Diseño, desarrollo y evaluación de propuestas didácticas basadas en la obra de Xavier Zoghbi para la mejora de la habilidad musical en educación primaria

Programa de doctorado: Formación del profesorado.

Räumliche und zeitliche Einbindung einer strukturierten Population der Westlichen Smaragdeidechse (Lacerta bilineata, DAUDIN 1802) im Mittelrheintal

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die räumliche und zeitliche Dynamik einer strukturierten Population der Westlichen Smaragdeidechse (DAUDIN, 1802) im Mittelrheintal zwischen 1997 und 2000 untersucht. Dazu wurden die Teilaspekte der Hibernation, der Thermoregulation und der Raumnutzung der Art analysiert. Die Ergebnisse der Hibernation deuten auf eine hohe Relevanz dieses Jahresabschnitts für die Art in Bezug auf die Verbreitung in Südexponierten Steilhanglagen am Nordrand ihrer Verbreitung hin. Die Hibernationsstandorte unterscheiden sich im Mikroklimaprofil von Trockenmauern und Sommerlöchern. Die Standorte der Hibernation liegen in Zonen höchster Insolation im Untersuchungsgebiet. Die Analyse der Thermoregulation zeigte geschlechtsspezifische und saisonale Unterschiede, die mit den unterschiedlichen Jahresaktivitätszyklen erklärt werden können. Die Weibchen zeigen eine engere Bindung an die klimatischen Entwicklungen von Mirkohabitatstrukturen als die Männchen, was mit endogenen Faktoren zusammenhängen könnte. Die Parallelen und Unterschiede zu anderen Arten werden diskutiert. In der Raumnutzung zeigen sich auch Unterschiede zwischen Männchen und Weibchen, die auch mit den unterschiedlichen Jahresaktivitätszyklen erklärt werden können. Im Frühjahr und im Herbst zeigt die Art eine Bindung an Standorte hoher Insolation im Untersuchungsgebiet, im Sommer dagegen keine. In der Gesamtbetrachtung werden die Ergebnisse in Bezug auf das Verbreitungsbild der Art, Schutzaspekte und Schlüsselfaktoren der Habitatqualität diskutiert.

Proposta di traduzione in italiano commentata del racconto “O Verdadeiro Pecado de Xoán Zalzívar” della scrittrice portoghese Leonor Xavier

Lo scopo di questo elaborato è di presentare una proposta di traduzione verso l’italiano del racconto O Verdadeiro Pecado de Xoán Zalzívar della scrittrice portoghese Leonor Xavier, pubblicato all’interno della raccolta Picante – Histórias que ardem na boca. Dopo aver presentato brevemente la biografia e la bibliografia dell’autrice, ci si è soffermati sulla raccolta e sul racconto stesso. In particolare, sono state presentate le tematiche narrate e il filo conduttore della raccolta e successivamente è stata illustrata la trama del racconto. Al centro di questo elaborato vi è la traduzione e la rispettiva analisi. Infatti, è stata rivolta una particolare attenzione alle difficoltà nella resa in italiano, come la ricetta e i suoi ingredienti, le espressioni idiomatiche presenti nel testo di partenza, l’uso delle formule di cortesia e le scelte stilistiche della scrittrice.

Spatial and temporal variation in population genetic structure of wild Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) across Africa

Background: Reconstructing the evolutionary history of a species is challenging. It often depends not only on the past biogeographic and climatic events but also the contemporary and ecological factors, such as current connectivity and habitat heterogeneity. In fact, these factors might interact with each other and shape the current species distribution. However, to what extent the current population genetic structure reflects the past and the contemporary factors is largely unknown. Here we investigated spatio-temporal genetic structures of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) populations, across their natural distribution in Africa. While its large biogeographic distribution can cause genetic differentiation at the paleo-biogeographic scales, its restricted dispersal capacity might induce a strong genetic structure at micro-geographic scales. Results: Using nine microsatellite loci and 350 samples from ten natural populations, we found the highest genetic differentiation among the three ichthyofaunal provinces and regions (Ethiopian, Nilotic and Sudano-Sahelian) (R(ST) = 0.38 - 0.69). This result suggests the predominant effect of paleo-geographic events at macro-geographic scale. In addition, intermediate divergences were found between rivers and lakes within the regions, presumably reflecting relatively recent interruptions of gene flow between hydrographic basins (R(ST) = 0.24 - 0.32). The lowest differentiations were observed among connected populations within a basin (R(ST) = 0.015 in the Volta basin). Comparison of temporal sample series revealed subtle changes in the gene pools in a few generations (F = 0 - 0.053). The estimated effective population sizes were 23 - 143 and the estimated migration rate was moderate (m similar to 0.094 - 0.097) in the Volta populations. Conclusions: This study revealed clear hierarchical patterns of the population genetic structuring of O. niloticus in Africa. The effects of paleo-geographic and climatic events were predominant at macro-geographic scale, and the significant effect of geographic connectivity was detected at micro-geographic scale. The estimated effective population size, the moderate level of dispersal and the rapid temporal change in genetic composition might reflect a potential effect of life history strategy on population dynamics. This hypothesis deserves further investigation. The dynamic pattern revealed at micro-geographic and temporal scales appears important from a genetic resource management as well as from a biodiversity conservation point of view.

Urogenital manifestations in Wegener granulomatosis: a study of 11 cases and review of the literature

We describe the main characteristics and treatment of urogenital manifestations in patients with Wegener granulomatosis (WG). We conducted a retrospective review of the charts of 11 patients with WG. All patients were men, and their median age at WG diagnosis was 53 years (range, 21-70 yr). Urogenital involvement was present at onset of WG in 9 cases (81%), it was the first clinical evidence of WG in 2 cases (18%), and was a symptom of WG relapse in 6 cases (54%). Symptomatic urogenital involvement included prostatitis (n = 4) (with suspicion of an abscess in 1 case), orchitis (n = 4), epididymitis (n = 1), a renal pseudotumor (n = 2), ureteral stenosis (n = 1), and penile ulceration (n = 1). Urogenital symptoms rapidly resolved after therapy with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents. Several patients underwent a surgical procedure, either at the time of diagnosis (n = 3) (consisting of an open nephrectomy and radical prostatectomy for suspicion of carcinoma, suprapubic cystostomy for acute urinary retention), or during follow-up (n = 3) (consisting of ureteral double J stents for ureteral stenosis, and prostate transurethral resection because of dysuria). After a mean follow-up of 56 months, urogenital relapse occurred in 4 patients (36%). Urogenital involvement can be the first clinical evidence of WG. Some presentations, such as a renal or prostate mass that mimics cancer or an abscess, should be assessed to avoid unnecessary radical surgery. Urogenital symptoms can be promptly resolved with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents. However, surgical procedures, such as prostatic transurethral resection, may be mandatory in patients with persistent symptoms.

Early loss of HIV-infected patients on potent antiretroviral therapy programmes in lower-income countries

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the early loss of patients to antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes in resource-limited settings. METHODS: Using data on 5491 adult patients starting ART (median age 35 years, 46% female) in 15 treatment programmes in Africa, Asia and South America with (3) 12 months of follow-up, we investigated risk factors for no follow-up after treatment initiation, and loss to follow-up or death in the first 6 months. FINDINGS: Overall, 211 patients (3.8%) had no follow-up, 880 (16.0%) were lost to follow-up and 141 (2.6%) were known to have died in the first 6 months. The probability of no follow-up was higher in 2003-2004 than in 2000 or earlier (odds ratio, OR: 5.06; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.28-20.0), as was loss to follow-up (hazard ratio, HR: 7.62; 95% CI: 4.55-12.8) but not recorded death (HR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.44-2.36). Compared with a baseline CD4-cell count (3) 50 cells/microl, a count < 25 cells/microl was associated with a higher probability of no follow-up (OR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.43-4.33), loss to follow-up (HR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.23-1.77) and death (HR: 3.34; 95% CI: 2.10-5.30). Compared to free treatment, fee-for-service programmes were associated with a higher probability of no follow-up (OR: 3.71; 95% CI: 0.97-16.05) and higher mortality (HR: 4.64; 95% CI: 1.11-19.41). CONCLUSION: Early patient losses were increasingly common when programmes were scaled up and were associated with a fee for service and advanced immunodeficiency at baseline. Measures to maximize ART programme retention are required in resource-poor countries.

Searching the Rhone delta channel in Lake Geneva since François‐Alphonse Forel

In the late 19th century, F.A. FOREL led investigations of the Rhone River delta area of Lake Geneva that resulted in the dis- covery of a textbook example of a river-fed delta system containing impressive subaquatic channels. Well ahead of the marine counterparts, scientific observations and interpretations of water currents shaping the delta edifice for the first time documented how underflow currents carry cold, suspension-laden waters from the river mouth all the way to the deep basin. These early investigations of the Rhone delta laid the basis for follow-up studies in the 20th and 21th centuries. Sediment coring, water-column measurements, manned submersible diving, seismic reflection profiling and bathymetric sur- veying eventually provided a rich database to unravel the key erosional and depositional processes, further documenting the impact of human-induced changes in the catchment. With the merging of old and new scientific knowledge, today a comprehensive understanding prevails of how a delta changes through time, how its channels are formed, and what potential natural hazards may be related to its evolution. New and efficient bathymetric techniques, paired with novel coring operations, provided a time-series of morphologic evolution showing and quantifying the high dynamics of the delta/channel evolution in an unprecedented temporal and spatial reso- lution. Future investigations will continue to further quantify these dynamic processes and to link the evolution of the subaquatic domain with changes and processes in the catchment and with natural hazards. Its size, easy access, and large variety of states and processes will continue to make the Rhone delta area a perfect ‘laboratory’ in which general processes can be studied that could be upscaled or downscaled to other marine and lacustrine deltas.