High prevalence but limited evidence in complementary and alternative medicine: guidelines for future research

The use of complementary and alternative Medicine (CAM) has increased over the past two decades in Europe. Nonetheless, research investigating the evidence to support its use remains limited. The CAMbrella project funded by the European Commission aimed to develop a strategic research agenda starting by systematically evaluating the state of CAM in the EU. CAMbrella involved 9 work packages covering issues such as the definition of CAM; its legal status, provision and use in the EU; and a synthesis of international research perspectives. Based on the work package reports, we developed a strategic and methodologically robust research roadmap based on expert workshops, a systematic Delphi-based process and a final consensus conference. The CAMbrella project suggests six core areas for research to examine the potential contribution of CAM to the health care challenges faced by the EU. These areas include evaluating the prevalence of CAM use in Europe; the EU cititzens’ needs and attitudes regarding CAM; the safety of CAM; the comparative effectiveness of CAM; the effects of meaning and context on CAM outcomes; and different models for integrating CAM into existing health care systems. CAM research should use methods generally accepted in the evaluation of health services, including comparative effectiveness studies and mixed-methods designs. A research strategy is urgently needed, ideally led by a European CAM coordinating research office dedicated to fostering systematic communication between EU governments, the public, charitable and industry funders, researchers and other stakeholders. A European Centre for CAM should also be established to monitor and further a coordinated research strategy with sufficient funds to commission and promote high quality, independent research focusing on the public’s health needs and pan-European collaboration. There is a disparity between highly prevalent use of CAM in Europe and solid knowledge about it. A strategic approach on CAM research should be established to investigate the identified gaps of knowledge and to address upcoming health care challenges.

Cryopreservation and transplantation of ovarian tissue exclusively to postpone menopause: technically possible but endocrinologically doubtful.

Transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue has been shown to induce pregnancies and puberty successfully. Therefore, using cryopreserved ovarian tissue to postpone menopause (tissue hormone therapy [THT]) seems to be an interesting option to avoid conventional menopause hormone therapy (MHT). Pregnancy induction and replacing MHT by THT, however, are completely different topics as different requirements need to be met. First, MHT requires long-lasting and continuous hormone production. It still needs to be proven if the transplanted tissue is active for at least 5 years with a continuous follicle growth to avoid phases with low oestrogen production, which would otherwise cause menopausal symptoms and could reduce the postulated benefit for women's health. Second, the advantage of a physiological hormone production over a non-physiological MHT is still hypothetical. Third, women who have undergone hysterectomies who do not need progesterone for endometrial protection would only require oestrogens, imposing more health benefits (cardiovascular system, mammary gland) than oestrogen and progesterone production or replacement. Therefore, transplanting ovarian tissue exclusively to postpone menopause is endocrinologically doubtful and should only be carried out within clinical trials.

Tab. 1 Mole % CO2 and 13C values of CO2 at baseline and at the final monitoring event for the eight observation wells

During CO2 storage operations in mature oilfields or saline aquifers it is desirable to trace the movement of injected CO2 for verification and safety purposes. We demonstrate the successful use of carbon isotope abundance ratios for tracing the movement of CO2 injected at the Cardium CO2 Storage Monitoring project in Alberta between 2005 and 2007. Injected CO2 had a d13C value of -4.6±1.1 per mil that was more than 10 per mil higher than the carbon isotope ratios of casing gas CO2 prior to CO2 injection with average d13C values ranging from -15.9 to -23.5 per mil. After commencement of CO2 injection, d13C values of casing gas CO2 increased in all observation wells towards those of the injected CO2 consistent with a two-source end-member mixing model. At four wells located in a NE-SW trend with respect to the injection wells, breakthrough of injected CO2 was registered chemically (>50 mol % CO2) and isotopically 1-6 months after commencement of CO2 injection resulting in cumulative CO2 fluxes exceeding 100000 m**3 during the observation period. At four other wells, casing gas CO2 contents remained below 5 mol % resulting in low cumulative CO2 fluxes (<2000 m**3) throughout the entire observation period, but carbon isotope ratios indicated contributions between <30 and 80% of injected CO2. Therefore, we conclude that monitoring the movement of CO2 in the injection reservoir with geochemical and isotopic techniques is an effective approach to determine plume expansion and to identify potential preferential flow paths provided that the isotopic composition of injected CO2 is constant and distinct from that of baseline CO2.

Palinoestratigrafía, paleoambientes y cambios climáticos durante el Cretácico final y Paleógeno de la Cuenca del Grupo Salta, República Argentina

El objetivo principal de la presente tesis es la búsqueda de nuevos registros palinológicos para las formaciones del Grupo Salta, especialmente para aquellas que cuentan con poco o ningún registro de palinomorfos, tales como las Formaciones La Yesera, Las Curtiembres, Yacoraite y Olmedo. Los resultados palinológicos permitieron evaluar algunos aspectos geológicos como las relaciones estratigráficas, edad y ambientes de depósito. El muestreo se centró principalmente en el período comprendido entre el Neocomiano y Daniano, correspondiente a los subgrupos con mayor escasez de datos (Pirgua y Balbuena). 157 muestras palinológicas de la Cuenca del Grupo Salta y áreas relacionadas se trataron en laboratorio, 31 resultaron fértiles. Se brindan los primeros registros palinológicos de la Formación La Yesera (localidad valle de Pucará) que consisten en 35 especies. Las inferencias aleoambientales obtenidas a partir de la palinoflora apoyan las conclusiones que provienen de los datos sedimentológicos: presencia de un lago perenne al momento de la depositación del Miembro Brealito y sequías estacionales cuando se acumuló el Miembro Don Bartolo. La palinoflora indica un clima subtropical con presencia de cierta aridez. A partir de los rangos estratigráficos de algunas especies y de las dataciones radimétricas del Basalto de Isonza, se estima una edad entre el Albiano y el Cenomaniano. Para la Formación Las Curtiembres (Miembro Morales) se describen 19 especies provenientes de la quebrada de Palo Seco, que constituyen la primer asociación palinológica registrada. El predominio de Ephedraceae y Cheirolepidiaceae, junto a la escasa representación de pteridofitas, sugieren condiciones ambientales de aridez a semiaridez, en coincidencia con la sedimentología que indica que la sección superior del Miembro Morales es transicional con las capas rojas de la parte superior de la Formación Las Curtiembres. La asociación palinológica contiene representantes de amplia distribución espacial y temporal. Es relevante la presencia de Peninsulapollis gillii que indica una edad no mayor al Campaniano para la asociación estudiada. Sólo una muestra de la Formación Yacoraite en la localidad de Tres Cruces fue productiva en cuanto al contenido de palinomorfos. La asociación consta solamente de los géneros Leiosphaeridia y Pediastrum que se asocian a condiciones de agua dulce o mixtas. Para la Formación Olmedo se registran 34 especies de palinomorfos y 39 especies para la Formación Tunal (localidades de Garabatal y El Chorro respectivamente). Ambas formaciones comparten un 49 % de taxa. El marcado predominio de algas clorococales indica condiciones lacustres y un ambiente palustre se infiere por la presencia de Pandaniidites texus y Mtchedlishvilia saltenia. El elevado porcentaje de Verrustephanoporites simplex indica que la selva de ulmáceas, era la unidad fitogeográfica más ampliamente distribuida, comparable con la actual Selva de Transición de la Provincia de Yungas. La coincidencia de facies y contenido palinológico indicarían similares condiciones ambientales para las Formaciones Olmedo y Tunal. Mtchedlishvilia saltenia permiten circunscribir las Formaciones al Daniano. Los cambios climáticos acontecidos durante el desarrollo de la Cuenca del Grupo Salta quedaron evidenciados en la palinoflora. Durante el Cretácico Tardío, habrían prevalecido condiciones de aridez y a partir del Maastrichtiano, el clima se torna más húmedo. Las asociaciones del Daniano se caracterizan por una palinoflora de clima subtropical húmedo. Entre el Paleoceno Superior y hasta el Eoceno Inferior, continúa el registro de la flora de clima subtropical pero con una leve disminución en la humedad. Las especies Peninsulapollis gillii, Rhoipites sp. A, Rousea patagonica, Spinitricolpites jennerclarkei, Verrustephanoporites simplex y Azolla sp., pasan el límite Cretácio-Paleógeno registrándose en sedimentos pre- y post-danianos. Se requieren mayores estudios de detalle en aquellos niveles donde está contenido el límite para esclarecer los posibles cambios vegetacionales que hayan ocurrido.

Y te llevaste en andas al ángel de los perdedores : El nómos de Antígona en su discurso final a partir del vocabulario legal en Antígona de Sófocles

Abordamos en Antígona la voz nómos utilizada por la protagonista en los vv. 908 y 914 de su último discurso. Con ese término califica la razón de su proceder, según la cual nunca habría realizado un entierro por un hijo o un esposo muerto pues la gente sensata justificaría sólo la sepultura de su hermano ya que un esposo y un hijo podría volver a tener pero nunca un hermano, con su padre y madre muertos. Pese a su uso, observa Etxabe (2009: 61), tales palabras no han sido articuladas con un argumento legal. No obstante, a un estudio con tales propósitos pareciera poder objetarse el hecho de que el léxico jurídico implica ante todo generalidad, lo que entraría en contradicción con la particularidad y excepcionalidad que caracteriza aquello que Antígona califica como nómos. Revisamos entonces qué implica para Antígona el entierro de su hermano y luego abordamos el asunto desde los estudios más recientes sobre la legalidad griega. En un contexto histórico en el cual tiene lugar un ordenamiento del sistema jurídico, que implica un cambio de actitud con respecto a las leyes no escritas frecuentemente asociadas a Antígona, la expresión nómos de este pasaje requiere la integración del trabajo filológico y los estudios del derecho griego, de la familia y de las relaciones de género en la Atenas del siglo V a.C.

Y te llevaste en andas al ángel de los perdedores : El nómos de Antígona en su discurso final a partir del vocabulario legal en Antígona de Sófocles

Abordamos en Antígona la voz nómos utilizada por la protagonista en los vv. 908 y 914 de su último discurso. Con ese término califica la razón de su proceder, según la cual nunca habría realizado un entierro por un hijo o un esposo muerto pues la gente sensata justificaría sólo la sepultura de su hermano ya que un esposo y un hijo podría volver a tener pero nunca un hermano, con su padre y madre muertos. Pese a su uso, observa Etxabe (2009: 61), tales palabras no han sido articuladas con un argumento legal. No obstante, a un estudio con tales propósitos pareciera poder objetarse el hecho de que el léxico jurídico implica ante todo generalidad, lo que entraría en contradicción con la particularidad y excepcionalidad que caracteriza aquello que Antígona califica como nómos. Revisamos entonces qué implica para Antígona el entierro de su hermano y luego abordamos el asunto desde los estudios más recientes sobre la legalidad griega. En un contexto histórico en el cual tiene lugar un ordenamiento del sistema jurídico, que implica un cambio de actitud con respecto a las leyes no escritas frecuentemente asociadas a Antígona, la expresión nómos de este pasaje requiere la integración del trabajo filológico y los estudios del derecho griego, de la familia y de las relaciones de género en la Atenas del siglo V a.C.

Y te llevaste en andas al ángel de los perdedores : El nómos de Antígona en su discurso final a partir del vocabulario legal en Antígona de Sófocles

Abordamos en Antígona la voz nómos utilizada por la protagonista en los vv. 908 y 914 de su último discurso. Con ese término califica la razón de su proceder, según la cual nunca habría realizado un entierro por un hijo o un esposo muerto pues la gente sensata justificaría sólo la sepultura de su hermano ya que un esposo y un hijo podría volver a tener pero nunca un hermano, con su padre y madre muertos. Pese a su uso, observa Etxabe (2009: 61), tales palabras no han sido articuladas con un argumento legal. No obstante, a un estudio con tales propósitos pareciera poder objetarse el hecho de que el léxico jurídico implica ante todo generalidad, lo que entraría en contradicción con la particularidad y excepcionalidad que caracteriza aquello que Antígona califica como nómos. Revisamos entonces qué implica para Antígona el entierro de su hermano y luego abordamos el asunto desde los estudios más recientes sobre la legalidad griega. En un contexto histórico en el cual tiene lugar un ordenamiento del sistema jurídico, que implica un cambio de actitud con respecto a las leyes no escritas frecuentemente asociadas a Antígona, la expresión nómos de este pasaje requiere la integración del trabajo filológico y los estudios del derecho griego, de la familia y de las relaciones de género en la Atenas del siglo V a.C.

VOTESCRIPT: Telematic voting system designed to enable final count verification

In this paper we present a global description of a telematic voting system based on advanced cryptography and on the use of smart cards (VOTESCRIPT system) whose most outstanding characteristic is the ability to verify that the tally carried out by the system is correct, meaning that the results published by the system correspond with votes cast. The VOTESCRIPT system provides an individual verification mechanism allowing each Voter to confirm whether his vote has been correctly counted. The innovation with respect to other solutions lies in the fact that the verification process is private so that Voters have no way of proving what they voted in the presence of a non-authorized third party. Vote buying and selling or any other kind of extortion are prevented. The existence of the Intervention Systems allows the whole electoral process to be controlled by groups of citizens or authorized candidatures. In addition to this the system can simply make an audit not only of the final results, but also of the whole process. Global verification provides the Scrutineers with robust cryptographic evidence which enables unequivocal proof if the system has operated in a fraudulent way.

Competence assessment of final year projects for undergraduate telecommunication students

The value of project-based learning has lead to the inclusion of project development activities in engineering courses, being the Final Year Project (FYP) the most remarkable one. Several approaches have been proposed for assessing and grading FYPs but, among them, rubrics are becoming a standard for such type of assessment. However, due to the different characteristics and orientations of the projects (some are more practically oriented, some more theoretically), and the high amount of different competences to be evaluated (knowledge, working capability, communication skills, etc.), the definition of one unique rubric suitable for the evaluation of all FYPs presented in different degree programs, is a big challenge. In a former work, the educational outcomes expected from the FYP were defined and resulted in a proposal for their assessment. Afterwards, the proposal has been tested during one year within an educational innovation-project at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid which involved the follow-up of 8 undergraduate telecommunication students elaborating their FYPs. In this publication, our experience will be described, based on the emerging work taking place through the formalisation of the process which consisted in the following steps: i) establishment of a schedule for the whole process (publication of FYPs topics, selection of applying students and their enrolment, assignation of a jury to each FYP, elaboration and follow-up of FYPs, final report submission, oral presentation, etc.); ii) design of rubrics for each of three assessment parts: working process, final report and oral presentation; and iii) follow-up and evaluation of the involved FYPs. Finally, problems that appeared during this experience (e.g. administrative aspects, criticisms and suggestions from the students, tutors and juries involved) are discussed and some modifications in the assessment system will be proposed in order to solve or minimize these problems.

Propellantless deorbiting of space debris by bare electrodynamic tethers : final report

A Space tether is a thin, multi-kilometers long conductive wire, joining a satellite and some opposite end mass, and keeping vertical in orbit by the gravity-gradient. The ambient plasma, being highly conductive, is equipotential in its own co-moving frame. In the tether frame, in relative motion however, there is in the plasma a motional electric field of order of 100 V/km, product of (near) orbital velocity and geomagnetic field. The electromotive force established over the tether length allows plasma contactor devices to collect electrons at one polarized-positive (anodic) end and eject electrons at the opposite end, setting up a current along a standard, fully insulated tether. The Lorentz force exerted on the current by the geomagnetic field itself is always drag; this relies on just thermodynamics, like air drag. The bare tether concept, introduced in 1992 at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), takes away the insulation and has electrons collected over the tether segment coming out polarized positive; the concept rests on 2D (Langmuir probe) current-collection in plasmas being greatly more efficient than 3D collection. A Plasma Contactor ejects electrons at the cathodic end. A bare tether with a thin-tape cross section has much greater perimeter and de-orbits much faster than a (corresponding) round bare tether of equal length and mass. Further, tethers being long and thin, they are prone to cuts by abundant small space debris, but BETs has shown that the tape has a probability of being cut per unit time smaller by more than one order of magnitude than the corresponding round tether (debris comparable to its width are much less abundant than debris comparable to the radius of the corresponding round tether). Also, the tape collects much more current, and de-orbits much faster, than a corresponding multi-line “tape” made of thin round wires cross-connected to survive debris cuts. Tethers use a dissipative mechanism quite different from air drag and can de-orbit in just a few months; also, tape tethers are much lighter than round tethers of equal length and perimeter, which can capture equal current. The 3 disparate tape dimensions allow easily scalable design. Switching the cathodic Contactor off-on allows maneuvering to avoid catastrophic collisions with big tracked debris. Lorentz braking is as reliable as air drag. Tethers are still reasonably effective at high inclinations, where the motional field is small, because the geomagnetic field is not just a dipole along the Earth polar axis. BETs is the EC FP7/Space Project 262972, financed in about 1.8 million euros, from 1 November 2010 to 31 January 2014, and carrying out RTD work on de-orbiting space debris. Coordinated by UPM, it has partners Università di Padova, ONERA-Toulouse, Colorado State University, SME Emxys, DLR–Bremen, and Fundación Tecnalia. BETs work involves 1) Designing, building, and ground-testing basic hardware subsystems Cathodic Plasma Contactor, Tether Deployment Mechanism, Power Control Module, and Tape with crosswise and lengthwise structure. 2) Testing current collection and verifying tether dynamical stability. 3) Preliminary design of tape dimensions for a generic mission, conducive to low system-to-satellite mass ratio and probability of cut by small debris, and ohmic-effects regime of tether current for fast de-orbiting. Reaching TRL 4-5, BETs appears ready for in-orbit demostration.

Evolución de la vegetación en el sector biogeográfico Castellano Cantábrico durante el Cuaternario Final, a través del registro tobáceo

En esta memoria de Tesis Doctoral se aborda el estudio paleobotánico de seis yacimientos tobáceos situados en las localidades burgalesas de Tubilla del Agua, Sedano, Herrán, Tobera y Frías, y en la alavesa de Ocio. El registro fósil encontrado en estos afloramientos se analiza de forma conjunta con el objetivo de conocer la evolución de la vegetación en el sector biogeográfico Castellano Cantábrico. Este sector se considera el territorio para el cual los hallazgos paleobotánicos son representativos y extrapolables, en tanto que constituye una región homogénea desde el punto de vista florístico, que abarca todos los yacimientos prospectados. El contexto temporal en el que se enmarca este estudio es el final del Cuaternario, desde el Pleistoceno Medio hasta la actualidad. Este intervalo se ha establecido a partir de la edad de los depósitos estudiados, la cual ha sido determinada —para los yacimientos de los que no se disponía de edades fiables— mediante la datación de muestras extraídas de las diferentes unidades litológicas identificadas. Para ello han sido empleadas las técnicas de carbono-14, desequilibrio de las series del uranio y racemización de aminoácidos. Los resultados geocronológicos obtenidos junto con el análisis geomorfológico de los yacimientos han permitido vincular la génesis de las 13 unidades litológicas identificadas con diferentes estadíos climáticos. Estos abarcan un amplio rango de condiciones ambientales, desde las más extremas del Último Máximo Glacial, hasta las más benignas de los Estadíos Isotópicos Marinos interglaciares 1 y 5. Como resultado de la prospección de los depósitos de toba fueron recuperados 1.820 fósiles, la mayoría impresiones foliares, pero también moldes de estróbilos femeninos, ramas y corteza, así como 42 carbones y restos subfósiles de Pinus sp. La identificación taxonómica de estos restos se ha realizado fundamentalmente a partir del análisis de caracteres diagnósticos morfológicos. Como resultado de ello, han sido descritos 28 taxones pertenecientes a las subclases Bryidae, Polypodiidae, Pinidae y Magnoliidae. La flora de los yacimientos estudiados se puede clasificar en tres grupos en función de sus requerimientos ecológicos: (i) uno formado por dos especies de alta tolerancia a la continentalidad —Pinus nigra y Quercus faginea—, las cuales aparecen bien representadas en la mayoría de los depósitos; (ii) otro constituido fundamentalmente por un conjunto de árboles y arbustos que habitualmente tienen el papel de especies acompañantes en los bosques ibéricos submediterráneos y eurosiberianos; y (iii) un tercer grupo compuesto por taxones hidrófitos o edafohigrófilos asociados al ecosistema del fitohermo activo y la vegetación de ribera. En el capítulo de Discusión se propone y analiza la hipótesis de que P. nigra y Q. faginea habrían sido las especies protagonistas de la vegetación zonal del sector Castellano Cantábrico durante el Cuaternario Final. Estas podrían haber persistido como tal incluso durante las épocas más frías, debido a su amplia valencia ecológica y a la capacidad de reproducirse vegetativamente en el caso del quejigo. Por el contrario, los taxones mesofíticos y eurosiberianos pudieron haber sufrido la expansión y retracción de sus poblaciones al ritmo de las oscilaciones climáticas. Sin embargo, la orografía diversa del sector Castellano Cantábrico proporciona emplazamientos en los que se combinan las diversas variables fisiográficas, de tal forma que pudieron haber existido microrrefugios en los que encontraron cobijo algunos taxones mesotérmicos y eurosiberianos durante los periodos glaciales. Por último, la historia evolutiva reciente de la vegetación de este territorio ha estado marcada por la acción antrópica, la cual empezó a ser manifiesta a partir del Neolítico. Esta se tradujo en la degradación y reducción de la cubierta forestal, así como en la extinción del pino laricio del Sector Castellano Cantábrico en los dos últimos milenios. ABSTRACT This PhD Dissertation focuses in the study of six tufa formations located nearby the villages of Tubilla del Agua, Sedano, Herrán, Tobera y Frías, all of them in the province of Burgos, and Ocio, which belongs to the province of Álava. We analyze the palaeobotanical archives of these sites with the purpose of unveiling and understanding the evolution of the vegetation of the Castilian Cantabrian biogeographical sector. This area is considered to be the territory that is represented in the palaeobotanical sample of the studied tufa archives. It is the homogeneous phitogeographical area with the lowest rank that include all the sites. The time frame of this study is the last part of the Quaternary, since the Middle Pleistocene to the present time. This interval is defined by the age of the tufa deposits, which were dated —for the ones that there were not available datings— throughout the analysis of 20 tufa samples taken from the 13 identified lithostratigraphic units. The age of the samples has been determined by using the methods of radiocarbon, U-Th dating and amino acid racemization. Chronological results, along with the chronostratigraphic study of the sites has allowed us to relate the build-up of the 13 identified lithostratigraphic units with different climatic stages. These structures were deposited in a wide range of climatic conditions, from the most extreme ones of the Last Glacial Maximum, to the warmer ones of the Marine Isotopic Stages 1 and 5. A total of 1,820 fossils were recovered from the tufa deposits, most of them were leaf impressions, but also pine cones, branches and bark moulds, along with charcoal and Pinus nigra macro remains. The taxonomical identification of these remains has been done mainly through the analysis of morphological traits. As a result of this process, 28 taxa belonging to the subclass of Bryidae, Polypodiidae, Pinidae and Magnoliidae were identified. The persistency of some taxa can be traced along different climatic stages in this fossil record. This fossil flora can be classified in three different groups: (i) the first one would be composed of two species with high continental climate tolerance —Pinus nigra y Quercus faginea—, which can be found in most of the deposits, (ii) the second group would be mostly formed by trees and shrubs that usually grow in the Iberian forests as an accessory species and (iii) the third one is composed of hydrophytes or hydrophilic taxa associate to the streams, riparian zones or the active tufa ecosystem. In the Discussion chapter we propose and analyse the hypothesis that P.nigra and Q. faginea were the main species of the zonal vegetation of the Castilian Cantabrian biogeographical sector during the last part of the Quaternary. This species could have persisted due to their wide ecological amplitude and also due to the capacity of asexual reproduction in the cases of the oak. On the other hand, mesophitic taxa could have suffered the retraction and expansion of their population following the climate oscillations. However, the diverse orography of the Castilian Cantabrian biogeographical sector provides a variety of combinations of physiographic variables, which could have been suitable refuges for some of the mesophitic taxa. The recent evolutionary history of the vegetation in this territory has been affected by human activities, which started to be relevant since the Neolithic. This led to a reduction of the forests and eventually, to the extinction of P. nigra in the Castilian Cantabrian biogeographical sector in the last two thousands of years.

DIVINDADES MLK E CULTO A MOLEK NOS QUADROS DA CRISE RELIGIOSA NO FINAL DA MONARQUIA DE JUDÁ (2 Reis 16,3; 17,17.31; 21,6; 23,10; KTU 1.100; 1.118; 1.161)

A dissertação é dirigida a um especial e não resolvido problema na descrição do desenvolvimento religioso de Israel. Em textos do Antigo Testamento acerca do sacrifício de humanos, há uma unidades literárias autônomas relacionadas ao culto a mOlek. Porém, alguns pesquisadores sustentam que o culto a mOlek não tem esta característica. A dissertação aspira a investigar este argumento, concentrando-se em fontes históricas (2Reis 16,3; 17,17.31; 21,6; 23,10). Discutindo fontes ugaríticas duas listas de divindades e um texto funerário nós perguntares acerca das características das divindades mLlK nas culturas cananéias. Em síntese, mOlek é uma divindade ctônica mas não é destinatária de sacrifícios humanos.(AU)

DIVINDADES MLK E CULTO A MOLEK NOS QUADROS DA CRISE RELIGIOSA NO FINAL DA MONARQUIA DE JUDÁ (2 Reis 16,3; 17,17.31; 21,6; 23,10; KTU 1.100; 1.118; 1.161)

A dissertação é dirigida a um especial e não resolvido problema na descrição do desenvolvimento religioso de Israel. Em textos do Antigo Testamento acerca do sacrifício de humanos, há uma unidades literárias autônomas relacionadas ao culto a mOlek. Porém, alguns pesquisadores sustentam que o culto a mOlek não tem esta característica. A dissertação aspira a investigar este argumento, concentrando-se em fontes históricas (2Reis 16,3; 17,17.31; 21,6; 23,10). Discutindo fontes ugaríticas duas listas de divindades e um texto funerário nós perguntares acerca das características das divindades mLlK nas culturas cananéias. Em síntese, mOlek é uma divindade ctônica mas não é destinatária de sacrifícios humanos.(AU)

An in vivo membrane fusion assay implicates SpoIIIE in the final stages of engulfment during Bacillus subtilis sporulation

Shortly after the synthesis of the two cells required for sporulation in Bacillus subtilis, the membranes of the larger mother cell begin to migrate around and engulf the smaller forespore cell. At the completion of this process the leading edges of the migrating membrane meet and fuse, releasing the forespore into the mother cell cytoplasm. We developed a fluorescent membrane stain-based assay for this membrane fusion event, and we isolated mutants defective in the final stages of engulfment or membrane fusion. All had defects in spoIIIE, which is required for translocation of the forespore chromosome across the polar septum. We isolated one spoIIIE mutant severely defective in chromosome translocation, but not in membrane fusion; this mutation disrupts the ATP/GTP-binding site of SpoIIIE, suggesting that ATP binding and hydrolysis are required for DNA translocation but not for the late engulfment function of SpoIIIE. We also correlated relocalization of SpoIIIE-green fluorescent protein from the sporulation septum to the forespore pole with the completion of membrane fusion and engulfment. We suggest that SpoIIIE is required for the final steps of engulfment and that it may regulate or catalyze membrane fusion events.

An Embryo-Defective Mutant of Arabidopsis Disrupted in the Final Step of Biotin Synthesis

Auxotrophic mutants have played an important role in the genetic dissection of biosynthetic pathways in microorganisms. Equivalent mutants have been more difficult to identify in plants. The bio1 auxotroph of Arabidopsis thaliana was shown previously to be defective in the synthesis of the biotin precursor 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid. A second biotin auxotroph of A. thaliana has now been identified. Arrested embryos from this bio2 mutant are defective in the final step of biotin synthesis, the conversion of dethiobiotin to biotin. This enzymatic reaction, catalyzed by the bioB product (biotin synthase) in Escherichia coli, has been studied extensively in plants and bacteria because it involves the unusual addition of sulfur to form a thiophene ring. Three lines of evidence indicate that bio2 is defective in biotin synthase production: mutant embryos are rescued by biotin but not dethiobiotin, the mutant allele maps to the same chromosomal location as the cloned biotin synthase gene, and gel-blot hybridizations and polymerase chain reaction amplifications revealed that homozygous mutant plants contain a deletion spanning the entire BIO2-coding region. Here we describe how the isolation and characterization of this null allele have provided valuable insights into biotin synthesis, auxotrophy, and gene redundancy in plants.