Development of a whole cell biochip for toxicant detection.

In the development of biosensors for ecotoxicity testing it is desirable to produce a small, portable system that can be used in the field. Toxicity testing using bioluminescence is widely used in the laboratory utilising natural and genetically modified (lux/ luc-marked) bacteria and other microorganisms. It is currently not possible to use genetically manipulated microorganisms in field testing and a biosensor, therefore, that incorporates naturally luminescent organisms may be preferred. In the development of a biosensor it is aimed to use the naturally luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri as a toxicity detection system on a chip. The bacterium will be immobilised in a polymeric matrix. Current work deals with the optimisation of light output and light preservation within the bacterium prior to immobilisation in polyvinyl alcohol. An examination of a range of physicochemical conditions within the polymer will be made, including cell density, thickness of polymer film, growth and light induction environment, and, preservation conditions, in order to develop a testing system giving consistent results over the lifetime of the biosensor. Data will be presented on light production using different culture media for the growth of V. fischeri and retention of light under immobilised conditions. .

Population genetic of three species of Clupeidae family Sardinella sindensis, Sardinella albella, Dussumieria acuta in the Persian Gulf & Oman Sea

Sardines and other Microfilidae have very important ecological role in marine ecosystems because they are first consumers in marine food chain and they are the main food of valuable species as tuna. So decries in their population will decline fishing of these spices. There are 10 genus of Clupeidae in south of Iran and Sardinella is the one of the most abundant of them. In this study we investigated about morphological and genetically differences in population of 3 species: Sardinella sindensis, Sardinella abella, Dussomieria acuta. About 65 specimens of Sardinella sindensis, 61 specimens of Sardinella albella and 63 specimens of, Dussomieria acuta from three regions of their distribution: Jask (Oman Sea), Qeshm (Hormoz) and Lengeh (Pearsian Gulf) have been collected. Morphological research of their characters and statistical studies were done. To determine the genetically structure of specie's population we sequenced 500 bp of mitochondrial control region. Genetical studies determine meaningful difference in alleles and heterozigosity frequency of Sardinella sindensis. This must be the result of divergence in population of this species. Morphological investigation of Sardinella albella shows the meaningful difference. But detailed studies diffused it. Genetical studies show a meaningful variance in allele and heterosigosity frequency. This may be an aspect of sardine tendency to live in estuaries. Morphological research of Dussomieria acuta in Jask and Lengeh show a meaningful variance in these regions. Such a situation might be result of Monsoon, upwelling and better weather which occur in Oman Sea in spite of Persian Gulf.

ROC curves of obesity indicators have a predictive value for children hypertension aged 7-17 years

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the distribution of integrated covariate and its association with blood pressure (BP) among children in Anhui province, China, and assess the predictive value of integrated covariate to children hypertension. Methods: A total of 2,828 subjects (1,588 male and 1,240 female) aged 7-17 years participated in this study. Height, weight, waistline, hipline and BP of all subjects were measured, obesity and overweight were defined by an international standard, specifying the measurement, the reference population, and the age and sex specific cut off points. High BP status was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 95th percentile for age and gender. Results: Our results revealed that the prevalence of children hypertension was 11.03%, the SBP and DBP of obesity group were significantly higher than that of normal group. Anthropometric obesity indices such as body mass index (BMI) were positively correlated with SBP and DBP. Integrated covariate had a better performance than the single covariate in the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the cut-off value; the sensitivity and the specificity of the integrated covariate were 0.112, 0.577, 0.683, respectively. Conclusion: Integrated covariate is a simple and effective anthropometric index to identify childhood hypertension.

The development of an algorithm to track blood pressure accurately based on the pulse transit time method

Oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitors are currently used to diagnose hypertension both in home and clinical settings. These monitors take BP measurements once every 15 minutes over a 24 hour period and provide a reliable and accurate system that is minimally invasive. Although intermittent cuff measurements have proven to be a good indicator of BP, a continuous BP monitor is highly desirable for the diagnosis of hypertension and other cardiac diseases. However, no such devices currently exist. A novel algorithm has been developed based on the Pulse Transit Time (PTT) method, which would allow non-invasive and continuous BP measurement. PTT is defined as the time it takes the BP wave to propagate from the heart to a specified point on the body. After an initial BP measurement, PTT algorithms can track BP over short periods of time, known as calibration intervals. After this time has elapsed, a new BP measurement is required to recalibrate the algorithm. Using the PhysioNet database as a basis, the new algorithm was developed and tested using 15 patients, each tested 3 times over a period of 30 minutes. The predicted BP of the algorithm was compared to the arterial BP of each patient. It has been established that this new algorithm is capable of tracking BP over 12 minutes without the need for recalibration, using the BHS standard, a 100% improvement over what has been previously identified. The algorithm was incorporated into a new system based on its requirements and was tested using three volunteers. The results mirrored those previously observed, providing accurate BP measurements when a 12 minute calibration interval was used. This new system provides a significant improvement to the existing method allowing BP to be monitored continuously and non-invasively, on a beat-to-beat basis over 24 hours, adding major clinical and diagnostic value.

Manifestations of Stigma and Prejudice Informed by Treated Lepers

Introduction: The segregation of people affected by leprosy in lepercolonies as well as presenting itself ineffective, caused irreversible and irreparable consequences in the lives of individuals who came to carry the marks of stigma and prejudice surrounding the disease. Objective: To identify traits related to the stigma and prejudice in the content of lepers' 12 speeches, separated compulsorily in Saint Francis of Assisi Colony in the city of Natal, located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Method: Descriptive study focusing on the oral history of life. The narratives were collected in April 2010 through a recorded interview and analyzed by means of the technique of Thematic Content Analyses. Results: The stigma and the prejudice crystallized in our culture had caused and still cause huge suffering and pain in the participants, who grew up and several aged in biological terms, living with a stigmatizing disease and its complications, sometimes disabling ones. In social and psychological terms, they were discriminated, rejected and even expelled from the familiar conviviality and the original social nucleus. Conclusion: In this manner, one notices the need of these people recover their attachments, values and self-esteem, share feelings and build relationships so as to be integrated in the real world.

A sustainable model for university-industry learning partnership : Issues for universities

Using work integrated learning (WIL) in university-industry learning partnerships as a means of developing the deeper and more complex skills of managers is receiving growing interest in the literature. This paper suggests that there are currently, two basic approaches to WIL – the traditional model and the customisation model. While each has strengths, each also has limitations. Responding the call of Patrick et al (2008) for more discussion and research on WIL stratagems, this paper proposes a third model – the sustainable learning partnership – as an option to encourage deeper, more complex and more long-term capacity building in management development.

Replicating satellite RNA induces sequence-specific DNA methylation and truncated transcripts in plants

Tobacco plants were transformed with a chimeric transgene comprising sequences encoding β-glucuronidase (GUS) and the satellite RNA (satRNA) of cereal yellow dwarf luteovirus. When transgenic plants were infected with potato leafroll luteovirus (PLRV), which replicated the transgene-derived satRNA to a high level, the satellite sequence of the GUS:Sat transgene became densely methylated. Within the satellite region, all 86 cytosines in the upper strand and 73 of the 75 cytosines in the lower strand were either partially or fully methylated. In contrast, very low levels of DNA methylation were detected in the satellite sequence of the transgene in uninfected plants and in the flanking nonsatellite sequences in both infected and uninfected plants. Substantial amounts of truncated GUS:Sat RNA accumulated in the satRNA-replicating plants, and most of the molecules terminated at nucleotides within the first 60 bp of the satellite sequence. Whereas this RNA truncation was associated with high levels of satRNA replication, it appeared to be independent of the levels of DNA methylation in the satellite sequence, suggesting that it is not caused by methylation. All the sequenced GUS:Sat DNA molecules were hypermethylated in plants with replicating satRNA despite the phloem restriction of the helper PLRV. Also, small, sense and antisense ∼22 nt RNAs, derived from the satRNA, were associated with the replicating satellite. These results suggest that the sequence-specific DNA methylation spread into cells in which no satRNA replication occurred and that this was mediated by the spread of unamplified satRNA and/or its associated 22 nt RNA molecules.

School nurses and partnerships for health education : team teaching in the secondary school curricula

The purpose of this research is to examine School Based Youth Health Nurses experience of partnerships for health education and team teaching. The School Based Youth Health Nurse Program is a contemporary model of school nursing in Queensland, Australia. The role of the School Based Youth Health Nurse consists of individual health consultations and health promotion. This research analyses a subset of qualitative data collected for a larger project about the experience of school based youth health nursing. The Health Promoting Schools model is used as a deductive framework. The findings reveal five subthemes across the three areas of the Health Promoting Schools approach. There are two subthemes within the curriculum, teaching and learning area; We were on the same page so to speak and I can go and do my reports or whatever. There are two sub-themes within the partnerships and services area; I had a beautiful science teacher who was just delightful and really just wanted to do things in partnerships and It’s all airy fairy arty farty stuff that’s not important. There is one theme in the school organisation, ethos and environment area; I just don’t know how well the top of these organisations communicate with the bottom of those organisations. Successful partnerships for health education and team teaching between school nurses and teachers are based on personal relationships based on rapport which lead to trust and reciprocity. Partnerships are limited by teachers understanding of the role of the school nurse and engagement with school nurses in the classroom. Administrative support from the top down is fundamental.

PTHR1 polymorphisms influence BMD variation through effects on the growing skeleton

We investigated whether polymorphisms in PTHR1 are associated with bone mineral density (BMD), to determine whether the association of this gene with BMD was due to effects on attainment of peak bone mass or effects on subsequent bone loss. The PTHR1 gene, including its 14 exons, their exon-intron boundaries, and 1,500 bp of its promoter region, was screened for polymorphisms by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) and sequencing in 36 osteoporotic cases. Eleven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), one tetranucleotide repeat, and one tetranucleotide deletion were identified. A cohort of 634 families, including 1,236 men (39%) and 1,926 women (61%) ascertained with probands with low BMD (Z< -2.0) and the Children in Focus subset of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort (785 unrelated individuals, mean age 118 months), were genotyped for the five most informative SNPs (minor allele frequency >5%) and the tetranucleotide repeat. In our osteoporosis families, association was noted between lumbar spine BMD and alleles of a known functional tetranucleotide repeat (U4) in the PTHR1 promoter region (P = 0.042) and between two and three marker haplotypes of PTHR1 polymorphisms with lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip BMD (P = 0.021-0.047). This association was restricted to the youngest tertile of the population (age 16-39 years, P = 0.013-0.048). A similar association was found for the ALSPAC cohort: two marker haplotypes of SNPs A48609T and C52813T were associated with height (P = 0.006) and total body less head BMD (P = 0.02), corrected for age and gender, confirming the family findings. These findings suggest a role for PTHR1 variation in determining peak BMD.

An N-ethyl-n-nitrosourea induced corticotropin-releasing hormone promoter mutation provides a mouse model for endogenous glucocorticoid excess

Cushing's syndrome, which is characterized by excessive circulating glucocorticoid concentrations, maybe due to ACTH-dependent or -independent causes that include anterior pituitary and adrenal cortical tumors, respectively. ACTH secretion is stimulated by CRH, and we report a mouse model for Cushing's syndrome due to an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) induced Crh mutation at -120 bp of the promoter region, which significantly increased luciferase reporter activity and was thus a gain-of-function mutation. Crh -120/+ mice, when compared with wild-type littermates, had obesity, muscle wasting, thin skin, hair loss, and elevated plasma and urinary concentrations of corticosterone. In addition, Crh-120/+ mice had hyperglycemia, hyperfructosaminemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperleptinemia but normal adiponectin. Crh -120/+ mice also had low bone mineral density, hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, and decreased concentrations of plasma PTH and osteocalcin. Bone histomorphometry revealed Crh-120/+ mice to have significant reductions in mineralizing surface area, mineral apposition, bone formation rates, osteoblast number, and the percentage of corticoendosteal bone covered by osteoblasts, which was accompanied by an increase in adipocytes in the bone marrow. Thus, a mouse model for Cushing's syndrome has been established, and this will help in further elucidating the pathophysiological effects of glucocorticoid excess and in evaluating treatments for corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.

Fermi level depinning at the germanium Schottky interface through sulfur passivation

We demonstrate the depinning of Fermi level on both p- and n-type germanium after sulfur passivation by aqueous (NH4)(2)S treatment. Schottky contacts realized using metals with a wide range of work functions produce nearly ideal behavior confirming that the Fermi level is depinned. Examination of the passivated surface using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals bonding between Ge and sulfur.It is shown that good Ohmic contacts to n-type Ge and a hole barrier height (phi(Bp)) of 0.6 eV to p-type Ge can be achieved after this passivation treatment, with Zr Schottky contacts. This is the highest phi(Bp) reported so far.

El lenguaje místico en Santa Catalina de Siena

Resumen: El lenguaje místico posee características propias, una de ellas es la inefabilidad. En este artículo la autora, basándose en los conceptos elaborados por M. De Certeau, analiza en primer lugar los rasgos que posee este lenguaje en la obra de Santa Catalina de Siena. En segundo lugar el artículo explora la matriz epistolar que posee Il Dialogo della Divina Provvidenza, la obra más importante de la santa. Aquí se observa de qué manera una gramática hablada conserva las entonaciones propias de la meditación que le da origen. Teniendo su origen en una carta Il Dialogo no sólo manifiesta el lenguaje oral usado en su época sino su estatuto privado y público a la vez.

San Vicente de Paúl y la oración

Resumen: San Vicente de Paúl se revela no sólo como el santo defensor de los pobres, sino como un maestro de oración. Este artículo quiere detenerse en este último aspecto. Veremos cómo plantea San Vicente la vida de oración y de devoción. Como es un santo minucioso, propio del barroco del siglo XVII, nos señalará detalladamente como se puede mejorar la práctica de la oración. Al mismo tiempo, hará hincapié en que una vida de oración demuestra su coherencia en la medida que se abre a la caridad fraterna y al servicio a los hermanos que padecen. De tal modo, la oración nos capacita para cumplir cabalmente la Voluntad de Dios. Idea que se puede resumir en su frase: “Denme un hombre de oración y será capaz de todo”.

Nueva lectura del concepto de ley natural en Tomás de Aquino : “nueva escuela del derecho natural” o “nueva teoría de la ley natural”

Resumen: La “Nueva Escuela del Derecho Natural” (NEDN) pretende ser una “recuperación” de la “Teoría clásica de la ley natural”. Sus principales representantes son G. Grisez, J. Finnis, J. Boyle, R. P. George y W. May. A ellos se agregan varios pensadores de Estados Unidos y Canadá como R. Shaw, R. Lawler, J. C. Ford, R. A. Connor, T. Kennedy, entre otros. Esta escuela se endilga la recuperación de la versión “auténtica” de Tomás de Aquino de la ley natural, por una reinterpretación de la misma, al entender que ella ha sido deformada por teólogos morales posteriores. En una primera etapa, el trabajo aborda las posiciones centrales de la NEDN, principalmente de Germain Grisez y John Finnis, sin desatender a sus seguidores y críticos. En segundo lugar, y por el planteo de la NEDN, se hace preciso el ocuparse de las fuentes del entredicho, a saber, el concepto de ley en Tomás de Aquino y su impostación en la naturaleza y en la racionalidad práctica.