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In nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of proteins, methyl protons play a particular role as extremely sensitive reporters on dynamics, allosteric effects, and protein-protein interactions, accessible even in high-molecular-weight systems approaching 1 MDa. The notorious issue of their chemical shift assignment is addressed here by a joint use of solid-state

In species with sexual dimorphism, raising female or male offspring may be associated with different costs and benefits, resulting in a skewed nestling sex ratio. We examined the influence of: weather conditions, hatching date and brood size on nestling sex ratio in the black stork Ciconia nigra. We used molecular methods to determine the sex of 284 nestlings. Samples were collected during a 12-years study in central Poland. The overall nestling sex ratio was skewed towards females (61%), which are smaller, and presumably easier to raise than males. Delayed hatching date significantly increased the proportion of female nestlings. Warmer temperatures in the pre-breeding season were correlated with lower proportions of males. This is probably mediated by the influence of weather on water levels in black stork foraging sites. The second most important weather trait was total rainfall in May, the month in which the majority of nestlings hatch. Total May rainfall was negatively correlated with the percentage of male offspring. We used blood haemoglobin concentration as an indicator of body condition in a subsample of 122 nestlings. The males from the study population had lower blood haemoglobin concentrations, indicating their poorer body condition and supporting the hypothesis that they are the more vulnerable sex. We also observed that blood haemoglobin concentration of nestlings is lower in late broods. Deteriorating body condition of late offspring can explain the observed increase in female nestling proportions in delayed broods.

Background: Previous research shows that openness in the Swedish public sector is limited and the social workers as a professional group rarely speaks out about their work situation. Aim: The aim of this study is to clarify which elements social workers experience enables and limits them to speak out concerning their work situation. Methods: The study is based on seven individual qualitative interviews with social workers from different municipalities in Sweden. For analysis system theory and coping strategies are used. Results: Different factors are distinguished that both enables and limits social workers to use the coping strategie voice. The management style has been crucial and a democratic management style are preferred since they are more open to dialogue and were more encouraging to criticism. The openness between the levels at the workplaces turned out to be limited. The higher levels of management rarely included the social workers in dialogue and there were clear signs of a hierarchical view of communication.Conclusion: The social workers apply voice as a strategy to a greater extent than previous research shows. Despite the fact that the social workers are good at speaking out, the openness in the workplace turned out to be limited and this is something that needs to be developed and strengthened.

The objective of this thesis is to identify how a salesperson perform the product-service sale process, through investigating the salesperson’s conditions, challenges, and improvement opportunities within. Based on this, recommendations are given regarding how the product-service sale process can be improved, and how to develop the ideal sale process. The research is conducted from a salesperson’s perspective, since it is the role who interacts the most with the product-service sale process. To fulfil the objective, service design methodologies are utilized, and a case company is studied. Data is collected from 23 interviews, two focus groups and one ideation generation workshop, held at two different markets, and with people at the case company and salespeople responsible for selling services. The findings from the just mentioned methods are analysed by a thematic approach and with service design tools, and are, lastly, discussed with support from relevant literature from the literature study. The thesis results in many different findings. One of the findings regards which and how actors influence the sale process, and how they are structured. The actors, and especially the salesforce, are structured differently at different markets. The salesforce has either an integrated structure or a separated structure. Another finding is that the identified challenges are similar to common uncertainties and challenges within a product-service system, and the conditions, that are not met, reflects necessary conditions within a value-based sale. Challenges regarding how sales of services are too time consuming, there is a mismatch between the service’s price and packaging to customer needs, and there is a complex communication structure in the salesforces. These three challenges are considered as the most important. Recommendations are given at two levels. At the first level ideas for future actions. with the aim to solve challenges and fulfil conditions, are presented. Meanwhile, at the second level, ideal examples regarding development process, relationships and information flows, salesforce and sale process, for the case company, to strive towards, with the aim to create ideal conditions for a product-service sale, are presented. Syftet med denna avhandling är att identifiera hur en säljare utför en produkt- och tjänsteförsäljningsprocess (PSS), genom att undersöka vilka förutsättningar, utmaningar och förbättringsmöjligheter säljaren har vid utförandet av processen. Baserat på detta, har rekommendationer tagits fram angående hur produkt- och tjänsteförsäljningsprocessen kan förbättras, samt hur den ideala försäljningsprocessen kan utvecklas. Avhandlingen är genomförd ur en säljares perspektiv, med anledningen att det är den aktör som interagerar mest med produkt- och tjänsteförsäljningsprocess. För att fullgöra avhandlingens syfte appliceras metoder inom tjänstedesign, samt en fallstudie på ett företag. Information erhålls från två olika marknader, där 23 intervjuer, två fokusgrupper och en idégenereringsworkshop utförs med deltagare från det studerade företaget och säljare som ansvarar för att sälja tjänster. Resultatet från informationsinsamlingen analyseras med hjälp av ett tematiskt synsätt och med verktyg inom tjänstedesign, för att sedan diskuteras med stöd från relevant litteratur från litteraturstudien. Avhandlingen resulterar i flertalet insikter. Vilka aktörer som influerar produkt- och tjänsteförsäljningsprocess, och hur de gör det, är en utav insikterna. En annan insikt är angående hur aktörerna, inom försäljningsorganisationen, är strukturerad. På olika på marknader kan de ha antingen en separerad eller en interagerad organisationsstruktur. Ytterligare en insikt är att de identifierade utmaningarna efterliknar de utmaningar och osäkerheter som finns inom en PSS. Även de ej uppfyllda förutsättningar som finns, reflekterar de förutsättningar som bör finnas för att utföra en värdebaserad försäljning. Fortsättningsvis, de viktigaste utmaningarna som har identifierats är att tjänsteförsäljning förbrukar för mycket tid, tjänstens pris och paketering är missanpassade till kundbehoven, samt att kommunikationen i säljorganisationen är komplex. Rekommendationer är utvecklade på två olika nivåer. Den första nivån förespråkar idéer för framtida handlingar, med målet att lösa utmaningar och uppfylla förutsättningar. Den andra nivån presenterar ideala exempel angående utvecklingsprocess, relationer och informationsflöden, säljorganisationsstruktur och säljprocess för företaget att sträva mot, och har som mål att visa hur ideala förutsättningar för en produkt- och tjänsteförsäljningsprocess kan skapas.

Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U is among the initial maternal founders in Southwest Asia and Europe and one that best indicates matrilineal genetic continuity between late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer groups and present-day populations of Europe. While most haplogroup U subclades are older than 30 thousand years, the comparatively recent coalescence time of the extant variation of haplogroup U7 (∼16-19 thousand years ago) suggests that its current distribution is the consequence of more recent dispersal events, despite its wide geographical range across Europe, the Near East and South Asia. Here we report 267 new U7 mitogenomes that - analysed alongside 100 published ones - enable us to discern at least two distinct temporal phases of dispersal, both of which most likely emanated from the Near East. The earlier one began prior to the Holocene (∼11.5 thousand years ago) towards South Asia, while the later dispersal took place more recently towards Mediterranean Europe during the Neolithic (∼8 thousand years ago). These findings imply that the carriers of haplogroup U7 spread to South Asia and Europe before the suggested Bronze Age expansion of Indo-European languages from the Pontic-Caspian Steppe region. © The Author(s) 2017.

Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U is among the initial maternal founders in Southwest Asia and Europe and one that best indicates matrilineal genetic continuity between late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer groups and present-day populations of Europe. While most haplogroup U subclades are older than 30 thousand years, the comparatively recent coalescence time of the extant variation of haplogroup U7 (∼16-19 thousand years ago) suggests that its current distribution is the consequence of more recent dispersal events, despite its wide geographical range across Europe, the Near East and South Asia. Here we report 267 new U7 mitogenomes that - analysed alongside 100 published ones - enable us to discern at least two distinct temporal phases of dispersal, both of which most likely emanated from the Near East. The earlier one began prior to the Holocene (∼11.5 thousand years ago) towards South Asia, while the later dispersal took place more recently towards Mediterranean Europe during the Neolithic (∼8 thousand years ago). These findings imply that the carriers of haplogroup U7 spread to South Asia and Europe before the suggested Bronze Age expansion of Indo-European languages from the Pontic-Caspian Steppe region., 0, SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U is among the initial maternal founders in Southwest Asia and Europe and one that best indicates matrilineal genetic continuity between late Pleistocene huntergatherer groups and present-day populations of Europe. While most haplogroup U subclades are older than 30 thousand years, the comparatively recent coalescence time of the extant variation of haplogroup U7 (~16–19 thousand years ago) suggests that its current distribution is the consequence of more recent dispersal events, despite its wide geographical range across Europe, the Near East and South Asia. Here we report 267 new U7 mitogenomes that – analysed alongside 100 published ones – enable us to discern at least two distinct temporal phases of dispersal, both of which most likely emanated from the Near East. The earlier one began prior to the Holocene (~11.5 thousand years ago) towards South Asia, while the later dispersal took place more recently towards Mediterranean Europe during the Neolithic (~8 thousand years ago). These findings imply that the carriers of haplogroup U7 spread to South Asia and Europe before the suggested Bronze Age expansion of Indo-European languages from the Pontic-Caspian Steppe region.

Viimastel aastakümnetel on poliitika ja popkultuuri valdkonnad teinud läbi protsessi, mille käigus mõlemad on teineteiselt aspekte üle võtnud ning läbi põimunud. Modernses maailmas on poliitika, popkultuuri ja kuulsuste omavaheline suhe ning kaasamine saanud tavapäraseks poliitilise kommunikatsiooni protsessiks. Siiski on sellele temaatikale üsna vähe tähelepanu pööratud ning seda eriti vähe uuritud Eesti kontekstis. Analüüsides, laiaulatuslikule andmestikule tuginedes, Eesti nelja suurema erakonna valimiskampaaniaid aastatel 2013-2015, on käesoleva magistritöö eesmärk välja selgitada, missugune on Eesti erakondade popkultuuri kasutus ning kuulsuste kaasamine valimiskampaaniatesse. Selleks analüüsitakse leitavaid juhtumeid kahe suurema kategooria raames: kuulsused kampaaniates ning popkultuur kampaaniates. Kuna popkultuuri kaasamine valimiskampaaniatesse on modernses maailmas aina enam kasutatav strateegia, siis võib eeldada, et ka Eestis peaks olema märgatav sellealaste juhtumite kasvu trend. Kuna 2013-2015 toimusid kõik erinevad üldised valimised ning uuritavad erakonnad on erinevate ideoloogiatega, siis võis eeldada, et valimiste liigil ning erakonna ideoloogial ja eesmärgil valimistel on mõju popkultuuri kasutamise ning kuulsuste kaasamise strateegiale. Analüüsi tulemusel said eeldused kinnitust – popkultuuri kasutamise ja kuulsuste kaasamise strateegia on Eesti valimiskampaaniates tõusuteel ning muutumas aina olulisemaks. Lisaks leiti, et valimiste liigil ning erakonna ideoloogial ja eesmärkidel on mõju popkultuuri ning kuulsuste kaasamisele - liberaalsed ning vasakpoolsed erakonnad kasutavad seda strateegiat palju ulatuslikumalt kui konservatiivse maailmavaatega erakonnad., http://www.ester.ee/record=b4580779*est

Eestis on peamine energiaallikas põlevkivi ning selle põletamisel elektrijaamades tekib igal aastal miljoneid tonne põlevkivituhka, millest enamus ladustatakse tuhaväljadel. Põlevkivituhka aga saab kasutada happeliste muldade, näiteks jääksoode turvasmuldade, lupjamiseks. Töö eesmärgiks on välja selgitada, kuidas mõjutab tolmpõlevkivituha kasutamine lubiväetisena puude kasvu jääksoodes, kus kasvupind on happeline ning taimede kasvuks ebasoodne. Töö andmed on kogutud Puhatu freesturbaväljal kolmelt katsealalt: kahe erineva tuhakogusega ˗ puu- ja põlevkivituha seguga (PT15+PõT15, puutuhka 15 t/ha ja põlevkivituhka 15 t/ha) ja põlevkivituhaga (PõT10, põlevkivituhka 10t/ha) töödeldud aladelt ning tuhaga töötlemata kontrollalalt. Katsealuseks puuliigiks oli harilik kuusk (Picea abies). Uuringute tulemusena selgus, et põlevkivituha kasutamine väetisena mõjus kuuse kasvule positiivselt. Erinevust kontrollala puudega võrreldes oli märgata nii kõrguskasvus kui ka juurekaela diameetri kasvus. Parima tulemuse võrreldes kontrollalaga andis puu- ja põlevkivituha seguga (PT15+PõT15) väetatud katseala. Sellel katsealal oli 2015. aastal kuuskede keskmine kõrgus 64 cm, mis oli 1/3 võrra suurem kontrollala kuuskede keskmisest kõrgusest (42 cm). Juurekaela keskmine diameeter oli 13,1 mm segutuhaga töödeldud alal. Okkapikkusele mõjus väetamine positiivselt: parima tulemuse andis puu- ja põlevkivituha seguga (PT15+PõT15) töötlemine. Tuhkadega väetamine tõstis turba pH-d kuni 1,5 ühiku võrra. Põlevkivituhaga (PõT10) väetatud alal tõusis pH turba pindmises kihis 5,8-ni. Toiteelementide sisaldusele (P, K, Ca, Mg, N) turbas mõjus väetamine erinevalt, sealjuures suurenes oluliselt P ja K sisaldus turbas. Teiste toiteelementide (Ca, Mg, N) sisaldust mõjutas tuhkade kasutamine vähem. The main resource of energy in Estonia is oil shale. Power plants that use oil shale for energy, produce millions of tons of oil shale ash, most of which is being deposited on oil shale ash depositories. Oil shale ash, however, could be used as acidic soil neutralizer and fertilizer. The aim of this thesis is to find out the effects of oil shale ash as neutralizing fertilizer on cutaway peatlands, where the soil is acidic and unfavourable for the growth of plants. Data was gathered from three different experimental plots in Puhatu cutaway peatland. First two plots were fertilized with mixed ashes (PT15+PõT15, 15 t/ha of wood ash + 15 t/ha oil shale ash) and with oil shale ash (PõT10, 10 t/ha of oil shale ash). The third, unfertilized control plot was used for comparison. Sample tree species was Norway spruce (Picea abies). As a result, the effect of oil shale ash as fertilizer had a positive effect on the growth of Norway spruce. Difference between fertilized and control plots were shown as increment in height and root collar diameter. The best result was given by mixture of wood ash and oil shale ash (PT15+PõT15). In 2015, the average height of Norway spruce on given plot was 1/3 greater (64 cm) than the growth on unfertilized plot (42 cm), the average root collar diameter was 13,1 mm. Fertilizing had a positive effect on the length of the needles: the best result was given by mixture of wood ash and oil shale ash (PT15+PõT15). Due to fertilization, the pH of peat rose up to 1,5 units. Oil shale ash (PõT10) increased the pH up to 5,8 in the upper layer of the peat. Fertilizing had a different effect on soil nutrient element (P, K, Ca, Mg, N) concentrations, the concentration of P and K increased significantly. Concentrations of other elements (Ca, Mg, N) were influenced less by fertilization with ashes.

The aim of the work was to evaluate whether or not there is glycolytic reprogramming in the neighboring cells of colorectal cancer (CRC). Using postoperative material we have compared the functional capacity of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in CRC cells, their glycolytic activity and their inclination to aerobic glycolysis, with those of the surrounding and healthy colon tissue cells. Experiments showed that human CRC cannot be considered a hypoxic tumor, since the malignancy itself and cells surrounding it exhibited even higher rates of OXPHOS than healthy large intestine. The absence of acute hypoxia in colorectal carcinomas was also confirmed by their practically equal glucose-phosphorylating capacity as compared with surrounding non-tumorous tissue and by upregulation of VEGF family and their ligands. Studies indicated that human CRC cells in vivo exert a strong distant effect on the energy metabolism of neighboring cells, so that they acquire the bioenergetic parameters specific to the tumor itself. The growth of colorectal carcinomas was associated with potent downregulation of the creatine kinase system. As compared with healthy colon tissue, the tumor surrounding cells display upregulation of OXPHOS and have high values of basal and ADP activated respiration rates. Strong differences between the normal and CRC cells in the affinity of their mitochondria for ADP were revealed; the corresponding Km values were measured as 93.6±7.7 µM for CRC cells and 84.9±9.9 µM for nearby tissue; both these apparent Km (ADP) values were considerably (by almost 3 times) lower in comparison with healthy colon tissue cells (256±34 µM)., Highlights • Human colorectal cancer is not a pure hypoxic tumor of the Warburg phenotype. • The total hexokinase activity of CRC cells is close to that in nearby tissues. • In the tumor there is overexpression of VEGFs (A, B, and C) and their receptors. • CRC has higher rates of OXPHOS as compared with healthy tissue cells. • Tumor-surrounding cells cannot fuel via a lactate shunt the growth of CRC cells.

Two tribal groups from southern India--the Chenchus and Koyas--were analyzed for variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), the Y chromosome, and one autosomal locus and were compared with six caste groups from different parts of India, as well as with western and central Asians. In mtDNA phylogenetic analyses, the Chenchus and Koyas coalesce at Indian-specific branches of haplogroups M and N that cover populations of different social rank from all over the subcontinent. Coalescence times suggest early late Pleistocene settlement of southern Asia and suggest that there has not been total replacement of these settlers by later migrations. H, L, and R2 are the major Indian Y-chromosomal haplogroups that occur both in castes and in tribal populations and are rarely found outside the subcontinent. Haplogroup R1a, previously associated with the putative Indo-Aryan invasion, was found at its highest frequency in Punjab but also at a relatively high frequency (26%) in the Chenchu tribe. This finding, together with the higher R1a-associated short tandem repeat diversity in India and Iran compared with Europe and central Asia, suggests that southern and western Asia might be the source of this haplogroup. Haplotype frequencies of the MX1 locus of chromosome 21 distinguish Koyas and Chenchus, along with Indian caste groups, from European and eastern Asian populations. Taken together, these results show that Indian tribal and caste populations derive largely from the same genetic heritage of Pleistocene southern and western Asians and have received limited gene flow from external regions since the Holocene. The phylogeography of the primal mtDNA and Y-chromosome founders suggests that these southern Asian Pleistocene coastal settlers from Africa would have provided the inocula for the subsequent differentiation of the distinctive eastern and western Eurasian gene pools.

Käesolevas raportis antakse statistiline ülevaade vastuvõtust kõrghariduse esimesele astmele sisseastumise infosüsteemi (SAISi) andmete põhjal. SAIS on e-teenus, mis võimaldab õppeasutustel läbi viia vastuvõtu protsessi alates avalduste vastuvõtust kuni vastuvõtuotsuste tegemiseni. Sisseastujad saavad SAISis esitada elektroonseid avaldusi, jälgida oma avalduste kohta vastuvõtu pingeridades ning vastuvõtu korral kinnitada oma õppimatulekut või loobuda õppekohast. SAIS on seotud riiklike andmekogudega (Eesti hariduse infosüsteem, eksamite infosüsteem jm) ja võimaldab kandidaatidel esitada andmeid haridustee ning õppetulemuste kohta (riigieksamid, lõputunnistuse hinded) elektroonselt. 2014. aastal võttis SAISi kaudu üliõpilasi vastu 15 kõrgkooli 22st, seejuures kasutas SAISi enamik avaõiguslikest ülikoolidest ning riiklikest rakenduskõrgkoolidest. Nii 2013. kui ka 2014. aastal toimus SAISis vastuvõtt kokku 89% kõrghariduse esimese astme õppekavadel, millele üliõpilasi immatrikuleeriti. Mõlemal aastal asus SAISi kasutanud kõrgkoolidesse õppima 95% kõrghariduse esimesele astmele immatrikuleeritud üliõpilastest. Raportis antakse 2013. ja 2014. aasta SAISi andmetele tuginedes ülevaade kõrghariduse esimese astmekandidaatide taustast ja kandideerimisvalikutest ning kõrgkoolide vastuvõtunäitajatest (avalduste ja õppekohtade arv, õppekohtade täituvus). Kandidaatide tausta ja valikute osas on vaatluse all Eesti taustaga isikud, vastuvõtunäitajate peatükk keskendub peamiselt tasuta õppekohtade täitmisele, sh on antud ülevaade sisseastumiseksamite ning matemaatika riigieksami mõjust vastuvõtule ning avalduste arvu muutusest ESF programmi Primus stipendiumiga õppekavadel.

http://www.ester.ee/record=b4413147~S1*est

About a fifth of the human gene pool belongs largely either to Indo-European or Dravidic speaking people inhabiting the Indian peninsula. The 'Caucasoid share' in their gene pool is thought to be related predominantly to the Indo-European speakers. A commonly held hypothesis, albeit not the only one, suggests a massive Indo-Aryan invasion to India some 4,000 years ago [1]. Recent limited analysis of maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Indian populations has been interpreted as supporting this concept [2] [3]. Here, this interpretation is questioned. We found an extensive deep late Pleistocene genetic link between contemporary Europeans and Indians, provided by the mtDNA haplogroup U, which encompasses roughly a fifth of mtDNA lineages of both populations. Our estimate for this split is close to the suggested time for the peopling of Asia and the first expansion of anatomically modern humans in Eurasia [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] and likely pre-dates their spread to Europe. Only a small fraction of the 'Caucasoid-specific' mtDNA lineages found in Indian populations can be ascribed to a relatively recent admixture.

INTRODUCTION: Most national guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Europe updated between 2001 and 2010 recommend vaginal deliveries for women with undetectable or very low viral load (VL). Our aim was to explore the impact of these new guidelines on the rates of vaginal deliveries among HIV-positive women in Europe. METHODS: In a pooled analysis of data on HIV-positive pregnant women enrolled in the Swiss Mother & Child HIV Cohort Study and the European Collaborative Study 2000 to 2010, deliveries were classified as occurring pre- or postpublication of national guidelines recommending vaginal delivery. RESULTS: Overall, 2663 women with 3013 deliveries were included from 10 countries; 28% women were diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy. Combination antiretroviral therapy was used in most pregnancies (2020, 73%), starting during the first or second trimester in 78% and during the third trimester in 22%; in 25% pregnancies, the woman conceived on combination antiretroviral therapy. Overall, in 86% pregnancies, a VL < 400 copies per milliliter was achieved before delivery. The proportion of vaginal deliveries increased from 17% (414/2377) before the change in guidelines to 52% (313/600) after; elective Caesarean section rates decreased from 65% to 27%. The proportion of women with undetectable VL having a Caesarean section was 55% after implementation of new guidelines. We observed a decrease of late preterm deliveries from 16% (377/2354) before to 7% (42/599) after the change in guidelines (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There are still missed opportunities for women with HIV to fully suppress their VL and to deliver vaginally in Europe.

Töö eesmärgiks oli võrrelda CANi, Profibusi, Modbusi, Etherneti protokolle. Nimetatud protokollid said valitud seetõttu, et need on laialdaselt kasutusel tööstusautomaatikas. Võrdlemist on vaja, et selgitada protokollide sobivust erinevatele automatiseerimise lahendustele. Töövälja protokollid on erineva suunitlusega ja valimisel tuleb teada, mis eesmärgil protokolli kasutatakse. Olulisteks aspektideks on andmete maht ja iseloom, sõlmpunktide kaugused, hulk ja rakendus ning välistingimused (nt temperatuur, elekromagnetväljad, tolm, niiskus jne). Võrdlusest selgus, et Modbusi ja Profibusi kaadrite kujud ja andmete töötlus on erinev, kuid kiiruse, kauguse, sõlmpunktide arv ja andmete mahu poolest on nende erinevus väga väike. Ethernet on sobivaim suurte andmehulkade edastamiseks. CAN on mõeldud väikeste andmehulkade ülekandeks ning seetõttu kasutatakse CANi autode automaatikas. Dieser Arbeit ziel ist das Industrial Automatisierung Protokollen vergleichen. Diese sind verwendet in verschiedene industrielle Konnektivitätsysteme. Die Arbeit Ergebnis ist einer Übersichtstabelle, wo sind die Unterschiede gezeigt.

Uuring keskendub Eesti päritolu ja haridustaustaga isikute valikutele kõrghariduse esimese astme õppekavadele kandideerimisel. Uuringu eesmärkideks on: 1) analüüsida SAISi andmete põhjal sisseastujate käitumist kõrgharidusõppekava valikul; 2) analüüsi alusel teha järeldusi senise vastuvõtukorralduse eesmärgipärasuse kohta; 3) selgitada välja vajalikud tegevused tulevaste aastate vastuvõtuprotsesside parendamiseks ja tõhustamiseks; 4) anda sisend uue SAISi arendusülesandesse, et kujundada SAISist teiste allikate kõrval (EHIS, ÕISid) kõrgkoolidele ja riigile kõrghariduse strateegiliseks arendamiseks kasutatav analüüsibaas., http://primus.archimedes.ee/sites/default/files/SAIS%20l%C3%B5pparuanne.pdf

Objectives The aim of the study was to examine temporal and geographical patterns of mode of delivery in the European Collaborative Study (ECS), identify factors associated with elective caesarean section (CS) delivery in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era and explore associations between mode of delivery and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Methods The ECS is a cohort study in which HIV-infected pregnant women are enrolled and their infants prospectively followed. Data on 5238 mother-child pairs (MCPs) enrolled in Western European ECS sites between 1985 and 2007 were analysed. Results The elective CS rate increased from 16% in 1985-1993 to 67% in 1999-2001, declining to 51% by 2005-2007. In 2002-2004, 10% of infants were delivered vaginally, increasing to 34% by 2005-2007. During the HAART era, women in Belgium, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands were less likely to deliver by elective CS than those in Italy and Spain [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.12]. The MTCT rate in 2005-2007 was 1%. Among MCPs with maternal HIV RNA

Strategies to improve vaccine efficacy are still required, especially in the case of chronic infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). DNA vaccines have potential advantages over conventional vaccines; however, low immunological efficacy has been demonstrated in many experiments involving large animals and in clinical trials. To improve the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines, we have designed a plasmid vector exploiting the binding capacity of the bovine papillomavirus E2 protein and we have used electroporation (EP) to increase DNA uptake after intradermal inoculation. We demonstrated, in nonhuman primates (NHPs), efficient induction of anti-HIV immunity with an improved DNA vaccine vector encoding an artificial fusion protein, consisting of several proteins and selected epitopes from HIV-1. We show that a DNA vaccine delivery method combining intradermal injection and noninvasive EP dramatically increased expression of the vaccine antigen selectively in the epidermis, and our observations strongly suggest the involvement of Langerhans cells in the strength and quality of the anti-HIV immune response. Although the humoral responses to the vaccine were transient, the cellular responses were exceptionally robust and persisted, at high levels, more than 2 years after the last vaccine boost. The immune responses were characterized by the induction of significant proportions of T cells producing both interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 cytokines, in both subpopulations, CD4(+) and CD8(+). This strategy is an attractive approach for vaccination in humans because of its high efficacy and the possible use of newly developed devices for EP.

Results Before challenge, all animals raised SIV-specific T-cells as evidenced by IFN-γ ELISPOT (110 ± 42, 921 ± 310 and 905 ± 252 spots/106 cells in the ID only, ID+EP and ID+EP+genetic-adjuvant groups, respectively). Weak and transient antibody responses were detected. All animals were intrarectally challenged with pathogenic SIVmac251. T-cell responses increased in both ID+EP groups as early as week 1 post-challenge (3,898 ± 395 and 3,031 ± 893 spots, respectively), and up to 12,000 spots by week 2. Macaques immunized ID only raised delayed and lower responses remaining earlier and higher than in controls. At peak of viremia, plasma viral load was significantly reduced (p = 0.0104) in the ID+EP group. Interestingly, no reduction of plasma viral load was observed by that time in the genetic-adjuvant group despite high anamnestic responses. Differences in anti-Gag responses may explain this observation. Viremia was not reduced in the ID only group. At set-point, although similar plasma viral load in all groups, reduction of SIV-DNA copies in rectal biopsies was observed in the vaccinated animals.

Background Recent advances in the understanding of the maternal and paternal heritage of south and southwest Asian populations have highlighted their role in the colonization of Eurasia by anatomically modern humans. Further understanding requires a deeper insight into the topology of the branches of the Indian mtDNA phylogenetic tree, which should be contextualized within the phylogeography of the neighboring regional mtDNA variation. Accordingly, we have analyzed mtDNA control and coding region variation in 796 Indian (including both tribal and caste populations from different parts of India) and 436 Iranian mtDNAs. The results were integrated and analyzed together with published data from South, Southeast Asia and West Eurasia. Results Four new Indian-specific haplogroup M sub-clades were defined. These, in combination with two previously described haplogroups, encompass approximately one third of the haplogroup M mtDNAs in India. Their phylogeography and spread among different linguistic phyla and social strata was investigated in detail. Furthermore, the analysis of the Iranian mtDNA pool revealed patterns of limited reciprocal gene flow between Iran and the Indian sub-continent and allowed the identification of different assemblies of shared mtDNA sub-clades. Conclusions Since the initial peopling of South and West Asia by anatomically modern humans, when this region may well have provided the initial settlers who colonized much of the rest of Eurasia, the gene flow in and out of India of the maternally transmitted mtDNA has been surprisingly limited. Specifically, our analysis of the mtDNA haplogroups, which are shared between Indian and Iranian populations and exhibit coalescence ages corresponding to around the early Upper Paleolithic, indicates that they are present in India largely as Indian-specific sub-lineages. In contrast, other ancient Indian-specific variants of M and R are very rare outside the sub-continent.

The topology of the network of western Eurasian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineage clusters in the context of their expansion and spread in this geographic area is analysed. Special attention is devoted to the inner nods of the reconstructed median network tree, ancestral to mtDNA lineage clusters H and V, to the Caucasus and Trans-Caucasus area populations and to the problem of timing of the expansion of the Caucasoid-specific mtDNA lineage clusters in western Europeversusin the Trans-Caucasus. It appears on several examples that typical for Western Europe mtDNA lineage clusters exhibit significantly earlier expansion in the Trans-Caucasus area. Furthermore, the lineage cluster, radiating from the pre-HV node, is significantly more frequent and divergent in the Trans-Caucasus populations than it is in Europe. Meanwhile, a comparison of the Central Asian and the Trans-Caucasus area populations shows that the former have a significant share of eastern Asian-specific mtDNA lineages, which are almost absent in the latter. Finally, a picture starts to emerge, revealing an ancient Indian—Trans-Caucasian—European continuum of a significant proportion of human maternal lineage clusters, dating back to the period between the Upper and Lower Pleniglacials.