Astrocytic β-catenin signaling via TCF7L2 regulates synapse development and social behavior

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway contains multiple high-confidence risk genes that are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. However, its ubiquitous roles across brain cell types and developmental stages have made it challenging to define its impact on neural circuit development and behavior. Here, we show that TCF7L2, which is a key transcriptional effector of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, plays a cell-autonomous role in postnatal astrocyte maturation and impacts adult social behavior. TCF7L2 was the dominant Wnt effector that was expressed in both mouse and human astrocytes, with a peak during astrocyte maturation. The conditional knockout of Tcf7l2 in postnatal astrocytes led to an enlargement of astrocytes with defective tiling and gap junction coupling. These mice also exhibited an increase in the number of cortical excitatory and inhibitory synapses and a marked increase in social interaction by adulthood. These data reveal an astrocytic role for developmental Wnt/β-catenin signaling in restricting excitatory synapse numbers and regulating adult social behavior

We Do Not Like It: A Likert-Type Scale Survey on the Attitudes of a Young Population towards the Transhumanistic Theory of Education

Transhumanists assume that future education may be purely based on technological stimulation. The question is: Do potential clients of education “like” such vision? In order to check this, we asked over one thousand two hundred young Poles to evaluate their identification with the transhumanistic theory of education. The results are quite surprising: its show that they disagree with the assumptions of this theory, while they rather agree with the postulates of more traditional (and no technology-based) concepts of education

IL17A and IL17F genes polymorphisms are associated with histopathological changes in transplanted kidney

Abstract Background Interleukin 17 is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in immune response after allograft transplantation. IL-17 family of proinflammatory cytokines includes IL-17A and IL-17F. Previous studies have demonstrated that the rs2275913 IL17A and the rs11465553 IL17F gene polymorphism are associated with kidney allograft function. Because of the association between these polymorphisms and post-transplant immune response, we assume that these single nucleotide polymorphisms may affect morphological structure of transplanted kidney. The aim of this study was to examine the association of rs2275913 IL17A and rs2397084, rs11465553 and rs763780 IL17F gene polymorphisms with histopathological changes in transplanted kidney biopsies such as: glomerulitis, tubulitis, arteritis, cell infilitration and fibrosis. Methods The study enrolled 82 patients after renal graft transplantation in whom a kidney biopsy was performed because of impaired graft function. The rs2397084 T > C (Glu126Gly), rs11465553 G > A (Val155Ile) and rs763780 T > C (His167Arg) polymorphisms within the IL17F gene and the rs2275913 A > G (− 197 A > G) polymorphism within the IL17A gene promoter were genotyped using TaqMan genotyping assays on a 7500 FAST Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, USA). Results There was a significant association between the rs2275913 IL17A gene polymorphism and the grade of tubulitis, which was more severe among patients with the A allele, compared to recipients with the GG genotype (GG vs. AG + AA, P = 0.02), and with the grade of arteriolar hyaline thickening and mesangial matrix increase, which were more severe among patients with the G allele compared to recipients with the AA genotype (AA vs. AG + GG, P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively). Tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis were more severe among individuals with the C allele at the rs763780 IL17F gene polymorphism (TT vs. TC, P = 0.09 and P = 0.017, respectively). However, it should be taken into account that the statistical significance was achieved without correction for multiple testing, and no significant association would remain significant after such correction. Conclusions The results of this study may suggest a possible association between the rs2275913 IL17A and rs2275913 IL17A gene polymorphisms and some histopathological changes in transplanted kidney biopsies

Scaling Equation for Viscosity of Polymer Mixtures in Solutions with Application to Diffusion of Molecular Probes

We measured macroscopic viscosity as well as nanoviscosity experienced by molecular probes diffusing in solutions containing two polymer species vastly differing in the molecular weight. On this basis we postulated a scaling equation for viscosity of complex liquids characterized by two distinct length-scales. As an experimental model, we used aqueous solutions of low-polydispersity poly­(ethylene glycol) and poly­(ethylene oxide) with molecular weight ranging from 6 to 1000 kg/mol, polymer concentrations from 0.25% up to 50%, and viscosity up to 500 mPa·s. The proposed model distinguishes between the contributions to the total viscosity stemming from the mesoscopic structure of the complex liquid and from the magnitude of interactions dictated by the chemical nature of its constituents. It allows to predict diffusion rates of nanoscaled probes in polymer solution mixtures and can be adapted to various multilength-scale complex systems

Plant-Based Fish Analogs—A Review

Recently, plant-based food has become important in the global food market. The increasing demand for plant-based food is a consequence of the increase in both environmental awareness and care for animal welfare as well as the changes in nutritional recommendations. Therefore, food producers are concentrating on fulfilling consumer needs by creating alternatives to animal-based products with comparable nutritional and sensory qualities but from plant-based sources. One promising trend is the production of plant-based fish. Thus, this work aimed to summarize the possibilities of creating plant-based fish analogs, including a review of alternatives to fish products currently available on the market and the possible use of the various ingredients to produce plant-based fish analogs like fillets, slices, as well as sticks, or burgers. Furthermore, the plant-based ingredients were characterized for potential use in fish analogs production. Additionally, the study includes technologies used for plant-based fish analogs production, e.g., texturization, 3D and 4D printing, electrospinning, etc. Furthermore, future perspectives were given considering the challenges and limitations in this range