90 research outputs found
An Integrated Solution among Social, Personal and Formal Learning for Lifelong Competences
In the Knowledge Society the worker should benefit from learning experiences which intersect formal learning moments with both individual and collaborative informal learning, according to a vision of authentic lifelong edu-cation” The paper suggests an innovative answer to the “lifelong competence” management approach. In this context a Lifelong Learning Model (LLM) finds its realization through an integrated solution among the personal, social and formal learning. The vision is sustained by a conceptual architecture, which represents a distinctive and enabling factor for the management of competence allowing to customize training paths on the worker profile. The idea is related to the integration between a Personal Learning Environment (PLE), a learning community and the solution of the Polo di Eccellenza L&K, the learning plat-form IWT (Intelligent Web Teacher)
Personalization and Contextualization of Learning Experiences based on Semantics
Context-aware e-learning is an educational model that foresees the selection of learning resources to make the e-learning content more relevant and suitable for the learner in his/her situation. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that an ontological approach can be used to define leaning contexts and to allow contextualizing learning experiences finding out relevant topics for each context. To do that, we defined a context model able to formally describe a learning context, an ontology-based model enabling the representation of a teaching domain (including context information) and a methodology to generate personalized and context-aware learning experiences starting from them. Based on these theoretical components we improved an existing system for personalized e-learning with contextualisation features and experimented it with real users in two University courses. The results obtained from this experimentation have been compared with those achieved by similar systems
Community Led Practices and Cultural Planning: Methodological Approaches and Practices for Sustainable Urban Development.
The purpose of this paper is to define a common framework of the Cultural Planning application, in order to provide a range of theoretical and practical tools to combine the conservation of cultural heritage and local development in urban and rural areas, where the management of cultural heritage can have a significant role improving the active participation of the community in the public decision making process. The idea of participation is, at different levels and in different contexts, strongly present in Europe; modern urban design and planning projects are increasingly including local communities in urban development planning activities. In conclusion, the paper argues the possibility of applying the Cultural Planning tool in the field of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria strategic planning
Expression of a glucocorticoid receptor (D1GR1) in several tissues of the teleost fish Dicentrarchus labrax
Since glucocorticoids have a role in maintaining the homeostatic status in fish, in the present paper mRNA expression (in situ hybridization)
and tissue immunohistochemical localization of a glucocorticoid receptor (DlGR1) in several Dicentrarchus labrax organs are reported.
Riboprobe and specific antibodies were prepared by using the DlGR1 that has been previously cloned and sequenced from peritoneal cavity
leukocytes. Both mRNA and receptor were identified in head kidney, spleen, gills, intestine, heart and liver tissues. The functional roles of
DlGR1 localization are discussed
Isolation and characterization of a fish F-type lectin from gilt head bream (Sparus aurata) serum
A novel fucose-binding lectin, designated SauFBP32, was purified by affinity chromatography on fucose-agarose, from the serum of the gilt head bream Sparus aurata. Electrophoretic mobility of the subunit revealed apparent molecular weights of 35 and 30 kDa under reducing and non-reducing conditions, respectively. Size exclusion analysis suggests that the native lectin is a monomer under the selected experimental conditions. Agglutinating activity towards rabbit erythrocytes was not significantly modified by addition of calcium or EDTA; activity was optimal at 37 degrees C, retained partial activity by treatment at 70 degrees C, and was fully inactivated at 90 degrees C. On western blot analysis, SauFBP showed intense cross-reactivity with antibodies specific for a sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fucose-binding lectin. In addition, the similarity of the N-terminal sequence and a partial coding domain to teleost F-type lectins suggests that SauFBP32 is a member of this emerging family of lectins
Inflamed adult pharynx tissues and swimming larva of Ciona intestinalis share CiTNFα-producing cells
In situ hybridisation and mmunohistochemistry
analyses have shown that the Ciona intestinalis tumour necrosis factor alpha gene (CiTNFα), which has been previously cloned and sequenced, is expressed either during the inflammatory pharynx response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or during the swimming larval phase of development.
Granulocytes with large granules and compartment/morula cells are CiTNFα-producing cells in both inflamed pharynx
and larvae. Pharynx vessel endothelium also takes part in the inflammatory response. Haemocyte nodules in the vessel lumen or associated with the endothelium suggest the
involvement of CiTNFα in recruiting lymphocyte-like cells and promoting the differentiation of inflammatory haemocytes.
Specific antibodies against a CiTNFα peptide have identified a 43-kDa cell-bound form of the protein. Observations of pharynx histological sections (at 4 and 8 h post-LPS
inoculation) from naive and medium-inoculated ascidians have confirmed the CiTNFα-positive tissue response. Larval
histological sections and whole-mount preparations have revealed that CiTNFα is expressed by trunk mesenchyme,preoral lobe and tunic cells, indicating CiTNFα-expressing cell immigration events and an ontogenetic role
F_type lectin from the sea bass (Dicentrarchus Labrax): Purification, cDNA clonig, tissue expression and localization, and opsonic activity
Recently described biochemical and structural aspects of fucose-binding lectins from the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and striped bass (Morone saxatilis) led to the identification of a novel lectin family ("F-type" lectins) characterized by a unique sequence motif and a characteristic structural fold. The F-type fold is shared not only with other members of this lectin family, but also with apparently unrelated proteins ranging from prokaryotes to vertebrates. Here we describe the purification, biochemical and molecular properties, and the opsonic activity of an F-type lectin (DlFBL) isolated from sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) serum. DlFBL exhibits two tandemly arranged carbohydrate-recognition domains that display the F-type sequence motif. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that DlFBL is specifically expressed and localized in hepatocytes and intestinal cells. Exposure of formalin-killed Escherichia coli to DlFBL enhanced their phagocytosis by D. labrax peritoneal macrophages relative to the unexposed controls, suggesting that DlFBL may function as an opsonin in plasma and intestinal mucus
The prophenoloxidase system is activated during the tunic inflammatory reaction of Ciona intestinalis
Phenoloxidase (PO) activity was examined in the
tunic tissue of Ciona intestinalis following lipopolysaccharide(CinPO-3) containing the CinPO-2 peptide was identified
in the recent Ciona genome version. Presumably, LPS
stimulated the production and dimerization (120 kDa) of
CinPO-3 (66 kDa). Thus, the activated proPO system
includes several POs that are distinguishable by size and
that are contained and presumably released by tunic
inflammatory cells and hemocytes of the pharynx bars.
(LPS) intratunic injection. Tunic homogenate supernatant
(THS), assayed with the Dopa-MBTH reaction,
displayed Ca2+-independent PO activity that was raised by
LPS and further enhanced by proteases. Specific inhibitors
(tropolone, phenylthiourea, diethylthiocarbamate) supported
the specificity of the reaction. Assay with soybean
trypsin inhibitor showed that, in the tunic, PO activation
with trypsin was not significantly inhibited suggesting that
proteases diverse from serine proteases were involved. In
vivo experiments were carried out by injecting isosmotic
medium or LPS, and THS was assayed for its PO activity.
Analysis of variance of the time-course profiles showed that
LPS was more effective in activating proPO. To disclose
the PO response at the injured site, an assay with Dopa-
MBTH was performed in vitro. Quinones were mainly
contained in the tunic matrix enriched with inflammatory
cells around the injection site. Microscopic observations
and immunohistochemistry with anti-CinPO-2 antibodies
showed granulocytes and unilocular refractile granulocytes
containing PO, whereas few morula cells were stained. In
THS zymograms (SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis),
PO activity linked to 90-kDa and 120-kDa bands was
observed as an effect of LPS injection, whereas the density
of 170-kDa PO was weak. A third presumptive PO enzym
Enhanced expression of a cloned and sequenced Ciona intestinalis TNFa-like (CiTNFa) gene during the LPS-induced inflammatory response.
A tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-like gene
from Ciona intestinalis (CiTNFα-like) body wall challengedprepared in the presence of detergents. Both soluble and
hemocyte-bound CiTNFα-like protein therefore appeared
to be modulated by the LPS challenge
with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was cloned
and sequenced 4 h after LPS inoculation. An open reading
frame of 936 bp encoding a propeptide of 312 amino acids
(35.4 kDa) displaying a transmembrane domain from
positions 7 to 29, a TACE cleavage site, and a mature
peptide domain of 185 amino acids (20.9 kDa), was
determined with a predicted isoelectric point of 9.4. The
phylogenetic tree based on deduced amino acid sequences
of invertebrate TNF-like protein and vertebrate TNFs
supported the divergence between the ascidian and vertebrate
TNF families, whereas D. melanogaster Eiger A and
B TNF-like sequences were distinctly separated from the
chordate TNFs. Thus, the ascidian TNFα-like cytokine was
upregulated by in vivo LPS challenge supporting its proinflammatory
role. In the pharynx, increased expression
levels were found following analysis by real-time polymerase
chain reaction, whereas in situ hybridization assay
showed positive hemocytes both in the tissue and in
circulating hemocytes. Finally, Western blot with monoclonal
antibodies disclosed human TNFα epitopes in a 15-kDa
protein component of the hemolymph serum and in a 43-
kDa protein contained in the hemocyte lysate supernatan
FACIT collagen (1alpha-chain) is expressed by hemocytes and epidermis during the inflammatory response of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis
Based on previous cloning and sequencing study, real-time PCR and in situ hybridization
assays of the inflamed body wall of LPS-injected Ciona intestinalis showed the enhanced
gene expression of a collagen with FACIT structural features (Ci-type IX-Col 1a-chain). By
using specific antibodies raised against an opportunely chosen Ci-type IX-Col synthetic
peptide, the fibroblast property of hemocytes challenged in vitro with LPS (at 4 h) was
displayed by flow cytometry, while immunocytochemistry identified hemocytes with large
granules (morula cells) as collagen-producing cells. Hemocyte lysate supernatant analyzed
in immunoblotting contained a 60 kDa band identifiable as 1a-chain-Ci-type IX-Col.
Observations of body wall sections (immunohistochemistry method) supported the role of
hemocytes and showed that epidermis expressed Ci-type IX-Col 1a-chain in the time course
of the inflammatory reaction (within 24 h). Transcript and protein were mainly found in the
epidermis that outlined the proximal side of the tunic matrix (at 24 h after LPS injection),
in cells associated with the epidermis at 4 and 192 h. In conclusion, the C. intestinalis
inflammatory response to LPS challenge appeared to be composed of a complex reaction
set, and for the first time we showed in ascidians a granulation tissue with FACIT-collagen
production that could participate in inflammation and wound healing. Like in vertebrates,
C. intestinalis acute inflammatory reactions result in a regulated pattern of tissue repair
with collagen expression during remodelling. Ci-type IX-Col could be involved in a network
of non-fibril-forming collagens that participates in the organization of extracellular matrix
and defense responses
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