Low 25-OH vitamin D levels at time of diagnosis and recurrence of ovarian cancer.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between 25-OH vitamin D and ovarian cancer as a diagnostic marker or recurrence disease marker. We studied the following: (1) 61 women without gynecologic diseases, (2) 45 women affected by benign ovarian disease, (3) 46 women with recent diagnosis of ovarian cancer, (4) 26 follow-up women with recurrent ovarian cancer, and (5) 32 follow-up women with stable ovarian cancer. The 25-OH vitamin D was quantified with LUMIPULSE® G 25-OH vitamin D on LUMIPULSE® G 1200 (Fujirebio, Japan). As a threshold value, identified by ROC curve analysis, 20.2 ng/mL (sensitivity 73.3 %, specificity 84 %) was chosen corresponding to the limit between sufficient and insufficient 25-OH vitamin D according to the WHO. Low 25-OH vitamin D levels were observed in 26 % of women without gynecologic diseases, in 80 % of women with recent diagnosis of ovarian cancer and in 24 % women affected by benign ovarian diseases (p < 0.001). The follow-up study showed an insufficient level of 25-OH vitamin D in 73 % women with recurrent ovarian cancer and in 47 % women with stable ovarian cancer (p < 0.0003). This study showed that patients with ovarian cancer are often insufficient in 25-OH vitamin D compared to women with benign ovarian diseases. The women with recurrent ovarian cancer presented more often low levels compared to women with stable ovarian cancer. This study suggests that 25-OH vitamin D, due to its antiproliferative properties, can be a good marker for ovarian cancer also

Влияние технологических факторов на прочность торфяных термобрикетов

На основании изложенного ранее представления о сущности процессов, протекающих при термобрикетировании торфа дано объяснение влияния на прочностные свойства термобрикетов следующих технологических факторов: температуры нагрева торфа перед наложением давления, времени выдержки нагретого торфа перед наложением давления, давления брикетирования, времени выдержки под давлением, степени измельчения торфа

Integrating Behavior in Life-History Theory: Allocation versus Acquisition?

Central theories explaining the maintenance of individual differences in behavior build on the assumption that behavior mediates life-history trade-offs between current and future reproduction. However, current empirical evidence does not robustly support this assumption. This mismatch might be because current theory is not clear about the role of behavior in individual allocation versus acquisition of resources, hindering empirical testing. The relative importance of allocation compared to acquisition is a key feature of classic life-history theory, but appears to have been lost in translation in recent developments of life-history theory involving behavior. We argue that determining the relative balance between variation in resource allocation and acquisition, and the role of behavior in this process, will help to build more robust and precise predictions.Peer reviewe

Translucency as a form of creating space in contemporary Japanese architecture

Artykuł podejmuje temat półprzezroczystości w architekturze na przykładzie współczesnych obiektów architektonicznych w kontekście kultury japońskiej. Na podstawie założenia teoretycznego Jun’ichirō Tanizakiego, takiego jak kontrast pomiędzy wschodnią a zachodnią wrażliwością i estetyką, autorka podejmuje próbę potwierdzenia teorii Tanizakiego we współczesnych realizacjach japońskich, w których zastosowano półprzezroczystość.The article deals with the topic of translucency in architecture on the example of contemporary architectural objects in the context of Japanese culture. Based on Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s theoretical assumptions, such as the contrast between eastern and western sensibilities and aesthetics, the author attempts to find confirmation of Tanizaki’s theory in contemporary Japanese projects in which translucency was used

Grupo de danças tradicionais gaúchas tradição cultura herança Tche UFRGS: uma década de história

Anais do 35º Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul - Área temática: CulturaA Extensão universitária tem papel fundamental na relação sociedade/universidade dando sustentação ao ensino público superior brasileiro. O projeto de Extensão Grupo de Danças Tradicionais Gaúchas Tradição Cultura Herança TCHE/UFRGS ao completar uma década de existência reafirma este compromisso social. O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar um apanhado sobre a atuação do grupo representando a UFRGS neste período, através do relato de experiência. Neste período de 10 anos o Grupo TCHE UFRGS representou a UFRGS em eventos regionais, nacionais e internacionais atingindo reconhecimento por sua conduta de respeito a sua história, cultura, construindo conhecimento a partir da compreensão do sujeito social, protagonista de suas ações e história, como cerne das praticas institucionais universitárias. A trajetória do grupo esta registrada em diversos meios como o programa “Conhecendo a UFRGS: Grupo TCHE”, o livro comemorativo “ 10 anos de causos & Histórias do Grupo TCHE UFRGS”, os DVDs de registro dos espetáculos realizados, como também o registro iconográfico resultado de inúmeras apresentações realizadas. Ao participar deste projeto que objetiva promover e difundir o patrimônio imaterial das danças tradicionais gaúchas os integrantes tem a oportunidade de, através de seu fazer extensionista, refletir sobre sua importância enquanto sujeitos propagadores destas práticas. Para além de representar a Universidade, o projeto possibilita a compreensão da realidade instigando o pensamento transformador que busca soluções para alterá-la criando oportunidades ao fazer a diferença na vida dos sujeitos envolvidos firmando as premissas do fazer extensionista na UFRG

Public stigmatization of people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to examine the level of discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities during COVID-19, and assessed stereotypes, levels of familiarity with people with intellectual disabilities, and personal experiences with COVID-19, as potential correlates. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a large sample from the Dutch population (n = 1,797). Salient stereotype factors of people with intellectual disabilities were ‘Friendly’ and ‘In need of help’ but not ‘Give nuisance’. Those respondents who were unfamiliar with people with intellectual disabilities in real-life demonstrated higher levels of discrimination, perceiving them as more of a nuisance and as being less in need of help, in comparison to those who were more familiar. People with intellectual disabilities were judged by an ambivalent set of stereotypes during the COVID-19 pandemic that were in line with pre-COVID-19 findings and as such seemed to be fairly persistent and robust. There is a pressing need to both raise awareness of stereotypes towards and discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities via advocacy and education, and to facilitate positive encounters

Sex differences in aggression are paralleled by differential activation of the brain social decision-making network in Zebrafish

Although aggression is more prevalent in males, females also express aggressive behaviors and in specific ecological contexts females can be more aggressive than males. The aim of this work is to assess sex differences in aggression and to characterize the patterns of neuronal activation of the social-decision making network (SDMN) in response to intra-sexual aggression in both male and female zebrafish. Adult fish were exposed to social interaction with a same-sex opponent and all behavioral displays, latency, and time of resolution were quantified. After conflict resolution, brains were sampled and sex differences on functional connectivity throughout the SDMN were assessed by immunofluorescence of the neuronal activation marker pS6. Results suggest that both sexes share a similar level of motivation for aggression, but female encounters show shorter conflict resolution and a preferential use of antiparallel displays instead of overt aggression, showing a reduction of putative maladaptive effects. Although there are no sex differences in the neuronal activation in any individual brain area from the SDMN, agonistic interactions increased neuronal activity in most brain areas in both sexes. Functional connectivity was assessed using bootstrapped adjacency matrices that capture the co-activation of the SDMN nodes. Male winners increased the overall excitation and showed no changes in inhibition across the SDMN, whereas female winners and both male and female losers showed a decrease in both excitation and inhibition of the SDMN in comparison to non-interacting control fish. Moreover, network centrality analysis revealed both shared hubs, as well as sex-specific hubs, between the sexes for each social condition in the SDMN. In summary, a distinct neural activation pattern associated with social experience during fights was found for each sex, suggesting a sex-specific differential activation of the social brain as a consequence of social experience. Overall, our study adds insights into sex differences in agonistic behavior and on the neuronal architecture of intrasexual aggression in zebrafish.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effect of beaver facilitation on Common Teal : pairs and broods respond differently at the patch and landscape scales

Avian species respond to ecological variability at a range of spatial scales and according to life history stage. Beaver dams create wetland systems for waterbirds that are utilized throughout different stages of the breeding season. We studied how beaver?induced variability affected mobile pairs and more sedentary broods along with the production of Common Teal Anas crecca at the patch and landscape scale on their breeding grounds. Beavers Castor spp. are ecosystem engineers that enhance waterfowl habitats by impeding water flow and creating temporary flooding. Two landscapes in southern Finland with (Evo) and without (Nuuksio) American Beavers Castor canadensis were used in this study. To investigate the patch?scale effect, pair and brood densities along with brood production were first compared at beaver?occupied lakes and non?beaver lakes in the beaver landscape. Annual pair and brood densities/km shoreline and brood production were compared between beaver and non?beaver landscapes. Facilitative effects of beaver activity were manifest on brood density at both patch and landscape scales: these were over 90 and 60 percent higher in beaver patches and landscapes, respectively. An effect of beaver presence on pair density was only seen at the landscape level. Pair density did not strongly affect brood production, as shown earlier for relatively mildly density?dependent Teal populations. Because the extent of beaver flooding was a crucial factor affecting annual Teal production in the study area, we infer beaver activity has consequences for the local Teal population. Ecosystem engineering by the beaver could therefore be considered as a restoration tool in areas where waterfowl are in need of high?quality habitats. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe