Thesis (M.S. in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy)--Joint Forces Staff College, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, 2005. / "13 May 05." Electronic version of original print document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-86).

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Os PeptÃdeos NatriurÃticos (NPs) tÃm significativa participaÃÃo na regulaÃÃo na homeostasia cardiovascular, renal e endÃcrina, e tÃm sido descritos nos venenos de serpentes peÃonhentas. A Crotalus durissus cascavella, uma serpente terrÃcola caracterÃstica da caatinga do Nordeste do Brasil, possui em seu veneno total um NP (NPCdc), ao qual sÃo relatados efeitos vasculares e renais. O objetivo desse trabalho foi sintetizar em fase sÃlida o NPCdc e avaliar suas aÃÃes renais atravÃs da perfusÃo de rim isolado e em cultura de cÃlulas tubulares renais da linhagem MDCK e LLC-MK2. Rins de ratos Wistar machos, pesando entre 250-300 g, foram excisados cirurgicamente e perfundidos com soluÃÃo de Krebs-Henseleit modificada com 6% p/v de albumina bovina previamente dialisada. Foram investigados os efeitos do NPCdc em quatro concentraÃÃes (0,03 Âg/mL; 0,1 Âg/mL; 0,3 Âg/mL e 1 Âg/mL; n=6). As cÃlulas MDCK e LLC-MK2 foram cultivadas em meio de cultura RPMI 1640 suplementado com 10% v/v de Soro Bovino Fetal e entÃo avaliadas na presenÃa do NPCdc em diversas concentraÃÃes em um perÃodo de incubaÃÃo de 24 horas. ApÃs esse perÃodo, foram realizados ensaios de viabilidade celular. Os dados foram comparados estatisticamente considerando P<0,05. Houve aumento na pressÃo de perfusÃo (PP) em 0,03 Âg/mL e reduÃÃo em 1 Âg/mL. A resistÃncia vascular renal (RVR) apresentou aumento em 0,03 Âg/mL. O fluxo urinÃrio (FU) aumentou em 0,03 Âg/mL e diminuiu em 0,1 Âg/mL e 1 Âg/mL. O ritmo de filtraÃÃo glomerular (RFG) encontrou-se diminuÃdo nas quatro concentraÃÃes testadas. O clearance osmolar (COsm) apresentou-se aumentado em 0,03 &#956;g/mL e reduzido em 0,1 &#956;g/mL e 1 &#956;g/mL. O percentual de transporte tubular total e proximal de sÃdio (%TNa+ e %TpNa+, respectivamente) e cloreto (%TCl- e %TpCl-, respectivamente) apresentaram reduÃÃes nas quatro concentraÃÃes testadas. JÃ o percentual de transporte tubular total e proximal de potÃssio (%TK+ e %TpK+, respectivamente) apresentaram-se reduzidos em 0,03 &#956;g/mL e 0,3 &#956;g/mL. A anÃlise histopatolÃgica mostrou a presenÃa de alteraÃÃes morfolÃgicas significativas, como degeneraÃÃo hidrÃpica concentraÃÃo-dependente em todas as concentraÃÃes, juntamente com discreta a moderada deposiÃÃo de material proteÃceo nos tÃbulos na concentraÃÃo de 0,03 &#956;g/mL. Na cultura de cÃlulas MDCK e LLC-MK2, porÃm, o NPCdc nÃo foi capaz de diminuir a viabilidade celular. Esses resultados demonstram que o NPCdc modificou todos os parÃmetros avaliados na perfusÃo de rim isolado, alÃm de revelar alteraÃÃes de carÃter citotÃxico na anÃlise histopatolÃgica dos mesmos, todavia, nÃo as apresentando em culturas de cÃlulas tubulares renais. / Natriuretic Peptides (NPs) have significant interest in regulating the cardiovascular, renal and endocrine homeostasis, and have been described in the venom of venomous snakes. Crotalus durissus cascavella, a characteristic terrestrial snake of caatinga biome of northeastern Brazil, has in his whole venom an NP (NPCdc), of which are reported vascular and renal effects. The aim of this study was to synthesize NPCdc in solid phase and evaluate its renal actions through isolated kidney perfusion and culture of renal tubular cells of MDCK and LLC-MK2 line. Kidneys from male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were surgically excised and perfused with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution with 6 g% of previously dialyzed bovine serum albumin. The effects of NPCdc were investigated in four concentrations (0.03 &#956;g/mL, 0.1 &#956;g/mL, 0.3 &#956;g/mL and 1 &#956;g/mL, n=6). MDCK and LLC-MK2 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 culture medium supplemented with 10% v/v Fetal Bovine Serum and then evaluated in presence of several concentrations of NPCdc at an incubation period of 24 hours. After this period, cell viability assays were performed. Data were statistically compared considering P<0.05. There was increase in perfusion pressure (PP) in 0.03 &#956;g/mL and reduction in 1 &#956;g/mL. Renal vascular resistance (RVR) was increased at 0.03 &#956;g/mL. Urinary flow (UF) increased in 0.03 &#956;g/mL and decreased in 0.1 &#956;g/mL and 1 &#956;g/mL. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was reduced at all the concentrations tested. Osmolar clearance (OsmC) was increased in 0.03 &#956;g/mL and reduced in 0.1 &#956;g/mL and 1 &#956;g/mL. Percentage of the total and proximal tubular transport of sodium (%TNa+ and %pTNa+, respectively) and chloride (TCl-% and pTCl-%, respectively) showed reductions at all concentrations tested. Percentage of the total proximal tubular transport and potassium (%TK+ and pTK+%, respectively) were reduced in 0.03 &#956;g/mL and 0.3 &#956;g/mL. The histopathological analysis revealed the presence of significant morphological changes, such as concentration-dependent hydropic degeneration at all concentrations, along with mild to moderate deposition of proteinaceous material in the tubules in concentration 0.03 &#956;g/mL. In the culture of MDCK and LLC-MK2 cells, however, NPCdc was not able to lower cell viability. These results demonstrate that NPCdc modified all parameters assessed in renal perfusion of isolated kidney, and showed cytotoxic alterations in histopathological analysis, however, not presenting it in cultures of renal tubular cells.

No description available.

Abstract A prospective population-based study was conducted to assess the incidence, diagnosis, histology, treatment and survival of lung cancer in northern Finland. The results were compared with those obtained in a similar survey 20 years earlier. In a population of 440,000, altogether 602 lung cancer patients, 510 men and 92 women, were diagnosed during the years 1990 - 92, the annual incidence per 100,000 being 63 for males and 9.5 for females. Lung cancer was confirmed histologically in 381 cases (63%) and in addition, cytologically in 135 cases (23%). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histologic type (40%), the proportion of adenocarcinomas being 26%, small-cell carcinomas 24% and large cell carcinomas 4%. The age-standardized incidence of lung cancer had decreased significantly among males (from 87 to 63 per 100 000) compared to the situation 20 years earlier but increased among females (from 4.1 to 9.5), mainly due to adenocarcinoma. The 5-year survival rate had improved during 20 years from 4% to 12% (p &lt; 0.001). The differences in survival between the histological types (χ2logrank = 59.2, p &lt; 0.0001), TNM stages (χ2logrank = 199.6, p &lt; 0.001), symptomatic stages (χ2logrank = 120, p &lt; 0.001) and treatments (χ2logrank = 277, p &lt; 0.001) were also significant. A total of 20% of the patients were operated on in the newer series of patients, the corresponding percentage in the earlier series being 16%. The 5-year survival of the patients who had been operated on had increased from 23% to 48%. The survival of patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma had increased significantly, even though the patients were older now than earlier.In seventy operated lung cancer patients, the histological tumor types and grades were compared with the etiological factors of lung carcinoma, including cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure. A majority of the patients (93%) were smokers. The incidence of adenocarcinoma among non-smokers had remained the same, 50%. The accumulation of the p53 protein in lung carcinoma was associated with heavy smoking. Exposure to asbestos fibers either by a positive history or by a number of asbestos bodies (AB) in the histological sections of lung tissue was also associated with p53 accumulation. Benign intrathoracic tumors are uncommon, and their occurrence in unselected populations is poorly defined. Thirty-six benign intrathoracic tumors were found. A histologic diagnosis was available for 24 (67%). Hamartoma was the most common benign lung tumor.

Laboratory maintained Sitobion avenae of all developmental stages had a mean inherent supercooling ability below -20°C. Acclimation alone, or in conjunction with starvation had no significant effect on supercooling. Surface moisture on the aphid cuticle during cooling resulted in a significant loss in supercooling. Repeat coolings to temperatures markedly above the mean supercooling point resulted in increasing levels of mortality. Field collected ~ avenae showed a seasonal variation in supercooling with a higher mean supercooling point in the winter than in the remainder of the year. Field populations showed a dramatic decline in December when environmental temperatures were well above mean and individual supercooling points. It was concluded that the aphids were dying before they froze and that the supercooling point was not a reliable indicator of the lower lethal temperature. The development and reproduction of s.avenae in the field over winter were directly and positively related to temperature whilst mortality increased with decreasing temperature. The development of a multi-channel micro-bead thermistor unit allowed the study of a previously unrecorded thermal event (exotherm) during the cooling of aphids. The cause of the exotherm is unknown and warrants further investigation. Laboratory experiments on ~ avenae and the lupin aphid, Macrosiphum albifrons revealed that the adults of the two species had lower lethal temperatures (LT50) of approximately -7.5°C and -7.0°C respectively. Nymphs of ~. ayenae were significantly more cold hardy than adults in terms of LT50 values. Acclimation prior to experimentation significantly improved the cold hardiness (LT50) of s.avenae. It is concluded that in the case of s.avenae and other aphids supercooling points are ecologically irrelevant if aphids are already dead before they freeze. An experimental protocol is suggested for future experiments on insect cold hardiness.

In this paper, I examine how the federal Department of Western Economic Diversification has adapted and survived despite considerable odds. By employing variations of three survival strategies, the Department has been responsive to its stakeholders yet achieved autonomy. Furthermore, the impact of these results has been affected by a number of institutional arrangements. Western Economic Diversification Canada has survived by leveraging responsive competence and organizational autonomy with actors in the political process, including politicians, civil society, and other government officials. It has been aided by its comparative advantage as an advocate for western Canada and by its small size. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate

Purpose: Assess for an association of wait times to melanoma treatment with overall survival. Methods: Retrospective review of Ontario patients with melanoma, with descriptive and survival analyses. Results: Median wait times were 43 days (interquartile range (IQR), 24-64) for wide local excision (WLE), 59 days (IQR, 41-81) for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB), 63 days (IQR, 43-91) for lymph node dissection (LND), 124 days (IQR, 96-150) for medical therapy, and 130 days (IQR, 89.5-157.5) for radiation therapy. In multivariate analysis, wait times to treatment were not associated with overall survival for WLE (hazard ratio (HR), 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.87-1.08; p=0.62), SNB (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.74-1.07; p=0.21), LND (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.89-1.11; p=0.92), medical therapy (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.80-1.10; p=0.41) or radiation therapy (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.61-1.03; p=0.08). Conclusion: Overall survival for patients with melanoma was not associated with wait times to surgical, medical or radiation therapy.

Using data from Hedge Fund Research, Inc. (HFR), this study adapts and expands on existing methods in survival analysis in an attempt to investigate whether hedge funds mortality can be predicted on the basis of certain hedge funds characteristics. The main idea is to determine the characteristics which contribute the most to the survival and failure probabilities of hedge funds and interpret them. We establish hazard models with time-independent covariates, as well as time-varying covariates to interpret the selected hedge funds characteristics. Our results show that size, age, performance, strategy, annual audit, fund offshore and fund denomination are the characteristics that best explain hedge fund failure. We find that 1% increase in performance decreases the hazard by 3.3%, the small size and the less than 5 years old hedge funds are the most likely to die and the event-driven strategy is the best to use as compare to others. The risk of death is 0.668 times lower for funds who indicated that an annual audit is performed as compared to the funds who did not indicated that an annual audit is performed. The risk of death for the offshore hedge funds is 1.059 times higher than the non-offshore hedge funds.

What economic factors prevent democratic breakdowns? Since the beginning of the 20th century, more than a hundred countries in the world have transformed their political regime types into democracies. However, not every transition to democracy continued without interruption. Even though some democracies continued without any breaks, some others relapsed into authoritarian regimes via military coups. The consensus in the literature is that wealthy countries are less likely to experience democratic breakdowns. I argue that wealth alone is not enough to increase the duration of democracies. Using quantitative cross-national survival analysis, I show that temporal and international context change the impact of wealth on democratic survival. In addition, I investigate whether democratic survival is more likely in countries where national income is evenly distributed.

No description available.