Contesting Sphere Boundaries Online: Private/Technical/Public Discourses in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Discussion Groups

The internet is fast becoming a means for people to obtain information, creating a unique forum for the intersection of the public, technical, and private spheres. To ground my research theoretically, I used Jürgen Habermas’s sphere theory. Habermas (1987) explains that the technical sphere colonizes the private sphere, which decreases democratic potential. In particular, the internet is a place for altering technical colonization of the private and public spheres. My research focuses on women’s health because it is a particularly useful case study for examining sphere tensions. Historically, the biomedical health establishment has been a powerful agent of colonization, resulting in detrimental effects for women and their health. The purpose of this study is to examine how the internet encourages expert and female patient deliberation, which empowers women to challenge the experts and, thus, make conversations between the private/technical spheres more democratic. I used PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) as a case to observe the changing sphere boundaries by studying the discourse that took place on multiple patient and doctor websites over a four-year period. Through my research, I found that the PCOS women challenge the biomedical model by appropriating medical language. By understanding the medical talk, the women are able to feel confident when discussing their health conditions with the doctor and with each other. The PCOS women also become lay-experts who have personal and medical experience with PCOS, reducing private sphere colonization. This case study exemplifies how female empowerment can influence expert culture, challenging our conventional understanding of democracy.

Amerindian anthropology and cultural psychology: Crossing boundaries and meeting otherness` worlds

Addressing integrative possibilities between psychology and anthropology, this paper aims to design conceptual linkages between semiotic-cultural constructivist psychology and the anthropological theory of Amerindian perspectivism. From the psychological view, it is the interdependence between the structural and processual dimensions of the personal culture that makes parallels with Amerindian perspectivism fruitful. This anthropological frame proposes an experiment with native conceptions, which I argue similar to what Baldwin (1906) called sembling. Hence, it can be considered an active imitation of otherness` viewpoint in order to approach indigenous worlds. It is supposed that this procedure leads to the emergence of new symbolic elements configuring the cultural action field of each agency in interaction. It is proposed that ""making-believe`` the Amerindian is convergent with the dialogic-hermeneutic approach of semiotic-cultural constructivism. As a result of the present integrative effort, is designed a meta-model that multiplies the genetic process of concrete symbolic objects.

Longitudinal reference ranges for fetal ultrasound biometry in twin pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish longitudinal reference ranges for fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and growth parameters in twin pregnancies. METHOD: A total of 200 uncomplicated twin pregnancies before 21 weeks of gestation were recruited for this prospective, longitudinal study. Women who abandoned follow-up, pregnancies with unknown outcomes or pregnancies with complications were excluded. Ultrasound scans were performed every three weeks, and biparietal and occipitofrontal diameters, head and abdominal circumferences, and femur diaphysis length measurements were obtained for each fetus at each visit. Estimated fetal weight, biparietal/occipitofrontal diameter, head circumference/abdominal circumference, and femur diaphysis length/abdominal circumference ratios were also calculated. Multilevel regression analysis was performed on normalized data. RESULTS: A total of 807 ultrasound examinations were performed in 125 twin pregnancies between 14 and 38 weeks of gestation (6.5 +/- 1.4 scans/pregnancy). Regression analysis demonstrated significant correlations for all variables with gestational age, namely log of the biparietal diameter (r = 0.98), log of the occipitofrontal diameter (r = 0.98), log of the head circumference (r = 0.99), log of the abdominal circumference (r = 0.98), square root of the femur length (r = 0.99), log of the estimated fetal weight (r = 0.99), biparietal/occipitofrontal ratio (r = -0.11), head/abdomen circumference ratio (r = -0.56), and log of the femur length/abdominal circumference ratio (r = 0.61). Values corresponding to the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles for estimated fetal weight at 28, 32, and 36 weeks, respectively, were as follows: 937, 1,096, 1,284 g; 1,462, 1,720, 2,025 g; and 2,020, 2,399, 2,849 g. CONCLUSION: In twin pregnancies, fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and growth parameters show a significant correlation with gestational age.

The remarkable solar twin HIP 56948: a prime target in the quest for other Earths

Context. The Sun shows abundance anomalies relative to most solar twins. If the abundance peculiarities are due to the formation of inner rocky planets, that would mean that only a small fraction of solar type stars may host terrestrial planets. Aims. In this work we study HIP 56948, the best solar twin known to date, to determine with an unparalleled precision how similar it is to the Sun in its physical properties, chemical composition and planet architecture. We explore whether the abundances anomalies may be due to pollution from stellar ejecta or to terrestrial planet formation. Methods. We perform a differential abundance analysis (both in LTE and NLTE) using high resolution (R similar to 100 000) high S/N (600-650) Keck HIRES spectra of the Sun (as reflected from the asteroid Ceres) and HIP 56948. We use precise radial velocity data from the McDonald and Keck observatories to search for planets around this star. Results. We achieve a precision of sigma less than or similar to 0.003 dex for several elements. Including errors in stellar parameters the total uncertainty is as low as sigma similar or equal to 0.005 dex (1%), which is unprecedented in elemental abundance studies. The similarities between HIP 56948 and the Sun are astonishing. HIP 56948 is only 17 +/- 7 K hotter than the Sun, and log g, [Fe/H] and microturbulence velocity are only +0.02 +/- 0.02 dex, +0.02 +/- 0.01 dex and +0.01 +/- 0.01 km s(-1) higher than solar, respectively. Our precise stellar parameters and a differential isochrone analysis shows that HIP 56948 has a mass of 1.02 +/- 0.02 M-circle dot and that it is similar to 1 Gyr younger than the Sun, as constrained by isochrones, chromospheric activity, Li and rotation. Both stars show a chemical abundance pattern that differs from most solar twins, but the refractory elements (those with condensation temperature T-cond greater than or similar to 1000 K) are slightly (similar to 0.01 dex) more depleted in the Sun than in HIP 56948. The trend with T-cond in differential abundances (twins -HIP 56948) can be reproduced very well by adding similar to 3 M-circle plus of a mix of Earth and meteoritic material, to the convection zone of HIP 56948. The element-to-element scatter of the Earth/meteoritic mix for the case of hypothetical rocky planets around HIP 56948 is only 0.0047 dex. From our radial velocity monitoring we find no indications of giant planets interior to or within the habitable zone of HIP 56948. Conclusions. We conclude that HIP 56948 is an excellent candidate to host a planetary system like our own, including the possible presence of inner terrestrial planets. Its striking similarity to the Sun and its mature age makes HIP 56948 a prime target in the quest for other Earths and SETI endeavors.

Nutrient reference concentrations and trophic state boundaries in subtropical reservoirs

Nutrient criteria as reference concentrations and trophic state boundaries are necessary for water management worldwide because anthropogenic eutrophication is a threat to the water uses. We compiled data on total phosphorus (TP), nitrogen (TN) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) from 17 subtropical reservoirs monitored from 2005-2009 in the Sao Paulo State (Brazil) to calculate reference concentrations through the trisection method (United States Environmental Protection Agency). By dividing our dataset into thirds we presented trophic state boundaries and frequency curves for the nutrient levels in water bodies with different enrichment conditions. TP and TN baseline concentrations (0.010 mg/L and 0.350 mg/L, respectively) were bracketed by ranges for temperate reservoirs available in the literature. We propose trophic state boundaries (upper limits for the oligotrophic category: 0.010 mg TP/L, 0.460 mg TN/L and 1.7 mu g Chl a/L; for the mesotrophic: 0.030 mg TP/L, 0.820 mg TN/L and 9.0 mu g Chl a/L). Through an example with a different dataset (from the Itupararanga Reservoir, Brazil), we encouraged the use of frequency curves to compare data from individual monitoring efforts with the expected concentrations in oligotrophic, mesotrophic and eutrophic regional systems. Such analysis might help designing recovery programs to reach targeted concentrations and mitigate the undesirable eutrophication symptoms in subtropical freshwaters.

Prospective study of dentoskeletal changes in class II division malocclusion treatment with twin force bite corrector

Objective: To evaluate the dentoskeletal changes of Class II malocclusion treatment with the Twin Force Bite Corrector (TFBC). Materials and Methods: The sample comprised 86 lateral cephalograms obtained from 43 subjects with Class II division 1 malocclusion; the subjects were divided into two groups. The experimental group comprised 23 patients with a mean initial age of 12.11 years who were treated with the TFBC for a mean period of 2.19 years. The control group included 40 lateral cephalograms from 20 Class II nontreated patients, with an initial mean age of 12.55 years and a mean observation period of 2.19 years. The lateral cephalograms were evaluated before and after orthodontic treatment in group 1 and in the beginning and end of the observation period in group 2. t-Tests were used to compare the initial and final cephalometric characteristics of the groups as well as the amount of change. Results: The experimental group presented greater maxillary growth restriction and mandibular retrusion than the control group, as well as greater maxillomandibular relationship improvement and greater labial tipping of the mandibular incisors. The results also showed a greater decrease in overbite and overjet in the experimental group, and there were no statistically significant differences in the craniofacial growth pattern between groups. Conclusions: The TFBC promotes restriction of anterior maxillary displacement without significant changes in mandibular length and position and improvement of maxillomandibular relationship without changes in facial growth and significant buccal tipping of mandibular incisors. Class II correction with the TFBC occurred primarily as a result of dentoalveolar changes.

Texture analysis of cold rolled and annealed aluminum alloy produced by twin-roll casting

A 7.4 mm thick strip of 3003 aluminum alloy produced by the industrial twin-roll casting (TRC) process was homogenized at 500 °C for 12 hours, after which it was cold rolled in two conditions: 1) to reduce the strip's thickness by 67%, and 2) to reduce it by 91%. The alloy was annealed at 400 °C for 1 hour in both conditions. The results revealed that a rotated cube texture, the {001}<110> component, predominated in the as-cast condition and was transformed into brass, copper and S type textures during the cold rolling process. There was practically no difference between the deformation textures at the two thickness reductions.

Digitale Einstrahl-Holographie atmosphärischer Eiskristalle

Es wurde ein für bodengebundene Feldmessungen geeignetes System zur digital-holographischen Abbildung luftgetragener Objekte entwickelt und konstruiert. Es ist, abhängig von der Tiefenposition, geeignet zur direkten Bestimmung der Größe luftgetragener Objekte oberhalb von ca. 20 µm, sowie ihrer Form bei Größen oberhalb von ca. 100µm bis in den Millimeterbereich. Die Entwicklung umfaßte zusätzlich einen Algorithmus zur automatisierten Verbesserung der Hologrammqualität und zur semiautomatischen Entfernungsbestimmung großer Objekte entwickelt. Eine Möglichkeit zur intrinsischen Effizienzsteigerung der Bestimmung der Tiefenposition durch die Berechnung winkelgemittelter Profile wurde vorgestellt. Es wurde weiterhin ein Verfahren entwickelt, das mithilfe eines iterativen Ansatzes für isolierte Objekte die Rückgewinnung der Phaseninformation und damit die Beseitigung des Zwillingsbildes erlaubt. Weiterhin wurden mithilfe von Simulationen die Auswirkungen verschiedener Beschränkungen der digitalen Holographie wie der endlichen Pixelgröße untersucht und diskutiert. Die geeignete Darstellung der dreidimensionalen Ortsinformation stellt in der digitalen Holographie ein besonderes Problem dar, da das dreidimensionale Lichtfeld nicht physikalisch rekonstruiert wird. Es wurde ein Verfahren entwickelt und implementiert, das durch Konstruktion einer stereoskopischen Repräsentation des numerisch rekonstruierten Meßvolumens eine quasi-dreidimensionale, vergrößerte Betrachtung erlaubt. Es wurden ausgewählte, während Feldversuchen auf dem Jungfraujoch aufgenommene digitale Hologramme rekonstruiert. Dabei ergab sich teilweise ein sehr hoher Anteil an irregulären Kristallformen, insbesondere infolge massiver Bereifung. Es wurden auch in Zeiträumen mit formal eisuntersättigten Bedingungen Objekte bis hinunter in den Bereich ≤20µm beobachtet. Weiterhin konnte in Anwendung der hier entwickelten Theorie des ”Phasenrandeffektes“ ein Objekt von nur ca. 40µm Größe als Eisplättchen identifiziert werden. Größter Nachteil digitaler Holographie gegenüber herkömmlichen photographisch abbildenden Verfahren ist die Notwendigkeit der aufwendigen numerischen Rekonstruktion. Es ergibt sich ein hoher rechnerischer Aufwand zum Erreichen eines einer Photographie vergleichbaren Ergebnisses. Andererseits weist die digitale Holographie Alleinstellungsmerkmale auf. Der Zugang zur dreidimensionalen Ortsinformation kann der lokalen Untersuchung der relativen Objektabstände dienen. Allerdings zeigte sich, dass die Gegebenheiten der digitalen Holographie die Beobachtung hinreichend großer Mengen von Objekten auf der Grundlage einzelner Hologramm gegenwärtig erschweren. Es wurde demonstriert, dass vollständige Objektgrenzen auch dann rekonstruiert werden konnten, wenn ein Objekt sich teilweise oder ganz außerhalb des geometrischen Meßvolumens befand. Weiterhin wurde die zunächst in Simulationen demonstrierte Sub-Bildelementrekonstruktion auf reale Hologramme angewandt. Dabei konnte gezeigt werden, dass z.T. quasi-punktförmige Objekte mit Sub-Pixelgenauigkeit lokalisiert, aber auch bei ausgedehnten Objekten zusätzliche Informationen gewonnen werden konnten. Schließlich wurden auf rekonstruierten Eiskristallen Interferenzmuster beobachtet und teilweise zeitlich verfolgt. Gegenwärtig erscheinen sowohl kristallinterne Reflexion als auch die Existenz einer (quasi-)flüssigen Schicht als Erklärung möglich, wobei teilweise in Richtung der letztgenannten Möglichkeit argumentiert werden konnte. Als Ergebnis der Arbeit steht jetzt ein System zur Verfügung, das ein neues Meßinstrument und umfangreiche Algorithmen umfaßt. S. M. F. Raupach, H.-J. Vössing, J. Curtius und S. Borrmann: Digital crossed-beam holography for in-situ imaging of atmospheric particles, J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 8, 796-806 (2006) S. M. F. Raupach: A cascaded adaptive mask algorithm for twin image removal and its application to digital holograms of ice crystals, Appl. Opt. 48, 287-301 (2009) S. M. F. Raupach: Stereoscopic 3D visualization of particle fields reconstructed from digital inline holograms, (zur Veröffentlichung angenommen, Optik - Int. J. Light El. Optics, 2009)

Stock boundaries of Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) populations in the Italian seas: Development of genomic 2b-RAD markers and biological variation analysis.

This thesis is developed in the contest of Ritmare project WP1, which main objective is the development of a sustainable fishery through the identification of populations boundaries in commercially important species in Italian Seas. Three main objectives are discussed in order to help reach the main purpose of identification of stock boundaries in Parapenaeus longirostris: 1 -Development of a representative sampling design for Italian seas; 2 -Evaluation of 2b-RAD protocol; 3 -Investigation of populations through biological data analysis. First of all we defined and accomplished a sampling design which properly represents all Italian seas. Then we used information and data about nursery areas distribution, abundance of populations and importance of P. longirostris in local fishery, to develop an experimental design that prioritize the most important areas to maximize the results with actual project funds. We introduced for the first time the use of 2b-RAD on this species, a genotyping method based on sequencing the uniform fragments produced by type IIB restriction endonucleases. Thanks to this method we were able to move from genetics to the more complex genomics. In order to proceed with 2b-RAD we performed several tests to identify the best DNA extraction kit and protocol and finally we were able to extract 192 high quality DNA extracts ready to be processed. We tested 2b-RAD with five samples and after high-throughput sequencing of libraries we used the software “Stacks” to analyze the sequences. We obtained positive results identifying a great number of SNP markers among the five samples. To guarantee a multidisciplinary approach we used the biological data associated to the collected samples to investigate differences between geographical samples. Such approach assures continuity with other project, for instance STOCKMED, which utilize a combination of molecular and biological analysis as well.

Inference of Raja miraletus population structure using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA: comparing the resolution power of molecular markers in exploring species and population boundaries

This study focused on the role of oceanographic discontinuities and the presence of transitional areas in shaping the population structure and the phylogeography of the Raja miraletus species complex, coupled with the test of the effective occurrence of past speciation events. The comparisons between the Atlantic African and the North-Eastern Atlantic-Mediterranean geographic populations were unravelled using both Cytochrome Oxidase I and eight microsatellite loci. This approach guaranteed a robust dataset for the identification of a speciation event between the Atlantic African clade, corresponding to the ex Raja ocellifera nominal species, and the NE Atlantic-Mediterranean R. miraletus clade. As a matter of fact, the origin of the Atlantic Africa and the NE Atlantic-Mediterranean deep split dated about 11.74MYA and was likely due to the synergic influence currents and two upwelling areas crossing the Western African Waters. Within the Mediterranean Sea, particular attention was also paid to the transitional area represented by Adventura and Maltese Bank, that might have contributed in sustaining the connectivity of the Western and the Eastern Mediterranean geographical populations. Furthermore, the geology of the easternmost part of Sicily and the geo-morphological depression of the Calabrian Arc could have driven the differentiation of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Although bathymetric and oceanographic discontinuity could represent barriers to dispersal and migration between Eastern and Western Mediterranean samples, a clear and complete genetic separation among them was not detected. Results produced by this work identified a speciation event defining Raja ocellifera and R. miraletus as two different species, and describing the R. miraletus species complex as the most ancient cryptic speciation event in the family Rajidae, representing another example of how strictly connected the environment, the behavioural habits and the evolutionary and ecologic drivers are.

The Arabidopsis PHYTOCHROME KINASE SUBSTRATE2 protein is a phototropin signaling element that regulates leaf flattening and leaf positioning

In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the blue light photoreceptor phototropins (phot1 and phot2) fine-tune the photosynthetic status of the plant by controlling several important adaptive processes in response to environmental light variations. These processes include stem and petiole phototropism (leaf positioning), leaf flattening, stomatal opening, and chloroplast movements. The PHYTOCHROME KINASE SUBSTRATE (PKS) protein family comprises four members in Arabidopsis (PKS1-PKS4). PKS1 is a novel phot1 signaling element during phototropism, as it interacts with phot1 and the important signaling element NONPHOTOTROPIC HYPOCOTYL3 (NPH3) and is required for normal phot1-mediated phototropism. In this study, we have analyzed more globally the role of three PKS members (PKS1, PKS2, and PKS4). Systematic analysis of mutants reveals that PKS2 (and to a lesser extent PKS1) act in the same subset of phototropin-controlled responses as NPH3, namely leaf flattening and positioning. PKS1, PKS2, and NPH3 coimmunoprecipitate with both phot1-green fluorescent protein and phot2-green fluorescent protein in leaf extracts. Genetic experiments position PKS2 within phot1 and phot2 pathways controlling leaf positioning and leaf flattening, respectively. NPH3 can act in both phot1 and phot2 pathways, and synergistic interactions observed between pks2 and nph3 mutants suggest complementary roles of PKS2 and NPH3 during phototropin signaling. Finally, several observations further suggest that PKS2 may regulate leaf flattening and positioning by controlling auxin homeostasis. Together with previous findings, our results indicate that the PKS proteins represent an important family of phototropin signaling proteins.