Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular characterization of lymphatic endothelial cells

The lymphatic microvasculature is uniquely adapted for the continuous removal of interstitial fluid and proteins and is an important entry point for leukocytes and tumor cells. Specialized functions of lymphatics suggest differences in the molecular composition of the lymphatic and blood vascular endothelium. However, the extent to which the two cell types differ is still unclear, and few molecules that are truly specific to lymphatic endothelial cells have been identified to date. We have isolated primary lymphatic and blood microvascular endothelial cells from human skin by immunoselection with the lymphatic marker LYVE-1 and demonstrate that the two cell lineages express distinct sets of vascular markers and respond differently to growth factors and extracellular matrix. Comparative microarray analysis of gene-expression profiles revealed a number of unique molecular properties that distinguish lymphatic and blood vascular endothelium. The molecular profile of lymphatic endothelium seems to reflect characteristic functional and structural features of the lymphatic capillaries. Classification of the differentially expressed genes into functional groups revealed particularly high levels of genes implicated in protein sorting and trafficking, indicating a more active role of lymphatic endothelium in uptake and transport of molecules than previously anticipated. The identification of a large number of genes selectively expressed by lymphatic endothelium should facilitate the discovery of hitherto unknown lymphatic vessel markers and provide a basis for the analysis of the molecular mechanisms accounting for the characteristic functions of lymphatic capillaries.
Expression of carbonic anhydrase IX in breast is associated with malignant tissues and is related to overexpression of c‐erbB2

CA IX is a tumour‐associated carbonic anhydrase with proposed roles in pH modulation and intercellular communication. Its distribution was examined in normal, benign and malignant breast tissues and compared with expression of breast tumour markers including oestrogen receptor, c‐erbB2, c‐erbB3 and CD44. Tissue specimens were analysed using immunohistochemistry and/or reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). CA IX was detected by IHC in 12/26 (46%) malignant tissues, 4/36 (11%) benign lesions, but not in 10 normal breasts. Staining was mostly confined to plasma membranes of abnormal epithelial cells, but in five cases was found in adjacent stroma. Semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR detected CA9 mRNA in 25/39 (64%) malignant tumours, 11/33 (33%) benign lesions, but in none of three normal breasts. Comparative RT‐PCR analysis of malignant tissues revealed a relationship between CA9 positivity and c‐erbB2 overexpression (p=0.05). Moreover, CA9‐positive specimens displayed a significantly higher median level of c‐erbB2 than CA9‐negative ones (p=0.02). No significant association was found with the other markers. The results of this study support the possible importance of CA IX for breast carcinogenesis and suggest its potential use as a breast tumour marker. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expect the unexpected: pleuro‐pulmonary melioidosis in a renal transplant recipient

Melioidosis is an infectious disease endemic in tropical northern Australia and Southeast Asia, and, if treated late or inappropriately, is usually fatal. We report a rare case of pleuro‐pulmonary melioidosis with septicemia in a renal transplant recipient to highlight the potential risk of acquiring this infection in at‐risk patients living in, or visiting, regions that are endemic for melioidosis, and to convey the importance of its early diagnosis and specific treatment.
Violation of Bell's inequality for two coupled quantum dots confined in a cavity

A system of two coupled quantum dots entangled through their interaction with a cavity mode, including Förster and exciton-phonon interactions, exhibits violation of Bell’s inequality at certain interaction times of these dots with the field mode. The effects of relative positions of these dots in the cavity and exciton-phonon and Förster interaction strengths on the violation of Bell’s inequality are discussed.
Three-dimensional linear trajectory filtering using the DWT and the mixed-domain approach

A method is proposed which combines the two-dimensional (2-D) orthogonal discrete-wavelet transform (DWT) and mixed-domain (Mixed-D) filtering to selectively enhance or attenuate a 2-D signal moving along a linear trajectory at a constant velocity. Such signals are common in video coding applications. The 2-D DWT is applied separately to each frame of the three-dimensional (3-D) input sequence, resulting in a set of multiresolution (subband) image sequences. Mixed-D filtering is then used to enhance or reject linear trajectory signals within each subband image sequence. The output for each frame is formed by inverting the wavelet transform using the Mixed-D processed sequences. This method or filtering lends itself to use in subband video coding systems, which are becoming increasingly popular, and permits selective Mixed-D filtering of the subband signals depending upon the energy content within the subbands. In this contribution, we present an overview of the proposed algorithm and present preliminary results which compare favourably in terms of arithmetic complexity, storage requirements, and the subjective quality of output, to those obtained using the Mixed-D technique. <<ETX>>
The Assessment of the Thermal Environment. A Review

The development of methods for the assessment of the thermal environment is traced, and the reasons for the devising of special indices of thermal stress are discussed. The more important of the indices are described, and it is shown that they conform to a restricted number of types. The general trend in their evolution is indicated and some guidance is given in their use.
Necrotizing fasciitis following intramuscular diclofenac injection

© 2008 The Authors 1521 JEADV 2008, 22, 1497–1524 Journal compilation © 2008 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology UVB can result in immunological effects including alterations in circulating CD4/CD8 T lymphocyte ratio. However, in our study, reversed helper/suppressor T-cell ratio was recorded the same at the endpoint of the study. Our results suggest that NB-UVB phototherapy has no systemic effects particularly on peripheral blood T lymphocytes. In our study, no association was found between demographic features and cumulative doses. We considered that they are not possible predictors for cumulative doses to achieve 50% repigmentation. The frequent association of vitiligo with autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune thyroid disease supports the autoimmune aetiology. However, we could not detect any associations between thyroid disease and vitiligo. In conclusion, our data showed that cellular immunologic abnormalities are not correlated with an immunologic therapy regarding UV therapy. Therefore, mechanisms other than autoimmunity may be important in the etiopathogenesis of vitiligo.
Partnering With Residents for Evidence-Based Practice

Medical residents are a distinct group of health sciences library users that need detailed instruction in literature searching. Core residency competencies from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education require that all residents be competent in finding, critically appraising, and incorporating the latest clinical evidence into their daily practice with patients. With the collaboration of the library and a clinical department of pediatrics, a program was developed that teaches residents the basic elements of EBM searching and then reinforces this learning over the course of three years.
Weak action potential backpropagation is associated with high‐frequency axonal firing capability in principal neurons of the gerbil medial superior olive

Principal neurons of the medial superior olive (MSO) convey azimuthal sound localization cues through modulation of their rate of action potential firing. Previous intracellular studies in vitro have shown that action potentials appear highly attenuated at the soma of MSO neurons, potentially reflecting specialized action potential initiation and/or a physically distant site of generation. To examine this more directly, we made dual patch‐clamp recordings from MSO principal neurons in gerbil brainstem slices. Using somatic and dendritic whole‐cell recordings, we show that graded action potentials at the soma are highly sensitive to the rate of rise of excitation and undergo strong attenuation in their backpropagation into the dendrites (length constant, 76 μm), particularly during strong dendritic excitation. Using paired somatic whole‐cell and axonal loose‐patch recordings, we show that action potentials recorded in the axon at distances > 25 μm are all‐or‐none, and uniform in amplitude even when action potentials appear graded at the soma. This proximal zone corresponded to the start of myelination in the axon, as assessed with immunocytochemical staining for myelin basic protein in single‐labelled neurons. Finally, the axon was capable of sustaining remarkably high firing rates, with perfect entrainment occurring at frequencies of up to 1 kHz. Together, our findings show that action potential signalling in MSO principal neurons is highly secure, but shows a restricted invasion of the somatodendritic compartment of the cell. This restriction may be important for minimizing distortions in synaptic integration during the high frequencies of synaptic input encountered in the MSO.
A Bacterial Cell-Cycle Regulatory Network Operating in Time and Space

Transcriptional regulatory circuits provide only a fraction of the signaling pathways and regulatory mechanisms that control the bacterial cell cycle. The CtrA regulatory network, important in control of the Caulobacter cell cycle, illustrates the critical role of nontranscriptional pathways and temporally and spatially localized regulatory proteins. The system architecture of Caulobacter cell-cycle control involves top-down control of modular functions by a small number of master regulatory proteins with cross-module signaling coordinating the overall process. Modeling the cell cycle probably requires a top-down modeling approach and a hybrid control system modeling paradigm to treat its combined discrete and continuous characteristics.
Condensed recursive structures for computing multidimensional DCT/IDCT with arbitrary length

In this paper, efficient recursive structures for computing arbitrary length M-dimensional (M-D) discrete cosine transform (DCT) and its inverse DCT (IDCT) are proposed. The M-D DCT and IDCT are first converted into condensed one-dimensional (1-D) DCT and discrete sine transform (DST) with a regular preprocessing procedure. The recursive filters for condensed 1-D DCT/DST are then derived by using Chebyshev polynomials to compute M-D DCT/IDCT without data transposition. The proposed structures require fewer recursive loops than traditional 1-D recursive structures, which are realized in M passes and (M-1) data transposition by the so-called row-column approach. With advantages of fewer recursive loops and no transposition memory, the proposed structures attain more accurate results and less power consumption than traditional row-column structures. The proposed recursive M-D DCT/IDCT structures are suitable for very large-scale integration implementation due to regular and modular features.
In search of a health education model: teachers’ conceptions in four Mediterranean countries

School programs are defined to promote the health of the pupils and to develop their competencies so that they can adopt behaviors favorable to their health. With the European project FP6 Biohead-Citizen (2004–2007), we analyzed the conceptions of teachers as regards health education, in France, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia, in reference to the biomedical model and the social health model. These four countries were selected because their school curricula represented different models of health education. Lebanon and Tunisia addressed health education with the biomedical model. In Morocco, the curriculum was also primarily based on the biomedical model and enclosed a few instructions issued from the social health model. In France, the health education curriculum declared an approach based on the health promotion model. Our study was based on multivariate statistical analyses of questionnaires filled out by 2537 in-service and pre-service teachers. Our analysis showed that the conceptions of the teachers concerning health education were not structured and related to a specific model. We also found that the dominating factors of influence on the choices expressed with regards to health education were, among different sociocultural variables, the religion, the home country, and, to a lesser extent, the level of training. Thus, the conceptions of the teachers were not integrated into comprehensive approaches but related to individual characteristics. Consequently health education implementation would require thorough training for pre-service and in-service teachers and should also explicitly take into account their conceptions and values.
Suicides and serious suicide attempts: two populations or one?

Background. Few studies have examined the extent to which populations of suicides and attempted suicides are similar, or different. This paper compares suicides and serious suicide attempts in terms of known risk factors for suicidal behaviour. Methods. Using case–control methodology, risk factors for suicidal behaviour were examined in 202 individuals who died by suicide, 275 individuals who made medically serious suicide attempts and 984 randomly selected control subjects. Based on data from significant others, measures used spanned sociodemographic factors, childhood experiences, psychiatric morbidity and psychiatric history, exposure to recent stressful life events and social interaction. Results. Multiple logistic regression identified the following risk factors that were common to suicide and serious suicide attempts: current mood disorder; previous suicide attempts; prior out-patient psychiatric treatment; admission to psychiatric hospital within the previous year; low income; a lack of formal educational qualifications; exposure to recent stressful interpersonal, legal and work-related life events. Suicides and suicide attempts were distinguished in the following ways: suicides were more likely to be male (OR = 1·9, 95% CI 1·1, 3·2); older (OR = 1·03, 95% CI 1·02, 1·04); and to have a current diagnosis of non-affective psychosis (OR = 8·5, 95% CI 2·0, 35·9). Suicide attempts were more likely than suicides to have a current diagnosis of anxiety disorder (OR = 3·5, 95% CI 1·6, 7·8) and to be socially isolated (OR = 2·0, 95% CI 1·2, 3·5). These findings were confirmed by discriminant function analysis, which identified two functions that described the three subject groups: the first function discriminated the two suicide groups from control subjects on a dimension corresponding to risk factors for suicide; the second function discriminated suicide from suicide attempt subjects on a series of factors including gender, non-affective psychosis and anxiety disorder. Conclusions. Suicides and medically serious suicide attempts are two overlapping populations that share common psychiatric diagnostic and history features, but are distinguished by gender and patterning of psychiatric disorder.
Molecular cloning of a recA-like gene from the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis

A recA-like gene isolated from the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis was cloned and partially characterized. When introduced into Escherichia coli recA mutants, the 7.5-kilobase-pair plasmid-borne DNA insert restored resistance to methyl methanesulfonate and UV irradiation, as well as recombination proficiency when measured by Hfr-mediated conjugation. The cyanobacterial recA gene restored spontaneous but not mitomycin C-induced prophage production. Restriction analysis and subcloning yielded a 1.5-kilobase-pair Sau3A fragment which also restored methylmethane sulfonate resistance and coded for a 38- to 40-kilodalton polypeptide when expressed in an in vitro transcription-translation system.
Acesso e acessibilidade aos serviços de saúde em três quilombos na Amazônia paraense: um olhar antropológico

As populacoes quilombolas estao entre os grupos em situacao de vulnerabilidade no Brasil, no que diz respeito a servicos de saude. Este estudo qualitativo se desenvolveu com o objetivo de conhecer o acesso e a acessibilidade aos servicos de saude em quilombos na Amazonia Paraense, em tres comunidades: Africa/Lanranjituba, em Abaetetuba, Santo Antonio/Foz do Cravo, em Concordia do Para e Mangueiras, em Salvaterra, na ilha do Marajo. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram os moradores, os gestores e os profissionais de saude dos municipios. Outras fontes foram os dados das condicoes socioeconomicas das familias do ―Projeto Corpo Presente‖ e analise documental de relatorios e informacoes do Ministerio da Saude. A pesquisa descreve o acesso aos servicos de saude a partir de quatro dimensoes, Geografica, Funcional, Cultural e Economica. Faz uma analise transversal do acesso enquanto categoria do planejamento e gestao dos servicos de acordo com a re-interpretacao de modelos assistenciais em saude. Constatou-se a dificuldade e/ou impossibilidade dos quilombolas em terem acesso e acessibilidade a todos os niveis de complexidade de assistencia em saude, sendo isto, resultado de um conjunto de processos que envolvem varios aspectos como: a distância dos centros urbanos; a falta de servicos que oferecam acesso a estes por via terrestre e fluvial; os elevados custos financeiros (transporte, alimentacao, medicamentos, estadia na cidade, etc.) da busca por servicos de saude; a falta de adequacao aos habitos e costumes afrodescendentes por parte dos gestores e profissionais de saude que os atendem e a funcionalidade dos servicos de saude ofertados. Conclui-se que os servicos de saude sao apenas ofertados pelos gestores municipais a partir dos Modelos Economista e Planificador em virtude do sistema brasileiro de alocacao de verbas para saude, portanto, nao existe uma Politica Nacional de acesso e acessibilidade aos servicos de saude que permita concretizar a Politica Nacional de Saude Integral da Populacao Negra. Assim, e fundamental o planejamento de politicas publicas de saude de acesso e acessibilidade a partir de uma logica participativa e promotora da equidade em saude, compativeis coma a dinâmica geografica e socio-cultural da Amazonia Brasileira.
Tamil Diasporas across the Bay of Bengal

IN BOTH ACADEMIC WRITING AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE, the term "diaspora" has come to denote almost any migrant group of shared origin.1 As Engseng Ho puts it, "today, almost every ethnic group, country, or separatist movement has its diaspora"; this marks a significant expansion from the original use of the term to refer to the Jewish and later the Armenian and the African experiences.2 Histories of diaspora have proliferated where once there were histories of migration, or immigration. As a term of analysis in the humanities and the social sciences, "diaspora" has usefully drawn our attention to the importance of transnational connections and flows. Diasporic histories do not view migration as a linear journey from source to destination, but emphasize the enduring links-imaginative, familial, economic, or political-maintained by mobile people with their lands of origin.3 As several million Tamil-speaking people moved back and forth across the Bay of Bengal in the century after 1850-in particular between the southeastern coast of India, the Straits Settlements, and the Malay Peninsula-diasporic communities were made and unraveled alongside other kinds of local and transnational communities.4 For most of the nineteenth century, until the 1870s, the connections between South India and Southeast Asia were characterized by constant circulation.5 Con-
A doença falciforme no Brasil

Ha mais de trinta anos, os segmentos sociais organiza-dos de homens e mulheres negras no Brasil vem reivindican-do o diagnostico precoce e um programa de atencao integralas pessoas com doenca falciforme (DF). O primeiro passo rumo a construcao de tal programafoi dado com institucionalizacao da Triagem Neonatal noSistema Unico de Saude do Brasil, por meio da Portaria doMinisterio da Saude de 15 de janeiro de 1992, com testespara fenilcetonuria e hipotireoidismo congenito (Fase 1). Em 2001, mediante a Portaria n
The Economic Vitality of Small Cities in Canada: A Case Study of Kamloops and Prince George

Many small cities and regional municipalities have sought to address demographic stagnation or decline by stimulating economic growth through a process of transitioning from a primary resource extraction base to an economy with secondary and quaternary oriented jobs (Nelson, 2005; Portnov and Wellar, 2004). For a number of small cities, success in expanding job opportunities came from a higher quality of life, innovations, and technology which is embedded within services and manufactured products and therefore, attracts and retains a skilled labour force (Siegle and Waxman 2001, p.32; Mackinnon and Nelson 2005; Cutler and Davies 2007; Bourne and Simmons 2003). Cities which have not yet transitioned from the “classic resource town” remain vulnerable to cycles of economic boom and bust (Nelson 2005, p.99). A host of problems follow a declining economy based on primary industry such as declining population, a shrinking tax base and fewer employment opportunities (Bourne and Simmons 2003; Siegle and Waxman 2001: Hoekstra 2008; Nelson 2005; Ray 2008).
What should i read next?: awareness of relevant publications through a community of practice

Due to the dramatic growth in the number of scientific publications, evaluating what is more or less relevant to read (and why) is becoming a more challenging task. This case study presents the design and findings of TiNYARM, a Science 2.0 tool that enables researchers to share and suggest reading activities with their peers. Social Awareness Streams, Personal Information Management and Gamification concepts are applied in order to generate awareness and engage users.
Characterization of the C. elegans gap‐2 gene encoding a novel Ras‐GTPase activating protein and its possible role in larval development

The Ras signalling pathway plays several important roles in the development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. So far, two types of Ras‐GTPase activating proteins (Ras‐GAPs) have been identified in this organism. To aid the study of the regulation and function of the Ras pathway, we set out to isolate a new GAP gene from C. elegans by transcomplementation of the fission yeast gap1 mutant.
TDP-43 Mutations in Familial and Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disorder characterized pathologically by ubiquitinated TAR DNA binding protein (TDP-43) inclusions. The function of TDP-43 in the nervous system is uncertain, and a mechanistic role in neurodegeneration remains speculative. We identified neighboring mutations in a highly conserved region of TARDBP in sporadic and familial ALS cases. TARDBPM337V segregated with disease within one kindred and a genome-wide scan confirmed that linkage was restricted to chromosome 1p36, which contains the TARDBP locus. Mutant forms of TDP-43 fragmented in vitro more readily than wild type and, in vivo, caused neural apoptosis and developmental delay in the chick embryo. Our evidence suggests a pathophysiological link between TDP-43 and ALS.