Pro-labour myometrial gene expression: are preterm labour and term labour the same?

Preterm labour (PTL) is the most important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. While some causes have been identified, the mechanisms involved remain elusive. This study investigates whether term labour (TL) is an appropriate model for PTL by examining pro-labour gene expression, using quantitative rtPCR, and protein synthesis, using Western analysis, in preterm and term myometrial samples obtained from the upper and lower uterine segments before and after the onset of labour. In the lower segment, the levels of prostaglandin H synthase type-2 (PGHS-2), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA expression were significantly higher in TL compared with PTL samples. Compared with non-labour controls, the expression of IL-1beta and IL-8 mRNA was increased in both PTL and TL samples and the expression of PGHS-2 and IL-6 mRNA was increased in TL samples only. In the upper segment, there were no differences between PTL and TL samples and the mRNA expression of PGHS-2 and IL-1beta was increased in TL compared with term no labour samples. No effect of PTL or TL was seen on either oxytocin receptor or connexin-43 mRNA expression or protein levels. The multiple regression analysis and studies in primary cultures of uterine myocytes suggest that the inflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, are the most important regulators of PGHS-2 and IL-8. Our data show that preterm and term labouring myometrium are significantly different and that the most marked labour-induced changes in gene expression are in the lower segment. These changes may occur in response to the release of inflammatory cytokines by the labour-associated inflammatory infiltration.     

Algorithm for constrained delaunay triangulation

A direct algorithm for computing constrained Delaunay triangulation in 2-D is presented. The algorithm inserts points along the constrained edges (break lines) to maintain the Delaunay criterion. Since many different insertions are possible, the algorithm computes only those that are on the Delaunay circles of each intersected triangle. A shelling procedure is applied to put triangles together in such a way that completeness and correctness are guaranteed.     

Directional decisions for two-tailed tests: Power, error rates, and sample size.

One imposing directional decisions on nondirectional tests will overestimate power, underestimate sample size, and ignore the risk of Type III error (getting the direction wrong) if traditional calculations—those applying to nondirectional decisions—are used. Usually trivial with the z test, the errors might be important where α is large and effect size is small or with tests using other distributions. One can avoid the errors by using calculations that apply to directional decisions or by using a directional two-tailed test at the outset, a conceptually simpler solution. With a revised concept of power, this article shows calculations for the test; explains how to find its power, Type III error risk, and sample size in statistical tables for traditional tests; compares it to conventional one- and two-tailed tests and to one- and two-sided confidence intervals; and concludes that when a significance test is planned it is the best choice for most purposes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Instructor reputation: An expectancy relationship involving student ratings and achievement.

Instructor reputation, defined as student expectations of an instructor's teaching ability, was investigated to determine its influence on student ratings and achievement. Two teaching behaviors, instructor expressiveness and lecture content, were combined with reputation in a 2–3 factorial design to assess interaction effects. 198 undergraduates read an introductory statement about an instructor (reputation), viewed a videotape lecture, rated the instructor, and took a test. Results indicate that reputation interacted with expressiveness but not content, in which students rated the positive, high-expressive instructor more favorably than the negative, high-expressive instructor. Results suggest a complex relationship in which reputation interacts with some teaching behaviors and affects some student outcomes. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Securing the future for nylon

Since its introduction over 50 years ago, nylon has proved a highly useful fibre in the clothing industry. In this article, Les Jacques looks at developments which have been made in nylon fibres to ensure its continuing importance in the industry.     

数码相机的DSP SoC设计方法

数码相机(DSC)正在高速增长,这要归功于技术进步带来的新功能和图象质量及易用性的改善——能在完成图象拍摄后将其打印出来,以及在功耗、成本方面的降低和画面存储能力的提高。尽管无数的厂商正在涌入该市场,推出的相机档次从300美元到数千美元不等,瞄准的目标既有照相机-计算机用户,也有普通消费者,不过也要看到,数码相机仍然不同于传统的胶片照相机。本文将探讨消费型照相机更为复杂的设计问题,包括用于提高数码相机品质与可用度的各项技术以及解决这些复杂的设计问题所需要采用的各种新方法。当前的数码相机包括以下几个方面:新型透镜…     

A comparative study of the differences between client continuers and dropouts at two university counseling centers.

Examined the differences between clients who dropped out of counseling after the intake interview and clients who continued. 87 Ss, who were randomly selected from 2 universities, were studied in terms of their attitudes and perceptions of counseling and the counseling center. Data were collected through a 27-item questionnaire consisting of 3 scales adapted from a questionnaire by J. Snyder, C. Hill, and T. Derksen and a 4th scale formulated by the author. Results indicate that continuers generally had more positive responses than dropouts and that clients from the 2 universities differed in the frequency of positive responses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Course evaluation: How?

255 undergraduates participated in a 2 * 2 * 2 factorial study designed to measure the effect of variables influencing teacher rating form (TRF) scores at the time of administration in university settings. The factors were the identity of the TRF sponsor (faculty association or student association), the attitude of the TRF sponsor toward student evaluations (favorable or unfavorable), and respondent anonymity (signed or unsigned). Overall, Ss rated their instructor more positively when they believed a faculty association was sponsoring the evaluation than when they were informed that it was sponsored by a student association. No effect was found for the favorable-unfavorable attitude of the TRF sponsor toward TRFs or the signed-unsigned conditions of responding. Users of TRFs in university settings are cautioned that situational factors may influence student evaluation of teaching effectiveness. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

It is time to drop the “R” from NURBS

NURBS were introduced into CAD/CAM systems predominantly for the representation of conventional objects, such as conics and quadrics. Among these, the circle played a critical role in representing a myriad of parts used in the every-day practice. Being the most universally used object, the circle has enjoyed the most popularity in science and engineering. It is an essential entity in both design as well as manufacturing and hence, its representation within CAD/CAM systems requires careful attention. Although the circle enjoys both smoothness as well as a uniform parametrization, its de facto mathematical form, the NURBS form, does not provide either sufficient smoothness or uniform parametrization. On top of all this, NURBS are rational forms requiring homogeneous coordinates in the four-dimensional space, whereas the engineering entity is only Euclidean in 3D. This multiple representational glitch, 3D presence and 4D storage, has given rise to enough headache to warrant reconsideration of the validity of the rational form in engineering design. This paper argues that it is time to drop the “R” from NURBS and to switch to integral splines with approximations where necessary. We also argue that it is time to bury dumb algorithms and consider human-based computing, i.e. our algorithms should be biologically inspired and not based on pure number crunching.