Differential expression of toll-like receptor mRNAs in recurrent aphthous ulceration

BACKGROUND: Toll-like receptors (TLR) are membrane proteins that recognize conserved molecules derived from bacterial, viral, fungal or host tissues. They are responsible for promoting the production of cytokines and chemokines, increasing the expression of costimulatory molecules and influencing the T Helper response (Th) toward either a Th1 or Th2 profile, thereby modulating the regulatory T cell response and controlling the integrity of the epithelial barrier. The key factors responsible for increased susceptibility to recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) are unclear, and because TLRs are involved in both immune regulation and control of the epithelial barrier, a deficiency in TLR activity is likely to cause increased susceptibility. METHODS: We investigated the gene expression of TLRs one through 10 in tissue samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of RAU patients in comparison to healthy controls using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. RESULTS: The analysis of mRNA expression levels in oral lesion showed significant (P < 0.01) overexpression of the TLR2(similar to 6-fold) gene and decreased expression of the TLR3 (similar to 5-fold) and TLR5 (similar to 6-fold) genes in comparison with healthy oral mucosa. The analysis of mRNA expression in PBMC indicated a down-regulation of TLR5 gene expression in the cells from RAU patients (P < 0.05; similar to 2-fold). CONCLUSION: Our results support the hypothesis that a subset of RAU patients has fewer TLR expression that have been tentatively implicated in antiinflammatory effects. This derangement of TLR gene expression may cause an overlay exuberant inflammation reaction in situations where normal individuals are resistant. J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41: 8085

Candida spp. isolated from inpatients, the environment, and health practitioners in the Pediatric Unit at the Universitary Hospital of the Jundiai Medical College, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Introduction: This study aimed to isolate and identify Candida spp. from the environment, health practitioners, and patients with the presumptive diagnosis of candidiasis in the Pediatric Unit at the Universitary Hospital of the Jundiai Medical College, to verify the production of enzymes regarded as virulence factors, and to determine how susceptible the isolated samples from patients with candidiasis are to antifungal agents. Methods: Between March and November of 2008 a total of 283 samples were taken randomly from the environment and from the hands of health staff, and samples of all the suspected cases of Candida spp. hospital-acquired infection were collected and selected by the Infection Control Committee. The material was processed and the yeast genus Candida was isolated and identified by physiological, microscopic, and macroscopic attributes. Results: The incidence of Candida spp. in the environment and employees was 19.2%. The most frequent species were C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis among the workers, C. guilliermondii and C. tropicalis in the air, C. lusitanae on the contact surfaces, and C. tropicalis and C. guilliermondii in the climate control equipment. The college hospital had 320 admissions, of which 13 (4%) presented Candida spp. infections; three of them died, two being victims of a C. tropicalis infection and the remaining one of C. albicans. All the Candida spp. in the isolates evidenced sensitivity to amphotericin B, nystatin, and fluconazole. Conclusions: The increase in the rate of hospital-acquired infections caused by Candida spp. indicates the need to take larger measures regarding recurrent control of the environment.

Candida spp. isolated from inpatients, the environment, and health practitioners in the pediatric unit at the Universitary Hospital of the Jundiaí Medical College, state of São Paulo, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to isolate and identify Candida spp. from the environment, health practitioners, and patients with the presumptive diagnosis of candidiasis in the Pediatric Unit at the Universitary Hospital of the Jundiaí Medical College, to verify the production of enzymes regarded as virulence factors, and to determine how susceptible the isolated samples from patients with candidiasis are to antifungal agents. METHODS: Between March and November of 2008 a total of 283 samples were taken randomly from the environment and from the hands of health staff, and samples of all the suspected cases of Candida spp. hospital-acquired infection were collected and selected by the Infection Control Committee. The material was processed and the yeast genus Candida was isolated and identified by physiological, microscopic, and macroscopic attributes. RESULTS: The incidence of Candida spp. in the environment and employees was 19.2%. The most frequent species were C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis among the workers, C. guilliermondii and C. tropicalis in the air, C. lusitanae on the contact surfaces, and C. tropicalis and C. guilliermondii in the climate control equipment. The college hospital had 320 admissions, of which 13 (4%) presented Candida spp. infections; three of them died, two being victims of a C. tropicalis infection and the remaining one of C. albicans. All the Candida spp. in the isolates evidenced sensitivity to amphotericin B, nystatin, and fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in the rate of hospital-acquired infections caused by Candida spp. indicates the need to take larger measures regarding recurrent control of the environment.

Rehabilitation Engineering in Parkinson's disease

Impairment of postural control is a common consequence of Parkinson's disease (PD) that becomes more and more critical with the progression of the disease, in spite of the available medications. Postural instability is one of the most disabling features of PD and induces difficulties with postural transitions, initiation of movements, gait disorders, inability to live independently at home, and is the major cause of falls. Falls are frequent (with over 38% falling each year) and may induce adverse consequences like soft tissue injuries, hip fractures, and immobility due to fear of falling. As the disease progresses, both postural instability and fear of falling worsen, which leads patients with PD to become increasingly immobilized. The main aims of this dissertation are to: 1) detect and assess, in a quantitative way, impairments of postural control in PD subjects, investigate the central mechanisms that control such motor performance, and how these mechanism are affected by levodopa; 2) develop and validate a protocol, using wearable inertial sensors, to measure postural sway and postural transitions prior to step initiation; 3) find quantitative measures sensitive to impairments of postural control in early stages of PD and quantitative biomarkers of disease progression; and 4) test the feasibility and effects of a recently-developed audio-biofeedback system in maintaining balance in subjects with PD. In the first set of studies, we showed how PD reduces functional limits of stability as well as the magnitude and velocity of postural preparation during voluntary, forward and backward leaning while standing. Levodopa improves the limits of stability but not the postural strategies used to achieve the leaning. Further, we found a strong relationship between backward voluntary limits of stability and size of automatic postural response to backward perturbations in control subjects and in PD subjects ON medication. Such relation might suggest that the central nervous system presets postural response parameters based on perceived maximum limits and this presetting is absent in PD patients OFF medication but restored with levodopa replacement. Furthermore, we investigated how the size of preparatory postural adjustments (APAs) prior to step initiation depend on initial stance width. We found that patients with PD did not scale up the size of their APA with stance width as much as control subjects so they had much more difficulty initiating a step from a wide stance than from a narrow stance. This results supports the hypothesis that subjects with PD maintain a narrow stance as a compensation for their inability to sufficiently increase the size of their lateral APA to allow speedy step initiation in wide stance. In the second set of studies, we demonstrated that it is possible to use wearable accelerometers to quantify postural performance during quiet stance and step initiation balance tasks in healthy subjects. We used a model to predict center of pressure displacements associated with accelerations at the upper and lower back and thigh. This approach allows the measurement of balance control without the use of a force platform outside the laboratory environment. We used wearable accelerometers on a population of early, untreated PD patients, and found that postural control in stance and postural preparation prior to a step are impaired early in the disease when the typical balance and gait intiation symptoms are not yet clearly manifested. These novel results suggest that technological measures of postural control can be more sensitive than clinical measures. Furthermore, we assessed spontaneous sway and step initiation longitudinally across 1 year in patients with early, untreated PD. We found that changes in trunk sway, and especially movement smoothness, measured as Jerk, could be used as an objective measure of PD and its progression. In the third set of studies, we studied the feasibility of adapting an existing audio-biofeedback device to improve balance control in patients with PD. Preliminary results showed that PD subjects found the system easy-to-use and helpful, and they were able to correctly follow the audio information when available. Audiobiofeedback improved the properties of trunk sway during quiet stance. Our results have many implications for i) the understanding the central mechanisms that control postural motor performance, and how these mechanisms are affected by levodopa; ii) the design of innovative protocols for measuring and remote monitoring of motor performance in the elderly or subjects with PD; and iii) the development of technologies for improving balance, mobility, and consequently quality of life in patients with balance disorders, such as PD patients with augmented biofeedback paradigms.

Politiche Antitrust e crescita economica

Negli ultimi anni le istituzioni e la regolamentazione hanno svolto un ruolo sempre più importante nell’analisi della crescita economica. Tuttavia, non è facile interpretare le istituzioni e gli effetti dei regolamenti sulla crescita attraverso indicatori che tendono a “misurare” le istituzioni. Lo scopo di questa ricerca è analizzare la relazione di lungo periodo tra la crescita economica e la regolamentazione e il ruolo della regolamentazione antitrust sulla crescita economica. La stima econometrica dei modelli di crescita con la concorrenza e gli indicatori di potere di mercato si base su un dataset appositamente costruito che copre 211 Paesi, su un arco temporale massimo di 50 anni (da 1960 a 2009). In particolare, cerchiamo di identificare un quadro analitico volto a integrare l’analisi istituzionale ed economica al fine di valutare il ruolo della regolamentazione e, più in generale, il ruolo delle istituzioni nella crescita economica. Dopo una revisione della letteratura teorica ed empirica sulla crescita e le istituzioni, vi presentiamo l’analisi dell'impatto normativo (RIA) in materia di concorrenza, e analizziamo le principali misure di regolamentazione, la governance e le misure antitrust. Per rispondere alla nostra domanda di ricerca si stimano modelli di crescita prendendo in considerazione tre diverse misure di regolamentazione: la Regulation Impact (RI), la Governance (GOV), e la libertà economica (LIB). Nel modello a effetti fissi, RI, gli effetti della legislazione antitrust sulla crescita economica sono significativi e positivi, e gli effetti di durata antitrust sono significativi, ma negativi. Nel pannel dinamico, GOV, gli effetti dell’indicatore di governance sulla crescita sono notevoli, ma negativo. Nel pannel dinamico, LIB, gli effetti della LIB sono significativi e negativi.

Endocrine changes and liver mRNA abundance of somatotropic axis and insulin system constituents during negative energy balance at different stages of lactation in dairy cows

The liver has an important role in metabolic regulation and control of the somatotropic axis to adapt successfully to physiological and environmental changes in dairy cows. The aim of this study was to investigate the adaptation to negative energy balance (NEB) at parturition and to a deliberately induced NEB by feed restriction at 100 days in milk. The hepatic gene expression and the endocrine system of the somatotropic axis and related parameters were compared between the early and late NEB period. Fifty multiparous cows were subjected to 3 periods (1=early lactation up to 12 wk postpartum, 2=feed restriction for 3 wk beginning at around 100 days in milk with a feed-restricted and a control group, and 3=subsequent realimentation period for the feed-restricted group for 8 wk). In period 1, plasma growth hormone reached a maximum in early lactation, whereas insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), leptin, the thyroid hormones, insulin, and the revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index increased gradually after a nadir in early lactation. Three days after parturition, hepatic mRNA abundance of growth hormone receptor 1A, IGF-I, IGF-I receptor and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were decreased, whereas mRNA of IGFBP-1 and -2 and insulin receptor were upregulated as compared with wk 3 antepartum. During period 2, feed-restricted cows showed decreased plasma concentrations of IGF-I and leptin compared with those of control cows. The revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index was lower for feed-restricted cows (period 2) than for control cows. Compared with the NEB in period 1, the changes due to the deliberately induced NEB (period 2) in hormones were less pronounced. At the end of the 3-wk feed restriction, the mRNA abundance of IGF-I, IGFBP-1, -2, -3, and insulin receptor was increased as compared with the control group. The different effects of energy deficiency at the 2 stages in lactation show that the endocrine regulation changes qualitatively and quantitatively during the course of lactation.

Rhetorics and Practices of Modernisation in Russian Industry: a Reflective Analysis of Organisational Cultures in Transition

This research was based on the results of a case study of a large confectionery factory in the Russian city of Samara. The concept of paternalism is clear in many features of the life of Russian enterprises, including the rhetoric and strategy of the management, relationships within the labour force and the stereotypical expectations of workers. The concept also has a much wider bearing, embracing the spheres of state policy, the social, and family relationships, that is every sphere of social life in which the patriarchal, communal, stereotyped way of thinking of the Soviet people is reproduced. A substantial proportion of the state's role in providing social protection for the population is carried out through enterprises. In spite of low salaries and the absence of career opportunities, female workers were as strongly attached to the enterprise as to their homes. Romanov's research showed how the development of capitalism in industries in Russia is destroying the cultural and social identities of female workers and is contributing to gender inequality. Interpersonal relations are becoming increasingly utilitarian and distant and the basic features of the patriarchal type of administrative control are becoming blurred. This control is becoming more subtle, but gender segregation is preserved in the new framework and indeed becoming more obvious, being reproduced both at the departmental level and in the hiring policy of the enterprise as a whole.

Molecular analysis of the human $\gamma$-chain T cell receptor genes

In our studies we have focused on the issue of variability and diversity of the $\gamma$ (or $\delta)$ chain T cell receptor (TCR) genes by studying cDNA transcripts in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or $\gamma\delta$ TCR+ T cell clones. The significance of these studies lies in the better understanding of the molecular biology of the $\gamma\delta$ T cell receptor as well as in answering the question whether certain molecular forms predominate in $\gamma\delta$ T cells exhibiting specific immunologic functions. We establish that certain $\gamma$-chain TCR genes exhibit particular patterns of rearrangements in cDNA transcripts in normal individuals. V$\gamma$I subgroup were shown to preferentially rearrange to J$\gamma$2C$\gamma$2 gene segments. These preferential VJC rearrangements, may have implications regarding the potential for diversity and polymorphism of the $\gamma$-chain TCR gene. In addition, the preferential association of V$\gamma$I genes with J$\gamma$2C$\gamma$2, which encode a non-disulfide-linked $\gamma\delta$ TCR, suggests that $\gamma$ chains utilizing V$\gamma$I are predominantly expressed as non-disulfide-linked $\gamma\delta$ TCR heterodimers. The implications of this type of expression remain to be determined. We identified two alternative splicing events of the $\gamma$-chain TCR genes occurring in high frequency in all the normal individuals examined. These events may suggest additional mechanisms of regulation and control as well as diversification of $\gamma\delta$ TCR gene expression. The question whether particular forms of $\gamma$ or $\delta$-chain TCR genes are involved in HLA Class I recognition by specific $\gamma\delta$ cytotoxic T cell clones was addressed. Our results indicated that the T cell clones expressed identical $\gamma$ but distinct $\delta$-chains suggesting that the specificity for recognition of HLA-A2 or HLA-A3 may be conferred by the $\delta$-chain TCR. The issue of the degree of diversity and polymorphism of the $\delta$-chain TCR genes in a patient with a primary immunodeficiency (Omenn's syndrome) was addressed. A limited pattern of rearrangements in peripheral blood transcripts was found, suggesting that a limited $\gamma\delta$ TCR repertoire may be expressed in this particular primary immunodeficiency syndrome. Overall, our findings suggest that $\delta$-chain TCR genes exhibit the potential for significant diversity and that there are certain preferential patterns of expression that may be associated with particular immunologic functions. ^

The role of controlled attention and selective encoding for kindergarteners' learning

Selectivity in encoding, aspects of attentional control and their contribution to learning performance were explored in a sample of preschoolers. While the children are performing a learning task, their encoding of relevant and attention towards irrelevant information was recorded through an eye-tracking device. Recognition of target items was used as measure of learning outcome, and individual differences in resistance to interference and inhibition of attention to task-irrelevant stimuli (i.e. distractibility) were used as measures of executive control of attention. Results indicated well-developed selectivity during encoding in young children. Recognition performance was related to selective encoding and aspects of attentional control, explaining individual differences in learning. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Seizure termination

A better understanding of the mechanisms by which most focal epileptic seizures stop spontaneously within a few minutes would be of highest importance, because they could potentially help to improve existing and develop novel therapeutic measures for seizure control. Studies devoted to unraveling mechanisms of seizure termination often take one of the two following approaches. The first approach focuses on metabolic mechanisms such as ionic concentrations, acidity, or neuromodulator release, studying how they are dependent on, and in turn affect changes of neuronal activity. The second approach uses quantitative tools to derive functional networks from electrophysiological recordings and analyzes these networks with mathematical methods, without focusing on actual details of cell biology. In this chapter, we summarize key results obtained by both of these approaches and attempt to show that they are complementary and equally necessary in our aim to gain a better understanding of seizure termination.

Post-colonial (American?) English Presence on the North-Western Pacific Island of Kosrae: A cross-linguistic analysis of the overlaps and divergences of Kosraean English compared to standard American English

Kosrae is the most remote island of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), with a population of less than 7,000 inhabitants, located in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Guam. FSM is an independent sovereign nation consisting of four states in total: Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap, and Kosrae. Having passed through the hands of Spain, Germany and Japan, the United States gained administrative control of FSM after WWII, as commissioned by the UN. The FSM became an independent nation in 1986 while still retaining affiliation with the US under a ‘Compact of Free Association’. Now both Kosraean and English are considered to be the two official languages and the variety of Kosraean English which has arisen proves for an interesting comparative study. In order to obtain the relevant data, I spent three months on the island of Kosrae, interviewing 90 local speakers, ranging in age (16-70), occupation, sex and time spent off island. The 45 minute long interviews were informal but supported by participant information to capture relevant data and conversations were guided in a way that aimed to reveal language and cultural attitudes. With reference to these samples, I examine the effects of American English on the language use in Kosrae. This paper aims to present a broad analysis of phonological, morphosyntactic and pragmatic features, such as pro-dropping, discourse markers and other practices in order to demonstrate the similarities and differences between the two varieties, which are coming to shape the variety developing on Kosrae. Having transcribed conversations using the tool Elan, I will put particular focus on [h] deletion and insertion, a rare occurrence found in a variety of post-colonial American English which I believe is of particular interest. I assess the presence of English in Kosrae with reference to sociological influences, past and present. First, I discuss the extralinguistic factors which have shaped the English that is currently used on Kosrae, including migration between US and FSM, and English as a language of administration, social media usage and visual media presence. Secondly, I assess the use of English in this community in light of Schneider’s (2007) ‘Dynamic Model’, with reference to America’s contribution as an ‘exploitation colony’ as defined by Mufwene (2001). Finally, an overview of the salient linguistic characteristics of Kosraean English, based on the data collected will be presented and compared to features associated with standard American English in view of examining overlap and divergence. The overall objective is to present a cross-linguistic description of a hitherto unexamined English emerging in a postcolonial environment with a juxtaposed contact variety. Mufwene, Salikoko S. 2001. The ecology of language evolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Schneider, E. (2007). Postcolonial Englishes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Segal, H.G. (1989) Kosrae, The Sleeping Lady Awakens. Kosrae: Kosrae Tourist Division, Dept. Of Conservation and Development. Keywords: American English, Global English, Pacific English, Morphosyntactic, Phonological, Variation, Discourse

Efectos de un programa de actividad física en escolares

Objetivos: Comprobar el efecto que tiene sobre el alumnado de Educación Primaria un programa de actividad física durante los recreos escolares mediante juegos pre-deportivos, en la composición corporal y en la condición física de los mismos. Metodología: Se realizó un análisis de las diferencias antes-después de muestras independientes de las pruebas de condición física y de las medidas antropométricas (grupo control y experimental), así como el valor de p de los contrastes, realizado mediante un análisis estadístico con el programa IBM SPSS 20.0. Aplicación a 54 alumnos y alumnas de Educación Primaria, de entre 9 y 11 años. Instrumentos: test de los 500 metros (resistencia); test de lanzamiento de balón medicinal (fuerza tren superior); test del salto horizontal (fuerza tren inferior); test de los 50 metros (velocidad); test de flexión profunda de tronco (flexibilidad). Resultados: Un estilo de vida activo, practicando actividad física diaria, se relaciona con mejoras en la condición física y en la composición corporal de sus practicantes. Conclusiones: Un programa de actividad física realizado en los recreos escolares con una duración de 30 minutos durante tres días a la semana, produce mejoras en los valores del IMC y la condición física de quien lo practica.

Efectos de un programa de actividad física en escolares

Objetivos: Comprobar el efecto que tiene sobre el alumnado de Educación Primaria un programa de actividad física durante los recreos escolares mediante juegos pre-deportivos, en la composición corporal y en la condición física de los mismos. Metodología: Se realizó un análisis de las diferencias antes-después de muestras independientes de las pruebas de condición física y de las medidas antropométricas (grupo control y experimental), así como el valor de p de los contrastes, realizado mediante un análisis estadístico con el programa IBM SPSS 20.0. Aplicación a 54 alumnos y alumnas de Educación Primaria, de entre 9 y 11 años. Instrumentos: test de los 500 metros (resistencia); test de lanzamiento de balón medicinal (fuerza tren superior); test del salto horizontal (fuerza tren inferior); test de los 50 metros (velocidad); test de flexión profunda de tronco (flexibilidad). Resultados: Un estilo de vida activo, practicando actividad física diaria, se relaciona con mejoras en la condición física y en la composición corporal de sus practicantes. Conclusiones: Un programa de actividad física realizado en los recreos escolares con una duración de 30 minutos durante tres días a la semana, produce mejoras en los valores del IMC y la condición física de quien lo practica.

Efectos de un programa de actividad física en escolares

Objetivos: Comprobar el efecto que tiene sobre el alumnado de Educación Primaria un programa de actividad física durante los recreos escolares mediante juegos pre-deportivos, en la composición corporal y en la condición física de los mismos. Metodología: Se realizó un análisis de las diferencias antes-después de muestras independientes de las pruebas de condición física y de las medidas antropométricas (grupo control y experimental), así como el valor de p de los contrastes, realizado mediante un análisis estadístico con el programa IBM SPSS 20.0. Aplicación a 54 alumnos y alumnas de Educación Primaria, de entre 9 y 11 años. Instrumentos: test de los 500 metros (resistencia); test de lanzamiento de balón medicinal (fuerza tren superior); test del salto horizontal (fuerza tren inferior); test de los 50 metros (velocidad); test de flexión profunda de tronco (flexibilidad). Resultados: Un estilo de vida activo, practicando actividad física diaria, se relaciona con mejoras en la condición física y en la composición corporal de sus practicantes. Conclusiones: Un programa de actividad física realizado en los recreos escolares con una duración de 30 minutos durante tres días a la semana, produce mejoras en los valores del IMC y la condición física de quien lo practica.

Activity based costing, time-driven activity based costing and lean accounting: differences among three accounting systems' approach to manufacturing

Choosing an appropriate accounting system for manufacturing has always been a challenge for managers. In this article we try to compare three accounting systems designed since 1980 to address problems of traditional accounting system. In the first place we are going to present a short overview on background and definition of three accounting systems: Activity Based costing, Time-Driven Activity Based Costing and Lean Accounting. Comparisons are made based on the three basic roles of information generated by accounting systems: financial reporting, decision making, and operational control and improvement. The analysis in this paper reveals how decisions are made over the value stream in the companies using Lean Accounting while decisions under the ABC Accounting system are taken at individual product level, and finally we will show how TD-ABC covers both product and process levels for decision making. In addition, this paper shows the importance of nonfinancial measures for operational control and improvement under the Lean Accounting and TD-ABC methods whereas ABC relies mostly on financial measures in this context.