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Homogeneous Pattern (homogeneous + pattern)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

BANKING MARKET STRUCTURE, CREATION AND ACTIVITY OF FIRMS: EARLY EVIDENCE FOR COOPERATIVES IN THE ITALIAN CASE

ANNALS OF PUBLIC AND COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, Issue 4 2009
Francesca Gagliardi
ABSTRACT,:,This paper investigates whether local differences in banking competition impact on the creation and activity of firms, with a special focus on cooperatives. The empirical analysis, implemented on a sample of Italian firms, reveals non-monotonic effects of bank market power on firm creation and activity. In regard to the former, a bell-shaped relationship is found for both cooperative and non-cooperative firms, suggesting that a moderately concentrated banking market favours firms' creation. A less homogeneous pattern characterizes firms' activity: a bell-shaped parabola is still found for non-cooperative firms, while a U-shaped relationship emerges for cooperatives, showing that active coops benefit from relatively more intense banking competition. [source]

Cross-protection elicited in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque) immunized with a low dose of virulent Edwardsiella ictaluri strains

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 8 2009
Victor S Panangala
Abstract Cross-protection of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque) immunized with a low dose of virulent Edwardsiella ictaluri and challenged with six E. ictaluri strains was examined in four trials. The relative per cent survival among low-dose immunized and then challenged fish ranged from 27.7% to 100%. Significant protection (P<0.05), with the exception of strain ATCC-33202, was conferred by immunization with a given E. ictaluri strain challenged either with a homologous or a heterologous strain. Antibody titres of pooled serum collected on day 22 from surviving fish examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ranged from 1:40 to 1:320, but no differences were apparent among different vaccinated groups. The protein profiles of six E. ictaluri strains examined by Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed a relatively homogeneous pattern. Immuno-blots probed with pooled serum from immunized and challenged fish showed a pattern similar to LPS-reaction patterns observed with E. ictaluri in other studies. Since the present studies further corroborate that E. ictaluri is a clonal bacterial species with no apparent antigenic differences, it is possible that immunization with a single E. ictaluri field strain should confer protection against any other strain. [source]

Dermoscopy of pigmented lesions on mucocutaneous junction and mucous membrane

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2009
J. Lin
Summary Background, The dermoscopic features of pigmented lesions on the mucocutaneous junction and mucous membrane are different from those on hairy skin. Differentiation between benign lesions and malignant melanomas of these sites is often difficult. Objective, To define the dermoscopic patterns of lesions on the mucocutaneous junction and mucous membrane, and assess the applicability of standard dermoscopic algorithms to these lesions. Patients and methods, An unselected consecutive series of 40 lesions on the mucocutaneous junction and mucous membrane was studied. All the lesions were imaged using dermoscopy devices, analysed for dermoscopic patterns and scored with algorithms including the ABCD rule, Menzies method, 7-point checklist, 3-point checklist and the CASH algorithm. Results, Benign pigmented lesions of the mucocutaneous junction and mucous membrane frequently presented a dotted-globular pattern (25%), a homogeneous pattern (25%), a fish scale-like pattern (18·8%) and a hyphal pattern (18·8%), while melanomas of these sites showed a multicomponent pattern (75%) and a homogeneous pattern (25%). The fish scale-like pattern and hyphal pattern were considered to be variants of the ring-like pattern. The sensitivities of the ABCD rule, Menzies method, 7-point checklist, 3-point checklist and CASH algorithm in diagnosing mucosal melanomas were 100%, 100%, 63%, 88% and 100%; and the specificities were 100%, 94%, 100%, 94% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion, The ring-like pattern and its variants (fish scale-like pattern and hyphal pattern) are frequently observed as well as the dotted-globular pattern and homogeneous pattern in mucosal melanotic macules. The algorithms for pigmented lesions on hairy skin also apply to those on the mucocutaneous junction and mucous membrane with high sensitivity and specificity. [source]

Shock-Induced Epicardial and Endocardial Virtual Electrodes Leading to Ventricular Fibrillation via Reentry, Graded Responses, and Transmural Activation

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
FREDERICK G. EVANS Ph.D.
Introduction: The mechanism of ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction by T wave shocks has been attributed to reentry, propagated graded responses (PGR), and triggered activity. The limitation of recording transmembrane potential (Vm) from only a single surface has hampered efforts to elucidate the relative role of these phenomena and their relationship to shock-induced virtual electrodes. Methods and Results:Vm patterns from epicardial and endocardial surfaces of isolated sheep right ventricles were recorded with two CCD cameras for monophasic (M) and biphasic (B) shocks delivered at various coupling intervals (CI) from a unipolar mesh electrode on the epicardium. VF was induced via (1) the formation of reentry following make or break excitation; (2) propagated graded responses during apparent isoelectric window; and (3) breakthrough activation patterns coincident with endocardial-to-epicardial gradients in Vm. M shocks depolarized both surfaces at long CIs and polarized epicardial and endocardial surfaces oppositely at short CIs. At intermediate CIs, postshock Vm patterns could lead to reentry on one surface or endocardial-to-epicardial gradients resulting in breakthrough. B induced VF less than M for short and intermediate CIs due to more homogeneous end-shock Vm patterns. However, at long CIs these homogeneous patterns resulted in more VF induction because B left the tissue closer to the Vm threshold for propagation. Conclusion: Postshock activity occurred either immediately via epicardial or endocardial reentry, or after a delay caused by transmural propagation or propagated graded responses. These findings could explain the isoelectric window and focal activation patterns observed on the epicardium following VF induction shocks. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 79-87, January 2004) [source]