Obesity Accelerates Age-Associated Defects in Human B Cells Through a Metabolic Reprogramming Induced by the Fatty Acid Palmitate

We have measured the secretion of autoimmune antibodies in plasma samples and in culture supernatants of blood-derived B cells from four groups of individuals: young lean (YL), elderly lean (EL), young obese (YO) and elderly obese (EO). We found secretion comparable in YO and EL individuals, suggesting that obesity accelerates age-associated defects in circulating B cells. To define at least one possible molecular pathway involved, we used an in vitro model in which B cells from YL and EL individuals have been stimulated with the Fatty Acid (FA) palmitate, the most common saturated FA in the human body. The rationale to use palmitate is that there is a chronic increase in circulating levels of palmitate, due to increased spontaneous lipolysis occurring during aging and obesity, and this may induce autoimmune B cells. Results herein show that in vitro incubation of B cells from YL and EL individuals with the FA palmitate induces mRNA expression of T-bet, the transcription factor for autoimmune antibodies, as well as secretion of autoimmune IgG antibodies, with B cells from YL individuals looking similar to B cells from EL individuals, confirming our initial hypothesis. The generation of autoimmune B cells in the presence of the FA palmitate was found to be associated with a metabolic reprogramming of B cells from both YL and EL individuals. These results altogether show the critical role of the FA palmitate in inducing human B cell immunosenescence and show for the first time the importance of metabolic pathways in this process.

Is true friendship possible on Facebook? A study from the psychological perspective of Laín Entralgo

The present work aims to analyse the meaning of the concept of friendship through the study of the work of the doctor and philosopher Pedro Laín Entralgo. The initial hypothesis of the study is that the concept of friendship has been used instrumentally by social media networks, and that these do not offer the conditions necessary to fully experience true friendship. To verify this, we focused on the study of the psychological dimensions of friendship proposed by the author, identifying a series of variables and conducting an analysis by means of a survey of university students who are active users of the platform. With these results the descriptive statistics were extracted and a nonparametric analysis was performed of the variables to determine if Facebook does in fact offer the conditions necessary for to experience true friendship in its psychological dimensions. As the results show, to experience true friendship on social networks is difficult, given that the nature of the interactions between users of the platform are not appropriate for this experience. In calling this different type of relationship friendship Facebook benefits from an attractive hook which leads users to generate contacts as a form of currency which benefits the business model of the social media platform. The concept of true friendship is altered, deformed and displaced in favour of other types of relationships.

Preliminary mechanical evaluation of two novel veterinary angle-stable-threaded interlocking nail systems

ABSTRACT: The interlocking nail represents an excellent option as a surgical approach to treat fractures in long bones in veterinary medicine. However, failures were reported mainly due to a slack present in the interface of the rod with the screws. The present study tested and mechanically compare axial compression loads of two novel models of stable angle interlocking nails with threaded holes. Among the two models, one was uniplanar and the other was multiplanar with orthogonally arranged distal holes. Twenty-one specimens made of polylactic acid were used for the implantation of interlocking nail´s rods, divided into three groups: conventional interlocking nail (G1), novel interlocking nail with a stable angle with holes arranged in a single plane (G2), and novel interlocking nail with a stable angle in two planes, with the penultimate hole at 90 degrees from the others (G3). Biomechanical tests were performed using axial, cyclic, and destructive compression load for comparison between them. All the specimens showed plastic deformation in the screws after destructive tests, in both proximal and distal sides, being highly intense in G1. G2 and G3 of the stable angle rods supported higher loads than G1 in all tests performed (P<0.05). The novel stems did not differ statistically from each other (P>0.05). The initial hypothesis that the novel models would provide increased stability was confirmed; however, no differences were demonstrated between them. The screw locking system on the rods allowed high resistance values in the tests performed, proving to be effective and potentially applicable in real clinical situations.

O Fenômeno das Fake News: Implicações para a Política Externa do Governo Bolsonaro durante a Pandemia do COVID-19 | The Fake News Phenomenon: Implications for the Foreign Policy of the Bolsonaro Government during the COVID-19 Pandemic

O uso de plataformas como o Twitter por políticos, como Bolsonaro, tem mudado a comunicação política. Associado a isso, a rapidez com que a informação circula por tais ambientes proporciona a disseminação de desinformação e fake news, especialmente durante a pandemia do COVID-19 a partir de 2020. Diante disso, o artigo busca entender como o presidente Jair Bolsonaro utilizou o fenômeno das fake news como base da sua comunicação política durante a pandemia do COVID-19 e qual a influência desse fenômeno para a política externa brasileira. A hipótese inicial é de que a propagação de informações sem conteúdo confiáveis é utilizada como ferramenta política por Jair Bolsonaro. Nesse cenário, a política externa brasileira sofre influências diretas devido a ocorrência de tal fenômeno, com novas diretrizes internacionais e posicionamentos, acarretando a perda de credibilidade internacional brasileira e, ainda, colocando em risco a aquisição de vacinas pelo país.Palavras-chave: Fake News; Jair Bolsonaro; Política ExternaABSTRACTThe usage of social media, like Twitter, by politicians, such as Jair Bolsonaro, have changed the political communication. That said, the information has circulated quickly and provides a favorable environment for disinformation and fake news, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020. Based on that, the article aims to understand how the Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, has used fake News as the ground for your political communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also aims to understand which is the influence of this phenomena to the Brazilian foreign policy. The initial hypothesis is that the dissemination of information without reliable content is used as political tool by Bolsonaro. In this scenario, the Brazilian foreign policy is under direct influence of this phenomena, with new international guidelines and positioning, resulting in the loss of the Brazilian international credibility and risking the vaccines acquisition by the country.Keywords: Fake News; Jair Bolsonaro; Foreign Policy. Recebido em: 14/04/2021 | Aceito em: 29/10/2021.

Digitalization and 3D Documentation Techniques Applied to Two Pieces of Visigothic Sculptural Heritage in Merida Through Structured Light Scanning

Technological advancements have a great impact on the dissemination and understanding of the cultural heritage reality due to innovative techniques. These innovations are based on high-precision and high-resolution technologies that allow for the geometric documentation of any object within the fields of history and the arts. Through these techniques, new proposals may be studied and objects can be placed in any historical context. Three-dimensional (3D) digitization allows one to obtain a digital 3D model, which can be handled virtually and recreated at any historical period, enabling the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage. Society currently demands new visualization techniques that allow interacting with architectural and artistic heritage, which have been applied in numerous virtual reconstructions of historical sites or singular archaeological pieces. This project allowed us to geometrically document a reused piece with two surfaces (shield and columns) and a plaque of the city of Merida using a structured light scanner from a theoretical-practical perspective. The 3D virtual reconstruction of the pieces was accomplished within this study. The generation of QR codes enabled the interactive display of the heritage pieces. Likewise, a proposal was made to reuse the aforementioned pieces through virtual archaeology. The initial hypothesis is based on the possible existence of a Visigothic niche as an original form. This research reports significant advances in the conservation and exploitation of cultural heritage.

The Persuasion Knowledge Model Within Instagram Advertisements

The aim of this research was to find a correlation between the Persuasion Knowledge Model and Instagram Advertisements. Past research has primarily focused on this model on other forms of media such as television, radio, newspaper, etc. Additionally, the ages studied have been over the age of 30 as well as not focused within a certain geological demographic. For this study, participants were residents of Pennsylvania who vary in age between 18-25 years old. Using a survey, statistical analysis, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient Analysis test (PCC test), this study measured each of the 49 participants’ persuasion knowledge and correlated it to the advertisements chosen in the survey. The analyses found that those with lower persuasion knowledge were more likely to select an advertisement with less text variance and influential text. Further, a new understanding was found that showed a slightly negative correlation due to the PCC test, but the correlation was not statistically significant. Therefore, the findings of this research study refuted the initial hypothesis and other studies conducted in the field of persuasion knowledge.

The Principle of Deliberation as a Key Basis of Statehood in Modern Russia

The development of statehood is predetermined by a great variety of factors. In modern society, citizens are developing an increasing willingness to fully participate in political and legal processes jointly with the state. Today the ideas of deliberative democracy attract the close attention of legal theorists in this aspect. The subject of the research is the key aspects of the philosophical and legal treatment of social relations in the sphere of realisation of the principle of deliberation in modern Russia. The purpose of this study is a multilevel analysis (general legal, philosophical, technical/legal) of the principle of deliberation, with substantiation of its significance as a key foundation of statehood in modern Russia. The research results confirm the initial hypothesis and evidence that the goal of the study has been achieved. The correlation of state and public interests in terms of deliberative interaction is of fundamental importance for the development of Russian statehood.

A free-geometry geodynamic modelling of surface gravity changes using Growth-dg software

Globally there is abundant terrestrial surface gravity data used to study the time variation of gravity related to subsurface mass and density changes in different geological, geodynamical and geotechnical environments. We present here a tool for analysing existing and newly acquired, 4D gravity data, which creates new findings from its reuse. Our method calculates in an almost automatic way the possible sources of density change responsible for the observed gravity variations. The specifics of the new methodology are: use of a low number of observation points, relatively small source structures, low signal/noise ratio in the data, and a free 3D source geometry without initial hypothesis. The process is based on the non-linear adjustment of structures defined by aggregation of small cells corresponding to a 3D section of the sub-floor volume. This methodology is implemented in a software tool, named GROWTH-dg, which can be freely downloaded for immediate use, together with a user manual and application examples.

Investigating the Campylobacter enteritis winter peak in Germany, 2018/2019

Surveillance of notified Campylobacter enteritis in Germany revealed a recurrent annual increase of cases with disease onset several days after the Christmas and New Year holidays (“winter peak”). We suspected that handling and consumption of chicken meat during fondue and raclette grill meals on the holidays were associated with winter peak Campylobacter infections. The hypothesis was investigated in a case–control study with a case-case design where notified Campylobacter enteritis cases served as case-patients as well as control-patients, depending on their date of disease onset (case-patients: 25/12/2018 to 08/01/2019; control-patients: any other date between 30/11/2018 and 28/02/2019). The study was conducted as an online survey from 21/01/2019 to 18/03/2019. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were determined in single-variable logistic regression analyses adjusted for age group and sex. We analysed 182 data sets from case-patients and 260 from control-patients and found associations of Campylobacter infections after the holidays with meat fondue (aOR 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–3.8) and raclette grill meals with meat (aOR 1.5; 95% CI 1.0–2.4) consumed on the holidays. The associations were stronger when chicken meat was served at these meals (fondue with chicken meat: aOR 2.7; 95% CI 1.4–5.5; raclette grill meal with chicken meat: aOR 2.3; 95% CI 1.3–4.1). The results confirmed our initial hypothesis. To prevent Campylobacter winter peak cases in the future, consumers should be made more aware of the risks of a Campylobacter infection when handling raw meat, in particular chicken, during fondue or raclette grill meals on the holidays.

The Results of an Integrated Study of Unconventional Reservoirs and a First Attempt at their Development

Rechitsa multi-play oilfield is located within the Rechitsko-Vishanskaya subregional area of local uplifts of the Rechitsko-Vishanskaya tectonic stage of the Northern structural zone of the Pripyat Trough in the Republic of Belarus. Since 2014, Production Association Belorusneft has been conducting integrated research to study oil bearing capacity of sediments within rock Units I-III, which were previously considered to have no potential. Since then, the lithological and petrophysical, pyrolytic, and geomechanical features of the structure of these sediments have been studied. The research has confirmed the initial hypothesis that the studied sediments are unconventional reservoirs with source-rock genesis and contain hydrocarbons both of their own genesis and those which migrated from other rocks. The results of drilling and completion of horizontal exploration wells with multi-stage hydraulic fracturing confirmed the potential for obtaining commercial oil from the sediments of the unconventional reservoirs. At the same time, there were doubts about the optimal placement of the horizontal wells, the choice of completion strategy, and if the well performance lived up to the actual maximum potential of these sediments. The paper sums up the main results of implementing an integrated program for studying unconventional reservoirs of the Rechitsa oilfield, as well as of drilling and operating production wells to date.