Designing, translation: learning and evaluation of a Greek/English writing to Braille

The “Greek/English Writing to Braille” translation software helps users during the conversion of every Greek writing (either toneless or polytonic) to Braille, as well as British or Ancient Greek writing to Braille. The translation is completed automatically, eliminating the mistakes risk even for an experienced Braille user. Software’s operators can also print the translated Braille texts, using the appropriate Braille machinery. There also the potential of self-learning, which concerns the second part of the software, by learning Greek and English writing to Braille using a PC instead of the manual typewriter that has been used up till now. The operator works out the Greek or English scripts on the software textboxes, typing a variety of combinations of Braille writing, while the software automatically displays the text directly to Braille form. The software also offers the ability to type Braille combinations and automatically appears Greek text. Finally, it is proposed for a self-teaching practice for the Braille writing

Characterization of two cDNA clones for mRNAs expressed during ripening of melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruits

In vitro translation of mRNAs and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins from melons revealed that several mRNAs increased in amount during ripening, indicating the existence of other ripening genes in addition to those cloned previously. To identify ripening-related genes we have screened a ripe melon cDNA library and isolated two novel cDNA clones (MEL2 and MEL7) encoding unidentified proteins. Southern analysis revealed that MEL2 and MEL7 are encoded by low-copy-number genes. The MEL2 cDNA clone is near full-length, corresponds to a 1600 nucleotide mRNA that accumulates during ripening and encodes a predicted protein rich in hydrophobic amino acids. The MEL7 cDNA clone is full-length, corresponds to a mRNA of 0.7 kb which accumulates during early ripening stages and is also present at low levels in other organs of the melon plant. The MEL7 predicted polypeptide is 17 kDa and shows significant homology with the major latex protein from opium-poppy. Wounding and ethylene treatment of unripe melon fruits 20 days after anthesis showed that MEL2 and MEL7 mRNAs are only induced by ethylene.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43441/1/11103_2004_Article_123153.pd

Over-expression of a tomato N-acetyl-L-glutamate synthase gene (SlNAGS1) in Arabidopsis thaliana results in high ornithine levels and increased tolerance in salt and drought stresses

A single copy of the N-acetyl-L-glutamate synthase gene (SlNAGS1) has been isolated from tomato. The deduced amino acid sequence consists of 604 amino acids and shows a high level of similarity to the predicted Arabidopsis NAGS1 and NAGS2 proteins. Furthermore, the N-terminus ArgB domain and the C-terminus ArgA domain found in SlNAGS1 are similar to the structural arrangements that have been reported for other predicted NAGS proteins. SlNAGS1 was expressed at high levels in all aerial organs, and at basic levels in seeds, whereas it was not detected at all in roots. SlNAGS1 transcript accumulation was noticed transiently in tomato fruit at the red-fruit stage. In addition, an increase of SlNAGS1 transcripts was detected in mature green tomato fruit within the first hour of exposure to low oxygen concentrations. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants have been generated expressing the SlNAGS1 gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. Three homozygous transgenic lines expressing the transgene (lines 1-7, 3-8, and 6-5) were evaluated further. All three transgenic lines showed a significant accumulation of ornithine in the leaves with line 3-8 exhibiting the highest concentration. The same lines demonstrated higher germination ability compared to wild-type (WT) plants when subjected to 250 mM NaCl. Similarly, mature plants of all three transgenic lines displayed a higher tolerance to salt and drought stress compared to WT plants. Under most experimental conditions, transgenic line 3-8 performed best, while the responses obtained from lines 1-7 and 6-5 depended on the applied stimulus. To our knowledge, this is the first plant NAGS gene to be isolated, characterized, and genetically modified

Designing, translation – learning and evaluation of a Greek/English writing to Braille

The “Greek/English Writing to Braille” translation software helps users during the conversion of every Greek writing (either toneless or polytonic) to Braille, as well as British or Ancient Greek writing to Braille. The translation is completed automatically, eliminating the mistakes risk even for an experienced Braille user. Software’s operators can also print the translated Braille texts, using the appropriate Braille machinery. There also the potential of self-learning, which concerns the second part of the software, by learning Greek and English writing to Braille using a PC instead of the manual typewriter that has been used up till now. The operator works out the Greek or English scripts on the software textboxes, typing a variety of combinations of Braille writing, while the software automatically displays the text directly to Braille form. The software also offers the ability to type Braille combinations and automatically appears Greek text. Finally, it is proposed for a self-teaching practice for the Braille writing. (DIPF/Orig.

Associação entre morfologia do ovócito e taxa de fertilização após ICSI Relationship between oocyte morphology and fertilization rate after ICSI

OBJETIVO: verificar a possibilidade de selecionar ovócitos que resultariam em maior taxa de fertilização. MÉTODOS: estudo retrospectivo que analisou a taxa de fertilização após ICSI de 957 ovócitos em metáfase II segundo três parâmetros da morfologia ovocitária: granulações citoplasmáticas, espaço perivitelino e fragmentação do primeiro corpúsculo polar. Os ovócitos foram obtidos de 115 ciclos realizados em 107 mulheres atendidas no CRHC, entre abril e dezembro de 2004. Para a análise estatística das diferenças na taxa de fertilização entre ovócitos "normais" e os que apresentavam cada alteração, utilizou-se o teste de chi2, com nível de confiança de 5 e 10%. RESULTADOS: não se observou diferença significativa na taxa de fertilização segundo as características do corpúsculo polar ou espessura do espaço perivitelino. A taxa de fertilização dos ovócitos com espaço perivitelino apresentando debris foi quase 14 pontos percentuais inferior ao dos ovócitos com espaço "ausente" (p=0,055) e a dos ovócitos com citoplasma granular foi sete pontos percentuais inferior à obtida pelos ovócitos com citoplasma de aspecto normal (p0,05). CONCLUSÕES: os parâmetros da morfologia do ovócito atualmente utilizados não permitem distinguir claramente aqueles que serão fertilizados dos que não serão.PURPOSE: to verify the possibility of identifying oocytes that would result in a higher fertilization rate. METHODS: retrospective analysis of the fertilization rate after ICSI of 957 oocytes in metaphase II according to three morphology parameters: cytoplasm inclusions, thickness of the perivitelline space, and fragmentation of the first polar body. Oocytes were obtained from 115 cycles performed among 107 women attended at the "Centro de Reprodução Humana de Campinas", from April to December of 2004. For the statistical analysis of differences in the fertilization rate between 'normal' oocytes and those presenting each alteration, the chi2 test was used with confidence levels of 5 and 10%. RESULTS: no significant difference in fertilization rate was observed regarding characteristics of the polar body or thickness of the perivitelline space. Fertilization rate among oocytes with perivitelline space with debris was 14 percentage points lower than among oocytes with absent space (p=0.055) and the rate among oocytes with granular cytoplasm was seven percentage points lower than among oocytes with normal cytoplasm (p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: the morphological parameters of oocytes currently being evaluated do not allow us to clearly distinguish those that would lead to a higher fertilization rate and could be used in clinical practice

Plasma Total Testosterone and Incident Cardiovascular Events in Hypertensive Patients

BACKGROUND Androgen deficiency confers an independent risk for cardiovascular events and total mortality. Hypertension, a major contributory factor to the development of cardiovascular disease, has also been associated with increased prevalence of low testosterone. We investigated whether low androgen concentration predicts incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in middle-aged nondiabetic hypertensive patients without clinical atherosclerosis. METHODS MACE in relation to total testosterone (TT) were analyzed with proportional hazards models in 228 male patients (mean age 56 years). RESULTS During a mean follow-up of 44 months, 19 of 228 participants (8.3%) experienced a MACE. Compared to patients who did not experience MACE, hypertensive subjects who developed MACE had lower 7 concentration (3.9 +/- 0.7 ng/ml vs. 4.6 +/- 1.5 ng/ml, P < 0.01) and a higher prevalence of hypogonadism (36% vs. 16%, P < 0.05). Subjects in the lowest 7 tertile (<4.0 ng/ml) had a statistically significant higher risk of MACE compared to those in the highest tertile (>4.9 ng/ml) in multivariate Cox models adjusted for age, systolic blood pressure, and risk factors (all P < 0.05). A 7 plasma level of 5.04 ng/ml was associated with a negative predictive value (ability to “rule out” MACE) of 97.2%. Addition of 7 to standard risk factors model yielded a net reclassification improvement of 38.8% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our results show that low plasma testosterone is associated with increased risk for a MACE in hypertensive patients. Low endogenous androgen concentration improves risk prediction when added to standard risk factors and may represent a valuable biomarker of prediction of cardiovascular disease risk in these patients