The current knowledge concerning effects of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs) on benthic aquatic organisms is still very limited although they have been widely used as fire retardant additives for 3 decades. This study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effects of BDE-47 and BDE-183, the two common congeners of PBDEs in river sediments, on a benthic oligochaete worms, Monopylephorus limosus. The worms were exposed to BDE-47 or to BDE-183 for two or eight weeks. The survival rates of M. limosus decreased significantly when exposed to 700 ng/g dry soil of BDE-47 or BDE-183 for 8 weeks, but not in groups of 1-1000 ng/g BDE-47 for 2 weeks. A total of forty proteins of M. limosus has been expressed and determined by the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Through the cluster analysis, it was found that the protein expression in the group of 100 ng/g BDE-47 was similar to 10 ng/g BDE-183. The results indicate that the toxicity of BDE-183 was greater than BDE-47 to M.limosus. Although the survival rate of M. limosus was not significantly affected when exposed to BDE-47 or BDE-183 at concentrations of 1 to 100 ng/g, significant differences in protein expression were found. Thus, the analysis of protein expression is more sensitive to detect the toxicological change in M. limosus than the survival test.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

The recruitment, growth rate and survival of every juvenile corals on artificial substrates, deployed every 2 months since September 1998, for a total of 6 times, were investigated every 2 months, from November 1998 to September 2000, at Nanwan, southern Taiwan. The influence of season and habitat (e.g., new vs. old substrate and different positions etc.) on the above life history characteristics were the foci of this study. Coral recruitment during the 2-year period was low, averaging 1.3 recruits per 15x15 cm PVC plate; it was dominated by Pocilloporidae (50.7%) and Poritidae (31.9%), with Stylocoeniella guentheri (6.2%), Anthelia flava (5.1%) and Acropora sp. (2.4%) and others as minor constituents. Seasonal variations of new recruit densities were significant on new substrates of 2-months old, but not on old substrates of 14-month old. Pocilloporidae, for example, had the highest new recruit densities in May 1999; although the survival rate in this period, cumulative survivorship and growth rate were lower than those settled in other times. New recruit densities on new substrates were significantly higher than that on old substrates, but the survival rates of new recruits in the first 2 months were not significantly different between new and old substrates. The cumulative suvivorship and the initial juvenile growth rate of Pocilloporidae were higher on new than on old substrates. New recruit density of Pocilloporidae was higher in 1999 than in 2000, with an opposite pattern found in Poritidae. Juveniles prefer to settle on new substrates higher than old substrates and recruit densities decrease as plate age in Pocilloporidae, but an opposite pattern was found in Poritidae. The Pocilloporidae had relatively higher recruit densities but lower cumulative survivorship than Acropora sp. and Stylocoeniella. guentheri. A margin effect on the PVC plates was found, with higher new recruit densities and growth rates in the margin than in the intermediate and the inner region. The survival rate and the cumulative survivorship of recruits, however, were similar among the 3 regions on the plates. Thus the pattern of margin effect on the plate is unlikely a result of active larva preference. Among the scleractinian recruits, Acropora sp. had the highest growth rate, averaging 1.8 mm/month in maximum diameter. Within Pocilloporidae, the maximum diameters of juvenile Seriatopora hystrix was significant smaller than Pocillopora damicornis from 2-12 month. Some recruits of Seriatopora hystrix did not grow for more than a year. The overall cumulative survivorship of coral recruits was low at Nanwan, with 29.2% surviving the first year, and 0.7% surviving 2 years. Within dead juveniles, 65.7% was caused by disappearance and 34.3% was caused by algae, sediment and others organism etc. The relationship between size and mortality on juvenile Pocilloporidae is significant, implying that larger colony corals have higher survivor chance than smaller colony corals.

Cadherin and catenin-family proteins regulate adhesion in malignant melanoma. Using AQUA (Automated Quantitative Analysis) to quantitate the levels of alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, p120-catenin, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and P-cadherin in melanoma on tissue microarrays (TMAs), we classified 513 patients by protein expression using hierarchical clustering and regression analysis. The dendrogram supported positive correlations seen upon Spearman rho analysis of P-cadherin and beta-catenin (r=0.5238, p<0.0001) and negative, weak association of N-cadherin with other markers. Patients with high expression of N-cadherin had the highest 20-year survival rate (p=0.0003). Our adherens protein molecular classification of melanoma defines at least two distinctive sub-populations of melanoma patients, those with high expression of N-cadherin and those with low expression who have decreased survival. These findings extend previous cDNA array-based findings of an epithelioid class and neural crest class of melanomas.

ZL-Duraplant-Implantate Ticer

This study investigated the relationship of dysfunctional career thoughts, optimism, and spirituality on Bahamian women (n=212) diagnosed with breast cancer. Also, it examined how optimism mediates the relationship between spirituality and dysfunctional career thoughts. The diagnosis of breast cancer impacts women physically, psychologically, socially, spiritually, financially, and in their career development. Career developmental plans and decisions are continuously being made. However, plans may become altered and decisions more difficult to make when a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer as she considers returning to work. The high survival rate of breast cancer patients indicates women may continue to work after their treatment. Limited information is known about possible changes in their dysfunctional career thoughts. This research investigated the degree to which optimism mediates the relationship between spirituality and dysfunctional career thoughts among a sample of Bahamian women diagnosed with breast cancer. Negative thoughts formed in career content are called dysfunctional career thoughts (Lenz, Sampson, Peterson, & Reardon, 2012). Career thoughts are "...outcomes of one's thinking about assumptions, attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, feelings, plan and/or strategies related to career problem solving and decision making" (Sampson, Peterson, Lenz, Reardon, & Saunders, 1996, p. 2). The dysfunctional thinking causes one to block informing processing, reduces options, and distorts perception of options. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship among career thoughts, optimism, and spirituality. The goal is to identify low or high dysfunctional career thoughts. In addition, studies suggest that being optimistic (Matthew & Cook, 2009) and spiritual (Hackney & Sanders, 2003) are two positive coping strategies for women diagnosed with breast cancer. This study seeks to explore these two potential mediating factors on dysfunctional career thoughts of women with this diagnosis. This study is important because of the high incidence rate of breast cancer in the Bahamas. Bahamian women have the highest recorded percentage of the recorded BRCA1 gene (BReast CAncer 1; a primary genetic marker for breast cancer) in the world (Donenberg et al., 2011). Breast cancer remains a public health issue that may affect the life and productivity of Bahamian women. The relationship of dysfunctional career thoughts, optimism and spirituality of Bahamian women diagnosed with breast cancer was explored. Younger Bahamian women were noted to have experienced higher levels of dysfunctional career thoughts. While, marital status was statistically related with dysfunctional career thoughts, no pair wise differences were noted among the variables after a Tukey test. This means the level of dysfunctional career thoughts was not affected by women's marital status (married, not married, & divorced). Ethnicity and education did not play a role in their dysfunctional career thoughts but with employment pre-diagnosed of breast cancer. Results revealed women who were not employed pre diagnosis experienced higher dysfunctional career thoughts than women who were employed pre diagnosis. Other pre-diagnosis variables such as salary and occupation pre diagnosis show no statistically significant difference in terms of dysfunctional career thoughts. These variables did not affect the Bahamian women's dysfunctional career thoughts. In addition to pre-diagnosis variables being examined in this study post diagnosis variables such as employment, occupation, and salary were also explored. Final analyses indicate post diagnosis employment, occupation, and salary show no statistically significant difference in terms of dysfunctional career thoughts. These post diagnosis variables did not affect the Bahamian women's dysfunctional career thoughts. Although, post diagnosis employment was not statistical significant to dysfunctional career thoughts, some significance was noted. Women diagnosed with breast cancer 2007 or earlier accounted for 58% of the participants in this present study. We need to highlight that there was an 11% decrease in post-diagnosis employment which was higher than the unemployment rate (7.9%) in the Bahamas at that time (Central Intelligence Agency, 2013). Therefore, this present study shows a significant effect rather than a statistical significant effect with Bahamian women's employment plans post diagnosis that indirectly affect their dysfunctional career thoughts. The stages of breast cancer show no statistically significant difference in terms of the subscales of dysfunctional career thoughts such as Decision Making Confusion (DMC), Commitment Anxiety (CA), and External Conflict (EC). This means the stages of breast cancer did not influence the different subscales of dysfunctional career thoughts. Spirituality had a positive moderate relationship with the level of optimism. As women's spirituality level increases their optimism level also increased. Although optimism did not show a statistical difference with dysfunctional career thoughts, spirituality demonstrated a negative weak relationship with dysfunctional career thoughts. This inverse relationship indicates as their spirituality level decreases their dysfunctional career thoughts increases. Path analysis results explored the mediation among optimism, spirituality and dysfunctional career thoughts. Optimism was not noted to be a mediating variable that works together to positively affect spirituality and dysfunctional career thoughts. The impact of these results may be significant not only to the Bahamian population because of the first time study, but also in helping breast cancer survivors examine further career decisions even after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: Mother to child HIV transmission is a significant public health problem especially in Southern Africa. South Africa is the second highest burden country globally with 71 000 infants being HIV infected every year. The aim of this study was to identify and measure the influence of risk factors of late postnatal HIV transmission and/or mortality among infants born to HIV positive mothers. Study design: Historical cohort data collected during 2002 – 2004 from 3 purposively selected PMTCT sites in South Africa (namely: Rietvlei, Umlzai and Paarl) is used. These three sites are purposively selected to reflect different HIV prevalence, socioeconomic and geographical locations. A total sample size of 469 mother–infant pairs were followed for 36 weeks. Data Collection: Data were collected by trained field researchers and community health workers using semi-structured interviews including: infant feeding practices, infant and maternal mortality, disclosure of HIV status, basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS and MTCT and sociodemographic information. Dried blood spots were collected by heel prick in the baby at 3, 24 and 36 weeks, whilst in the mother finger prick was taken at 3 and 36 week visits. Data Analysis: Data from all questionnaires were coded, captured and cleaned. STATA version 10 is used to analyze and measure the independent influence of risk factors of HIV-free survival rate. Variables found having significant association in the bivariate analysis were analyzed using Cox-proportional hazard model. Result: Our study shows that early mixed feeding is a common practice in South Africa. Overall, 83% (as high as 90.26% in Rietvlei) of mothers were either mixed breast feeding or mixed formula feeding before the infant is at age 5 weeks. MBF at 7 weeks was associated with 3.5 fold increased risk of transmission and/or mortality as compared to EBF (p-value=0.22), while PBF had a 2 fold less hazard of transmission and mortality compared to MBF (p-value=0.1). In this study, failure to disclose, poor counselling and lack of close support by health facilities were major factors that contributed to inappropriate feeding choice and non-compliance to exclusive feeding. Poor counseling (below the average of expected level) had an associated 55% increased risk of transmission and/or mortality. A substantial proportion (70.61%) of women in our study didn’t disclose their status to anyone. Failure to disclose was associated with 44% of increased risk of transmission and mortality. The study also showed households who had shortage of food were at increased risk (adjusted hazard ratio 1.7) of HIV transmission and/or mortality of infants. Maternal and infant factors such as premature birth, maternal viral load, poor weight gain during pregnancy and low birth weight were significant influential factors of HIV-free survival rate. Conclusion: In general, this study has given us an idea that postnatal HIV-free survival is determined by the interrelated effect of multilevel co-factors. Therefore, comprehensive multi-sectorial approach is needed to address the MTCT and child mortality problem in South Africa. The health sector should take urgent action to improve the quality of counselling and health services given in health facilities. Government should give enough attention to reduce the bureaucratic hassles of receiving grant by HIV positive mothers.

People who need a liver transplant must choose a hospital at which the transplant will be performed. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) allocates organs to patients based on patient characteristics and assumes all hospitals have equal skill. The question for a patient thus becomes, which hospital to choose? This thesis investigates whether the differences in liver transplant survival rates for hospitals are a result of differences in patients and/or differences in hospital-specific criteria. The findings in this thesis show that most of the differences in hospital survival rates are due to patient characteristics, and that, while not conclusive, hospital characteristics may have an impact on survival rates. However, the variable that is most significant to survival rates is the cold ischemic time, or transportation time of the organ. These results suggest that policies to allocate organs nationally are not optimal. / Master of Arts

Low recruitment is the largest challenge facing the recovery of the critically endangered Mississippi Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis pulla). Lack of information on sources of nest failure hinders effective management to increase recruitment. I examined sources of nest failure for 54 nests at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, 2008-2009. Nest cameras identified predation as the primary source of failure, followed by flooding, abandonment, and egg inviability. Mean daily survival rate (DSR) was 0.72. The best approximating models included covariates for season date, temperature and nest age. DSR decreased with increasing season date, increasing nest age, and decreasing temperature. Hypotheses related to effects of renesting, human disturbance, precipitation, flooding, and winter rain were not supported. Because predation has been identified as a primary source of nest failure, I also monitored mammalian predators on the MSCNWR. Coyotes and raccoons were most common, with gray foxes, red foxes, domestic dogs, and bobcats also detected frequently.