571 research outputs found
Angiotensin II induces soluble fms-Like tyrosine kinase-1 release via calcineurin signaling pathway in pregnancy
No full textMaternal endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia is associated with increased soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), a circulating antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a potent vasoconstrictor that increases concomitant with sFlt-1 during pregnancy. Therefore, we speculated that Ang II may promote the expression of sFlt-1 in pregnancy. Here we report that infusion of Ang II significantly increases circulating levels of sFlt-1 in pregnant mice, thereby demonstrating that Ang II is a regulator of sFlt-1 secretion in vivo. Furthermore, Ang II stimulated sFlt-1 production in a dose- and time-dependent manner from human villous explants and cultured trophoblasts but not from endothelial cells, suggesting that trophoblasts are the primary source of sFlt-1 during pregnancy. As expected, Ang II-induced sFlt-1 secretion resulted in the inhibition of endothelial cell migration and in vitro tube formation. In vitro and in vivo studies with losartan, small interfering RNA specific for calcineurin and FK506 demonstrated that Ang II-mediated sFlt-1 release was via Ang II type 1 receptor activation and calcineurin signaling, respectively. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized regulatory role for Ang II on sFlt-1 expression in murine and human pregnancy and suggest that elevated sFlt-1 levels in preeclampsia may be caused by a dysregulation of the local renin/angiotensin system
Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE): an update on clinical presentation, pathophysiology and treatment
No full textThe Quantum Ratchet Effect in Two Dimensional Semiconductors for Detection of Terahertz Radiation
No full textWe demonstrate a simple scattering quantum ratchet operating in terahertz regime. It is based on an asymmetrical quantum tunneling effect in two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba spin-orbit interaction (R2DEG).CPCI-S(ISTP
"I' ll tell you a story that will make you believe" in narratives: the role of metafiction in the novel and in the film Life of Pi
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Comunicação e Expressão, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Inglês: Estudos Linguísticos e Literários, Florianópolis, 2015.Recentes estudos propõem que adaptações cinematográficas sejam entendidas como fonte de criação, os quais refletem contextos e interpretações diferentes do texto em que são baseadas. Nessa dissertação, propõe-se uma análise comparativa do romance Life of Pi (2001), de Yann Martel e do filme homônimo dirigido por Ang Lee (2012). A análise tem como objetivo identificar a presença e o modo em que a metaficção é construída no romance e no filme, e quais são alguns significados produzidos por ela em ambos os textos, tanto o literário quanto o fílmico. A concepção de metafição se baseia nas definições de Linda Hutcheon e Patricia Waugh. Por metaficção, entende-se a ficção consciente de si, que expõe o processo de escrita ao leitor e o convida a ter um papel ativo na construção do significado. Após uma análise comparativa dos dois textos, conclui-se que a metaficção está presente em ambos, tanto tematicamente como estruturalmente. As reflexões sobre narrativas apresentadas pelos personagens, o uso de vários níveis narrativos e de intertextualidade revelam diferentes usos da metafição em ambos. A diferença mais importante entre o romance e o filme Life of Pi está no uso dos níveis narrativos. Enquanto o romance possui um ?autor? sem nome que apresenta a história aos leitores, o filme possui um diretor implícito que deixa pistas de qual versão da história de Pi é ?real? no contexto da narrativa. Essa diferença dá ao romance um final aberto, em que o leitor deve escolher qual versão da história ele acredita, enquanto o filme possui uma resolução para essa questão. O filme, então, pode ser entendido como um testemunho, uma narrativa de trauma de um sobrevivente de um naufrágio e da experiência de migração, enquanto o livro não apresenta uma decisão em relação às versões da história, deixando o leitor aberto a qualquer possibilidade.Abstract : Recent studies propose that Film Adaptations should be understood as sources of creation, which also reflect a different context and interpretation from the text upon which they were based. In this thesis, I propose a comparative analysis of the novel Life of Pi (2001), by Yann Martel, and the homonymous film directed by Ang Lee (2012). The analysis has the objective of identifying the presence and the way in which metafiction is constructed in the novel and in the film, and what are some of the meanings produced by it in both texts, the filmic and the literary. The concept of metafiction was based on the definitions by Linda Hutcheon and Patricia Waugh. It is understood as the self-conscious fictional text, which exposes the writing process to the readers and invites them to have an active role in the construction of meaning. In the comparative analyses of the two texts, I have proved that metafiction is present in the two texts, both thematically and structurally. The reflections of the characters on narrative itself as well as the use of different narrative levels and intertextual references reveal different uses of metanarrative in both film and novel. The most important difference between the novel and the film Life of Pi is in their uses of different narrative levels. While the novel has an unnamed =author? who presents the story to the readers, the film has an implicit director who leaves =clues? of which version of Pi?s story is ?real? in the context of the narrative. This difference gives to the novel an open end, facein which the readers must choose which version of the story they believe in, while the film presents a resolution to this question. The film, thus, can be understood as a testimony narrative, a narrative of the trauma of a survivor from a shipwreck and from the experience of migration, while the novel does not decide for one of the versions of the story, enabling a more inconclusive reading
Thai in-service teacher understanding of nature of science in biology teaching: Case of Mali
No full textApplied information system-based in enhancing students’ understanding towards higher order thinking (HOTS)
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Improved cardiovascular autonomic modulation in transgenic rats expressing an Ang-(1-7)-producing fusion protein
No full textAngiotensin-(1-7) counterbalances Angiotensin II cardiovascular effects. However, it has yet to be determined how cardiovascular autonomic modulation may be affected by chronic and acute elevation of Ang-(1-7). Hemodynamics and cardiovascular autonomic profile were evaluated in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) and transgenic rats (TGR) overexpressing Ang-(1-7) [TGR(A1-7)3292]. Blood pressure (BP) was directly measured while cardiovascular autonomic modulation was evaluated by spectral analysis. TGR received A-779 or vehicle and SD rats received Ang-(1-7) or vehicle and were monitored for 5 hours after i.v. administration. In another set of experiments with TGR, A-779 was infused for 7 days using osmotic mini pumps. Although at baseline no differences were observed, acute administration of A-779 in TGR produced a marked long lasting increase in BP accompannied by increased BP variability (BPV) and sympathetic modulation to the vessels. Likewise, chronic administration of A-779 with osmotic mini pumps in TGR increased heart rate, sympathovagal balance, BPV and sympathetic modulation to the vessels. Administration of Ang-(1-7) to SD rats increased HRV values in 88% accompannied by 8% of vagal modulation increase and 18% of mean BP reduction. These results show that both acute and chronic alteration in the Ang-(1-7)-Mas receptor axis may lead to important changes in the autonomic control of circulation, impacting either sympathetic and/or parasympathetic systems.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author
Regulation of angiogenin expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by HIF-1α signaling in hypoxic retinal pigment epithelial cells
No full textAbstractChoroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a major cause of vision loss in many retinal diseases. Hypoxia is determined to be a key inducer of CNV and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is an important transcription factor. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the synthesis of proangiogenic cytokines make great contributions to the development of CNV. In the present study, the role of HIF-1α signaling in the regulation of angiogenin (ANG) expression and EMT in hypoxic retinal pigment epithelial cells was investigated. A significant elevation expression of ANG expression level in a mouse model of laser-induced CNV was demonstrated. In a hypoxic model of ARPE-19, an increased expression level of ANG and induction of EMT accompanied with stabilization and nucleus translocation of HIF-1α. Blockage of HIF-1α signaling resulted in inhibition of high expression of ANG and EMT features. The direct interaction between HIF-1α and ANG promoter region was identified by ChIP-qPCR. The association of RNase 4 mRNA level with HIF-1α signaling was also clarified in APRE-19. Moreover, the exogenous ANG translocated into the nucleus, enhanced 45S rRNA transcription, promoted cell proliferation and tube formation in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells. In conclusion, the hypoxic conditions regulate the expression of ANG and EMT via an activation of HIF-1α signaling. It provides molecular evidence for potential therapy strategies of treating CNV
Ethnic minorities in Australia’s television news: a second snapshot
No full textThe nightly news on Australia's television screens presents a view of Australia and Australians that is different from what most of us encounter in our daily lives. This paper reports on the results of two content analyses of television news conducted in 2005 and 2007 which demonstrate that instead of a range of peoples and cultures, we see mainly Anglo faces, projecting an archetypal image of a 'white Australia' that is more applicable to the 1950s than it is to today. More disturbingly, when we do encounter people from manifestly different racial, cultural or religious backgrounds, they tend to be featured as victims, or as social deviants, or as in some way 'unAustralian'. This raises questions about current journalistic practice and suggests that in order for television news to present Australians with a true reflection of their 'real' world there need to be changes in the processes of newsgathering and storytelling
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