusion, this thesis has pinpointed AQP4 and AQP9 as detrimental factors in the pathogenesis of PD, where AQP9 functions as a toxin facilitator enabling access to DN whereas AQP4 plays the role of toxin exacerbator, amplifying the toxic effect in SNpc through neuroinflammation. This novel insight in to the pathogenesis of PD, may pave the way for new therapeutic targets in PD
Advertising as a Marketing Communication Method for Product Promotion to International Markets
No full textReklāma ir viens no izplatītākajiem un lielāko atdevi nesošajiem mārketinga komunikāciju kanāliem starptautisku uzņēmumu darbā. Tradicionālie reklāmas veidi nostiprina savu vērtību, bet inovācijas šajā nozarē ir sastopamas ik uz soļa.
Diplomdarba mērķis ir pamatojoties uz apgūto starptautiskā mārketinga un reklāmas teorijas bāzi, salīdzināt un izstrādāt secinājumus par reklāmas veidiem un to pielietojumu uzņēmumu ’’Nestle Baltics’’ un ’’HKScan Latvia’’ darbā un priekšlikumus mārketinga komunikācijas stratēģijas pilnveidošanai uzņēmumos.
Diplomdarba mērķu sasniegšanai tika izvirzīti šādi uzdevumi: iepazīties ar mārketinga komunikāciju kanāliem, noskaidrot starptautiskās reklāmas īpatnības un būtību, analizēt reklāmas nozares globālās tendences, ar uzsvaru uz Baltijas valstīm, un izpētīt iepriekšminētajos uzņēmumos pielietotās mārketinga komunikāciju metodes preču virzīšanai starptautiskā tirgū.
Darba rezultātā tiek sasniegti izvirzītie mērķi, izstrādāti secinājumi un izvirzīti priekšlikumi.Advertising is on of the most common and most return giving marketing communication channel for international companies. Traditional forms of advertising strengthens it’s value, but nowadays you can still find many inovations in this sector.
Purpose of the paper is to compare and draw conclusions about different types and use of advertising in ’’Nestle Baltics’’ and ’’HKScan Latvia’’, based on the learned theory about international marketing and advertising. Also aim is to develop proposals to improve marketing communication strategy in both companies.
To fulfill the objectives author got familiar with marketing communication channels, found out international advertising nature, explored and evaluated global trends in advertising, especially advertising trends in Baltics. As well as clarified the use of advertising and other marketing communication methods in both enterprises.
The result: author fulfilled set objectives, draw conclusions and developed proposals
Mnemonic Techniques for to the Facilitate Vocabulary Acquisition in German Lessons for Beginners
No full textDiplomdarba tēma ir „Mnemotehnikas izmantošana vārdu krājuma efektīvākai apguvei svešvalodas stundās iesācējiem“. Diplomdarba tēma tika izvēlēta, lai izpētītu, kā skolēniem iespējams vieglāk apgūt jauno leksiku un ar kādu metožu palīdzību skolotājiem vieglāk šo mērķi sasniegt. Diplomdarba teorētiskajā daļā tiek analizēta pedagoģiskā, psiholoģiskā un metodiskā literatūra par mnemotehnikas izmantošanu ar mērķi izvēlēties svešvalodas leksikas apguvei piemērotākās metodes. Diplomdarba praktiskajā daļā tiek aprobētas mnemotehnikas izmantošanas iespējas mācību procesā. Skolēnu pozitīvā attieksme, viņu interese un labi sasniegumi, pierāda mnemotehnikas paņēmienu efektivitāti vārdu krājuma apguvei svešvalodas stundās. Atslēgas vārdi: mācīšanās motivācija, vārdu krājuma papildināšana, mnemotehnikaThe topic of Diploma thesis is „Mnemonic Techniques for to the Facikitate Vocabulary Acquisition in German Lessons for Beginners” The thema of Diploma thesis was chosen in order to find the most effective ways for pupils to acquire new lexis and which methods teachers should use to achieve this goal. In the theoretical part the author analysed pedagogical, psychological and methodological literature on using mnemotechnics with the aim to determine the most appropriate methods for acquiring foreign language lexis. The practical part shows approbation of the designed methods using mnemotechnics in learning process. The effectiveness of the Mnemonic Technique in acquiring vocabulary in foreign language lessons is proved by the pupils’ positive attitude, their interest and good achievements. Keywords: learning motivation, supplementing vocabulary, mnemotechnic
Number Culture: Old Babylonian Mathematics at Yale
No full textThe Yale Babylonian Collection houses virtually every genre, type, and period of ancient Mesopotamian writing, ranging from about 3000 B.C.E. to the early Christian Era. Among its treasures are tablets of the Epic of Gilgamesh and other narratives, the world’s oldest recipes, a large corpus of magic spells and mathematical texts, stunning miniature art carved on seals, and poetry by the first named author in world history, the princess Enheduanna.
This unique volume, the companion book to an exhibition at Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History, celebrates the Yale Babylonian Collection and its formal affiliation with the museum. Included are essays by world-renowned experts on the exhibition themes, photographs and illustrations, and a catalog of artifacts in the collection that present the ancient Near East in the light of present-day discussion of lived experiences, focusing on family life and love, education and scholarship, identity, crime and transgression, demons, and sickness
Kvalitetsforbedringsprosjekt ved Sykehuset Innlandet Kongsvinger om overgang til individualisert tromboseprofylakse etter elektive keisersnitt
No full textPro-inflammatory role of AQP4 in mice subjected to intrastriatal injections of the Parkinsonogenic toxin MPP
No full textAquaporin-4 (AQP4) is critically involved in brain water and volume homeostasis and has been implicated in a wide range of pathological conditions. Notably, evidence has been accrued to suggest that AQP4 plays a proinflammatory role by promoting release of astrocytic cytokines that activate microglia and other astrocytes. Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), and we have previously shown that astrocytes in substantia nigra (SN) are enriched in AQP4 relative to cortical astrocytes, and that their complement of AQP4 is further increased following treatment with the parkinsonogenic toxin MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine). Here, we investigated the effect of Aqp4 deletion on microglial activation in mice subjected to unilateral intrastriatal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+, the toxic metabolite of MPTP). Our results show that MPP+ injections lead to a pronounced increase in the expression level of microglial activating genes in the ventral mesencephalon of wild type (WT) mice, but not Aqp4-/- mice. We also show, in WT mice, that MPP+ injections cause an upregulation of nigral AQP4 and swelling of astrocytic endfeet. These findings are consistent with the idea that AQP4 plays a pro-inflammatory role in Parkinson's disease, secondary to the dysregulation of astrocytic volume homeostasis
When the going gets tough, will nature get you going? : the effect of water, natural and urban landscapes on cognitive control
No full textAccording to attention restoration theory (ART), nature provides soft fascination that attracts indirect attention. This allows direct attention, referred to as cognitive control, to rest and be restored. The theory has empirical support, but the field has not come far in untangling the effects of different restorative elements in nature and the effect on cognitive control in particular. The main objective in this study is as follows (1): What are the effects on cognitive control of viewing photos of natural landscapes with water, natural landscapes without water and urban landscapes? The secondary objective in this study is as follows (2): To what degree are the tested landscapes preferred and how does this relate to the effect on cognitive control? The study is a controlled, randomized experiment carried out by the author as an independent research project with 90 participants doing the ANT (pretest) followed by viewing photosets of natural landscapes with water, natural landscapes without water or urban landscapes, and then the ANT as the posttest followed by a questionnaire with questions, among others, of preference. By utilizing preference research in the design of a study of restorative effects, the study contributes to untangling different potentially restorative elements in natural landscapes in a new way. The study challenges the dominant dichotomy by showing that with a fairer comparison between urban and nature than has been done earlier, with balanced weather, photo quality, contrast, brightness and the amount of sunlight between the photo series of natural and urban environments, there are no significant differences between the groups in terms of the effect on cognitive control. Hence, the study does not support ART. The study confirms previous findings of higher preference for natural landscapes but showed no clear relationship between this preference and cognitive control
“Danone'' integrētā mārketinga komunikācija zīmola ''Danonki'' pozīcijas maiņas procesā "Danone" Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) during Brand "Danonki" Repositioning.
No full textStarptautiskā mārketinga un biznesa vadībaVadība, administrēšana un nekustamo īpašumu pārvaldībaManagement of International Marketing and BusinessSIA ,,Danone’’ 2017. gadā īstenoja zīmola Danonki pozīcijas maiņas kampaņu Baltijā.
Vēloties veicināt zīmola konkurētspēju un apzinoties esošos izaicinājumus vietējā tirgū, tika
pieņemts lēmums ieguldīt zīmola attīstībā. Mārketinga atbalsts zīmola pozīcijas maiņas
kampaņai sākās 2017.gada martā un ilga 2 mēnešus. Tā ietvaros bērnu jogurtu zīmolam tika
uzlabots produktu sastāvs, iepakojuma dizains un izveidota jauna komunikācijas stratēģija.
Pozīcijas maiņa bija lielākā kampaņa Danonki zīmola pastāvēšanas laikā, mērot pēc
ieguldītajiem finanšu līdzekļiem un izmantoto komunikācijas kanālu dažādības.
Maģistra darba ,,Danone’’ integrētā mārketinga komunikācija zīmola ,,Danonki’’
pozīcijas maiņas procesā, mērķis ir izanalizējot ātrās aprites preču tirgus zīmola Danonki
pielietoto IMK pozīcijas maiņas kontekstā, izvērtēt zīmola īstenotās pozīcijas maiņas kampaņas
sniegumu un izstrādāt priekšlikumus zīmola tālākai attīstībai.
Maģistra darba pirmajā daļā tiek aplūkoti teorētiskie aspekti par zīmolu, tā vadīšanu
un pozīcijas maiņas nepieciešamību, integrētā mārketinga komunikācijas procesu un plānošanu.
Darba turpinājumā tika veikta ,,Danone’’ uzņēmuma un ,,Danonki’’ zīmola raksturojums,
jogurtu tirgus situācijas raksturojums un analizēta Danonki mārketinga stratēģija pirms
pozīcijas maiņas. Kontentanalīzes – pieejamo dokumentu par pirms pozīcijas maiņas fokusa
grupu rezultātiem, ietvaros, autore definēja zīmola barjeras, kas bija kā pamats pozīcijas maiņas
kampaņas īstenošanai. Darba trešajā daļā tiek vērtēta ,,Danonki’’ pozīcijas maiņas kampaņa
Latvijā un noskaidrots mērķa auditorijas viedoklis par zīmolu pēc pozīcijas maiņas.
Lai sasniegtu pētījuma mērķi, darba ietvaros tika organizētas piecas ekspertu
intervijas. Autore apkopojot ekspertu viedokļus izdara secinājumus par zīmola pielietotajiem
integrētās mārketinga komunikācijas instrumentiem. Papildus, lai spētu novērtēt pozīcijas
maiņas ietekmi uz zīmolu, tika pielietota empīriskā pētījumu metode – fokusa grupas. Divus
gadu pēc pozīcijas maiņas tika uzdoti tādi paši jautājumi fokusa grupās, kā pirms pozīcijas
maiņas, lai secinātu vai IMK pozīcijas maiņas kampaņa ir ietekmējusi zīmola asociācijas un
tēlu.
Veiktajā pētījumā un kampaņas analīzē secināts, ka pielietotie integrētās mārketinga
komunikācijas instrumenti izvēlēti atbilstoši mūsdienu tendencēm un patērētāju vēlmēm, kas
rezultējās ar pozitīvu mērķa auditorijas un ekspertu novērtējumu par zīmola pašreizējo tēlu un
tā produktiem, efektīvu zīmola pozīcijas maiņu un uzņēmuma mērķu sasniegšanu.
Maģistra darbs sastāv no 104 lapām, 12 tabulām, 14 attēliem un pielikumiem.In 2017 company Danone decided to reposition the Danonki brand in the Baltic
countries. A decision was made to invest in the brand's growth to make it more competitive,
because of specific challenges in the local market. Marketing support for the brand
repositioning campaign started in March 2017 and was running for 2 months. The campaign
aimed to improve ingredient list in Danonki products, improve packaging design and developed
a new communication strategy. Moreover, the repositioning campaign was the biggest change
in Danonki brand existence in the Baltics, if measured by invested budget and used
communication channels.
The master thesis “Danone” integrated marketing communications (IMC) during
brand “Danonki” repositioning aims to (1) analyze the benefits of IMC for the fast-moving
consumer brand Danonki in the context of repositioning, (2) evaluate the performance of the
brand's repositioning campaign and (3) make proposals for further brand development.
Moreover, the master thesis consists of three parts. The first part deals with the
theoretical aspects of branding, brand management, planning, and the need for repositioning
and integrated marketing communication processes and planning. The second part describes
Danone and its Danonki brand as well as presents an overview of the yogurt market and
analyzes Danonki's marketing strategy before the repositioning campaign. It also revises the
existing focus group documents that the thesis author had defined as the main proof of brand
growth blocking barrier existence, leading to a decision to reposition the brand. In the final part
of the thesis, the author evaluates Danonki position change in Latvia and the target audience's
opinion on the brand after the position change.
To reach the goal of the thesis, five expert interviews were conducted within the
research framework. By gathering expert opinions, the author draws conclusions about the
brand’s used integrated marketing communication tools. In addition, the empirical research
method - focus groups - was used to assess the effect of the repositioning campaign on the brand
from target audience perspective. Two years after the repositioning campaign, the same
questions were asked in the focus groups as before the position change, to conclude whether
the IMC has affected brand associations and image.
The research and campaign analysis concluded that the used integrated marketing
communications tools were chosen in line with today's trends and consumer expectations,
which resulted in a positive appreciation of the target audience and experts about the brand's
current image and products, effective brand positioning and reached business goals.
Master's thesis consists of 104 pages, 12 tables and 14 pictures and attachments
Pro-inflammatory role of AQP4 in mice subjected to intrastriatal injections of the Parkinsonogenic toxin MPP
No full textAquaporin-4 (AQP4) is critically involved in brain water and volume homeostasis and has been implicated in a wide range of pathological conditions. Notably, evidence has been accrued to suggest that AQP4 plays a proinflammatory role by promoting release of astrocytic cytokines that activate microglia and other astrocytes. Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), and we have previously shown that astrocytes in substantia nigra (SN) are enriched in AQP4 relative to cortical astrocytes, and that their complement of AQP4 is further increased following treatment with the parkinsonogenic toxin MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine). Here, we investigated the effect of Aqp4 deletion on microglial activation in mice subjected to unilateral intrastriatal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+, the toxic metabolite of MPTP). Our results show that MPP+ injections lead to a pronounced increase in the expression level of microglial activating genes in the ventral mesencephalon of wild type (WT) mice, but not Aqp4-/- mice. We also show, in WT mice, that MPP+ injections cause an upregulation of nigral AQP4 and swelling of astrocytic endfeet. These findings are consistent with the idea that AQP4 plays a pro-inflammatory role in Parkinson's disease, secondary to the dysregulation of astrocytic volume homeostasis
hESC-derived neural progenitors prevent xenograft rejection through neonatal desensitisation
No full textAbstractStem cell therapies for neurological disorders are rapidly moving towards use in clinical trials. Before initiation of clinical trials, extensive pre-clinical validation in appropriate animal models is essential. However, grafts of human cells into the rodent brain are rejected within weeks after transplantation and the standard methods of immune-suppression for the purpose of studying human xenografts are not always sufficient for the long-term studies needed for transplanted human neurons to maturate, integrate and provide functional benefits in the host brain. Neonatal injections in rat pups using human fetal brain cells have been shown to desensitise the host to accept human tissue grafts as adults, whilst not compromising their immune system. Here, we show that differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be used for desensitisation to achieve long-term graft survival of human stem cell-derived neurons in a xenograft setting, surpassing the time of conventional pharmacological immune-suppressive treatments. The use of hESCs for desensitisation opens up for a widespread use of the technique, which will be of great value when performing pre-clinical evaluation of stem cell-derived neurons in animal models
