Serum hyaluronate as a non-invasive marker of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B

Background: HBV infection is a serious global heath problem. It is crucial to monitor this disease more closely with a non-invasive marker in clinical trials. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of serum hyaluronate for the presence of extensive liver fibrosis and inflammation. Methods: 28 healthy volunteers and 65 patients with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B were enrolled. Liver biopsies scored according to Ishak system. Association of serum hyaloronate with liver fibrosis and inflammation were assessed, and cut off points for serum hyaluronate levels were identified by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and their values for prediction of fibrosis and inflammation were assessed. Results: In patients with CHB serum hyaluronate had the most significant correlation and predictive values for the liver fibrosis and inflammation comparing to the other variables. At the cut off point of 126.4 ngm/ml it could discriminate extensive fibrosis from milder ones with sensitivity of 90.9% and specificity of 98.1%. With the same value it could discriminate extensive inflammation from their milder counterparts with sensitivity of 63.6% and specificity of 92.6%. Conclusion: Serum hyaluronate was the best predictor of extensive liver fibrosis and inflammation and it could discriminate subgroups of patients with chronic hepatitis B. It could be used as a non-invasive test to monitor these patients more closely with developing anti viral agents in clinical trials

Reproductive biology of Indian squid, Uroteuthis duvauceli (Orbigny, 1835), in the northern Gulf of Oman

Some aspects of the reproductive biology of the Indian squid, Uroteuthis duvauceli, were studied from June 2006 to May 2007. A total of 1200 specimens were collected from approximately 30-80m depths by trawling in 50 stations, of which 360 samples were studied for sex determination and fecundity. The minimum and maximum total and mantle length, and body weight were recorded in December and June, respectively. The highest range of total length (410-420mm), mantle length (150-160mm) and body weight (90-100g) were encountered in September. The specimens were composed of 34% male and 66% female (M:F=1:2). This species was found to be more abundant in summer. The minimum and maximum ovary weights were 2.1g and 7.9g with an average of 4.9g, respectively. These values for nidamental gland weight were 0.70 and 2.61g with an average of 1.6g. The minimum and maximum absolute fecundity were 25510 (in August) and 375600 (in April), respectively. These values for relative fecundity were 5207 (in April) and 867 (in August), respectively. The highest gonadosomatic index (GSI) was in April (14.38) and the lowest was in July (8.63). This squid is, therefore, assumed to be a spring spawner. Minimum and maximum egg diameter were 0.72mm (in August) and 2.5mm (in April), respectively

Мотивация целевых групп при выводе продукта на рынок

Сделан вывод о том, что при разработке системы мотивации необходимо проводить сегментацию клиентов и персонала по группам преобладающих потребностей, как это делается с рынками в маркетинге. А также выделены целевые группы, влияющие на процесс вывода нового продукта на рынок, и особенности их мотивации

Bio-based vanillin alcohol diglycidyl ether (DGEVA)-silica coatings for corrosion protection of AA2024

Background: Currently, 75% of global epoxy polymers are based on bisphenol A (BPA), a substance identified as reprotoxic, posing challenges to the development of eco-friendly epoxy coatings.Methods: Our study reports the synthesis of three novel bio-based anti-corrosion coatings composed of vanillin alcohol diglycidyl ether (DGEVA) and silica nanoparticles, which were added to improve the adhesion to AA2024 substrates.Findings: The coatings present high adhesion (∼7 MPa) and excellent thermal stability (>295 °C), besides good corrosion protection of the hybrid coating (impedance modulus of ∼4 MΩ cm−2 in 3.5 wt% NaCl for > 68 days). The results reveal that proper silica distribution fosters adhesion and extends lifespan via metal oxide-polymer bonds

Developing of Ethylene Glycol as a New Reducing Agent for Preparation of Pd-Ag/PSS Composite Membrane for Hydrogen Separation

In the present work, for the first time, a palladium-silver membrane has been prepared by electroless plating on the surface of a porous stainless steel disk by using ethylene glycol as a new reducing agent and polyol process. The reducing action of ethylene-glycol in the presence of PVP as a protecting surface agent produces a membrane with finely divided powder and nano-sized pores. Furthermore, the hydrogen separation ability of the membrane confirmed that the membrane with Pd77Ag23 is highly selective towards hydrogen compared to other prepared membranes. This is mainly related to the formation of dense and homogenous microstructure of the coating. Moreover, according to Graham’s law, the tests showed that hydrogen purity rises by increasing the applying temperature

TRUST IN CROSS-CULTURAL B2B FINANCIAL SERVICE RELATIONSHIPS: THE ROLE OF SHARED VALUES

This is the accepted version of the following article: Houjeir, R. & Brennan, R. J, 'Trust in cross-cultural b2b financial service relationships: The role of shared values', Journal of Financial Services Marketing, June 2016, Vol 21(2): 90-102 The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/fsm.2016.4Trust in business-to-business supplier–customer relationships in financial services is an area of considerable research interest. The bulk of prior empirical research in this field has concentrated on trust in business relationships within a Western cultural context. However, shared values are acknowledged to be an important antecedent to trust. The premise of this study is that in circumstances where there are substantial cultural differences between parties to a supplier–customer relationship, these differences will be reflected in shared values, which will in turn be reflected in differences in the nature of trust. A qualitative study was conducted among business bankers and their corporate clients in the context of the United Arab Emirates. In all 170 respondents were interviewed; of these, 160 were paired respondents, that is, where a client and banker from the same business relationship were interviewed (yielding 80 interview dyads). Substantial differences with respect to trust were found between relationships that involved only Emiratis, those that involved Emiratis and non-Emiratis, and those that involved only non-Emiratis. For Emiratis mutual trust is substantially based on family and clan ties and exhibits strongly affective characteristics. For non-Emiratis trust is largely based on business considerations, and exhibits strongly cognitive characteristics.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

The Study of Abnormal Liver Ultrasound Findings in Candidate Patients Undergoing Renal Transplantation from Brain Dead Donors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease in addition to kidney involvement may cause abnormalities in various systems of the body, in which liver disorders are one of the most commonly encountered disorders. Failure to identify some of these disorders can cause a serious problem in transolant patient. This study was performed to determine the frequency and type of abnormal liver ultrasound findings in renal transplant patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, recorded data of 480 kidney failure patients who had received kidney transplant from brain death donors during the last 6 years in three Mashhad hospitals were investigated. Ultrasonography was considered before the transplant and abnormal liver findings were recorded in a checklist and were assesed. FINDINGS: The mean age was 39.07±12.67 years of which 52.70% were male and 42.30% were female. Liver disorders were observed in 13.12% of patients. The highest prevalence was related to fatty liver grade I (2.5%), grade II (1.46%), gallstone (1.25%) and liver cysts (1.25%). CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that liver asymptomatic disorders in renal transplant patients have significant prevalence and because some of these disorders require treatment before transplantation, enough attention to screening before transplantation can help to prevent post-transplant complications