Heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes mellitus collectively account for .1.37 million U.S. deaths each year (1). Compounding the tragedy is the knowledge that many of those deaths could be avoided through better application of clinical guidelines related to primary and secondary prevention or disease management. The combined control of blood pressure, lipids, and glucose has been shown to substantially reduce mortality and cardiovascular events (2,3). Screening for colon, cervical, breast, and lung cancer has been proven to reduce age-adjusted mortality from these diseases (4). In recognition of the common risk factors across these disease areas, the chief executive officers of the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and American Heart Association formed the Preventive Health Partnership in 2004. The 3 organizations have been working closely ever since to increase public awareness about healthy lifestyles, support policies that increase funding for and access to prevention programs and research, and increase the focus on prevention among healthcare providers. The American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and American Heart Association have long developed scientific statements and evidence-based guidelines that promote public health services and clinical interventions of known efficacy for improving patient outcomes. Thus, maximizing adherence to quality-ofcare guidelines is a high priority for each organization, because this will save lives and improve quality of life. This common purpose has served as a focal point for much of the collaborative work undertaken by the 3 organizations, including The Guideline Advantage (TGA). Launched in 2011, TGA is a jointly operated program designed to promote consistent use of evidence-based practice guidelines through existing healthcare technology in the outpatient setting. The ultimate goal of this undertaking is to improve patient care through quality improvement programs that provide feedback to clinicians and their practices on performance across various quality measures. The data gathered through TGA will provide a platform for longitudinal research on the impact of preventive care while also allowing practices to compare themselves to others across the country through benchmarking capabilities. The program's research strategy is focused on identifying patient-, provider-, and practice-level factors associated with guideline adherence and assessing the effectiveness of quality improvement interventions in increasing guideline adherence. The program's recognition component will publicly acknowledge achievements in providing consistent guidelines-based care. The present report reviews the origins and intent of TGA, explores recent changes in the health information technology landscape, and provides a set of key recommendations for outpatient performance measurement programs.

In this study, 154 healthy volunteers and 76 patients were tested using the anti-malignin antibody in serum (AMAS) test. Of the 154 volunteers, three were AMAS positive. After further examination, two were positive for cancer and one had a history of ulcerative colitis. Tumor biopsies of 43 suspicious mammography patients revealed that 32 were cancerous and 11 were benign by pathology. For the cancer patients, 31/32 were positive for the AMAS test, while 4/11 of the pathological benign cases were AMAS positive. In comparison to cancer antigen tests, AMAS was more sensitive (97%) in detecting breast cancer than CEA (0%), CA 15-3 (10%), CA 19-5 (5%) or CA 125 (16%) in the same patients. q

Cannabinoids and opioids interact in a number of ways that could be therapeutically beneficial. The CB1 re- ceptors are implicated with the endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of stress, pain, visceral sensation, synaptic plasticity in the thalamus via GABAergic signaling. Thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is a thin sheet of GABAergic neurons surrounding anterolateral surface of the thalamus. In our immunohistochem- ical study we demonstrated expression of CB1 immunoreactive neurons in a light microscope during a nor- mal condition and after the acute stress in the rats. We found higher expression of CB 1 immunoreactivity in stressed animals compared with control group. Opioids and cannabinoids have been shown to have analgesic properties and they are considered as drug tar- gets for the treatment of numerous neurological disorders, pain and stress. Key words: Thalamic reticular nucleus, CB 1 receptors, immobilization stress, rat

We analyzed Neal Stephenson's novel Snow Crash for all references to avatars. This analysis is documented here, including a comparison of the Snow Crash avatars to the current state of real-time virtual human research. The avatar characteristics discussed include appearance, clothing and attachments, ethnicity, locomotion, body actions, forms of communication, and emotion and personality.

The present work aims at discussing the use of the failure analysis methods in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications, focusing the design review procedures with Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). UAV are typically currently unreliable, and lack systems to improve their reliability. It is shown that the use of these tools will lead to reliability improvement by means of the implementation of countermeasures to potential failures as well as to determine the importance of these failures from various perspectives such as cost, reliability and safety. As an example of implementation of such tools, we adapted forms from commercial use for FMECA system for UAV, and a FTA regarding loss of propulsion for a UAV are briefly presented and discussed.

Background: More than two thirds of the total population of Ethiopia is estimated to be at risk of malaria. Therefore, malaria is the leading public health problem in Ethiopia. Objective: To investigate the determinants of malaria Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) result and the association between socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors. Method: The study used data from household cluster malaria survey which was conducted from December 2006 to January 2007. A total of 224 clusters of about 25 households each were selected from the Amhara, Oromiya and Southern Nation Nationalities and People (SNNP) regions of Ethiopia. A multiple correspondence analysis was used to jointly analyse malaria RDT result, socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors. Results: The result from multiple correspondence analysis shows that there is association between malaria RDT result and different socio-economic, demographic and geographic variables. Conclusion: There is an indication that some s...

This study examined the correlation existed between students' continuous assessments performance and academic achievements of students in Junior Secondary School Examination in Urban and Rural areas of Oyo State. The survey research design was adopted for this study; this is data is collected from a sample population with specific characteristics. The population of the study covered the entire junior secondary school students (both males and females) in the area of study. Out of this population sixty (60) students comprising thirty (30) students from Rural areas and thirty (30) students from Urban areas which were in Junior Secondary School (JSS3), used as sample was selected for the study; using purposive sampling technique. The instrument used to collect data for the study was a three-sectioned self-structured questionnaire. Three questions were asked and answered during the study using frequency percentage count statistical tool. On the basis of the findings made in the study, we conclude that there were very many Continuous Assessment Strategies (CASs) used and these were found to have a positive relationship to students" performance in the Junior Secondary Certificate (JSC) examination in rural and urban areas of Oyo State. Based on the findings of this study, we recommend that The Ministry of Education and Sports should put in place regulations, checks and balances to ensure that different CA strategies are used in junior secondary schools, both in rural and urban areas of Oyo State. A uniform policy on this practice should be emphasized so that all schools benefit from it. Consequently, we suggest that there is a need to further research about how the teachers carry out CA strategies in various school settings. This will also give a detailed picture of the adaptation of a strategy to various situations.

This article examines some key outcomes of researches on the human brain related to language learning in particular; and, then it highlights the role using literary texts can play, while employed as stimuli, for achieving success in the field of EFL. To narrow down further, the aim of this paper is to propose: by implementing literature-based course materials in different teaching methods like Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), Task-based language teaching (TBLT)and Cooperative learning (CL), EFL teachers can actually help their learners to learn the language more effectively, as it is more compatible with their brain functions.

Bahan organik merupakan bahan-bahan yang dapat diperbaharui, didaur ulang, dirombak oleh bakteri-bakteri tanah menjadi unsur yang dapat digunakan oleh tanaman tanpa mencemari tanah dan air. Bahan organik tanah merupakan penimbunan dari sisasisa tanaman dan binatang yang sebagian telah mengalami pelapukan dan pembentukan kembali. Bahan organik demikian berada dalam pelapukan aktif dan menjadi mangsa

Alterations of genetic and epigenetic features can provide important insights into the natural history of breast cancer. Although DNA methylation analysis is a rapidly developing field, a reproducible epigenetic blood-based assay for diagnosis and follow-up of breast cancer has yet to be successfully developed into a routine clinical test. The aim of this study was to review multiple serum DNA methylation assays and to highlight the value of those novel biomarkers in diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of therapeutic outcome. Serum is readily accessible for molecular diagnosis in all individuals from a peripheral blood sample. The list of hypermethylated genes in breast cancer is heterogeneous and no single gene is methylated in all breast cancer types. There is increasing evidence that a panel of epigenetic markers is essential to achieve a higher sensitivity and specificity in breast cancer detection. However, the reported percentages of methylation are highly variable, which can be partly explained by the different sensitivities and the different intra-/inter-assay coefficients of variability of the analysis methods. Moreover, there is a striking lack of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the proposed biomarkers. Another point of criticism is the fact that 'normal' patterns of DNA methylation of some tumor suppressor and other cancer-related genes are influenced by several factors and are often poorly characterized. A relatively frequent methylation of those genes has been observed in high-risk asymptomatic women. Finally, there is a call for larger prospective cohort studies to determine methylation patterns during treatment and follow-up. Identification of patterns specific for a differential response to therapeutic interventions should be useful. Only in this way, it will be possible to evaluate the predictive and prognostic characteristics of those novel promising biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Patients with borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) include those with localized disease who have tumor or patient characteristics that preclude immediate surgery. There is no optimal treatment schema for this distinct stage of disease, so the role of surgery is undefined. STUDY DESIGN: We defined patients with borderline resectable PA as fitting into one of three distinct groups.

Antígeno carbohidratado; CA 19-9; Interferencia; Falso positivo; Lectina Resumen El CA 19-9 es uno de los marcadores tumorales (MT) más inespecíficos. El incremento de este marcador puede estar influido por diversas circunstancias, por lo que un resultado elevado debe ser interpretado siempre considerando el contexto clínico. Se presenta el caso clínico de un varón de 79 años con síntomas digestivos inespecíficos y con una elevación de CA 19-9 sin ninguna otra prueba complementaria con valores alterados, por lo que desde el laboratorio se realizó un estudio de interferencias para determinar la verosimilitud de este resultado. El objetivo de este trabajo es resaltar el papel que desempeña el laboratorio clínico en la interpretación de los MT en el diagnóstico del cáncer.

Under appropriate in vivo or in vitro conditions, certain somatic plant cells have the capability to initiate embryogenic development (somatic embryogenesis). Somatic embryogenesis provides an unique experimental model to understand the molecular and cellular bases of developmental plasticity in plants. In the last few years, the application of modern experimental techniques, as well as the characterization of Arabidopsis embryogenesis mutants, have resulted in the accumulation of novel data about the acquisition of embryogenic capabilities by somatic plant cells. In this review, we summarize relevant experimental observations that can contribute to the description and definition of a transitional state of somatic cells induced to form totipotent, embryogenic cells. During this somatic-to-embryogenic transition, cells have to dedifferentiate, activate their cell division cycle and reorganize their physiology, metabolism and gene expression patterns. The roles of stress, endogenous growth regulators and chromatin remodelling in the coordinated reorganization of the cellular state are especially emphasized.

We analyzed Neal Stephenson's novel Snow Crash for all references to avatars. This analysis is documented here, including a comparison of the Snow Crash avatars to the current state of real-time virtual human research. The avatar characteristics discussed include appearance, clothing and attachments, ethnicity, locomotion, body actions, forms of communication, and emotion and personality.

We analyzed Neal Stephenson's novel Snow Crash for all references to avatars. This analysis is documented here, including a comparison of the Snow Crash avatars to the current state of real-time virtual human research. The avatar characteristics discussed include appearance, clothing and attachments, ethnicity, locomotion, body actions, forms of communication, and emotion and personality.

Little progress has been made over the last 40 years to eliminate the racial/ethnic differences in incidence, morbidity, avoidable suffering, and mortality from cancer that result from factors beyond genetic differences. More effective strategies to promote equity in access and quality care are urgently needed because the changing demographics of the United States portend that this disparity will not only persist but significantly increase. Such suffering is avoidable. The authors posit that culture is a prime factor in the persistence of health disparities. However, this concept of culture is still poorly understood, inconsistently defined, and ineffectively used in practice and research. The role of culture in the causal pathway of disparities and the potential impact of culturally competent cancer care on improving cancer outcomes in ethnic minorities has, thus, been underestimated. In this article, the authors provide a comprehensive definition of culture and demonstrate how it can be used at each stage of the cancer care continuum to help reduce the unequal burden of cancer. The authors conclude with suggestions for clinical practice to eliminate the disconnection between evidence-based, quality, cancer care and its delivery to diverse population groups.

"" This paper is the first publication that reported the concentrations of a number of rare earth elements in biodetritus. The rare earth elements are a key component of modern hi-technology products and they are a new component in the modern solid wastes and waste waters. This paper is an innovative and significant contribution to the database for modern environmental monitoring.
**
Biodetritus that formed over a 7-month period in microcosms with Viviparus viviparus, Unio pictorum , and Ceratophyllum demersum contained a number of elements. This is the first study to determine concentrations of some elements in biodetritus. Neutron activation analysis showed that the elements’ concentrations decrease in the following order: Ca > Zn > Ba > Br > Ce > Se > Nd > La > U > Hf > Sb > Th > Sm > S > Cs > Au. The data obtained contribute to understanding of the polyfunctional role of aquatic organisms in aquatic ecosystems.
Key words:
Zn, viviparus, unio, U, Th, Sm, Se, Sb, rare, pictorum, Nd, La, Hf, elements, ecosystems, earth, detritus, demersum, Cs, ceratophyllum, Ce, Ca, Br, Ba, Au, aquatic, biogeochemistry,
Title: The role of biodetritus in accumulation of elements in aquatic ecosystems
Author(s): Ostroumov S. A.; Kolesov G. M.
Source: CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS OF ECOLOGY,  Volume: 3,  Issue: 4,  Pages: 369-373,  DOI: 10.1134/S1995425510040016,  Published: AUG 2010; full text free: http://ru.scribd.com/doc/155530269/
abstract:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/75098592/

The reference in a traditional form:
Ostroumov S. A., Kolesov G. M. The role of biodetritus in accumulation of elements in aquatic ecosystems. -  CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS OF ECOLOGY,  3 (4): 369-373.
""

Many studies demonstrate that cancer incidence and mortality patterns among Asian Americans are heterogeneous, but national statistics on cancer for Asian ethnic groups are not routinely available. This article summarizes data on cancer incidence, mortality, risk factors, and screening for 5 of the largest Asian American ethnic groups in California. California has the largest Asian American population of any state and makes special efforts to collect health information for ethnic minority populations. We restricted our analysis to the 4 most common cancers (prostate, breast, lung, colon/rectum) and for the 3 sites known to be more common in Asian Americans (stomach, liver, cervix). Cancer incidence and mortality were summarized for 5 Asian American ethnic groups in California in order of population size (Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese). Chinese Americans had among the lowest incidence and death rate from all cancer combined; however, Chinese women had the highest lung cancer death rate. Filipinos had the highest incidence and death rate from prostate cancer and the highest death rate from female breast cancer. Vietnamese had among the highest incidence and death rates from liver, lung, and cervical cancer. Korean men and women had by far the highest incidence and mortality rates from stomach cancer. Japanese experienced the highest incidence and death rates from colorectal cancer and among the highest death rates from breast and prostate cancer. Variations in cancer risk factors were also observed and were for the most part consistent with variations in cancer incidence and mortality. Differences in cancer burden among Asian American ethnic groups should be considered in the clinical setting and in cancer control planning.

Aboveground biomass in cattle pasture converted from tropical dense forest was studied both before and after reburning in Brazilian Amazonia. In a seven-year-old pasture studied in Apiaú, Roraima, the aboveground dry-weight of biomass (live + dead) exposed to burning consisted of 96.3 t ha -1 of original forest remains, 6.2 t ha -1 of secondary successional vegetation (woody invaders in the pasture), and 8.0 t ha -1 of pasture grass (carbon contents 48.2%, 45.4% and 42.2%, respectively). In terms of carbon, burning efficiencies for these three categories were 13.2%, 66.7% and 94.6%, respectively. Net charcoal formation was 0.35 t C ha -1 , or 0.63% of the carbon exposed to the reburn, while the total accumulated since conversion (including the initial burn) is estimated at 2.3 t ha -1 (1.82% of the pre-deforestation aboveground biomass carbon stock). The dynamics of the original forest remains were represented in simulations that included parameters such as charcoal formation, burning efficiency and carbon concentration in different biomass components. Releases from initial burning of the cleared forest (44.0 t C ha -1 ) plus releases over the course of the succeeding decade through combustion (12.5 t C ha -1 ) and decay (51.5 t C ha -1 ) total 92% of the original forest biomass carbon (126 t C ha -1 ). Of biomass carbon remaining after the initial burn (84.3 t C ha -1 ), 76.0% is released: 61.1% through decay and 14.9% through combustion in reburns, while 1.2% is net conversion to charcoal in the reburns. These results indicate an amount of charcoal accumulation that is smaller than some carbon calculations have assumed, therefore suggesting a greater impact on global warming from conversion of forest to pasture.

We present a physics-based system for the guided animation of articulated figures. Based on an e@ cient forward dynamics simulator, we introduce a robust feedback control scheme and a fast two-stage collision response algorithm. A user of our system provides kinematic trajectories for those degrees of freedom (DOFs) of the figure they want direct control over. The output motion is fully generated using forward dynamics. The specified motion trajectories are the input t o a control system which computes the forces and torques that should be ezerted to achieve the desired motion. The dynamic controllers, designed based on the Model Reference Adaptive Control paradigm, continuously self-adjust for optimal performance in trajectory following. Moreover, the user is given a handle on the type and speed of reaction of the figure's controlled DOFs to sudden changes in their desired motion. The overall goal of our system is to provide a platform for generating and studying realistic, user controlled motion at interactive rates. We require minimal user involvement in specifying non-intuitive parameters.

En el proceso de construcción de las sociedades postmodernas, el discurso público se constituye en un mecanismo influyente para la legitimación y deslegitimación del poder. Esta manera de materializar el poder fundamenta la necesidad de examinar los discursos públicos (la televisión, la radio, etc.) como canales de difusión ideológica. En este sentido, este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar las pautas de género subyacentes en el discurso de los locutores de una emisora juvenil en Colombia. El enfoque analítico articuló el andamiaje teórico–metodológico del Análisis de la Conversación (AC) y el Análisis Crítico del Discurso (ACD). Los resultados indican que en el programa predomina un discurso androcéntrico que se cristaliza mediante el control que ejercen los hombres sobre la situación interaccional, el acceso a los temas y su tratamiento.

The signal sound contains many different features, including Voice Onset Time (VOT), which is a very important feature of stop sounds in many languages. The only application of VOT values is stopping phoneme subsets. This subset of consonant sounds is stop phonemes exist in the Arabic language, and in fact, all languages. Very important subsets of Semitic language’s consonants are the Emphatic sounds. The pronunciation of these sounds is hard and unique especially for less-educated Arabs and non-native Arabic speakers. In the Arabic language, all emphatic sounds have their own non-emphatic counterparts that differ only in the “emphaticness” based on written letters. VOT can be utilized by the human auditory system to distinguish between voiced and unvoiced stops such as /p/ and /b/ in English. Similarly, VOT can be adopted by digital systems to classify and recognize stop sounds and their carried syllables for words of any language. In addition, an analysis of any language’s phoneme set is very important in order to identify the features of digital speech and language for automatic recognition, synthesis, processing, and communication.

The main reason to choose this subject is that there is not enough research that analyzes the Arabic language. Also, this subject is new because it will analyze Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and other Arabic dialects.

This search focuses on computing and analyzing VOT of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), within the Arabic language, for all pairs of non-emphatic (namely, /d/ and /t/) and emphatic pairs (namely, /d?/ and /t?/) depending on carrier words. This research uses a database built by ourselves, and uses the carrier words syllable structure: CV-CV-CV.

One of the main outcomes always found is the emphatic sounds (/d?/, /t?/) are less than 50% of nonemphatic (counter-part) sounds ( /d/, /t/).Also, VOT can be used to classify or detect for a dialect in a language.

Optical motion capture provides an impressive ability to replicate gestures. However, even with a highly professional system there are many instances where crucial markers are occluded or when the algorithm confuses the trajectory of one marker with that of another. This requires much editing work on the part of the animator before the virtual characters are ready for their screen debuts. In this paper, we present an approach to increasing the robustness of a motion capture system by using a sophisticated anatomic human model. It includes a precise description of the skeleton's mobility and an approximated envelope. It allows us to accurately predict the 3-D location and visibility of markers, thus significantly increasing the robustness of the marker tracking and assignment, and drastically reducingor even eliminating-the need for human intervention during the 3-D reconstruction process.

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the effects of different nanoconfinements on complex liquids-e.g., colloids or protein solutions-with density anomalies and a liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT). In all the confinements, we find a strong depletion effect with a large increase in liquid density near the confining surface. If the nanoconfinement is modeled by an ordered matrix of nanoparticles, we find that the anomalies are preserved. On the contrary, if the confinement is modeled by a disordered matrix of nanoparticles, we find a drastically different phase diagram: the LLPT shifts to lower pressures and temperatures, and the anomalies become weaker, as the disorder increases. We find that the density heterogeneities induced by the disordered matrix are responsible for the weakening of the LLPT and the disappearance of the anomalies.

Wave mechanics of a particle in 1-D box (size $= d$) is critically analyzed to reveal its untouched aspects. When the particle rests in its ground state, its zero-point force ($F_o$) produces non-zero strain by modifying the box size from $d$ to $d' = d + \Delta d$ in all practical situations where the force ($F_a$) restoring $d$ is not infinitely strong. Assuming that $F_a$ originates from a potential $\propto x^2$ ($x$ being a small change in $d$), we find that: (i) the particle and strained box assume a mutually bound state (under the equilibrium between $F_o$ and $F_a$) with binding energy $\Delta{E} = -\epsilon_o'\Delta{d}/d'$ (with $\epsilon_o' = h^2/8md'^2$ being the ground state energy of the particle in the strained box), (ii) the box size oscillates around $d'$ when the said equilibrium is disturbed, (iii) an exchange of energy between the particle and the strained box occurs during such oscillations, and (iv) the particle, having collisional motion...

During apoptotic and excitotoxic neuron death, challenged mitochondria release the pro-apoptotic factor cytochrome c. In the cytosol, cytochrome c is capable of binding to the apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (APAF-1). This complex activates procaspase-9 in the presence of dATP, resulting in caspase-mediated execution of apoptotic neuron death. Many forms of Ca2+-mediated neuron death, however, do not lead to prominent activation of the caspase cascade despite significant release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. We demonstrate that elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ induced prominent degradation of APAF-1 in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and in a neuronal cell-free apoptosis system. Loss of APAF-1 correlated with a reduced ability of cytochrome c to activate caspase-3-like proteases. Ca2+ induced the activation of calpains, monitored by the cleavage of full-length α-spectrin into a calpain-specific 150-kDa breakdown product. However, pharmacological inhibition of calpain activity indicated that APAF-1 degradation also occurred via calpain-independent pathways. Our data suggest that Ca2+ inhibits caspase activation during Ca2+-mediated neuron death by triggering the degradation of the cytochrome c-binding protein APAF-1.

Calcium handling by mitochondria is a key feature in cell life. It is involved in energy production for cell activity, in buffering and shaping cytosolic calcium rises and also in determining cell fate by triggering or preventing apoptosis. Both mitochondria and the mechanisms involved in the control of calcium homeostasis have been extensively studied, but they still provide researchers with long-standing or even new challenges. Technical improvements in the tools employed for the investigation of calcium dynamics have been-and are still-opening new perspectives in this field, and more prominently for mitochondria. In this review we present a state-of-the-art toolkit for calcium measurements, with major emphasis on the advantages of genetically encoded indicators. These indicators can be efficiently and selectively targeted to specific cellular sub-compartments, allowing previously unavailable high-definition calcium dynamic studies. We also summarize the main features of cellular and, in more detail, mitochondrial calcium handling, especially focusing on the latest breakthroughs in the field, such as the recent direct characterization of the calcium microdomains that occur on the mitochondrial surface upon cellular stimulation. Additionally, we provide a major example of the key role played by calcium in patho-physiology by briefly describing the extensively reported-albeit highly controversial-alterations of calcium homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease, casting lights on the possible alterations in mitochondrial calcium handling in this pathology.

"Este artículo se propone analizar los discursos que altos miembros del ejército, quienes actúan como representantes del gobierno Santos, han hecho a los medios acerca del movimiento social
y político “Marcha Patriótica”.Se trata en definitiva de situaciones propias de la comunicación política que gozan del favor de los medios de comunicación. Las perspectivas teóricas y metodológicas que sirven de lente a este ejercicio analítico son: la Teoría de la
enunciación, puntualmente los trabajos de Charaudeau en la línea de los discursos político y
mediático; y, el Análisis Crítico del Discurso, ACD, concretamente la línea del análisis del
discurso político e ideológico que abandera Van Dijk. En el marco de las conclusiones es
propio afirmar que las declaraciones oficiales, fundamentalmente aquellas que ofrecen los
altos miembros del ejército, con respecto al naciente movimiento social y político Marcha
Patriótica, constituyen actos discursivos de deslegitimación que, en su conjunto, se proponen
desprestigiar un movimiento que abiertamente lucha por posicionar un proyecto político que,
dada su capacidad de congregar a las masas populares, ha demostrado que puede ser una
amenaza al poder hegemónico instituido.
Palabras clave: comunicación política, discurso político, estrategias ideológicas y estrategias
de deslegitimación"

Ca 2+ extrusion from the β-cell is mediated by two processes the Na/Ca exchanger (NCX) and the plasma membrane Ca 2+-ATPase (PMCA). Gain of function studies show that overexpression of NCX or PMCA leads to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca 2+ depletion with subsequent ER stress, decrease in β-cell proliferation and β-cell death by apoptosis. Interestingly, chronic exposure to cytokines or high free fatty acid concentrations also induce ER Ca 2+ depletion and β-cell death in diabetes. Loss of function studies show, on the contrary, that heterozygous inactivation of NCX1 (Ncx1 +/−) leads to an increase in β-cell function (insulin production and release), and a fivefold increase in both β-cell mass and proliferation. The mutation also increases β-cell resistance to hypoxia, and Ncx1 +/− islets show a two to four times higher rate of diabetes cure than Ncx1 +/+ islets when transplanted in diabetic animals. Thus, down-regulation of the Na/Ca exchanger leads to various changes in β-cell function that are opposite to the major abnormalities seen in diabetes. This provides a unique model for the prevention and treatment of β-cell dysfunction in diabetes and following islet transplantation.

More than two thirds of the total population of Ethiopia is estimated to be at risk of malaria. Therefore, malaria is the leading public health problem in Ethiopia. To investigate the determinants of malaria Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) result and the association between socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors. The study used data from household cluster malaria survey which was conducted from December 2006 to January 2007. A total of 224 clusters of about 25 households each were selected from the Amhara, Oromiya and Southern Nation Nationalities and People (SNNP) regions of Ethiopia. A multiple correspondence analysis was used to jointly analyse malaria RDT result, socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors. The result from multiple correspondence analysis shows that there is association between malaria RDT result and different socio-economic, demographic and geographic variables. There is an indication that some socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors ha...

The non selective cation channel transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) is expressed by sensory neurons and triggered by a wide variety of activating factors, with depolarisation leading to burning pain. TRPV1 activation also leads to release of sensory neuropeptides ...

The ability to express emotions is important for creating believable interactive characters. To simulate emotional expressions in an interactive environment, an intelligent agent needs both an adaptive model for generating believable responses, and a visualization model for mapping emotions into facial expressions. Recent advances in intelligent agents and in facial modeling have produced effective algorithms for these tasks independently. In this paper, we describe a method for integrating these algorithms to create an interactive simulation of an agent that produces appropriate facial expressions in a dynamic environment. Our approach to combining a model of emotions with a facial model represents a first step towards developing the technology of a truly believable interactive agent, which has a wide range of applications from designing intelligent training systems to video games and animation tools.

The proposed pathogenesis of Sydenham's chorea (SC) is an autoantibody-mediated basal ganglia dysfunction. Our study has shown that incubation of PC12 cells with complement-inactivated serum from SC patients was associated with a significant increase in Ca 2ϩ levels evoked by KCl stimulus (mean Ϯ SEM, 341.0 Ϯ 8.7% of fluorescence intensity, arbitrary units) when compared with incubation with control serum (313.8 Ϯ 8.7% of fluorescence intensity, arbitrary units; P ϭ 0.01). The increase in Ca 2ϩ levels determined by SC patients sera correlated directly with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay optical density values for anti-basal ganglia antibodies. Our study supports the hypothesis that antibodies against basal ganglia in SC may cause their dysfunction.