How Coworking Spaces Affect the Motivation and the Productivity of the Employees

The main topic of this thesis was to find out whether coworking spaces have an impact on an employee's motivation and productivity in their work. The research was conducted through a qualitative study based on ten interviews with employees currently working in a coworking space. In the given analysis, thematic analysis was used. The assignment is based on theory that deals with motivation, productivity, and how they can be linked. Our analysis showed how coworking spaces impact employee motivation and productivity. The motivation theory we rely on is Ryan and Deci's theory of self-determination. This theory divides motivation into intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. This theory further assumes that people have psychological needs for competence, sense of belonging, and autonomy. We felt that this theory was relevant to our thesis as these elements describe employees well. One weakness of our research and what may enhance it for further research, would be to find more interviewees. We refer to other research that shows that the answers can change if you examine a larger group of people who work or have worked in coworking spaces

The Effect of Basalt Fiber on the Performance of Stone Mastic Asphalt

Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) is a mixture design against rutting caused by intensive and heavy traffic loads. While modified bitumen needs to be used in this mixture, the use of cellulosic fibers is essential to prevent the infiltration of bitumen during the carriage of mixture due to high bitumen content. In this study, the effects of basalt fiber on the performance of SMA mixtures is investigated as an alternative to cellulosic fiber admixtures in the prevention of draindown. Raw materials commonly used in Turkey were chosen as Type-I graded limestone aggregate and B50/70 asphalt cement, according to the General Directorate of Highways. In total, 109 specimens were prepared by a gyratory compactor according to the superpave design method. Sixty of these specimens were basalt fiber added samples with a ratio from 0.1 % to 0.8 % by dry weight aggregate. An addition of basalt fiber of 0.6 % at 25 °C seriously increases the resilient modulus and tensile strength of the samples. In addition, 0.4 % basalt fiber mixed samples shows that the greatest resistance against permanent deformation according to the results of static uniaxial creep test performed at 40 °C. Basalt fibers have no positive effect when a decrement of bitumen viscosity exceeds the bitumen softening point at the end of repeated uniaxial tests. On the other hand, bitumen draindown and water damage test results are within acceptable limits

Molecular Regulation of Paused Pluripotency in Early Mammalian Embryos and Stem Cells

The energetically costly mammalian investment in gestation and lactation requires plentiful nutritional sources and thus links the environmental conditions to reproductive success. Flexibility in adjusting developmental timing enhances chances of survival in adverse conditions. Over 130 mammalian species can reversibly pause early embryonic development by switching to a near dormant state that can be sustained for months, a phenomenon called embryonic diapause. Lineage-specific cells are retained during diapause, and they proliferate and differentiate upon activation. Studying diapause thus reveals principles of pluripotency and dormancy and is not only relevant for development, but also for regeneration and cancer. In this review, we focus on the molecular regulation of diapause in early mammalian embryos and relate it to maintenance of potency in stem cells in vitro. Diapause is established and maintained by active rewiring of the embryonic metabolome, epigenome, and gene expression in communication with maternal tissues. Herein, we particularly discuss factors required at distinct stages of diapause to induce, maintain, and terminate dormancy

Lagophthalmos and Frozen Globe as the Initial Presentation of Invasive Breast Carcinoma

A 75-year-old woman presented with six months history of progressing lagophthalmos and immobility of the left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbit demonstrated infiltration of orbital fat and the extra-ocular muscles. We performed transverse blepharotomy of the left eyelid to correct lagophthalmos; and during surgery, we took a biopsy sample from levator muscle and orbital fat. After the operation, the patient was able to close her eyelids, and epithelial problems were resolved. Biopsy revealed fibro-vascular, muscle and fat tissue infiltrated with minimally differentiated carcinoma cells. Breast examination revealed a nodule in the left breast. Biopsy of the mass confirmed the diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma. Orbital manifestation of metastases, such as diplopia, lagophthalmos or pain may reduce life quality of the patients and must be evaluated on a multidisciplinary basis

Comparison of Milk Yield and Animal Health in Turkish Farms with Differing Stall Types and Resting Surfaces

The current study was carried out to determine the influence of different resting surfaces and stall types on milk yield and animal health. Study was carried out in Bursa that is one of the most important cities of Turkey in terms of dairy production. Effects of resting surfaces and stall types on milk yield were found to be important. Also influence of different resting surfaces and stall types on lactation length was examined and found that rubber mats were different from the two other options. Relationships between different resting surfaces or stall types and health problems were examined and connection between stall type and repeat breeding (RB), dystocia, retained placenta and a connection between resting surface types and RB and clinical mastitis were found to be important. Considering their economic reflections, it can be said that results are quite important to the Turkish dairy industry

Infectious Keratitis in Patients Over 65: A Review on Treatment and Preserving Eyesight

Christine K Kim,1 Melisa Z Karslioglu,1 Sharon H Zhao,2 Olivia L Lee1 1Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA; 2Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USACorrespondence: Olivia L Lee, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, 850 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA, Tel +1 949 824 0573, Email [email protected]: Infectious keratitis (IK) represents a significant global health concern, ranking as the fifth leading cause of blindness worldwide despite being largely preventable and treatable. Elderly populations are particularly susceptible due to age-related changes in immune response and corneal structure. However, research on IK in this demographic remains scarce. Age-related alterations such as increased permeability and reduced endothelial cell density further compound susceptibility to infection and hinder healing mechanisms. Additionally, inflammaging, characterized by chronic inflammation that develops with advanced age, disrupts the ocular immune balance, potentially exacerbating IK and other age-related eye diseases. Understanding these mechanisms is paramount for enhancing IK management, especially in elderly patients. This review comprehensively assesses risk factors, clinical characteristics, and management strategies for bacterial, viral, fungal, and acanthamoeba keratitis in the elderly population, offering crucial insights for effective intervention.Keywords: aging, inflammaging, bacterial keratitis, viral keratitis, fungal keratitis, acanthamoeba keratiti

Hypoxia induces an early primitive streak signature, enhancing spontaneous elongation and lineage representation in gastruloids

The cellular microenvironment, together with intrinsic regulators, shapes stem cell identity and differentiation capacity. Mammalian early embryos are exposed to hypoxia in vivo and appear to benefit from hypoxic culture in vitro. Yet, how hypoxia influences stem cell transcriptional networks and lineage choices remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the molecular effects of acute and prolonged hypoxia on embryonic and extra-embryonic stem cells as well as the functional impact on differentiation potential. We find a temporal and cell type-specific transcriptional response including an early primitive streak signature in hypoxic embryonic stem cells mediated by HIF1α. Using a 3D gastruloid differentiation model, we show that hypoxia-induced T expression enables symmetry breaking and axial elongation in the absence of exogenous WNT activation. When combined with exogenous WNT activation, hypoxia enhances lineage representation in gastruloids, as demonstrated by highly enriched signatures of gut endoderm, notochord, neuromesodermal progenitors and somites. Our findings directly link the microenvironment to stem cell function and provide a rationale supportive of applying physiological conditions in models of embryo development

A Very Rare Fracture: Isolated Fresh Lunate Fracture

Lunate fractures are rare and usually occur together with other fractures, dislocations, or ligament disruptions. We want to report an acute fresh isolated lunate fracture without additional ligamentous injury fixated with early surgical intervention. A 23-year-old right-hand-dominated male patient was admitted to our hospital after falling from 1.5-meter ladder over right hand’s palmar face. Standard radiographs diagnosed a displaced lunate fracture. In the intraoperative evaluation, it was observed that there was only lunate dislocation, and there was no ligament lesion or other carpal bone pathology. Fracture was fixed with a headless cannulated screw. Radiographs showed bony union at 6-week follow-up. There was no evidence for Kienböck’s disease 6 months after surgery. Case report regarding fresh isolated lunate fracture that results in clinical success with early intervention without developing avascular necrosis as in our report is extremely rare. In conclusion, satisfying results can be obtained in these patients with careful surgical intervention

The Transcriptionally Permissive Chromatin State of Embryonic Stem Cells Is Acutely Tuned to Translational Output

A permissive chromatin environment coupled to hypertranscription drives the rapid proliferation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and peri-implantation embryos. We carried out a genome-wide screen to systematically dissect the regulation of the euchromatic state of ESCs. The results revealed that cellular growth pathways, most prominently translation, perpetuate the euchromatic state and hypertranscription of ESCs. Acute inhibition of translation rapidly depletes euchromatic marks in mouse ESCs and blastocysts, concurrent with delocalization of RNA polymerase II and reduction in nascent transcription. Translation inhibition promotes rewiring of chromatin accessibility, which decreases at a subset of active developmental enhancers and increases at histone genes and transposable elements. Proteome-scale analyses revealed that several euchromatin regulators are unstable proteins and continuously depend on a high translational output. We propose that this mechanistic interdependence of euchromatin, transcription, and translation sets the pace of proliferation at peri-implantation and may be employed by other stem/progenitor cells