"Along the Wings of a Tornado": the Aerial Aesthetics of Frank Hurley in Palestine

In 1917 the Australian photographer Frank Hurley, renowned in Australia and Europe as an aesthete for his theatrical photographs of Antarctica, was commissioned as Australia's official First World War photographer. His tour encompassed France, Belgium, and finally Palestine where he, more concerned with visual experimentation than historical documentary, experimented first with color and then aerial photography. Hurley occupied a contested role on the battlefield as an artist engaged in wartime. His blending of artistic techniques with military technologies during the Palestine campaign, at the dawn of aerial imaging, represented a significant moment in the history of photography, and lays bare many of the ethical complexities that concern contemporary aerial images that are synonymous with power and control

Simulated criticism from a significant other as a precipitating factor for depression in dependent personalities

The effect of simulated criticism from a significant other on the occurrence of depressed affect in persons with dependent personalities was investigated within an analogue population of college undergraduates. The experimental sample consisted of 80 non-depressed participants who were classified on the basis of the Millon Clinical Muttiaxiai Inventory (MCMI) and assigned to one of four participant groups based upon personality style (Dependent, Histrionic/ Narcissistic Control, Other Personality Control, and Normal Control). Simulated criticism from a significant other who accompanied the participant to the study was administered following an interactive period between the participant and their significant other. Dependent measures of the participant's concurrent depressed affect were taken before and after receipt of this simulated criticism, using the Depression Adjective Check List (DACL)

Evaluation of immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects and phytochemical screening of Alternanthera tenella Colla (Amaranthaceae) aqueous extracts

Alternanthera tenella Colla extracts are used in Brazilian traditional folk medicine to treat a variety of infectious diseases as well as inflammation and fever. In this work, the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and potential toxic effects of cold (CAE) and hot (HAE) aqueous extracts of A. tenella were investigated in vivo. In addition, we analyzed the phytochemical properties of both extracts. BALB/c mice were immunized in vivo with sheep red blood cells and concomitantly inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with each extract (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg). Specific antibody-producing cells were enumerated using plaque-forming cell assays (PFC) and anti-SRBC IgG and IgM serum levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Body and lymphoid organ weights were determined after treatments in order to evaluate toxic effects. Carrageenan-induced paw edema was employed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity in mice inoculated i.p. with CAE or HAE (200 or 400 mg/kg). Phytochemical screening was performed using spectrometric and chromatographic approaches and revealed that CAE possessed higher tannin and flavonoid levels than HAE. PFC numbers were increased after treatment with CAE (100 mg/kg) four days after immunization, as were the serum antibody titers after four and seven days, suggesting immunostimulatory activity through modulation of B lymphocyte functions. Body and organ weights did not show major changes, suggesting that extracts administered to mice did not induce significant toxicity. Both extracts had significant anti-inflammatory activity in the paw edema assay. These results suggested that aqueous extracts from A. tenella contained several chemical compounds that possess positive and/or negative modulator effects on the immune system, which appeared to correlate with tannin and flavonoid levels in those extracts. In summary, these studies provide important insight into the biological activities of A. tenella.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)CNPqFAPES

Evaluation of immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects and phytochemical screening of Alternanthera tenella Colla (Amaranthaceae) aqueous extracts

Alternanthera tenella Colla extracts are used in Brazilian traditional folk medicine to treat a variety of infectious diseases as well as inflammation and fever. In this work, the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and potential toxic effects of cold (CAE) and hot (HAE) aqueous extracts of A. tenella were investigated in vivo. In addition, we analyzed the phytochemical properties of both extracts. BALB/c mice were immunized in vivo with sheep red blood cells and concomitantly inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with each extract (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg). Specific antibody-producing cells were enumerated using plaque-forming cell assays (PFC) and anti-SRBC IgG and IgM serum levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Body and lymphoid organ weights were determined after treatments in order to evaluate toxic effects. Carrageenan-induced paw edema was employed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity in mice inoculated i.p. with CAE or HAE (200 or 400 mg/kg). Phytochemical screening was performed using spectrometric and chromatographic approaches and revealed that CAE possessed higher tannin and flavonoid levels than HAE. PFC numbers were increased after treatment with CAE (100 mg/kg) four days after immunization, as were the serum antibody titers after four and seven days, suggesting immunostimulatory activity through modulation of B lymphocyte functions. Body and organ weights did not show major changes, suggesting that extracts administered to mice did not induce significant toxicity. Both extracts had significant anti-inflammatory activity in the paw edema assay. These results suggested that aqueous extracts from A. tenella contained several chemical compounds that possess positive and/or negative modulator effects on the immune system, which appeared to correlate with tannin and flavonoid levels in those extracts. In summary, these studies provide important insight into the biological activities of A. tenella1036569577sem informaçãosem informaçã

A chalcone synthase-like bacterial protein catalyzes heterocyclic c-ring cleavage of naringenin to alter bioactivity against nuclear receptors in colonic epithelial cells

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Estimating health related quality of life effects in vitiligo. Mapping EQ-5D-5 L utilities from vitiligo specific scales : VNS, VitiQoL and re-pigmentation measures using data from the HI-Light trial

Background: Vitiligo is reported to affect 2% of the world’s population and has a significant impact on health related quality of life (HRQoL). The relationship between HRQoL and clinical outcomes used in vitiligo require further examination. Mapping condition specific measures of HRQoL: vitiligo specific quality of life instrument (VitiQoL), vitiligo noticeability scale (VNS) and vitiligo re-pigmentation scores (RPS) to the EQ-5D have not yet been reported. Methods: Data collected from a randomised clinical trial (HI-Light) in vitiligo was used to develop mapping algorithms for the EQ-5D-5 L and the relationship between HRQoL, clinical outcomes and EQ-5D were investigated. Two EQ-5D-5 L value sets (Van Hout and Alava) using linear and non-linear models were considered. Logistic regression models were used to model the probability of vitiligo noticeability (VNS) in terms of RPS, EQ-5D and VitiQoL scores. Results: Mapping from RPS appeared to perform better followed by VNS for the Alava crosswalks using polynomial models: Mean observed vs. predicted utilities of 0.9008 (0.005) vs. 0.8984 (0.0004) were observed for RPS. For VNS, mean observed vs. predicted utilities of 0.9008 (0.005) vs. 0.8939 (0.0003) were observed. For VitiQoL, mean observed vs. predicted utilities of 0.9008 (0.005) vs. 0.8912 (0.0002) were observed. For patients with the least re-pigmentation (RPS < 25%), a Total VitiQoL score of about 20 points gives around an 18% chance of vitiligo being no longer or a lot less noticeable. Conclusion: The algorithm based on RPS followed by VNS performed best. The relationship between effects from vitiligo specific HRQoL instruments and clinical RPS was established allowing for plausible clinically relevant differences to be identified, although further work is required in this area

Ribotyping on molecular epidemiology of bacterial infections

A tipagem molecular do genoma bacteriano, na maioria das vezes, envolve a análise de fragmentos de restrição do DNA cromossômico. Desde que a ribotipagem foi descrita, em 1986, tem sido amplamente utilizada para analisar relações taxonômicas e/ou epidemiológicas entre os diferentes grupos de organismos. A ribotipagem usa o padrão de restrição do opéron de RNA ribossômico (rrn) como ferramenta epidemiológica e tem fornecido ótimos resultados para a detecção de polimorfismo do comprimento dos fragmentos de restrição (RFLPs). O número de opérons rrn da bactéria está diretamente relacionado ao potencial discriminatório da técnica, fornecendo um maior ou menor número de bandas. &nbsp; &nbsp;Molecular typing usually involves restriction fragment analysis of chromossomal DNA. Since 1986, ribotyping has been used to analyse taxonomic and/or epidemiological relationship among microrganisms. Ribotyping uses, as an epidemiological tool, the restriction profile of the ribosomal RNA operons and it has provided good results in RFLP detection. The number of bacterial rrn operons correlates with the discriminatory potential of the technique

Quality of life and cost-effectiveness of interferon-alpha in malignant melanoma: results from randomised trial

A definitive conclusion regarding the value of low-dose extended duration adjuvant interferon-alpha therapy in the treatment of malignant melanoma is only possible once data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and costs have been considered. This trial randomised 674 patients to interferon alpha-2a (3 megaunits three times per week for 2 years or until recurrence) or placebo. Health-related quality of life (QoL) was to be assessed up to 60 months using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30. Data for the economic analysis, including cost information and the EQ-5D were also collected. Patients in the observation (OBS) group had significantly better mean follow-up quality of on five dimensions of the EORTC QLQ-C30 functional scales: role functioning (P=0.033), emotional functioning (P=0.003), cognitive functioning (P=0.001), social functioning (P=0.003) and global health status (P=0.001). Patients in the OBS group had significantly better mean follow-up symptom scores on seven dimensions of the EORTC QLQ-C30 V1 symptom scales. Economic data showed that costs were £3066 higher in the interferon group and produces an incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year of £41 432 at 5 years. The results show that interferon has significant effects on QoL and symptomatology and is unlikely to be cost-effective in this patient group in the UK