Hypothalamic regulation of cortical bone mass: Opposing activity of Y2 receptor and leptin pathways

NeuropeptideY-, Y2 receptor (Y2)-, and leptin-deficient mice show similar anabolic action in cancellous bone but have not been assessed in cortical bone. Cortical bone mass is elevated in Y2(-/-) mice through greater osteoblast activity. In contrast, leptin deficiency results in reduced bone mass. We show opposing central regulation of cortical bone.

Le Passé simple est-il toujours en course? Enquête sur la position du PS dans le peloton des temps du reportage cycliste

Cellard (1979) avait avancé que le reportage sportif constituait un bastion du passé simple (PS). Cette affirmation, non étayée par une étude de corpus, semblait trouver un écho dans les études de la presse écrite des années 80-90 (Herzog 1981, Engel 1990). Toutefois, des études récentes consacrées exclusivement au reportage sportif remettent en cause cette prétendue suprématie dans les comptes rendus de la finale de la Coupe du Monde 2002 offerts par la presse francophone (Engel & Labeau 2003) même si des variations régionales (plus grande proportion de PS en périphérie qu’au centre parisien - Labeau 2002) et diachroniques (déclin du PS depuis 1950 – Labeau 2003) semblent se manifester. La présente étude se propose de poursuivre et de raffiner l’analyse de l’emploi du PS dans le compte rendu sportif en sollicitant de nouvelles variables. D’abord, le choix du corpus permettra d’approfondir des hypothèses évoquées dans les articles ci-dessous. Notre corpus sera constitué de la couverture du Tour d’Italie 2004 dans L’Equipe et La Dernière Heure / Les Sports. Le cyclisme se distingue du football par plusieurs aspects, parmi lesquels on peut noter sa linéarité : une course cycliste n’est pas un match joué dans un espace clos, délimité, mais consiste à effectuer un parcours linéaire aussi vite que possible. Cette linéarité pourrait s’avérer favorable au PS (Vetters 2003, Bres 2003). Contrairement aux événements sportifs étudiés précédemment, le Tour d’Italie ne bénéficie pas d’une couverture télévisuelle importante en France, un facteur susceptible d’influencer le compte rendu écrit (Labeau 2003) ; contrairement à ce qui se passe pour les finales de Coupe du Monde, le journaliste ne peut assumer que le lecteur connaît déjà les résultats de l’épreuve. Le corpus étudié ici se veut aussi plus complet : on travaillera sur l’ensemble des articles, en version papier, consacrés au Giro plutôt que sur une sélection d’articles en ligne. Cette prise en compte pourrait mettre en lumière des variations de genre. Un autre intérêt du présent corpus est qu’il illustre les pratiques de la presse sportive plutôt que celles des pages sportives des quotidiens « généralistes » : L’Equipe est l’hebdomadaire français de référence et la DH offre la couverture la plus complète en Belgique francophone. La comparaison des deux publications nous permettra donc de tester d’éventuelles variations régionales. Ainsi, par un corpus spécifiquement sportif et élargi, nous contribuerons à évaluer plus exactement la position réelle du PS dans la presse sportive contemporaine.

Better primer design for metagenomics applications by increasing taxonomic distinguishability

Current methods of understanding microbiome composition and structure rely on accurately estimating the number of distinct species and their relative abundance. Most of these methods require an efficient PCR whose forward and reverse primers bind well to the same, large number of identifiable species, and produce amplicons that are unique. It is therefore not surprising that currently used universal primers designed many years ago are not as efficient and fail to bind to recently cataloged species. We propose an automated general method of designing PCR primer pairs that abide by primer design rules and uses current sequence database as input. Since the method is automated, primers can be designed for targeted microbial species or updated as species are added or deleted from the database. In silico experiments and laboratory experiments confirm the efficacy of the newly designed primers for metagenomics applications.

A colocação de pronomes clíticos em sentenças infinitivas preposicionadas na escrita brasileira dos séculos XIX e XX

In this work we present the description and analysis of the clitics collocation patterns in prepositional infinitive sentences within the Brazilian writing in the centuries XIX and XX. The corpus in analysis is comprised of letters of newspaper readers and newspaper writers, as well as of advertisements (ads) taken from Brazilian newspapers from different regions / states – Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Ceará and Pernambuco – and written in the Centuries XIX and XX. They belong to the common minimum corpus of the project named Projeto para a História do Português Brasileiro (PHPB or Project to the History of the Brazilian Portuguese, in English). Its analysis is based on theoreticalmethodological postulates of the Theory of Variation and Change (WEINREICH; LABOV; HERZOG, 1968[2006]; LABOV, 1972[2008]); on the Theory of Principles and Parameters (CHOMSKY, 1981, 1986) and on the model of Grammar Competition (KROCH, 1989; 2001). By trying to articulate those presuppositions from both the theories we present a proposition of theoretical interface between the Variation Theory and the Grammar one. Concerning the empirical results achieved by means of this research, we could figure that, in the context in which there were prepositional infinitive sentences, the most significant independent variable to the occurrence of the proclisis is the type of preposition that comes before the verb in the infinitive. Before that, we found out that there are prepositions which strongly direct the proclisis, as it is the case of the prepositions in Portuguese sem, por, de and para, with all of them presenting Relative Weights over 0,52. Another important result is the one attested in the data referring the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ). This state is the only one of the sample which is located in the Southeastern region and also presents itself as the main proclisis conditioner amongst the localities pertaining to the sample. In order to explain those results, we raised the hypothesis that the proclisis implementation may be more advanced in the Southeastern than in the Northeastern Brazil, however that hypothesis must be confirmed or refuted in future works. We also present, in this work, a theoretical explanation about the clitics colocation in prepositional infinitive sentences within the Brazilian writing in the XIX and XX centuries. The theoretical explanation we found to interpret the achieved results associates Magro’s proposition (2005), regarding the existence of prepositions occupying the nucleus PP and the existence of prepositions which can play the role of a completer and occupy the nucleus CP, according to Galves (2000; 2001), regarding the existent relation between the clitic colocation and the association of traits-phi to the functional categories COMP, Tense and Person. Our proposition is that the occurrence of prepositions which occupy the nucleus CP causes changes in the values attributed to the traits-phi and to the strong Vtraits in the functional categories COMP, Tense and Person. Thus, we defend that proclisis in Brazilian Portuguese (BP) is derived from the movement of the verb to the functional category tense in which there is the association of traits +V and traits +AGR, what legitimates the proclisis according to Galves´s proposition (2000; 2001).

Os possessivos de segunda pessoa em cartas de leitores de jornais brasileiros dos séculos XIX e XX

Based on the theoretical and methodological presuppositions of the theory of language variation and change (cf. WEINREICH; LABOV; HERZOG, 2006 [1968]), it is described and analyzed in this article the process of variation/change concerning the second person possessive pronouns in letters from readers of Brazilian newspapers from the XIX and XX centuries. These letters feature a portrait of the Brazilian press from the South (Santa Catarina), Southeast (Rio de Janeiro) and Northeast (Bahia and Rio Grande do Norte) regions in each century and are part of the Project for Brazilian Portuguese History‘s (PHPB) printed common minimal corpus. The point of departure of this work is the idea that the use of variant forms of expressing second person possessive pronouns – teu and seu – results from the interaction characterizing the varied social roles performed by the letters‘ senders. Arranging communicative units, which gather elements/features denoting time and space, conditioned and determined by socio-historical and cultural aspects, the readers‘ letters, turn out to be a promising research field under the light of this paper. More specifically, In the row of presented results in studies about the pronominal system in the diachroneity of/in Brazilian Portuguese (PB) (FARACO, 2002; LORENGIAN-PENKAL, 2007; CALLOU; LOPES, 2003; LOPES; DUARTE, 2003; MENON, 2005; ARDUIN; COELHO, 2006; LOPES, 2009; MARCOTULIO, 2010), the results featured in here point at different usages of the possessives, noticing the coexistence of the forms teu/tua and seu/sua strongly conditioned by the socio-discursive nature of the readers‘ letters in the course of the centuries and through different regions.

Os possessivos de segunda pessoa em cartas de leitores de jornais brasileiros dos séculos XIX e XX

Based on the theoretical and methodological presuppositions of the theory of language variation and change (cf. WEINREICH; LABOV; HERZOG, 2006 [1968]), it is described and analyzed in this article the process of variation/change concerning the second person possessive pronouns in letters from readers of Brazilian newspapers from the XIX and XX centuries. These letters feature a portrait of the Brazilian press from the South (Santa Catarina), Southeast (Rio de Janeiro) and Northeast (Bahia and Rio Grande do Norte) regions in each century and are part of the Project for Brazilian Portuguese History‘s (PHPB) printed common minimal corpus. The point of departure of this work is the idea that the use of variant forms of expressing second person possessive pronouns – teu and seu – results from the interaction characterizing the varied social roles performed by the letters‘ senders. Arranging communicative units, which gather elements/features denoting time and space, conditioned and determined by socio-historical and cultural aspects, the readers‘ letters, turn out to be a promising research field under the light of this paper. More specifically, In the row of presented results in studies about the pronominal system in the diachroneity of/in Brazilian Portuguese (PB) (FARACO, 2002; LORENGIAN-PENKAL, 2007; CALLOU; LOPES, 2003; LOPES; DUARTE, 2003; MENON, 2005; ARDUIN; COELHO, 2006; LOPES, 2009; MARCOTULIO, 2010), the results featured in here point at different usages of the possessives, noticing the coexistence of the forms teu/tua and seu/sua strongly conditioned by the socio-discursive nature of the readers‘ letters in the course of the centuries and through different regions.

Os youtubers e a representação do certo, errado, adequado e inadequado no trabalho com a variação linguística em sala de aula

Some of the current discussions in the teaching of Portuguese Language (LP) pertain to how the school should deal with the phenomenon of language variation in the classroom. In 2010, for example, an explosion of talk took over the academic corridors: a book, entitled "Por uma vida melhor", the collection "Viver, Aprender", published by the MEC (Ministry of Education and Culture) to students EJA (Youth and Adults) brought notions regarding linguistic variation, even in their first chapter. In it is clear the notion that it is possible to make use of structures as "pretty boy", instead of "pretty boys", depending on the context in which such use is insert. Therefore, the discussions focused around the notions of variety cultivated, standard and popular measuring them to the possibilities of linguistic appropriateness. The community was surprised by the defense of the "power" to use, since it would be the school space to teach a standard "default", and not the possibility of legitimate use of grammatical patterns that clashed with those recommended in traditional grammars. The television media has been responsible for a major blaze that MEC had endorsed the use in schools of a book that legitimized such linguistic patterns. The quarrel was released on Youtube and in that space, netizens expressed themselves for or against the proposal of LD often directing the discussion to questions of a purely political. We observed that, on one side, loomed arguments related to Sociolinguistics (BAGNO , 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009; BAGNO, M.; STUBBS, M., Gagne, G., 2006; Bortoni - RICARDO, S.M., 2008; Tarallo, F., 1982; U. Weinreich, MARVIN I. HERZOG, Labov, W., 1968, Labov 1972, etc.); another, arguments concentrated on defending the school is the area of language teaching standard, and not fit to bring certain discussions within an LD. It was from these words, that this research was born. Interested in the particular way that the community media, which seemed to have no training in linguistics, understand the concepts of right, wrong, appropriate and inappropriate, so intimate in academic circles. Our thoughts take as reference the theoretical studies on the question of sociolinguistic variation and education, official documents that guide the "work" with the Portuguese language in the classroom, like the NCP (National Curriculum) and Curriculum Proposal for Education Youth and Adult (PCEJA). In our analysis, we found that LD" For a better life "makes no apology for teaching the "error", but it raises discussions about the possibility of "change", linked to factors and different order. We realize how significant it is to observe how speakers of a language are positioned in relation to language teaching which they are not speakers and scholars. Our study showed that certain issues regarding the teaching of the Portuguese language, as is the case of linguistic variation, points are far from being resolved, either for linguists and/or grammarians, whether for language speakers.

Ein Jahr in Arkadien

[August Herzog von Sachsen-Gotha und Altenburg]

Ageing and visual spatiotemporal processing

Peer reviewed

Population and Government in Colonial Buenos Aires. An Approach to the Study of the Tensions Generated by Demographic Growth in the City (1740-1776)

The relationship between population and government in the City of Buenos Aires is analyzed, focusing on the tensions generated by the arrival of new individuals, a local elite with great interests in commerce and in charge of community affairs, and Spanish functionaries that progressively adopted the ideals of the Bourbon Dynasty, despite also being implicated in local logics. It interests us to observe the governors’ perspectives with respect to everyday developments in the city, their preoccupations and interests, and how they would vary the mechanisms to which they resorted in order to organize daily life, in the period defined between 1740 and 1776.

Evidence for three genetic loci involved in both anorexia nervosa risk and variation of body mass index

<p>The maintenance of normal body weight is disrupted in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) for prolonged periods of time. Prior to the onset of AN, premorbid body mass index (BMI) spans the entire range from underweight to obese. After recovery, patients have reduced rates of overweight and obesity. As such, loci involved in body weight regulation may also be relevant for AN and vice versa. Our primary analysis comprised a cross-trait analysis of the 1000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the lowest P-values in a genome-wide association meta-analysis (GWAMA) of AN (GCAN) for evidence of association in the largest published GWAMA for BMI (GIANT). Subsequently we performed sex-stratified analyses for these 1000 SNPs. Functional ex vivo studies on four genes ensued. Lastly, a look-up of GWAMA-derived BMI-related loci was performed in the AN GWAMA. We detected significant associations (P-values &lt;5 × 10(-5), Bonferroni-corrected P&lt;0.05) for nine SNP alleles at three independent loci. Interestingly, all AN susceptibility alleles were consistently associated with increased BMI. None of the genes (chr. 10: CTBP2, chr. 19: CCNE1, chr. 2: CARF and NBEAL1; the latter is a region with high linkage disequilibrium) nearest to these SNPs has previously been associated with AN or obesity. Sex-stratified analyses revealed that the strongest BMI signal originated predominantly from females (chr. 10 rs1561589; Poverall: 2.47 × 10(-06)/Pfemales: 3.45 × 10(-07)/Pmales: 0.043). Functional ex vivo studies in mice revealed reduced hypothalamic expression of Ctbp2 and Nbeal1 after fasting. Hypothalamic expression of Ctbp2 was increased in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice as compared with age-matched lean controls. We observed no evidence for associations for the look-up of BMI-related loci in the AN GWAMA. A cross-trait analysis of AN and BMI loci revealed variants at three chromosomal loci with potential joint impact. The chromosome 10 locus is particularly promising given that the association with obesity was primarily driven by females. In addition, the detected altered hypothalamic expression patterns of Ctbp2 and Nbeal1 as a result of fasting and DIO implicate these genes in weight regulation.</p>

Klaus-Peter Horn / Heidemarie Kemnitz / Winfried Marotzki / Uwe Sandfuchs (Hrsg.): Klinkhardt Lexikon Erziehungswissenschaft, 3 Bände im Schuber, Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt 2011 [Rezension]

Rezension von: Klaus-Peter Horn / Heidemarie Kemnitz / Winfried Marotzki / Uwe Sandfuchs (Hrsg.): Klinkhardt Lexikon Erziehungswissenschaft, 3 Bände im Schuber, Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt 2011 (1.509 S.; ISBN 978-3-8252-8468-8; 99,00 EUR)

Predicting bee community responses to land-use changes: Effects of geographic and taxonomic biases

Land-use change and intensification threaten bee populations worldwide, imperilling pollination services. Global models are needed to better characterise, project, and mitigate bees' responses to these human impacts. The available data are, however, geographically and taxonomically unrepresentative; most data are from North America and Western Europe, overrepresenting bumblebees and raising concerns that model results may not be generalizable to other regions and taxa. To assess whether the geographic and taxonomic biases of data could undermine effectiveness of models for conservation policy, we have collated from the published literature a global dataset of bee diversity at sites facing land-use change and intensification, and assess whether bee responses to these pressures vary across 11 regions (Western, Northern, Eastern and Southern Europe; North, Central and South America; Australia and New Zealand; South East Asia; Middle and Southern Africa) and between bumblebees and other bees. Our analyses highlight strong regionally-based responses of total abundance, species richness and Simpson's diversity to land use, caused by variation in the sensitivity of species and potentially in the nature of threats. These results suggest that global extrapolation of models based on geographically and taxonomically restricted data may underestimate the true uncertainty, increasing the risk of ecological surprises.

Pädagogik und Psychologie. Nachdenken über ein schwieriges Verhältnis

Am Beispiel des Verhältnisses von Pädagogik und Psychologie wird auf Probleme in der Beziehung der Pädagogik zu ihren Nachbardisziplinen eingegangen. Von Seiten der Psychologie bildet die Pädagogische Psychologie das Verbindungsstück. Da sie im wesentlichen als Anwendung psychologischer Methoden auf Probleme der pädagogischen Praxis entstanden war, blieben ihre Erfolge in pädagogischer Hinsicht bescheiden. Die Krise, in die sie geriet, rief nach einer stärkeren Orientierung an pädagogischer Theorie. Das Spannungsfeld zwischen Pädagogik und Psychologie, das sich dadurch eröffnete, wurde jedoch nie ausgeräumt. Statt dessen wurde von Seiten der Pädagogik eine Menschenkunde entwickelt, die antiwissenschaftlich auftrat und als Psychologieersatz diente. Pädagogik und Psychologie konnten auf diese Weise nicht wirklich zusammenfinden. Ein wesentlicher Grund für dieses Manko wird in einem beiderseits naiven, phänomenalistischen Gegenstandsverständnis gesehen. Als Lösung wird vorgeschlagen, das Verhältnis von Pädagogik und Psychologie auf eine konstruktivistische Basis zu stellen. Dadurch ließe sich die Pädagogische Psychologie als interdisziplinäre Wissenschaft begründen, was eine fruchtbare Dynamik zwischen den beiden Disziplinen ermöglichen würde. (DIPF/Orig.)

Peter Gansen: Metaphorisches Denken von Kindern, Theoretische und empirische Studien zu einer Pädagogischen Metaphorologie, (Erziehung – Schule – Gesellschaft, Bd. 56) Würzburg: Ergon 2010 [Rezension]

Rezension von: Peter Gansen: Metaphorisches Denken von Kindern, Theoretische und empirische Studien zu einer Pädagogischen Metaphorologie, (Erziehung – Schule – Gesellschaft, Bd. 56), Würzburg: Ergon 2010 (540 S.; ISBN 978-3-89913-742-2)