Combined proteome and transcriptome analyses for the discovery of urinary biomarkers for urothelial carcinoma

Background: Proteomic discovery of cancer biomarkers in body fluids is challenging because of their low abundance in a complex background. Altered gene expression in tumours may not reflect protein levels in body fluids. We have tested combining gene expression profiling of tumours with proteomic analysis of cancer cell line secretomes as a strategy to discover urinary biomarkers for bladder cancer. Methods: We used shotgun proteomics to identify proteins secreted by three bladder cancer cell lines. Secreted proteins with high mRNA levels in bladder tumours relative to normal urothelium were assayed by ELISA in urine samples from 642 patients. Results: Midkine and HAI-1 were significantly increased in bladder cancer patients, with the highest levels in invasive disease (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.89 vs non-cancer). The urinary concentration of both proteins was too high to be explained by bladder cancer associated haematuria and most likely arises by direct tumour secretion. Conclusions: This ‘dual-omic’ strategy identified tumour secreted proteins whose urine concentrations are increased significantly by bladder cancer. Combined secretome-transcriptome analysis may be more useful than direct proteomic analysis of body fluids for biomarker discovery in both bladder cancer and other tumour type

The role of climatic elements in public tendency towards alternative tourism: a sample of Turkey.

In recent years, there has been an apparent alteration in tourists’ destination preferences. The reasons for this are, of course, very diverse. Due to discomforting environment of the coastal regions, people may prefer to spend their holidays in bioclimatologically more comfortable areas, such as mountain or plateau resorts. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of climate and weather on tourism and recreational activities via a questionnaire survey in the city of Erzurum, Turkey. It was found that although people who participated the survey live in a city, which is a well-known winter sports center and where extreme climatic features in winter are prevalent and have to experience, at least, an eight-month cold period (from late October to late May), they would still prefer summer season for recreation and tourism even if they were given full year recreation opportunities. This condition was thought to result from the lack of efficient winter recreation facilities and it was suggested that this kind of facilities should be constructed.EN AÑOS RECIENTES HA OCURRIDO UNA APARENTE MODIFICACIÓN EN LOS DESTINOS PREFERENTES DE LOS TURISTAS. LAS RAZONES PARA ESTO SON, DESDE LUEGO, MUY DIVERSAS. DEBIDO AL AMBIENTE INCÓMODO DE LAS REGIONES COSTERAS, MUCHAS PERSONAS PREFIEREN PASAR SUS VACACIONES EN ÁREAS BIOCLIMATOLÓGICAMENTE MÁS CONFORTABLES, COMO LOS CENTROS TURÍSTICOS DE MONTAÑA O MESETAS. EL OBJETIVO DE ESTE ESTUDIO ES DETERMINAR EL EFECTO DEL CLIMA Y EL TIEMPO EN LAS ACTIVIDADES RECREATIVAS POR MEDIO DE UN CUESTIONARIO DE INVESTIGACIÓN EN LA CIUDAD DE ERZURUM, EN TURQUÍA. SE ENCONTRÓ QUE AUNQUE LA GENTE QUE PARTICIPÓ EN LA INVESTIGACIÓN VIVE EN UNA CIUDAD QUE ES UN CONOCIDO CENTRO DE DEPORTES INVERNALES, CON CARACTERÍSTICAS EXTREMAS DE UN PERÍODO DE FRÍO DE AL MENOS OCHO MESES (DEL FINAL DE OCTUBRE AL DE MAYO), PREFIEREN EL VERANO PARA RECREACIÓN Y TURISMO AUNQUE SE LES DIERA LA OPORTUNIDAD DE UN AÑO COMPLETO DE ACTIVIDADES RECREATIVAS. SE PIENSA QUE ESTO ES RESULTADO DE LA FALTA DE INSTALACIONES RECREATIVAS ADECUADAS PARA EL INVIERNO Y SE SUGIERE QUE ÉSTAS DEBERÍAN CONSTRUIRS

k-generalized fibonacci numbers close to the form 2a + 3b + 5c

The k-generalized Fibonacci sequence (formula presented) is defined as the sum of the k proceeding terms and initial conditions are 0,…,0, 1 (k terms). In this paper, we solve the diophantine equation (formula presented), where a, b, c and ? are nonnegative integers with max {a, b} ? c and 0 ? ? ? 5. This work generalizes a recent Marques [9] and the first author, Szalay [6] results. © 2017, Univerzita Komenskeho. All rights reserved

k-GENERALIZED FIBONACCI NUMBERS CLOSE TO THE FORM 2a | 3b | 5c

The k-generalized Fibonacci sequence {F-n((k))}(n >= 0) is defined as the sum of the k proceeding terms and initial conditions are 0, ..., 0, 1 (k terms). In this paper, we solve the diophantine equation F-n((k)) = 2(a) + 3(b) + 5(c) + delta, where a, b, c and delta are nonnegative integers with max {a, b} <= c and 0 <= delta <= 5. This work generalizes a recent Marques [9] and the first author, Szalay [6] results.Nigde University [FEB 2013/30 BAGEP]This project is supported by Nigde University's Project No: FEB 2013/30 BAGEP

The order of appearance of the product of two Fibonacci and Lucas numbers

Let Fn and Ln be the nth Fibonacci and Lucas number, respectively. The order of appearance is defined as the smallest natural number k such that n divides F-k and denoted by z(n) . In this paper, we give explicit formulas for the terms z(FaFb), z(LaLb), z(FaLb) and z(FnFn+pF(n)+2(p)) with p >= 3 prime

On malfunctioning software

Artefacts do not always do what they are supposed to, due to a variety of reasons, including manufacturing problems, poor maintenance, and normal wear-and-tear. Since software is an artefact, it should be subject to malfunctioning in the same sense in which other artefacts can malfunction. Yet, whether software is on a par with other artefacts when it comes to malfunctioning crucially depends on the abstraction used in the analysis. We distinguish between “negative” and “positive” notions of malfunction. A negative malfunction, or dysfunction, occurs when an artefact token either does not (sometimes) or cannot (ever) do what it is supposed to. A positive malfunction, or misfunction, occurs when an artefact token may do what is supposed to but, at least occasionally, it also yields some unintended and undesirable effects. We argue that software, understood as type, may misfunction in some limited sense, but cannot dysfunction. Accordingly, one should distinguish software from other technical artefacts, in view of their design that makes dysfunction impossible for the former, while possible for the latter

TWO-PERIODIC TERNARY RECURRENCES AND THEIR BINET-FORMULA

The properties of k-periodic binary recurrences have been discussed by several authors. In this paper, we define the notion of the two-periodic ternary linear recurrence. First we follow Cooper's approach to obtain the corresponding recurrence relation of order six. Then we provide explicit formulae linked to the three possible cases

Do omnivores perform class distinction? A qualitative inspection of culinary tastes, boundaries, and cultural tolerance

This article explores the culinary taste repertoires of middle-class people in Turkey who can be defined as omnivores due to their routine engagement with ‘lowbrow’ food spaces. We aim to understand how they make sense of their boundary crossing and the extent to which this indicates tolerance. We find that our culinary omnivores develop interest in traditional food and tend to cross established boundaries between the traditional and modern to maintain a cosmopolitan palette. However, our analysis identifies certain conditions that foster and limit omnivorous practices, such as mealtime, type of occasion and with whom the food is shared, as well as one’s class trajectory, demonstrating how selective people are when they step outside of their original taste profiles. Derogatory comments about the manners of these settings’ original clientele suggest that omnivores continue to perform distinction regardless of their openness to ‘lowbrow’ cultural forms

Visually induced motion sickness correlates with on-road car sickness while performing a visual task

Previous literature suggests that the motion sickness susceptibility questionnaire (MSSQ) is inadequate for prediction of motion sickness under naturalistic driving conditions. In this study, we investigated whether visually induced motion sickness using a virtual reality headset could be used as a quick and reliable way to predict participant susceptibility. We recruited 22 participants to complete a two-part experiment. In randomised order, we determined their susceptibility to visual motion sickness and their susceptibility to car sickness. To determine visual susceptibility, the visual scene was sequentially rotated at constant velocity around an earth-vertical yaw axis and rolled about the nasiooccipital axis, in 30 s intervals. Car sickness, on the other hand, was elicited under completely naturalistic conditions, being driven in the backseat of a car in the city of Delft, performing a visual task on a laptop. Sickness ratings were collected at regular intervals in both parts of the experiment. We found that the frequencies excited by naturalistic driving are very low, which has important consequences for motion sickness modelling and mitigation in automated vehicles. We found that individual car sickness correlated positively with visual motion sickness. This indicates that both are influenced by a common sickness susceptibility factor. Car sickness correlated similarly with visual motion sickness and MSSQ. Overall, our results indicate that combining measurements of sickness responses to a visual stimulus and MSSQ can yield a reliable method for determining individual sickness susceptibility. To this end the visual stimulus and the weighting with MSSQ responses can be refined using a much larger sample and considering additional visual conditions in driving

Socioeconomic prerequisites determine national long-term biomonitoring efforts

In the current anthropogenic era characterised by human-induced environmental changes, long-term biomonitoring has become a crucial component for understanding ecological patterns and detecting shifts in biodiversity. However, spatiotemporal inconsistencies in biomonitoring efforts hinder transboundary progress in understanding and mitigating global environmental change effectively. The International Long-Term Ecosystem Research (ILTER) network is one of the largest standardised biomonitoring initiatives worldwide, encompassing 44 countries globally, including 26 European countries that are part of the European Long-Term Ecosystem Research network (eLTER). To better understand the establishment and development of such long-term biomonitoring efforts, we analysed spatial and temporal trends within the eLTER network. Additionally, we evaluated the environmental, social, and economic factors influencing engagement in biomonitoring activities within this European network. Our findings reveal a spatial imbalance, with biomonitoring efforts concentrated in Central and Western European countries, where monitoring initiatives have typically been established for a longer duration. Furthermore, our analyses underscore the complex interplay of economic, geographic, and cultural factors in the development of long-term ecological research infrastructures. Countries with greater geographic connectivity, slower economic growth, and higher research activity are more likely to be involved in the eLTER network. The intensity of biomonitoring significantly increased with greater research investments, economic growth, and elevated levels of tourism. In contrast, it decreased in countries that are more inward-facing and exhibit a belief in their ability to control environmental outcomes independently. Addressing spatial gaps in monitoring necessitates enhanced support and funding to ensure comprehensive ecological monitoring over extended time periods. This is essential for achieving transboundary sustainability and effective biodiversity conservation in the face of global change drivers