Yasufumi Takahashi : Red Reflection

Plamondon and Robert relate how they met Takahashi in Japan and then arranged for him to work in Quebec. Grande analyses the artist's preoccupation with the relationship between humour and nature. Biographical notes. 4 bibl. ref

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Guinea-Bissau: A Sexually Transmitted Genotype 2 with Parenteral Amplification?

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa is the continent with the highest prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Genotype 2 HCV is thought to have originated from West Africa several hundred years ago. Mechanisms of transmission remain poorly understood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To delineate mechanisms for HCV transmission in West Africa, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of individuals aged ≥50 years in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Dried blood spots were obtained for HCV serology and PCR amplification. Prevalence of HCV was 4.4% (47/1066) among women and 5.0% (27/544) among men. In multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for HCV infection were age (baseline: 50–59 y; 60–69 y, adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.67, 95% CI: 0.91–3.06; ≥70 y, AOR: 3.47, 95% CI: 1.89–6.39), belonging to the Papel, Mancanha, Balanta or Mandjako ethnic groups (AOR: 2.45, 95% CI:1.32–4.53), originating from the Biombo, Cacheu or Oio regions north of Bissau (AOR: 4.16, 95% CI: 1.18–14.73) and having bought or sold sexual services (AOR: 3.60, 95% CI: 1.88–6.89). Of 57 isolates that could be genotyped, 56 were genotype 2. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that transmission of HCV genotype 2 in West Africa occurs through sexual intercourse. In specific locations and subpopulations, medical interventions may have amplified transmission parenterally

Emergence of and risk factors for ciprofloxacin-gentamicin-resistant Escherichia coli urinary tract infections in a region of Quebec

BACKGROUND: An increased incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by ciprofloxacin-gentamicin-resistant Escherichia coli (CiGREC) has been observed in a tertiary care centre in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The risk factors for such infections remained unclear

Scriptôt : a pen-based software to support handwriting learning in primary schools

Goal -- A user-centered design approach -- A module for pupils and a module for teachers -- Correction criteria and feedback -- The pen-based computing technology -- Characteristics of the user interface -- Usability evaluation

Baculovirus expression of mammalian G protein α subunits

AbstractComplementary DNAs encoding three subtypes of the α subunit (αi−1, αo and αx) of rat guanyl nucleotide regulatory proteins were used to construct recombinant baculoviruses which direct high-level expression of the corresponding proteins in cultured Sf9 insect cells. The expressed proteins were recognized by polyclonal antisera specific for the different α chains, and co-migrated with the native proteins from rat brain membranes in immunoblotting analyses. Soluble and particulate forms of all three immunoreactive α chains were observed following ultracentrifugation of cell lysates. Biosynthetic radiolabelling of infected cells with [35S]methionine or [3H]myristate showed that both soluble and particulate forms of αi−1 and αo were myristoylated; in contrast, α, did not incorporate myristate. The soluble fractions from cells expressing α chains showed high levels of GTP-binding activity over that observed in uninfected cells, or in cells infected with wild-type virus. The peak expression levels observed at 72 h post-infection were highest for αo at ca, 400 pmol of GTP-γ-35S/mg protein, or roughly 2% of the total soluble protein. The results of this work show that the baculovirus system can be employed for high-level production of mammalian G protein α chains which retain GTP-binding activity and are appropriately modified by myristoylation