Aims/hypothesis: Increasing evidence suggests that chronic, subclinical inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. We recently reported that a glycosylating enzyme, core 2 beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (core 2 GlcNAc-T), is implicated in increased leucocyte-endothelial cell adhesion in diabetic retinopathy via an upregulation mechanism controlled by TNF-alpha.

Subjects, materials and methods: We examined the functional link between circulating TNF-alpha and the activity and phosphorylation of core 2 GlcNAc-T in polymorphonuclear leucocytes of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Results: Plasma levels of TNF-alpha, although similar in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, were significantly higher than in age-matched healthy controls, and correlated well with the severity of retinopathy. Core 2 GlcNAc-T activity followed the same trend and was associated with the phosphorylation of the enzyme. Finally, the observation that TNF-alpha levels are also linked to glycaemic values suggests that in patients, as well as in vitro, the glycosylation-mediated cell adhesion process that plays a role in diabetic retinopathy may involve glucose- and TNF-alpha-induced protein kinase beta2 activation, and subsequently raise the activity of core 2 GlcNAc-T through increased enzyme phosphorylation.

Conclusions/interpretation: Our results reveal a novel rationale towards a specific treatment of diabetic retinopathy, based on the inhibition of core 2 GlcNAc-T activity and/or the blockage of cognate glycans.

Abstract:

A detailed experimental investigation of the quasi-static lateral crushing of composite cylindrical tubes between flat platens has been carried out. Tubes employed were made of glass fibre reinforced with epoxy. Behaviour of tubes as regards the peak crushing load, post collapse load, energy absorbed and mode of crushing has been discussed. The load displacement response is plotted graphically.

Many questions enter our minds, which may take us to another world. However, this is a very brief paper about cosmology and its relation with man and culture with particular reference to reflection in built-form. It can be seen as an approach to amalgamate many subjects.

Purpose

This study sets out to explore the impact of organisational culture innovation on the adoption of information systems (IS) in Libya's oil and banking sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a structured survey questionnaire based on Cameron and Quinn's Organisational Culture Assessments Instrument (OCAI), 400 questionnaires were administered to middle and top management employees in more than 15 government and public organisations in Libya's oil and banking sectors.

Findings

The findings showed that there is a relationship between organisational culture innovations and the adoption of IS. The findings also showed that there are no differences in the organisational culture type between the two sectors covered in this study.

Originality/value

The findings imply that organisational culture innovations are influenced by other factors, which are worthy of investigation. The future implications of this research are also discussed.

Abstract

This paper is devoted to study the effect of corrugation geometry on the crushing behavior, energy absorption, failure mechanism, and failure mode of woven roving glass fibre/epoxy laminated composite tubes. A comprehensive experimental program has been carried out on two geometrically different types of composite tubes subjected to axial compressive loading conditions. A cylindrical composite tube has been fabricated and tested in order to provide a means of comparison with corrugated composite tube. Both are tested under the same condition to establish the effect of corrugation geometry. The results showed that the initial failure was dominated by interfacial failure, while a folded zone grows progressively down in a form of mushrooming failure. The results also showed that radial corrugated composite tube (RCCT) exhibited good energy absorption capability than circular composite tube (CCT).

Abstract: The purpose of this work is to investigate the effect of the dimensions of composite tubes on their specific energy absorption capacity. Experimental investigations were carried out on three geometrical different cylindrical composite tubes subjected to compressive loading. More over a radial corrugated composite tube was subjected to the same load conditions in order to examine the varying of shape influence on the energy absorption of composite materials. Initial results indicate that for cylindrical tubes, diameter to thickness ratio has a significant effect on the energy absorption. Reduction in tube d/t ratio results in an increase in energy absorption. More over results show also radial corrugated composite tubes exhibit higher total energy absorption than cylindrical composite tubes. 

Experiments were performed to investigate the diffusion ignition process that occurs when hot inert gas (argon or nitrogen) is injected into the stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen mixture at the test section. Detonation wave initiated by spark plug in the driver section in stoichiometric acetylene-oxygen mixture at P = 0.5 MPa and room temperature, propagates as incident shock wave in the driven section through inert gas after bursting the diaphragm separating the sections. At the end wall of driver section the inert gas is heated behind the reflected shock wave and then injected into the test section with the stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen mixture through the hole 8 mm in diameter. An increase of the initial pressure of the combustible mixture in the test section from 0.2 to 0.6 MPa resulted in decrease of the minimum temperature of injected gas causing ignition from 1650 K to 850 K. At the same time the induction time for ignition process has increased from 190 to 320 s when hot argon was injected. For the injection of hot nitrogen an increase of the initial pressure of the combustible mixture from 0.2 to 0.4 MPa resulted in decrease of the minimum temperature of injected inert gas giving ignition from 1150 K to 850 K, and in increase of the induction time from 170 to 240 s. The results of experiments indicate that ignition occurs when the static enthalpy of injected mass of inert gas exceeds some critical value. The mechanism of ignition process was also studied by schlieren photography.

Abstract

           This paper presents the effect of corrugation geometry on the crushing behavior, energy absorption, failure mechanism, and failure mode of woven roving glass fibre/ epoxy laminated composite tube. Experimental investigations were carried out on three geometrical different types of composite tubes subjected to compressive loading. On the addition to a radial corrugated composite tube, cylindrical composite tube, and corrugated surrounded by cylindrical tube were fabricated and tested under the same condition in order to know the effect of corrugation geometry. 

This research presents the effect of radial corrugation geometry on the crushing behavior, energy absorption, failure mechanism, and failure mode of woven roving glass fibre/ epoxy laminated composite tube. Experimental investigations were carried out on three geometrical different types of composite tubes subjected to compressive loading. On the addition to a radial corrugated composite tube, cylindrical composite tube, and corrugated surrounded by cylindrical tube were fabricated and tested under the same condition in order to know the effect of corrugation geometry.