Search results for "STED"
showing 10 items of 2256 documents
Clinical evaluation of a single reaction, diagnostic polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of hepatitis C virus RNA
1996
Abstract Backgrounds/Aims :In the past few years the detection of HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction has become a well-established diagnostic tool for patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, the lack of reproducible results between laboratories and the relatively high proportion of false-positive results, has indicated the need for a standardized and reliable polymerase chain reaction assay. In the present study we have analyzed the performance of a commercial, HCV-RNA polymerase chain reaction assay based on a single, combined reverse transcription and amplification reaction and on the use of Uracil-N-glycosilase to prevent carry-over contamination (Amplicor HCV, Roche Molecular Syst…
Computer-aided detection of cerebral microbleeds in susceptibility-weighted imaging.
2014
Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is recognized as the preferred MRI technique for visualizing cerebral vasculature and related pathologies such as cerebral microbleeds (CMBs). Manual identification of CMBs is time-consuming, has limited reliability and reproducibility, and is prone to misinterpretation. In this paper, a novel computer-aided microbleed detection technique based on machine learning is presented: First, spherical-like objects (potential CMB candidates) with their corresponding bounding boxes were detected using a novel multi-scale Laplacian of Gaussian technique. A set of robust 3-dimensional Radon- and Hessian-based shape descriptors within each bounding box were then ex…
Comparing the cycling behaviours of Australian, Chinese and Colombian cyclists using a behavioural questionnaire paradigm.
2020
Cyclists are vulnerable road users and face disproportionately high rates of road trauma, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Behaviour of road users is a system outcome, and thus studying cyclist behaviours can identify problems in the whole road transport system and assist in generating long-lasting, cost-effective solutions to promote cyclist safety. This study aims to investigate the similarities and disparities of cycling behaviour among countries with different income levels and cycling prevalence, and the relationships among cyclist demographic characteristics, behaviours and crash involvement. It applies the Cycling Behaviour Questionnaire (CBQ) to measure the behaviour …
Scripted Collaboration and Group‐Based Variations in a Higher Education CSCL Context
2009
Scripting student activities is one way to make Computer‐Supported Collaborative Learning more efficient. This case study examines how scripting guided student group activities and also how different groups interpreted the script; what kinds of roles students adopted and what kinds of differences there were between the groups in terms of their activities. Seven small groups of higher education students participated in the study. According to the findings, scripting enhanced collaboration and ensured that all groups were able to complete the task, but despite the script the groups' activities varied during the task and the script could not guarantee any “high‐level” participation by all stud…
The Internationalisation of Higher Education in Brazil: Analysis of a Spanish-Brazilian Scientific Cooperation Project in CAL
2012
[EN] Over the past few years, the internationalisation of Higher Education has become a priority in Brazilian educational policies. The importance of internationalisation has become apparent thanks to numerous initiatives, ranging from the increase in funding for graduate and postgraduate research stays abroad to projects of scientific cooperation between universities in different countries. In this context, this paper explores a scientific cooperation project developed by two universities in Brazil and Spain: the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) and the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV), relating to the field of Computer-Assisted Learning (CAL). First of all, the interna…
Difficulties in Teaching Modelling: A French-Spanish Exploration
2017
An exploratory research study based on an online questionnaire in order to better understand difficulties encountered in teaching of mathematical modelling in France and Spain is presented. This questionnaire takes into account biographical variables, mathematics and modelling conceptions of pre-service teachers, teachers, researchers and education inspectors, from primary to tertiary education. Regarding difficulties, heterogeneous conceptions are revealed, and the analysis constructs four clusters, from positive and confident conceptions to negative and lacking confidence. In some cases, the roles of some biographical variables are indicated such as country, age, gender or school level th…
Effects of caspase inhibitors (z-VAD-fmk, z-VDVAD-fmk) on Nile Red fluorescence pattern in 7-ketocholesterol-treated cells: Investigation by flow cyt…
2007
Background: The 7-ketocholesterol (7KC)-induced cell death has some characteristics of apoptosis and is associated with polar lipid accumulation. So, we investigated the effects of the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk and of the caspase-2 inhibitor z-VDVAD-fmk on lipid profile evaluated by staining with Nile Red (NR). Methods: The 7KC-treated human monocytic U937 cells were cultured in the absence or in the presence of the caspase inhibitors z-VAD-fmk or z-VDVAD-fmk. When staining with NR is performed, neutral and polar lipids have yellow and orange/red emission, respectively, and fluorescence was then analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) and by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLS…
Evolution of tissue-specific keratins as deduced from novel cDNA sequences of the lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus.
2005
Lungfishes are possibly the closest extant relatives of the land vertebrates (tetrapods). We report here the cDNA and predicted amino acid sequences of 13 different keratins (ten type I and three type II) of the lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus. These keratins include the orthologs of human K8 and K18. The lungfish keratins were also identified in tissue extracts using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, keratin blot binding assays and immunoblotting. The identified keratin spots were analyzed by peptide mass fingerprinting which assigned seven sequences (inclusively Protopterus K8 and K18) to their respective protein spot. The peptide mass fingerprints also revealed the fac…
A test of the relationship between argumentativeness, individualism/collectivism, and conflict style preference in the United States and Finland
2016
This study explored relationships between argumentativeness and collectivism/individualism in Finland and the United States. Data were gathered in the United States (n = 412) and Finland (n = 261). The analysis suggested: (a) collectivism was negatively correlated with argumentativeness, (b) individualism was positively correlated with argumentativeness, and (c) Finnish participants reported lower levels of argumentativeness than Americans. Cultural differences between the United States and Finland are discussed as reasons for the differences between the nations on argumentativeness. peerReviewed
Microhardness of demineralized enamel following home bleaching and laser-assisted in office bleaching
2015
Background There is little data regarding the effect of tooth whitening on microhardness of white spot lesions. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of home-bleaching and laser-assisted in-office bleaching on microhardness of demineralized enamel. Material and Methods Forty bovine incisors were selected and immersed in a demineralizing solution for 12 weeks to induce white spot lesions. Enamel blocks were prepared and randomly assigned to two groups of 20 each. The first group underwent home bleaching with 15% carbamide peroxide which was applied for 8 hours a day over a period of 15 days. In the second group, in-office bleaching was performed by 40% hydrogen peroxide and powe…