Hållbar utveckling-Naturvetenskaplig kunskap eller demokratisk kompetens

Hållbar utveckling behandlas i det här arbetet utifrån ett undervisnings perspektiv. Hur och vad ska man undervisa om för att främja hållbar utveckling? Naturvetenskapliga kunskaper räcker inte för att få en hållbar samhällsutveckling. Det krävs även andra kunskaper och färdigheter, vilka är enligt myndigheten för skolutveckling demokratisk bildning och medborgerlig delaktighet. I undervisningen sätts processen i centrum och genomlevande av demokrati. Syfte med vårt arbete är att undersöka hur man jobbar i skolan för att utveckla demokratisk kompetens hos elever, och om den kan ge eleven handlingskompetens inför framtiden för att lära och förstå vad en hållbar utveckling kräver. Studien är av kvalitativ karaktär och bygger på intervjuer av sex lärare som undervisar i de senare åren på grundskolan. Resultaten visar att lärarna har en processinriktad och kvalitativ kunskapssyn, vilket ger eleverna en djupinriktad kunskap, handlingskompetens och kritisk tänkande inför framtiden. Kvalitén på att utveckla demokratisk kompetens hos eleverna är bla beroende av elevernas mognad, ämne, baskunskaper, ålder, grupp och storlek. Det som brister är lärarnas förståelse av innebörden av begreppet hållbar utveckling, samt kopplingen till demokrati. Det ger en saknad av vilka kunskaper som behövs samt vilket etiskt förhållningssätt som krävs för att utveckla handlingskompetens inför en hållbar utveckling

Hydroxyl radical scavenging potential of the late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA) proteins from Ramonda serbica - in silico approach

Ramonda serbica Panc. is a resurrection plant that can survive long desiccation periods (extreme loss of cellular water). The accumulation of late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEAPs) is a crucial step in desiccation tolerance mechanism. Based on in vitro studies, LEAPs can be involved in antioxidative defense, ion sequestration, structural stabilization of both membranes and enzymes during freezing or drying, while by forming intracellular proteinaceous condensates they increase structural integrity and intracellular viscosity of cells during desiccation. Here we investigated the antioxidative potential of LEAPs identified by de novo transcriptomics of R. serbica, based on their primary and secondary confirmation. In our previous work [1], we displayed the antioxidative capacity of 20 free proteogenic amino acids (FAA) through determining their hydroxyl radical (•OH, generated in Fenton reaction) scavenging rate by using electron paramagnetic resonance. These results served as a basis for generating a model for prediction of •OH scavenging activity for selected proteins. In addition, the model was built based on protein primary sequences, hydrophobicity, 3D structure and predicted solvent accessible area. Manually curated data for peptides and proteins with experimentally determined •OH scavenging rate were used for training and testing. The model was fed into machine learning algorithm and •OH scavenging potential scale was created using IC50 values. By applying our model, we classified 164 LEAPs according to their potential for •OH scavenging. Further work will focus on the experimental evaluation of the obtained model by measuring of the rate of • OH scavenging in the presence of recombinantly produced LEAPs.Organized by Society for Free Radical Research Europe (SFRR-E)

Ramonda serbica de novo transcriptome database related to the article: Pantelic, A.; Stevanović, S.; Milic-Komic, S.; Kilibarda, N.; Vidovic, M. Characterization and expression analysis of the late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins family in hydrated and desiccated Ramonda serbica Panc. leaves

Ramonda serbica de novo transcriptome databas

The effects of mutational profiles on phenotypic presentation of myeloproliferative neoplasm subtypes in Bosnia: 18 year follow-up

The identification of mutually exclusive somatic mutations shared among myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) subtypes has provided a powerful tool for studying disease evolution. Clinical features, gene mutations, and survival over 18 years were analyzed in MPN patients. One hundred thirty-eight MPN patients were subcategorized according to MPN subtypes: essential thrombocythemia (ET, n = 41), polycythemia vera (PV, n = 56), primary myelofibrosis (PMF, n = 10), and MPN unclassified (MPN-U, n = 31). Patient characteristics included clinical parameters, overall survival (OS), and mutational status of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), calreticulin (CALR), and myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene (MPL) genes. We compared hematologic and clinical features of JAK2V617F-ET vs. CALR-mutated ET vs. JAK2V617F-PV patients. JAK2V617F-patients had higher values of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit compared to CALR-mutated patients (p < 0.05). The mutant allele burden in JAK2V617F-PV and JAK2V617F-ET patients directly correlated with erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values, but it inversely correlated with platelet count. Thus, mutant allele burden was an indicator of the clinical phenotype in JAK2V617F-MPN patients. OS was not affected by the mutational status. In general, mutated JAK2, CALR, and MPL genes left specific hematological signatures

Obesity and Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential: Allies in Cardiovascular Diseases and Malignancies

The clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a term used to describe individuals who have detectable somatic mutations in genes commonly found in individuals with hematologic cancers but without any apparent evidence of such conditions. The mortality rate in individuals with CHIP is remarkably higher than the influence ascribed to hematologic malignancies, and it is plausible that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) could elucidate the apparent disparity. Studies have shown that the most frequently altered genes in CHIP are associated with the increased incidence of CVDs, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and myeloid malignancies, as well as obesity. Additionally, multiple research studies have confirmed that obesity is also independently associated with these conditions, particularly the development and progression of atherosclerotic CVD. Considering the shared pathogenetic mechanisms of obesity and CHIP, our objective in this review was to investigate both preclinical and clinical evidence regarding the correlation between obesity and CHIP and the resulting implications of this interaction on the pathophysiology of CVDs and malignancies. The pro-inflammatory condition induced by obesity and CHIP enhances the probability of developing both diseases and increases the likelihood of developing CVDs, T2DM and malignancies, suggesting that a dangerous vicious loop may exist. However, it is vital to conduct additional research that will suggest targeted treatment options for obese individuals with CHIP in order to reduce harmful effects connected to these conditions

High dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy in the management of primary and recurrent bronchogenic malignancies

Background. The clinical, radiographic, and bronchoscopic records of patients treated with out‐patient high dose rate (HDR) endobronchial brachytherapy were reviewed to determine its effectiveness in patients with malignant airway obstruction (with or without prior external beam radiation). In addition, quality of life and acute and chronic morbidity were evaluated. Methods. From January 1, 1989 to June 30, 1993, 46 patients received 128 HDR endobronchial treatments employing a high activity Ir‐192 source with a remote afterloader. Patients treated had a total of 22 primary and 17 recurrent bronchogenic carcinomas, 7 of which were metastatic nonpulmonary tumors. Three separate fractions of 7.0 Gy were prescribed to a depth of 1.0 cm. and given 1 week apart. Twelve patients (30%) received prior external beam irradiation (median dose, 58 Gy). Results. Median follow‐up for the entire group was 5 months (17.5 for surviving patients). Of the eight asymptomatic patients, five (62%) remained asymptomatic for the remainder of their lives. Of the 38 symptomatic patients, 28 (74%) had significant clinical improvement, and 12 of them remained improved for the duration of their lives. Of thirty‐six (78%) patients examined for radio‐graphic response, 25 (69%) had a partial or complete response to this treatment. In patients without prior irradiation, there was a tendency for a higher percentage of clinical and radiographic response. Two patients (4%) experienced mild, transient dysphagia, four patients developed self‐limited radiation pneumonitis (9%), and three patients (7%) suffered fatal hemoptysis (all of these patients received prior or concurrent external beam radiotherapy). No factor (i.e., prior radiation therapy, number of catheters placed, surgery, or chemotherapy) predicted an increased risk of complications (P = NS). Conclusions. Outpatient HDR endobronchial brachytherapy is effective in both preventing and relieving endobronchial obstruction in patients with or without prior irradiation, recurrent lesions, or metastatic nonpulmonary disease. A significant proportion of patients can be rendered asymptomatic for the duration of their lives, hence were provided with improved quality of life. These treatments are well tolerated and safe, and result in minimal long term morbidity