Current Knowledge of Selected Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Pediatrics: Kidney Injury Molecule-1, Salusin-α and -β, Uromodulin, and Adropin

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the modern world. Their common denominator is atherosclerosis, a process beginning in childhood. In pediatrics, the aim of preventive measures is to recognize children and adolescents at risk for accelerated atherosclerosis and possible premature cardiovascular events in adulthood. Several diagnostic procedures and biomarkers are available for cardiovascular risk assessment in adults. However, reliable markers in pediatrics are still insufficiently studied. In this contribution, we discuss five potential biomarkers of particular interest: kidney injury molecule-1, salusin-α and -β, uromodulin, and adropin. Studies regarding the pediatric population are scarce, but they support the evidence from studies in the adult population. These markers might entail both a prognostic and a therapeutic interest.

What is in a name? Does the difference between onto-theology and theo-ontology direct the way from eco-theology to theo-ecology? Specific Russian theological perspectives

I approach this venture of figuring out the correct terminology to understand reality through the prism of two distinctive Russian Orthodox theologians, Pavel Florensky (1882–1937) and Sergius Bulgakov (1871–1944). The lens I apply mainly to their works is their respective understanding of cosmology, that is, ontology and epistemology. Therefore, I concur with Grenz to abandon the term ‘onto-theology’ and qualify the inverse as a Trinitarian theo-ontology. This honours the intimate connection between knowing and being, and prevents the bifurcation between fidelity and rationality. Mutatis mutandis, the same applies to ‘eco-theology’. This inversion reminds one of Hans-Urs von Balthasar, who bartered the concept of an aesthetic theology for theological aesthetics. Turning this question around would advance our dialogue with the sciences as the common denominator of the discourse is rather nature (creation) discerned from an acknowledged a priori (as all cognition do). In other words, the term theo-ecology is proposed.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The purpose study is not ecological but rather an asyndetic use of the terminology about the science and religion dialogue, with reference to the nomenclature of ecology and theology. All observation terms and sentences are theory-laden. Religion can be viewed as a linguistic framework that shapes the entirety of life and thought. Truth claims should focus on the grammar (or rules of the game) and not the lexicon when expressive symbolism is employed.

Potting Christianity: Ecumenical Worship in Its Multicultural and Multi-Ethnic Context

In the gardening world, potting refers to the cultivation of plants by cutting, layering, and replacing nutrients-depleted soil with new soil in larger pots to accommodate the growth process. This understanding seems helpful in describing ecumenical worship. There are two perspectives about this phenomenon. On one end of the liturgical practice spectrum, it is perceived as a “least-common-denominator” worship form where contested expressions are cast aside and replaced by elements that are acceptable by everyone. As a result, ecumenical worship is held up as a product of complex negotiation but displays a remarkable lack of spiritual depth in its outcome. On the other end, there is the World Council of Churches—a fellowship of 350 churches that is regarded as the epitome of ecumenism in practice particularly its worship celebration. The assembly, convened every eight years, is seen as a “best practice” showcase for ecumenical worship. In fact, many of the “global songs” being sung by our congregation were premiered in this ecumenical setting. How might we make sense of these perceptions? To that end, this article seeks to describe a suitably appropriate method in planning ecumenical worship and to identify elements that this worship genre needs to consider in its rendition. The efforts of the 2022 assembly worship planning committee of the World Council of Churches serves as the case study. Theo-liturgical principles that define this worship design are examined and discussed. By this, insights may be garnered to help local congregations appreciate this distinctive liturgical form that has its raison d’etre as an expression of Christian reconciliation and unity and to understand what is needed to successfully design such services. In so doing, the work of congregations may be strengthened to face the resurgence of racism and xenophobia in their local contexts.

Global Adversities, the Media, and Mental Health

Global communities are currently confronted with a number of complex problems and threats, the reality of which is amplified by the media. These environmental and socio-political stressors have been accompanied by the spread of problematic psychological and behavioural tendencies, such as the growing polarisation of opinions and values, online radicalisation and extremism, deepening xenophobia and nationalism, the proliferation of irrational beliefs and conspiracy theories, and resistance to rational public policy measures. Here we argue that although they fall outside the scope of psychopathology, they nevertheless currently constitute a major challenge for psychiatry as a research domain and a clinical practise. To substantiate this claim, we outline the mechanisms by which media-transmitted stressors impact mental well-being and possibly psychopathology. The common denominator of these global problems and the media's construction of reality is the increase in uncertainty, unpredictability, and uncontrollability, which prompts defensive responding and, in predisposed individuals, functions as a potent source of chronic stress. These contribute to cognitive inflexibility, a strong predisposing factor for the development of rigid beliefs and attitudes, which to varying degrees underlie the adverse psychological and behavioural tendencies mentioned above. We suggest that the tightening of beliefs and ideas that is the result of cognitive rigidity may correspond to the clinical characteristics of induced delusional disorder. This can be seen as a (ultimately maladaptive) defensive strategy for coping with a high degree of uncertainty and unpredictability. We conclude by briefly outlining the possible ways in which psychiatry can face this challenge.

“FLORA CAPILAR” Y OTRAS TRANSGRESIONES FANTÁSTICAS DEL PELO EN LA NARRATIVA HIPERBREVE DEL COLECTIVO MICROLOCAS

Pelos (2016), del colectivo Microlocas, es un libro de microrrelatos cuyas autoras despliegan un imaginario compartido donde el vello, denominador común del conjunto, a menudo cobra vida propia, en sentido figurado o literal. Este artículo se centra en los relatos propiamente fantásticos de la obra, con el objetivo de analizar las diversas formas de distorsión imposible que experimenta el cuerpo en sus narraciones, especialmente en aquellas en que dicha distorsión no solo transgrede lo humanamente posible, sino que también pone en entredicho las convenciones sociales tradicionalmente impuestas a una parte del cuerpo de naturaleza tan cambiante como es el pelo. Abstract: Pelos (2016), by Microlocas collective, is a book of flash fictions whose authors display a shared imaginary where hair, the common denominator of the whole, often takes on a life of its own, figuratively or literally. This article focuses on the actual fantastic stories of the collection, with the aim of analyzing the various forms of impossible distortion that the body experiences in its narratives, especially those in which such alteration not only transgresses what is humanly possible but also questions the social conventions traditionally imposed on a part of the body with such a changeable nature as the hair.

Strategies for the Mobilization and Deployment of Local Low-Value, Heterogeneous Biomass Resources for a Circular Bioeconomy

With the Bioeconomy Strategy, Europe aims to strengthen and boost biobased sectors. Therefore, investments in and markets of biobased value chains have to be unlocked and local bioeconomies across Europe have to be deployed. Compliance with environmental and social sustainability goals is on top of the agenda. The current biomass provision structures are unfit to take on the diversity of biomass residues and their respective supply chains and cannot ensure the sustainability of feedstock supply in an ecological, social and economical fashion. Therefore, we have to address the research question on feasible strategies for mobilizing and deploying local, low-value and heterogeneous biomass resources. We are building upon the work of the IEA Bioenergy Task40 scientists and their expertise on international bioenergy trade and the current provision of bioenergy and cluster mobilization measures into three assessment levels; the legislative framework, technological innovation and market creation. The challenges and opportunity of the three assessment levels point towards a common denominator: The quantification of the systemic value of strengthening the potentially last remaining primary economic sectors, forestry, agriculture and aquaculture, is missing. With the eroding importance of other primary economic sectors, including fossil fuel extraction and minerals mining, the time is now to assess and act upon the value of the supply-side of a circular bioeconomy. This value includes the support the Bioeconomy can provide to structurally vulnerable regions by creating meaningful jobs and activities in and strengthening the resource democratic significance of rural areas.

Autophagy of the Nucleus in Health and Disease

Nucleophagy is an organelle-selective subtype of autophagy that targets nuclear material for degradation. The macroautophagic delivery of micronuclei to the vacuole, together with the nucleus-vacuole junction-dependent microautophagic degradation of nuclear material, were first observed in yeast. Nuclear pore complexes and ribosomal DNA are typically excluded during conventional macronucleophagy and micronucleophagy, indicating that degradation of nuclear cargo is tightly regulated. In mammals, similarly to other autophagy subtypes, nucleophagy is crucial for cellular differentiation and development, in addition to enabling cells to respond to various nuclear insults and cell cycle perturbations. A common denominator of all nucleophagic processes characterized in diverse organisms is the dependence on the core autophagic machinery. Here, we survey recent studies investigating the autophagic processing of nuclear components. We discuss nucleophagic events in the context of pathology, such as neurodegeneration, cancer, DNA damage, and ageing.

Dramatic Premise and Human Purpose

Carl Jung's therapy is based on the dramatic structure of dreams, and current neurobiology and semantics confirms that drama—as defined by Plato—is the electromagnetic (EM) pattern of human reality. Therefore, fractal universal structure may be perceived in everything—“as above, so below”—and First Cause morality and intention can be correlated with contextual human purpose. Dramatic premise is a common denominator that integrates all of the dramatic components (plot, character, exposition, and lysis). First Cause Intention trickles down to personal harmony of purpose, but FC morality has always been problematic for humans. What part does evil play in the drama of human-cultural morality? Due to the significant difference of scale, human “contextuality” must be factored into the equation for moral behavior. Today's artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for media technology can be used to foster authentic FC “coherent entrainment” according to Carl Jung's ratio between archetypes of the unconscious and their relatively conscious projections as archetypal representations (AR).

SL$ _n(\mathbb{Z}) $-normalizer of a principal congruence subgroup

<abstract><p>Let SL$ _n(\mathbb{Q}) $ be the set of matrices of order $ n $ over the rational numbers with determinant equal to 1. We study in this paper a subset $ \Lambda $ of SL$ _n(\mathbb{Q}) $, where a matrix $ B $ belongs to $ \Lambda $ if and only if the conjugate subgroup $ B\Gamma_q(n)B^{-1} $ of principal congruence subgroup $ \Gamma_q(n) $ of lever $ q $ is contained in modular group SL$ _n(\mathbb{Z}) $. The notion of least common denominator (LCD for convenience) of a rational matrix plays a key role in determining whether <italic>B</italic> belongs to $ \Lambda $. We show that LCD can be described by the prime decomposition of $ q $. Generally $ \Lambda $ is not a group, and not even a subsemigroup of SL$ _n(\mathbb{Q}) $. Nevertheless, for the case $ n = 2 $, we present two families of subgroups that are maximal in $ \Lambda $ in this paper.</p></abstract>