7,439 research outputs found
Screening of the transcriptional regulatory regions of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Background
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has neurotrophic activity which is mediated by its main agonist receptor, VEGFR2. Dysregulation of VEGF causes motor neurone degeneration in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and expression of VEGFR2 is reduced in motor neurones and spinal cord of patients with ALS.
Methods
We have screened the promoter region and 4 exonic regions of functional significance of the VEGFR2 gene in a UK population of patients with ALS, for mutations and polymorphisms that may affect expression or function of this VEGF receptor.
Results
No mutations were identified in the VEGFR2 gene. We found no association between polymorphisms in the regulatory regions of the VEGFR2 gene and ALS.
Conclusion
Mechanisms other than genetic variation may downregulate expression or function of the VEGFR2 receptor in patients with ALS
Self-Calibration of Cameras with Euclidean Image Plane in Case of Two Views and Known Relative Rotation Angle
The internal calibration of a pinhole camera is given by five parameters that
are combined into an upper-triangular calibration matrix. If the
skew parameter is zero and the aspect ratio is equal to one, then the camera is
said to have Euclidean image plane. In this paper, we propose a non-iterative
self-calibration algorithm for a camera with Euclidean image plane in case the
remaining three internal parameters --- the focal length and the principal
point coordinates --- are fixed but unknown. The algorithm requires a set of point correspondences in two views and also the measured relative
rotation angle between the views. We show that the problem generically has six
solutions (including complex ones).
The algorithm has been implemented and tested both on synthetic data and on
publicly available real dataset. The experiments demonstrate that the method is
correct, numerically stable and robust.Comment: 13 pages, 7 eps-figure
Locally finite groups containing a 2 -element with Chernikov centralizer
Suppose that a locally finite group G has a 2-element g with Chernikov centralizer. It is proved that if the involution in ⟨g⟩ has nilpotent centralizer, then G has a soluble subgroup of finite index
Stories tell us? Political narrative, demes, and the transmission of knowledge through culture
This paper compares two institutions of storytelling, mainstream national narratives and self-represented digital storytelling. It considers the centenary of World War 1, especially the Gallipoli campaign (1915) and its role in forming Australian ‘national character’. Using the new approach of cultural science, it investigates storytelling as a means by which cultures make and bind groups or ‘demes’. It finds that that demic (group-made) knowledge trumps individual experience, and that self-representation (digital storytelling) tends to copy the national narrative, even when the latter is known not to be true. The paper discusses the importance of culture in the creation of knowledge, arguing that if the radical potential of digital storytelling is to be understood – and realised – then a systems (as opposed to behavioural) approach to communication is necessary. Without a new model of knowledge, it seems we are stuck with repetition of the same old story
A new strategic framework to structure cumulative impact assessment (CIA)
Funding Information: This work was supported by Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC EP/S000747/1) and the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) offshore energy Strategic Environmental Assessment Programme.Peer reviewedPostprin
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