bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conceptual radar trap model realized via polarization conversion metasurface
Authors: Yang Jiaji , Guo Yuhui , Pan Wenhui , Gong Rongzhou
Published: December 2021

General metasurfaces (MSs) can realize low observability of radar by manipulating the polarization mode and transmission direction of the electromagnetic (EM) waves. Here, we propose the radar trap model to realize EM wave imprisonment. This three-layer model is composed of the transmission polarization converter, the connected dielectric substrate and the reflection polarization converter. Using Jones calculation as a guide, we optimized the geometric parameters of the upper and lower layers to realize specific polarization conversion functions. The middle layer is regarded as the support and matching layer. On this basis, the combined radar trap model can realize the imprisonment of EM waves between upper and lower layers, which is attributed to the cooperative effect of asymmetric transmission and polarization conversion. We further verified the feasibility and correctness of our investigations through two kinds of model designs based on linear and circular polarization conversion mechanisms. Good agreements are observed between simulation and experiment. Even though the design presents a narrow operating bandwidth, it still provides novel ideas for developing radar stealth technology.
Light transport and localization in disordered aperiodic Mathieu lattices
Authors: Vasiljević Jadranka M. , Zannotti Alessandro , Timotijević Dejan V. , Denz Cornelia , Jović Savić Dragana M.
Published: December 2021

Complex optical systems such as deterministic aperiodic Mathieu lattices are known to hinder light diffraction in a manner comparable to randomized optical systems. We systematically incorporate randomness in our complex optical system, measuring its relative contribution of randomness, to understand the relationship between randomness and complexity. We introduce an experimental method for the realization of disordered aperiodic Mathieu lattices with numerically controlled disorder degree. Added disorder always enhances light transport. For lower disorder degrees, we observe diffusive-like transport, and in the range of highest light transport, we detect Anderson localization. With further increase of disorder degree, light transport is slowly decreasing and localization length decreases indicating more pronounced Anderson localization. Numerical investigation at longer propagation distances indicates that the threshold of Anderson localization detection is shifted to lower disorder degrees.
Die Rolle von 3D-Modellen im Wertschöpfungsprozess von physischen und virtuellen Konsumgütern
Authors: Korbel Jakob J. , Zarnekow Rüdiger
Published: December 2021

Die Rolle von 3D-Modellen hat sich für Unternehmen, die sich auf die Wertschöpfung im Bereich der physischen und virtuellen Konsumgüter konzentrieren, in den vergangenen Jahren erheblich verändert. Für herstellende und Handelsunternehmen stellen virtuelle Produkte heute für die Entwicklung und den Vertrieb von physischen Gütern ein essenzielles Medium dar, wobei vermehrt auf virtuelle Umgebungen basierend auf Augmented und Virtual Reality zurückgegriffen wird. Eine Vielzahl an Spieleentwicklern hingegen generiert einen maßgeblichen Teil ihrer Einnahmen nicht mehr durch den Vertrieb ihrer Software, sondern den Verkauf von virtuellen Gütern in ihren Spieleumgebungen. Ziel der Studie ist es, basierend auf einer Literaturanalyse, die Rolle von 3D-Modellen in den Wertschöpfungsprozessen beider Domänen zu beschreiben sowie die durch die beschriebenen Trends entstandenen Ähnlichkeiten und Unterschiede in den Prozessen zu identifizieren, die Möglichkeiten zur Kooperation und dem Austausch von Wissen bieten. Die Ergebnisse implizieren, dass durch den Einsatz von 3D-Modellen über den gesamten Wertschöpfungsprozess neue 3D-Modell-Arten entstanden sind, die mit ihren jeweiligen Abhängigkeiten in einem Wertschöpfungsprozessmodell festgehalten sind. Zudem zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass nicht-funktionale Attribute von 3D-Modellen von zunehmender Bedeutung sind, die Nutzer eine tragende Rolle in den Wertschöpfungsprozessen spielen und sich Möglichkeiten zur Kooperation hinsichtlich der Erstellung von Augmented und Virtual Reality Umgebungen, der Produktion voneinander abhängiger Güter und dem Austausch von 3D-Modellen basierend auf virtuellen Assets ergeben.
Environmental predictors of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) sputum positivity among persons with cystic fibrosis in the state of Florida
Authors: Foote Sydney L. , Lipner Ettie M. , Prevots D. Rebecca , Ricotta Emily E.
Published: December 2021

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are opportunistic human pathogens that are commonly found in soil and water, and exposure to these organisms may cause pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. Persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at high risk for developing pulmonary NTM infections, and studies have shown that prolonged exposure to certain environments can increase the risk of pulmonary NTM. It is therefore important to determine the risk associated with different geographic areas. Using annualized registry data obtained from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry for 2010 through 2017, we conducted a geospatial analysis of NTM infections among persons with CF in Florida. A Bernoulli model in SaTScan was used to identify clustering of ZIP codes with higher than expected numbers of NTM culture positive individuals. Generalized linear mixed models with a binomial distribution were used to test the association of environmental variables and NTM culture positivity. We identified a significant cluster of M. abscessus and predictors of NTM sputum positivity, including annual precipitation and soil mineral levels.
Serum supplementation during bovine embryo culture affects their development and proliferation through macroautophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress regulation
Authors: Soto-Moreno Edgar Joel , Balboula Ahmed , Spinka Christine , Rivera Rocío Melissa
Published: December 2021

Serum supplementation during bovine embryo culture has been demonstrated to promote cell proliferation and preimplantation embryo development. However, these desirable outcomes, have been associated with gene expression alterations of pathways involved in macroautophagy, growth, and development at the blastocyst stage, as well as with developmental anomalies such as fetal overgrowth and placental malformations. In order to start dissecting the molecular pathways by which serum supplementation of the culture medium during the preimplantation stage promotes developmental abnormalities, we examined blastocyst morphometry, inner cell mass and trophectoderm cell allocations, macroautophagy, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. On day 5 post-insemination, > 16 cells embryos were selected and cultured in medium containing 10% serum or left as controls. Embryo diameter, inner cell mass and trophectoderm cell number, and macroautophagy were measured on day 8 blastocysts (BL) and expanded blastocysts (XBL). On day 5 and day 8, we assessed transcript level of the ER stress markers HSPA5, ATF4, MTHFD2, and SHMT2 as well as XBP1 splicing (a marker of the unfolded protein response). Serum increased diameter and proliferation of embryos when compared to the no-serum group. In addition, serum increased macroautophagy of BL when compared to controls, while the opposite was true for XBL. None of the genes analyzed was differentially expressed at any stage, except that serum decreased HSPA5 in day 5 > 16 cells stage embryos. XBP1 splicing was decreased in BL when compared to XBL, but only in the serum group. Our data suggest that serum rescues delayed embryos by alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress and promotes development of advanced embryos by decreasing macroautophagy.
Using topic modelling for unsupervised annotation of electronic health records to identify an outbreak of disease in UK dogs
Authors: Noble Peter-John Mäntylä , Appleton Charlotte , Radford Alan David , Nenadic Goran
Published: December 2021

A key goal of disease surveillance is to identify outbreaks of known or novel diseases in a timely manner. Such an outbreak occurred in the UK associated with acute vomiting in dogs between December 2019 and March 2020. We tracked this outbreak using the clinical free text component of anonymised electronic health records (EHRs) collected from a sentinel network of participating veterinary practices. We sourced the free text (narrative) component of each EHR supplemented with one of 10 practitioner-derived main presenting complaints (MPCs), with the ‘gastroenteric’ MPC identifying cases involved in the disease outbreak. Such clinician-derived annotation systems can suffer from poor compliance requiring retrospective, often manual, coding, thereby limiting real-time usability, especially where an outbreak of a novel disease might not present clinically as a currently recognised syndrome or MPC. Here, we investigate the use of an unsupervised method of EHR annotation using latent Dirichlet allocation topic-modelling to identify topics inherent within the clinical narrative component of EHRs. The model comprised 30 topics which were used to annotate EHRs spanning the natural disease outbreak and investigate whether any given topic might mirror the outbreak time-course. Narratives were annotated using the Gensim Library LdaModel module for the topic best representing the text within them. Counts for narratives labelled with one of the topics significantly matched the disease outbreak based on the practitioner-derived ‘gastroenteric’ MPC (Spearman correlation 0.978); no other topics showed a similar time course. Using artificially injected outbreaks, it was possible to see other topics that would match other MPCs including respiratory disease. The underlying topics were readily evaluated using simple word-cloud representations and using a freely available package (LDAVis) providing rapid insight into the clinical basis of each topic. This work clearly shows that unsupervised record annotation using topic modelling linked to simple text visualisations can provide an easily interrogable method to identify and characterise outbreaks and other anomalies of known and previously un-characterised diseases based on changes in clinical narratives.
Efficacy and safety of a thermosensitive hydrogel for endoscopic submucosal dissection: An in vivo swine study
Authors: Jeon Han Jo , Choi Hyuk Soon , Bang Eun Ju , Lee Kang Won , Kim Sang Hyun , Lee Jae Min , Kim Eun Sun , Keum Bora , Tae Jeen Yoon , Lee Hong Sik , Chun Hoon Jai , Jeong Seung , Kim Jong Hyuk
Published: December 2021

Injectable thermo-sensitive chitosan hydrogels have recently been developed for the use of submucosal fluids in endoscopic submucosal dissections (ESD). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of chitosan hydrogels during ESD. Submucosal fluids were administered as follows: 0.9% normal saline (NS), 0.4% hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan/β-glycerophosphate (CS/GP) hydrogel. Each solution was administered twice into the stomach and colon of a pig, with a total of 72 ESD procedures performed on 12 pigs. The injected volume and procedure-related parameters were recorded and analyzed. ESDs that created ulcers after 7 days were histologically compared. All ESD specimens were resected en bloc. The total injected volumes during ESD of the stomach (NS, 16.09±3.27 vs. HA, 11.17±2.32 vs. CS/GP, 9.44±2.33; p<0.001) and colon (NS, 9.17±1.80 vs. HA, 6.67±1.50 vs. CS/GP, 6.75±1.57; p = 0.001) were significantly different. Hydrogel showed significant differences from normal saline in terms of fluid power (mm2/vol; NS, 35.70±9.00 vs. CS/GP 57.48±20.77; p = 0.001) and consumption rate (vol/min; NS, 2.59±0.86 vs. CS/GP, 1.62±0.65; p = 0.013) in the stomach. Histological examination revealed preserved muscularis propria, although the chitosan hydrogel resulted in a partial inflammatory response, with a hypertrophied submucosal layer. Chitosan hydrogel was found to be superior to normal saline, with an efficacy similar to that of hyaluronic acid. Nonetheless, long-term histological changes should be evaluated before clinical implementation.
Filaggrin gene polymorphisms are associated with atopic dermatitis in women but not in men in the Caucasian population of Central Russia
Authors: Dvornyk Volodymyr , Ponomarenko Irina , Belyaeva Tatyana , Reshetnikov Evgeny , Churnosov Mikhail
Published: December 2021

Background and purpose

This study aimed to analyze the gender-specific association of the filaggrin (FLG) gene polymorphisms with atopic dermatitis (AD) in Caucasians from the central region of Russia.

Methods

The study sample consisted of 906 female (including 474 patients with AD and 432 controls) and 406 male (such as 226 patients with AD and 180 controls) participants. Genotyping of ten polymorphisms of the FLG gene was done. The logistic regression was used to analyze the associations. A total of 125 SNPs (seven AD-associated SNPs and 118 proxy SNPs, r2≥0.8) FLG gene were used for the in silico functional annotation analysis in the females.

Results

Significant associations were identified between seven SNPs of the FLG gene (rs12130219, rs61816761, rs558269137, rs12144049, rs3126085, rs471144, rs6661961) and AD in females: rs12144049 was associated independent individually (for allele C OR = 1.71, 95%Сl 1.19–2.46, рperm = 0.004 and OR = 1.76, 95%Сl 1.18–2.63, рperm = 0.006 according to the additive and dominant genetic models, respectively) and seven SNPs of the FLG gene within 14 haplotypes. Haplotype GGT [rs61816761-rs3126085-rs12144049] showed the strongest association (OR = 0.55, рperm = 0.001). No association between the analyzed SNPs and AD was determined in the male group. The subsequent bioinformatic analysis predicted the SNPs of the FLG gene that possessed epigenetic and non-synonymous effects, were involved in the control of gene expression and alternative splicing of genes that contribute to AD pathophysiology.

Conclusion

Polymorphisms of the FLG gene are associated with AD in females but not in males in the Caucasian population of Central Russia.
Prediction of quality attributes (mechanical strength, disintegration behavior and drug release) of tablets on the basis of characteristics of granules prepared by high shear wet granulation
Authors: Khan Amjad
Published: December 2021

High shear wet granulation is commonly applied technique for commercial manufacturing of tablets. Granulation process for tablets manufacturing is generally optimized by hit and trial which involves preparation of granules under different processing parameters, compression of granules and evaluation of the resultant tablets; and adjustment is made in granulation process on the basis of characteristics of tablets. Objective of the study was to optimize the process of high shear wet granulation and prediction of characteristics of tablets on the basis of properties of granules. Atenolol granules were prepared by high shear wet granulation method, using aqueous solution of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP k-30) as binder. Concentration of binder solution and granulation time were taken as process variables, both studied at three levels. Different combinations of process variables were determined by Design Expert software. Granules were evaluated for different parameters on the basis of SeDeM-ODT (Sediment Delivery Model-Oro Dispersible Tablets) expert system. Granules from all the trials were compressed using round (10.5 mm) flat faced punches at compression weight of 250 mg/tablet. Tablets were evaluated of different quality control parameters as per USP. Results showed that both the process variables had positive effect on mechanical strength of tablets and negative effect on disintegration and dissolution rate. Granule prepared with highest level of binder concentration (15%) and highest granulation time (60 sec) resulted in tablets with highest crushing strength (11.8 kg), specific crushing strength (0.328 kg/mm2), tensile strength (0.208 kg/mm2), lowest value of friability (0.19%) and highest disintegration time (10.9 min), as predicted from granules characteristics on the basis of SeDeM-ODT expert system. Drug release from Trial-13 (processed under highest level of both process parameters) was also lower than rest of the trials. It is concluded from the study that quality characteristics of tablets can be predicted from granules characteristics using SeDeM-ODT expert system. Furthermore, SeDeM-ODT expert system can also be used for optimization of the process of high shear wet granulation.
Age-related mortality in 61,993 confirmed COVID-19 cases over three epidemic waves in Aragon, Spain. Implications for vaccination programmes
Authors: Casas-Deza Diego , Bernal-Monterde Vanesa , Aranda-Alonso Angel Nicolás , Montil-Miguel Enrique , Julián-Gomara Ana Belen , Letona-Giménez Laura , Arbones-Mainar Jose M.
Published: December 2021

Background

Risk for severe COVID-19 increases with age. Different vaccination strategies are currently being considered, including those aimed at slowing down transmission and those aimed at providing direct protection to those most at risk.

Methods

The objectives of the current study were i) to assess age-related incidence and survival between PCR-diagnosed COVID-19 cases (n = 61,993) in the Autonomous Community of Aragon from March to November 2020, and ii) to characterize age differences regarding the course of the disease in hospitalized patients in a tertiary university hospital.

Results

We found a similar incidence of COVID-19 in individuals between 10 and 79 years. Incidence increased in those over 80 years possibly because of the elevated transmission within the nursing homes. We observed a profound disparity among age groups; case fatality rates (CFRs) were near 0 in cases younger than 39 years throughout different waves. In contrast, there was an age-dependent and progressive increase in the CFRs, especially during the first pandemic wave. SARS-CoV-2 infection caused a more severe and rapid progression in older patients. The elderly required faster hospitalization, presented more serious symptoms on admission, and had a worse clinical course. Hospitalized older individuals, even without comorbidities, had an increased mortality risk directly associated with their age. Lastly, the existence of comorbidities dramatically increased the CFRs in the elderly, especially in males.

Conclusion

The elevated incidence of COVID-19 and the vulnerability of the elderly call for their prioritization in vaccination and targeted prevention measures specifically focused on this aged population.
Reoperation rates for recurrence of fibroids after abdominal myomectomy in women with large uterus
Authors: Kramer Katherine J. , Ottum Sarah , Gonullu Damla , Bell Capricia , Ozbeki Hanna , Berman Jay M. , Recanati Maurice-Andre
Published: December 2021

Background

The population of women undergoing abdominal myomectomy for symptomatic large fibroid uterus is unique. We seek to characterize the timing, risk factors as well as the presenting symptoms which led patients to undergo repeat surgery in this patient population.

Methods and findings

We followed 592 patients who underwent an abdominal myomectomy from March 1998 to June 2010 at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center and presented later during the study period with a recurrence of symptoms attributable to a reemergence of fibroids and who chose to undergo repeat surgical management. Twelve percent of patients exhibited symptoms of fibroid uterus which led to reoperation within the study period. The mean age at repeat surgery was 44.1 ± 0.6 years old (n = 69) and the mean time between operations was 7.9 ± 0.3 years. Presentation was variable but included bleeding, pain and infertility. Patients presented for surgery with a significantly smaller sized uterus than at their initial surgery. Timing between surgeries correlated with age at initial surgery and uterine size but race, number of fibroids, aggregate weight of fibroids removed, operative time or blood loss at the initial surgery did not correlate. Data is suggestive that intraperitoneal triamcinolone may reduce reoperation rates but not timing of recurrence.

Conclusion

These results may help in counseling patients, particularly younger women, on the risks of fibroid recurrence necessitating repeat surgery. Further research is necessary to assess if triamcinolone can alter fibroid reurrence in patients who undergo uterus sparing procedures.
An adaptive under-frequency optimal control strategy for power system combined pumped storage and under-frequency load shedding
Authors: Huang Wentao , Yu Jinman , Yuan Zhijun , He Zhongwei , He Jun , Deng Minghui
Published: December 2021

With the construction and development of ultra-high voltage (UHV) power grids, large-scale, long-distance power transmission has become common. A failure of the connecting line between the sending-end power grid and the receiving-end power grid will cause a large-scale power shortage and a frequency drop in the receiving-end power grid, which can result in the frequency collapse. Presently, under-frequency load shedding (UFLS) is adopted for solving the frequency control problem in emergency under-frequency conditions, which can easily cause large load losses. In this context, a frequency coordination optimal control strategy is proposed, which combines the mode transition of pumped storage units with UFLS to deal with emergency under-frequency problems. First, a mathematical model of the frequency dynamic response is established, which combines the mode transition of pumped storage units with UFLS based on a single-machine equivalent model. Then, an optimal model of the minimal area of the power system’s operation frequency trajectory is introduced, yielding the optimal frequency trajectory, and is used for obtaining the action frequency of the joint control strategy. A simulated annealing algorithm based on the perturbation analysis is proposed for solving the optimal model, and the optimal action frequency is obtained that satisfies the transient frequency offset safety constraint of the power system. Thus, the joint optimal control of the mode transition of the pumped storage units and UFLS is realized. Finally, the EPRI-36 bus system and China’s actual power grid are considered, for demonstrating the efficiency of the proposed strategy.
Untangling the roles of RNA helicases in antiviral innate immunity
Authors: Baldaccini Morgane , Pfeffer Sébastien
Published: December 2021

One of the first layers of protection that metazoans put in place to defend themselves against viruses rely on the use of proteins containing DExD/H-box helicase domains. These members of the duplex RNA–activated ATPase (DRA) family act as sensors of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules, a universal marker of viral infections. DRAs can be classified into 2 subgroups based on their mode of action: They can either act directly on the dsRNA, or they can trigger a signaling cascade. In the first group, the type III ribonuclease Dicer plays a key role to activate the antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) pathway by cleaving the viral dsRNA into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). This represents the main innate antiviral immune mechanism in arthropods and nematodes. Even though Dicer is present and functional in mammals, the second group of DRAs, containing the RIG-I-like RNA helicases, appears to have functionally replaced RNAi and activate type I interferon (IFN) response upon dsRNA sensing. However, recent findings tend to blur the frontier between these 2 mechanisms, thereby highlighting the crucial and diverse roles played by RNA helicases in antiviral innate immunity. Here, we will review our current knowledge of the importance of these key proteins in viral infection, with a special focus on the interplay between the 2 main types of response that are activated by dsRNA.
SV40T reprograms Schwann cells into stem-like cells that can re-differentiate into terminal nerve cells
Authors: Li Rui-Fang , Nan Guo-Xin , Wang Dan , Gao Chang , Yang Juan , He Tong-Chuan , Zhang Zhong-Lin
Published: December 2021

Background: The specific effect of SV40T on neurocytes has seldom been investigated by the researchers. We transfected Schwann cells (SCs) that did not have differentiation ability with MPH 86 plasmid containing SV40T, in order to explore the effects of SV40T on Schwann cells. Methods: SCs were transfected with MPH 86 plasmid carrying the SV40T gene and cultured in different media, and also co-cultured with neural stem cells (NSCs). In our study, SCs overexpressing SV40T were defined as SV40T-SCs. The proliferation of these cells was detected by WST-1, and the expression of different biomarkers was analyzed by qPCR and immunohistochemistry.Results: SV40T induced the characteristics of NSCs, such as the ability to grow in suspension, form spheroid colonies and proliferate rapidly, in the SCs, which were reversed by knocking out SV40T by the Flip-adenovirus. In addition, SV40T up-regulated the expressions of neural crest-associated markers Nestin, Pax3 and Slug, and down-regulated S100b as well as the markers of mature SCs MBP, GFAP and Olig1/2. These cells also expressed NSC markers like Nestin, Sox2, CD133 and SSEA-1, as well as early development markers of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) like BMP4, c-Myc, OCT4 and Gbx2. Co-culturing with NSCs induced differentiation of the SV40T-SCs into neuronal and glial cells. Conclusions: SV40T reprograms Schwann cells to stem-like cells at the stage of neural crest cells (NCCs) that can differentiate to neurocytes.
Spatial distribution of blood vessels in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane
Authors: Guidolin Diego , Tamma Roberto , Annese Tiziana , Tortorella Cinzia , Ribatti Domenico
Published: December 2021

The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a useful tool with which to study both angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis in vivo. CAM vascular growth pattern - including the way through vessels fills the available space - can be quite easily described and quantified using image analysis procedures, in order to evaluate different parameters, including fractal dimension, lacunarity and non-fractal order-disorder parameters. In the present study, we further expanded this morphological description, by estimating an index expressing the degree of symmetry characterizing the CAM vascular tree structure in the course of the embryonic development. Moreover, a uniformity index was estimated quantitatively to characterize the space-filling features of the vessels, i.e. the degree of spatial uniformity of their distribution in the tissue.
Keratinocyte differentiation and proteolytic pathways in skin (patho) physiology
Authors: Zingkou Eleni , Pampalakis Georgios , Sotiropoulou Georgia
Published: December 2021

The epidermis is a stratified epithelium that forms the barrier between the organism and its environment. It is mainly composed of keratinocytes at various stages of differentiation. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis and is formed of multiple layers of anucleated keratinocytes called corneocytes. We aim to highlight the roles of epidermal differentiation and proteolysis in skin diseases. Skin biopsies isolated from Spink5-/- mice, the established model of Netherton syndrome (NS), and from patients with NS, seborrheic dermatitis (SD) and psoriasis, as well as healthy controls, were analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that NS, SD, and psoriasis are all characterized by abnormal epidermal differentiation, manifested by hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, and parakeratosis. At the molecular level, abnormal differentiation is accompanied by increased expression of involucrin and decreased expression of loricrin in NS and psoriasis. Increased epidermal proteolysis associated with increased kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) expression is also observed in both NS and psoriatic epidermis. Furthermore, reduced expression of desmosomal proteins is observed in NS, but increased in psoriasis. Since desmosomal proteins are proteolytic substrates and control keratinocyte differentiation, their altered expression directly links epidermal proteolysis to differentiation. In conclusion, abnormal cellular differentiation and proteolysis are interconnected and underlie the pathology of NS, SD and psoriasis.
Vascular Endothelial (VE)-cadherin-mediated adherens junctions involvement in cardiovascular progenitor cell specification
Authors: Maltabe Violetta , Kouklis Panos
Published: December 2021

Vascular Endothelial cadherin, a type II classical cadherin, is the major cadherin molecule participating in homotypic cell-cell adhesion structures between endothelial cells. It associates with cytoplasmic and membrane cytoskeletal elements to form endothelial adherens junctions (AJs), pivotal in regulating endothelial barrier function in the adult. VE-cadherin-mediated AJs are also involved in signaling via direct or indirect associations with receptors. The generation of mutant animals, especially mice and zebrafish, revealed many details concerning the role of VE-cadherin-mediated AJs in cardiovascular development. In general, VE-cadherin knockout (KO) in mice is embryonic lethal due to severe cardiovascular defects, and major signaling pathways as well as vascular formation cues were discovered in developing endothelium. However, there is little information regarding AJs formation and their components in cardiovascular progenitors. We have characterized in detail the activation pattern of mouse
VE-cadherin promoter (Pvec) in a mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) differentiation system in vitro. Surprisingly, we found that it is activated transiently in cardiac progenitors that belong to the second heart field. Based on Pvec activation, we isolated this population in vitro and found that it can self-renew by induction of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Next, we successfully established cell culture conditions that allowed self-renewal of this population that consists of endothelial and cardiac progenitors. Transplantation in rat hearts showed that they can survive and differentiate to cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. Although further characterization is needed, these cells can be used in cell-based therapies as well as in drug screening.
The development of MGE-derived cortical interneurons: An Lhx6 tale
Authors: Christodoulou Ourania , Maragkos Ioannis , Antonakou Vassiliki , Denaxa Myrto
Published: December 2021

The cerebral cortex contains two main neuronal cell populations: the excitatory pyramidal neurons and the inhibitory interneurons, which constitute 20-30% of all cortical neurons. Cortical interneurons are characterized by a remarkable morphological, molecular and functional diversity. A swathe of research activity over the last 20 years has sought to determine how cortical interneurons acquire their mature cellular and functional features, and has identified a number of transcription factors that function at different stages of interneuron development. Here, we review all current knowledge concerning the multiple functions of the “master regulator” - LIM-Homeodomain transcription factor Lhx6 - a gene expressed in the medial ganglionic eminence of the basal telencephalon that controls the development of somatostatin and parvalbumin expressing interneurons.
Repression of differentiation genes by Hes transcription factors fuels neural tumour growth in Drosophila
Authors: Voutyraki Chrysanthi , Choromidis Alexandros , Theodorou Vasiliki , Efraimoglou Christina , Anagnostopoulos Gerasimos , Magadi Srivathsa S. , Grammenoudi Sofia , Zacharioudaki Evanthia , Delidakis Christos
Published: December 2021

Background: Neural stem cells (NSC) in divide asymmetrically to generate one cell that retains stem cell identity and another that is routed to differentiation. Prolonged mitotic activity of the NSCs gives rise to the plethora of neurons and glial cells that wire the brain and nerve cord. Genetic insults, such as excess of Notch signaling, perturb the normal NSC proliferation programs and trigger the formation of NSC hyperplasias, which can subsequently progress to malignancies. Hes proteins are crucial mediators of Notch signaling, and in the NSC context they act by repressing a cohort of early pro-differentiation transcription factors. Downregulation of these pro-differentiation factors makes NSC progeny cells susceptible to adopting an aberrant stem cell program. We have recently shown that Hes overexpression in Drosophila leads to NSC hyperplasias that progress to malignant tumours after allografting to adult hosts. Methods: We have combined genetic analysis, tissue allografting and transcriptomic approaches to address the role of
Hes genes in NSC malignant transformation. Results: We show that the E (spl) genes are important mediators in the progression of Notch hyperplasias to malignancy, since allografts lacking the E (spl) genes grow much more slowly. We further present RNA profiling of Hes-induced tumours at two different stages after allografting. We find that the same cohort of differentiation-promoting transcription factors that are repressed in the primary hyperplasias continue to be downregulated after transplantation. This is accompanied by an upregulation of stress-response genes and metabolic reprogramming. Conclusions: The combination of dedifferentiation and cell physiology changes most likely drive tumour growth.
Expression of Hey marks a subset of enteroendocrine cells in the Drosophila embryonic and larval midgut
Authors: Skafida Emilia , Delidakis Christos , Monastirioti Maria
Published: December 2021

Hey is a conserved transcription factor of the bHLH-Orange family that participates in the response to Notch signaling in certain tissues. Whereas three Hey paralogues exist in mammalian genomes, Drosophila possesses a single Hey gene. Fly Hey is expressed in the subset of newborn neurons that receive a Notch signal to differentiate them from their sibling cells after the asymmetric division of precursors called ganglion-mother-cells. We used a polyclonal anti-Hey serum and a GFP-tagged transgenic duplication of the Hey locus to examine its expression in tissues outside the nervous system in embryos and larvae. We detected robust Hey expression in the embryonic midgut primordium at the time of birth of enteroendocrine cells, identified by expression of Prospero. Approximately half of the Pros-positive cells were also Hey positive at mid-embryogenesis. By the end of embryogenesis, most enteroendocrine cells had downregulated Hey expression, although it was still detectable at low levels after hatching. Low levels of Hey were also detected in subsets of the epithelial enterocytes at different times. Embryo enteroendocrine Hey expression was found to be Notch dependent. In late third-instar larvae, when few new enteroendocrine cells are born, novel Hey expression was detected in one cell of each sibling pair. In conclusion, Hey is strongly expressed in one of each pair of newly-born enteroendocrine cells. This is consistent with a hypothesis that embryonic enteroendocrine cells are born by an asymmetric division of a precursor, where Notch/Hey probably distinguish between the subtypes of these cells upon their differentiation.
Narrativa de las protagonistas trans en la teleserie Veneno
Authors: Cobo Durán Sergio , Otero Escudero Sofía
Published: December 2021

En este texto se estudia la construcción de las protagonistas trans en la teleserie Veneno (2020). Primero, se realiza un análisis semiótico de los personajes y su entorno centrado en tres niveles (persona, rol y actante). Posteriormente y tras una revisión bibliográfica se esboza una ficha de análisis que es aplicada en todos los episodios. Finalmente, se observan las características principales a través de un estudio apoyado en el análisis textual fílmico de escenas clave. Así, se concluye cómo la serie analizada, a excepción de ciertos aspectos positivos en el personaje de Valeria, perpetúa una construcción canónica del colectivo trans.
The specifics of the embodiment of a smile, laughter, mocker in creativity B. Kanapyanova
Authors: Baktybaeva Annel
Published: December 2021

The article analyzes the specifics of the embodiment of laughter, smiles, mocker in the works of the modern Russian-speaking Kazakh poet and writer B. Kanapyanov. The study uses a complex approach to analysis of a work of art. Smile, laughter and mocker in describing the appearance, actions of the heroes of the works is due not only to the subjective opinion of the author, but also to the whole concept of images, which are based on aesthetic, spiritual and moral ideals that have developed for millennia in the steppe culture of Kazakhs. The results showed that the derivatives of the comic (laughter, smile, mockery), firstly, play a key role in the poetics of Kazakh author’s works, being a catalyst for the most important motives (friendship, sympathy, joy, love, anger, hatred). Secondly, they are means of transmitting emotions, markers of the behavior of the lyrical hero, allowing us to understand what his real experiences are, i.e. perform a characterological function.
Perubahan Struktur Tematik dalam Penerjemahan
Authors: Arif Fudiyartanto Fuad
Published: December 2021

Every translator seeks to find the equivalence of the source text in terms of meaning and style. In practice, translators often need to change the structure of their translations. This kind of techniques or methods of translation is often called shift. Shift can occur in different levels, which can include a clause, sentence, or paragraph level. By analyzing students’ translation using the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistics by Halliday, this study finds several shifts in terms of theme-rheme classification and theme constituents. Shifts in theme-rheme classification can be categorized into: a) a change from rheme into theme, b) from theme into rheme, c) addition of textual theme, and d) deletion or omission of textual theme. In terms of theme constituents, shifts were found in four categories, namely a) shifts from a morpheme into a word, b) from a word into a phrase, c) from a phrase into a word, and d) from a clause into a word. These shifts have impacts on the meaning of the target texts as opposed to the source texts, at sentence or paragraph level.
A ‘curriculum moment’ for Adult and Community Education and Training: Acknowledging the voices and experiential knowledge of lecturers and students at community learning sites
Authors: Natheem Hendricks  , Kaylianne Aploon-Zokufa
Published: December 2021

Curriculum reform and development is, first and foremost, a political project. It involves the selection, organisation and distribution of particular knowledge structures. But factors such as student and teacher demographics deeply influence the ways in which curricula can be implemented, enacted and used as a catalyst for change. In South Africa, a particular ‘curriculum moment’ has emerged in the field of Adult and Community Education and Training (ACET) through the establishment of community colleges, along with the introduction of new educator qualifications for ACET. In this article, we draw on the reflective diary entries of student lecturers on an Advanced Diploma for Educators of Adults (ADEA) course who are lecturers at community learning sites, to reflect on this moment of curriculum construction in the development of a new Diploma in Adult and Community Education and Training (DipACET). The analysis shows that while curriculum reform is crucial to professionalising the field, it will have a very limited impact if the voices of the lecturers and students at community learning sites are marginalised in the process. These lecturers have experiential knowledge which sets them apart as crucial drivers of the curriculum. Moreover, they select and organise the content to be taught, determine how it is to be taught, and decide on the kinds of knowledge that should be privileged at sites where the curriculum is implemented. We also delineate what counts as valuable knowledge and for whom it is valuable in the field of adult and community education.
Evidences of Transformative Learning in Service-Learning Reflections
Authors: Hullender Ren , Hinck Shelly , Wood-Nartker Jeanneane , Burton Travus , Bowlby Sue
Published: December 2021

Abstract            A major shift in university course work involves activities outside the traditional classroom in which students are required to apply knowledge from the coursework in real-life service-learning environments. Such complex learning contexts generate a level of disequilibrium or anxiety that may or may not result in transformative learning.             This phenomenological study examined student reflective writings from an Honors service-learning course at a medium-sized mid-western university for evidences of transformative learning, the precipitating disequilibria, and the significant pedagogical structures underlying growth.            All students learned and all students encountered disquieting experiences; however, only half the participants exhibited varying levels of transformative learning.  Results indicate that transformative learning requires time, space, and appropriate scaffolding to develop or augment personal internal systems of adjusting what one thinks and how one thinks about new information and experiences.            The results further suggest that a framework of iterative service experiences, grounded in course content, readings, faculty-student-community dialogue, and continuous, thoughtfully designed, reflective practice can maximize transformative learning potentials. Future research should continue to explore how service-learning is experienced by individual participants and what contextual factors are essential for increasing the likelihood that transformative learning will occur.
Režimy správního práva
Authors: Staša Josef
Published: December 2021

The administrative law regime means a typical legal construction, which expresses the way of connecting an administrative law norm with this norm anticipated administrative law relationship through a certain legally significant fact. From the point of view of public administration addressees, it is appropriate to differ regimes of granting rights and regimes of imposing obligations primarily. Many regimes have a superstructure (secondary) nature, they assume the earlier existence of other (primary) rights and obligations. In addition to unilateral regimes, there are also bilateral or multilateral regimes of administrative law, which are an expression of cooperation in connection with the performance of public administration. From the point of view of public administration bodies, it is possible to distinguish several (administrative) regimes of exercise of their competence (powers). A kind of complement is the regimes that determine the boundaries of administrative regulation (between public law and civil law; between national law and European law). The application of some regimes or their combination typically results in the general administrative law concepts (= the tangles of administrative law norms cemented by the need and effort to solve certain idealized situations, deprived of their specific content). The research of administrative law regimes may perhaps contribute to a more plastic and systematic doctrinal characterization of material administrative law.
Vývoj důchodového pojištění na území dnešní ČR od počátku 20. století po současnost
Authors: Hrdý Milan
Published: December 2021

The article deals with the problems of pension insurance in the territory of today’s Czech Republic from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. The main principles of the development of the pension system in the given period were identified and the analysis was performed mainly in terms of the personal and material scope of insurance, insurance obligations, and briefly in terms of the organizational security of the pension system as well. This analysis was carried out in four selected periods. At the end of the article, the relevant findings from this historical development are summarized and with their use the author's own proposal for the development of the pension insurance system in the Czech Republic in the future is presented.
The hepatitis C epidemic in Canada: An overview of recent trends in surveillance, injection drug use, harm reduction and treatment
Authors: Lourenço Lillian , Kelly Marian , Tarasuk Jill , Stairs Kyla , Bryson Maggie , Popovic Nashira , Aho Josephine
Published: December 2021

Hepatitis C continues to be a significant public health concern in Canada, with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) responsible for more life-years lost than all other infectious diseases in Canada. An increase in reported hepatitis C infections was observed between 2014 and 2018. Here, we present changing epidemiological trends and discuss risk factors for hepatitis C acquisition in Canada that may have contributed to this increase in reported hepatitis C infections, focusing on injection drug use. We describe a decrease in the use of borrowed needles or syringes coupled with an increase in using other used injection drug use equipment. Also, an increased prevalence of injection drug use and use of prescription opioid and methamphetamine injection by people who inject drugs (PWID) may be increasing the risk of HCV acquisition. At the same time, while harm reduction coverage appears to have increased in Canada in recent years, gaps in access and coverage remain. We also consider how direct-acting antiviral (DAA) eligibility expansion may have affected hepatitis C rates from 2014 to 2018. Finally, we present new surveillance trends observed in 2019 and discuss how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may affect hepatitis C case counts from 2020 onwards. Continual efforts to i) enhance hepatitis C surveillance and ii) strengthen the reach, effectiveness, and adoption of hepatitis C prevention and treatment services across Canada are vital to reducing HCV transmission among PWID and achieving Canada’s HCV elimination targets by 2030.
Entre les moutons et les antivaxs : réactions des médias sociaux aux nouvelles sur les vaccins contre la COVID-19 publiées par les agences de presse canadiennes, et recommandations pour contrer l’hésitation à l’égard de la vaccination
Authors: Tang Lisa , Douglas Sabrina , Laila Amar
Published: December 2021

Contexte : Pour créer une initiative de santé publique réussie qui permet de contrer l’hésitation à l’égard de la vaccination et de promouvoir l’acceptation de la vaccination, il est essentiel d’acquérir une solide compréhension des croyances, des attitudes et des perceptions subjectives de la population à l’égard du risque. Méthodes : Une analyse qualitative du discours sur les vaccins contre la maladie à coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) provenant de 3 731 publications dans les médias sociaux sur les comptes Twitter et Facebook de six agences de presse canadiennes a été utilisée pour déterminer les perceptions, les attitudes, les croyances et les intentions des commentateurs dans les médias sociaux des agences de presse canadiennes à l’égard des vaccins contre la COVID-19. Résultats : Quatre principaux thèmes ont été dégagés : 1) préoccupations relatives à l’innocuité et à l’efficacité des vaccins contre la COVID-19; 2) théories de conspiration découlant de la méfiance à l’égard du gouvernement et d’autres organisations; 3) un vaccin contre la COVID-19 est inutile, parce que le virus n’est pas dangereux; et 4) la confiance dans les vaccins contre la COVID-19 comme solution sécuritaire. En se fondant sur les thèmes et les sous-thèmes, plusieurs recommandations clés en matière de communication ont été élaborées pour promouvoir l’acceptation des vaccins contre la COVID-19, notamment des infographies parrainées par la Santé publique qui mettent en évidence les avantages des vaccins pour ceux qui l’ont reçu, l’éducation du public au sujet du contenu et de l’innocuité des vaccins et l’établissement d’un lien émotionnel grâce aux histoires personnelles des personnes touchées par la COVID-19. Conclusion : Des considérations particulières, comme le fait de tirer parti de la confiance du public dans les professionnels de la santé pour agir comme liaison entre la santé publique et le public canadien afin de communiquer les avantages des vaccins contre la COVID-19 et ses variants pourraient aider à réduire l’hésitation à l’égard des vaccins contre la COVID-19.