Os genes homeobox são uma família de genes reguladores que são vitais para vários aspectos do crescimento e diferenciação celular. Recentemente, implicações dos genes HOXA7, HOXC6 e TGIF na gênese e progressão tumoral vêm sendo verificadas. Entretanto, o envolvimento desses genes em carcinomas epidermóides (CE) de boca ainda não foi demonstrado. A possível presença de transcritos dos genes HOXA7, HOXC6 e TGIF em carcinomas epidermóides de boca e em tecidos não tumorais adjacentes (TN) foi analisada. Os transcritos dos genes foram amplificados por RT-PCR e sua localização celular determinada por hibridização in situ (ISH) com sondas de mRNA específicas. A amplificação do HOXA7 foi observada em 70% dos casos sendo 15% apenas nas amostras TN, 45% somente nos CEs e 10% em ambos tecidos. Nenhuma amplificação do HOXC6 foi observada. O TGIF foi amplificado em 80% dos casos, sendo 5% somente nas amostras TN, 20% nos CEs e 55% em ambos tecidos. Análises estatísticas mostraram que não havia diferença significante entre a amplificação do transcrito HOXA7 ou TGIF e o tipo de tecido analisado. Além disso, nenhuma associação entre a amplificação dos transcritos nas amostras CE e os aspectos clínicos foi observada. O sinal de hibridização in situ foi similar para os transcritos HOXA7 e TGIF. Nas amostras TN o sinal da ISH foi intenso no epitélio, ora disperso sendo mais proeminente na camada espinhosa ora mais proeminente nas camadas basais e suprabasais. Nos CEs os transcritos foram localizados por toda neoplasia sendo que o sinal era menor em áreas menos diferenciadas. Esses resultados mostram que o HOXC6 não está envolvido com a carcinogênese oral enquanto que a presença dos transcritos HOXA7 e TGIF principalmente em regiões bem diferenciadas dos carcinomas epidermóides de boca sugere uma participação desses genes nesta neoplasia / Homeobox genes comprise a family of developmental regulators that are vital for several aspects of growth and differentiation. Recently HOXA7, HOXC6 and TGIF genes have been implicated with carcinogenesis and tumoral progression. However their involvement with oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) has not been demonstrated yet. The possible presence of HOXA7, HOXC6 and TGIF transcripts in OSCC and adjacent non-tumoral tissues (NT) was verified. Transcripts were amplified by RT -PCR and its cellular localization was determined by in situ hybridization with specific riboprobes. Amplification of HOXA7 was seen in 70% of cases, 15% only in NT tissues, 45% only in OSCC samples and 10% in both tissues. No amplification of HOXC6 was observed. TGIF was amplified in 80% of cases, 5% only in NT tissues, 20% only in OSCC samples and 55% in both tissues. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference between amplification of HOXA7 or TGIF and the type of tissue analyzed. Moreover, no association between amplification of transcripts in OSSC and clinical aspects was observed. ISH signal was similar for HOXA7 and TGIF transcripts. In NT tissues there was an intense expression in the epithelium, either in basal and suprabasal layers or disperse and more intense in the spinous layer. In OSCC transcripts were locali zed in all tumoral cells, but in poorly differentiated areas the signal was less intense. These results show that HOXC6 was not involved in oral carcinogenesis while the presence of HOXA7 and TGIF transcripts in OSSC, mostly in well differentiated regions, suggests a participation of these genes in OSCC

Introdução O diagnóstico de derrame pleural maligno (DPM) se baseia no achado de células tumorais no líquido ou no tecido pleural. Resultados falsos positivos ou falsos negativos influenciam na escolha da melhor conduta terapêutica a ser tomada, além de alterar substancialmente o prognóstico desses pacientes. A sensibilidade do exame citológico é geralmente inferior a 70%, motivo pelo qual, métodos complementares são frequentemente associados. Fatores como tipo histológico, sítio primário e grau de invasibilidade do tumor são os principais responsáveis por esta variação. Dentre os exames complementares propostos, destacam-se a dosagem de marcadores tumorais no líquido pleural (LP), as técnicas citoquímicas, imunocitoquímicas e de marcadores de proliferação celular em células do LP, a análise da ploidia de DNA por citometria de fluxo (CF) ou estática (CE) e, mais recentemente, as técnicas de citogenética e de biologia molecular, como a técnica de hibridação in situ por fluorescência (FISH) e a técnica de amplificação multiplex por sondas ligação - dependentes (MLPA) estas, capazes de detectar alterações em regiões gênicas consideradas \"alvo\" para o desfecho neoplásico. Objetivos 1) Padronizar as técnicas de DNA ploidia, FISH e MLPA em amostras frescas de líquido pleural; 2) Testar a eficiência diagnóstica dos métodos da DNA ploidia e da FISH no diagnóstico de derrame pleural maligno e 3) Avaliar alterações no número de cópias no gene EGFR em metástases pleurais utilizando a técnica de MLPA. Métodos Foram incluídos 200 pacientes adultos portadores de derrame pleural (DP) com indicação de toracocentese. O diagnóstico histológico foi o padrão ouro para malignidade. Características clínicas, radiológicas, histológicas e de seguimento clínico foram considerados para a exclusão de malignidade, de maneira que 130 casos foram classificados como malignos e 70 como benignos. As 200 amostras de LP foram submetidas ao exame citológico e à FISH utilizando sondas centroméricas para os cromossomos 11 e 17. A análise da ploidia de DNA por CF foi realizada em 45 casos de DP e a MLPA com o kit do gene do receptor do fator de crescimento epidérmico (EGFR) em 50 casos. Resultados A análise da ploidia de DNA por CF apresentou sensibilidade inferior ao exame citológico, com especificidade próxima (57,0%vs 96,2%; 70,0% vs 66,7%, respectivamente). A FISH isoladamente apresentou sensibilidade de 98,5% e especificidade de 98,6% e de 98,0% e 99,% quando associada ao exame citológico, com apenas um caso falso positivo e dois casos falsos negativos. A técnica de MLPA, padronizada para LP, demonstrou alterações na sequência do gene do EGFR em 28,2% dos casos malignos. Nenhuma amostra de líquido pleural dos casos benignos (controle) apresentou alteração no número de cópias e/ou rearranjos estruturais. Conclusão A análise citogenética de amostras frescas de líquido pleural por FISH é um valioso complemento ao exame citológico no diagnóstico de derrame pleural maligno, particularmente nos casos em que o resultado da citologia oncótica é inconclusiva / Introduction The diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is based on the finding of tumor cells in the pleural fluid or tissue. False positive or false negative results influence the choice of the best therapeutic approach to be used with these patients and substantially change their prognosis. The sensitivity of the cytology is generally lesser than 70%, for which complementary methods are often associated. Factors such as tumor histological type, staging, primary site and potential of invasiveness are responsible for this variation. Among the proposed ancillary tests, we highlight the dosage of tumor markers in pleural fluid (PF), the cytochemical and immunocytochemical techniques, including markers of cell proliferation, DNA ploidy analysis by flow cytometry (FC) or static cytometry (EC) and more recently, the cytogenetics and molecular techniques, as the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and the multiplex ligation - dependent probe amplification (MLPA), capable of detecting changes in gene regions considered \"target\" for the neoplastic outcome. Objectives 1) To standardize the techniques of DNA ploidy, FISH and MLPA in fresh samples of pleural fluid; 2) To test the diagnosis efficiency of DNA ploidy and FISH in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion and 3) To evaluate changes in the copy number of the EGFR gene by using the MLPA technique in cases of pleural metastases. Methods We included 200 adult patients with pleural effusion and clinical indication for thoracentesis. The histological diagnosis was considered the gold standard for malignancy. Clinical follow-up, radiological and histological characteristics were considered for exclusion of malignancy, which ranked de cases as 130 malignant effusions and 70 as benign ones. All cases were submitted to cytology and FISH using centromeric probes for the chromosomes 11 and 17. Analysis of DNA ploidy by FC was performed in 45 cases and the MLPA for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in 50 cases. Results DNA ploidy analysis showed less sensitivity than PF cytology, with similar specificity (57.0% vs 96.2% and 70.0% vs 66.7%, respectively). FISH alone had a sensitivity of 98.5% and specificity of 98.6%, and of 98.0% and 99% when associated with cytology. Only one false positive and two false negative cases were observed. The MLPA technique, standardized for PF, showed changes in the EGFR gene in 28.2% of the malignant cases. No samples of pleural fluid from benign cases (control) showed changes in copy number and/or structural rearrangements. Conclusion The cytogenetic analysis of fresh pleural fluid samples by FISH seems to be a valuable method to be associated to cytology in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion, particularly in cases of inconclusive cytological results

O Sarcoma Sinovial revela consistentemente t(X;18) resultando em SS18- SSX1, SS18-SSX2 e raramente SS18-SSX4. Dos 328 casos incluídos neste estudo, Sarcoma Sinovial foi considerado a primeira possibilidade diagnóstica ou um importante diagnóstico diferencial em 134 casos: destes, cDNA de qualidade foi obtido em 131. A fusão SS18-SSX foi identificada em 126 (96%) casos (74 SS18-SSX1, 52 SS18-SSX2) através de qRT-PCR e 120 (92%) por RT-PCR convencional. 101 casos no array de tecidos, analisados por FISH, revelaram que 87 (86%) mostraram rearranjo do SS18. Quatro casos positivos por RT-PCR mostraram perda de um sinal spectrum green e 15 casos revelaram cópias múltiplas de SS18: ambos os achados são potencialmente problemáticos na interpretação de resultados. Um dos 3 casos não analisados por RT-PCR por não ter gerado cDNA de qualidade, foi positivo por FISH. A fusão SS18-SSX1 foi demonstrada em 56 SS monofásicos e 18 SS bifásicos. SS18-SSX2 foi detectada em 41 monofásicos e 11 bifásicos. Áreas pouco diferenciadas foram identificadas em 44 casos (31%). Não houve correlação estatisticamente significante entre os subtipos bifásico, monofásico e o tipo de fusão. Cinco casos foram negativos através dos três métodos utilizados, três de localização pleural. Após correlação clínica, o diagnóstico de mesotelioma foi favorecido em um caso, tumor fibroso solitário em outro e o diagnóstico de sarcoma sem outras especificações no terceiro. A possibilidade do diagnóstico de TMBNP não pode ser excluída nos outros dois casos. Nós concluímos que os métodos moleculares são ferramentas auxiliares importantes para o diagnóstico de SS com 95% de sensibilidade e 100% de especificidade, mas os resultados devem ser interpretados à luz de características clínicas e dados imunohistoquímicos. / Synovial Sarcoma consistently harbors t(X;18) resulting in SS18-SSX1, SS18-SSX2 and rarely SS18-SSX4 fusion transcripts. Of 328 cases included in our study, synovial sarcoma was either the primary diagnosis or was very high in the differential diagnosis in 134 cases: of these, amplifiable cDNA was obtained from 131. SS18-SSX fusion products were found in 126 (96%) cases, (74 SS18-SSX1, 52 SS18-SSX2), using quantitative and 120 by conventional RT-PCR. 101 cases in a tissue microarray, analyzed by FISH, revealed that 87 (86%) showed SS18 rearrangement: 4 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction positive cases, reported as negative for FISH, showed loss of one spectrum green signal, and 15 cases had multiple copies of the SS18 gene: both findings are potentially problematic when interpreting results. One of 3 cases, not analyzed by RT PCR due to poor quality RNA, was positive by FISH. SS18-SSX1 was present in 56 monophasic and 18 biphasic synovial sarcoma: SS18-SSX2 was detected in 41 monophasic and 11 biphasic synovial sarcoma. Poorly differentiated areas were identified in 44 cases (31%). There was no statistically significant association between biphasic, monophasic and fusion type. Five cases were negative for SS18 rearrangement by all methods, 3 of which were pleural-sited neoplasms. Following clinical input, a diagnosis of mesothelioma was favored in one case, a sarcoma, not-otherwise specified in another and a solitary fibrous tumor in the third case. The possibility of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor could not be excluded in the other 2 cases. We concluded that the employment of a combination of molecular approaches is a powerful aid to diagnosing synovial sarcoma giving at least 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity but results must be interpreted in the light of other modalities such as clinical findings and immunohistochemical data.

Estudos hodológicos sugerem um dimorfismo sexual das projeções da área incerto-hipotalâmica (IHy), com áreas relevantes para o controle reprodutivo mais densamente inervadas em fêmeas. Estudos funcionais mostraram que o RNAm do precursor do hormônio concentrador de melanina (ppMCH) varia apenas na IHy, durante o ciclo estral e é reduzido em ratas em anestro induzido por restrição alimentar (RA). Nosso objetivo foi analisar em camundongos fêmeas, as alterações na morfologia de útero e ovários e na expressão do RNAm do ppMCH da IHy ocasionadas pelo anestro induzido por RA. Para isso, camundongos fêmeas C57BL/6 foram distribuídas em controle (C), restrito (R; ração = 70% do C) e realimentado (RR). Os animais R foram perfundidos após 4, 8 e 12 dias para coleta de encéfalo, útero e ovários. Houve um aumento no número de folículos antrais nos animais R12 comparados ao R4 e redução da área uterina nos animais R8 com recuperação dos RR. Não foi possível detectar alterações na expressão do RNAm do ppMCH na IHy. / Hodological studies suggest a sexual dimorphism of the incerto-hypothalamic area (IHy) projections since relevant areas to the reproductive control are more densely innervated in females. Functional studies have shown that the MCH precursor mRNA (ppMCH) varies only in the IHy during the estrous cycle of an intact rat and is decreased in anestrus rats induced by food restriction. We aim to analyze, in female mice, the changes in uterine and ovarian morphology and expression of IHy ppMCH mRNA in anestrus induced by food restriction. For this, C57BL/6 female mice were distributed in control (C), food restricted (FR) and refed (RR). FR were perfused after 4, 8 and 12 days to collect the brain, uterus and ovaries. Our results show an increased number of antral follicles of R12 compared to R4 and a reduction in the uterine area of R8 with restoration in RR. It was not possible to detect changes in ppMCH mRNA expression in IHy.

<p>Studies of hybrid zones offer important insights into the process of speciation. Much of the knowledge to be gained is dependent on an accurate estimation of the strength of pre- and post-zygotic isolation between hybridizing taxa. My results demonstrate that hybridization can variously affect different components of fitness. In Ficedula flycatchers, late-breeding females may directly benefit from pairing with a heterospecific male by gaining access to superior territories. The hybrid offspring possess an immune system that is as equally well functioning as in the parental species (the collared, F. albicollis, and pied flycatcher, F. hypoleuca). However, I found that a severe reduction in fertility persists for at least three generations after the actual hybridization event. Combining all information about the reproductive success of hybridizing individuals and their descendents revealed that postzygotic isolation between flycatchers is very strong; hybridizing individuals leave almost no descendents. This thesis presents one of few comprehensive summaries of the selection for/against assortative mating in a natural hybrid zone. These findings suggest a central role for intrinsic postzygotic isolation as a reproductive barrier separating newly evolved bird species, and contrast previous suggestions that postmating isolation is the slowest of the reproductive barriers to evolve in birds.</p><p>Despite this strong selection against hybridization, pre-mating isolation is incomplete. Hybridization often results from females lacking conspecific partners, but appears to be also caused by errors in species recognition. Much of this error probably reflects the short period of time that pied flycatchers on Gotland and Öland have been in sympatry. Compared to collared flycatchers, pied flycatchers are poorer able to discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific song, and male pied flycatchers more often falsely signal their own identity through heterospecific song copying. However, despite colonising the study site from other sympatric populations and having very little gene flow from allopatry, collared flycatchers also possess traits (e.g. delayed plumage maturation) that increase their hybridization risk. Once pre-mating isolation is strong, the rarity of hybridization probably inhibits further selection against traits promoting interspecific mating, especially when such traits may be beneficial in other contexts. This thesis highlights complex interactions between factors affecting hybridization rate that would not be detected if such a study were not field-based. Furthermore, it showcases likely examples in nature of a number of theoretical objections to the evolution of pre-mating barriers between populations living in sympatry.</p>

Species identifications have been historically difficult in the economically important spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) pest complex. Morphological, ecological, behavioural, and genetic characters have been studied to try to understand the taxonomy of this group, but diagnostic character states differ in frequency rather than being complete replacements between each species. I developed a morphology-based character system that focuses on forewing colour components (Chapter 2), as well as eight simple sequence repeats (SSRs, also referred to as microsatellite markers) (Chapter 3). I tested these along with a 470 bp region of COI mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (Chapter 2, 4) to determine their congruence with putative species that were identified by adaptive traits (larval host plant, length of larval diapause, larval and adult morphology, pheromone attraction, distribution). The morphometrics system was effective for identification of the five species tested, with only slight overlap between C. fumiferana and C. biennis. MtDNA distinguished C. fumiferana and C. pinus pinus, but the remaining species shared haplotypes. SSRs distinguished four species (C. fumiferana, C. pinus pinus, C. retiniana, C. lambertiana) but the remaining four species that were included in this survey (Chapter 4) remained mixed within two populations. There was evidence for hybridization between several species pairs. I also conducted a detailed study (Chapter 5) in Cypress Hills, an isolated remnant coniferous forest in western Canada, where identifying individuals from the Choristoneura fumiferana complex has been impossible due to the unusual ecogeographic characteristics of the area. I integrated data on behaviour, ecology, morphology, mtDNA, and SSRs, comparing Cypress Hills populations to those from other regions of North America to determine which species they resembled most. I delimited at least three populations, resembling C. fumiferana, C. occidentalis and C. lambertiana. Adult flight phenology, along with pheromone attraction, were identified as major isolating mechanisms between these populations. My studies highlighted the importance of integrative taxonomy for understanding species boundaries. Their patterns of differentiation suggest that spruce budworm species have recently diverged via natural selection in spite of some gene flow. Overall, this work is intended to contribute to more accurate identification of specimens and a better understanding of the evolutionary processes that drive speciation. / Systematics and Evolution

Studies of hybrid zones offer important insights into the process of speciation. Much of the knowledge to be gained is dependent on an accurate estimation of the strength of pre- and post-zygotic isolation between hybridizing taxa. My results demonstrate that hybridization can variously affect different components of fitness. In Ficedula flycatchers, late-breeding females may directly benefit from pairing with a heterospecific male by gaining access to superior territories. The hybrid offspring possess an immune system that is as equally well functioning as in the parental species (the collared, F. albicollis, and pied flycatcher, F. hypoleuca). However, I found that a severe reduction in fertility persists for at least three generations after the actual hybridization event. Combining all information about the reproductive success of hybridizing individuals and their descendents revealed that postzygotic isolation between flycatchers is very strong; hybridizing individuals leave almost no descendents. This thesis presents one of few comprehensive summaries of the selection for/against assortative mating in a natural hybrid zone. These findings suggest a central role for intrinsic postzygotic isolation as a reproductive barrier separating newly evolved bird species, and contrast previous suggestions that postmating isolation is the slowest of the reproductive barriers to evolve in birds. Despite this strong selection against hybridization, pre-mating isolation is incomplete. Hybridization often results from females lacking conspecific partners, but appears to be also caused by errors in species recognition. Much of this error probably reflects the short period of time that pied flycatchers on Gotland and Öland have been in sympatry. Compared to collared flycatchers, pied flycatchers are poorer able to discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific song, and male pied flycatchers more often falsely signal their own identity through heterospecific song copying. However, despite colonising the study site from other sympatric populations and having very little gene flow from allopatry, collared flycatchers also possess traits (e.g. delayed plumage maturation) that increase their hybridization risk. Once pre-mating isolation is strong, the rarity of hybridization probably inhibits further selection against traits promoting interspecific mating, especially when such traits may be beneficial in other contexts. This thesis highlights complex interactions between factors affecting hybridization rate that would not be detected if such a study were not field-based. Furthermore, it showcases likely examples in nature of a number of theoretical objections to the evolution of pre-mating barriers between populations living in sympatry.

With the completion of the human genome sequencing project, attention is currently shifting toward understanding how genetic variation, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), leads to disease. To identify, understand, and control biological mechanisms of living organisms, the enormous amounts of accumulated sequence information must be coupled to faster, cheaper, and more powerful technologies for DNA, RNA, and protein analysis. One approach is the miniaturization of analytical methods through the application of microfluidics, which involves the manipulation of fluids in micrometer-sized channels. Advances in microfluidic chip technology are expected to play a major role in the development of cost-effective and rapid DNA analysis methods. This thesis presents microfluidic approaches for different DNA genotyping assays. The overall goal is to combine the potential of the microfluidic lab-on-a-chip concept with biochemistry to develop and improve current methods for SNP genotyping. Three genotyping assays using miniaturized microfluidic approaches are addressed. The first two assays are based on primer extension by DNA polymerase. A microfluidic device consisting of a flow-through filter chamber for handling beads with nanoliter liquid volumes was used in these studies. The first assay involved an allelespecific extension strategy. The microfluidic approach took advantage of the different reaction kinetics of matched and mismatched configurations at the 3’-ends of a primer/template complex. The second assay consisted of adapting pyrosequencing technology, a bioluminometric DNA sequencing assay based on sequencing-bysynthesis, to a microfluidic flow-through platform. Base-by-base sequencing was performed in a microfluidic device to obtain accurate SNP scoring data on nanoliter volumes. This thesis also presents the applications of monolayer of beads immobilized by microcontact printing for chip-based DNA analysis. Single-base incorporation could be detected with pyrosequencing chemistry on these monolayers. The third assay developed is based on a hybridization technology termed Dynamic Allele-Specific Hybridization (DASH). In this approach, monolayered beads containing DNA duplexes were randomly immobilized on the surface of a microheater chip. DNA melting-curve analysis was performed by dynamically heating the chip while simultaneously monitoring the DNA denaturation profile to determine the genotype. Multiplexing based on single-bead analysis was achieved at heating rates more than 20 times faster than conventional DASH provides. / QC 20101008

Vilken roll har den kulturella globaliseringen på visuell design i tidningsbranschen? Medier är i konstant rörelse och världen har blivit ett öppet kulturellt utrymme där olika kulturer kan förmedlas via medier. Företag globaliserar sin verksamhet vilket gör att kulturella produkter som Coca-Cola och Nike är välkända runt om i världen. Samtidigt diskuteras de konsekvenser som globaliseringen av kulturella produkter kan ha på världen och om detta leder till homogenisering eller hybridisering av kultur. Kvinnomagasinet Cosmopolitan är ett globalt varumärke som existerar i över 100 länder. Den fråga som uppstår är om en stark kulturell produkt som Cosmopolitan har satt en standard för andra kvinnomagasins estetiska uttryck i andra länder. Vilka likheter och skillnader finns det i den visuella designen mellan det amerikanska kvinnomagasinet och populära kvinnomagasin i andra länder? I denna studie analyserades den visuella designen på populära kvinnomagasins omslag i Brasilien, Förenade Arabemiraten, Indien, Thailand, Tjeckien och USA under året 2012 och urvalet av länder baserades på religiös tillhörighet i de olika länderna. Eftersom religion är intimt förknippat med kultur var detta ett effektivt sätt i ett försök att få material som representerade olika kulturer i världen. Genom att använda både en kvantitativ och kvalitativ innehållsanalys kunde flera olika delar av materialet analyseras på olika nivåer. Resultatet av vår undersökning visade att det finns en variation av både likheter och skillnader i den visuella designen på kvinnomagasinens omslag. Med hjälp av teorier i kultur och globalisering gick det att se att både homogenisering och hybridisering av kultur är aktuellt inom tidningsbranschen, då det verkar finnas en viss standardisering av visuell design, samtidigt som det finns en blandning av kulturella referenser. Studien visar att kulturell globalisering kan påverka den visuella designen på kulturella produkter på olika sätt och öppnar upp för intressant vidare forskning inom ämnen som kulturell globalisering, homogenisering och hybridisering av kultur samt hur kulturella estetiska uttryck kan ta form i olika kulturer. / What role does cultural globalization have regarding visual design in the magazine industry? The media is in constant motion and the world has become a more open cultural space where different cultures can be communicated through media. Companies globalize their business, which makes cultural products like Coca-Cola and Nike well known all around the world. There are discussions about the implications that globalization of cultural products will have on the world and if this might lead to homogenization or hybridization of culture. The women's magazine Cosmopolitan is a global brand that exists in over a 100 countries. The question that arises is whether a strong cultural product that Cosmopolitan is setting a standard forwomen’s magazines in other countries regarding their aesthetic expressions. What kind of similarities and differences are there in the visual design of the American women's magazine and popular women's magazines in other countries? This study analyzed the visual design on covers of popular women’s magazines in Brazil, United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand, the CzechRepublic and the United States over the year 2012. The selection of countries was based on religious affiliation in the different countries and since religion is closely related to culture, this was an effective way in an attempt to access material that represented different cultures in the world. By using both a quantitative and qualitative content analysis, several different parts of the material could be analyzed on different levels. The results of our study showed that there are a variety of both similarities and differences in the visual design of women's magazines covers. Using theories about culture and globalization made it possible to see that both homogenization and hybridization of culture is current in the magazine industry. There seems to be some kind of standardization of visual design but at the same time, there is also a mix of cultural references on the covers. The study shows that cultural globalization can affect the visual design of cultural products in different ways and opens up for interesting topics in further research, such as cultural globalization, homogenization and hybridization of culture and how cultural aesthetic expressions takes shape in various cultures.

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde die Rolle des Rezeptors VEGFR-2, Flk-1, im neuronalen Kontext untersucht. In einem ersten Schritt wurde in embryonalen Stammzellen der Maus das fluoreszierende Protein eGFP unter der Kontrolle regulatorischer Sequenzen des flk-1-Promotors, -Enhancers exprimiert. Nach der Differenzierung zu Sphäroiden wurden Endothelzellen nachgewiesen, die sowohl eGFP als auch das zelltypspezifische Oberflächenantigen CD31 ausprägen. Ebenso wurden nach der neuronalen Differenzierung in Gegenwart von Stromazellen eGFP-exprimierende Zellen identifiziert. Diese standen mit Zellen, die das für neuronale Vorläuferzellen charakteristische Protein Nestin ausprägten, in einem räumlichen Zusammenhang. Die Vorgehensweise, die Inaktivierung des flk-1-Gens mit der Differenzierung embryonaler Stammzellen in vitro zu kombinieren, sollte hier die Interpretation des Phänotyps des flk-1-defizienten Mausmodells ermöglichen. Der Rezeptor war während der neuronalen Differenzierung der Stammzellen auf Stromazellen in vitro für die Regulation der Anzahl der Vorläuferzellen essentiell. Ferner spielte der Rezeptor im Rahmen eines weiteren Differenzierungsmodells, das auf der Zugabe relevanter Wachstumsfaktoren beruht, eine instruktive Rolle im Hinblick auf die Identität der Neuronen. Kriterium war hier die differentielle Expression Homeobox-enthaltender Transkriptionsfaktoren. In einem zweiten Schritt wurden mit Hilfe dieses Modells differentiell-exprimierte Gene von Stammzellen des Wildtyps sowie Zellen mit einer Inaktivierung des flk-1-Gens nach der neuronalen Differenzierung durch subtraktive Hybridisierung in Verbindung mit der PCR identifiziert. Tatsächlich wurde das Protein PEA-15 nicht nur differentiell exprimiert sondern auch als Bestandteil des VEGFR-2-vermittelten Signalwegs identifiziert. Die biologischen Funktionen des Proteins PEA-15 wurden durch VEGF-vermittelte Phosphorylierung reguliert. Die Stimulation durch VEGF führte zunächst zu einer Aktivierung des Proteinkinase B-, Akt-Signalwegs. Für die Stimulation des Akt-Signalwegs war die Phosphorylierung der intrazellulären Tyrosinreste Y1052 und Y1057 des Rezeptors essentiell. Damit einhergehend wurde PEA-15 gegenüber der proteasomalen Degradation stabilisiert. Es wurde gezeigt, daß das Protein PEA-15 die Teilungsaktivität von Zellen beeinflusst. Die VEGF- vermittelte Stimulation führte zur Phosphorylierung der Mitogen-aktivierten Proteinkinasen ERK1 und ERK2. Die weitere Phosphorylierung der Substrate dieser Kinasen im Zellkern wurde durch Interaktion mit PEA-15 unterdrückt. Die Regulation des c-fos-Promotors war zugleich Indikator der Inhibition der Phosphorylierung betreffender Substrate sowie der proliferativen Aktivität. Auf diese Weise ist die Phosphorylierung von PEA-15 nach Stimulation durch VEGF für die Selektivität des Flk-1-vermittelten Signalwegs von unmittelbarer Bedeutung. Die Regulation der biologischen Funktion von PEA-15 erklärt die differentielle Ausprägung im Rahmen der neuronalen Differenzierung embryonaler Stammzellen in vitro. So war die Anzahl GFAP- beziehungsweise PEA-15-exprimierender Zellen nach Differenzierung muriner Stammzellen mit einer Inaktivierung des flk-1-Gens deutlich geringer. Die differentielle Expression identifizierter Gene wurde im Mausmodell nach konditionaler Inaktivierung des flk-1-Gens überprüft. Tatsächlich wurde Vimentin in verschiedenen Arealen des Gehirns differentiell ausgeprägt. Ein Zusammenhang zwischen der differentiellen Expression des Proteins PEA-15, der Anzahl GFAP-exprimierender Zellen und der Ausprägung des Rezeptors Flk-1 ergab sich aus der Identifikation einer Zellpopulation in der subgranulären Zone des Gyrus Dentatus. Dort wurde in flk-1-defizienten, adulten Mäusen eine geringere Anzahl GFAP-exprimierender Zellen nachgewiesen. Schließlich wurden sowohl im Cerebellum als auch im Cortex histologische Unterschiede deutlich, die sich im adulten Organismus aus der Inaktivierung des Rezeptors Flk-1 ergeben. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt, daß der Rezeptor VEGFR-2, Flk-1, im neuronalen Kontext eine Rolle spielt, die sich nicht ausschließlich auf die Vermittlung eines Schutzmechanismus gegenüber der neuronalen Apoptose beschränkt, sondern auch auf eine Beteiligung an der Neurogenese hinweist. Die Vorgehensweise, mit Hilfe der subtraktiven Hybridisierung Bestandteile Rezeptor-vermittelter Signalwege vor dem Hintergrund der Differenzierung embryonaler Stammzellen zu identifizieren, verdeutlicht die Eignung der Methode auch bei komplexen Zellpopulationen.