Cancer is a set of complex genetic diseases driven by diverse genomic alterations. The genomic study of cancer has enabled the discovery of novel, targetable events in almost all cancer types and in turn, has led to the development of new, targeted cancer therapies benefiting patients; however, the recent explosion of genomic datasets has also resulted in huge lists of new oncogenic factors of unknown biological relevance, and uncertainty over how best to use the data appropriately to influence patient care. Some of the most pressing questions surround the use of statistical methods to identify actionable genomic alterations in cancer and the identification of driving oncogenes in the context of the genomic evolution of cancer cells, undergone before, during, and after prolonged treatment regimens.

This study used an item-based approach to explore the full range of lexical-semantic (word frequency and imageability) and sublexical characteristics (regularity and consistency) of stimulus items. Oral reading and spelling-to-dictation data from 72 adults with acquired alexia/agraphia due to stroke or progressive aphasia were analyzed to determine unique influences of lexical-semantic and sublexical variables on performance. Multiple regression analyses were performed for each etiology and lesion group (i.e., perisylvian stoke, extrasylvian stroke, perisylvian atrophy, and extrasylvian atrophy). As expected, word frequency had a significant influence on reading and spelling performance in almost all contexts. Of particular interest was the consistent finding that written language performance associated with left perisylvian damage was moderated primarily by lexical-semantic features of stimuli (frequency and imageability), whereas performance by those with left extrasylvian damage was strongly influenced by sublexical features of sound-spelling regularity and, to a lesser extent, consistency.

Magistro darbe yra nagrinėjama aukštojo mokslo teikiamų paslaugų kokybės problema. Iškeltas klausimas, kaip darbdaviai vertina darbuotojų įgytas aukštojo mokslo žinias, teikiamų aukštojo mokslo paslaugų kokybę Lietuvos universitetuose. Darbe išanalizuota ir susisteminta įvairių tiek Lietuvos, tiek ir užsienio autorių publikuota medžiaga bei atlikti tyrimai, susiję su aukštojo mokslo institucijų teikiamų paslaugų kokybe bei studijų programų (vadybos/verslo administravimo) kokybe. Darbe išsamiai išanalizuota Lietuvos aukštojo mokslo poreikio esmė, studijų kokybės vertinimas Lietuvoje bei aukštojo mokslo kokybės ir pokyčių darbo rinkoje sąsajos. Tyrimo metu išsiaiškinta, kad suformuluota mokslinio tyrimo hipotezė pasitvirtina, kadangi dauguma apklaustų organizacijų vadovų yra nepatenkinti Lietuvos aukštojo mokslo sistema bei jos teikiamų paslaugų kokybe Lietuvoje. / The Master‘s thesis concerns with the problem of quality of services rendered by higher educational institutions. It contains the question posed revealing both employers‘ viewpoint on knowledge acquired by employees while studying and quality of services provided at Lithuanian universities. The thesis presents the analysis and systematization of material published by various (both Lithuanian and foreign) authors, and tests /the research conducted, associated with the quality of services rendered by higher educational establishments and the quality of curricula (of management/business administration). It also reveals the detailed analysis of the core of need for higher education, the attitude towards the quality of studies in Lithuania and the relationship between the quality of higher education and changes in labour market. On the grounds of the research conducted the stated hypothesis has been proved, since the majority of the heads of organizations questioned are dissatisfied with Lithuanian higher educational system and the quality of services rendered by it in Lithuania.

<p>The quantitative findings indicated high levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge, self-concept and self-efficacy. Risky sexual behaviour was measured in terms of condom use and the number of sexual partners in the 12 months prior to the study with males reporting significantly more risky sexual behaviour. More males (70% vs. 43 % females) reported no condom use when engaging in sex. More males (62 % vs. 28 % females) reported having had two or more sexual partners in the 12 months prior to the study. Results also suggested that an increase in knowledge of HIV/AIDS would predict an increase in the use of condoms particularly for males. Lower self-efficacy seemed to predict an increase in the number of sexual partners for males. The focus group discussions highlighted students' views of HIV/AIDS knowledge in relation to their sexual practices, attitudes and sexual decision-making. Influences such as personal factors (self-concept and self-efficacy), social factors (e.g. peer influences, gender, and status) and environmental factors (e.g. media) were investigated. Participants also commented on the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS campaigns and the adequacy in provision of health services at college and community level. From the findings, guidelines were developed which may be used to reflect on current intervention programmes and may be considered when developing future interventions programmes, policies, or campaigns in promoting safer sexual practices amongst youth as a means of addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic.</p>

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is initiated upon recognition of specific microbial effectors by cognate plant resistance proteins and immunizes distal tissues of plants against secondary infections. SAR involves the generation of a mobile signal at the site of primary infection, which then translocates to and activates defense responses in the distal tissues via some unknown mechanism(s). This study shows that an ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN 4 (ACP4), GLABRA1 (GL1) and ACYL CARRIER BINDING PROTEINS (ACBP) are required for the processing of the mobile SAR signal in distal tissues of Arabidopsis. Although acp4, gl1 and acbp plants generate the mobile signal, they are unable to respond to this signal to induce systemic immunity. A defective SAR in acp4, gl1 and acbp plants is not associated with salicylic acid (SA)-, methyl SA-, or jasmonic acid-mediated pathways but is related to the presence of an abnormal cuticle on acp4, gl1 and acbp plants. Other genetic mutations impairing the cuticle also compromised SAR. An intact cuticle was only necessary during the time when the mobile signal is generated and translocated to the distal tissues. A novel role for the plant cuticle as the site for SAR-related molecular signaling is demonstrated.

Plants use several strategies to defend themselves against microbial pathogens. These include basal resistance, which is induced in response to pathogen encoded effector proteins, and resistance (R) protein-mediated resistance that is activated upon direct or indirect recognition of pathogen encoded avirulence protein(s). The activation of Rmediated signaling is often associated with generation of a signal, which, upon its translocation to the distal uninfected parts, confers broad-spectrum immunity against related or unrelated pathogens. This phenomenon known as systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is one of the well-established forms of induced defense response. However, the molecular mechanism underlying SAR remains largely unknown. Induction of plant defense is often associated with a fitness cost, likely because it involves reprogramming of the energy-providing metabolic pathways. Glycerol metabolism is one such pathway that feeds into primary metabolism, including lipid biosynthesis. In this study, I evaluated the role of glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) in host-pathogen interaction. Inoculation with the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Colletotrichum higginsianum led to increased accumulation of G3P in wild-type plants. Mutants impaired in biosynthesis of G3P showed enhanced susceptibility, suggesting a correlation between G3P levels and basal defense. Conversely, increased biosynthesis of G3P correlated with enhanced resistance. The Arabidopsis genome encodes one copy of glycerol kinase (GK), which catalyzes phosphorylation of glycerol to G3P, and five copies of G3P dehydrogenase (G3Pdh), which catalyze reduction of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to G3P. Analysis of plants mutated in various G3Pdh's showed that plastidal lipid biosynthesis was only dependent on the GLY1 isoform but the pathogen induced G3P pool required the function of GLY1 and two other G3Pdh isoforms. Interestingly, compromised G3P biosynthesis in GK and G3Pdh mutants also compromised SAR, which was restored when G3P was provided exogenously. Detailed biochemical analysis showed that G3P was transported to distal tissues and that this process was dependent on a lipid transfer protein, DIR1. Together, these results show that G3P plays an important role in both basal- and induced-defense responses.

Background Hospital-acquired infections are significant cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients worldwide. Healthcare workers during job are exposed to blood borne pathogens through contact with infected body parts, blood and body fluids. World health organization (WHO) estimated that globally about 2.5% of HIV and 40% of hepatitis viral infected cases are among health workers due to exposures. The most important mechanism of spread of these pathogens is through contaminated hands of the healthcare workers. Standard precautions measures are essential to prevent and control healthcare associated infection among healthcare workers and patients. In developing countries despite the development of detailed guideline for infection control the knowledge of standard precautions is low and not properly applied. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and practice of health care workers regarding standard precautions and hand hygiene to infectious disease control.  Aim The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of health care workers regarding hand wash and standard precautions to control infectious diseases in BMCH. In addition create awareness among participants and encourage them to practice regularly hand hygiene and standard precautions to control or reduce nosocomial infections in health care facilities Methods The study design is cross-sectional evaluation of healthcare worker knowledge and practices about standard precautions and hand hygiene for infectious disease control. A questionnaire administered to health care workers (doctors and nurses). The questionnaire was divided in two parts and the first part concerns demographic information, asking knowledge and practice. The second part asked opinions about risk and prevention of HAIs. The questionnaire was developed with consultation of other studies of the same kind. It has been pre tested and is finalized for survey. The ethical approval was given by hospital superintendent and informs consent from all study participants. Statistic analysis was done on Excel and statistical software SPSS version 20. Data was described in numbers, percentages and Chi Square test done for association among categorical variables, significant level was considered P= &lt;0.05. Results Two hundred questionnaires were distributed to HCWs in BMCH and 169 completely fill questionnaire were returned. The male gender respondents were 42% and female respondents were 58%. The basic questions about knowledge of hand hygiene and standard precautions were answered well in both categories; about 73% were with sufficient knowledge. The practice of hand hygiene and standard precautions was not satisfactory among both categories; about 47% found with good practice. Differences found in sub groups, young age none trained doctors and nurses answered wrong and shown lack of knowledge. This study found an association of age, profession and job experience with knowledge and practice regarding hand hygiene and standard precautions. Open handed questions described well the major issue regarding HAIs and participants emphasized on risk and prevention methods.  Conclusions The respondents were HCWs (doctors and nurses) of both sex and this study found that majority of HCWs have good knowledge and practice about control of HAIs but difference were found in age groups, sex and profession. Above half of the HCWs were not trained for infection control in health facilities, thus getting training of infection control is important but more important is implementation of it during practice.

The aim of the present thesis was to examine possible cognitive consequences of acquired hearing loss and the possible impact of these cognitive consequences on the ability to process spoken language presented through visual speechreading or through a cochlear implant. The main findings of the present thesis can be summarised in the following conclusions: (a) The phonological processing capabilities of individuals who have acquired a severe hearing loss or deafness deteriorate progressively as a function of number of years with a complete or partial auditory deprivation. (b) The observed phonological deterioration is restricted to certain aspects of the phonological system. Specifically, the phonological representations of words in the mental lexicon are of less good quality, whereas the phonological system in verbal working memory is preserved. (c) The deterioration of the phonological representations has a negative effect on the individual's ability to process speech, either presented visually (i.e., speechreading) or through a cochlear implant, as it may impair word recognition processes which involve activation of and discrimination between the phonological representations in the lexicon. (d) Thus, the present research describes an acquired cognitive disability not previously documented in the literature, and contributes to the context of other populations with phonological disabilities by showing that a complete or partial deprivation of auditory speech stimulation in adulthood can give rise to a phonological disability. (e) From a clinical point of view, the results from the present thesis suggest that early cochlear implantation after the onset of an acquired severe hearing loss is an important objective in order to reach a high level of speech understanding with the implant.

No description available.