Expressions and clinic significance of miRNA-143, miRNA- 34A, miRNA-944, miRNA-101 and miRNA-218 in cervical cancer tissues

Purpose: To search for novel biomarkers for early diagnosis of cervical cancer, as well as novel therapeutic target for cervical cancer. Methods: A total of 96 cervical tissue specimens were collected from patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, out of which 10 were normal control. The remaining specimens (86) were cervical cancer specimens and were divided into 4 groups (A - D) based on tumor-biomarker levels of CA125 and SCC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technology (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of miRNA-143, miRNA-34A, miRNA-944, miRNA-101 and miRNA-218 in the cervical cancer tissues. Results: The levels of CA125 (U/mL) and SCC (ug/L) expressed in normal control group and groups A - D were 11.75 and 0.73 (n = 10), 382 and 2.72 (n = 25), 912.9 and 3.93 (n = 21), 1675 and 5.87 (n = 29), and 2120 and 6.66 (n = 11), respectively. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results showed that the expressions of miRNA-944 and miRNA-218 in cervical cancer tissues were markedly up-regulated compared to normal control tissues (p < 0.01). In contrast, the expression level of miRNA-143, miRNA-34A, and miRNA-101 were significantly decreased (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The biomarkers, miRNA-143, miRNA-34A, miRNA-944, miRNA-101 and miRNA-218, can be considered novel for early diagnosis of cervical cancer.

TensorPack : a Maple-based software package for the manipulation of algebraic expressions of tensors in general relativity

In this paper we: (1) introduce TensorPack, a software package for the algebraic manipulation of tensors in covariant index format in Maple; (2) briefly demonstrate the use of the package with an orthonormal tensor proof of the shearfree conjecture for dust. TensorPack is based on the Riemann and Canon tensor software packages and uses their functions to express tensors in an indexed covariant format. TensorPack uses a string representation as input and provides functions for output in index form. It extends the functionality to basic algebra of tensors, substitution, covariant differentiation, contraction, raising/lowering indices, symmetry functions and other accessory functions. The output can be merged with text in the Maple environment to create a full working document with embedded dynamic functionality. The package offers potential for manipulation of indexed algebraic tensor expressions in a flexible software environment.

Genotoxicity evaluation of chlorpyrifos: a gender related approach in regular toxicity testing

The oral intubation of chlorpyrifos, an extensively used organophosphate insecticide, was tested for its capability to induce in vivo genotoxic upshot in blood lymphocytes of 24 male and female Wistar rats using biomarker of genotoxicity. Rats were orally administered with daily doses 3 and 12 mg/kg body weight (BW) of chlorpyrifos (CPF). The blood lymphocytes were harvested after 7 and 14 days of treatment and subjected to bi-nucleus (BN), multi-nucleus (MN) and single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) to evaluate the extent of DNA damage. Other than BN and MN assay, damage to DNA was assessed through comet length, height, area, head diameter, head DNA percentage and tail DNA percentage along with tail movement. A significant boost was noticed in the frequency of BN cells formation after 12 mg/kg BW CPF treatment. However, the propensity to produce MN cells was significantly more (P ≤ 0.05) in males than that of females. Likewise, the frequency of comet formation, mean comet length, height and area were more (P ≤ 0.05) in males than females even with 12 mg/kgBW. Comet head DNA % and tail length remained non-significant. Olive movement also revealed a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in males than females. The study inferred that the CPF can induce DNA damage in both male and female subjects but more pronounced in the male individuals.

Detecting expressions of blame or praise in text

The growth of social networking platforms has drawn a lot of attentions to the need for social computing. Social computing utilises human insights for computational tasks as well as design of systems that support social behaviours and interactions. One of the key aspects of social computing is the ability to attribute responsibility such as blame or praise to social events. This ability helps an intelligent entity account and understand other intelligent entities’ social behaviours, and enriches both the social functionalities and cognitive aspects of intelligent agents. In this paper, we present an approach with a model for blame and praise detection in text. We build our model based on various theories of blame and include in our model features used by humans determining judgment such as moral agent causality, foreknowledge, intentionality and coercion. An annotated corpus has been created for the task of blame and praise detection from text. The experimental results show that while our model gives similar results compared to supervised classifiers on classifying text as blame, praise or others, it outperforms supervised classifiers on more finer-grained classification of determining the direction of blame and praise, i.e., self-blame, blame-others, self-praise or praise-others, despite not using labelled training data.

Análisis documental de los argumentos sobre política educativa emanados de organismos internacionales que buscan regular la práctica profesional y la formación de profesores

Esta tesis intenta generar conocimiento acerca de los argumentos de la política educativa elaborada y sostenida por tres instituciones principales: el Banco Mundial, la OCDE y el MET (Medidas de Enseñanza Efectiva) Proyecto de la Fundación Bill y Melinda Gates. El Banco Mundial y la O.C.D.E. son instituciones mundiales que son muy influyentes en el apoyo financiero y técnico de los esfuerzos de reforma educacional en los diferentes países de nuestro planeta. Sus puntos de vista en educación son, por consiguiente, de una importancia decisiva para la comprensión del cambio educativo que nuestros países están experimentando hoy a escala mundial. Sus puntos de vista se han reforzado en los últimos años por el apoyo dado por el Proyecto MET desarrollado por la Fundación Bill y Melinda Gates. Juntos constituyen un equipo de instituciones que está consolidando un nuevo conjunto particular de argumentos y criterios para el diseño y la implementación de la reforma educativa. Este conjunto de argumentos y criterios representan de alguna manera un cambio radical en comparación con los argumentos y criterios característicos de las reformas educativas del siglo XX. En este sentido, estas instituciones están liderando (a través de la prestación de financiamiento, soporte intelectual y técnico) un nuevo tipo de reforma educativa que se basa en un cambio de paradigma en cuanto a pensamiento educativo y en una nueva perspectiva de la relación entre educación y economía...

Benefícios do consumo regular de pescado para a saúde humana

Trabalho Complementar apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de licenciada em Ciências da Nutrição

Review : regular brisk walking improves cardiovascular risk factors in healthy sedentary adults

QUESTION In healthy sedentary adults, does regular brisk walking improve cardiovascular risk factors?

METHODS Data sources: Medline and Web of Science (1971 to September 2004) and reference lists.Study selection and assessment:English-language, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with duration ⩾4 weeks that assessed the effects of walking as the only intervention on changes in cardiovascular risk factors in sedentary, but otherwise healthy, adults. 24 RCTs (n = 1128, mean age 52 y, 83% women) met the selection criteria. The mean length of the walking programmes was 35 weeks (range 8–104 wk). On average, walking was done 4.4 days/week for 38 minutes per session. The mean intensity of the walking interventions was 70% of predicted maximum heart rate or 56% of VO2 max. Quality of individual studies was assessed based on allocation concealment. Outcomes: cardiovascular fitness (VO2 max), body weight, percent body fat, body mass index, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP).

MAIN RESULTS Brisk walking increased cardiovascular fitness and reduced body weight, body mass index, body fat composition, and diastolic BP more than the control condition (table). No effect on systolic BP was observed (table).

CONCLUSION In healthy sedentary adults, regular brisk walking improves cardiovascular fitness, body composition, and diastolic blood pressure.

SCDNR WMA REGULAR SEASON WATERFOWL HARVEST SUMMARY 2011-2012

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources manages Waterfowl Management Areas to maintain populations of migratory waterfowl. This report provides a summary of the species, number of hunters, ducks per hunter, shots fired, cripples lost, and percentage lost of waterfowl hunted in the management areas.

An investigation of the possible health-promoting modes of action of regular- and super- doses of phytase in the broiler chicken

The overall objective of this thesis was to study the effects of regular and high (super-) doses of phytase in the gut of broilers, with the aim of documenting the mechanism of their action leading to improvements in animal health. Phytase is often supplemented to commercial broiler diets to facilitate the hydrolysis of plant phytate and release of phosphorus for utilisation. Although not the original intention of its addition, phytase supplementation leads to improvements in growth performance parameters and enhanced nutrient utilisation. Further benefits have also been observed following the addition of super-doses of phytase which are not explained by an increase in phosphorus release, and thus have been termed ‘extra-phosphoric effects’. Using diets formulated to be adequate or marginally deficient in available phosphorus (aP; forming the negative control, NC), phytase was supplemented at 1,500 and 3,000 FTU/kg phytase in the first study (both super-doses) and the partitioning of nutrients within the body was investigated. It appeared that there were some metabolic changes between 1,500 and 3,000 FTU/kg, switching between protein and fat accretion, potentially as a consequence of nutrient availability, although these changes were not reflected by changes in growth performance parameters. However, the loss of the NC treatment without phytase on day 12 limits the comparison of the phytase within the NC treatment, but does allow for comparison of each dose at adequate or low dietary aP levels. As expected, a greater degree of phytate hydrolysis was achieved with 3,000 than with 1,500 FTU/kg phytase, but changes in carcass accretion characteristics were greater with 1,500 than 3,000 FTU/kg. Using these findings and the observation that there were no further changes in the parameters measured by increasing phytase from 1,500 to 3,000 FTU/kg (aside from phytate hydrolysis), 1,500 FTU/kg phytase was selected as the super-dose to be used in subsequent studies. The next study considered the influence of regular (500 FTU/kg) and super doses (1,500 FTU/kg) of phytase from within the gut. Overall, it was observed that changes were occurring to the gut environment, which ultimately would influence the absorptive capacity and conditions for further phytate hydrolysis. Dietary treatment influenced gut conditions such as pH, intestinal morphology and bacterial populations which can subsequently influence nutrient utilisation and potential for growth. The subsequent study was designed to investigate the effects within the gut in more detail. The release of nutrients from phytate hydrolysis and their bioavailability within the digesta can influence conditions within intestine, facilitating enhanced absorption. One of the parameters investigated was the expression of genes involved in the transport of nutrients in the intestine. Overall, there were few significant dietary treatment influences on gene expression in the intestine, however there was a dose-dependent response of phytase on the expression of the jejunual divalent mineral transporter. This indicates a change in divalent mineral bioavailability in the intestine, with correlations with inositol phosphate esters (IPs) being identified. This is likely explained by the IPs produced by phytase hydrolysis and accumulating in the digesta, differing between regular and high doses of phytase. It became apparent that interactions between the products of phytate hydrolysis (IP3, IP4) and minerals in the digesta had the potential to influence the gut environment and subsequent nutrient bioavailability and overall phytase action. The final study was designed to increase the content of the IPs, and investigate the influence of phytase under these conditions. As the complete hydrolysis of phytate to myo-inositol has been reported to be beneficial due to its proposed insulin mimetic effects, myo-inositol was also supplemented to one of the diets to see if any further benefits would be observed when supplemented alongside super-doses of phytase. Neither increased concentrations of the higher IP esters (IP6, IP5 and IP4) nor myo-inositol (myo-) had any effect on broiler growth performance, however there were still apparent beneficial influences of phytase supplementation. The results suggest considerable and important interactions between minerals and IP esters within the digesta, which ultimately have the potential to influence gut conditions and thus nutrient utilisation and growth performance. Reduced concentrations of blood glucose in the high IP ester diet with additional phytase supplementation suggest some insulin-like effects of myo- production. Additionally, the lack of effect of myo- supplementation on blood glucose and insulin concentrations suggests a difference between the structure of phytase-produced myo- and supplemented myo-. Although there were no improvements in growth performance by increasing phytase from 500 to 1,500 FTU/kg, there were changes occurring at the level of the gut and expression of genes in the intestine, influencing nutrient utilisation and the partitioning of nutrients within the body. There are many factors to be considered when supplementing phytase, with dietary nutrient content and nutrient release and IP production during phytate hydrolysis having an influence on phytase action, nutrient absorption and conditions within the gut. Super-doses of phytase may be beneficial for maintaining optimal gut conditions, clearing IP esters from the digesta, reducing their potential to form complexes with minerals and other nutrients, ultimately influencing the efficiency of production.

Estudo comparativo de professores de ensino regular e educação especial em escolas públicas portuguesas: stresse, bem estar, suporte social e burnout

Sendo a docência umas das profissões onde existem elevados níveis de stresse e burnout, este estudo objetivou comparar estes níveis em professores de ensino regular que trabalham com alunos com Necessidades Educativas Especiais e professores de educação especial. Estudou-se também o bem-estar psicológico manifestado por este grupo, bem como a percepção do suporte social, o qual tem um efeito direto positivo sobre o burnout. Os resultados revelam que, relativamente ao stresse, no grupo de ensino regular são os homens que manifestam um nível mais elevado, enquanto que no grupo de educação especial, são as mulheres. Foram identificadas também diferenças no bem-estar e percepção do suporte social, tendo estes resultados sido obtidos para os docentes de educação especial, homens e mulheres, respetivamente. No que concerne ao burnout, foram observadas diferenças em função do género e habilitações literárias, tendo estas sido verificadas no grupo de professoras de ensino regular que possuem o bacharelato e professores que possuem mestrado e doutoramento. No grupo de educação especial, as diferenças foram obtidas nas professoras com doutoramento e nos homens que possuem a licenciatura; Comparative study of regular education teachers and special education in Portuguese public schools: stress, welfare, social support and burnout Abstract: Being a teaching professions where there are high levels of stress and burnout, this study aimed to compare these levels in regular education teachers who work with students with special educational needs and special education teachers. It is also studied the psychological well-being manifested by this group, as well as the perception of social support, which has a positive direct effect on burnout. The results show that for the stress in the regular education group are men who express a higher level, while the special education group, are women. They were also identified differences in well-being and perceived social support, and these results have been obtained for special education teachers, men and women, respectively. Regarding the burnout, differences were observed in gender and qualifications, and these were verified on the regular education teachers group who have a bachelor's degree and teachers who hold master's and doctorate. In the special education group, the differences were obtained in teachers with doctoral and men who have a degree.

Inteligência emocional, resilência e bem-estar: um estudo comparativo entre alunos do ensino secundário regular e profissional

Esta investigação teve como principal objetivo estudar a relação entre os constructos Inteligência Emocional, Resiliência e Bem-estar Psicológico em jovens de ensino secundário, em vias distintas de ensino. Participaram no estudo 245 jovens, com idades entre 15 e 23 anos, – 155 inseridos no ensino regular e 90 no ensino profissional –, pertencentes ao Agrupamento de Escolas nº 4 de Évora, que responderam a um Questionário Sóciodemográfico, ao Questionário de Inteligência Emocional traço (TEIQue-SF), à Escala de Resiliência de Wagnil e Young (ER) e à Escala de Medida de Manifestação de Bem-Estar Psicológico (EMMBEP). Os principais resultados encontrados sugerem que os jovens do ensino profissional apresentam níveis mais elevados de inteligência emocional traço, resiliência e bemestar psicológico e apontam para a existência de uma relação positiva entre os três constructos; Emotional Intelligence, Resilience and Well-Being: A comparative study between regular high school and vocational route students Abstract: The primary goal of this investigation was to study the relationship between Trait Emotional Intelligence, Resilience and Psychological Well-Being in young people in distinct routes of education. The participants were 245 boys and girls, between the ages of 15 to 23, 155 of which in regular high school and the remain 90 in vocational routes, that responded to a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, to Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue-SF), to Wagnil and Young´s Resilience Scale (ER) and to the Échelle de Mesure des Manifestations de Bien-Être Psychologique. They all belonged to de school’s cluster nº4, in Évora. The main results found suggest that vocational route students present higher levels of trait emotional intelligence, resilience and psychological well-being and point out to the existence of a positive relationship between the three constructs.

Educational Inclusion in the Regular Classroom: an Asperger Syndrome Case

The following paper resulted from the final research project conducted for my Master’s Degree in Teacher Training for Teachers of Primary Education (1st – 6th grade of the Basic General Education). This research project was conducted under the supervision of the Rural Education Division of the Center for Research and Teaching in Education (CIDE-UNA, Spanish acronym), in coordination with the Central America Educational and Cultural Coordination (CECC). The research is qualitative with an interpretative approach. Our main objective was to analyze the process of inclusive education in the regular classroom for a person with Asperger’s Syndrome, defined as a type of social impairment. The case study method was used in this research, as it allows a deeper study. A girl was chosen from a public school in an urban area of San José, Costa Rica. Three techniques were used to obtain information: interviews, questionnaires and documentation (personal file, behavior record, and psychological assessment) related to the girl with Asperger. The triangulation of sources was used as a method of analysis. The conclusion of the project was that regular schools may have children miss-diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, and that our schools are still far from achieving inclusive education, but efforts are being made to achieve it. For a more opportune intervention, some recommendations based on this study were provided to the family and the school of the girl with Asperger.