Connexins in lymphatic vessel physiology and disease.

Connexins are transmembrane proteins that form gap junction- and hemi-channels. Once inserted into the membrane, hemi-channels (connexons) allow for diffusion of ions and small molecules (<1kDa) between the extracellular space and the cytosol. Gap junction channels allow diffusion of similar molecules between the cytoplasms of adjacent cells. The expression and function of connexins in blood vessels has been intensely studied in the last few decades. In contrast, only a few studies paid attention to lymphatic vessels; convincing in vivo data with respect to expression patterns of lymphatic connexins and their functional roles have only recently begun to emerge. Interestingly, mutations in connexin genes have been linked to diseases of lymphatic vasculature, most notably primary and secondary lymphedema. This review summarizes the available data regarding lymphatic connexins. More specifically it addresses (i) early studies aimed at presence of gap junction-like structures in lymphatic vessels, (ii) more recent studies focusing on lymphatic connexins using genetically engineered mice, and (iii) results of clinical studies that have reported lymphedema-linked mutations in connexin genes.

Accelerated publication versus usual publication in 2 leading medical journals.

BACKGROUND: A number of medical journals have developed policies for accelerated publication of articles judged by the authors, the editors or the peer reviewers to be of special importance. However, the validity of these judgements is unknown. We therefore compared the importance of articles published on a "fast track" with those published in the usual way. METHODS: We identified 12 "case" articles--6 articles from the New England Journal of Medicine that were prereleased on the journal's Web site before publication in print and 6 "fast-tracked" articles from The Lancet. We then identified 12 "control" articles matched to the case articles according to journal, disease or procedure of focus, theme area and year of publication. Forty-two general internists rated the articles, using 10-point scales, on dimensions addressing the articles' importance, ease of applicability and impact on health outcomes. RESULTS: For each dimension, the mean score for the case articles was significantly higher than the mean score for the control articles: importance to clinical practice 7.6 v. 7.1 respectively (p = 0.001), importance from a public health perspective 6.5 v. 6.0 (p < 0.001), contribution to advancement of medical knowledge 6.2 v. 5.8 (p < 0.001), ease of applicability in practice 7.0 v. 6.5 (p < 0.001), potential impact on health outcomes 6.5 v. 5.9 (p < 0.001). Despite these general findings, in 5 of the 12 matched pairs of articles the control article had a higher mean score than the case article across all the dimensions. INTERPRETATION: The accelerated publication practices of 2 leading medical journals targeted articles that, on average, had slightly higher importance scores than similar articles published in the usual way. However, our finding of higher importance scores for control articles in 5 of the 12 matched pairs shows that current journal practices for selecting articles for expedited publication are inconsistent.

Association with coregulators is the major determinant governing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor mobility in living cells.

The nucleus is an extremely dynamic compartment, and protein mobility represents a key factor in transcriptional regulation. We showed in a previous study that the diffusion of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), a family of nuclear receptors regulating major cellular and metabolic functions, is modulated by ligand binding. In this study, we combine fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, dual color fluorescence cross-correlation microscopy, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer to dissect the molecular mechanisms controlling PPAR mobility and transcriptional activity in living cells. First, we bring new evidence that in vivo a high percentage of PPARs and retinoid X receptors is associated even in the absence of ligand. Second, we demonstrate that coregulator recruitment (and not DNA binding) plays a crucial role in receptor mobility, suggesting that transcriptional complexes are formed prior to promoter binding. In addition, association with coactivators in the absence of a ligand in living cells, both through the N-terminal AB domain and the AF-2 function of the ligand binding domain, provides a molecular basis to explain PPAR constitutive activity.

Médecines complémentaires: vers un consensus "evidence-based" à l'hôpital universitaire. [Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM): towards an "evidence-based" consensus in the University hospital]

Après la votation fédérale demandant de prendre en compte les médecines complémentaires, un consensus a été recherché dans quatorze services et unités du Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV). Confrontés aux données de la littérature (Plus de 2000 publications en "Evidence-based complementary medicine" depuis 1998), les soignants étaient tous surpris par l'ampleur des résultats cliniques disponibles actuellement. Tous identifiaient un besoin en formation et en informations sur le sujet. Une prise de position officielle de l'institution était aussi souhaitée, instituant l'enseignement et la recherche sur les médecines complémentaires et assurant la production d'informations rigoureuses et pertinentes pour la clinique. [Abstract] While a popular vote supported a new article on complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in the Swiss Constitution, this assessment in 14 wards of the University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland, attempted at answering the question: How can CAM use be better taken into account and patients informed with more rigor and respect for their choices? Confronted with a review of the literature (> 2000 publications in "Evidence-based cornplementary medicine" since 1998), respondents declared their ignorance of the clinical data presently available on CAM. All were in favour of more teaching and information on the subject, plus an official statement from the Hospital direction, ensuring production and diffusion of rigorous and cJinically significant information on CAM.

QuesTInSitu: from tests to routes for assessment in situ activities

Test-based assessment tools are mostly focused on the use of computers. However, advanced Information and Communication Technologies, such as handheld devices, opens up the possibilities of creating new assessment scenarios, increasing the teachers’ choices to design more appropriate tests for their subject areas. In this paper we use the term Computing-Based Testing (CBT) instead of Computer-Based Testing, as it captures better the emerging trends. Within the CBT context, the paper is centred on proposing an approach for “Assessment in situ” activities, where questions have to be answered in front of a real space/location (situ). In particular, we present the QuesTInSitu software implementation that includes both an editor and a player based on the IMS Question and Test Interoperability specification and GoogleMaps. With QuesTInSitu teachers can create geolocated questions and tests (routes), and students can answer the tests using mobile devices with GPS when following a route. Three illustrating scenarios and the results from the implementation of one of them in a real educational situation show that QuesTInSitu enables the creation of innovative, enriched and context-aware assessment activities. The results also indicate that the use of mobile devices and location-based systems in assessment activities facilitates students to put explorative and spatial skills into practice and fosters their motivation, reflection and personal observation.

From a pattern-language to a pattern ontology approach for CSCL script design

Collaborative activities, in which students actively interact with each other, have proved to provide significant learning benefits. In Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), these collaborative activities are assisted by technologies. However, the use of computers does not guarantee collaboration, as free collaboration does not necessary lead to fruitful learning. Therefore, practitioners need to design CSCL scripts that structure the collaborative settings so that they promote learning. However, not all teachers have the technical and pedagogical background needed to design such scripts. With the aim of assisting teachers in designing effective CSCL scripts, we propose a model to support the selection of reusable good practices (formulated as patterns) so that they can be used as a starting point for their own designs. This model is based on a pattern ontology that computationally represents the knowledge captured on a pattern language for the design of CSCL scripts. A preliminary evaluation of the proposed approach is provided with two examples based on a set of meaningful interrelated patters computationally represented with the pattern ontology, and a paper prototyping experience carried out with two teaches. The results offer interesting insights towards the implementation of the pattern ontology in software tools.

O balanced scorecard como instrumento de alinhamento estratégico nas organizações - Caso: Bento, S.A.

Diante da crescente competitividade, característica do mercado global, e da necessidade de melhorar a eficiência e a produtividade nas organizações, torne-se imperativo o aperfeiçoamento, incessante, na forma de actuação dos gestores. Consciente que, até então, as empresas suportam, essencialmente, no sistema contabilístico, este que, muitas vezes, fornece informações insuficientes e restringidos à tomada de decisões de curto prazo, mostra-se necessário investir em sistemas de medição, ligado à estratégia organizacional, que permitam melhor planeamento e controlo e, ainda, gerar e medir indicadores de longo prazo. No intuito de contribuir para a melhoria do paradigma da gestão, mais concretamente da gestão das empresas Cabo-Verdianas, e, em particular a da empresa em estudo, propomos, como objectivo desta dissertação, o estudo da utilização das ferramentas de gestão tradicional, face às novas ferramentas emergentes. Nisto, apresentamos, como estudo de caso, a avaliação do sistema de controlo de gestão da Empresa Bento - Comércio, Construtores, Imobiliária e Investimentos, Sociedade Anónima, (Bento S.A.), analisando, à luz da literatura consultada, o sistema de gestão estratégica, seguido pela empresa de modo a poder propor eventuais melhorias. Durante a revisão bibliográfica, foram estudadas várias ferramentas da gestão estratégica, das quais escolhemos o Balanced Scorecard (BSC) como um instrumento capaz de responder às lacunas detectadas na estratégia de gestão da Empresa, em que após uma breve descrição dos aspectos teóricos do conceito, suportado nos estudos empíricos publicados, apresentámos uma proposta para sua adopção, concepção e implementação. É de realçar que, durante o estudo constatou-se, por parte da administração da empresa, uma maior consciência da importância da comunicação e divulgação da sua estratégia entre os diferentes níveis hierárquicos, o que evidencia que ela está, mesmo, disposta a apostar na sua inovação estratégica. With the raising competitiveness, characteristic of the global market, and of the need of improving the efficiency and productivity in organizations, the constant improvement in the way of acting of managers it becomes peremptory. Aware that, so far, enterprises support, essentially, on the accounting system, which, many times, gives restrict and insufficient information for the taking of decisions in a short term, it is shown to be necessary to invest in measuring systems, connected to the organizational strategy, which contains signs that allow a better planning and control and, furthermore, give birth to and measure signs on a long term. With the aim of contributing for the improvement of the managing pattern, specifically, the management of Cape Verdean enterprises, and, in particular, the one of the enterprise in study, we propose, as an aim of this dissertation, the study of the use of the traditional managing tools, in view of the emerging new tools. Thus, we present, as study case, the evaluation of the system of management control of the Enterprise Bento - Comércio, Construtores, Imobiliária e Investimentos, Sociedade Anónima, (Bento, S.A.), analyzing the system of strategic management, used by the enterprise to be able to propose eventual improvements. During the bibliographic revision, we studied many strategic management tools, among which we chose the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) as an instrument capable to respond to the gaps detected in the management strategy of the enterprise, in which, after a brief description of the theoretical aspects of the concept, supported on the empiric studies published, we present a proposal for its adoption, conception and implementation. We would like to accentuate that, during the study we noticed that there exists, on the behalf of the management of the enterprise, a major awareness of the importance of communication and diffusion of its strategy among the different hierarchical levels, what makes clear that the enterprise is really open to bet on its strategic innovation.

The Harsh Fight against Poverty in Sao Tome and Principe

post-independence, and on the other hand, the testimonies from Sao Tomeans individuals from different social conditions and different degrees of political responsibility, this article approaches some possible connections between poverty and micro-violence in Sao Tome and Principe. It is offered an outline of research for the difficulties of the eradication of poverty and, concomitantly, the diffusion of a growing feeling of social disruption, processes in all contrary to the promises of independence for this archipelago. Frequently, the archipelago’s visitors make hasty opinions about the imaginary effortlessness of governing two islands with less than one hundred and fifty thousand citizens. However, contrary to this very common prejudice, the micro-insularity is considered an obstacle to development, a notion shared by many Sao Tomeans. Could micro-insularity equally be, under this outlook, an impoverishment-inducing factor? Regarding the development, there is some truth in this diagnosis, which the Sao Tomeans also use to justify their current difficulties. Throughout the 70s and 80s, the MLSTP – Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe (Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe) endorsed a development founded on an expansion of cacao cultures, at the expenses of an intensified production rate, and on an incipient industrialization, which was intended to avoid importations and economic dependency. At the time, the Sao Tomeans leaders justified the rising daily difficulties, quite the opposite of the promises made during the independence, with an economic disarticulation resulting from the gradual abandonment of economic infrastructures inflicted by the last batch of colonists, which affected the cacao plantations too. Simultaneously, both the inefficiency and cost of the industrial endeavors launched after the independence and the erosion of labor and social relationships in nationalized farms had been rather neglected.

LSTA Five Year Plan, 1998-2002, 2002

The LSTA goals for Iowa, FY98-FY02, are as follows: 1. Provide all Iowans with expanded access to information and materials through the State of Iowa Libraries Online (SILO) network. 2. Improve library service to Iowans through knowledgeable, well-trained staff and wellinformed public library trustees and library users. 3. Meet Iowans’ increasing demands for information and library services by identifying and encouraging resource sharing and partnerships. 4. Provide state level leadership and services to accomplish the LSTA Five-Year Plan. The primary objectives of this evaluation are to provide: $ An assessment of the overall impact of Iowa’s LSTA funding and success in achieving the goals identified in the state’s five-year plan. $ An in-depth analysis of two specific goals from the plan: providing Iowans with expanded access to information and materials through the State of Iowa Libraries Online (SILO) network; and improving library service to Iowans through knowledgeable, well-trained staff and well-informed public library trustees and library users. LSTA built on accomplishments made possible with the federal HEA II-B grant awarded to the State Library in 1995. This grant led the way in bringing technology to Iowa libraries by creating an electronic library network for resource sharing. SILO (State of Iowa Libraries Online) became fully functional in 1997. The State Library continued funding SILO with LSTA money when the grant ended. This funding supports the SILO infrastructure, providing equitable access to information through cutting edge technology to Iowans in both small and large, rural and urban, communities. Access to electronic material and information has encouraged public libraries to increase the number of computers and public access to the Internet. LSTA funding was used to increase training opportunities for library staff and trustees. Many programs, such as librarian certification, were strengthened by an increase in continuing education opportunities.

LSTA Five Year Plan, 1998-2002, 2002

The LSTA goals for Iowa, FY98-FY02, are as follows: 1. Provide all Iowans with expanded access to information and materials through the State of Iowa Libraries Online (SILO) network. 2. Improve library service to Iowans through knowledgeable, well-trained staff and wellinformed public library trustees and library users. 3. Meet Iowans’ increasing demands for information and library services by identifying and encouraging resource sharing and partnerships. 4. Provide state level leadership and services to accomplish the LSTA Five-Year Plan. The primary objectives of this evaluation are to provide: $ An assessment of the overall impact of Iowa’s LSTA funding and success in achieving the goals identified in the state’s five-year plan. $ An in-depth analysis of two specific goals from the plan: providing Iowans with expanded access to information and materials through the State of Iowa Libraries Online (SILO) network; and improving library service to Iowans through knowledgeable, well-trained staff and well-informed public library trustees and library users. LSTA built on accomplishments made possible with the federal HEA II-B grant awarded to the State Library in 1995. This grant led the way in bringing technology to Iowa libraries by creating an electronic library network for resource sharing. SILO (State of Iowa Libraries Online) became fully functional in 1997. The State Library continued funding SILO with LSTA money when the grant ended. This funding supports the SILO infrastructure, providing equitable access to information through cutting edge technology to Iowans in both small and large, rural and urban, communities. Access to electronic material and information has encouraged public libraries to increase the number of computers and public access to the Internet. LSTA funding was used to increase training opportunities for library staff and trustees. Many programs, such as librarian certification, were strengthened by an increase in continuing education opportunities.

LSTA Five Year Plan Evaluation, 1998-2002, 2002

The LSTA goals for Iowa, FY98-FY02, are as follows: 1. Provide all Iowans with expanded access to information and materials through the State of Iowa Libraries Online (SILO) network. 2. Improve library service to Iowans through knowledgeable, well-trained staff and wellinformed public library trustees and library users. 3. Meet Iowans’ increasing demands for information and library services by identifying and encouraging resource sharing and partnerships. 4. Provide state level leadership and services to accomplish the LSTA Five-Year Plan. The primary objectives of this evaluation are to provide: $ An assessment of the overall impact of Iowa’s LSTA funding and success in achieving the goals identified in the state’s five-year plan. $ An in-depth analysis of two specific goals from the plan: providing Iowans with expanded access to information and materials through the State of Iowa Libraries Online (SILO) network; and improving library service to Iowans through knowledgeable, well-trained staff and well-informed public library trustees and library users. LSTA built on accomplishments made possible with the federal HEA II-B grant awarded to the State Library in 1995. This grant led the way in bringing technology to Iowa libraries by creating an electronic library network for resource sharing. SILO (State of Iowa Libraries Online) became fully functional in 1997. The State Library continued funding SILO with LSTA money when the grant ended. This funding supports the SILO infrastructure, providing equitable access to information through cutting edge technology to Iowans in both small and large, rural and urban, communities. Access to electronic material and information has encouraged public libraries to increase the number of computers and public access to the Internet. LSTA funding was used to increase training opportunities for library staff and trustees. Many programs, such as librarian certification, were strengthened by an increase in continuing education opportunities.

Contributo das TIC na integração de famílias oriundas do Brasil no concelho de Albufeira

Os fenómenos migratórios tem-se acentuado nas últimas décadas, para este facto muito tem contribuído a era globalizada em que nos encontramos. Com a globalização surgiu o desenvolvimento de redes mundiais, nomeadamente sistemas sociais e económicos, facultando o acesso a meios de transporte mais rápidos e baratos, e as comunicações tornaram-se mais fáceis, promovendo e facilitando as deslocações entre países e continentes, de pessoas e bens. Assim, actualmente com o acesso facilitado nas comunicações e nas deslocações, a migração tornou-se uma constante. Perante a quantidade de indivíduos oriundos das mais diversas partes do globo e com a evolução das tecnologias de informação e comunicação, as barreiras culturais foram reduzidas, permitindo uma rápida difusão de ideias e de meios, possibilitando que indivíduos que se encontram em locais geograficamente longínquos possam comunicar com regularidade. Este estudo teve como objectivo conhecer, por um lado, o impacto da utilização das TIC, por parte dos imigrantes de origem brasileira, como forma de manterem o contacto com o país de origem, por outro, o facto de residirem familiares/amigos em Portugal, aquando da sua vinda, podem contribuir para a sua integração. O estudo foi aplicado no Gabinete da família e no Gabinete do Imigrante, da Divisão de Acção Social Saúde e Juventude, da Câmara Municipal de Albufeira. Teve uma amostragem por conveniência que abrangeu 50 indivíduos oriundos do Brasil, residentes em Albufeira. Foi aplicado um inquérito por questionário que permitiu a caracterização da amostra e recolher informações sobre o impacto da utilização das TIC como forma de manter o contacto com o país de origem e a importância das redes sociais no processo de integração. Constituído por 74 questões fechadas, abertas e semi abertas. Fez-se de seguida uma análise quantitativa e qualitativa dos dados recolhidos. Os resultados obtidos sobre esta problemática permitiram percepcionar que o facto de existir uma rede familiar e de amigos, contribui para a integração da família imigrante na sociedade de acolhimento. Ou seja, todo o suporte familiar e a rede de amigos existente facultam ao imigrante condições para que o mesmo se instale no país de acolhimento e se sinta integrado. O facto de os imigrantes comunicarem, por norma, semanalmente com a família no Brasil, bem como utilizarem as tecnologias de informação e comunicação, contribui em muito para o seu bem estar psicológico e emocional. O contacto regular com a família, ainda que através de uma Web cam, proporciona-lhes tranquilidade e minimiza a distância física, uma vez que os podem ver e ouvir sentindo assim o apoio dos mesmos, ajudando-os a permanecer no nosso país. O uso das novas tecnologias são utilizadas para manter a ligação com a comunidade de origem, fomentando os laços familiares e com amigos. Os imigrantes utilizam a internet para comunicar com os indivíduos da mesma nacionalidade, bem como a família/amigos que se encontram no Brasil. O acesso às TIC e o facto de as utilizarem para comunicar com a família e amigos, no país de origem, pode ser considerada como uma rede social de apoio, proporcionando assim aos imigrantes uma integração no país de acolhimento.

Informational matching

This paper analyzes the problem of matching heterogeneous agents in aBayesian learning model. One agent gives a noisy signal to another agent,who is responsible for learning. If production has a strong informationalcomponent, a phase of cross-matching occurs, so that agents of low knowledgecatch up with those of higher one. It is shown that:(i) a greater informational component in production makes cross-matchingmore likely;(ii) as the new technology is mastered, production becomes relatively morephysical and less informational;(iii) a greater dispersion of the ability to learn and transfer informationmakes self-matching more likely; and(iv) self-matching leads to more self-matching, whereas cross-matching canmake less productive agents overtake more productive ones.

La investigación regional en España: un análisis bibliométrico

Trabajos recientes han puesto de manifiesto que la búsqueda española en economía realizada durante la década de los noventa ha incrementado su presencia internacional al mismo tiempo que se observa una dualidad a la difusión de la búsqueda a través de revistas nacionales e internacionales en función del ámbito de búsqueda considerado. Este trabajo analiza, a partir de la aplicación de técnicas bibliométricas que ha sido la evolución de la búsqueda regional y urbana realizada en España dentro del contexto internacional y si hay diferencias muy marcadas entre la búsqueda publicada a revistas nacionales y la publicada a revistas internacionales durante el periodo 1991-2000. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la tendencia observada por el conjunto de la economía también se han producido (incluso con más intensidad) dentro del ámbito de la búsqueda centrada en aspectos regionales y urbanos

La investigación regional en España: un análisis bibliométrico

Trabajos recientes han puesto de manifiesto que la búsqueda española en economía realizada durante la década de los noventa ha incrementado su presencia internacional al mismo tiempo que se observa una dualidad a la difusión de la búsqueda a través de revistas nacionales e internacionales en función del ámbito de búsqueda considerado. Este trabajo analiza, a partir de la aplicación de técnicas bibliométricas que ha sido la evolución de la búsqueda regional y urbana realizada en España dentro del contexto internacional y si hay diferencias muy marcadas entre la búsqueda publicada a revistas nacionales y la publicada a revistas internacionales durante el periodo 1991-2000. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la tendencia observada por el conjunto de la economía también se han producido (incluso con más intensidad) dentro del ámbito de la búsqueda centrada en aspectos regionales y urbanos