The Australian Farm Business Management Network: Industry, Education, Consultancy and Research Coming Together

Under the sponsorship of the University of Sydney, on 5-6th December 2002 the future of farm management in Australia was discussed. The fundamental conclusion achieved by key primary industry representatives, corporate executives, academics, consultants and researchers is that farm management will have a more significant role to play in the future than previously in servicing the primary sector. The idea of farm management as a profession was proposed. Its basis would be business management supported by farming systems and technology, and using an holistic approach to action (i.e. finance, people and environment). The new profession of Farm Business Management would seek to influence education, research, consultancy and extension in Australia. Interested parties participating of the 2002 National Farm Management Workshop came away with the idea of championing a consultative network, constituted by interested institutions and interested individuals, as a first step in the process of nurturing the future development of farm business management. By integrating farmers and academics with corporate executives, consultants and researchers the objective is to behave as a consultative group. This group will influence educational models, implement consultancy and research strategies, and network in social and professional terms. Moreover, this network will provide a systematic opportunity for the channelling of farm business management and farming systems related information at different levels for education, extension and scientific purposes. This network is called the Australian Farm Business Management Network (AFBMnetwork).Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Caracterización de mujeres que cometieron homicidio contra su pareja o expareja

16 p.Esta investigación se enmarca en el eje correspondiente a la Psicología Criminológica, en la línea de perfilación y caracterización de hombres y mujeres que cometen homicidio contra sus parejas. El propósito de este estudio fue identificar las características de los casos de mujeres que cometen homicidio o tentativa de homicidio hacia sus parejas heterosexuales. Para lograr el objetivo, se tomaron los modelos propuestos por Garrido y Sobral (2008) y Morales (2003) para recoger y analizar la información a partir de la revisión de los expedientes judiciales de dicha población.Introducción Metodología Resultados Discusión Referencia

IRX-2, a Novel Immunotherapeutic, Enhances Functions of Human Dendritic Cells

Background: In a recent phase II clinical trial for HNSCC patients, IRX-2, a cell-derived biologic, promoted T-cell infiltration into the tumor and prolonged overall survival. Mechanisms responsible for these IRX-2-mediated effects are unknown. We hypothesized that IRX-2 enhanced tumor antigen-(TA)-specific immunity by up-regulating functions of dendritic cells (DC). Methodology/Principal Findings: Monocyte-derived DC obtained from 18 HNSCC patients and 12 healthy donors were matured using IRX-2 or a mix of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 ("conv. mix"). Multicolor flow cytometry was used to study the DC phenotype and antigen processing machinery (APM) component expression. ELISPOT and cytotoxicity assays were used to evaluate tumor-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). IL-12p70 and IL-10 production by DC was measured by Luminex® and DC migration toward CCL21 was tested in transwell migration assays. IRX-2-matured DC functions were compared with those of conv. mix-matured DC. IRX-2-matured DC expressed higher levels (p<0.05) of CD11c, CD40, CCR7 as well as LMP2, TAP1, TAP2 and tapasin than conv. mix-matured DC. IRX-2-matured DC migrated significantly better towards CCL21, produced more IL-12p70 and had a higher IL12p70/IL-10 ratio than conv. mix-matured DC (p<0.05 for all). IRX-2-matured DC carried a higher density of tumor antigen-derived peptides, and CTL primed with these DC mediated higher cytotoxicity against tumor targets (p<0.05) compared to the conv. mix-matured DC. Conclusion: Excellent ability of IRX-2 to induce ex vivo DC maturation in HNSCC patients explains, in part, its clinical benefits and emphasizes its utility in ex vivo maturation of DC generated for therapy. © 2013 Schilling et al

Consumer perceptions of co-branding alliances: Organizational dissimilarity signals and brand fit

This study explores how consumers evaluate co-branding alliances between dissimilar partner firms. Customers are well aware that different firms are behind a co-branded product and observe the partner firms’ characteristics. Drawing on signaling theory, we assert that consumers use organizational characteristics as signals in their assessment of brand fit and for their purchasing decisions. Some organizational signals are beyond the control of the co-branding partners or at least they cannot alter them on short notice. We use a quasi-experimental design and test how co-branding partner dissimilarity affects brand fit perception. The results show that co-branding partner dissimilarity in terms of firm size, industry scope, and country-of-origin image negatively affects brand fit perception. Firm age dissimilarity does not exert significant influence. Because brand fit generally fosters a benevolent consumer attitude towards a co-branding alliance, the findings suggest that high partner dissimilarity may reduce overall co-branding alliance performance

Salt Reduction Initiatives around the World – A Systematic Review of Progress towards the Global Target

Objective To quantify progress with the initiation of salt reduction strategies around the world in the context of the global target to reduce population salt intake by 30% by 2025. Methods A systematic review of the published and grey literature was supplemented by questionnaires sent to country program leaders. Core characteristics of strategies were extracted and categorised according to a pre-defined framework. Results A total of 75 countries now have a national salt reduction strategy, more than double the number reported in a similar review done in 2010. The majority of programs are multifaceted and include industry engagement to reformulate products (n = 61), establishment of sodium content targets for foods (39), consumer education (71), front-of-pack labelling schemes (31), taxation on high-salt foods (3) and interventions in public institutions (54). Legislative action related to salt reduction such as mandatory targets, front of pack labelling, food procurement policies and taxation have been implemented in 33 countries. 12 countries have reported reductions in population salt intake, 19 reduced salt content in foods and 6 improvements in consumer knowledge, attitudes or behaviours relating to salt. Conclusion The large and increasing number of countries with salt reduction strategies in place is encouraging although activity remains limited in low- and middle-income regions. The absence of a consistent approach to implementation highlights uncertainty about the elements most important to success. Rigorous evaluation of ongoing programs and initiation of salt reduction programs, particularly in low- and middle- income countries, will be vital to achieving the targeted 30% reduction in salt intake

Numerical and functional defects of blood dendritic cells in early- and late-stage breast cancer

The generation of antitumour immunity depends on the nature of dendritic cell (DC)–tumour interactions. These have been studied mostly by using in vitro-derived DC which may not reflect the natural biology of DC in vivo. In breast cancer, only one report has compared blood DC at different stages and no longitudinal evaluation has been performed. Here we conducted three cross-sectional and one one-year longitudinal assessments of blood DC in patients with early (stage I/II, n=137) and advanced (stage IV, n=36) disease compared to healthy controls (n=66). Patients with advanced disease exhibit markedly reduced blood DC counts at diagnosis. Patients with early disease show minimally reduced counts at diagnosis but a prolonged period (1 year) of marked DC suppression after tumour resection. While differing in frequency, DC from both patients with early and advanced disease exhibit reduced expression of CD86 and HLA-DR and decreased immunostimulatory capacities. Finally, by comparing a range of clinically available maturation stimuli, we demonstrate that conditioning with soluble CD40L induces the highest level of maturation and improved T-cell priming. We conclude that although circulating DC are compromised by loco-regional and systemic breast cancer, they respond vigorously to ex vivo conditioning, thus enhancing their immunostimulatory capacity and potential for immunotherapy

Human breast cancer-derived soluble factors facilitate CCL19-induced chemotaxis of human dendritic cells

Breast cancer remains as a challenging disease with high mortality in women. Increasing evidence points the importance of understanding a crosstalk between breast cancers and immune cells, but little is known about the effect of breast cancer-derived factors on the migratory properties of dendritic cells (DCs) and their consequent capability in inducing T cell immune responses. Utilizing a unique 3D microfluidic device, we here showed that breast cancers (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-436 and SK-BR-3)-derived soluble factors increase the migration of DCs toward CCL19. The enhanced migration of DCs was mainly mediated via the highly activated JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway, increasing their directional persistence, while the velocity of DCs was not influenced, particularly when they were co-cultured with triple negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs or MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436). The DCs up-regulated inflammatory cytokines IL-1?? and IL-6 and induced T cells more proliferative and resistant against activation-induced cell death (AICD), which secret high levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1??, IL-6 and IFN-??. This study demonstrated new possible evasion strategy of TNBCs utilizing their soluble factors that exploit the directionality of DCs toward chemokine responses, leading to the building of inflammatory milieu which may support their own growth.ope

Analyzing the Socio-economic Impacts of Mining with Propensity Score Matching (PSM): Insights for Responsible Mining in Caraga Region, Philippines

Propensity-score matching (PSM) is an estimation procedure used in this study to address selection bias and endogeneity to obtain robust results in determining the impacts of mining on the socio-economic condition of the people in the mining areas of Caraga Region, Philippines. This study has used it with three matching methods (nearest neighbor, kernel and radius matching) to come up with implications on the socio-economic underpinnings of responsible mining for the region. The impacts of mining in this study are signified by the significance of average treatment effects on the treated (ATT) for each of the socio-economic parameters of the households under study. Consistently, the results demonstrate increased borrowing in the mining areas of the region.  Results of radius matching have indicated increase in investment for human capital buildup, as implied by the increase in food and education expenditures. There are also manifestations of in-migration and efforts on the part of mining to participate in the improvement of accessibility condition through the provision of paved roads. Yet, the results signify that there is yet a need to work for the improvement of the quality of life as perceived by the households in the mining areas.  This study has recommended intensified efforts towards human development, entrepreneurship and pollution control, especially that responsible mining is to build the resilience of people to natural hazards for sustainable development in Caraga Region, Philippines. Keywords: propensity-score matching, nearest neighbor, kernel and radius matching, AT

Validity and reliability assessment of the Brazilian version of the Faces Pain Scale-Revised

Abstract The Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) is among the most commonly used measures of pain intensity in clinical and research settings. Little evidence exists about the Brazilian version of this scale. The purpose of the present study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the FPS-R. The sample comprised 214 children, 6 to 10 years of age. In the first phase of the study, the children ranked the faces of the FPS-R according to pain intensity, and the faces were presented in all possible pair combinations (content validity). All six faces were correctly ranked by 47% of the younger children (6 to 7 years old) and 52% of the older children (8 to 10 years old). With regard to paired combinations, all of the pairs were correctly placed by 63% of the younger children and 67% of the older children. In the second phase, the children rated recalled experiences of pain using both the Brazilian version of the FPS-R and Coloured Analogue Scale (CAS; convergent validity). The children were retested 4 weeks later (test-retest reliability). The degree of agreement between the FPS-R and CAS was moderate, with a Kendall&apos;s tau-b (τ) of .49 (p &lt; .01). The test-retest reliability coefficient was τ = .52 (p &lt; .01). This study provides evidence of the validity and reliability of the FPS-R as a pain intensity measurement for use in Brazilian samples