Irish Land Bonds: 1891-1938

This paper introduces a new database on Irish land bonds listed on the Dublin Stock Exchange from 1891 to 1938: it outlines the nature of these bonds and presents data on their size, liquidity and market returns. These government-guaranteed bonds arose during a period when the possibility of Irish secession from the United Kingdom appeared ever more likely, and were used to finance the transfer of land ownership from landlords to tenants in Ireland (North & South). Movements in the prices of these bonds can help to understand how financial markets responded to events in the early economic and political history of the Irish Free State, including Irish partition, Independence, Civil War and de facto default. Understanding these issues has contemporary relevance for regions in Spain (Catalonia, Euskadi), Great Britain (Scotland) and Belgium (Flanders).

Ectodysplasin regulates hormone-independent mammary ductal morphogenesis via NF-κB.

Ductal growth of the mammary gland occurs in two distinct stages. The first round of branching morphogenesis occurs during embryogenesis, and the second round commences at the onset of puberty. Currently, relatively little is known about the genetic networks that control the initial phases of ductal expansion, which, unlike pubertal development, proceeds independent of hormonal input in female mice. Here we identify NF-κB downstream of the TNF-like ligand ectodysplasin (Eda) as a unique regulator of embryonic and prepubertal ductal morphogenesis. Loss of Eda, or inhibition of NF-κB, led to smaller ductal trees with fewer branches. On the other hand, overexpression of Eda caused a dramatic NF-κB-dependent phenotype in both female and male mice characterized by precocious and highly increased ductal growth and branching that correlated with enhanced cell proliferation. We have identified several putative transcriptional target genes of Eda/NF-κB, including PTHrP, Wnt10a, and Wnt10b, as well as Egf family ligands amphiregulin and epigen. We developed a mammary bud culture system that allowed us to manipulate mammary development ex vivo and found that recombinant PTHrP, Wnt3A, and Egf family ligands stimulate embryonic branching morphogenesis, suggesting that these pathways may cooperatively mediate the effects of Eda.

Post-traumatic mutism in children: clinical characteristics, pattern of recovery and clinicopathological correlations.

Among the numerous clinical syndromes observed after severe traumatic head injury, post-traumatic mutism is a disorder rarely reported in adults and not studied in any detail in children. We report seven children between the ages of 3 1/2 and 14 years who sustained severe head injury and developed post-traumatic mutism. We aim to give a precise clinical characterization of this disorder, discuss differential diagnosis and correlations with brain imaging and suggest its probable neurological substrate. After a coma lasting from 5 to 25 days, the seven patients who suffered from post-traumatic mutism went through a period of total absence of verbal production lasting from 5 to 94 days, associated with the recovery of non-verbal communication skills and emotional vocalization. During the first days after the recovery of speech, all patients were able to produce correct small sentences with a hypophonic and monotonous voice, moderate dysarthria, word finding difficulties but no signs of aphasia, and preserved oral comprehension. The neurological signs in the acute phase (III nerve paresis in three of seven patients, signs of autonomic dysfunctions in five of seven patients), the results of the brain imaging and the experimental animal data all suggest the involvement of mesencephalic structures as playing a key role in the aetiology of post-traumatic mutism.

Paul de Tarse. Un homme aux prises avec Dieu

L'apôtre Paul est l'enfant terrible du christianisme. Esprit doctrinaire, conservateur rugueux, antiféministe, dit-on. L'Occident chrétien n'en finit pas de régler ses comptes avec lui. Et l'on se console en se rabattant sur les évangiles, tellement plus simples que les épîtres... Paul aurait-il donc troqué la pure religion du coeur enseignée par Jésus contre un système doctrinal complexe et tortueux ? Et pourtant, sans son génie à formuler les vérités fondamentales de la foi nouvelle, le christianisme ne serait resté qu'une secte obscure. Qu'avaient été en fait ses liens avec Jésus dont il parle si peu ? Est-il vrai que, ex-pharisien, renégat du judaïsme, il a conduit juifs et chrétiens à la rupture ? Quelle fut cette expérience fulgurante qu'on appelle sa " conversion " sur le chemin de Damas ? Dans un monde où revient, lancinante, la question du sens de la vie et de la dignité humaine, sa découverte d'un Dieu renversant qui nous accueille indépendamment de nos qualités prend une extraordinaire actualité. Il était indispensable d'offrir au grand public un accès direct à l'oeuvre fondatrice de Paul.

Diagnosi ambiental de la riera de Santa Coloma entre Santa Coloma de Farners i Riudarenes

A l’actualitat trobem nombrosos sistemes aquàtics alterats per diferents efectes d’origen antropogènic. Per tal d’evitar i/o disminuir aquests efectes va sorgir la Directiva Marc de l’Aigua (2000/60/CE) essent aquest un dels seus objectius. Aquest article descriu el funcionament hidrogeològic i l’estat ecològic de la riera de Santa Coloma, afluent de la Tordera (NE Catalunya), des de pràcticament el seu inici a Santa Coloma de Farners (Girona) fins a Riudarenes (Girona). S’intenta establir les possibles influències del funcionament hidrogeològic en l’estat ecològic a partir de dades piezomètriques, de cabal, fisicoquímiques i biològiques. Per aquesta última part s’han utilitzat indicadors biològics com l’índex d’hàbitat fluvial (IHF), avaluant l’hàbitat físic; l’índex de Qualitat del Bosc de Ribera (QBR), per determinar la qualitat ecològica de la zona de ribera; l’índex Biological Monitorig Working Party per a conques internes de Catalunya (BMWPC), per avaluar les diferents famílies de macroinvertebrats que hi viuen i l’índex ECOSTRIMED, una síntesi dels dos índex anteriors.

Residual effect of lambdacyhalothrin on Triatoma infestans

Insecticidal residual effect and triatomine infestation rates in houses of a community fumigated with lambdcyhalothrin (Icon) are reported. No mortality was observed in 5th-instar Triatoma infestans nymphs in 72-hr exposure test on three different surfaces, one month after fumigation for a dose of 31.5 mg am/m2. However, during post-exposure observation a mortality of 60% was recorded for those insect exposed on sprayed woodboard. The results observed with mud-containing treated walls, were markedly poorer (0% of mortality). Twelve month after spraying 40% of mortality was observed on first-instar T. infestans nymphs in 72-hr exposure test on woodboard, but lower mortality rates were observed in mud-containing materials. When the effect of deltamethrin (109 mg ai/m2) and lambdcyhalothrin (94 mg ai/m2) was compared, the former did not appear to be superior at similar loads. Both have showed a mortality rate of 30% on 5th-instar T. infestans nymphs three months post-fumigation. The dose utilized in the field fumigation was enough to get a significant (p < 0.0001) control of triatomine domestic infestation, since it was sufficient to keep 95% of the houses uninfested throughout 21 months following treatment, when compared with baseline situation. A remarkable knock-down effect on adult and nymphs forms of the insect and a high in situ mortality were observed as a result of its application, even at very low doses.

Paclitaxel-eluting biodegradable synthetic vascular prostheses: a step towards reduction of neointima formation?

BACKGROUND: Clinical small-caliber vascular prostheses are unsatisfactory. Reasons for failure are early thrombosis and late intimal hyperplasia. We thus prepared biodegradable small-caliber vascular prostheses using electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) with slow-releasing paclitaxel (PTX), an antiproliferative drug. METHODS AND RESULTS: PCL solutions containing PTX were used to prepare nonwoven nanofibre-based 2-mm ID prostheses. Mechanical morphological properties and drug loading, distribution, and release were studied in vitro. Infrarenal abdominal aortic replacement was carried out with nondrug-loaded and drug-loaded prostheses in 18 rats and followed for 6 months. Patency, stenosis, tissue reaction, and drug effect on endothelialization, vascular remodeling, and neointima formation were studied in vivo. In vitro prostheses showed controlled morphology mimicking extracellular matrix with mechanical properties similar to those of native vessels. PTX-loaded grafts with suitable mechanical properties and controlled drug-release were obtained by factorial design. In vivo, both groups showed 100% patency, no stenosis, and no aneurysmal dilatation. Endothelial coverage and cell ingrowth were significantly reduced at 3 weeks and delayed at 12 and 24 weeks in PTX grafts, but as envisioned, neointima formation was significantly reduced in these grafts at 12 weeks and delayed at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Biodegradable, electrospun, nanofibre, polycaprolactone prostheses are promising because in vitro they maintain their mechanical properties (regardless of PTX loading), and in vivo show good patency, reendothelialize, and remodel with autologous cells. PTX loading delays endothelialization and cellular ingrowth. Conversely, it reduces neointima formation until the end point of our study and thus may be an interesting option for small caliber vascular grafts.

Initial clinical experience with the admiral oxygenator combined with separated suction.

The Admiral, a new microporous membrane oxygenator with a low surface area, decreased priming volume and two separate reservoirs, was tested in 30 adult patients. This study was undertaken to evaluate blood path resistance, gas exchange capabilities and blood trauma in clinical use, with and without shed blood separation. Patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 had valve surgery without separation of suction, Group 2 had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with direct blood aspiration and Group 3 had coronary artery bypass grafting with shed blood separation. The suctioned, separated, cardiotomy blood in Group 3 was treated with an autotransfusion device at the end of bypass before being returned to the patient. Theoretical blood flow could be achieved in all cases without problem. The pressure drop through the oxygenator averaged 88 +/- 13 mmHg at 4 l/min and 109 +/- 12 mmHg at 5 l/min. O(2) transfer was 163 +/- 27 ml/min. Free plasma haemoglobin rose in all groups, but significantly less in group 3. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) rose significantly in Groups 1 and 2. Platelets decreased in all groups without significant differences. Clinical experience with this new oxygenator was safe, the reduced membrane surface did not impair gas exchange and blood trauma could be minimized easily by separating shed blood, using the second cardiotomy reservoir.

Transmisión de datos PDA - servidor web

En aquest projecte es visualitza la trajectòria d'un vehicle (aeri o terrestre) en una pàgina web. Per això es disposa d'una PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), en la qual es té informació actualitzada de la posició i de la velocitat d’aquest vehicle. Aquestes dades són obtingudes d'un sistema que combina la navegació inercial i el GPS (Global Position System), els quals estimen de manera precisa la trajectòria del vehicle. A fi d'oferir una visualització en temps real, versàtil, accessible i amigable a l'usuari de la trajectòria del vehicle, s'ha desenvolupat un sistema de visualització on-line que proporciona un millor rendiment en comparació amb la qual es venia fent en la PDA. Per a dur-lo a terme s'implementa una interfície d'usuari en la PDA que ens permet transmetre aquesta informació via WIFI a la pàgina web, d'igual forma al servidor web es crea una interfície que interpreta i gestiona aquestes dades per a posteriorment ser graficats a Google Maps.

Parent-child agreement and prevalence estimates of diagnoses in childhood: direct interview versus family history method.

Diagnostic information on children is typically elicited from both children and their parents. The aims of the present paper were to: (1) compare prevalence estimates according to maternal reports, paternal reports and direct interviews of children [major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety and attention-deficit and disruptive behavioural disorders]; (2) assess mother-child, father-child and inter-parental agreement for these disorders; (3) determine the association between several child, parent and familial characteristics and the degree of diagnostic agreement or the likelihood of parental reporting; (4) determine the predictive validity of diagnostic information provided by parents and children. Analyses were based on 235 mother-offspring, 189 father-offspring and 128 mother-father pairs. Diagnostic assessment included the Kiddie-schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) (offspring) and the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS) (parents and offspring at follow-up) interviews. Parental reports were collected using the Family History - Research Diagnostic Criteria (FH-RDC). Analyses revealed: (1) prevalence estimates for internalizing disorders were generally lower according to parental information than according to the K-SADS; (2) mother-child and father-child agreement was poor and within similar ranges; (3) parents with a history of MDD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reported these disorders in their children more frequently; (4) in a sub-sample followed-up into adulthood, diagnoses of MDD, separation anxiety and conduct disorder at baseline concurred with the corresponding lifetime diagnosis at age 19 according to the child rather than according to the parents. In conclusion, our findings support large discrepancies of diagnostic information provided by parents and children with generally lower reporting of internalizing disorders by parents, and differential reporting of depression and ADHD by parental disease status. Follow-up data also supports the validity of information provided by adolescent offspring.

The transition of care from fertility specialists to obstetricians: maternal adjustment and postpartum depressive symptoms.

Aim: This study examines the transition from fertility to obstetrical care of women who conceived through IVF. Materials & methods: 33 women filled out questionnaires before IVF, during pregnancy and after birth on infertility stress, maternal adjustment and depressive symptoms. During pregnancy, they participated in an interview about their emotional experiences regarding the transition. Responses were sorted into three categories: Autonomy, Dependence and Avoidance. Results: Exploratory results show that 51.5% of women had no difficulties making the transition (Autonomy), 21.2% had become dependent (Dependence) and 27.3% had distanced themselves from the specialists (Avoidance). Women who became dependent had more trouble adjusting to motherhood and more depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Difficulty making the transition may be linked to decreased ability to adjust to motherhood and more postpartum depressive symptoms.

Genetic variants in novel pathways influence blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk.

Blood pressure is a heritable trait influenced by several biological pathways and responsive to environmental stimuli. Over one billion people worldwide have hypertension (≥140 mm Hg systolic blood pressure or  ≥90 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure). Even small increments in blood pressure are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. This genome-wide association study of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which used a multi-stage design in 200,000 individuals of European descent, identified sixteen novel loci: six of these loci contain genes previously known or suspected to regulate blood pressure (GUCY1A3-GUCY1B3, NPR3-C5orf23, ADM, FURIN-FES, GOSR2, GNAS-EDN3); the other ten provide new clues to blood pressure physiology. A genetic risk score based on 29 genome-wide significant variants was associated with hypertension, left ventricular wall thickness, stroke and coronary artery disease, but not kidney disease or kidney function. We also observed associations with blood pressure in East Asian, South Asian and African ancestry individuals. Our findings provide new insights into the genetics and biology of blood pressure, and suggest potential novel therapeutic pathways for cardiovascular disease prevention.