Objective: One of the main theoretical proposals of Intensive Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP; Davanloo, 1990) is that experiencing of previously unconscious guilt over aggressive impulses associated with attachment trauma leads to increase in self-compassion. The present study aimed to test this assumption. Method: Videotaped sessions from five therapies from a randomized controlled trial of 20-sessions of time-limited ISTDP for treatment-refractory depression were rated with the Achievement of Therapeutic Objectives Scale (ATOS; McCullough, Larsen, Schanche, Andrews& Kuhn, 2003b). Degree of patient guilt arousal and self-compassion were rated on all available sessions. Data were analyzed using a replicated single-subject time-series approach. Results: Guilt arousal was not shown to positively predict self-compassion for any of the five patients. For one patient guilt arousal negatively predicted self-compassion two sessions ahead in time. Conclusion: The current study yields no support that the experience of guilt over aggressive feelings and impulses leads to increases in self-compassion. On the contrary, the finding that guilt negatively predicted self-compassion for one patient must be considered as an indication that this treatment process might negatively impact self-compassion for some patients in some contexts. However, there are several methodological limitations to the current study in the light of which the results should be regarded as tentative.

Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Human thyroid cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer of the endocrine gland having good survival rate, but some patients show recurrence with an invasive phenotype and treatment failures. The mechanisms behind this invasive phenotype are not well understood in TC. Previously our group has identified a pro-migratory role of relaxin-like peptides in thyroid cancer that is mediated by S100A4. We have observed in human TC cells that extracellular S100A4 induces migration and activates ERK1/2, JNK/SAPK and NFkB signaling pathways. Employing immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence we have identified the expression of RAGE in human TC primary cells, cell lines, and in tumor tissues but not in normal thyroid tissues. We showed that S100A4 binds to RAGE in TC cells and that RAGE and its cytoplasmic partner Dia-1 mediate the S100A4-induced migration of TC cells. This study identified a crucial role of RAGE in TC cell migration induced by S100A4.

Human thyroid cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer of the endocrine gland having good survival rate, but some patients show recurrence with an invasive phenotype and treatment failures. The mechanisms behind this invasive phenotype are not well understood in TC. Previously our group has identified a pro-migratory role of relaxin-like peptides in thyroid cancer that is mediated by S100A4. We have observed in human TC cells that extracellular S100A4 induces migration and activates ERK1/2, JNK/SAPK and NFkB signaling pathways. Employing immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence we have identified the expression of RAGE in human TC primary cells, cell lines, and in tumor tissues but not in normal thyroid tissues. We showed that S100A4 binds to RAGE in TC cells and that RAGE and its cytoplasmic partner Dia-1 mediate the S100A4-induced migration of TC cells. This study identified a crucial role of RAGE in TC cell migration induced by S100A4.

Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Short summary: Background: High cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney disease is partly due to mineral dysbalance, microinflammation and oxidative stress. CKD patients accumulate traditional and non-traditional CV risk factors. FGF23, MMPs and PlGF belong among these non-traditional biomarkers of CV risk. FGF23 is a phosphaturic hormone and inhibitor of calcitriol synthesis. It is associated with vascular calcifications. Matrix-metalloproteinases (e.g. MMP-2, MMP-9) are proteolytic, proinflammatory enzymes, contributing to myocardial remodelation. Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a proangiogenic cytokine that is associated with LV hypertrophy in animal model. Plasmatic FGF23, MMPs and PlGF are elevated in CKD. Aim: We aimed to describe dynamic changes between several novel biomarkers of CV risk (FGF23, MMP-2, MMP-9 and PlGF) in CKD stages 1-5, to describe their mutual correlations and possible association with traditional CV risk markers. We studied possible association of laboratory and echocardiographic parameters in patients with CKD stages 2-4. Methods: In a cross-sectional study we evaluated 80 patiens with CKD 1-5 and 44 healthy controls. In a prospective study we evaluated echocardiographic and laboratory parameters in 62 patients with CKD 2-4 for an average study period of 36±10...

The main goal of this work was to analyse the current solution of the floor space disposition in the selected store and introduce possible improvements in space management and merchandising. According to survey results, Billa s.r.o. is expected to be profitable and competitive in the following years.

The purpose of this research project was to elucidate the molecular interactions and detail the signaling pathways in obstetric pathologies. This work first seeks to understand inflammation related complications relevant to obstetrics. Prior research in our lab identified the implications of the receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE) during inflammatory response in the placenta. Current work identified the presence of DNA double-strand breaks (DNA-DSBs) in inflammation associated pregnancy complications of preeclampsia (PE) and preterm labor (PTL) and demonstrated the positive role of RAGE in repairing the damage. The confluent relevance of disrupted mitochondrial function and inflammation has been recognized in the etiology of numerous chronic diseases. Our current studies aim to understand the connections between energy metabolism and inflammation in pathologies of pregnancy complications. Previous research conducted in our laboratory has demonstrated the mediation of the Gas6/Axl pathway on the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), an important metabolic molecule. We observed the negative regulation of Gas6 treatment on the mTOR pathway and its negative effects on trophoblast cell invasion. In the current study looking at the aspect of energy regulation, we identified the activation of placental mTOR in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its decrease during PE and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We further evaluated the regulation of mTOR on its downstream effector pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2). We found that inhibition of mTOR decreased PKM2 activation; while PKM2 activation positively regulated trophoblastic invasion and rescued negative effects observed in our second-hand smoke IUGR murine model. Our work has opened a new direction of placental research, especially in pregnancy complications stemming from genomic instability. We also clarified details of mTOR and PKM2 meditated metabolic signaling that are crucial for future investigation on the dynamic metabolic regulation during pregnancy.

Low-frequency, long-range sound propagation over a seasurface has been calculated using a wide-angel Cranck-NicholsonParabolic Equation method. The model is developed toinvestigate noise from off-shore wind turbines. Thecalculations are made using normal meteorological conditions ofthe Baltic Sea. Special consideration has been made to a windphenomenon called low level jet with strong winds on rather lowaltitude. The effects of water waves on sound propagation have beenincorporated in the ground boundary condition using a bossmodel. This way of including roughness in sound propagationmodels is valid for water wave heights that are small comparedto the wave length of the sound. Nevertheless, since only lowfrequency sound is considered, waves up to the mean wave heightof the Baltic Sea can be included in this manner. The calculation model has been tested against benchmarkcases and agrees well with measurements. The calculations showthat channelling of sound occurs at downwind conditions andthat the sound propagation tends towards cylindrical spreading.The effects of the water waves are found to be fairlysmall. Keywords:wind turbine noise, off-shore wind power,long-range sound propagation, parabolic equation, scattering,water waves / QC 20110617