bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The clinical, immunological and genetic features of 12 Chinese patients with STAT3 mutations
Authors: Lin Li , Wang Ying , Sun Bijun , Liu Luyao , Ying Wenjing , Wang Wenjie , Zhou Qinhua , Hou Jia , Yao Haili , Hu Liyuan , Sun Jinqiao , Wang Xiaochuan
Published: July 2020

Background

Loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is one of the causes of STAT3 hyperimmunoglobulin E (IgE) syndrome (STAT3-HIES), while gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in STAT3 lead to immune dysregulation diseases. We retrospectively analyzed the age, common clinical symptoms, immunologic and molecular manifestations in 11 patients with LOF STAT3 mutations and 1 patient with a GOF STAT3 mutation.

Methods

Twelve patients were enrolled in our study. Serum immunoglobulin measurements, lymphocyte subset detection and whole-exome sequencing were performed.

Results

The median age at diagnosis of STAT3-HIES patients was 4.74 years. Eczema, recurrent respiratory infections, fevers, abscesses and Staphylococcus aureus infections were the classic manifestations. Elevated serum IgE levels are not always observed in conjunction with high eosinophil counts. A moderate viral DNA load was also measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We noticed that c. 1144C>T was the most common mutation site, followed by c.1311C>A. Additionally, c.1311C>A and c. 1826G>C are two novel mutations. Eight patients achieved notable improvement after receiving intravenous immunoglobulin.

Conclusion

We updated the current knowledge of this topic. We found an earlier median age at diagnosis, a higher survival rate, and a general lack of nonimmunological abnormalities; we also described the treatment details and novel mutations involve in STAT3-HIES and compared STAT3 LOF and GOF mutations.
Progress in studies of epidermal stem cells and their application in skin tissue engineering
Authors: Yang Ronghua , Yang Shuai , Zhao Jingling , Hu Ximin , Chen Xiaodong , Wang Jingru , Xie Julin , Xiong Kun
Published: July 2020

The epidermis, which is the outermost layer of mammalian skin, provides an essential barrier that is essential for maintenance of life. The epidermis is a stratified epithelium, which is maintained by the proliferation of epidermal stem cells (EPSCs) at the basal layer of the epidermis. As a unique cell population characterized by self-renewal and differentiation capabilities, EPSCs ensure the maintenance of adult skin homeostasis and participate in repair of the epidermis after injury. Recently, the utilization of EPSCs for wound healing and tissue regeneration has been attracting increased attention from researchers. In addition, the advances in tissue engineering have increased the interest in applying EPSCs in tissue-engineered scaffolds to further reconstitute injured tissues. In this review, we introduce research developments related to EPSCs, including methods recently used in the culture and enrichment of EPSCs, as well as advanced tools to study EPSCs. The function and mechanism of the EPSC-dermal units in the development and homeostasis of the skin are also summarized. Finally, the potential applications of EPSCs in skin tissue engineering are discussed.
METTL1-mediated m7G methylation maintains pluripotency in human stem cells and limits mesoderm differentiation and vascular development
Authors: Deng Yujie , Zhou Zhongyang , Ji Weidong , Lin Shuibin , Wang Min
Published: July 2020

Background

7-Methylguanosine (m7G) is one of the most conserved modifications in nucleosides within tRNAs and rRNAs. It plays essential roles in the regulation of mRNA export, splicing, and translation. Recent studies highlighted the importance of METTL1-mediated m7G tRNA methylome in the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) through its ability to regulate mRNA translation. However, the exact mechanisms by which METTL1 regulates pluripotency and differentiation in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of METTL1 in regulating hiPSC self-renewal and differentiation in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

By establishing METTL1 knockdown (KD) hiPSCs, gene expression profiling was performed by RNA sequencing followed by pathway analyses. Anti-m7G northwestern assay was used to identify m7G modifications in tRNAs and mRNAs. Polysome profiling was used to assess the translation efficiency of the major pluripotent transcription factors. Moreover, the in vitro and in vivo differentiation capacities of METTL1-KD hiPSCs were assessed in embryoid body (EB) formation and teratoma formation assays.

Results

METTL1 silencing resulted in alterations in the global m7G profile in hiPSCs and reduced the translational efficiency of stem cell marker genes. METTL1-KD hiPSCs exhibited reduced pluripotency with slower cell cycling. Moreover, METTL1 silencing accelerates hiPSC differentiation into EBs and promotes the expression of mesoderm-related genes. Similarly, METTL1 knockdown enhances teratoma formation and mesoderm differentiation in vivo by promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis in nude mice.

Conclusion

Our findings provided novel insight into the critical role of METTL1-mediated m7G modification in the regulation of hiPSC pluripotency and differentiation, as well as its potential roles in vascular development and the treatment of vascular diseases.
Therapeutic applications of adipose cell-free derivatives: a review
Authors: Cai Yuan , Li Jianyi , Jia Changsha , He Yunfan , Deng Chengliang
Published: July 2020

Background

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have become one of the most utilized adult stem cells due to their abundance and accessibility. Recent studies have shown that paracrine cytokines, exosomes, and other active substances are the main factors through which ADSCs exert their biological effects.

Main body

Adipose cell-free derivatives have been recently gaining attention as potential therapeutic agents for various human diseases. These derivatives include ADSC-conditioned medium (ADSC-CM), ADSC exosomes (ADSC-Exo), and cell-free adipose tissue extracts (ATEs), all of which can be conveniently carried, stored, and transported. Currently, research on ADSC-conditioned medium (ADSC-CM) and ADSC exosomes (ADSC-Exo) is surging. Moreover, cell-free adipose tissue extracts (ATEs), obtained by purely physical methods, have emerged as the focus of research in recent years.

Conclusion

Adipose cell-free derivatives delivery can promote cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, suppress cell apoptosis, and inflammation, as well as reduce oxidative stress and immune regulation. Thus, adipose cell-free derivatives have a broad therapeutic potential in many areas, as they possess anti-skin aging properties, promote wound healing, reduce scar formation, and provide myocardial protection and neuroprotection. This article summarizes these effects and reviews research progress in the use of adipose cell-free derivatives.
rMSIcleanup: an open-source tool for matrix-related peak annotation in mass spectrometry imaging and its application to silver-assisted laser desorption/ionization
Authors: Baquer Gerard , Sementé Lluc , García-Altares María , Lee Young Jin , Chaurand Pierre , Correig Xavier , Ràfols Pere
Published: July 2020

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has become a mature, widespread analytical technique to perform non-targeted spatial metabolomics. However, the compounds used to promote desorption and ionization of the analyte during acquisition cause spectral interferences in the low mass range that hinder downstream data processing in metabolomics applications. Thus, it is advisable to annotate and remove matrix-related peaks to reduce the number of redundant and non-biologically-relevant variables in the dataset. We have developed rMSIcleanup, an open-source R package to annotate and remove signals from the matrix, according to the matrix chemical composition and the spatial distribution of its ions. To validate the annotation method, rMSIcleanup was challenged with several images acquired using silver-assisted laser desorption ionization MSI (AgLDI MSI). The algorithm was able to correctly classify m/z signals related to silver clusters. Visual exploration of the data using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated that annotation and removal of matrix-related signals improved spectral data post-processing. The results highlight the need for including matrix-related peak annotation tools such as rMSIcleanup in MSI workflows.
Majorization inequalities via Green functions and Fink’s identity with applications to Shannon entropy
Authors: Siddique Nouman , Imran Muhammad , Khan Khuram Ali , Pečarić Josip
Published: July 2020

This paper is devoted to obtain generalized results related to majorization-type inequalities by using well-known Fink’s identity and new types of Green functions, introduced by Mehmood et al. (J. Inequal. Appl. 2017:108, 2017). We give a generalized majorization theorem for the class ofn-convex functions. We utilize the Csiszárf-divergence and generalized majorization-type inequalities in providing the corresponding generalizations. As an application, we present the obtained results in terms of Shannon entropy and Kullback–Leibler distance.
Bromelia karatas and Bromelia pinguin: sources of plant proteases used for obtaining antioxidant hydrolysates from chicken and fish by-products
Authors: Romero-Garay Martha Guillermina , Martínez-Montaño Emmanuel , Hernández-Mendoza Adrián , Vallejo-Cordoba Belinda , González-Córdova Aarón Fernando , Montalvo-González Efigenia , García-Magaña María de Lourdes
Published: July 2020

In the present study, we evaluated new sources of plant proteases from fruits of Bromelia karatas (BK) and Bromelia pinguin (BP) to obtain antioxidant hydrolyzates/bioactive peptides (BPs) derived from chicken by-products (CH) and fish by-products (FH). The profile of the peptides was identified by reverse-phase high-resolution liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and the size weight distribution by molecular exclusion chromatography (SEC). The hydrolysates obtained with BK in both sources of by-products showed greater antioxidant capacity compared to those obtained with BP, presenting similar or higher values when compared to a commercial plant enzyme. The use of new sources of plant proteases allowed to obtain hydrolysates of hydrophilic character with a high percentage (> 50%) of peptides with molecular weights < 17.5 kDa from chicken and fish by-products. Therefore, based on the results obtained in antioxidant capacity it is possible to consider the hydrolysates as potential ingredients, food additives, and pharmaceutical products.
Extreme risk protection orders in King County, Washington: the epidemiology of dangerous behaviors and an intervention response
Authors: Frattaroli Shannon , Omaki Elise , Molocznik Amy , Allchin Adelyn , Hopkins Renee , Shanahan Sandra , Levinson Anne
Published: July 2020

Background

Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws are a promising gun violence prevention strategy. ERPO laws allow specific categories of people (law enforcement in all states, family in most) to petition a court to request that an individual be temporarily prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms because that individual is behaving dangerously and at risk of violence, either to themselves or others. In 2017 Washington State’s ERPO law took effect. King County developed a comprehensive approach to implementing the ERPO law. The early experience of King County offers important insight into how early adopters of these laws are incorporating EPROs into their approach to gun violence prevention.

Methods

We systematically reviewed, abstracted and coded data from every ERPO petition filed in King County in 2017 and 2018, and all ERPO court records associated with those petitions. We conducted descriptive analyses of the coded data.

Results

Seventy-five ERPO petitions were filed in King County during the study period. Judges granted a temporary ERPO in all 75 cases; 65 (87%) of these cases resulted in a one-year ERPO. Law enforcement initiated 73 (97%) of these petitions, and family members filed the remaining two. The 75 petitions filed described respondents’ risk as to “themselves only” in 30 cases (40%), to “others only” in 20 cases (27%) and “to themselves and others” in 25 cases (33%). Five cases where the threat was to “others only” met a definition of mass shooting threat. For 95% of the temporary ERPOs issued, the courts’ reasoning for issuing ERPOs included either current violence or brandishing a firearm. Court records for the 75 cases detail firearms removed and/or include receipts for removed firearms in 61 cases (81%) either as part of ERPO precipitating events (n = 13, 17%) or in conjunction with ERPO service (n = 48, 64%).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that Washington’s ERPO law is being applied when someone is threatening violence to self or others, or brandishing a gun and at least one other risk factor is present. The early experience of King County provides insight into how this law is being implemented in one jurisdiction and how courts are evaluating such cases.
Mapping simulated circum-Arctic organic carbon, ground ice, and vulnerability of ice-rich permafrost to degradation
Authors: Saito Kazuyuki , Machiya Hirokazu , Iwahana Go , Ohno Hiroshi , Yokohata Tokuta
Published: July 2020

Permafrost is a large reservoir of soil organic carbon, accounting for about half of all the terrestrial storage, almost equivalent to twice the atmospheric carbon storage. Hence, permafrost degradation under global warming may induce a release of a substantial amount of additional greenhouse gases, leading to further warming. In addition to gradual degradation through heat conduction, the importance of abrupt thawing or erosion of ice-rich permafrost has recently been recognized. Such ice-rich permafrost has evolved over a long timescale (i.e., tens to hundreds of thousands of years). Although important, knowledge on the distribution of vulnerability to degradation, i.e., location and stored amount of ground ice and soil carbon in ice-rich permafrost, is still limited largely due to the scarcity of accessible in situ data. Improving the future projections for the Arctic using the Earth System Models will lead to a better understanding of the current vulnerability distribution, which is a prerequisite for conducting climatic and biogeochemical assessment that currently constitutes a large source of uncertainty. In this study, present-day circum-Arctic distributions (north of 50° N) in ground ice and organic soil carbon content are produced by a new approach to combine a newly developed conceptual carbon-ice balance model, and a downscaling technique with the topographical and hydrological information derived from a high-resolution digital elevation model (ETOPO1). The model simulated the evolution of ground ice and carbon for the recent 125 thousand years (from the Last Interglacial to the present) at 1° resolution. The 0.2° high-resolution circum-Arctic maps of the present-day ground ice and soil organic carbon, downscaled from the 1° simulations, were reasonable compared to the observation-based previous maps. These data, together with a map of vulnerability of ice-rich permafrost to degradation served as initial and boundary condition data for model improvement and the future projection of additional greenhouse gas release potentially caused by permafrost degradation.
Does competence of central bank governors influence financial stability?
Authors: Ozili Peterson K.
Published: July 2020

This study investigates whether the competence of central bank governors affects the stability of the financial system they are responsible for. Using publicly available information about central bank governors from 2000 to 2016 together with data on financial stability and the macroeconomy, the findings reveal that central bank governors’ competence promotes financial stability, depending on how competence is measured. Specifically, the findings reveal that the financial system is more stable when the central bank governor is older and male. The financial system is also stable during the tenure of a central bank governor that has a combination of cognitive ability, social capital and technical competence in economics. The gender analyses reveal that the financial system is also stable during the tenure of a female central bank governor that has high social capital or high cognitive abilities while the financial system is relatively less stable during the tenure of a male central bank governor that has high social capital or high cognitive abilities. Comparing developed countries to developing and transition countries, the findings reveal that the financial system of developed countries is more stable during the tenure of a central bank governor that has high cognitive ability, social capital and technical competence in economics while the financial system of developing and transition countries is less stable during the tenure of a central bank governor that has high cognitive ability, social capital and technical competence in economics. Also, there is evidence that the financial system of developing and transition countries is more stable during the tenure of a central bank governor that has knowledge in disciplines other than economics. The findings are consistent with the view that certain characteristics of central bankers shape their beliefs, preferences and choice of policy, which in turn, are consequential for policy outcomes during their tenure.
Persistent psychotic symptoms following COVID-19 infection
Authors: Lim Soon Tjin , Janaway Benjamin , Costello Harry , Trip Anand , Price Gary
Published: July 2020

To date, there have been no detailed reports of patients developing persistent psychotic symptoms following Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. There have been reports of patients developing transient delirium (with and without hypoxia) after COVID-19 infection as well as other neurological manifestations. We report on a female patient who, post-COVID-19 infection, developed an initial delirium followed by persistent and florid psychotic symptoms consisting of persecutory delusion, complex visual and auditory hallucinations and Capgras phenomenon in the absence of hypoxia but elevated tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The psychotic symptoms persisted for about 40 days. Her magnetic resonance imaging brain scan, electroencephalogram, cerebrospinal fluid examination and extensive autoimmune panel did not show any abnormalities. The cause of the psychotic symptoms in this patient were not ascertained but we propose either an inflammatory state, characterised by the patient's elevated TNF-alpha levels as a possible contributing mechanism for her psychosis in line with the proinflammatory changes observed in some cases of psychosis. Or, an alternative, but unproven, hypothesis is one of an antibody-mediated encephalitic event induced by viral infection.
Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome–Based Interventions for Palliative Cancer Care: A Systematic and Mapping Review
Authors: Karamanidou Christina , Natsiavas Pantelis , Koumakis Lefteris , Marias Kostas , Schera Fatima , Schäfer Michael , Payne Sheila , Maramis Christos
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE

Capitalizing on the promise of patient-reported outcomes (PROs), electronic implementations of PROs (ePROs) are expected to play an important role in the development of novel digital health interventions targeting palliative cancer care. We performed a systematic and mapping review of the scientific literature on the current ePRO-based approaches used for palliative cancer care.

METHODS

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement guidelines, the conducted review answered the research questions: “What are the current ePRO-based approaches for palliative cancer care; what is their contribution/value in the domain of palliative cancer care; and what are the potential gaps, challenges, and opportunities for further research?” After a screening step, the corpus of included articles indexed in PubMed or the Web of Science underwent full text review, which mapped the articles across 15 predefined axes.

RESULTS

The corpus of 24 mapped studies includes 9 study protocols, 7 technical tools/solutions, 7 pilot/feasibility/acceptability studies, and 1 evaluation study. The review of the corpus revealed (1) an archetype of ePRO-enabled interventions for palliative cancer care, which most commonly use ePROs as study end point assessment instruments rather than integral intervention components; (2) the fact that the literature has not fully embraced the modern definitions that expand the scope of palliative care; (3) the striking shortage of promising ubiquitous computing devices (eg, smart activity trackers); and (4) emerging evidence about the benefits of narrowing down the target cancer population, especially when combined with modern patient-centered intervention design methodologies.

CONCLUSION

Although research on exploiting ePROs for the development of digital palliative cancer care interventions is considerably active and demonstrates several successful cases, there is considerable room for improvement along the directions of the aforementioned findings.
Evaluation of a Chip-Based, Point-of-Care, Portable, Real-Time Micro PCR Analyzer for the Detection of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus in Uterine Cervix in India
Authors: Hariprasad Roopa , Tulsyan Sonam , Babu Roshani , Dhanasekaran Kavitha , Thakur Nisha , Hussain Showket , Tripathi Richa , Sreenivas Vishnubhatla , Sharma Shashi , Sriram Latha , Singh Shalini , Mehrotra Ravi
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE

Currently available human papillomavirus (HPV) detection devices are expensive, requiring a continuous power supply, high-priced reagents, skilled laboratory personnel, and infrastructure. These make it difficult to implement primary HPV screening in high-risk (HR) populations, particularly in low-income settings such as in India. The objective of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a point-of-care, portable, battery-operated device called Truenat, which detects 4 HR HPV genotypes (16, 18, 31, and 45), as a potentially cost-effective alternative to conventional HPV diagnostic tests.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a single-site, blinded, cross-sectional study that evaluated the performance of the Trunat HPV-HR using cervical samples collected from nonpregnant women > 30 years old via consecutive sampling. The comparison was conducted against the Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) method. All the positive samples were validated by 14 Real-TM Quant Kit.

RESULTS

Of 615 cervical samples, the HR-HPV DNA test was positive in 78 women (12.7%) by HC2 and in 49 (8%) by Truenat. With the consideration of limited genotype inclusivity, the sensitivity and specificity of Truenat HPV-HR were 97.7% and 98.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The performance of Truenat HPV-HR test was comparable to that of HC2 in the 4 HPV genotypes and would be appropriate to consider for use in primary HR cervical cancer screening and particularly in low-income settings.
Reassessment of Urinary Aldosterone Measurement After Saline Infusion in Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Kaneko Hiroki , Umakoshi Hironobu , Ishihara Yuki , Nanba Kazutaka , Tsuiki Mika , Kusakabe Toru , Satoh-Asahara Noriko , Yasoda Akihiro , Tagami Tetsuya
Published: July 2020

Context

Urinary aldosterone levels (Uald) are widely measured in the oral sodium-loading test to confirm primary aldosteronism (PA), but reliable studies on their diagnostic value are limited. This may be due to the difficulty in collecting urine with reliable accuracy, keeping oral sodium intake constant between patients. Therefore, we focused on 24-hour Uald after intravenous saline infusion in a hospitalized setting, which provides a reliable sodium load in consistent amounts.

Objective

Comparing plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) and Uald after saline infusion in the sitting position, to evaluate the accuracy in determining PA subtypes and the correlation of both measurements.

Design and Setting

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study in a single referral center.

Patients

Of 53 patients without renal dysfunction who were diagnosed with PA and underwent adrenal venous sampling, 16 and 37 were diagnosed with unilateral and bilateral PA, respectively.

Main Outcome Measures

Uald collected for 24 hours and PAC after saline infusion.

Results

The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for diagnosing unilateral PA was not significantly different between Uald and PAC after saline infusion (0.921 and 0.958, respectively; P = 0.370). The predicted optimal cutoff value of Uald was 16.5 μg/day (sensitivity, 87.5%; specificity, 100%), and that of PAC after saline infusion was 19.3 ng/dL (sensitivity, 87.5%; specificity, 97.3%). In studied patients with PA, Uald was positively correlated with PAC after saline infusion (r = 0.617; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

We reassessed Uald in PA patients under sufficient sodium loading and demonstrated the correlation between Uald and PAC after saline infusion.
Acute and chronic stress prevents responses to pain in zebrafish: evidence for stress-induced analgesia
Authors: Thomson Jack S. , Deakin Anthony G. , Cossins Andrew R. , Spencer Joseph W. , Young Iain S. , Sneddon Lynne U.
Published: July 2020

The state of an animal prior to the application of a noxious stimulus can have a profound effect on their nociceptive threshold and subsequent behaviour. In mammals, the presence of acute stress preceding a painful event can have an analgesic effect whereas the presence of chronic stress can result in hyperalgesia. While considerable research has been conducted on the ability of stress to modulate mammalian responses to pain, relatively little is known about fish. This is of particular concern given that zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an extensively used model organism subject to a wide array of invasive procedures where the level of stress prior to experimentation could pose a major confounding factor. This study, therefore, investigated the impact of both acute and chronic stress on the behaviour of zebrafish subjected to a potentially painful laboratory procedure, the fin clip. In stress-free individuals, those subjected to the fin clip spent more time in the bottom of the tank, had reduced swimming speeds and less complex swimming trajectories; however, these behavioural changes were absent in fin-clipped fish that were first subject to either chronic or acute stress, suggesting the possibility of stress-induced analgesia (SIA). To test this, the opioid antagonist naloxone was administered to fish prior to the application of both the stress and fin-clip procedure. After naloxone, acutely stressed fin-clipped zebrafish exhibited the same behaviours as stress-free fin-clipped fish. This indicates the presence of SIA and the importance of opioid signalling in this mechanism. As stress reduced nociceptive responses in zebrafish, this demonstrates the potential for an endogenous analgesic system akin to the mammalian system. Future studies should delineate the neurobiological basis of stress-induced analgesia in fish.
The Reception of the Non-Human Living Beings in Philosophical and Practical Approaches
Authors: Kaluđerović Željko
Published: July 2020

In this paper, the author explores the reception of the non-human living beings in modern philosophical and practical approaches. The analysis is aimed at examining both the views of the representatives of classical anthropocentrism, as well as the theses of the representatives of various non-anthropocentric teachings. Anthropocentrism is, in short, a worldview that is based on Aristotle's vision of man as a special being among other natural beings. Advocates of the questioning of the dominant anthropocentric perspective of the cosmos, on the other hand, are trying to establish the new relation by relativizing of the difference between humans and non-human living beings, by attributing specifically human qualities and categories, such as dignity, moral status and rights, as well as feelings, memories, communication, consciousness and thinking to non-human living beings. Non-anthropocentrists, consequently, believe that it is necessary to relax the usual strict hierarchy among beings in nature, that is, the discrediting of animals in relation to man, and that within the applied ethics, alias bioethics, it is possible, even necessary, to establish the "animal ethics".
Reflections in classical philosophy concerning the superiority of spiritual power vs. physical vigor, by Xenophanes: Frag. 2D = 2W
Authors: Gongaki Konstantina I. , Georgiou Yannis S. , Schmidt Gongaki Lilly Sofia
Published: July 2020

Xenophanes of Colophon (570-475 BC), a Pre-Socratic philosopher of the Eleatic School, faced life with his outspoken spirit, criticizing any values of his time considered obsolete, such as the anthropomorphic representation of the gods. He was the first philosopher who challenged the sporting value to the spiritual one. Revolutionary and innovative, in his second elegy expresses his preference for spiritual power, and he stands ironical towards the Greeks who give the physical rhyme excessive importance. According to Xenophanes, the athletic victory is simply due to the speed of the feet and does not affect the spiritual life of the city, while, on the contrary, the one who affects the ethical values of society is the one who produces thoughts and is interested in the common good. Obviously, Xenophanes feels unjust, and reacts to the great mismatch that exists between the real athletes' offer and the great honors that the society ascribes to them. Characteristically, Euripides will be influenced by Xenophanes’ ideas, while Isokrates, as well as other wise and intellectuals of the Classical Ages, will highlight the superiority of spiritual values as compared to athletic offerings, arguing that the greatest spiritual value is wisdom and the resulting benefit.
The Universe and the limits of Knowledge: Bohm’s Notion of the Implicate Order of Nature
Authors: Galanis-Kolintzas Dimitrios
Published: July 2020

According to Bohm the whole scientific description of the Universe is governed by fragmentation of our perception of what reality is. Physics’ tendency of acknowledging the ultimate structure of matter in the elementary particles has caused a widespread fragmentary view of the Universe. Thus, Physics seems to be unable to conceive the “undivided wholeness of the universe” and to acknowledge in that Wholeness the common, single bed of the whole of reality. According to Bohm that single bed of nature, Implicate Order, is the single origin of both mind and matter. Inside the multidimensional Implicate Order, a universal enfoldment of everything prevails. The Implicate Order coheres deterministically to the Universe and the depths of its inwardness are totally unknown to us, since we humans are part of its wholeness too. Physics as a science provides us only with abstractive descriptions of the Universe, since science offers only abstractions from reality. These abstractive descriptions are what constitute the Explicate Order of the Universe. Thus, each belief we have that through the science of Physics we are able to arrive at an ultimate deciphering of the Universe is inherently illusive. The science of Physics can provide us with knowledge only in the fragmentary level of the Explicate, that means analyzable, Order of the Universe recognizing its cognitive limits in front of the Implicate Order. The laws that govern the Implicate Order of the Universe are unknowable and unanalyzable by man and in the depths of these laws Bohm insists that a final truth about reality cannot be fixed.
Μικροί Σεισμολόγοι...εν δράσει!
Authors: Καραγγελή Κ. – Μ.
Published: July 2020

Το διαθεματικό πρόγραμμα «Μικροί σεισμολόγοι... εν δράσει» αναπτύχθηκε στο πλαίσιο συμμετοχής της Β’ Τάξης του Δημοτικού Σχολείου Γιαννιτσοχωρίου στον διαγωνισμό «Φτιάξε τον δικό σου σεισμογράφο». Οι μαθητές κατανοούν τον τρόπο υπολογισμού του επικέντρου ενός σεισμού, αποκτούν τις δεξιότητες που απαιτούνται για να αποφεύγουν τις καταστρεπτικές συνέπειες μιας σεισμικής δόνησης και διαπιστώνουν ότι καμία περιοχή στην Ελλάδα δεν είναι σεισμικά απρόσβλητη. Επιπρόσθετα δημιουργούν με απλά υλικά τον δικό τους σεισμογράφο και πειραματίζονται!
Φτιάξε το δικό σου Σεισμογράφο_TALOS
Authors: Κοντοστάθης Χρήστος , Μητσικώστας Σταύρος , Βαλκαμέλης Δημήτρης , Βογιατζής Χρήστος , Τσαγκαδόπουλος Πλάτωνας , Πρώιας Γεώργιος
Published: July 2020

Ο σεισμός είναι φαινόμενο το οποίο εκδηλώνεται συνήθως χωρίς σαφή προειδοποίηση, δεν μπορεί να αποτραπεί και παρά τη μικρή χρονική διάρκεια του, μπορεί να προκαλέσει μεγάλες υλικές ζημιές στις ανθρώπινες υποδομές με επακόλουθα σοβαρούς τραυματισμούς και απώλειες ανθρώπινων ζωών.Η Ελλάδα κατέχει την πρώτη θέση στην Ευρώπη από πλευράς σεισμικότητας και την έκτη παγκοσμίως. Η γεωγραφική της θέση συμπίπτει με περιοχή του πλανήτη μας όπου λαμβάνουν χώρα μεγάλα γεωτεκτονικά φαινόμενα όπως η σύγκλιση της Αφρικανικής με την Ευρω-ασιατική λιθοσφαιρική πλάκα με αποτέλεσμα τη μεγάλη σεισμικότητα που παρατηρείται στη περιοχή αυτή. Η ομάδα των παιδιών κατασκεύασε με χαρτοσμαλτίνη μια βάση για να εγκατασταθεί ο αισθητήρας απόστασης σε σταθερό σημείο, ένα βαρίδι στερεωμένο με ελατήριο ώστε να δονείται κατά τη διάρκεια του σεισμού και ο επεξεργαστής LEGO EV3 ώστε να δημιουργηθεί ο σεισμογράφος.
O σεισμογράφος του Τσανγκ Χενγκ από την Terraemotus team
Authors: Συροπούλου Κωνσταντίνα , Παπαϊωάννου Ιωάννης
Published: July 2020

Το "Karditsa Earthquake Project - Σχολεία εν Δράσει" του 1ου Εργαστηριακού Κέντρου είναι ένα διαθεματικό πρόγραμμα περιβαλλοντικής και ρομποτικής εκπαίδευσης με θέμα το σεισμό. Σκοπός του είναι η ενημέρωση και η ευαισθητοποίηση των μαθητών και της κοινωνίας σχετικά με τα σωστά μέτρα πρόληψης σε περίπτωση σεισμού. Για τη χρονιά 2019 - 2020 η ομάδα Terraemotus team, βασισμένη στο βιβλίο του ΟΑΣΠ “H γη χορεύει”, αποφάσισε να κατασκευάσει έναν σεισμογράφο απλό και κατανοητό για τα παιδιά των νηπιαγωγείων και των δημοτικών σχολείων της πόλης, το σεισμογράφο του Τσανγκ Χενγκ. Για την κατασκευή σχεδιάστηκαν τα μέρη του σεισμογράφου σε χαρτί, δημιουργώντας τα πατρόν, που κόπηκαν σε μακετόχαρτο και συναρμολογήθηκαν. Για το λειτουργικό κομμάτι χρησιμοποιήθηκε Arduino, επιταχυνσιόμετρο, led, laser, φωτοαντιστάσεις, buzzer και ένα μπαλάκι του πινγκ πονγκ ως εκκρεμές. Σε περίπτωση σεισμού και λόγω της αδράνειας, το εκκρεμές κόβει μία ή δύο ακτίνες laser με αποτέλεσμα να ηχήσει το buzzer και να ανάψει το led που δείχνει τη φορά του σεισμού. Το επιταχυνσιόμετρο καταγράφει το σεισμό και τη βοήθεια του Arduino απεικονίζεται στην οθόνη ενός υπολογιστή.
Δε φοβάμαι το σεισμό, είμαι σεισμοειδικός
Authors: Παπαζαχαρίου Ε. , Κυρίτση Ε.
Published: July 2020

Η παρούσα εργασία αφορά ένα πρόγραμμα Open Schools for Open Societies (OSOS) με τίτλο «Δε φοβάμαι το σεισμό, είμαι σεισμοειδικός». Βασικός του άξονας είναι οι φυσικές επιστήμες και τα αντικείμενα του STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) σε θεματικές που συνδέονται με σύγχρονες κοινωνικές προκλήσεις. Σκοπός του προγράμματος ήταν οι μαθητές της Γ’ Δημοτικού να γνωρίσουν το φαινόμενο των σεισμών και των ηφαιστείων και ταυτόχρονα να αυξηθεί το ενδιαφέρον και η περιέργειά τους για την εκπαίδευση STEM. Το πρόγραμμα διαρθρώθηκε σε 4 πεδία: 1)Νιώσε, 2)Φαντάσου, 3)Δημιούργησε και 4)Μοιράσου, λαμβάνοντας γνώσεις για τις σύγχρονες επιστημονικές πληροφορίες σχετικά με τη δομή της γης, το μηχανισμό που κάνει τη γη να «τρέμει», τα ρήγματα και τα ηφαίστεια. Η γνωριμία με τους σεισμούς, με βιωματικό, κυρίως, τρόπο και η εκτέλεση μιας σειράς πειραμάτων εξόπλισε τους μαθητές με ερευνητική διάθεση, απέκτησαν κατάλληλες γνώσεις για τους σεισμούς και τα ηφαίστεια και οδήγησε στην κατασκευή δύο σεισμογράφων με απλά υλικά.
Γνωρίζω τους συμμαθητές μου
Authors: Διπλαχείλη Αγνή , Λουκή Μαριτίνα , Αναγνωστόπουλος Δημήτρης , Παπαλεωνίδα Παναγιώτα
Published: July 2020

Τη χρονιά 2016/17 το τμήμα Α1 του 10ου ΕΠΑΛ Αθηνών αποφάσισε να ασχοληθεί στο μάθημα Ζώνη Δημιουργικών Δραστηριοτήτων, με τη «βαθύτερη γνωριμία» με τους συμμαθητές. Με τη συνεχή καθοδήγηση της καθηγήτριάς μας, σχεδιάσαμε και πραγματοποιήσαμε μια έρευνα στο σχολείο μας για να αποτυπώσουμε τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά του μαθητικού πληθυσμού. Ήρθαμε σε επαφή με αντικείμενα Μαθηματικών και Πληροφορικής, καθώς και με τη μεθοδολογία υλοποίησης εκπαιδευτικής έρευνας. Δημιουργήσαμε το ερωτηματολόγιο –εργαλείο της έρευνας, συγκεντρώσαμε και επεξεργαστήκαμε ομαδοσυνεργατικά πληροφορίες που σκιαγράφησαν το προφίλ των συμμαθητών, τις συνθήκες και τον τρόπο ζωής τους, τη σχολική πορεία, τους λόγους επιλογής της επαγγελματικής εκπαίδευσης, το τι προσδοκούν από τον καθηγητή και το πώς βλέπουν το μέλλον τους.
Μία εφαρμογή τεχνητής νοημοσύνης σε γλώσσα προγραμματισμού Java
Authors: Ταχτατζής Αναστάσιος , Φιδάνης Απόστολος , Χατζηιωάννου Λαμπρινός , Ζήκου Ιωάννης
Published: July 2020

Η τεχνητή νοημοσύνη και οι έξυπνες εφαρμογές αποτελούν στις μέρες μας αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι της καθημερινότητας μας, από τα κινητά και τους υπολογιστές μέχρι και τα ψυγεία και άλλες συσκευές καθημερινής χρήσης, με απεριόριστες δυνατότητες επέκτασης στο μέλλον. Με αφορμή τις εφαρμογές τεχνητής νοημοσύνης στην καθημερινή μας ζωή (π.χ. Siri, Cortana, Google Assistant) αποφασίσαμε να δημιουργήσουμε μια πρωτόγονη μορφή τεχνητής νοημοσύνης, προγράμματος δηλαδή που να λαμβάνει αποφάσεις βασισμένο σε δεδομένα που δόθηκαν σε κάποια προηγούμενη χρονική στιγμή, με τη χρήση της υψηλού επιπέδου γλώσσας προγραμματισμού Java. Το πρόγραμμα μας, Remin, στοχεύει τόσο στη βελτιστοποίηση του εβδομαδιαίου προγράμματος του χρήστη όσο και στην έγκαιρη ενημέρωση του για τις επικείμενες δραστηριότητες του. Με την κατάλληλη αποθήκευση του προγράμματος του χρήστη σε βάση δεδομένων έγινε επιτρεπτή η χρήση τους για τη λήψη αποφάσεων, ενώ η συγγραφή του κώδικά της εφαρμογής έγινε με χρήση της αντικειμενοστραφούς γλώσσας προγραμματισμού Java. Σκοπός της συγκεκριμένης εφαρμογής είναι η μελέτη των δυνατοτήτων της τεχνητής νοημοσύνης και οι μελλοντικές της εφαρμογές στον μέλλον, στην καθημερινότηταμας. Για να το επιτύχουμε αυτό θα μελετήσουμε σύγχρονες μορφές τεχνητής νοημοσύνης, και θα δούμε σε ποιό στάδιο έχει εξελιχτεί αυτή τη στιγμή ο κλάδος αυτός, καθώς και τα σχέδια που υπάρχουν για μελλοντικές καινοτομίες. Με αυτό τον τρόπο θα φτάσουμε σε ένα συμπέρασμα για τα όρια που μπορεί να φτάσει κανείς μέσω της τεχνητής νοημοσύνης και αν είναι εφικτή η κατασκευή ρομπότ με εντελώς ανθρώπινη συμπεριφορά. Τα αποτελέσματα αναμένεται να είναι θετικά, αλλά όχι στο εγγύς μέλλον.
Πτυσάγωνα
Authors: Παπάρας Δημήτριος , Πούλος Ανδρέας
Published: July 2020

Πολλές φορές εμφανίζονται από το πουθενά στον κόσμο των μαθηματικών ορισμένα αντικείμενα τα οποία παρουσιάζουν ορισμένες αξιοπερίεργες ιδιότητες και καταφέρουν να λάβουν την θέση τους στον κόσμο. Ένα ιδιαίτερο κομμάτι των μαθηματικών είναι τα πτυσάγωνα (αγγλ. Flexagons). Ανήκει στην κατηγορία των ψυχαγωγικών μαθηματικών (αγγλ. Recreational Mathematics) όπως ανήκουν στην ίδια π.χ. τα μαγικά τετράγωνα. Είναι κατασκευές από χαρτί οι οποίες έχουν την ιδιότητα να αναδιπλώνονται. Ανακαλύφθηκαν, όπως και πολλά άλλα, σε ένα μεγάλο πανεπιστήμιο του εξωτερικού, το Πρίνστον. Έκτοτε πολλοί μαθηματικοί έχουν ασχοληθεί με το παρόν κατασκεύασμα και προσπάθησαν να ανακαλύψουν πτυχές της θεωρίας που το διέπει. Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η παρουσίαση και εισαγωγή των Πτυσαγώνων στην ελληνική βιβλιογραφία, η εμβάθυνση στις χαρακτηριστικές ιδιότητες των πτυσαγώνων εξαγωνικής μορφής και ο γενικός τρόπος κατασκευής τους. Αυτό θα επιτευχθεί μέσω της βιβλιογραφικής έρευνας και της κατασκευής πτυσαγώνων ώστε να γίνει κατανοητή η αρχή λειτουργίας τους.
A hands-on introduction to querying evolutionary relationships across multiple data sources using SPARQL
Authors: Sima Ana Claudia , Dessimoz Christophe , Stockinger Kurt , Zahn-Zabal Monique , Mendes de Farias Tarcisio
Published: July 2020

The increasing use of Semantic Web technologies in the life sciences, in particular the use of the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and the RDF query language SPARQL, opens the path for novel integrative analyses, combining information from multiple data sources. However, analyzing evolutionary data in RDF is not trivial, due to the steep learning curve required to understand both the data models adopted by different RDF data sources, as well as the equivalent SPARQL constructs required to benefit from this data – in particular, recursive property paths. In this article, we provide a hands-on introduction to querying evolutionary data across several data sources that publish orthology information in RDF, namely: The Orthologous MAtrix (OMA), the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) RDF platform, the Database of Orthologous Groups (OrthoDB) and the Microbial Genome Database (MBGD). We present four protocols in increasing order of complexity. In these protocols, we demonstrate through SPARQL queries how to retrieve pairwise orthologs, homologous groups, and hierarchical orthologous groups. Finally, we show how orthology information in different data sources can be compared, through the use of federated SPARQL queries.
All thresholds of maternal hyperglycaemia from the WHO 2013 criteria for gestational diabetes identify women with a higher genetic risk for type 2 diabetes
Authors: Hughes Alice E. , Hayes M. Geoffrey , Egan Aoife M. , Patel Kashyap A. , Scholtens Denise M. , Lowe Lynn P. , Lowe Jr William L. , Dunne Fidelma P. , Hattersley Andrew T. , Freathy Rachel M.
Published: July 2020

Background: Using genetic scores for fasting plasma glucose (FPG GS) and type 2 diabetes (T2D GS), we investigated whether the fasting, 1-hour and 2-hour glucose thresholds from the WHO 2013 criteria for gestational diabetes (GDM) have different implications for genetic susceptibility to raised fasting glucose and type 2 diabetes in women from the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) and Atlantic Diabetes in Pregnancy (DIP) studies.

Methods: Cases were divided into three subgroups: (i) FPG ≥5.1 mmol/L only, n=222; (ii) 1-hour glucose post 75 g oral glucose load ≥10 mmol/L only, n=154 (iii) 2-hour glucose ≥8.5 mmol/L only, n=73; and (iv) both FPG ≥5.1 mmol/L and either of a 1-hour glucose ≥10 mmol/L or 2-hour glucose ≥8.5 mmol/L, n=172. We compared the FPG and T2D GS of these groups with controls (n=3,091) in HAPO and DIP separately.

Results: In HAPO and DIP, the mean FPG GS in women with a FPG ≥5.1 mmol/L, either on its own or with 1-hour glucose ≥10 mmol/L or 2-hour glucose ≥8.5 mmol/L, was higher than controls (all P <0.01). Mean T2D GS in women with a raised FPG alone or with either a raised 1-hour or 2-hour glucose was higher than controls (all P <0.05). GDM defined by 1-hour or 2-hour hyperglycaemia only was also associated with a higher T2D GS than controls (all P <0.05).

Conclusions: The different diagnostic categories that are part of the WHO 2013 criteria for GDM identify women with a genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes as well as a risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Artificial intelligence, legal system and state functions
Authors: Bratko Aleksandr
Published: July 2020

The monograph deals with methodological problems of embedding artificial intelligence in the legal system taking into account the laws of society. Describes the properties of the rule of law as a Microsystem in subsystems of law and methods of its fixation in the system of law and logic of legal norms. Is proposed and substantiated the idea of creating specifically for artificial intelligence, separate and distinct, unambiguous normative system, parallel to the principal branches of law is built on the logic of the four-membered structure of legal norms. Briefly discusses some of the theory of law as an instrument of methodology of modelling of the legal system and its semantic codes in order to function properly an artificial intelligence. The ways of application of artificial intelligence in the functioning of the state.
For students and teachers and all those interested in issues of artificial intelligence from the point of view of law.
Evidence of the effect of winning or losing in levels of anger and anxiety in judo fighters
Authors: Páez Ardila Héctor Andrés , Lopes Campos Italo Sergio , Gouveia Jr. Amauri
Published: July 2020

Aggression is a behavior that involves a simultaneous activation of physiological, biochemical, neurological and behavioral components and emotions, such as anxiety and anger. In humans, sports can be considered as a form of display because they allow aggression to be expressed with a low probability of permanent damage to subjects. The competitions have been used as models to evaluate the activation produced by its different stages, such as the outcome of the combat. Judo has been used as a model of competitive aggression to evaluate the different body responses in agonistic behaviors in humans, since it offers a context to those studied in animal fights. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of win / lose in the levels of anger and anxiety in regional judo fighters, male, linked to the Pará Federation of Judo, Brazil. The STAXI and STAI psychometric scales were used, and their results were compared with those of the general population of Brazil and used in a correlation analysis to know the interaction between the components of the scales with the total number of strikes, using a pre/post fight evaluation and the filming of the fights. Differences were found between winners and losers, statistically significant (p <0.05). Losers had higher levels of anger, while anxiety was higher for the winners. Being that, judo is a means of competition, in which such behaviors can be expressed in a socially accepted way.
O que é família para você? Opinião de crianças sobre o conceito de família
Authors: Tavares Ilana Landim , Banaco Roberto Alves , Borsa Juliane Callegaro
Published: July 2020

As diferentes configurações familiares são parte da sociedade contemporânea e resultam em mudanças nas concepções de famílias existentes na sociedade, inclusive para as crianças. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as concepções de famílias segundo o relato verbal de crianças. Participaram dessa amostra 108 crianças, com idades entre cinco e 12 anos (M= 8,58; DP= 1,54), residentes na cidade do Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Foi realizada a seguinte pergunta a cada uma delas: “O que é uma família para você?”. As respostas foram armazenadas em formato de texto e áudio a fim de serem realizadas uma análise lexical com o uso do software IRaMuTeQ e uma análise de conteúdo, segundo proposta de Bardin. Os resultados indicaram que não houve por parte das crianças uma total inclusão de novos modelos familiares. Observou-se, no entanto, que as famílias já são reconhecidas pelas crianças do ponto de vista do afeto e de funções associadas ao cuidado e proteção.Palavras-chaves: famílias; concepções; crianças.
Estabilidad semántica en la producción de atributos semánticos entre adultos mayores y adultos jóvenes
Authors: Vivas Jorge Ricardo , Martinez Sandra , Krzemien Deisy , Lizarralde Francisco
Published: July 2020

En los últimos años se ha producido una profusa investigación en torno al tema de la memoria semántica en la vejez. En ese marco el presente trabajo abordó la producción de atributos semánticos y las variaciones en la fluencia verbal en el envejecimiento cognitivo normal. Existen numerosos estudios sobre fluencia, pero son exiguos los estudios que comparan la distancia semántica entre conceptos en poblaciones de jóvenes y de mayores de una misma región. El objeto de este trabajo es comparar y analizar la distancia y la riqueza semántica por medio de la fluencia, dada para 130 conceptos por 90 adultos mayores de 65 años cognitivamente conservados, con los atributos producidos por 90 adultos jóvenes, tal como se hallan en las Normas de Producción de Atributos Semánticos en Español. Los atributos semánticos fueron empíricamente colectados en forma escrita y corresponden a las categorías de seres vivos y no vivos. Se encuentran diferencias significativas en fluencia verbal y convergencia en la constitución semántica entre los conceptos dados por ambos grupos etarios.Palabras clave: Atributos. Distancia Semántica. Fluencia Verbal. Adultos Mayores. Adultos Jóvenes