98 research outputs found
Depth functions based on a number of observations of a random vector
No full textWe present two statistical depth functions given in terms of the random variable defined as the minimum number of observations of a random vector that are needed to include a fixed given point in their convex hull. This random variable measures the degree of outlyingness of a point with respect to a probability distribution. We take advantage of this in order to define the new depth functions. Further, a technique to compute the probability that a point is included in the convex hull of a given number of i.i.d. random vectors is presented. Consider the sequence of random sets whose n-th element is the convex hull of independent copies of a random vector. Their sequence of selection expectations is nested and we derive a depth function from it. The relation of this depth function with the linear convex stochastic order is investigated and a multivariate extension of the Gini mean difference is defined in terms of the selection expectation of the convex hull of two independent copies of a random vector.
Effects of Progesterone and Its Antagonist Mifepristone on Progesterone Receptor A Expression in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
No full textEffects of female steroid hormones on endothelial cells are gaining increased importance due to several studies on the effects of hormonal treatment on cardiovascular risk. Recent data argue for an improvement of endothelium-derived relaxation and impaired vascular contraction by estradiol, whereas progesterone and testosterone might entail contrary effects. So far, gestagenic influence on endothelial cell physiology is poorly understood. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to the female sex hormones estradiol and progesterone show expression of estrogen receptor-beta (ER beta) and progesterone receptor A (PR-A), and are negative for ER alpha and PR-B. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression and stimulation of PR-A and -B in HUVECs after stimulation with progesterone and PR antagonists that are commercially available. PR-B expression or upregulation was abrogated after application of progesterone or antagonists to HUVECs. Expression of PR-A could be significantly upregulated with progesterone and mifepristone. Unexpectedly, stimulation with the progesterone antagonist RU486 (mifepristone) was accomplished by an upregulation of PR-A expression in our study. We conclude that gestagenic effects on HUVECs independent of modulators are mediated via the PR-A. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Base
Bone Marrow Cells in Murine Colitis: Multi-Signal Analysis Confirms Pericryptal Myofibroblast Engraftment without Epithelial Involvement
No full textThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credite
Serological and genomic characterization of two plant RNA viruses: Barley Mild Mosaic Virus (BaMMV) and a potential cryptic virus from from pine (Pinus sylvestris)
No full textThe role of melanin production in the survival of Vibrio cholerae in the marine environment
No full textWord processed copy.Includes bibliographical references (p. 141-165).The marine bacterium Vibrio cholerae produces pyomelanin through the catabolism of L-tyrosine to homogentisic acid. Various types of melanins are used by microbes as defense mechanisms against a variety of environmental stresses. This thesis investigated the defensive role of V. cholerae pyomelanin against exogenous stresses, particularly hydrogen-peroxide (H2O2)
Serotonergic mechanisms of trigeminal meningeal nociception: Implications for migraine pain
No full textSerotonergic mechanisms play a central role in migraine pathology. However, the region-specific effects of serotonin (5-HT) mediated via multiple types of receptors in the nociceptive system are poorly understood. Using extracellular and patch-clamp recordings, we studied the action of 5-HT on the excitability of peripheral and central terminals of trigeminal afferents. 5-HT evoked long-lasting TTX-sensitive firing in the peripheral terminals of meningeal afferents, the origin site of migraine pain. Cluster analysis revealed that in majority of nociceptive fibers 5-HT induced either transient or persistent spiking activity with prevailing delta and theta rhythms. The 5-HT3-receptor antagonist MDL-72222 or 5-HT1B/D-receptor antagonist GR127935 largely reduced, but their combination completely prevented the excitatory pro-nociceptive action of 5-HT. The 5-HT3 agonist mCPBG activated spikes in MDL-72222-dependent manner but the 5HT-1 receptor agonist sumatriptan did not affect the nociceptive firing. 5-HT also triggered peripheral CGRP release in meninges, which was blocked by MDL-72222.5-HT evoked fast membrane currents and Ca2+ transients in a fraction of trigeminal neurons. Immunohistochemistry showed expression of 5-HT3A receptors in fibers innervating meninges. Endogenous release of 5-HT from degranulated mast cells increased nociceptive firing. Low pH but not histamine strongly activated firing. 5-HT reduced monosynaptic inputs from trigeminal Aδ- and C-afferents to the upper cervical lamina I neurons and this effect was blocked by MDL-72222. Consistent with central inhibitory effect, 5-HT reduced CGRP release in the brainstem slices. In conclusion, 5-HT evokes powerful pro-nociceptive peripheral and anti-nociceptive central effects in trigeminal system transmitting migraine pain.The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The study was supported by the Finnish Academy (grant 277442). AZ was supported by the subsidy allocated to Kazan Federal University for the state assignment in the sphere of scientific activities and the Government of the Russian Federation (grant No.11.G34.31.0075). The work of IS was supported by RFBR grant 14-04-00885. BVS was supported by the grant from the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (PTDC/NEU-NMC/1259/2014) and from the programme NORTE 2020
Year in review in Intensive Care Medicine 2012: III. Noninvasive ventilation, monitoring and patient-ventilator interactions, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sedation, paediatrics and miscellanea
No full textNon
Business Cycle Synchronisation in the Enlarged EU: Comovements in the New and Old Members
No full textIt is generally recognized that countries wanting to join a monetary union should display the optimal currency area properties. One such property is the similarity of business cycles. We therefore undertook to analyze the synchronization of business cycles between the EMU and eight new EU members from Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), for which the next step to be considered in the integration process is entry into the EMU. In contrast to the usually analyzed GDP and industrial production data, we extend our analysis to the major expenditure and sectoral components of GDP and use several measures of synchronization. The main findings of the paper are that Hungary, Poland and Slovenia have achieved a high degree of synchronization with the EMU for GDP, industrial production and exports, but not for consumption and services. The other CEECs have achieved less or no synchronization. There has been a significant increase in the synchronization of GDP and also its major components in the EMU members since the start of the run-up to EMU. While this lends support for the existence of OCA endogeneity, it can not be unambiguously attributed to it because there is also evidence of a world business cycle. Another finding is that the consumption-correlation puzzle remains, but its magnitude has greatly diminished in the EMU members, which is good news for common monetary policy.business cycle synchronization, consumption-correlation puzzle, EMU, new EU members, OCA endogeneity.
O Papel da agua (ou a sua ausencia) na formação de compostos ricos em energia nos sistemas biologicos
No full textTese (Mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Físicas e Matemáticas.Uma das questões mais fascinantes que já foram levantadas pelos pesquisadores nas últimas décadas refere-se ao estudo dos compostos ricos em energia, tais como o ATP e o acetil-fosfato (AcP). Neste trabalho, apresenta-se um modelo não enzimático para a síntese do AcP que considera o aspecto da dessolvatação do nucleófilo em reações de transferência de acila, que consiste na síntese do AcP, estudada em acetonitrila, à temperatura de 40°C, reagindo-se acetato de 2,4-dinitrofenila (DNPA) com n-decilfosfato de benziltrimetilamônio.A reação do DNPA com o n-decilfosfato mostra uma grande dependência do meio aprótico. A adição de pequenas quantidades de água reduz enormemente a magnitude das constantes de velocidade de pseudo-primeira ordem. Um estudo realizado demonstrou que o rendimento em AcP diminui com a adição de água, enquanto a percentagem de éster hidrolisado aumenta proporcionalmente. Demonstra-se desta forrna que o íon n-decilfosfato dessolvatado atua eficazmente como nucleófilo em reações de transferência de fosfato. A sua eficiência enquanto nucleófilo diminui com a adição de água, porque ela dificulta a sua aproximação do centro reacional. Neste caso, ele pode atuar de maneira mais eficiente como catalisador básico geral, promovendo a hidrólise do éster
Chronic cough due to occupational factors
No full textWithin the large variety of subtypes of chronic cough, either defined by their clinical or pathogenetic causes, occupational chronic cough may be regarded as one of the most preventable forms of the disease. Next to obstructive airway diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are sometimes concomitant with chronic cough, this chronic airway disease gains importance in the field of occupational medicine since classic fiber-related occupational airway diseases will decrease in the future.
Apart from acute accidents and incidental exposures which may lead to an acute form of cough, there are numerous sources for the development of chronic cough within the workplace. Over the last years, a large number of studies has focused on occupational causes of respiratory diseases and it has emerged that chronic cough is one of the most prevalent work-related airway diseases. Best-known examples of occupations related to the development of cough are coal miners, hard-rock miners, tunnel workers, or concrete manufacturing workers.
As chronic cough is often based on a variety of non-occupational factors such as tobacco smoke, a distinct separation into either occupational or personally -evoked can be difficult. However, revealing the occupational contribution to chronic cough and to the symptom cough in general, which is the commonest cause for the consultation of a physician, can significantly lead to a reduction of the socioeconomic burden of the disease
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