Discussions about acceptance of the free software for management and creation of referencial database for papers

Objetivo. Verificar o grau de aceitação, por meio do modelo Technology Acceptance Model – TAM, do software desenvolvido, que permite a construção e gestão de bases de dados referenciais de artigos científicos visando auxiliar na disseminação e na recuperação da produção científica armazenada em meio digital. Método. A pesquisa se caracteriza como quantitativa, uma vez que o modelo TAM, que norteou o estudo, é essencialmente quantitativo. Um questionário elaborado segundo as orientações do TAM foi utilizado como instrumento para coleta de dados. Resultados. Foi possível verificar que esse software, apesar de necessitar das correções e melhorias intrínsecas a esse tipo de ferramenta, obteve um relevante grau de aceitação pela amostra pesquisada. Considerações. Ressalta-se, que apesar de esta pesquisa ter sido direcionada para acadêmicos da área da Ciência da Informação, a ideia que fundamentou a criação do software utilizado neste estudo pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento da Ciência em qualquer área do conhecimento, objetivando a otimização dos resultados que uma busca realizada em uma base de dados especializada pode proporcionar.Objetivo. Verificar el grado de aceptación, por medio del Technology Acceptance Model – TAM, de un software que permite la construcción y gestión de bases de datos referenciales de artículos científicos; buscando así apoyar la diseminación y la recuperación de la producción científica almacenada en medio digital. Método. La investigación se caracteriza por ser cuantitativa, ya que el modelo TAM, que guió el estudio, es esencialmente cuantitativo. Se uso como instrumento para recolección de datos un cuestionario elaborado según las orientaciones del TAM Resultados. Fue posible verificar que ese software, a pesar de necesitar de las correciones y mejoras intrínsecas a ese tipo de herramienta, obtuvo un relevante grado de aceptación por parte de la muestra investigada. Consideraciones. Se destaca, que a pesar de que esta investigación ha sido direccionada a los académicos del ámbito de la Ciencia de la Información, la idea que fundamentó la creación del software utilizado en este estudio, puede contribuir al desarrollo de cualquier área del conocimiento; buscando la optimización de los resultados que una búsqueda realizada en una base de datos especializada e este tipo pueda proporcionar.Objective. This research aimed to determine the degree of acceptance, by the use of the Technology Acceptance Model - TAM, of the developed software, which allows the construction and database management of scientific articles aimed at assisting in the dissemination and retrieval of stored scientific production in digital media. Method. The research is characterized as quantitative, since the TAM, which guided this study is essentially quantitative. A questionnaire developed according to TAM guidelines was used as a tool for data collection. Results. It was possible to verify that this software, despite the need of fixes and improvements inherent to this type of tool, obtained a relevant degree of acceptance by the sample studied. Conciderations. It also should be noted that although this research has been directed to scholars in the field of information science, the idea that justified the creation of the software used in this study might contribute to the development of science in any field of knowledge, aiming at the optimization results of a search conducted in a specialized database can provide

Evolution of transcriptional enhancers and animal diversity

Deciphering the genetic bases that drive animal diversity is one of the major challenges of modern biology. Although four decades ago it was proposed that animal evolution was mainly driven by changes in cis-regulatory DNA elements controlling gene expression rather than in protein-coding sequences, only now are powerful bioinformatics and experimental approaches available to accelerate studies into how the evolution of transcriptional enhancers contributes to novel forms and functions. In the introduction to this Theme Issue, we start by defining the general properties of transcriptional enhancers, such as modularity and the coexistence of tight sequence conservation with transcription factor-binding site shuffling as different mechanisms that maintain the enhancer grammar over evolutionary time. We discuss past and current methods used to identify cell-type-specific enhancers and provide examples of how enhancers originate de novo, change and are lost in particular lineages. We then focus in the central part of this Theme Issue on analysing examples of how the molecular evolution of enhancers may change form and function. Throughout this introduction, we present the main findings of the articles, reviews and perspectives contributed to this Theme Issue that together illustrate some of the great advances and current frontiers in the field.Fil: Silva Junqueira de Souza, Flavio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Rubinstein, Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Exaptation of transposable elements into novel cis-regulatory elements: is the evidence always strong?

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic sequences that can jump around the genome from one location to another, behaving as genomic parasites. TEs have been particularly effective in colonizing mammalian genomes, and such heavy TE load is expected to have conditioned genome evolution. Indeed, studies conducted both at the gene and genome levels have uncovered TE insertions that seem to have been co-opted-or exapted-by providing transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) that serve as promoters and enhancers, leading to the hypothesis that TE exaptation is a major factor in the evolution of gene regulation. Here, we critically review the evidence for exaptation of TE-derived sequences as TFBSs, promoters, enhancers, and silencers/insulators both at the gene and genome levels. We classify the functional impact attributed to TE insertions into four categories of increasing complexity and argue that so far very few studies have conclusively demonstrated exaptation of TEs as transcriptional regulatory regions. We also contend that many genome-wide studies dealing with TE exaptation in recent lineages of mammals are still inconclusive and that the hypothesis of rapid transcriptional regulatory rewiring mediated by TE mobilization must be taken with caution. Finally, we suggest experimental approaches that may help attributing higher-order functions to candidate exapted TEs.Fil: Rubinstein, Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular; ArgentinaFil: Silva Junqueira de Souza, Flavio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Franchini, Lucia Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular; Argentin

Obtendo significados a partir das proximidades entre os conceitos em uma rede conceitual

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Transcription Regulation—Brain Development and Homeostasis—A Finely Tuned and Orchestrated Scenario in Physiology and Pathology

A finely tuned regulation of gene expression is essential for shaping the nervous system and for maintaining its homeostasis throughout life. Disruptions in gene regulation can impact brain development and physiology in ways that contribute to diverse pathologies. Classic and state-of-the art experimental models and technologies have advanced our knowledge of transcriptional regulators and the ways they interact in the healthy and diseased brain. Further in-depth characterization of the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation is needed to better understand how each element, from genes to cells, defines and maintains identities and functionalities in the nervous system. This Research Topic focuses on transcriptional regulation within the nervous system, with an emphasis on developmental and homeostatic processes, their dysregulation, and their association with neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Eleven peer-reviewed manuscripts including six original articles, three reviews, one mini review, and one brief research report, encompass this special volume. Fifty-nine authors from research laboratories located in 10 countries: Argentina, Canada, China, Germany, Israel, Russia, Serbia, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam, took part in this initiative.Fil: Muñoz, Estela Maris. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Silva Junqueira de Souza, Flavio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Rath, Martin F.. Universidad de Copenhagen; DinamarcaFil: Martínez Cerdeño, Verónica. University of California at Davis; Estados Unido

Scalable error isolation for distributed systems: modeling, correctness proofs, and additional experiments

This technical report complements the paper entitled “Scalable error isolation for distributed systems” published at USENIX NSDI 15

Analysis of neuroretinal rim distribution and vascular pattern in eyes with presumed large physiological cupping: a comparative study

Background: To investigate possible differences in neuroretinal rim distribution, vascular pattern, and peripapillary region appearance between eyes with presumed large physiological optic disc cupping (pLPC) and eyes with minimal optic disc excavation.Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive subjects with pLPC and individuals with minimal excavation (optic disc excavation within normal limits; control group). All eyes had normal visual fields and untreated intraocular pressure (IOP) = 0.6 and >= 30 months of follow-up with no evidence of glaucomatous neuropathy. for controls, VCDR was limited to <= 0.5. We compared ocular signs and characteristics related to the neuroretinal rim distribution, vascular pattern, peripapillary region appearance and disc size between groups. Whenever both eyes were eligible, one was randomly selected for analysis.Results: A total of 74 patients (mean age, 45.6 +/- 14.9 years) with pLPC and 45 controls (mean age, 44.8 +/- 11.6 years) were enrolled (p = 0.76). Median disc size and VCDR was significantly larger in eyes with pLPC compared to controls (p < 0.01). the proportion of eyes with violation of the ISNT rule, laminar dot sign, nasal shifting of the central vessels, nasal excavation and baring of circumlinear vessel was significantly greater in the eyes with pLPC compared to controls (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences regarding the proportions of eyes with peripapillary atrophy between groups (p < 0.09). Finally, disc size was significantly associated with VCDR (r(2) = 0.47, p < 0.01), with an increase of 0.21 in VCDR for each 1 mm(2) in disc area.Conclusion: Compared to normal controls, eyes with pLPC may present a higher proportion of optic nerve head findings frequently observed in glaucomatous eyes. This seems to be explained in part by the larger discs found in these eyes. We believe care should be taken while classifying them as glaucomatous or not based solely on these characteristics.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, BR-04021001 São Paulo, BrazilHosp Med Olhos, Glaucoma Unit, BR-06018180 Osasco, SP, BrazilMayo Clin, Dept Ophthalmol, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, BR-04021001 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Enhancer turnover and conserved regulatory function in vertebrate evolution

Mutations in regulatory regions including enhancers are an important source of variation and innovation during evolution. Enhancers can evolve by changes in the sequence, arrangement and repertoire of transcription factor binding sites, but whole enhancers can also be lost or gained in certain lineages in a process of turnover. The proopiomelanocortin gene (Pomc), which encodes a prohormone, is expressed in the pituitary and hypothalamus of all jawed vertebrates. We have previously described that hypothalamic Pomc expression in mammals is controlled by two enhancers?nPE1 and nPE2?that are derived from transposable elements and that presumably replaced the ancestral neuronal Pomc regulatory regions. Here, we show that nPE1 and nPE2, even though they are mammalian novelties with no homologous counterpart in other vertebrates, nevertheless can drive gene expression specifically to POMC neurons in the hypothalamus of larval and adult transgenic zebrafish. This indicates that when neuronal Pomc enhancers originated de novo during early mammalian evolution, the newly created cis- and trans-codes were similar to the ancestral ones. We also identify the neuronal regulatory region of zebrafish pomca and confirm that it is not homologous to the mammalian enhancers. Our work sheds light on the process of gene regulatory evolution by showing how a locus can undergo enhancer turnover and nevertheless maintain the ancestral transcriptional output.Fil: Domene, Sabina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Bumaschny, Viviana Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Silva Junqueira de Souza, Flavio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Franchini, Lucia Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Nasif, Sofia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Low, Malcolm J.. University of Michigan. Medical School. Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology; Estados UnidosFil: Rubinstein, Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin