HealthCyberMap: a semantic visual browser of medical Internet resources based on clinical codes and the human body metaphor

OBJECTIVES: HealthCyberMap (HCM-http://healthcybermap.semanticweb.org) is a web-based service for healthcare professionals and librarians, patients and the public in general that aims at mapping parts of the health information resources in cyberspace in novel ways to improve their retrieval and navigation. METHODS AND SERVICE DESCRIPTION: HCM adopts a clinical metadata framework built upon a clinical coding ontology for the semantic indexing, classification and browsing of Internet health information resources. A resource metadata base holds information about selected resources. HCM then uses GIS (Geographic Information Systems) spatialization methods to generate interactive navigational cybermaps from the metadata base. These visual cybermaps are based on familiar medical metaphors. CONCLUSIONS: HCM cybermaps can be considered as semantically spatialized, ontology-based browsing views of the underlying resource metadata base. Using a clinical coding scheme as a metric for spatialization ('semantic distance') is unique to HCM and is very much suited for the semantic categorization and navigation of Internet health information resources. Clinical codes ensure reliable and unambiguous topical indexing of these resources. HCM also introduces a useful form of cyberspatial analysis for the detection of topical coverage gaps in the resource metadata base using choropleth (shaded) maps of human body systems.     

Membrane potentials of hypertensive,diabetic and arthritic polymorphonuclear leukocytes

We studied the membrane potentials of normal, essential hypertensive, diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). It was found that diabetic PMNL were grossly hyperpolarized as compared to normal. On the other hand hypertensive and arthritic PMNL elicited a significant depolarization. The PMNL obtained from treated hypertensive patients showed considerable recovery where as partial recovery was evidenced in membrane potentials in diabetic and arthritic PMNL. The implications are discussed.     

Changes in biochemical constituents and induction of early sprouting by triadimefon treatment in white yam （Dioscorea rotundata Poir.） tubers during storage

The ability of triadimefon(TDM),a triazolic fungicide,to alter the biochemical constituents and thereby minimizing the days required for sprouting in white yam(Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) tubers during storage under(30±2) °C in the dark,was studied.TDM at 20 mg/L was given to tubers by dipping the tubers in treatment solution containing 20 mg/L TDM on 10,25 and 40 d after storage(DAS).Starch,sugars,protein,amino acid contents as well as protease and α-amylase activities were estimated on 15,30 and 45 DAS from two physiological regions viz.,apical and basal regions of the tubers.In normal conditions(control) sprouting occurred on 70 to 80 DAS.The starch content decreased,while protein,amino acid,sugar contents and protease and α-amylase activities were increased due to TDM treatment and led to early sprouting.     

Overexpression of the phytochrome B gene from Arabidopsis thaliana increases plant growth and yield of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

The phytochrome B (PHYB) gene of Arabidopsis thaliana was introduced into cotton through Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Integration and expression of PHYB gene in cotton plants were confirmed by molecular evidence. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in one of the transgenic lines, QCC11, was much higher than those of control and other transgenic lines. Transgenic cotton plants showed more than a two-fold increase in photosynthetic rate and more than a four-fold increase in transpiration rate and stomatal conductance. The increase in photosynthetic rate led to a 46% increase in relative growth rate and an 18% increase in net assimilation rate. Data recorded up to two generations, both in the greenhouse and in the field, revealed that overexpression of Arabidopsis thaliana PHYB gene in transgenic cotton plants resulted in an increase in the production of cotton by improving the cotton plant growth, with 35% more yield. Moreover, the presence of the Arabidopsis thaliana PHYB gene caused pleiotropic effects like semi-dwarfism, decrease in apical dominance, and increase in boll size.     

A study on the determinants of social media based learning in higher education

Educational technology research and development - Social-Media-Based Learning (SMBL) is the use of social-media-based platforms, such as Twitter, Google Plus, Facebook, and YouTube, for learning...     

Effect of dietary fish on the lipid profile of cholesterolstressed rats during copper overload

The effect of dietary supplementation with Oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps) fish at 2/3 fat replacement, on serum lipids in the cholesterol-stressed copper loaded rats was studied. Hypercholesterolemic state observed during copper toxicity was not alleviated by sardines. Copper loading significantly decreased the triglyceride levels and the activity of β-hydroxy β-methyl glutaryl (HMG) CoA reductase. Fish supplementation was further effective in reducing the triglyceride levels in copper loaded rats. Significant increase in the serum phospholipid was observed in the fish supplemented rats during copper overload. The finding suggests that hypolipidemic potential of fish is certainly altered to some extent in copper toxicity since, it is well known that copper enhances the formation of free radicals. Thus it may be concluded that sardine fish is not effective in reducing the cholesterol levels during copper toxicity.     

Interpreting Cues of Goodness: Thin Sliced Judgment of Malaysians and Chinese towards Political Leaders

Thin slice studies have demonstrated that quick personality inferences of unknown others can be made fairly accurately. Utilizing focus group interviews, the current study examines thin sliced judgments and perceptions of six leaders in the context of goodness. Findings revealed that perceivers were able to form relatively accurate impressions of some leaders based on brief glimpses of nonverbal footage. Across all groups (Malaysian and Chinese) paralinguistic cues, dynamic cues and static cues were instrumental in the formation of positive perceptions of leaders in the context of goodness. These findings have implications for the areas of nonverbal behaviour, political communication, and personality judgement.     

新形势下的学位与研究生教育管理创新

近年来,培养单位学位与研究生教育的管理环境发生了根本的变化,适应这一变化,更新管理理念、转变管理模式、实施管理创新已成为各培养单位学位与研究生教育管理工作的现实需要。