Tumour-specific microRNA expression pattern in canine intestinal T-cell-lymphomas

Intestinal T-cell lymphomas are common in dogs, but histopathological diagnosis remains challenging because of accompanying enteritis with lymphocyte involvement. Invasively taken full-layer biopsies are still required for reliable differentiation. The detection of specific microRNA expression patterns in canine intestinal T-cell lymphoma could provide new possibilities to differ intestinal lymphoma from benign inflammation and could lead to further understanding of lymphomagenesis. The objective of this study was to characterize microRNA expression in distinct groups of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples from canine intestinal T-cell lymphomas, lymphoplasmacellular enteritis and healthy intestinal tissue. In a preliminary test with two samples per group, total RNA was extracted (RNEasy FFPE Kit, Qiagen), reverse transcribed (miScript II RT Kit, Qiagen) and pre-amplified (miScript PreAmp PCR Kit, Qiagen). We performed comparative quantitative PCR on microRNA PCR Array plates (Qiagen) with pre-fabricated reactions for 183 different mature canine microRNAs. Subsequently, 12 microRNAs with conspicuous expression changes in the lymphoma group were selected and microRNA expression of all samples (n = 8) per group was analysed with individual microRNA assays (miScript Primer Assays, Qiagen) on the reverse transcribed RNA without pre-amplification. Our results revealed lymphoma-specific expression patterns, with down-regulation of the tumour-suppressing microRNAs miR-194, miR-192, miR-141 and miR-203, and up-regulation of oncogenic microRNAs, including microRNAs from the miR-106a~363 cluster. In addition, we detected only slight expression alterations between healthy intestinal tissue and lymphoplasmacellular enteritis cases. We conclude that microRNA expression patterns can be used to separate T-cell lymphomas from healthy tissue and benign inflammatory disorders

Electronic Correlations in Vanadium Revealed by Electron-Positron Annihilation Measurements

The electronic structure of vanadium measured by Angular Correlation of electron-positron Annihilation Radiation (ACAR) is compared with the predictions of the combined Density Functional and Dynamical Mean-Field Theory (DMFT). Reconstructing the momentum density from five 2D projections we were able to determine the full Fermi surface and found excellent agreement with the DMFT calculations. In particular, we show that the local, dynamic self-energy corrections contribute to the anisotropy of the momentum density and need to be included to explain the experimental results

Survival and Growth of Three Geographically Distinct Stocks of Muskellunge Introduced into Midwestern Reservoirs

Muskellunge Esox masquinongy management programs often rely on stocking to create and maintain populations. In many instances, a native and nearby stocking source is unavailable or a genetically suitable brood source is unclear. Genetic differences among stocks of Muskellunge may influence survival and growth when introduced into novel environments. Consequently, the selection of a suitable brood source can be difficult and possibly critical to the success of Muskellunge stocking programs. We examined differences in long-term survival and growth among introduced Muskellunge stocks from the Ohio and upper Mississippi River drainages and a mixed-origin Illinois broodstock population in three Illinois reservoirs. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) from spring modified-fyke netting suggested that the upper Mississippi River drainage stock at ages 3 and 4 persisted at lower relative abundance compared to conspecifics; however, low lake- and stock-specific catches of older ages precluded robust CPUE comparisons among stocks. Apparent survival, estimated from mark-recapture data with the Cormack-Jolly-Seber open population model, differed among stocks I-year poststocking, with the upper Mississippi River drainage stock exhibiting markedly lower survival compared to conspecifics. Annual variation in survival to age 1.5 was related to water temperature at stocking, fish size at stocking, first winter temperatures, and first summer temperatures. However, survival did not differ among stocks for Muskellunge age 2 and older, indicating that important factors structuring long-term survival exert their effects most strongly in the first year poststocking. Despite overall low survival of Muskellunge from the upper Mississippi River drainage, males that survived exhibited a slight growth advantage compared to conspecifics. No growth advantage was observed for upper Mississippi River drainage stock females. Our findings suggest that stock selection in addition to environmental conditions can influence survival of introduced Muskellunge and subsequent contribution to the fishery

Electron-electron interaction strength in ferromagnetic nickel determined by spin-polarized positron annihilation

The two-photon momentum distribution of annihilating electron-positron pairs in ferromagnetic nickel (Ni) was determined by measuring the spin-polarized two-dimensional angular correlation of annihilation radiation (ACAR). The spectra were compared with theoretical results obtained within LDA+DMFT, a combination of the local density approximation (LDA) and the many-body dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). The self-energy describing the electronic correlations in Ni is found to make important anisotropic contributions to the momentum distribution which are not present in LDA. Based on a detailed comparison of the theoretical and experimental results the strength of the local electronic interaction U in ferromagnetic Ni is determined as 2.0 +- 0.1 eV

Análise da distribuição do profissional fonoaudiólogo no serviço público dos municípios do Rio Grande do Sul

A visão integral do ser humano possibilitou que diversos profissionais ampliassem sua atuação dentro dos serviços públicos. Entre estes, o Fonoaudiólogo, com sua atuação voltada para os diversos aspectos relacionados à comunicação humana. Sua distribuição no serviço público ocorre em diversas áreas como a saúde, educação e assistência social, porém não há uma regulamentação específica quanto à sua colocação, o que acaba causando discrepância quanto à sua presença e o quantitativo necessário para atender as demandas existentes nos contextos populacionais. Neste panorama, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo compreender a distribuição do profissional fonoaudiólogo no serviço público municipal do Rio Grande do Sul, analisando sua distribuição através das mesorregiões e microrregiões, e realizar orientação com base em dados epidemiológicos quanto ao número ideal de profissionais. Os resultados encontrados demonstram grande disparidade e déficit quanto à distribuição e presença do profissional fonoaudiólogo, além de incompreensão quanto a sua atuação, visto que na maioria nos municípios, indiferente no número de habitantes, existe apenas um profissional. Atualmente somente 52,51% dos municípios dispõem do profissional fonoaudiólogo, onde a razão atual é de um fonoaudiólogo para cada 23.000 habitantes, sendo que o mínimo seria de um profissional para cada 10.000 habitantes na atuação junto à baixa complexidade, em nível municipal. Existe necessidade de mobilização tanto dos profissionais quanto da gestão, para que a situação possa ser organizada, visto que existe quantitativo de profissionais no estado suficientes para equilibrar a situação.The integral vision of the human being allowed several professionals to expand their performance within the public services. Among these, the Speech-Language Pathologist, with his work focused on the various aspects related to human communication. Its distribution in the public service occurs in several areas such as health, education and social assistance, but there is no specific regulation regarding its placement, which ends up causing discrepancy as to its presence and the quantitative necessary to meet the demands existing in the population contexts. In this panorama, the objective of this study is to understand the distribution of the speech-language pathologist in the municipal public service of Rio Grande do Sul, analyzing its distribution through the mesoregions and microregions, and conducting epidemiological data on the ideal number of professionals. The results show a great disparity and deficit regarding the distribution and presence of the speech-language pathologist, as well as a lack of understanding regarding their performance, since in the majority of municipalities, indifferent to the number of inhabitants, there is only one professional. Currently, only 52.51% of the municipalities have a speechlanguage pathologist, where the current ratio is one speech-language pathologist for every 23,000 inhabitants, and the minimum would be for one professional per 10,000 inhabitants working at low complexity at the municipal level. There is a need to mobilize both professionals and management, so that the situation can be organized, since there are enough professionals in the state to balance the situation

Methods for generating year-round access to amphioxus in the laboratory.

Cephalochordates, commonly known as amphioxus, are key to understanding vertebrate origins. However, laboratory work suffers from limited access to adults and embryonic material. Here we report the design and experimental validation of an inland marine facility that allows establishing stable amphioxus colonies in the laboratory and obtaining embryos at any time of day and over almost the entire year, far exceeding natural conditions. This is achieved by mimicking the natural benthic environment, natural day- and moon- light, natural substrate and by providing a strictly controlled and seasonally fluctuating temperature regimen. Moreover, supplemented algae diets allow animals to refill their gonads in consecutive years. Spontaneous spawning, a major problem in previous setups, no longer occurs in our facility; instead, all breeding is induced and fertilization occurs fully in vitro. Our system makes amphioxus a standard laboratory animal model

Antiarrhythmic Medication in Neonates and Infants with Supraventricular Tachycardia

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common arrhythmia in neonates and infants, and pharmacological therapy is recommended to prevent recurrent episodes. This retrospective study aims to describe and analyze the practice patterns, effectiveness, and outcome of drug therapy for SVT in patients within the first year of life. Among the 67 patients analyzed, 48 presented with atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia, 18 with focal atrial, and one with atrioventricular nodal re-entrant. Fetal tachycardia was reported in 27%. Antiarrhythmic treatment consisted of beta-receptor blocking agents in 42 patients, propafenone in 20, amiodarone in 20, and digoxin in 5. Arrhythmia control was achieved with single drug therapy in 70% of the patients, 21% needed dual therapy, and 6% triple. Propafenone was discontinued in 7 infants due to widening of the QRS complex. After 12 months (6-60), 75% of surviving patients were tachycardia-free and discontinued prophylactic treatment. Patients with fetal tachycardia had a significantly higher risk of persistent tachycardia (p: 0.007). Prophylactic antiarrhythmic medication for SVT in infancy is safe and well tolerated. Arrhythmia control is often achieved with single medication, and after cessation, most patients are free of arrhythmias. Infants with SVT and a history of fetal tachycardia are more prone to suffer from persistent SVT and relapses after cessation of prophylactic antiarrhythmic medication than infants with the first episode of SVT after birth

Gender, Technik und Politik 4.0 - Über digitalen Kapitalismus, disruptive Technologien und neue Regime der Unsicherheit (Vorwort)

Lengersdorf D, Weber J. Vorwort: Gender, Technik und Politik 4.0 – Über digitalen Kapitalismus,disruptive Technologien und neue Regime der Unsicherheit. GENDER – Zeitschrift für Geschlecht, Kultur und Gesellschaft. 2019;11(3):7-10

AI‑based decision support systems and society: An opening statement

Although artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making systems have been around for some time, they have only recently gained in importance as they are now actually being used and are no longer just the subject of research. AI to support decision-making is thus affecting ever larger parts of society, creating technical, but above all ethical, legal, and societal challenges, as decisions can now be made by machines that were previously the responsibility of humans. This introduction provides an overview of attempts to regulate AI and addresses key challenges that arise when integrating AI systems into human decision-making. The Special topic brings together research articles that present societal challenges, ethical issues, stakeholders, and possible futures of AI use for decision support in healthcare, the legal system, and border control

AI for decision support: What are possible futures, social impacts, regulatory options, ethical conundrums and agency constellations?

Although artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making systems have been around for some time, they have only recently gained in importance as they are now actually being used and are no longer just the subject of research. AI to support decision-making is thus affecting ever larger parts of society, creating technical, but above all ethical, legal, and societal challenges, as decisions can now be made by machines that were previously the responsibility of humans. This introduction provides an overview of attempts to regulate AI and addresses key challenges that arise when integrating AI systems into human decision-making. The Special topic brings together research articles that present societal challenges, ethical issues, stakeholders, and possible futures of AI use for decision support in healthcare, the legal system, and border control