Effectiveness of Fluorescence-based Methods in Monitoring Progression of Noncavitated Caries-like Lesions on Smooth Surfaces

Although there has been a significant decrease in caries prevalence in developed countries, the slower progression of dental caries requires methods capable of detecting and quantifying lesions at an early stage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of fluorescence-based methods (DIAGNOdent 2095 laser fluorescence device [LF], DIAGNOdent 2190 pen [LFpen], and VistaProof fluorescence camera [FC]) in monitoring the progression of noncavitated caries-like lesions on smooth surfaces. Caries-like lesions were developed in 60 blocks of bovine enamel using a bacterial model of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus . Enamel blocks were evaluated by two independent examiners at baseline (phase I), after the first cariogenic challenge (eight days) (phase II), and after the second cariogenic challenge (a further eight days) (phase III) by two independent examiners using the LF, LFpen, and FC. Blocks were submitted to surface microhardness (SMH) and cross-sectional microhardness analyses. The intraclass correlation coefficient for intra- and interexaminer reproducibility ranged from 0.49 (FC) to 0.94 (LF/LFpen). SMH values decreased and fluorescence values increased significantly among the three phases. Higher values for sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were observed for FC (phase II) and LFpen (phase III). A significant correlation was found between fluorescence values and SMH in all phases and integrated loss of surface hardness (ΔKHN) in phase III. In conclusion, fluorescence-based methods were effective in monitoring noncavitated caries-like lesions on smooth surfaces, with moderate correlation with SMH, allowing differentiation between sound and demineralized enamel.

Impairments of peripheral motion change detection during smooth pursuit eye movements

Introduction: In team sports the ability to use peripheral vision is essential to track a number of players and the ball. By using eye-tracking devices it was found that players either use fixations and saccades to process information on the pitch or use smooth pursuit eye movements (SPEM) to keep track of single objects (Schütz, Braun, & Gegenfurtner, 2011). However, it is assumed that peripheral vision can be used best when the gaze is stable while it is unknown whether motion changes can be equally well detected when SPEM are used especially because contrast sensitivity is reduced during SPEM (Schütz, Delipetkose, Braun, Kerzel, & Gegenfurtner, 2007). Therefore, peripheral motion change detection will be examined by contrasting a fixation condition with a SPEM condition. Methods: 13 participants (7 male, 6 female) were presented with a visual display consisting of 15 white and 1 red square. Participants were instructed to follow the red square with their eyes and press a button as soon as a white square begins to move. White square movements occurred either when the red square was still (fixation condition) or moving in a circular manner with 6 °/s (pursuit condition). The to-be-detected white square movements varied in eccentricity (4 °, 8 °, 16 °) and speed (1 °/s, 2 °/s, 4 °/s) while movement time of white squares was constant at 500 ms. 180 events should be detected in total. A Vicon-integrated eye-tracking system and a button press (1000 Hz) was used to control for eye-movements and measure detection rates and response times. Response times (ms) and missed detections (%) were measured as dependent variables and analysed with a 2 (manipulation) x 3 (eccentricity) x 3 (speed) ANOVA with repeated measures on all factors. Results: Significant response time effects were found for manipulation, F(1,12) = 224.31, p < .01, ηp2 = .95, eccentricity, F(2,24) = 56.43; p < .01, ηp2 = .83, and the interaction between the two factors, F(2,24) = 64.43; p < .01, ηp2 = .84. Response times increased as a function of eccentricity for SPEM only and were overall higher than in the fixation condition. Results further showed missed events effects for manipulation, F(1,12) = 37.14; p < .01, ηp2 = .76, eccentricity, F(2,24) = 44.90; p < .01, ηp2 = .79, the interaction between the two factors, F(2,24) = 39.52; p < .01, ηp2 = .77 and the three-way interaction manipulation x eccentricity x speed, F(2,24) = 3.01; p = .03, ηp2 = .20. While less than 2% of events were missed on average in the fixation condition as well as at 4° and 8° eccentricity in the SPEM condition, missed events increased for SPEM at 16 ° eccentricity with significantly more missed events in the 4 °/s speed condition (1 °/s: M = 34.69, SD = 20.52; 2 °/s: M = 33.34, SD = 19.40; 4 °/s: M = 39.67, SD = 19.40). Discussion: It could be shown that using SPEM impairs the ability to detect peripheral motion changes at the far periphery and that fixations not only help to detect these motion changes but also to respond faster. Due to high temporal constraints especially in team sports like soccer or basketball, fast reaction are necessary for successful anticipation and decision making. Thus, it is advised to anchor gaze at a specific location if peripheral changes (e.g. movements of other players) that require a motor response have to be detected. In contrast, SPEM should only be used if a single object, like the ball in cricket or baseball, is necessary for a successful motor response. References: Schütz, A. C., Braun, D. I., & Gegenfurtner, K. R. (2011). Eye movements and perception: A selective review. Journal of Vision, 11, 1-30. Schütz, A. C., Delipetkose, E., Braun, D. I., Kerzel, D., & Gegenfurtner, K. R. (2007). Temporal contrast sensitivity during smooth pursuit eye movements. Journal of Vision, 7, 1-15.

EFFECTS OF THE ACTA2 R258C MUTATION ON VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELL PHENOTYPE AND PROPERTIES

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections (TAAD) are the fifteenth leading cause of death in the United States. About 15% of TAAD patients have family history of the disease. The most commonly mutated gene in these families is ACTA2, encoding smooth muscle-specific α-actin. ACTA2 missense mutations predispose individuals both to TAAD and to vascular occlusive disease of small, muscular arteries. Mice carrying an Acta2 R258C mutant transgene with a wildtype Acta2 promoter were generated and bred with Acta2-/- mice to decrease the wildtype: mutant Acta2 ratio. Acta2+/+ R258C TGmice have decreased aortic contractility without aortic disease. Acta2+/- R258C TG mice, however, have significant aortic dilatations by 12 weeks of age and a hyperproliferative response to injury. We characterized smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from bothmouse models under the hypothesis that mutant α-actin has a dominant negative effect, leading to impaired contractile filament formation/stability, improper focal adhesion maturation and increased proliferation. Explanted aortic SMCs from Acta2+/+ R258C TG mice are differentiated - they form intact filaments, express higher levels of contractile markers compared to wildtype SMCs and have predominantly nuclear Myocardin-Related Transcription Factor A (MRTF-A) localization. However, ultracentrifugation assays showed large unpolymerized actin fractions, suggesting that the filaments are brittle. In contrast, Acta2+/- R258C TG SMCs are less well-differentiated, with pools of unpolymerized actin, more cytoplasmic MRTF-A and decreased contractile protein expression compared to wildtype cells. Ultracentrifugation assays after treating Acta2+/- R258C TGSMCs with phalloidin showed actin filament fractions, indicating that mutant α-actin can polymerize into filaments. Both Acta2+/+ R258C TGand Acta2+/- R258C TGSMCs have larger and more peripheral focal adhesions compared to wildtype SMCs. Rac1 was more activated in Acta2+/+ R258C TGSMCs; both Rac1 and RhoA were less activated in Acta2+/- R258C TG SMCs, and FAK was more activated in both transgenic SMC lines compared to wildtype. Proliferation in both cell lines was significantly increased compared to wildtype cells and could be partially attenuated by inhibition of FAK or PDGFRβ. These data support a dominant negative effect of the Acta2 R258C mutation on the SMC phenotype, with increasing phenotypic severity when wildtype: mutant α-actin levels are decreased.

Interfaces entre as políticas educacionais e os marcadores sociais : Quem sao os alunos que fracassam num contexto em todos têm direito a educaçao?

A implantaçao da obrigatoriedade do acesso à escola pública de Ensino Fundamental no Brasil, a partir do final dos aos 1980, produziu uma nova realidade no sistema de ensino. Por um lado, a taxa de frequência da escola básica passou de 75,03 (1990) para 92,14 (2010). Em contrapartida, a taxa de analfabetismo de pessoas com mais de 18 anos ainda é de 10,19 e somente 54,92 das pessoas com 18 anos ou mais tem Ensino Fundamental completo. Um conjunto de contradiçoes produzidas e reproduzidas sob o enfoque da justiça escolar a qual, norteia à universalizaçao do acesso a escola básica. Neste sentido, a ideia central desse trabalho foi reconhecer o perfil socioeducacional dos alunos em situaçao de fracasso escolar (repetência, distorçao idade-série e evasao escolar) no estado brasileiro que apresenta o melhor índice desenvolvimento da escola básica. Para tanto, foram analisadas as respostas de 87.607 questionários respondidos por alunos do 9o ano, participantes da Prova Brasil 2011. Com auxílio do software SPSS, foram produzidos procedimentos estatísticos para sistematizar e ampliar a análise que teve com suporte teórico as reflexoes preconizadas por distintos autores da Sociologia da Educaçao

Desarrollo de una guía de control para interfaces de búsqueda por materia en catálogos en línea de acceso web

El presente trabajo pretende desarrollar una guía de control (checklist) que permita evaluar la búsqueda por materia en la interfaz usuario-sistema de los catálogos en línea de bibliotecas accesibles vía Web, y probar su funcionamiento mediante la evaluación de diez interfaces de catálogos de bibliotecas argentinas, desarrollados en su mayoría en Microisis con una interfaz vía CGI para servidores Web y una interfaz de un catálogo español, desarrollado con un producto comercial altamente reconocido y difundido. Asimismo, se selecciona un método de análisis multivariante para el análisis de los resultados como una alternativa del análisis clásico por característica soportada y se evalúa su eficacia y utilidad.

Desarrollo de una guía de control para interfaces de búsqueda por materia en catálogos en línea de acceso web

El presente trabajo pretende desarrollar una guía de control (checklist) que permita evaluar la búsqueda por materia en la interfaz usuario-sistema de los catálogos en línea de bibliotecas accesibles vía Web, y probar su funcionamiento mediante la evaluación de diez interfaces de catálogos de bibliotecas argentinas, desarrollados en su mayoría en Microisis con una interfaz vía CGI para servidores Web y una interfaz de un catálogo español, desarrollado con un producto comercial altamente reconocido y difundido. Asimismo, se selecciona un método de análisis multivariante para el análisis de los resultados como una alternativa del análisis clásico por característica soportada y se evalúa su eficacia y utilidad.

Interfaces entre as políticas educacionais e os marcadores sociais : Quem sao os alunos que fracassam num contexto em todos têm direito a educaçao?

A implantaçao da obrigatoriedade do acesso à escola pública de Ensino Fundamental no Brasil, a partir do final dos aos 1980, produziu uma nova realidade no sistema de ensino. Por um lado, a taxa de frequência da escola básica passou de 75,03 (1990) para 92,14 (2010). Em contrapartida, a taxa de analfabetismo de pessoas com mais de 18 anos ainda é de 10,19 e somente 54,92 das pessoas com 18 anos ou mais tem Ensino Fundamental completo. Um conjunto de contradiçoes produzidas e reproduzidas sob o enfoque da justiça escolar a qual, norteia à universalizaçao do acesso a escola básica. Neste sentido, a ideia central desse trabalho foi reconhecer o perfil socioeducacional dos alunos em situaçao de fracasso escolar (repetência, distorçao idade-série e evasao escolar) no estado brasileiro que apresenta o melhor índice desenvolvimento da escola básica. Para tanto, foram analisadas as respostas de 87.607 questionários respondidos por alunos do 9o ano, participantes da Prova Brasil 2011. Com auxílio do software SPSS, foram produzidos procedimentos estatísticos para sistematizar e ampliar a análise que teve com suporte teórico as reflexoes preconizadas por distintos autores da Sociologia da Educaçao

Desarrollo de una guía de control para interfaces de búsqueda por materia en catálogos en línea de acceso web

El presente trabajo pretende desarrollar una guía de control (checklist) que permita evaluar la búsqueda por materia en la interfaz usuario-sistema de los catálogos en línea de bibliotecas accesibles vía Web, y probar su funcionamiento mediante la evaluación de diez interfaces de catálogos de bibliotecas argentinas, desarrollados en su mayoría en Microisis con una interfaz vía CGI para servidores Web y una interfaz de un catálogo español, desarrollado con un producto comercial altamente reconocido y difundido. Asimismo, se selecciona un método de análisis multivariante para el análisis de los resultados como una alternativa del análisis clásico por característica soportada y se evalúa su eficacia y utilidad.

Interfaces entre as políticas educacionais e os marcadores sociais : Quem sao os alunos que fracassam num contexto em todos têm direito a educaçao?

A implantaçao da obrigatoriedade do acesso à escola pública de Ensino Fundamental no Brasil, a partir do final dos aos 1980, produziu uma nova realidade no sistema de ensino. Por um lado, a taxa de frequência da escola básica passou de 75,03 (1990) para 92,14 (2010). Em contrapartida, a taxa de analfabetismo de pessoas com mais de 18 anos ainda é de 10,19 e somente 54,92 das pessoas com 18 anos ou mais tem Ensino Fundamental completo. Um conjunto de contradiçoes produzidas e reproduzidas sob o enfoque da justiça escolar a qual, norteia à universalizaçao do acesso a escola básica. Neste sentido, a ideia central desse trabalho foi reconhecer o perfil socioeducacional dos alunos em situaçao de fracasso escolar (repetência, distorçao idade-série e evasao escolar) no estado brasileiro que apresenta o melhor índice desenvolvimento da escola básica. Para tanto, foram analisadas as respostas de 87.607 questionários respondidos por alunos do 9o ano, participantes da Prova Brasil 2011. Com auxílio do software SPSS, foram produzidos procedimentos estatísticos para sistematizar e ampliar a análise que teve com suporte teórico as reflexoes preconizadas por distintos autores da Sociologia da Educaçao

Using the Journalistic Metaphor to Design User Interfaces That Explain Sensor Data

Facilitating general access to data from sensor networks (including traffic, hydrology and other domains) increases their utility. In this paper we argue that the journalistic metaphor can be effectively used to automatically generate multimedia presentations that help non-expert users analyze and understand sensor data. The journalistic layout and style are familiar to most users. Furthermore, the journalistic approach of ordering information from most general to most specific helps users obtain a high-level understanding while providing them the freedom to choose the depth of analysis to which they want to go. We describe the general characteristics and architectural requirements for an interactive intelligent user interface for exploring sensor data that uses the journalistic metaphor. We also describe our experience in developing this interface in real-world domains (e.g., hydrology).

A User Centered Design Approach for Patient Interfaces to a Diabetes IT Platform

Improving patient self-management can have a greater impact than improving any clinical treatment (WHO). We propose here a systematic and comprehensive user centered design approach for delivering a technological platform for diabetes disease management. The system was developed under the METABO research project framework, involving patients from 3 different clinical centers in Parma, Modena and Madrid.

Using SCXML to integrate semantic sensor information into context-aware user interfaces

This paper describes a novel architecture to introduce automatic annotation and processing of semantic sensor data within context-aware applications. Based on the well-known state-charts technologies, and represented using W3C SCXML language combined with Semantic Web technologies, our architecture is able to provide enriched higher-level semantic representations of user’s context. This capability to detect and model relevant user situations allows a seamless modeling of the actual interaction situation, which can be integrated during the design of multimodal user interfaces (also based on SCXML) for them to be adequately adapted. Therefore, the final result of this contribution can be described as a flexible context-aware SCXML-based architecture, suitable for both designing a wide range of multimodal context-aware user interfaces, and implementing the automatic enrichment of sensor data, making it available to the entire Semantic Sensor Web