Monodromy conjecture for semi-quasihomogeneous hypersurfaces

We give a proof the monodromy conjecture relating the poles of motivic zeta functions with roots of b-functions for isolated quasihomogeneous hypersurfaces, and more generally for semi-quasihomogeneous hypersurfaces. We also give a strange generalization allowing a twist by certain differential forms

Clinical supervision for counsellors in areas of armed conflict

This article describes clinical supervision of counsellors as a structured process that encompasses emotional support, education and monitoring of professional performance. It is based on the experiences of the authors while supervising counsellors with limited professional education in areas of armed conflict

Lev Vigotski y George Mead. Una psicologia social de los procesos cognitivos

Wetensch. publicatieFaculteit der Sociale Wetenschappe

To Moscow with Love: Partial Reconstruction of Vygotsky’s Trip to London

The Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky (1896–1934) left the Soviet Union only once to attend a conference on the education of the deaf in London. So far almost nothing was known about this trip, which took place in a period when Vygotsky was still completely unknown as a psychologist, both inside his own country and abroad. Making use of a newly discovered notebook, it proved possible to partially reconstruct Vygotsky’s journey and stay in London. Vygotsky’s very personal remarks show him to have been a very sensitive and spirited man, who was prey to strong emotions during the conference and afterwards. Rather surprisingly, Vygotsky’s own paper about the education of the deaf was never presented during the conference and the stay in London appears to have had a limited value for his own scientific development

Evolutionary Pathways of the Calcitonin (CALC) Genes

Recombinant DNA techniques have made it possible to establish the structure of various genes encoding polypeptide hormones. Comparison of nucleotide sequences of the calcitonin (CALC) genes in man has revealed surprising similarities and variations. These findings and the homologies among the sequences in different species offered an opportunity for speculation about relationships between these genes and about their evolutionary origin. The first gene (CALC-I) directing the synthesis of calcitonin (CT) or CT gene-related peptide (CGRP) comprises six exons and gives rise to two mRNAs by an alternative RNA-processing mechanism. The homology between CGRP and CT reflects their common origin. The human genome contains a second gene (CALC-II) that is structurally related to the CALC-I gene. The CALC-II RNA transcripts do not appear to be differentially processed, as only preproCGRP-II mRNA and not preproCT-II is detected. The first and second CTI CGRP genes probably have evolved from a common ancestor gene early in evolution. Meanwhile, a third genomic locus containing nucleotide sequences highly homologous to exons 2 and 3 of both CALC genes was detected and probably generated by duplication of a part of CALC-II. This locus is not likely to encode a CT- or CGRP-related polypeptide hormone. The CALC genes and this last (pseudo) gene are located on the short arm of chromosome 11. Recently, islet or insulinoma-amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) was isolated as a major constituent of amyloid present in human insulinoma and in pancreatic islet amyloid in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. lAPP shows 46% amino acid sequence homology with human CGRP-II. In contrast to the CALC-genes, the human IAPP gene is located on chromosome 12. All these findings have provided insight into the mechanisms underlying the increasing diversity of polypeptide hormones