Crucial Axis Research Articles

Russia-China relationship in the context of the war in Ukraine: Bonding Over Shared Ideology or Western Sanctions

In the face of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia’s trade and economic potentials have been limited and restricted mostly due to the imposition of sanctions. Consequently, a bond between Russia and China has developed, putting aside their former disagreements and disputes. This goes together with the fact that both countries face a shared adversary from the US and the West, which has worked in pulling them closer to each other. Amidst the dynamic environment of worldwide trade, the economic collaboration and strategic alignment between China and Russia stand out as a crucial axis. This article investigates the interdependency and asymmetries of their bilateral partnership and how they have shaped their global trade relation. Furthermore, it also analyzes the historical background of Sino-Russian connections, emphasizing significant milestones and policy changes that have influenced their present economic interconnection. It analyses the problem areas of their relation and whether this bonding will withstand future changes in the global order.

At the Interface of Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Fibroblasts: Immune-Suppressive Networks and Emerging Exploitable Targets

Abstract Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) constitute a prominent immune cell population within various solid cancers, playing a pivotal role in disease progression. Their increased numbers and frequencies often strongly correlate with resistance to therapy and reduced overall survival rates. Within the complex ecosystem of the tumor microenvironment (TME), activated cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are expanded and contribute significantly to tumor growth and metastasis and chemotherapy or immunotherapy resistance. CAFs exert a critical influence on TAM phenotypes and functions by orchestrating the reprogramming of tissue-infiltrating monocytes, thereby modulating their survival and differentiation. This reciprocal interaction between TAMs and CAFs forms a crucial axis in fostering a suppressive crosstalk within the TME, mediated by a diverse array of signals exchanged between these cell types. Recent advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing technologies and spatial transcriptomics have enhanced our comprehension of the signaling dynamics at the interface between TAMs and CAFs, including their spatial distribution within the tissue. In this review, we delve into the latest discoveries elucidating the biology of TAM and CAF crosstalk. We examine the complexity of TAM–CAF and CAF–TAM interactions within the TME of solid cancers, with particular focus on ligand–receptor interactions and clinically significant targets for novel therapeutic strategies.

Politics of popularity in the November Uprising (1830–31)

ABSTRACT This paper seeks to explore the cultural politics of the November Uprising through the lens of popularity. It investigates both the idea of popularity that pervaded the discourse of the time and the social practice of using popular reputations to shape the politics of the Uprising. Instead of treating popularity as just another manifestation of the ideological conflicts typical of the age of revolutions, this paper posits that the discourse surrounding popularity became a crucial axis of conceptualizing public individuality during the uprising. The debates surrounding popularity, including those concerning the dangers of hasty political ambitions, the increasing importance of personality in public life and the search for alternative sources of legitimacy, fostered an evolving political landscape in which it became possible to envision a different way of being a public figure and to reconsider the tools available for shaping public opinion.

Examining medical urgent and patient precedence within the telemedicine landscape with its infrastructure and policies: A comprehensive review

Medical facilities are confronted with grave issues, including a population that is aging and a physician shortage. In an effort to address these issues, telehealth and remote health monitoring systems (RHMS) aim to reduce hospital visits by a small amount. RHMS lessens the workload for primary care patients and enhances inter-unit communication, which lessens the strain on emergency rooms. Due to significant advancements in mobile information transfer and processing of signal technologies, some healthcare researchers have made efforts to employ RHMS in place of hospital visits to provide triage and prioritization for individuals. Prioritization is a strategy for giving people urgent medical care in an attempt to save their lives, while clinical examination determines the severity of a sickness or damage. To emphasize the disadvantages of the present patient screening and prioritization system over the telehealth environment, a crucial inquiry is needed. Based on two crucial axes, an in-depth examination of patient prioritization and medical crisis assessment in a videoconferencing setting was provided in this research. First, a collection, analysis, and classification of earlier research on triage of patients and prioritization in this kind of setting was done. Second, a variety of priorities and standards, as well as various approaches and procedures for prioritization, were provided and examined. The subsequent outcomes were attained: The shortcomings and issues with the current patient prioritization and assessment methods were highlighted. The assessment and priority for individuals who have cardiac conditions were not presented. In the years to come, a structure based on the theory of evidence, as well as the incorporation of a multiple-layer analytical hierarchy approach and method for ranking preference due to resemblance to perfect solutions, can be used to prioritize the care of several patients with ongoing cardiovascular disease by triaging them based on various emergencies dimensions.

Ten years of Hospital Information Systems: A taxonomy attempt

Nowadays, hospital organizations are affected by digital advances. This phenomenon has led to a radical change in the way of working from a purely manual process to an automatic process, giving rise to the hospital information system (HIS). This latter becomes one of the essential tools of hospital management. It is conceived to manage administrative and clinical data with the intention of improving the quality of health care provided by the hospital as well as increasing its efficiency.Lately, several countries launched ambitious projects to reform their health sectors. Digitalization processes prove to be a crucial axis of their reforms. Hence, a reflection on the management of medical information in hospitals is urgently needed. Acting on the HIS seems to be the relevant track because it is a valuable tool for better management and realizing real benefits from administrative and medical data. Hence, this communication aims to presents a taxonomy of the HIS during the last decade.To do so, authors used Scopus data basis. They focus on the last decade (2013-2023), which witnessed significant technological advancements in the healthcare sector, along with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.The results of this communication identify categories of the HIS during the last decades, enable the proposal of a universal taxonomy, and analyze its distribution and evolution over time.

Nucleus pulposus related lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in intervertebral disc degeneration

In the present study, we aimed to have a comprehensive understanding of nucleus pulposus related long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA expression profiles in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). In total, 2418 mRNAs and 528 lncRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in the IDD group compared with the Control group. Combining microarray datasets and sequencing data, 5 overlapping DEMs and 7 overlapping DELs were identified. NF-κB signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were strongly linked with enriched GO terms and KEGG pathways. The ceRNA network suggested that lnc-TMEM44-AS1-hsa-miR-206-HDAC4 may be one crucial axis in IDD. PPI network analysis was constructed with 309 nodes and 129 edges. And the highest connectivity degrees were ALB, APOB and CCL2. This study suggested that specific lncRNAs and ceRNA axes may be crucial in the development of IDD. It provides a new perspective for delaying IDD process and enhancing intervertebral disc repair.

Study on the Collaboration between University and Educational Centers Mentors in the Development of the In-School Education Placements in Official University Degrees Qualifying for the Teaching Profession: The Case of the University of Santiago de Compostela

An in-school education placements is considered a crucial axis in the training of the future teacher. This first immersion in the school context allows interaction between theory and practice, contextualized learning of the profession and reflection on the processes, skills and competencies to be acquired, as well as the student’s personal development. The successful achievement of these goals requires close collaboration and communication between all the agents involved in the internship: university mentors, school mentors, and the student intern. The present study focuses on a diagnosis of the collaboration between mentors (university and school) in the development of the training activities and processes that take place during the school internships. These internships correspond to the teaching degrees and the master’s degree in secondary education of the Faculty of Education Sciences of the University of Santiago de Compostela. Through a non-experimental study with descriptive methodology, using an online questionnaire, the perceptions of both profiles of mentors are collected. The first objective is to know the degree of collaboration that exists in the processes and in the different training activities that are currently carried out in the practicum; the second aim is to know the perception of the importance and necessity of such a collaboration in each of the proposed activities. The main results show the need to improve the collaboration and teamwork processes of the mentors and reinforce the relevance of designing and implementing specific technological solutions. It is necessary to connect both teaching profiles and educational contexts and to establish a hybrid training scenario that strengthens the training link between mentors and students in the practicum, allowing permanent and personalized support. This work is part of a Doctoral Thesis developed within the framework of the International Competitive research project EKT—Educational Knowledge Transfer-(Knowledge Alliance reference number 612414-EPP-1-2019-1-ES-EPPKA2-KA). The purpose is to develop and test collaborative educational methodologies for internships through an intelligent technological framework that aims to impact on a more effective, scalable, and sustainable system that is closely linked to professional contexts.

Methodological proposal to improve organizational innovation in the logistics sector of Cartagena, Colombia

This paper aims to design a methodological proposal to improve the innovation of companies belonging to the logistics sector in Cartagena, Colombia. The multiple case study methodology was applied, where nine axes that directly affect organizational innovation (strategy, culture, planning, people, tools, products/services, processes, efficiency, and capitalization) were analysed. The sample consisted of five Logistics Service Providers located in Cartagena. Among the main results of the research, it was found that planning is fundamental for improving organizational innovation because it is essential to have a stipulated strategic direction and to design a plan to propitiate an innovative culture in the company. Additionally, the company's diagnosis showed that most have innovative resources and processes; however, they do not have the necessary tools to implement the processes effectively. Finally, four of the five companies are working to develop an innovative culture, which places culture as the second most crucial axis after planning. These results led to the proposal of a methodology that seeks to improve organizational innovation levels and mainly focuses on three phases: Strategic Direction, Processes, and Results.

Coumarin-acetohydrazide derivatives as novel antiproliferative agents via VEGFR-2/AKT axis inhibition and apoptosis triggering

The VEGFR-2/AKT pathway is a crucial axis in tumor survival where it is highly dysregulated in many cancer types.

DNMT3B-mediated FAM111B methylation promotes papillary thyroid tumor glycolysis, growth and metastasis.

Over the past decades, the incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) rapidly increased all over the world, with the papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) accounting for the vast majority of TC cases. It is crucial to investigate novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for PTC and explore more detailed molecular mechanisms in the carcinogenesis and progression of PTC. Based on the TCGA and GEO databases, FAM111B is downregulated in PTC tissues and predicts better prognosis in PTC patients. FAM111B suppresses the growth, migration, invasion and glycolysis of PTC both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, estrogen inhibits FAM111B expression by DNMT3B methylation via enhancing the recruitment of DNMT3B to FAM111B promoter. DNMT3B-mediated FAM111B methylation accelerates the growth, migration, invasion and glycolysis of PTC cells. In clinical TC patient specimens, the expression of FAM111B is inversely correlated with the expressions of DNMT3B and the glycolytic gene PGK1. Besides, the expression of FAM111B is inversely correlated while DNMT3B is positively correlated with glucose uptake in PTC patients. Our work established E2/DNMT3B/FAM111B as a crucial axis in regulating the growth and progression of PTC. Suppression of DNMT3B or promotion of FAM111B will be potential promising strategies in the estrogen induced PTC.

Expanding role of PI5P4Ks in cancer: A promising druggable target.

Cancer cells are challenged by a myriad of microenvironmental stresses, and it is their ability to efficiently adapt to the constantly changing nutrient, energy, oxidative, and/or immune landscape that allows them to survive and proliferate. Such adaptations, however, result in distinct vulnerabilities that are attractive therapeutic targets. Phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinases (PI5P4Ks) are a family of druggable stress-regulated phosphoinositide kinases that become conditionally essential as a metabolic adaptation, paving the way to targeting cancer cell dependencies. Further, PI5P4Ks have a synthetic lethal interaction with the tumor suppressor p53, the loss of which is one of the most prevalent genetic drivers of malignant transformation. PI5P4K's emergence as a crucial axis in the expanding landscape of phosphoinositide signaling in cancer has already stimulated the development of specific inhibitors. Thus, a better understanding of the biology of the PI5P4Ks will allow for targeted and effective therapeutic interventions. Here, we attempt to summarize the mounting roles of the PI5P4Ks in cancer, including evidence that targeting them is a therapeutic vulnerability and promising next-in-line treatment for multiple cancer subtypes.

BRICS amidst India‐China Rivalry

AbstractIn only a decade, the BRICS group has achieved policy coordination among five very disparate countries and has started presenting a serious challenge to the status quo in global governance. It is now collaborating on many policy issues and delegating authority to a range of BRICS organizations. Since the inception of BRICS, the protracted India–China rivalry has cast a dark shadow over the group. In the aftermath of the India–China standoff in Ladakh, especially the Galwan Valley clash evoking memories of more serious clashes such as those at Nathu La in 1967 and even the 1962 border war, a crucial axis of BRICS cooperation – the India–China relationship – has deteriorated. This Special Section examines whether the India–China rivalry will render BRICS dysfunctional. Will the BRICS group be broken? The contributors will analyse whether BRICS can be a pacifying force and outline the prospects for the development of BRICS in light of the India–China crisis.

Comparison of Estradiol, Testostosterone, and CYP19 Methylation Levels between Full-Term and Preterm Newborns

Estradiol (E), testosterone (T), and their ratio are crucial axis in life. Especially during intrauterine growth, they orchestrate the complex development of organs and their interaction, which have lifelong impact on health and an organism’s capacity to respond to environmental stressors. The aim of this study was to compare for the first time E, T, and their ratio levels with aromatase (CYP19) gene methylation levels between preterm newborns (PN) and full-term newborns (FN) with respect to their mother’s environmental exposure and diet. In this study, 56 FN of 37–42 weeks of gestation age (GA) and 46 PN at GA 27–36 weeks were analysed for E and T levels and CYP19A1 gene pI.3/II promoter region methylation. Results showed there was no difference in E levels between PN and FN, but there were significantly lower levels of T in PN than in FN (2.81 nmol vs. 3.76 nmol, respectively) and consequently a significantly higher E/T ratio in PN than in FN (5278.04 vs. 2891.23, respectively). CYP19A1 methylation was significantly lower in PN than in FN (86.04% vs. 90.04%, respectively). CYP19A1 methylation was significantly reduced in newborns whose mothers reported daily milk consumption. Our study is the first to provide referent values for CYP19A1 methylation levels in FN and PN and shows that PN and FN significantly differ in CYP19A1 methylation levels, T levels, and E/T ratio. Future research should further investigate the mechanisms involved in GA-dependent CYP19A1 methylation levels and mechanisms of sex hormone disturbances which may contribute to preterm birth.

Identification and prediction of common molecular culprits between psoriasis and melanoma via bioinformatical analysis

BackgroundPsoriasis is an autoimmune, chronic inflammatory dermatosis characterized by excessive hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, manifested by skin lesions. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops from melanocytes. Growing epidemiology evidence has indicated psoriasis could be associated with melanoma. This study aims to explore the common molecular mechanisms that connect psoriasis with melanoma. MethodsDifferentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from melanoma and psoriasis GEO datasets. Next, using the GEO2R tool, common DEGs between melanoma and psoriasis samples were picked out. Finally, using in silico analysis, the hub genes and their significant molecular mechanisms were identified. Results244 DEGs (p < 0.05, │LogFC│ ≥ 1) were shared between psoriasis and melanoma. Of these, 116 were down-regulated, and 62 were up-regulated. In the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, 19 DEGs were obtained as central nodes with criteria of interaction numbers and considered as hubs. Besides, the most crucial axis (module) among DEGs was predicted. Finally, Toll-like receptors and chemokine signaling pathways were identified as potential mechanisms underlying psoriasis and melanoma. ConclusionThis in-silico study may shed light on the molecular culprits that predispose psoriasis patients to melanoma.

Job Quality and Work-Life Balance of Teleworkers.

As telework and mobile work arrangements become more widespread with new advancements in digitalization, these flexible models of work are rapidly expanding to new categories of employees and completely modifying working conditions and job quality. The aim of this study was to assess how particular types of telework affect different dimensions of job quality. We applied multivariable techniques to a sample of 35,765 workers from the Sixth European Working Conditions Survey. Our findings show that gender and types of telework by workplace and ICT-use intensity are crucial factors affecting working conditions and job quality. Occasional teleworkers are the group with the best job quality, while highly mobile teleworkers are those with the worst job quality and work–life balance. Home-based teleworkers, especially women, present better results than highly mobile workers in terms of working time quality and intensity, though in exchange for lower skills and discretion, income, and career prospects. This study contributes to deepening our knowledge on the impacts of flexible arrangements of work, providing an analysis of current data on different dimensions of job quality and work–life balance and including gender as a crucial axis of analysis.

Être ou avoir son corps : à propos de trois genres de multiplicités chez Ruyer

In &#8220;To be or to have his own body : about three kinds of multiplicities in Ruyer&#8217;s thought&#8221;, Benjamin Berger strives to clarify the place of the body in the philosophy of Ruyer. The body is located at the croassroads of two crucial axes : that of appaearing and that of multiplicities. It is therefore the object where the phenom&#233;nology is tied to the ontology, a philosophy of incarnation to a philosophy of living body.

The phenomenality of the phenomenon: Heidegger on physics

The essay explores the possibilities afforded by Heidegger’s thought for addressing the question of the reality of the phenomenon within the framework of the theory of quantum mechanics. Heidegger’s conception of the task of phenomenology is seen to provide a crucial axis along which the phenomenon of quantum physics can be connected both to its appearance in language and to the historical unfolding of the horizon that grounds the possibility of an encounter with the phenomenon itself. The determinations of this horizon, i.e. of the order of “phenomenality” that makes the appearance of the phenomenon possible, are analyzed in the instance of quantum mechanics, and compared to the ones presented by Heidegger in his considerations concerning the appearing of the phenomenon in Aristotelian and classical physics. The three main directives that structure the analysis of this order of phenomenality are the determinations of the conditions of experience of the phenomenon, of the function of language that makes this appearance possible, and of the subject function that constitutes, and is in turn constituted by, this experience.

Current Issues on Research Conducted to Improve Women's Health.

There are varied lessons to be learned regarding the current methodological approaches to women’s health research. In the present scheme of growing medical literature and inflation of novel results claiming significance, the sheer amount of information can render evidence-based practice confusing. The factors that classically determined the impact of discoveries appear to be losing ground: citation count and publication rates, hierarchy in author lists according to contribution, and a journal’s impact factor. Through a comprehensive literature search on the currently available data from theses, opinion, and original articles and reviews on this topic, we seek to present to clinicians a narrative synthesis of three crucial axes underlying the totality of the research production chain: (a) critical advances in research methodology, (b) the interplay of academy and industry in a trial conduct, and (c) review- and publication-associated developments. We also provide specific recommendations on the study design and conduct, reviewing the processes and dissemination of data and the conclusions and implementation of findings. Overall, clinicians and the public should be aware of the discourse behind the marketing of alleged breakthrough research. Still, multiple initiatives, such as patient review and strict, supervised literature synthesis, have become more widely accepted. The “bottom-up” approach of a wide dissemination of information to clinicians, together with practical incentives for stakeholders with competing interests to collaborate, promise to improve women’s healthcare.

Negotiating risks and responsibilities during lockdown: ethical reasoning and affective experience in Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACT Over forty-nine days of Level 4 and Level 3 lockdown, residents of Aotearoa New Zealand were subject to ‘stay home’ regulations that restricted physical contact to members of the same social ‘bubble’. This article examines their moral decision-making and affective experiences of lockdown, especially when faced with competing responsibilities to adhere to public health regulations, but also to care for themselves or provide support to people outside their bubbles. Our respondents engaged in independent risk assessment, weighing up how best to uphold the ‘spirit’ of the lockdown even when contravening lockdown regulations; their decisions could, however, lead to acute social rifts. Some respondents – such as those in flatshares and shared childcare arrangements – recounted feeling disempowered from participating in the collective management of risk and responsibility within their bubbles, while essential workers found that anxieties about their workplace exposure to the coronavirus could prevent them from expanding their bubbles in ways they might have liked. The inability to adequately care for oneself or for others thus emerges as a crucial axis of disadvantage, specific to times of lockdown. Policy recommendations regarding lockdown regulations are provided.

Bioinformatics Analyses of Potential miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Axis in HBV-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Aims: We aimed to explore the crucial miRNA-mRNA axis through bioinformatics analysis and provide evidences for the development of pathophysiological mechanisms and new therapies for HBV-related HCC.Methods: MiRNA (GSE76903) and mRNA (GSE77509) dataset were used to screen differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) and differentially expressed mRNAs (DE-mRNAs) using R software. Overlapping genes between DE-mRNAs and target genes of DE-miRNAs were identified as candidate genes. Hub genes were obtained via cytohubba analysis. The expression at protein and mRNA levels and prognostic value of hub genes were evaluated based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Key miRNA-mRNA axes were constructed according to predicted miRNA-mRNA pairs. MiRNA expression and prognostic role were respectively identified using starBase v3.0 and Kaplan-Meier plotter database. Real-time PCR was performed to verify the expression of crucial miRNAs and mRNAs. Coexpression of crucial miRNA and mRNA were analyzed using starBase v3.0.Results: CDK1, CCNB1, CKS2 and CCNE1 were screened as hub genes, which were significantly upregulated at protein and mRNA levels. These up-regulated hub genes were also significantly associated with poor prognosis. Hsa-mir-195-5p/CDK1, hsa-mir-5589-3p/CCNB1 and hsa-let-7c-3p/CKS2 were screened as critical miRNA-mRNA axes. Critical miRNAs were decreased in HCC, which indicates unfavourable prognosis. QPCR results showed that crucial miRNAs were decreased, whereas critical mRNAs were increased in HBV-related HCC. A reverse relationship between miRNA and mRNA in crucial axis was further verified.Conclusion: This study identified several miRNA-mRNA axes in HBV-related HCC. Hsa-mir-195-5p/CDK1, hsa-mir-5589-3p/CCNB1 and hsa-let-7c-3p/CKS2 might serve as potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HBV-related HCC.