Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2007-02"
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- Bar-Natan's Khovanov homology for coloured linksPublication . Mackaay, Marco; Turner, PaulUsing Bar-Natan's link homology we define a homology theory for framed links whose components are labelled by irreducible representations of the group U-q(sl(2)). We then compute this explicitly.
- Molecular, cellular and histological changes in skin from a larval to an adult phenotype during bony fish metamorphosisPublication . Campinho, Marco António; Silva, Nadia; Sweeney, Glen E.; Power, DeborahDevelopmental models for skin exist in terrestrial and amphibious vertebrates but there is a lack of information in aquatic vertebrates. We have analysed skin epidermal development of a bony fish (teleost), the most successful group of extant vertebrates. A specific epidermal type I keratin cDNA (hhKer1), which may be a bony-fishspecific adaptation associated with the divergence of skin development (scale formation) compared with other vertebrates, has been cloned and characterized. The expression of hhKer1 and collagen 1α1 in skin taken together with the presence or absence of keratin bundle-like structures have made it possible to distinguish between larval and adult epidermal cells during skin development. The use of a flatfish with a well-defined larval to juvenile transition as a model of skin development has revealed that epidermal larval basal cells differentiate directly to epidermal adult basal cells at the climax of metamorphosis. Moreover,hhKer1 expression is downregulated at the climax of metamorphosis and is inversely correlated with increasing thyroxin levels. We suggest that, whereas early mechanisms of skin development between aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates are conserved, later mechanisms diverge.
- Influence of consecutive-day blood sampling on polymerase chain reaction-adjusted parasitological cure rates in an antimalarial-drug trial conducted in TanzaniaPublication . Martensson, Andreas; Ngasala, Billy; Ursing, Johan; Veiga, M. Isabel; Wiklund, Lisa; Membi, Christopher; Montgomery, Scott M.; Premji, Zul; Farnert, Anna; Bjorkman, AndersWe assessed the influence that consecutive-day blood sampling, compared with single-day blood sampling, had on polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-adjusted parasitological cure after stepwise genotyping of merozoite surface proteins 2 (msp2) and 1 (msp1) in 106 children in Tanzania who had uncomplicated falciparum malaria treated with either sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine or artemether-lumefantrine; 78 of these children developed recurrent parasitemia during the 42-day follow-up period. Initial msp2 genotyping identified 27 and 33 recrudescences by use of single-and consecutive-day sampling, respectively; in subsequent msp1 genotyping, 17 and 21 of these episodes, respectively, were still classified as recrudescences; these results indicate a similar sensitivity of the standard single-day PCR protocol-that is, 82% (27/33) and 81% (17/21), in both genotyping steps. Interpretation of PCR-adjusted results will significantly depend on methodology.
- The parathyroid hormone family of peptides: structure, tissue distribution, regulation, and potential functional roles in calcium and phosphate balance in fishPublication . Guerreiro, P. M.; Renfro, J. Larry; Power, Deborah; Canario, Adelino V. M.Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related protein (PTHrP) are two factors that share amino acid sequence homology and act via a common receptor. In tetrapods, PTH is the main endocrine factor acting in bone and kidney to regulate calcium and phosphate. PTHrP is an essential paracrine developmental factor present in many tissues and is involved in the regulation of ossification, mammary gland development, muscle relaxation, and other functions. Fish apparently lack an equivalent of the parathyroid gland and were long thought to be devoid of PTH. Only in recent years has the existence of PTH-like peptides and their receptors in fish been firmly established. Two forms of PTH, two of PTHrP, and a protein with intermediate characteristics designated PTH-L are encoded by separate genes in teleost fish. Three receptors encoded by separate genes in fish mediate PTH/PTHrP actions, whereas only two receptors have so far been found in terrestrial vertebrates. PTHrP has been more intensively studied than PTH, from lampreys to advanced teleosts. It is expressed in many tissues and is present in high concentration in fish blood. Administration of this peptide alters calcium metabolism and has marked effects on associated gene expression and enzyme activity in vivo and in vitro. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the physiological roles, distribution, and molecular relationships of the piscine PTH-like peptides.
- Educação/Formação de adultos e cidadania em contexto EFAPublication . Duarte, Deonilde Félix Sequeira Poucochinho; Almeida, António Carlos Pestana Fragoso deThe present essay presented as a mastership thesis in Ciências da Educação (Educational Sciences) with a specialization in Adult Formation and Education has the purpose to contribute to the reflection on adult education and formation and to the development of the citizenship concept. Its goal is to understand the formative processes derived from the participation of a group of women and its effects on a promotion of a new culture of apprenticeship and citizenship. As so, we care to observe if the EFA course developed comprehensive formative dynamics – participative and ecological – increasing the formative effects in significant apprenticeships in order to reach a new way of approaching a participative citizenship. Trying to provide a conceptual support to the study, we clarify the key-concepts: Education, Adult Education and Citizenship. Next we try to articulate these processes with the feminine gender, having in mind their formation as people, their apprenticeship and their participation in all contexts and all dimensions of life that are fundamental to a complete citizenship. After clarifying the context of study, a EFA course, we develop the empiric study focusing on the analyses of adult’s testimonials (women) that took part in the EFA course, and which constitute the “subjects of study”. With the contribution of the twelve subjects of investigation of this study the formative effects implicit to the process of their participation in the study become clear, reaching a new understanding of apprenticeship and formation. As a conclusion we think we can say that the EFA formation experienced by this group of women, proved to have, to the majority, contributions to a better acknowledgement of competences, to a greater interpersonal involvement and to a new understanding of the practices of citizenship.
- A gene-based radiation hybrid map of the gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata refines and exploits conserved synteny with Tetraodon nigroviridisPublication . Sarropoulou, Elena; Franch, Rafaella; Louro, Bruno; Power, Deborah; Bargelloni, Luca; Magoulas, Antonio; Senger, Fabrice; Kotoulas, Georgios; Geisler, RobertBackground: Comparative teleost studies are of great interest since they are important in aquaculture and in evolutionary issues. Comparing genomes of fully sequenced model fish species with those of farmed fish species through comparative mapping offers shortcuts for quantitative trait loci (QTL) detections and for studying genome evolution through the identification of regions of conserved synteny in teleosts. Here a comparative mapping study is presented by radiation hybrid (RH) mapping genes of the gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata, a non-model teleost fish of commercial and evolutionary interest, as it represents the worldwide distributed species-rich family of Sparidae. Results: An additional 74 microsatellite markers and 428 gene-based markers appropriate for comparative mapping studies were mapped on the existing RH map of Sparus aurata. The anchoring of the RH map to the genetic linkage map resulted in 24 groups matching the karyotype of Sparus aurata. Homologous sequences to Tetraodon were identified for 301 of the gene-based markers positioned on the RH map of Sparus aurata. Comparison between Sparus aurata RH groups and Tetraodon chromosomes (karyotype of Tetraodon consists of 21 chromosomes) in this study reveals an unambiguous one-to-one relationship suggesting that three Tetraodon chromosomes correspond to six Sparus aurata radiation hybrid groups. The exploitation of this conserved synteny relationship is furthermore demonstrated by in silico mapping of gilthead sea bream expressed sequence tags (EST) that give a significant similarity hit to Tetraodon. Conclusion: The addition of primarily gene-based markers increased substantially the density of the existing RH map and facilitated comparative analysis. The anchoring of this gene-based radiation hybrid map to the genome maps of model species broadened the pool of candidate genes that mainly control growth, disease resistance, sex determination and reversal, reproduction as well as environmental tolerance in this species, all traits of great importance for QTL mapping and marker assisted selection. Furthermore this comparative mapping approach will facilitate to give insights into chromosome evolution and into the genetic make up of the gilthead sea bream.