Secondary Forest Age and Tropical Forest Biomass Estimation Using TM

The age of secondary forests in the Amazon will become more critical with respect to the estimation of biomass and carbon budgets as tropical forest conversion continues. Multitemporal Thematic Mapper data were used to develop land cover histories for a 33,000 Square kM area near Ariquemes, Rondonia over a 7 year period from 1989-1995. The age of the secondary forest, a surrogate for the amount of biomass (or carbon) stored above-ground, was found to be unimportant in terms of biomass budget error rates in a forested TM scene which had undergone a 20% conversion to nonforest/agricultural cover types. In such a situation, the 80% of the scene still covered by primary forest accounted for over 98% of the scene biomass. The difference between secondary forest biomass estimates developed with and without age information were inconsequential relative to the estimate of biomass for the entire scene. However, in futuristic scenarios where all of the primary forest has been converted to agriculture and secondary forest (55% and 42% respectively), the ability to age secondary forest becomes critical. Depending on biomass accumulation rate assumptions, scene biomass budget errors on the order of -10% to +30% are likely if the age of the secondary forests are not taken into account. Single-date TM imagery cannot be used to accurately age secondary forests into single-year classes. A neural network utilizing TM band 2 and three TM spectral-texture measures (bands 3 and 5) predicted secondary forest age over a range of 0-7 years with an RMSE of 1.59 years and an R(Squared) (sub actual vs predicted) = 0.37. A proposal is made, based on a literature review, to use satellite imagery to identify general secondary forest age groups which, within group, exhibit relatively constant biomass accumulation rates

PLoS One

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) have been increasingly popular in rehabilitation research. However, despite their accessibility and potential advantages, their uptake and acceptance by health professionals remain a big challenge. The development of an IMU-based clinical tool must bring together engineers, researchers and clinicians. This study is part of a developmental process with the investigation of clinicians’ perspectives about IMUs. Clinicians from four rehabilitation centers were invited to a 30-minute presentation on IMUs. Then, two one-hour focus groups were conducted with volunteer clinicians in each rehabilitation center on: 1) IMUs and their clinical usefulness, and 2) IMUs data analysis and visualization interface. Fifteen clinicians took part in the first focus groups. They expressed their thoughts on: 1) categories of variables that would be useful to measure with IMUs in clinical practice, and 2) desired characteristics of the IMUs. Twenty-three clinicians participated to the second focus groups, discussing: 1) functionalities, 2) display options, 3) clinical data reported and associated information, and 4) data collection duration. Potential influence of IMUs on clinical practice and added value were discussed in both focus groups. Clinicians expressed positive opinions about the use of IMUs, but their expectations were high before considering using IMUs in their practice

T-lymphocyte subsets in liver tissues of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and normal controls

T lymphocytes infiltrating hepatic tissues were typed and enumerated in liver biopsies of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and normal controls using monoclonal antibodies and the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were studied also by flow cytometry. In PBC, T lymphocytes were decreased (P<0.001) in the blood [absolute number was 426±200 (SE) vs 1351±416 in 15 controls], as was the helper/suppressor (T4/T8) ratio (1.0±0.1 vs normal 2.3±0.3). T lymphocytes were the most numerous mononuclear cells infiltrating portal areas of PBC livers: 749±93/5 high-power fields (HPF) in PBC vs 98±15/5 HPF (P<0.01) in controls. The T4/T8 ratios varied from 0.9 to 2.3 (mean, 1.8±0.1) in the portal triads (normal mean, 1.6±0.1), with the T4+ cells accounting for more than 75% of infiltrating T cells. In contrast, the mean T4/T8 ratio in portal triads of PSC was reduced (1.0±0.3) due to a significant increase (P<0.001) in the number of T8+ cells. The T cells around and in the walls of bile ducts in PBC were mostly T8+, and the T4/T8 ratio was 0.8±0.2. No T8+ cells were seen in this location in PSC and normal livers. Few mononuclear cells were present in hepatic lobules. Subtyping of T lymphocytes in liver tissues of patients with PBC and PSC may be helpful in the differential pathologic diagnosis. In patients with advanced PBC, a decrease in T4+ cells in the blood appeared to be accompanied by their accumulation in the portal triads. In contrast, T8+ cells accumulated preferentially around bile ducts. © 1984 Plenum Publishing Corporation

The expression of monocarboxylate transporters in thyroid carcinoma can be associated with the morphological features of BRAF (V600E) mutation

BRAF (V600E) mutation, usually performed by DNA techniques, is one of the most common diagnostic markers in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Few papers have demonstrated that plump cells (eosinophilic cytoplasms and papillary thyroid carcinoma nuclei) and peculiar sickle-shaped nuclei represent morphological features of BRAF (V600E) on papillary thyroid carcinomas. These features seem to be linked to glycolytic phenotype whereby monocarboxylate transporters 1-4 are hypothesized to have a dominant role as lactate transporters. We investigated the association between these morphological features and monocarboxylate transporters 1 and 4 in 48 cyto-histological samples diagnosed as "positive for malignancy-favoring papillary thyroid carcinoma". These cases were processed with liquid-based cytology and underwent BRAF (V600E) mutational analysis (pyrosequencing) on liquid-based cytology and monocarboxylate transporters immunostaining on histology. The expression of monocarboxylate transporter 1, monocarboxylate transporter 4, glucose trasporter-1 and carbonic anhidrase were scored semi-quantitatively with expression from 0 to 3+ (strong positivity). The 33 mutated and 15 wild type cases showed 100 % cyto-histological concordance. The cytological evaluation revealed plump cells and sickle nuclear shape in 100 % mutated cases. Monocarboxylate transporter 1 yielded 76 % positivity in the mutated cases especially in both the plump cells and sickle-shaped nuclei, whereas the wild types showed 13.3 % positive monocarboxylate transporter 1 (p = 0.00013). Monocarboxylate transporter 4 resulted in 100 % positivity in mutated and 40 % in wild types (p 0.05). This is the first report analyzing the association between monocarboxylate transporter expression and the morphological features of BRAF (V600E) mutated papillary thyroid carcinomas suggesting the possible involvement of lactate in the morphological features.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Use of an innovative model to evaluate mobility in seniors with lower-limb amputations of vascular origin: a pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mobility of older individuals has often been only partially assessed, without considering all important aspects such as potential (available) versus effective (used) mobilities and the physical and psychosocial factors that modulate them. This study proposes a new model for evaluating mobility that considers all important aspects, applied here to lower-limb amputees with vascular origin. This model integrates the concepts of potential mobility (e.g. balance, speed of movement), effective mobility (e.g. life habits, movements in living areas) and factors that modulate these two types of mobility (e.g. strength, sensitivity, social support, depression). The main objective was to characterize potential and effective mobility as well as mobility modulators in a small sample of people with lower-limb amputations of vascular origin with different characteristics. The second objective of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of measuring all variables in the model in a residential context.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An observational and transversal design was used with a heterogeneous sample of 10 participants with a lower-limb amputation of vascular origin, aged 51 to 83, assessed between eight and 18 months after discharge from an acute care hospital. A questionnaire of participant characteristics and 16 reliable and valid measurements were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results show that the potential mobility indicators do not accurately predict effective mobility, i.e., participants who perform well on traditional measures done in the laboratory or clinic are not always those who perform well in the real world. The model generated 4 different profiles (categories) of participants ranging from reduced to excellent potential mobility and low to excellent effective mobility, and characterized the modulating factors. The evaluations were acceptable in terms of the time taken (three hours) and the overall measurements, with a few exceptions, which were modified to optimize the data collected and the classification of the participants. For the population assessed, the results showed that some of the negative modulators (particularly living alone, no rehabilitation, pain, limited social support, poor muscle strength) played an important role in reducing effective mobility.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The first use of the model revealed interesting data that add to our understanding of important aspects linked to potential and effective mobility as well as modulators. The feasibility of measuring all variables in the model in a residential context was demonstrated. A study with a large number of participants is now warranted to rigorously characterize mobility levels of lower-limb amputees with vascular origin.</p

Differential endothelial cell gene expression by African Americans versus Caucasian Americans: a possible contribution to health disparity in vascular disease and cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health disparities and the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease continue to be perplexing worldwide health challenges. This study addresses the possibility that genetic differences affecting the biology of the vascular endothelium could be a factor contributing to the increased burden of cardiovascular disease and cancer among African Americans (AA) compared to Caucasian Americans (CA).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From self-identified, healthy, 20 to 29-year-old AA (n = 21) and CA (n = 17), we established cultures of blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOEC) and applied microarray profiling. BOEC have never been exposed to <it>in vivo </it>influences, and their gene expression reflects culture conditions (meticulously controlled) and donor genetics. Significance Analysis of Microarray identified differential expression of single genes. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis examined expression of pre-determined gene sets that survey nine biological systems relevant to endothelial biology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At the highly stringent threshold of False Discovery Rate (FDR) = 0, 31 single genes were differentially expressed in AA. <it>PSPH </it>exhibited the greatest fold-change (AA > CA), but this was entirely accounted for by a homolog (<it>PSPHL</it>) hidden within the <it>PSPH </it>probe set. Among other significantly different genes were: for AA > CA, <it>SOS1, AMFR, FGFR3; and for AA < CA, ARVCF, BIN3, EIF4B. </it>Many more (221 transcripts for 204 genes) were differentially expressed at the less stringent threshold of FDR <.05. Using the biological systems approach, we identified shear response biology as being significantly different for AA versus CA, showing an apparent tonic increase of expression (AA > CA) for 46/157 genes within that system.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Many of the genes implicated here have substantial roles in endothelial biology. Shear stress response, a critical regulator of endothelial function and vascular homeostasis, may be different between AA and CA. These results potentially have direct implications for the role of endothelial cells in vascular disease (hypertension, stroke) and cancer (via angiogenesis). Also, they are consistent with our over-arching hypothesis that genetic influences stemming from ancestral continent-of-origin could impact upon endothelial cell biology and thereby contribute to disparity of vascular-related disease burden among AA. The method used here could be productively employed to bridge the gap between information from structural genomics (for example, disease association) and cell function and pathophysiology.</p

Étude de l'amélioration de la liaison St. Étienne - Lyon. Note 4. Analyse des coûts et évaluation des scénarios

Cette étude a été réalisée grâce à la mise en place d'une équipe pluridisciplinaire associant différentes compétences techniques et mettant ainsi en collaboration : - l'ITEP pour la sélection des scénarios à évaluer et l'étude de faisabilité des concepts d'offre (MM. EMERY, HASCHMAN, RIVIER, TZIEROPOULOS) ; - le LET pour la modélisation et l'évaluation de la demande férroviaire (MM. BOUET, DUMON, ROUTHIER) ; - et la société METRAM pour la définition des variantes de tracé, l'évaluation des coûts d'investissement, du bilan financier et socio-économique des scénarios (MM. BUISSON, GASCON, LUCA, POINSEAUX, THIBAUD).L'amélioration radicale de la liaison ferroviaire St. Étienne-Lyon, et plus exactement l'objectif de réduction du temps de parcours entre les deux villes a conduit à reconsidérer le tracé actuellement de la ligne. Comte tenu des contraintes de relief, d'urbanisation et de vonlonté de désservir trois villes intermédiaires, le concept retenu en termes d'aménagement du tracé a consisté en un lissage du tracé actuel, et non en la définition d'une ligne nouvelle. Cette quatrième note propose une analyse des coûts et une évaluation des scénarios

Could mobilty performance measures be used to evaluate wheelchair skills?

International audienc