243 research outputs found
Persistence, spatial distribution and implications for progression detection of blind parts of the visual field in glaucoma: A clinical cohort study
Background: Visual field testing is an essential part of glaucoma care. It is hampered by variability related to the disease itself, response errors and fatigue. In glaucoma, blind parts of the visual field contribute to the diagnosis but - once established - not to progression detection; they only increase testing time. The aims of this study were to describe the persistence and spatial distribution of blind test locations in standard automated perimetry in glaucoma and to explore how the omission of presumed blind test locations would affect progression detection. Methodology/Principal Findings: Data from 221 eyes of 221 patients from a cohort study with the Humphrey Field Analyzer with 30-2 grid were used. Patients were stratified according to baseline mean deviation (MD) in six strata of 5 dB width each. For one, two, three and four consecutive 0.1 for all strata). Omitting test locations with three consecutive <0 dB sensitivities at baseline did not affect the performance of the MD-based Nonparametric Progression Analysis progression detection algorithm. Conclusions/Significance: Test locations that have been shown to be reproducibly blind tend to display a reasonable blindness persistence and do no longer contribute to progression detection. There is no clinically useful universal MD cut-off value beyond which testing can be limited to 10 degree eccentricity
Cognitive performance of young and elderly subjects on the free word recall memory test: effect of presentation order on recall order
The influence of aging on memory has been extensively studied, but the importance of short-term memory and recall sequence has not. The objective of the current study was to examine the recall order of words presented on lists and to determine if age affects recall sequence. Physically and psychologically healthy male subjects were divided into two groups according to age, i.e., 23 young subjects (20 to 30 years) and 50 elderly subjects (60 to 70 years) submitted to the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised and the free word recall test. The order of word presentation significantly affected the 3rd and 4th words recalled (P < 0.01; F = 14.6). In addition, there was interaction between the presentation order and the type of list presented (P < 0.05; F = 9.7). Also, both groups recalled the last words presented from each list (words 13-15) significantly more times 3rd and 4th than words presented in all remaining positions (P < 0.01). The order of word presentation also significantly affected the 5th and 6th words recalled (P = 0.05; F = 7.5) and there was a significant interaction between the order of presentation and the type of list presented (P < 0.01; F = 20.8). The more developed the cognitive functions, resulting mainly from formal education, the greater the cognitive reserve, helping to minimize the effects of aging on the long-term memory (episodic declarative).Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Psicofarmacologia Instituto do SonoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL
The Cardiology Audit and Registration Data Standards (CARDS), European data standards for clinical cardiology practice
AIMS: Systematic registration of data from clinical practice is important for clinical care, local, national and international registries, and audit. Data to be collected for these different purposes should be harmonized. Therefore, during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union (EU) (January to June 2004), the Department of Health and Children worked with the European Society of Cardiology, the Irish Cardiac Society, and the European Commission to develop data standards for clinical cardiology. The Cardiology Audit and Registration Data Standards (CARDS) Project aimed to agree standards for three modules of cardiovascular health information systems: acute coronary syndromes (ACS), percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), and clinical electrophysiology (pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and ablation procedures). METHODS AND RESULTS: Data items from existing registries and surveys were reviewed to derive draft data standards (variables, coding, and definitions). Variables common to the three modules include demographics, risk factors, medication, and discharge and follow-up data. Modules about a procedure contain variables on the l
Calcium and mitochondrial metabolism in ceramide-induced cardiomyocyte death
AbstractCeramides are important intermediates in the biosynthesis and degradation of sphingolipids that regulate numerous cellular processes, including cell cycle progression, cell growth, differentiation and death. In cardiomyocytes, ceramides induce apoptosis by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential and promoting cytochrome-c release. Ca2+ overload is a common feature of all types of cell death. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ceramides on cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels, mitochondrial function and cardiomyocyte death. Our data show that C2-ceramide induces apoptosis and necrosis in cultured cardiomyocytes by a mechanism involving increased Ca2+ influx, mitochondrial network fragmentation and loss of the mitochondrial Ca2+ buffer capacity. These biochemical events increase cytosolic Ca2+ levels and trigger cardiomyocyte death via the activation of calpains
Association of EWS-FLI1 Type 1 Fusion with Lower Proliferative Rate in Ewingâs Sarcoma
The Ewing's sarcoma (ES) family of tumors, including peripheral neuroectodermal
tumor (PNET), is defined genetically by specific chromosomal translocations
resulting in fusion of the EWS gene with a member of the ETS family of
transcription factors, either FLI1 (90-95%) or ERG (5-10%). A second level of
molecular genetic heterogeneity stems from the variation in the location of the
translocation breakpoints, resulting in the inclusion of different combinations
of exons from EWS and FLI1 (or ERG) in the fusion products. The most common type
of EWS-FLI1 fusion transcript, type 1, is associated with a favorable prognosis
and appears to encode a functionally weaker transactivator, compared to other
fusion types. We sought to determine whether the observed covariation of
structure, function, and clinical course correlates with tumor cell kinetic
parameters such as proliferative rate and apoptosis, and with expression of the
receptor for insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1R). In a group of 86 ES/PNET with
defined EWS-ETS fusions (45 EWS-FLI1 type 1, 27 EWS-FLI1 non-type 1, 14 EWS-ERG),
we assessed proliferation rate by immunostaining for Ki-67 using MIB1 antibody (n
= 85), apoptosis by TUNEL assay (n = 66), and IGF-1R expression by immunostaining
with antibody 1H7 (n = 78). Ki-67 proliferative index was lower in tumors with
EWS-FLI1 type 1 than those with non-type 1 EWS-FLI1, whether analyzed as a
continuous (P = 0.049) or categorical (P = 0.047) variable. Logistic regression
analysis suggests that this association was secondary to the association of type
1 EWS-FLI1 and lower IGF-1R expression (P = 0.04). Comparing EWS-FLI1 to EWS-ERG
cases, Ki-67 proliferative index was higher in the latter (P = 0.01, Mann-Whitney
test; P = 0.02, Fisher's exact test), but there was no significant difference in
IGF-1R. TUNEL results showed no significant differences between groups. Our
results suggest that clinical and functional differences between alternative
forms of EWS-FLI1 are paralleled by differences in proliferative rate, possibly
mediated by differential regulation of the IGF-1R pathway
Mejora de la producciĂłn del alga scenedesmus almeriensis mediante la optimizaciĂłn de los ciclos de luz/oscuridad
EstimaciĂłn de caudales ecolĂłgicos basada en simulaciĂłn del hĂĄbitat fĂsico en un pequeño rĂo del sudeste de Brasil
El mĂ©todo de simulaciĂłn del hĂĄbitat fĂsico, integrado en el marco de la metodologĂa IFIM (Instream Flow Incremental Methodology) y en otros marcos metodolĂłgicos hoy dĂa, utiliza variables hidrĂĄulicas e Ăndices de idoneidad del hĂĄbitat (a escala de microhĂĄbitat) para predecir los cambios potenciales del hĂĄbitat al cambiar el caudal circulante. Este enfoque se ha utilizado para simular los cambios potenciales de idoneidad del hĂĄbitat para tres especies de peces tropicales de diferentes Ăłrdenes, Bryconamericus ornaticeps, Ancistrus multispinis y Geophagus brasiliensis. El estudio se realizĂł en dos tramos de un rĂo en la zona de mata atlĂĄntica al sudeste de Brasil, durante el verano de 2013 e invierno de 2014. Se midieron las caracterĂsticas topogrĂĄficas e hidrĂĄulicas por transectos (calado, velocidad media, tipos de sustrato) y se estudiĂł el uso del microhĂĄbitat por los peces mediante observaciĂłn directa bajo el agua (snorkelling); esto permitiĂł elaborar curvas de idoneidad de microhĂĄbitat para las tres especies. Mediante la simulaciĂłn del hĂĄbitat fĂsico se obtuvieron las curvas que relacionan dos indicadores, el HSI (indice medio de idoneidad en un tramo), y el HPU (HĂĄbitat Potencial Ătil) con el caudal del rĂo. Sobre dichas curvas se observaron los caudales importantes para el mantenimiento de los hĂĄbitats de las tres especies. Los resultados indicaron un caudal mĂnimo-minimorum de 0.25 m3 s-1 en Ă©poca seca para conservar el hĂĄbitat de los peces. TambiĂ©n se determinĂł un rango Ăłptimo de 0.65-0.85 m3 s-1 para el hĂĄbitat de las tres especies. Los resultados pueden apoyar la elaboraciĂłn de una primera propuesta de rĂ©gimen ecolĂłgico de caudales, en el marco de un proceso de gestiĂłn adaptativa de los recursos hĂdricos, para conservar la salud del rĂo SĂŁo Pedro y los diversos servicios ecosistĂ©micos que aporta a la sociedad.Da Costa, M.; Moretti Mattos, T.; Muñoz Mas, R.; Martinez-Capel, F.; Fernandes, V.; ArĂĄujo, F. (2015). EstimaciĂłn de caudales ecolĂłgicos basada en simulaciĂłn del hĂĄbitat fĂsico en un pequeño rĂo del sudeste de Brasil. Cuadernos de la Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales. (41):245-252. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/60209S2452524
Coherent spin valve phenomena and electrical spin injection in ferromagnetic/semiconductor/ferromagnetic junctions
Coherent quantum transport in ferromagnetic/ semiconductor/ ferromagnetic
junctions is studied theoretically within the Landauer framework of ballistic
transport. We show that quantum coherence can have unexpected implications for
spin injection and that some intuitive spintronic concepts which are founded in
semi-classical physics no longer apply: A quantum spin-valve (QSV) effect
occurs even in the absence of a net spin polarized current flowing through the
device, unlike in the classical regime. The converse effect also arises, i.e. a
zero spin-valve signal for a non-vanishing spin-current. We introduce new
criteria useful for analyzing quantum and classical spin transport phenomena
and the relationships between them. The effects on QSV behavior of
spin-dependent electron transmission at the interfaces, interface Schottky
barriers, Rashba spin-orbit coupling and temperature, are systematically
investigated. While the signature of the QSV is found to be sensitive to
temperature, interestingly, that of its converse is not. We argue that the QSV
phenomenon can have important implications for the interpretation of
spin-injection in quantum spintronic experiments with spin-valve geometries.Comment: 15 pages including 11 figures. To appear in PR
Efeitos do clima, da poluição atmosfĂ©rica e do estado sanitĂĄrio das ĂĄrvores na produção e nas caracterĂsticas dos pĂłlens alergisantes
Os pólens das årvores urbanas podem participar decisivamente na manifestação de doenças
respiratórias alérgicas. Por outro lado, o estado sanitårio das årvores e a poluição do ar podem influenciar a
quantidade, caracterĂsticas e Ă©poca de produção de pĂłlen. Neste contexto, iniciou-se um projecto de investigação
visando: (a) desenvolver o conhecimento das relaçÔes entre produção de pólen e elementos do clima, poluição
atmosférica e estado sanitårio das årvores; (b) explorar metodologias expeditas e não destrutivas para a
identificação de pólens, por espectrofotometria de infravermelho próximo e médio (NIR e FTIR); (c) desenvolver
critĂ©rios tĂ©cnicos para melhorar a selecção e condução de ĂĄrvores em ĂĄreas urbanas sensĂveis. A ĂĄrea principal de
monitorização do projecto é o Campo Grande, em Lisboa, onde se monitoriza regularmente a qualidade do ar
(estação de Entrecampos), se captura por amostragem pólen atmosférico e se avalia regularmente o estado
sanitårio das årvores envolventes. A recolha de amostras de pólen para anålise através de NIR e FTIR serå
também efectuada noutras åreas de Lisboa, para a constituição de catålogos espectrais. O aprofundamento e a
difusĂŁo de conhecimentos neste domĂnio tem um grande potencial para a melhoria da qualidade de vida da
população urbana e peri-urbana sensĂvel Ă s alergias respiratĂłrias
Measurement of the polarisation of W bosons produced with large transverse momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS experiment
This paper describes an analysis of the angular distribution of W->enu and
W->munu decays, using data from pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV recorded with
the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2010, corresponding to an integrated
luminosity of about 35 pb^-1. Using the decay lepton transverse momentum and
the missing transverse energy, the W decay angular distribution projected onto
the transverse plane is obtained and analysed in terms of helicity fractions
f0, fL and fR over two ranges of W transverse momentum (ptw): 35 < ptw < 50 GeV
and ptw > 50 GeV. Good agreement is found with theoretical predictions. For ptw
> 50 GeV, the values of f0 and fL-fR, averaged over charge and lepton flavour,
are measured to be : f0 = 0.127 +/- 0.030 +/- 0.108 and fL-fR = 0.252 +/- 0.017
+/- 0.030, where the first uncertainties are statistical, and the second
include all systematic effects.Comment: 19 pages plus author list (34 pages total), 9 figures, 11 tables,
revised author list, matches European Journal of Physics C versio
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