Learning technologies : students with disabilities in postsecondary education : final report to the Office of learning technologies

Également disponible en version électroniqueBibliogr.: p. 181-19

Automatic Bridge-based Interface for Differential Capacitive Full Sensing

Abstract The authors here propose, for the first time, an automatic analog interface for differential capacitance estimation, able to reveal and quantify both low and high (full-range) capacitive variations. The working principle is based on a modified De-Sauty AC bridge configuration where two differential capacitances and two resistances are employed, one of which is implemented by a Voltage Controlled Resistor (VCR). Through a suitable feedback loop, a very accurate estimation over the complete range of the differential capacitance variation is possible, while the bridge allows a continuous differential capacitance evaluation without the need of knowing the accurate value of the sensor baseline and/or its variation range. A general but very simple formula, considering both the "autobalancing" and the "out-of-equilibrium" ranges, is also given. Theoretical, experimental and simulated results are in a very good agreement. Sensitivity and resolution values, typical of sensors and their interfaces, have been determined in a practical case, showing satisfactory values

Molecular characterization of pyridoxine 5′-phosphate oxidase and its pathogenic forms associated with neonatal epileptic encephalopathy

Defects of vitamin B6 metabolism are responsible for severe neurological disorders, such as pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate oxidase deficiency (PNPOD; OMIM: 610090), an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism that usually manifests with neonatal-onset severe seizures and subsequent encephalopathy. At present, 27 pathogenic mutations of the gene encoding human PNPO are known, 13 of which are homozygous missense mutations; however, only 3 of them have been characterised with respect to the molecular and functional properties of the variant enzyme forms. Moreover, studies on wild type and variant human PNPOs have so far largely ignored the regulation properties of this enzyme. Here, we present a detailed characterisation of the inhibition mechanism of PNPO by pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), the reaction product of the enzyme. Our study reveals that human PNPO has an allosteric PLP binding site that plays a crucial role in the enzyme regulation and therefore in the regulation of vitamin B6 metabolism in humans. Furthermore, we have produced, recombinantly expressed and characterised several PNPO pathogenic variants responsible for PNPOD (G118R, R141C, R225H, R116Q/R225H, and X262Q). Such replacements mainly affect the catalytic activity of PNPO and binding of the enzyme substrate and FMN cofactor, leaving the allosteric properties unaltered

Predictive value of hematological and phenotypical parameters on postchemotherapy leukocyte recovery

Background: Grade IV chemotherapy toxicity is defined as absolute neutrophil count <500/μL. The nadir is considered as the lowest neutrophil number following chemotherapy, and generally is not expected before the 7th day from the start of chemotherapy. The usual prophylactic dose of rHu-G-CSF (Filgrastim) is 300 μg/day, starting 24-48 h after chemotherapy until hematological recovery. However, individual patient response is largely variable, so that rHu-G-CSF doses can be different. The aim of this study was to verify if peripheral blood automated flow cytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis may be helpful in predicting the individual response and saving rHu-G-CSF. Methods: During Grade IV neutropenia, blood counts from 30 cancer patients were analyzed daily by ADVIA 120 automated flow cytochemistry analyzer and by Facscalibur flow cytometer till the nadir. "Large unstained cells" (LUCs), myeloperoxidase index (MPXI), blasts, and various cell subpopulations in the peripheral blood were studied. At nadir rHu-G-CSF was started and 81 chemotherapy cycles were analyzed. Cycles were stratified according to their number and to two dose-levels of rHuG-CSF needed to recovery (300-600 vs. 900-1200 μg) and analyzed in relation to mean values of MPXI and mean absolute number of LUCs in the nadir phase. The linear regressions of LUCs % over time in relation to two dose-levels of rHu-G-CSF and uni-multivariate analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations, CD34+ cells, MPXI, and blasts were also performed. Results: In the nadir phase, the increase of MPXI above the upper limit of normality (>10; median 27.7), characterized a slow hematological recovery. MPXI levels were directly related to the cycle number and inversely related to the absolute number of LUCs and CD34 +/CD45+ cells. A faster hematological recovery was associated with a higher LUC increase per day (0.56% vs. 0.25%), higher blast (median 36.7/μL vs. 19.5/μL) and CD34+/CD45+ cell (median 2.2/μL vs. 0.82/μL) counts. Conclusions: Our study showed that some biological indicators such as MPXI, LUCs, blasts, and CD34 +/CD45+ cells may be of clinical relevance in predicting individual hematological response to rHu-G-CSF. Special attention should be paid when nadir MPXI exceeds the upper limit of normality because the hematological recovery may be delayed. © 2009 Clinical Cytometry Society

Direct 3D imaging through spatial coherence of light

Wide-field imaging is widely adopted due to its fast acquisition, cost-effectiveness and ease of use. Its extension to direct volumetric applications, however, is burdened by the trade-off between resolution and depth of field (DOF), dictated by the numerical aperture of the system. We demonstrate that such trade-off is not intrinsic to wide-field imaging, but stems from the spatial incoherence of light: images obtained through spatially coherent illumination are shown to have resolution and DOF independent of the numerical aperture. This fundamental discovery enabled us to demonstrate an optimal combination of coherent resolution-DOF enhancement and incoherent tomographic sectioning for scanning-free, wide-field 3D microscopy on a multicolor histological section.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures. Supplemental document available upon request to the authors. Submitted to Lasers and Photonics Review

Effect of two different source of forage on the organic matter digestibility in Mediterranean Italian Buffalo cows

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of two different source of forage (haysilage and hay) during the lactation on organic matter digestibility (OMD) in buffalo cows. Lactating buffaloes (n = 40) at 29.6 days in milk (DIM) were equally divided as function of previous milk yield into Group 1 (meadow hay, n = 20) and Group 2 [haysilage (Lolium multiflorum), n = 20]. The diets were isoenergetic [0.92 milk unit forage (MUF) on dry matter basis] and isoproteic (16.2 % crude protein on dry matter basis) and administred as total mixed ration (TMR). From all the buffaloes, for each group and in two sampling time (first sampling, DIM = 74.0 and second sampling, DIM = 129.0) the faeces were collected in order to evaluate the in vivo digestibility. Overall the trial, the subjects fed haysilage showed higher OMD than those fed hay (66.1 vs 45.7; P<0.01), moreover the in vivo digestibility was affected by the DIM, in particular in the group fed hay (40.6 vs 53.4; P<0.0001, respectively). This work underlines the importance of the administration of the haysilage (Lolium multiflorum) as source of high quality forage because it gives, overall the lactation, more nutritive principles compared with meadow hay

Canadian Postsecondary Students With Disabilities: Where Are They?

Results of a Canada-wide and a Quebec based study of students with a variety of disabilities in Canadian postsecondary education are presented. Study 1 involved 156 professionals. They represent 80% of the population of professionals who provide on-campus disability support services. Results indicate that (1) 8% of postsecondary institutions reported not having any students with disabilities, (2) overall, 2% of students are registered to receive disability related services from their post- secondary institutions, and (3) this varies from 1/2% to 6% across the country. Junior/community colleges had a higher percentage of students with disabilities registered to receive disability related services (3 3/4%) than universities (1 2/3%). (4) Distance education had 3%. (5) Quebec has a smaller proportion of both college (2/3% vs 6%) and university (1/2%) vs 2 1/2%) students with disabilities than the rest of Canada. A targeted study involving 46 professionals who provide disability related services in Quebec's public junior/community colleges, the CEGEPs, revealed that lack of recognition of learning disabilities for postsecondary funding by the Quebec government is an important contributor to the small percentages, although it cannot explain the huge discrepancies between Quebec and the rest of Canada. Extrapolation suggests that there are over 100,000 students with disabilities currently enrolled in Canadian postsecondary education, although only 1/4 to 1/2 of them register to receive disability related services.Les résultats d'une étude pancanadienne basée au Québec portant sur des étudiants ayant diverses incapacités dans des institutions postsecondaires canadiennes sont présentés. L'étude 1 impliquait 156 professionnels. Ils représentent 80% de la population des intervenants qui fournissent de l'appui, sur les campus, aux étudiants ayant des incapacités. Les résultats révèlent que (1) 8% des institutions postsecondaires rapportent qu'elles n'ont pas d'étudiants ayant des incapacités, (2) globalement, 2 % des étudiants sont inscrits aux services offerts aux étudiants ayant des incapacités de leur institution postsecondaire, et (3) cette donnée varie de 1/2% à 6% à travers le pays. Les collèges communautaires ont un pourcentage plus élevé d'étudiants ayant des incapacités inscrits aux services d'appui (3 3/4%) par rapport aux universités (1 2/3%). (4) La formation à distance a 3% d'étudiants nécessitant des services de cette nature. (5) Le Québec a le pourcentage le plus faible au Canada d'étudiants ayant des incapacités aux niveaux collégial (2/3%) contre 6%) et universitaire (1/2% contre 2 1/2%). Une étude cible impliquant 46 intervenants qui fournissent des services aux étudiants ayant des incapacités dans les collèges au Québec, les CEGEPs, révèle qu'un des facteurs contribuant aux faibles pourcentages est le fait que le gouvernement du Québec ne tient pas compte des difficultés d'apprentissage lors du financement. Cependant, ceci ne peut expliquer les différences énormes entre le Québec et le reste du Canada. Par extrapolation, il est possible d'avancer qu'il y a plus de 100 000 étudiants ayant des incapacités présentement inscrits dans des institutions postsecondaires canadiennes, quoique seulement 25 à 50 % de ceux-ci soient inscrits aux services offerts aux étudiants ayant des incapacités

Isolation of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) from water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) placenta by use of Vicia villosa bound agarose affinity chromatography

The present study describes the isolation and characterisation of new PAG molecules extracted from mid- and late-pregnancy placentas in the water buffalo (Bubalis bubalis). After extraction, acid and ammonium sulphate precipitation and DEAE chromatography water buffalo PAG (wbPAG) were enriched by Vicia villosa agarose (VVA) affininity chromatography. As determined by Western blotting with anti-PAG-sera, apparent molecular masses of immunoreactive bands from VVA peaks ranged from 59.5 to 75.8 kDa and from 57.8 to 80.9 kDa in the mid- and late- pregnancy placenta respectively. Aminoterminal microsequencing of proteins allowed the identification of three distinct wbPAG sequences wich have ben deposed in the SwissProt database: RGSXLTIHPLRNIRDFFYUG (Acc. n. P85048), RGSXLTILPLRNIID (P85049) and RGSXLTHLPLRNI (P85050). Their comparison to those previously identified revealed that two of them were new since they have not been described yet. Our results confirm the suitability of VVA chromatography in enrichment of multiple PAG molecules expressed in buffalo placenta. Productions of specific antisera can be very useful in immonoistochemical and immunocyitochemical studies of PAG expression in fetomaternal interfaces. Purified native PAG are also required for development on specific immoassays (RIA/ELISA) currently used for pregnancy diagnosis and physiological investigation in farm animal

Characterization of metabolically healthy obese people and metabolically unhealthy normal-weight people in a general population cohort of the ABCD Study

There is actually no consensus about the possibility that in some instances, obesity may be a benign metabolically healthy (MH) condition as opposed to a normal-weight but metabolically unhealthy (MUH) state. The aim of this study was to characterize MH condition and to investigate possible associations with metabolic and cardiovascular complications. One thousand nineteen people (range of age 18-90 years) of the cohort of the ABCD-2 study were investigated. Participants were classified as normal weight (BMI < 24.9 kg/m2) or overweight-obese (BMI \ue2\u89\ua525 kg/m2); they were also classified as MH in the presence of 0-1 among the following conditions: (a) prediabetes/type 2 diabetes, (b) hypertension, (c) hypertriglyceridemia or low HDL cholesterolemia, and (d) hypercholesterolemia. MUH condition was diagnosed if \ue2\u89\ua52 of the conditions listed were found. The prevalence of overweight/obese people was 71.1%, of whom 27.4% were found to be MH. In addition, 36.7% of the normal-weight participants were MUH. HOMA-IR, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and the carotid intima-media thickness were significantly different in the 4 subgroups (P < 0.001), with higher values observed in the MUH normal-weight and obese groups. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of identifying a MH condition in normal-weight and in obese people in order to offer better treatment