The signaling mechanism by which the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 mediates suppression of proinflammatory cytokine synthesis remains largely unknown. Macrophage-specific STAT3-null mice have demonstrated that STAT3 plays a critical role in the suppression of LPS-induced TNF-α release, although the mechanism by which STAT3 mediates this inhibition is still not clear. Using an adenoviral system, we have expressed a dominant negative (DN) STAT3 in human macrophages to broaden the investigation to determine the role of STAT3 in IL-10-mediated anti-inflammatory signaling and gene expression. Overexpression of STAT3 DN completely inhibited IL-10-induced suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, tissue inhibitor of MMP-1, TNF receptor expression, and the recently identified IL-10-inducible genes, T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase and signaling lymphocyte activation molecule. STAT3 DN also blocked IL-10-mediated inhibition of MHC class II and COX2 expression. In agreement with the studies in STAT3-null mice, overexpression of the STAT3 DN completely reversed the ability of IL-10 to inhibit LPS-mediated TNF-α and IL-6 production. However, real-time PCR analysis showed that STAT3 DN expression did not affect immediate suppression of TNF-α mRNA, but did reverse the suppression observed at later time points, suggesting a biphasic regulation of TNF-α mRNA levels by IL-10. In conclusion, although STAT3 does appear to be the dominant mediator of the majority of IL-10 functions, there are elements of its anti-inflammatory activity that are STAT3 independent.

All domains of the environment, suggested by the ICF, have an influence on children’s participation.Evidence regarding the effect of the environment on participation is focused primarily on children with physical disabilities; more studies are needed involving various health conditions and age groups. Practitioners and decision-makers can focus attention on specific aspects of the environment, e.g. attitudinal challenges and social support, in order to foster inclusion and participation-based communities.

Eighty children, 10 boys and 10 girls at each of four ages (5, 6, 7, and 8), were awakened from REM sleep on 10 occasions over the course of three nights in a sleep laboratory to report dreams. They also completed a variety of cognitive skill tests. In confirmation of an earlier, longitudinal study (Foulkes, 1982): Dreams were reported relatively seldom (median report rate of 20%); until age 7, their imagery was reported as more static than dynamic; until age 8, a passive-observer role for their self character was most common; until age 8, dream activity evidenced very simple forms of narrative structure; waking visuospatial, but not verbal, skills predicted dream-report rates, with Wechsler Block Design the single best such predictor. These replications argue: That reliable dream-laboratory data can be collected from young children; that dream production/experience depends upon representational intelligence; and that children's REM dream reports can be used to study the development of specifically conscious mental processes and representations.

Purpose Bank adoption of mobile banking globally remains sporadic. Factors influencing this remain under researched. The purpose of this paper is to explore drivers and barriers of bank adoption of mobile banking from a stakeholder perspective. Design/methodology/approach Using diffusion of innovation (DOI), a mixed method study was conducted. Data were collected using blogging to inform a two-round modified Delphi study. The opinion of 72 members from six stakeholder industries was sought. Findings The results indicate that DOI theory is still applicable within mobile environments in helping to understand the diffusion of mobile banking. Key drivers of bank adoption were global mobile phone penetration, competitive advantage, customer convenience, strategic importance, customer demand, low perceived risk/security concerns and stakeholder partnerships. Findings suggest low levels of customer demand and lack of return on investment (ROI) are key barriers for banks. The findings have strategic implications for industry players highlighting the importance of mobile banking to maintain market share and customer relations. These influences will inform successful mobile banking strategies by raising awareness of major barriers. Originality/value This study concentrates on a bank/stakeholder perspective. It confirms that DOI theory is still applicable within mobile environments. It extends understanding of bank adoption providing useful information for all stakeholders. It has implications for banks regarding multi-channel banking and the motivators and challenges influencing its adoption.

Although Internet banking is a growing phenomenon, the underlying factors driving and inhibiting its diffusion are not well understood. This paper presents empirical research that investigated the factors driving and inhibiting Internet banking. The main component of the research was a Delphi study of expert opinion. This paper gives a brief overview of the academic literature on the diffusion of innovation and Internet banking. The conduct and findings of the Delphi study are then reported. The paper concludes that Internet banking will become an extremely important distribution channel in the future, with the drivers overcoming the inhibitors in influencing the rate. Further to this, the paper indicates that the existing diffusion of innovation literature identifies some of the factors instrumental in the diffusion of Internet banking. However, this study identifies additional issues.