Since West Papua was colonized by Indonesia in 1963, West Papuans have endured one of the most disastrous experiences of cultural and environmental destruction, human rights abuses and mass killing of the twentieth century. In the Western Highlands of West Papua, where Freeport McMoRan, a mining company from Louisiana, United States (U.S.), operates, there have been long-standing disputes over environmental justice, human rights, the right to control development, and wealth distribution. Substantial research has been done on the negative impacts of the Freeport's operation on the Amungme and Kamoro communities who reside in the company's operating area. Yet, limited research has been done regarding Freeport's social policies and the possible solutions to the issues which are crucial for the further development of Amungme and Kamoro. Therefore, the thesis firstly examines Freeport's recent social policies which have attempted to address the two communities' concerns as well as the social problems the company has caused around its operating area. The examination suggests that genuine reconciliation between Amungme and Kamoro communities and Freeport is a crucial next step in achieving successful community development in the area. The thesis employs a case study of the South African reconciliation processes via Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to explore the prospects of achieving successful community development in Freeport's operating area of West Papua which might lead to prosperity for the Amungme and Kamoro peoples. In addition to this, the prospect of preventing the human rights violations by the Indonesian Military (Tentera Nasional Indonesia-TNI) is considered. The TNI, by carrying out the role of protecting the Freeport operation, has until today committed a large number of human rights violations against indigenous West Papuans around the mine thus preventing and inhibiting the future development of Amungme and Kamoro communities. Since major countries, including the U.S., the United Kingdom (UK), New Zealand and Australia, have until today, supported the Indonesia state and the TNI, the attitude of Pacific Island states towards the issue is examined. Finally, although the above processes are important, the study suggests the more important role of the Amungme and Kamoro themselves in taking responsibility for their plight and taking positive actions wherever possible to solve the issues surrounding them. Although the conflict continues to the present day, the research contained in the thesis outlines the situation in West Papua only up until November 2006.

No description available.

No description available.

Forward genetic screen was performed in Arabidopsis thaliana to isolate novel genes involved in leaf development. The tarani (tni) mutant was selected for further study based on its unique cup-shaped lamina with +ve Gaussian curvature. We show that the larger size of tni leaves is due to rapid growth rate due to excess and prolonged cell division. We monitored the front of the receding cell division zone as a function of time and showed that the shape of the front is more concave compared to wild type, leading to positive curvature. Application of gibberellic acids (GA) synthesis inhibitor rescued the positive curvature of tni suggesting a role for GA in maintaining leaf flatness. Overexpression of cell cycle inhibitor KRP2 also flattened the leaf, confirming a role of cell division. The floral organs and seed are also larger in the tni mutant. Besides growth, tni trichomes are hyper-branched which usually happens when there is more endoreduplication. We found that the nuclei of tni trichomes are larger than wild type nuclei, suggesting increased DNA content. Genetic interaction studies showed that TNI works independent of other trichome branching genes such as with TRYPTICHON and FURCA1. Map-based cloning showed that tni is positioned on left arm of the 3rd chromosome. Using molecular markers, we narrowed down to interval to a 65 kb region, which codes for 19 genes. Sequencing several of them revealed a G→A transition at the 3rd intron - 4th exon junction of At3g20630 gene. RT-PCR analysis showed the presence of an additional full-length transcript with extra un-spliced 3rd intron. Overexpression of this un-spliced variant in wild type plants produced phenotypes like hyperbranched trichomes and cup-shaped leaves; plus additional phenotypes like organ fusion and organ polarity defects. Complementation and allelic tests confirmed that TNI codes for AtUBP14, an ubiquitin protease. The tni plants have longer stem and roots which grow at faster rate compared to wild type. Confocal microscopic analysis of mature embryos showed that both shoot (SAM) and root apical meristems (RAM) of tni plants are larger in size. In RAM, the numbers of quiescent center (QC) cells and stem cells have increased in tni plants. The tni inflorescence and flowers are bigger than wild type in size. Also the degree of axillary shoots has increased in the tni plants. Overexpression of the splice variant of TNI produced undifferentiated callus-like structures in the shoot apex and in hypocotyl. All these phenotypes show that TNI is involved in meristem proliferation. The tni siliques produced many un-fertilized ovules and shrunken and malformed seeds suggesting gametic and/or embryo lethality. We observed that tni embryos were mis-patterned at various stages of development. Following the cell division pattern shows that cells arising from the ‘basal cell’ of the embryo take apical cell fate in tni embryos. The topmost cell of the suspensor, which is also the precursor cell of RAM, is not specified as hypophysial cell in several tni embryos. In the forward genetic screen, we isolated another mutant called tooth (tth), which has deeper serrations at the leaf margin and narrower leaves compared to wild type. It has been mapped to the longer arm of the 2nd chromosome. Genetic interaction studies show that tth is not allelic to other serration mutants such as serrate and mir164a.

Approximately 30% of people admitted to ICU in the UK have co-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD), and this may rise as life-expectancy increases. Patients with CVD have impaired compensatory mechanisms to enable maximum oxygen delivery to the tissues in the event of critical illness, which itself increases global oxygen demand, further stressing the heart. This is exacerbated by tachycardia and hypotension, which may relatively reduce blood flow to the coronary arteries, and catecholamines which increase myocardial oxygen demand. The myocardium extracts 75% of the oxygen supplied by the coronary arteries at rest, and atheroma-related flow limitation further compromises myocardial oxygen delivery. However, the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome in critical illness is not straightforward, due to patient inability to communicate symptoms, non-specific ECG changes, and poorly understood cardiac biomarker troponin elevation. My overall hypothesis is that patients with CVD benefit from increased oxygen delivery to the myocardium during critical illness. A focus is the importance of anaemia. The aims of the studies presented in this thesis are (i) to systematically review the literature regarding blood transfusion thresholds specifically in patients with CVD; (ii) to explore the association between Troponin I (TnI) within 24 hours of ICU admission and hospital mortality (iii) to describe and quantify the dynamics of TnI in patients with CVD during the first ten days after ICU admission; and (iv) to define myocardial infarction in the context of critical illness. I have performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing a restrictive with liberal transfusion threshold and that included patients with CVD. In total, 11 trials enrolling patients with CVD (n=3033) were included for meta-analysis (restrictive n=1514, liberal=1519). The pooled risk ratio for the association between a restrictive transfusion threshold and 30 day mortality was 1.15 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.50, p=0.50, I2=14%). The risk of acute coronary syndrome in patients managed with restrictive compared with liberal transfusion was increased (nine trials, risk ratio 1.78, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.70, p=0.0, I2=0%). In contrast to broader literature supporting restrictive thresholds, our systematic review shows that a restrictive transfusion threshold of less than 80g/l may not be safe in patients with co-existing CVD, and highlights the variability in diagnostic definitions of ACS and the potential for ascertainment bias in transfusion trials. I undertook a retrospective cohort study in two independently collected cohorts of general ICU patients who had TnI measured within 24 hours of ICU admission. Importantly, the majority of TnI samples were collected routinely rather than for clinical indications. We used the Abbott ARCHITECT Stat assay (limit of detection 0.01mcg/l. We performed multivariable regression, adjusting for components of the APACHE II model. We derived the risk prediction score from the multivariable model with TnI. TnI was associated with all cause hospital mortality (OR per doubling TnI 1.16, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.20, p < 0.001) which persisted after adjustment for APACHE II model components (OR TnI 1.05, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.09, p=0.003). TnI correlated highly with the Acute Physiological Score component of APACHE II (r=0.39), suggesting that TnI release may be largely explained by acute physiological stress. Addition of TnI to the APACHE II model did not improve the performance of the risk prediction model and we would not advocate the adoption of a routine single troponin sample at admission. I designed, set up, and recruited 279 patients to a prospective cohort study TROPonin I in Cardiovascular patients in CriticAL care (TROPICCAL, UKCRN 19253) in 11 UK centres. The aims were to (i) determine the incidence of Myocardial Injury and Infarction, defined by the Third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction; (ii) explore factors associated with Injury and Infarction from multivariable analyses; and (iii) explore the relationship between Injury/Infarction and outcome in unadjusted and adjusted analyses. We recorded baseline characteristics, and took daily hs-TnI for ten days after ICU admission, severity of illness measures and ECGs for 5 days. There was a wide range of peak TnI (med 114ng/l (min 3, Q1 27, Q3 412, max 58820ng/l)) and a high prevalence of myocardial injury on systematic screening: 71% of patients had peak TnI greater than the sex-specific diagnostic threshold ('Injury'), and 24% had peak TnI greater than the sex-specific diagnostic threshold and dynamic changes on ECG consistent with ischaemia ('Infarction'). TnI consistently showed a rise-and-fall pattern consistent with an acute myocardial 'hit' rather than persisting injury, which peaked early during ICU stay. Importantly, only 12 (4.4%) patients were diagnosed with MI by the clinicians looking after the patients. Independent predictors of peak TnI in the preceding 24 hours were SOFA score, dynamic ECG ischaemia, lactate, haemoglobin, and age. The lack of association with CRP (representing systemic inflammation), with stronger association with lactate (representing inadequate perfusion/oxygen supply), Hb and ECG ischaemia support the conjecture that injury results in part from an acute ischaemic hit in this population. Patients with Infarction had similar baseline demographics to patients with Injury, but had higher peak TnI concentrations, and higher hospital and six month mortality (Figure 2). This supports the importance of including systematic assessment of dynamic ECG changes in the myocardial injury 'construct' in ICU. My work has shown an increased risk of ACS in patients with CVD randomised to restrictive transfusion thresholds. TnI elevation is prevalent in general ICU patients, and is independently associated with hospital mortality. A systematic approach to the detection of myocardial injury in critically ill patients with co-existing CVD who are unable to communicate symptoms, can identify a high risk population who have poorer survival than patients with no injury. Markers of ischaemia are more associated with TnI rise than markers of inflammation, supporting the hypothesis that myocardial injury in this population is at least in part due to oxygen supply-demand imbalance 'myocardial infarction'. From this work, I would recommend (i) a more liberal transfusion threshold of at least 80g/l in patients with coexisting CVD; (ii) systematic use of sequential ECGs in ICU to screen for myocardial injury in 'at risk' patients; and (iii) manipulation of physiological parameters such as anaemia, hypotension and tachycardia should be considered for patients with dynamic ECG changes plus troponin increase consistent with Infarction. Future research should include 'precision medicine' trials in the substantial cohort of ICU patients with co-existing CVD to explore whether interventions that increase myocardial oxygen supply and/or treat infarction alter outcomes.

Die von Molaren-Inzisiven-Hypomineralisation (MIH) bzw. Milchmolaren-Hypo-mineralisation (MMH) betroffenen Kinder und Jugendlichen sind häufig in ihrer mundgesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität (MLQ) erheblich eingeschränkt. Die er-höhte Sensibilität der betroffenen Zähne und die schadhafte Kronenmorphologie be-einträchtigen die Nahrungsaufnahme und verschlechtern die Mundhygiene der Pati-enten, was einen Anstieg des Kariesrisikos zur Folge hat. In einer vorangegangenen Studie von Ebel et al. (Int J Paediatr Dent 2018) wurden schwerwiegende Konsequenzen für die Zahnhygiene und die Lebensqualität von MIH/MMH-betroffenen Kindern und Jugendlichen verifiziert. Die Anzahl der erkrank-ten Zähne und das Ausmaß der Beschwerden korrelierten signifikant mit einem An-stieg der Komplikationen: Mit zunehmender Zerstörung der Zähne, die von einer ge-steigerten Überempfindlichkeit begleitet wird, verschlechterte sich die häusliche Mundhygiene und die Plaqueakkumulation stieg deutlich an. Darüber hinaus kam es mit steigendem Schweregrad vermehrt zu Ernährungseinschränkungen, die durch Schmerzen beim Essen und Trinken hervorgerufen wurden. Diese Probleme bei der Nahrungsaufnahme führten zu nachhaltigen Einschränkungen im Alltag der Betroffe-nen mit psychischen und physischen Konsequenzen. In der vorliegenden Studie sollte die Frage beantwortet werden, ob eine Behandlung das Ausmaß der Hypersensitivität der erkrankten Zähne reduziert und ob sich die Kaufähigkeit der Patienten durch desensibilisierende oder rekonstruktive Maßnahmen verbessert. Dies hätte einen unmittelbar positiven Effekt auf die MLQ der erkrankten Kinder und Jugendlichen. Ferner sollte untersucht werden, ob geeignete therapeuti-sche Maßnahmen die Mundhygienefähigkeit der Patienten verbessern, was prognos-tisch das Kariesrisiko reduzieren würde.

This review is an academic report used to provide recommendation and an in-depth look into The NOCCA Institute. The report includes an analysis of the organization’s structure, programs, finances, and my internship activities; Spring - Summer 2015. Additionally the report includes a SWOT Analysis and my recommendations based on the analysis and best practices of similar organizations.

<p>More companies have become aware of the need to find new ways of marketing, and network marketing is an alternative that has had great success. The purpose of this thesis is to identify what measures are used within a network marketing company to encourage the product consultants (PCs) to expand their networks. This study was conducted by interviewing three PCs and the Swedish marketing manager of Tahitian Noni International (TNI). A model is presented to structure the empirical findings, which shows that it is mainly the bonus system that is the catalyst in the organization, but also the company’s educations are of importance.</p>

More companies have become aware of the need to find new ways of marketing, and network marketing is an alternative that has had great success. The purpose of this thesis is to identify what measures are used within a network marketing company to encourage the product consultants (PCs) to expand their networks. This study was conducted by interviewing three PCs and the Swedish marketing manager of Tahitian Noni International (TNI). A model is presented to structure the empirical findings, which shows that it is mainly the bonus system that is the catalyst in the organization, but also the company’s educations are of importance.

In early 1999, newly appointed Indonesian President Habibie authorised a referendum on independence for East Timor. It was held under UN supervision and an overwhelming majority voted in favour. This was not well received by the conservative Indonesian military TNI, which saw this as the beginning of an Indonesian state collapse. Therefore, the TNI launched a month-long offensive in East Timor in the autumn of 1999, characterised by massive displacement, burning of infrastructure, sexual violence against women, and repeated cases of wanton murders. Consequently, some historians have described the period as a genocide. The term genocide aims to describe a concept where a perpetrator has a coordinated plan to destroy key elements of national groups, with the aim of ending the groups’ existence as a whole. Genocide is thus strongly characterised by the idea of human rights and, by extension, has a liberal underpinning. This study aims to determine whether the East Timor Crisis of 1999 can be described as a genocide; whether the description is correct if consideration is made to what constitutes a group and the intent of the perpetrator. It also aims to achieve this by using the originator of the term Raphaël Lemkin's eight societal domains in which he regards genocide to be committed and thus applies events from the East Timor Crisis within these domains to determine whether genocide has taken place. The study makes use of a qualitative, theory consuming case study methodology. It then concludes that genocide, with exceptions, occurred within every societal domain of the East Timorese society throughout the East Timor Crisis of 1999.