15 research outputs found
Educar bem, desenvolver melhor : formação de professores nas escolas primárias do distrito da Ka Tembe, em Moçambique
No full textInserido no projeto de voluntariado internacional da AHEAD (Associação Humanitária para a Educação e Apoio ao Desenvolvimento)Educar bem, desenvolver melhor, um projeto de voluntariado na área da educação, nomeadamente na formação de professores primários das escolas do distrito da Ka Tembe, em Moçambique, pretendeu identificar e corrigir necessidades encontradas nas escolas, desenvolver ações de formação em contexto real adaptadas às dificuldades encontradas, capacitar os professores de uma reflexão crítica e competências que lhes permitam desempenhar melhor o seu papel e desenvolver materiais e metodologias para enriquecimento do ambiente da sala de aula. Após uma fase de preparação e elaboração do projeto em Portugal, o autor deste trabalho, no papel de formador voluntário, coordenou um plano de formação aplicado a professores primários da região, durante dois meses. Percorreu as nove escolas primárias do distrito de Ka Tembe em ações de formação que envolveram um total de 119 professores primários, em três sessões de formação desenvolvidas durante dois dias em cada escola. No final os professores preencheram um questionário de avaliação onde se pronunciaram acerca dos aspetos positivos e negativos, mas também referiam os temas que sentiam que queriam aprofundar, para permitir um melhor desempenho no seu papel.
A formação permitiu desenvolver alguns materiais e metodologias, que permitiram facilitar e organizar as aulas dos professores. Foi também um momento de reflexão acerca do papel que a educação desempenha num país como Moçambique. Apesar das dificuldades encontradas nas escolas, os alunos em geral estão motivados e gostam de estar na escola. Porém, verifica-se uma desmotivação da maioria dos professores que referem os baixos salários e as condições de trabalho degradadas, como as principais causas de desmotivação, não deixando, no entanto, de exercer a sua função por gosto e com empenho, na maioria dos casos.Educate well, develop better, a volunteer project in the area of education, particularly in the training of primary teachers in the Ka Tembe district schools in Mozambique, it aims to identify and correct requirements found in schools, develop training actions in real context adapted to the difficulties encountered, training teachers of critical reflection and skills to better play its role and develop materials and methodologies for environmental enrichment of room class. After a phase of preparation and elaboration of the project in Portugal, the author of this work, in role of volunteer trainer, coordinated a training plan applied to primary school teachers in the region, for two months. Toured nine primary schools in the district of Catembe, attended by a total of 119 primary school teachers in three training sessions divided into two days per school. In the end, the teachers complete an evaluation questionnaire which spoke about the positive and negative aspects, but also referred the issues they felt they wanted to deepen, to allow a better performance in their role.
The training allowed us to develop some materials and methodologies that enabled facilitate and organize the classes of teachers. It was also a moment of reflection on the role that education have in a country like Mozambique. Despite the difficulties encountered in schools, students are usually motivated and enjoy being at school. However, there is a lack of motivation of the majority of teachers who reported low wages and degraded working conditions, as the main causes of demotivation, leaving, however, to exercise its function of taste and commitment in most cases
Integrated Genomic and Epigenomic Analysis of Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis
No full textabstract: The brain is a common site of metastatic disease in patients with breast cancer, which has few therapeutic options and dismal outcomes. The purpose of our study was to identify common and rare events that underlie breast cancer brain metastasis. We performed deep genomic profiling, which integrated gene copy number, gene expression and DNA methylation datasets on a collection of breast brain metastases. We identified frequent large chromosomal gains in 1q, 5p, 8q, 11q, and 20q and frequent broad-level deletions involving 8p, 17p, 21p and Xq. Frequently amplified and overexpressed genes included ATAD2, BRAF, DERL1, DNMTRB and NEK2A. The ATM, CRYAB and HSPB2 genes were commonly deleted and underexpressed. Knowledge mining revealed enrichment in cell cycle and G2/M transition pathways, which contained AURKA, AURKB and FOXM1. Using the PAM50 breast cancer intrinsic classifier, Luminal B, Her2+/ER negative, and basal-like tumors were identified as the most commonly represented breast cancer subtypes in our brain metastasis cohort. While overall methylation levels were increased in breast cancer brain metastasis, basal-like brain metastases were associated with significantly lower levels of methylation. Integrating DNA methylation data with gene expression revealed defects in cell migration and adhesion due to hypermethylation and downregulation of PENK, EDN3, and ITGAM. Hypomethylation and upregulation of KRT8 likely affects adhesion and permeability. Genomic and epigenomic profiling of breast brain metastasis has provided insight into the somatic events underlying this disease, which have potential in forming the basis of future therapeutic strategies.The article is published at http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.008544
Loss of the tumor suppressor SMARCA4 in small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT)
No full textabstract: Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT), is a rare and understudied cancer with a dismal prognosis. SCCOHT's infrequency has hindered empirical study of its biology and clinical management. However, we and others have recently identified inactivating mutations in the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling gene SMARCA4 with concomitant loss of SMARCA4 protein in the majority of SCCOHT tumors. Here we summarize these findings and report SMARCA4 status by targeted sequencing and/or immunohistochemistry (IHC) in an additional 12 SCCOHT tumors, 3 matched germlines, and the cell line SCCOHT-1. We also report the identification of a homozygous inactivating mutation in the gene SMARCB1 in one SCCOHT tumor with wild-type SMARCA4, suggesting that SMARCB1 inactivation may also play a role in the pathogenesis of SCCOHT. To date, SMARCA4 mutations and protein loss have been reported in the majority of 69 SCCOHT cases (including 2 cell lines). These data firmly establish SMARCA4 as a tumor suppressor whose loss promotes the development of SCCOHT, setting the stage for rapid advancement in the biological understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of this rare tumor type.The final version of this article, as published in Rare Diseases, can be viewed online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/2167549X.2014.96714
Genome-Wide Characterization of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Patients Using Next Generation Sequencing
No full textabstract: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) is among the most lethal malignancies. While research has implicated multiple genes in disease pathogenesis, identification of therapeutic leads has been difficult and the majority of currently available therapies provide only marginal benefit. To address this issue, our goal was to genomically characterize individual PAC patients to understand the range of aberrations that are occurring in each tumor. Because our understanding of PAC tumorigenesis is limited, evaluation of separate cases may reveal aberrations, that are less common but may provide relevant information on the disease, or that may represent viable therapeutic targets for the patient. We used next generation sequencing to assess global somatic events across 3 PAC patients to characterize each patient and to identify potential targets. This study is the first to report whole genome sequencing (WGS) findings in paired tumor/normal samples collected from 3 separate PAC patients. We generated on average 132 billion mappable bases across all patients using WGS, and identified 142 somatic coding events including point mutations, insertion/deletions, and chromosomal copy number variants. We did not identify any significant somatic translocation events. We also performed RNA sequencing on 2 of these patients' tumors for which tumor RNA was available to evaluate expression changes that may be associated with somatic events, and generated over 100 million mapped reads for each patient. We further performed pathway analysis of all sequencing data to identify processes that may be the most heavily impacted from somatic and expression alterations. As expected, the KRAS signaling pathway was the most heavily impacted pathway (P<0.05), along with tumor-stroma interactions and tumor suppressive pathways. While sequencing of more patients is needed, the high resolution genomic and transcriptomic information we have acquired here provides valuable information on the molecular composition of PAC and helps to establish a foundation for improved therapeutic selection.The article is published at http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.004319
Author Correction: Comprehensive analysis of chromothripsis in 2,658 human cancers using whole-genome sequencing
No full textauthor correctio
Identification, Review, and Systematic Cross-Validation of microRNA Prognostic Signatures in Metastatic Melanoma
No full textIn metastatic melanoma, it is vital to identify and validate biomarkers of prognosis. Previous studies have systematically evaluated protein biomarkers or mRNA-based expression signatures. No such analyses have been applied to microRNA (miRNA)-based prognostic signatures. As a first step, we identified two prognostic miRNA signatures from publicly available data sets (Gene Expression Omnibus/The Cancer Genome Atlas) of global miRNA expression profiling information. A 12-miRNA signature predicted longer survival after surgery for resection of American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III disease (>4 years, no sign of relapse) and outperformed American Joint Committee on Cancer standard-of-care prognostic markers in leave-one-out cross-validation analysis (error rates 34% and 38%, respectively). A similar 15-miRNA biomarker derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas miRNA-seq data performed slightly worse (39%) than these current biomarkers. Both signatures were then assessed for replication in two independent data sets and subjected to systematic cross-validation together with the three other miRNA-based prognostic signatures proposed in the literature to date. Five miRNAs (miR-142-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-342-3p, miR-155-5p, and miR-146b-5p) were reproducibly associated with patient outcome and have the greatest potential for application in the clinic. Our extensive validation approach highlighted among multiple independent cohorts the translational potential and limitations of miRNA signatures, and pointed to future directions in the analysis of this emerging class of markers
Otomantis scutigera Bolivar 1890
No full textOtomantis scutigera Bolívar, 1890 (Figs 2A, G; 3A, G; 4A; 5A; 6A–B, I; 13) Otomantis scutigera Bolívar, 1890: 305 (original description) Otomantis scutigera Brunn (1901: 227); Kirby (1904: 296); Giglio Tos (1927: 548); Beier (1934: 18); Beier (1942: 117); Kaltenbach (1996: 307); Kaltenbach (1998: 37); Ehrmann (2002: 250) (partim: Mozambique); Otte & Spearman (2005: 82) Acanthomantis africana Saussure & Zehntner, 1895: 215 Type material. Syntypes 2♂ and 1♀ of O. scutigera from MOZAMBIQUE: Lourenço Marques, Bolivar collection (MNCN). Other material. SOUTH AFRICA-E: Kwazulu/Maputaland, Natal NE, Ndumo, W border Tembe, Elephant park, 80m, 29.12.2007 – 9.1.2008, 2♂ (leg. Snižek ), Stiewe genitalia prep. Ot.02/03. (coll. Stiewe). Remarks. In 1890, Bolivar described O. scutigera based on specimens from Mozambique. We were able to examine this type material, which is held in the Bolívar collection (MNCN). The type series consists of three syntypes (two males and one female), of which only one male (inventory number 1552) bears a label with the locality of capture (Lourenço Marques) and a second label, handwritten by Bolívar himself, bears the name of the new species (O. scutigera). There is no information on the other two specimens. The morphological examination of this material shows that both males are conspecific. The female is similar to the males and matches the description and measurements given by the author. Since Bolivar states “Lourenço Marques” as the only place of origin of the new species, we believe that the absence of any information regarding the latter two specimens indicates that they probably come from the same locality. It is not unusual, within historical collections, to find a group of specimens from the same collecting event sharing a single locality label, which is usually carried by only one specimen. Diagnosis. Vertical process of vertex simple; prozone slender with two flattened tubercles. Phalloid apophysis enlarged, with incised distal margin forming two equal teeth (Figs. 6A, B).Published as part of Lombardo, Francesco, Stiewe, Martin B. D., Ippolito, Salvatrice & Marletta, Alessandro, 2014, A taxonomic revision of Otomantis Bolivar, 1890 (Mantodea: Hymenopodidae, Acromantinae) with description of five new species, pp. 169-193 in Zootaxa 3797 (1) on pages 172-173, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3797.1.13, http://zenodo.org/record/491542
Megymenum distanti Kocorek & Ghate, 2012, new species
No full textMegymenum distanti, new species (Figs. 1–9) Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. affine BOISDUVAL and M. brevicorne (FABRICIUS) in its body outline and sculpture; nevertheless, it can easily be separated from both of these species by the characters given in the Table 1. Description. Body dark brown with metallic tinge and light brown membrane, elongate, abdomen slightly broader than pronotum (Fig. 1). Head punctured; paraclypei deeply concave and much longer than clypeus; preocular part swollen with small sharp process in female; eyes rounded, protruding and pedunculate, light-brown, ocelli of the same color, interocellar distance 1,8–2,1; antennae 4 -segmented, 1 st segment short, not reaching apex of head, 2 nd long and broad, 3 rd flattened and broadened, 4 th spindle-shaped; rostrum same color as rest of body, reaching mid-coxae, its 1 st segment extending beyond base of head, bucculae lobed, buccular surface convex and rugose, almost of the same color as head. Pronotum generally of same color as head, with numerous fine ridges, and punctures on anterior border which is drawn forwards to form a small collar-like structure behind base of head, bearing small but sharp spines in female; antero-lateral margins rounded without processes, antero-median tuberosity large and conspicuous; lateral pronotal margins irregularly rugged with a single pointed projection; posterior pronotal angles broadly rounded; posterior pronotal margin straight at base of scutellum. tanti new species. Meso- and metasternum with a deep median groove; scent gland spout large and conspicuous, evaporatoria wrinkled. Scutellum with punctures dispersed over its entire surface; prominent cavity-like depressions at basal angles. Corium shorter than scutellum, membrane shorter than abdomen, cream-colored, with brownish patches. Legs uniformly colored, under-surface of femora with ten small spines (more or less distinct) arranged in two rows with distal spines progressively robust or strong, hind tibia of female slightly dilated. Abdominal sterna of same color as remaining parts of body, sparsely punctured; lateral parts of sterna uncovered by hemelytra, well conspicuous; each sternum laterally with small posteriorly directed apical projection and very small median lobe. Male genital capsule with median swollen process on its ventral rim; paramere with small and triangular growth; anterior part of ejaculatory reservoir strongly coiled. Female 9 th paratergite similar to that of M. affine and M. brevicorne, 1 st valvifers with distinct median elevation. Spermathecal bulb small, pumping region well defined, distal and proximal flanges distinct, spermathecal duct membranous, forming folding sack-like structure with minute spines, ring sclerite present. Measurements (in mm). Male: total body length 13.0; abdominal width 7.1; head length 2.3; head width 2.5; interocelar distance 1.8; antennal segments: I 0.7, II 1.6, III 1.3, IV 1.1; pronotal length 3.8; pronotal width 6.4; scutellum length 3.6; width 3.5. Female: total body length 13.9; abdominal width 8.9; head length 2.4; head width 2.7; interocelar distance 2.1; antennal segments: I 0.8, II 1.7, III 1.4, IV 1.1; pronotal length 4.0; pronotal width 7.0; scutellum length 3.9; width 3.9. Type material. Holotype male: India, Pune, August 2010, coll. H.V. Ghate & Sanket Tembe, preserved in the collection of University of Opole at Department of Biosystematics; Paratype female: India, Pune, August 2010, coll. H.V. Ghate & Sanket Tembe, preserved in the collection of Modern College, Pune; an additional pair of male and female paratypes, coll H.V. Ghate (September 2010, same locality), also preserved in the collection of Modern College. Etymology. The species name is dedicated to W.L. Distant, the eminent British entomologist and the author of the Hemiptera volumes in the monumental Fauna of British India series, as well as for many other papers on Hemiptera. Notes on biology. The new species was collected from Pune in August-September 2010 as adults (Fig. 2) and as instars (Fig. 3) on the host plant Diplocyclos palmatus (Cucurbitaceae) (Fig. 4). This climber grows at several places along the roadside on the campus of the University of Pune. The adults as well as nymphs were found to feed exclusively on tender shoots. Mating pairs as well as all stages of nymphs also fed on the same plant, and not on other plants that grow profusely near the side of its host plant. Neither nymphs nor adults smell strongly or release copious secretions when handled.Published as part of Kocorek, Anna & Ghate, Hemant, 2012, Megymenum distanti, a new remarkable species of the Dinidoridae subfamily Megymeninae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Dinidoridae) from India, pp. 31-39 in Zootaxa 3218 on pages 31-35, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21083
Author Correction: Pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes
No full textCell adhesion molecules are ubiquitous in multicellular organisms, specifying precise cell-cell interactions in processes as diverse as tissue development, immune cell trafficking and the wiring of the nervous system(1-4). Here we show that a wide array of synthetic cell adhesion molecules can be generated by combining orthogonal extracellular interactions with intracellular domains from native adhesion molecules, such as cadherins and integrins. The resulting molecules yield customized cell-cell interactions with adhesion properties that are similar to native interactions. The identity of the intracellular domain of the synthetic cell adhesion molecules specifies interface morphology and mechanics, whereas diverse homotypic or heterotypic extracellular interaction domains independently specify the connectivity between cells. This toolkit of orthogonal adhesion molecules enables the rationally programmed assembly of multicellular architectures, as well as systematic remodelling of native tissues. The modularity of synthetic cell adhesion molecules provides fundamental insights into how distinct classes of cell-cell interfaces may have evolved. Overall, these tools offer powerful abilities for cell and tissue engineering and for systematically studying multicellular organization. Synthetic cell adhesion molecules yield customized cell-cell interactions with adhesion properties that are similar to native interactions, and offer abilities for cell and tissue engineering and for systematically studying multicellular organization
