scholarly journals The Metarepresentational Role of Mathematics in Scientific Explanations

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-35
Author(s):  
Colin McCullough-Benner
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Representation ◽  
Physical Systems ◽  
Scientific Explanations ◽  
High Degree

Abstract Several philosophers have argued that to capture the generality of certain scientific explanations, we must count mathematical facts among their explanantia. I argue that we can better understand these explanations by adopting a more nuanced stance toward mathematical representations, recognizing the role of mathematical representation schemata in representing highly abstract features of physical systems. It is by picking out these abstract but non-mathematical features that explanations appealing to mathematics achieve a high degree of generality. The result is a rich conception of the role of mathematics in scientific explanations that does not require us to treat mathematical facts as explanantia.

scholarly journals Roles of ncRNAs as ceRNAs in Gastric Cancer

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1036
Author(s):  
Junhong Ye ◽  
Jifu Li ◽  
Ping Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Circular Rnas ◽  
Messenger Rnas ◽  
Cerna Network ◽  
Degree Of Malignancy ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Competitive Endogenous Rna ◽  
Made In

Although ignored in the past, with the recent deepening of research, significant progress has been made in the field of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Accumulating evidence has revealed that microRNA (miRNA) response elements regulate RNA. Long ncRNAs, circular RNAs, pseudogenes, miRNAs, and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) form a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network that plays an essential role in cancer and cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and autoimmune diseases. Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers, with a high degree of malignancy. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanism and treatment of GC, but GC’s mortality rate is still high. Studies have shown a complex ceRNA crosstalk mechanism in GC. lncRNAs, circRNAs, and pseudogenes can interact with miRNAs to affect mRNA transcription. The study of the involvement of ceRNA in GC could improve our understanding of GC and lead to the identification of potential effective therapeutic targets. The research strategy for ceRNA is mainly to screen the different miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, pseudogenes, and mRNAs in each sample through microarray or sequencing technology, predict the ceRNA regulatory network, and, finally, conduct functional research on ceRNA. In this review, we briefly discuss the proposal and development of the ceRNA hypothesis and the biological function and principle of ceRNAs in GC, and briefly introduce the role of ncRNAs in the GC’s ceRNA network.

Surgeon-performed Ultrasound for Primary Hyperparathyroidism

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 681-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Worthington G. Schenk ◽  
John B. Hanks ◽  
Philip W. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Primary Hyperparathyroidism ◽  
Class 1 ◽  
Additional Imaging ◽  
Surgical Cure ◽  
Operative Findings ◽  
Enhanced Computed Tomography ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Tomography Scan ◽  
Parathyroid Imaging

The role of preoperative parathyroid imaging continues to evolve. This study evaluated whether surgeon-performed ultrasound (U/S) obviates the need for other imaging studies and leads to a focused exploration with a high degree of surgical success. From July 2010 to February 2012, 200 patients presenting with nonfamilial primary hyperparathyroidism underwent neck U/S in the surgeon's office. The U/S interpretation was classified as Class 1 if an adenoma was identified with high confidence, Class 2 if a possible but not definite enlarged gland was imaged, and Class 0 (zero) if no adenoma was identified. The findings were correlated with subsequent intra-operative findings. There were 144 Class 1 U/Ss (72%); of 132 patients coming to surgery, 96.2 per cent had surgical findings concordant with preoperative U/S and all had apparent surgical cure. Twenty-nine patients (14.5%) had Class 2 U/S; the 31 per cent confirmed false-positives in this group were usually colloid nodules. Fourteen of 27 with Class 0 U/S underwent surgery after being offered dynamically enhanced computed tomography scan. All 200 patients were apparent surgical cures. Surgeon-performed U/S is expedient, convenient, inexpensive, and accurate. A clearly identified adenoma can safely lead to a focused limited exploration and avoid additional imaging 93 per cent of the time.

The academic profession in Russia’s two capitals: The impact of 20 years of transition

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 626-644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizaveta Sivak ◽  
Maria Yudkevich
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Academic Career ◽  
Academic Profession ◽  
University Faculty ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Personal Strain ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Russian Universities

This paper studies the dynamics of key characteristics of the academic profession in Russia based on the analysis of university faculty in the two largest cities in Russia – Moscow and St Petersburg. We use data on Russian university faculty from two large-scale comparative studies of the academic profession (‘The Carnegie Study’ carried out in 1992 in 14 countries, including Russia, and ‘The Changing Academic Profession Study’, 2007–2012, with 19 participating countries and which Russia joined in 2012) to look at how faculty’s characteristics and attitudes toward different aspects of their academic life changed over 20 years (1992–2011) such as faculty’s views on reasons to leave or to stay at a university, on university’s management and the role of faculty in decision making. Using the example of universities in the two largest Russian cities, we demonstrate that the high degree of overall centralization of governance in Russian universities barely changed in 20 years. Our paper provides comparisons of teaching/research preferences and views on statements concerning personal strain associated with work, academic career perspectives, etc., not only in Russian universities between the years 1992 and 2012, but also in Russia and other ‘Changing Academic Profession’ countries.

Myocardial CO2 buffering: role of transmembrane transport of H+ or HCO3-ions

1976 ◽  
Vol 230 (4) ◽  
pp. 1037-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
DR Strome ◽  
RL Clancy ◽  
NC Gonzalez
Keyword(s):  
Small Volume ◽  
Coronary Circulation ◽  
Myocardial Cell ◽  
Ringer Solution ◽  
Red Cells ◽  
Transmembrane Transport ◽  
High Degree

Isolated rabbit hearts were perfused with rabbit red cells suspended in Ringer solution. A small volume of perfusate was recirculated for 10 min at Pco2 of 33.4 +/- 0.9 or 150.8 +/- 7.5 mmHg. Hypercapnia resulted in an increase in perfusate HCO3- concentration that was smaller than that observed when isolated perfusate was equilibrated in vitro with the same CO2 tensions (delta HCO-3e = 1.6 mM, P less than 0.01). This difference is consistent with a net movement of HCO3- into or H+ out of the mycardial cell, and cannot be accounted for by dilution of HCO3- in the myocardial interstitium. Recirculation of perfusate through the coronary circulation at normal Pco2 for two consecutive 10-min periods was not followed by changes in perfusate HCO3- concentration. A high degree of correlation (r = 0.81) was observed between intracellular HCO-3e concentration and the corresponding delta HCO-3e in individual experiments. The results suggest that transmembrane exchange of H+ or HCO3- is a buffer mechanism for CO2 in the myocardial cell.

An Equivalent Circuit Approach to Evaluating Conductivity of Polymer-Filler Composites

2002 ◽  
Vol 734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladislav Skorokhod
Keyword(s):  
Equivalent Circuit ◽  
Equivalent Circuit Model ◽  
Conductive Filler ◽  
Size Ratio ◽  
Particulate Composites ◽  
Mathematical Representation ◽  
Matrix Size ◽  
Linear System Of Equations ◽  
Polymer Filler

ABSTRACTAn equivalent circuit model of electrical conduction in polymer-filler particulate composites was developed in this study. The equivalent circuit was constructed for an individual composite particle with a sub-monolayer of conductive filler, where the filler particles play the role of circuit nodes, and inter-particle contacts are represented by resistors between the nodes. The mathematical representation of the equivalent circuit in the form of a linear system of equations for nodal potentials was solved numerically with Matlab software to calculate conductance of the composite as a function of the amount of conductive filler, filled fraction of the monolayer, filler-to-matrix size ratio and the degree of structuredness (non-randomness) of the filler material. Additionally, percolation concentrations and statistical distributions of composite conductance were calculated as functions of the filler-to-matrix size ratio.

INFLUENCE OF BACTRIO-CARRY IN THE FAMILY ON THE COURSE OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN A CHILD

2021 ◽  
pp. 114-119
Author(s):  
Vasileva E.A. ◽  
Kuyarov A.A. ◽  
Kuyarov A.V.
Keyword(s):  
Atopic Dermatitis ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Epidermal Barrier ◽  
The Family ◽  
Mucous Membranes ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Nose And Throat

The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) is complex, and at present a unified concept of the development of the disease has not been formed. At the heart of pathogenesis, there is a complex interaction of numerous factors, such as genetic predisposition, dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and the epidermal barrier. Previously, it has been proven that a high microbial contamination of the affected areas helps to maintain inflammation and aggravates skin dysfunction as a result of chronic inflammation, and favorable factors appear for the attachment of a secondary infection. However, little attention has been paid to dysfunctions of the epidermal barrier, the role of violations of the quantitative and qualitative composition of the microbiota in the development of AD, and this issue remains relevant at the present time. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the carrier of bacteria on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract in family members on the course of atopic dermatitis in a child. A bacteriological examination of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat was carried out in 34 children with AD and members of their families (74 people). When examining the mucous membranes of the nose and throat in family members of children with AD, it was found that the microflora isolated from family members in more than half of the cases has an increased potential for pathogenicity with a high degree of contamination (CFU lg 3), which forms an increased bacteriological load on the child. The tendency of bacterial carriage was revealed, contributing to the formation in the family of a permanent persistence of microflora with a high potential for pathogenicity. Asymptomatic carriage of bacteria forms an additional epidemiological load on the child, affects the severity of AD and is a risk factor in the development of secondary infection of the skin.

scholarly journals The enigmatic ribosomal stalk

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Liljas ◽  
Suparna Sanyal
Keyword(s):  
Early Phase ◽  
Ribosomal Subunit ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Large Ribosomal Subunit ◽  
Translation Factors ◽  
Ribosomal Stalk ◽  
And Function ◽  
High Degree

Abstract The large ribosomal subunit has a distinct feature, the stalk, extending outside the ribosome. In bacteria it is called the L12 stalk. The base of the stalk is protein uL10 to which two or three dimers of proteins bL12 bind. In archea and eukarya P1 and P2 proteins constitute the stalk. All these extending proteins, that have a high degree of flexibility due to a hinge between their N- and C-terminal parts, are essential for proper functionalization of some of the translation factors. The role of the stalk proteins has remained enigmatic for decades but is gradually approaching an understanding. In this review we summarise the knowhow about the structure and function of the ribosomal stalk till date starting from the early phase of ribosome research.

Young Adult Reports of the Victim–Offender Overlap in Intimate and Nonintimate Relationships: A Nationally Representative Sample

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce G. Taylor ◽  
Elizabeth A. Mumford ◽  
Weiwei Liu ◽  
Mark Berg ◽  
Maria Bohri
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
Verbal Aggression ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Management Styles ◽  
Conflict Management Styles ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Degree Of Overlap

Little is known about the role of conflict management in explaining the victim–offender overlap. This article assesses the victim–offender overlap for adults (18-32) in intimate and nonintimate relationships, covering their relationship with their partner and with friends and acquaintances/strangers. Controlling for conceptually important variables, we explore whether different conflict management styles are associated with a respondent being in the victim-only, offender-only, both, or neither group (separately for verbal aggression, physical abuse for intimate and nonintimate relationships, and sexual abuse for intimate relationships). Data are from a nationally representative panel of U.S. households ( N = 2,284 respondents of whom 871 women and 690 men report being in an intimate partnership). We observed a high degree of overlap between victimization and offending across our abuse measures. We found a range of modestly consistent set of risk factors, for example, conflict management styles and self-control, for the victim–offender overlap for partner and nonpartner abuse experiences.

scholarly journals Graphene Domain Signature of Raman Spectra of sp2 Amorphous Carbons

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2021
Author(s):  
Elena F. Sheka ◽  
Yevgeny A. Golubev ◽  
Nadezhda A. Popova
Keyword(s):  
Raman Spectra ◽  
Molecular Spectroscopy ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Quasi Particle ◽  
Phonon Spectra ◽  
2D Pattern ◽  
Density Delocalization ◽  
Electron Density Delocalization ◽  
High Degree

The standard D-G-2D pattern of Raman spectra of sp2 amorphous carbons is considered from the viewpoint of graphene domains presenting their basic structure units (BSUs) in terms of molecular spectroscopy. The molecular approximation allows connecting the characteristic D-G doublet spectra image of one-phonon spectra with a considerable dispersion of the C=C bond lengths within graphene domains, governed by size, heteroatom necklace of BSUs as well as BSUs packing. The interpretation of 2D two-phonon spectra reveals a particular role of electrical anharmonicity in the spectra formation and attributes this effect to a high degree of the electron density delocalization in graphene domains. A size-stimulated transition from molecular to quasi-particle phonon consideration of Raman spectra was experimentally traced, which allowed evaluation of a free path of optical phonons in graphene crystal.

scholarly journals The Role of Two-Pore Channels in Norepinephrine-Induced [Ca2+]i Rise in Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells and Aorta Contraction

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei K. Trufanov ◽  
Elena Yu. Rybakova ◽  
Piotr P. Avdonin ◽  
Alexandra A. Tsitrina ◽  
Irina L. Zharkikh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Rat Aorta ◽  
Structural Analogue ◽  
Aortic Smooth Muscle ◽  
Cis And Trans ◽  
High Degree

Second messenger nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) triggers Ca2+ release via two-pore channels (TPCs) localized in endolysosomal vesicles. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the role of TPCs in the action of norepinephrine (NE), angiotensin II (AngII), vasopressin (AVP), and 5-hydroxytriptamine (5-HT) on free cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) isolated from rat aorta and on aorta contraction. To address this issue, the NAADP structural analogue and inhibitor of TPCs, NED 19, was applied. We have demonstrated a high degree of colocalization of the fluorescent signals of cis-NED 19 and endolysosmal probe LysoTracker in SMCs. Both cis- or trans-NED 19 inhibited the rise of [Ca2+]i in SMCs induced by 100 μM NE by 50–60%. IC50 for cis- and trans-NED 19 were 2.7 and 8.9 μM, respectively. The inhibition by NED 19 stereoisomers of the effects of AngII, AVP, and 5-HT was much weaker. Both forms of NED 19 caused relaxation of aortic rings preconstricted by NE, with relative potency of cis-NED 19 several times higher than that of trans-NED 19. Inhibition by cis-NED 19 of NE-induced contraction was maintained after intensive washing and slowly reversed within an hour of incubation. Cis- and trans-NED 19 did not cause decrease in the force of aorta contraction in response to Ang II and AVP, and only slightly relaxed aorta preconstricted by 5-HT and by KCl. Suppression of TPC1 in SMCs with siRNA caused a 40% decrease in [Ca2+]i in response to NE, whereas siRNA against TPC2 did not change NE calcium signaling. These data suggest that TPC1 is involved in the NE-stimulated [Ca2+]i rise in SMCs. Inhibition of TPC1 activity by NED 19 could be the reason for partial inhibition of aortic rings contraction in response to NE.

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