Elements of algebraic geometry and the positive theory of partially commutative groups

The first main result of the paper is a criterion for a partially commutative group G to be a domain. It allows us to reduce the study of algebraic sets over G to the study of irreducible algebraic sets, and reduce the elementary theory of G (of a coordinate group over G) to the elementary theories of the direct factors of G (to the elementary theory of coordinate groups of irreducible algebraic sets). Then we establish normal forms for quantifier-free formulas over a non-abelian directly indecomposable partially commutative group H. Analogously to the case of free groups, we introduce the notion of a generalised equation and prove that the positive theory of H has quantifier elimination and that arbitrary first-order formulas lift from H to H * F, where F is a free group of finite rank. As a consequence, the positive theory of an arbitrary partially commutative group is decidable.

I have faith in my thing, you know what I mean? Mixed method elements on individual investments on religious markets.

In contemporary society, religious signification and secular systems mix and influence each other. Holistic conceptions of a world in which man is integrated harmoniously with nature meet representations of a world run by an immanent God. On the market of the various systems, the individual goes from one system to another, following his immediate needs and expectations without necessarily leaving any marks in a meaningful long term system. This article presents the first results of an ongoing research in Switzerland on contemporary religion focusing on (new) paths of socialization of modern that individuals and the various (non-) belief systems that they simultaneously develop

The Perception of the Elements in the Hindu Traditions

The essays in this volume, contributions to an international symposium at the University of Lausanne in June 1998, represent the perception of the elements as a framework for the history of religions (Maya Burger), exemplified by the Hindu traditions. Each element is treated by a specialist in a different academic field in order to bring out a variety of approaches important to the discipline of the history of religion. Ether (akasa) was assigned to philosophy (Wilhelm Halbfass), wind to the history of religion (Bettina Bäumer), fire to classical philology (Peter Schreiner), water to a specialist on Indian medicine (Arion Rosu) and earth to anthropology (Gabriella Eichinger Ferro-Luzzi, specializing on Tamil literature). Les articles du présent volume, issus d'un symposium international ayant eu lieu à l'Université de Lausanne en juin 1998, présentent la perception des éléments comme base de recherche de l'étude des religions (Maya Burger), exemplifiée à l'aide des traditions hindoues. Chaque élément est traité par un spécialiste d'une discipline académique particulière dans le but de souligner la variété des approches nécessaire à la discipline d'histoire des religions. L'éther (akasa) a été considéré sous l'angle de la philosophie (Wilhelm Halbfass), le vent sous celui de l'histoire des religions (Bettina Bäumer), le feu sous celui de la philologie classique (Peter Schreiner), l'eau par un spécialiste de la médecine indienne (Arion Rosu) et la terre sous l'angle de l'anthropologie (Gabriella Eichinger Ferro-Luzzi, se concentrant sur la littérature tamoule).

Classificació i importància dels elements paisatgístics del territori Tsimane' segons la percepció local

En aquesta tesis es presenten els resultats de la investigació duta a terme a les comunitats indígenes Tsimane’ de l’Amazònia boliviana. La investigació estudia la percepció dels indígenes sobre l’etnoclassificació del seu territori. S’estableix una clau de classificació i es determina la importància dels elements paisatgístics del territori Tsimane’ segons la percepció local. Aquesta informació permetrà integrar el coneixement local dins dels programes de desenvolupament integral i de planificació territorial en l’Amazònia Boliviana. L’estudi conclou que la població Tsimane’ classifica els elements paisatgístics del seu entorn en 89 taques conformades per una espècies arbòria dominant i que estan incloses en un o més dels nou paisatges identificats: Därsi Därä, Sajras, Sinues Ojñi’, Mayes, Múcúya, Tsäquis Därä, Cum, Tajñi’ i Jaman. A partir d’un anàlisi multicriteri s’ha determinat una importància total per cada paisatge segons els següents criteris d’importància: diversitat de taques, activitats econòmiques realitzables, presència espiritual, percepció individual i importància relativa segons els altres paisatges. Així doncs s’ha trobat que el paisatge més important és el Därsi Därä (bosc primari caracteritzat per un estrat arbori superior a 50 metres d’altura). També s’han analitzat les dades discernint segons el gènere de l’entrevistat i segons la proximitat de les comunitats estudiades a la ciutat més propera.

The Perception of the Elements in the Hindu Traditions

The essays in this volume, contributions to an international symposium at the University of Lausanne in June 1998, represent the perception of the elements as a framework for the history of religions (Maya Burger), exemplified by the Hindu traditions. Each element is treated by a specialist in a different academic field in order to bring out a variety of approaches important to the discipline of the history of religion. Ether (akasa) was assigned to philosophy (Wilhelm Halbfass), wind to the history of religion (Bettina Bäumer), fire to classical philology (Peter Schreiner), water to a specialist on Indian medicine (Arion Rosu) and earth to anthropology (Gabriella Eichinger Ferro-Luzzi, specializing on Tamil literature). Les articles du présent volume, issus d'un symposium international ayant eu lieu à l'Université de Lausanne en juin 1998, présentent la perception des éléments comme base de recherche de l'étude des religions (Maya Burger), exemplifiée à l'aide des traditions hindoues. Chaque élément est traité par un spécialiste d'une discipline académique particulière dans le but de souligner la variété des approches nécessaire à la discipline d'histoire des religions. L'éther (akasa) a été considéré sous l'angle de la philosophie (Wilhelm Halbfass), le vent sous celui de l'histoire des religions (Bettina Bäumer), le feu sous celui de la philologie classique (Peter Schreiner), l'eau par un spécialiste de la médecine indienne (Arion Rosu) et la terre sous l'angle de l'anthropologie (Gabriella Eichinger Ferro-Luzzi, se concentrant sur la littérature tamoule).

Identification and analysis of functional elements in 1% of the human genome by the ENCODE pilot project.

We report the generation and analysis of functional data from multiple, diverse experiments performed on a targeted 1% of the human genome as part of the pilot phase of the ENCODE Project. These data have been further integrated and augmented by a number of evolutionary and computational analyses. Together, our results advance the collective knowledge about human genome function in several major areas. First, our studies provide convincing evidence that the genome is pervasively transcribed, such that the majority of its bases can be found in primary transcripts, including non-protein-coding transcripts, and those that extensively overlap one another. Second, systematic examination of transcriptional regulation has yielded new understanding about transcription start sites, including their relationship to specific regulatory sequences and features of chromatin accessibility and histone modification. Third, a more sophisticated view of chromatin structure has emerged, including its inter-relationship with DNA replication and transcriptional regulation. Finally, integration of these new sources of information, in particular with respect to mammalian evolution based on inter- and intra-species sequence comparisons, has yielded new mechanistic and evolutionary insights concerning the functional landscape of the human genome. Together, these studies are defining a path for pursuit of a more comprehensive characterization of human genome function.

Adaptable pulmonary artery band for late arterial switch procedure in transposition of the great arteries.

BACKGROUND: In late-diagnosed transposition of the great arteries (TGA), the left ventricle (LV) involutes as it pumps against low resistance and needs retraining by applying a pulmonary artery band (PAB) in preparation for an arterial switch operation. We report our experience with a telemetrically adaptable band compared with classic banding. METHODS: Ten patients underwent retraining of the LV, 4 patients with an adaptable band and progressive weekly tightening of the band (group 1) and 6 patients with a traditional band (group 2). RESULTS: Mean weight and age at pulmonary band placement was 5.8 ± 2.36 kg and 11.7 ± 11.1 months for group 1 and 5.0 ± 2.3 kg and 6.4 ± 7.6 months for group 2. Time between palliation and switch procedure was 4.2 months in both groups. Group 1 showed an initial mean pulmonary gradient of 25.5 ± 4.43 mm Hg with a 5% closure of the device. The mean gradient increased with progressive closure to 63.5 ± 9.8 mm Hg at the time of the arterial switch operation. There were no reinterventions or deaths in this group. In group 2, the mean pulmonary gradient increased with growth from 49 ± 21.4 mm Hg to 68.4 ± 7.86 mm Hg at the time of the switch procedure. However, 4 of these patients required reoperations during retraining: 2 needed 1 reoperation and 2 needed 2 reoperations. Two patients died-1 after banding and 1 after the switch operation. CONCLUSIONS: Retraining of the LV by the adaptable device allows precise control of the tightening, avoids repetitive operations, and diminishes morbidity.

Evidences of gentamicin resistance amplification in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from faeces of hospitalized newborns

The intestinal microbiota, a barrier to the establishment of pathogenic bacteria, is also an important reservoir of opportunistic pathogens. It plays a key role in the process of resistance-genes dissemination, commonly carried by specialized genetic elements, like plasmids, phages, and conjugative transposons. We obtained from strains of enterobacteria, isolated from faeces of newborns in a university hospital nursery, indication of phenothypical gentamicin resistance amplification (frequencies of 10-3 to 10-5, compatible with transposition frequencies). Southern blotting assays showed strong hybridization signals for both plasmidial and chromossomal regions in DNA extracted from variants selected at high gentamicin concentrations, using as a probe a labeled cloned insert containing aminoglycoside modifying enzyme (AME) gene sequence originated from a plasmid of a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain previously isolated in the same hospital. Further, we found indications of inactivation to other resistance genes in variants selected under similar conditions, as well as, indications of co-amplification of other AME markers (amikacin). Since the intestinal environment is a scenario of selective processes due to the therapeutic and prophylactic use of antimicrobial agents, the processes of amplification of low level antimicrobial resistance (not usually detected or sought by common methods used for antibiotic resistance surveillance) might compromise the effectiveness of antibiotic chemotherapy.

Mouse interleukin-2 receptor alpha gene expression. Delimitation of cis-acting regulatory elements in transgenic mice and by mapping of DNase-I hypersensitive sites.

The alpha chain of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R alpha) is a key regulator of lymphocyte proliferation. To analyze the mechanisms controlling its expression in normal cells, we used the 5'-flanking region (base pairs -2539/+93) of the mouse gene to drive chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression in four transgenic mouse lines. Constitutive transgene activity was restricted to lymphoid organs. In mature T lymphocytes, transgene and endogenous IL-2R alpha gene expression was stimulated by concanavalin A and up-regulated by IL-2 with very similar kinetics. In thymic T cell precursors, IL-1 and IL-2 cooperatively induced transgene and IL-2R alpha gene expression. These results show that regulation of the endogenous IL-2R alpha gene occurs mainly at the transcriptional level. They demonstrate that cis-acting elements in the 5'-flanking region present in the transgene confer correct tissue specificity and inducible expression in mature T cells and their precursors in response to antigen, IL-1, and IL-2. In a complementary approach, we screened the 5' end of the endogenous IL-2R alpha gene for DNase-I hypersensitive sites. We found three lymphocyte specific DNase-I hypersensitive sites. Two, at -0.05 and -5.3 kilobase pairs, are present in resting T cells. A third site appears at -1.35 kilobase pairs in activated T cells. It co-localizes with IL-2-responsive elements identified by transient transfection experiments.

Cis-acting elements, CArG-, E-, CCAAT- and TATA-boxes may be involved in sexually regulated gene transcription in Schistosoma mansoni

Schistosomes undergo various morphological and metabolic changes during their development, reflected in a finely tuned regulation of protein and/or gene expression. The mechanisms involved in the control of gene expression during the development of the parasite are not understood. Two actin genes had been previously cloned and observed to be differentially expressed during the maturation of the parasite. The SmAct gene contains four putative cis-regulatory elements (TATA-, CCAAT-, E- and CArG-boxes). Our objective was to investigate in greater detail the expression pattern of two actin genes and verify if the binding of nuclear proteins to the promoter elements of SmAct correlated with the expression profile observed. We detected little variation in the expression of actin genes during the first seven days of schistosomula culture in vitro. However, we observed significantly higher levels of expression in males compared to female adults. CArG and CCAAT elements bound to a greater extent and formed distinct complexes with male in comparison to female nuclear extracts. In contrast, female extracts bound weakly to the E-box probe while no binding was observed with male extracts. Taken together these results describe cis-acting elements that appear to be involved in sexually regulated gene expression in Schistosoma mansoni.

A novel reiterated family of transcribed oligo(A)-terminated, interspersed DNA elements in the genome of Trypanosoma cruzi

We report the molecular characterization of a novel reiterated family of transcribed oligo(A)-terminated, interspersed DNA elements in the genome of Trypanosoma cruzi. Steady-state level of transcripts of this sequence family appeared to be developmentally regulated, since only in the replicative forms the parasite showed expression of related sequences with a major band around 3 kb. The presence of frame shifts or premature stop codons predicts that transcripts are not translated. The sequence family also contains truncated forms of retrotransposons elements that may become potential hot spots for retroelement insertion. Sequences homologous to this family are interspersed at many chromosomes including the subtelomeric regions.

Optimization of the piggyBac Transposon Using mRNA and Insulators: Toward a More Reliable Gene Delivery System.

Integrating and expressing stably a transgene into the cellular genome remain major challenges for gene-based therapies and for bioproduction purposes. While transposon vectors mediate efficient transgene integration, expression may be limited by epigenetic silencing, and persistent transposase expression may mediate multiple transposition cycles. Here, we evaluated the delivery of the piggyBac transposase messenger RNA combined with genetically insulated transposons to isolate the transgene from neighboring regulatory elements and stabilize expression. A comparison of piggyBac transposase expression from messenger RNA and DNA vectors was carried out in terms of expression levels, transposition efficiency, transgene expression and genotoxic effects, in order to calibrate and secure the transposition-based delivery system. Messenger RNA reduced the persistence of the transposase to a narrow window, thus decreasing side effects such as superfluous genomic DNA cleavage. Both the CTF/NF1 and the D4Z4 insulators were found to mediate more efficient expression from a few transposition events. We conclude that the use of engineered piggyBac transposase mRNA and insulated transposons offer promising ways of improving the quality of the integration process and sustaining the expression of transposon vectors.