Obesity-Related Adipose Tissue Remodeling in the Light of Extracellular Mitochondria Transfer

Adipose tissue dysfunction is strongly associated with obesity and its metabolic complications such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It is well established that lipid-overloaded adipose tissue produces a large range of secreted molecules that contribute a pro-inflammatory microenvironment which subsequently disseminates towards multi-organ metabolic homeostasis disruption. Besides physiopathological contribution of adipose-derived molecules, a new paradigm is emerging following the discovery that adipocytes have a propensity to extrude damaged mitochondria in the extracellular space, to be conveyed through the blood and taken up by cell acceptors, in a process called intercellular mitochondria transfer. This review summarizes the discovery of mitochondria transfer, its relation to cell quality control systems and recent data that demonstrate its relevant implication in the context of obesity-related adipose tissue dysfunction.

Arithmetic Formulated Relevantly

The purpose of this paper is to formulate first-order Peano arithmetic within the resources of relevant logic, and to demonstrate certain properties of the system thus formulated. Striking among these properties are the facts that (1) it is trivial that relevant arithmetic is absolutely consistent, but (2) classical first-order Peano arithmetic is straightforwardly contained in relevant arithmetic. Under (1), I shall show in particular that 0 = 1 is a non-theorem of relevant arithmetic; this, of course, is exactly the formula whose unprovability was sought in the Hilbert program for proving arithmetic consistent. Under (2), I shall exhibit the requisite translation, drawing some Goedelian conclusions therefrom. Left open, however, is the critical problem whether Ackermann’s rule γ is admissible for theories of relevant arithmetic. The particular system of relevant Peano arithmetic featured in this paper shall be called R♯. Its logical base shall be the system R of relevant implication, taken in its first-order form RQ. Among other Peano arithmetics we shall consider here in particular the systems C♯, J♯, and RM3♯; these are based respectively on the classical logic C, the intuitionistic logic J, and the Sobocinski-Dunn semi-relevant logic RM3. And another feature of the paper will be the presentation of a system of natural deduction for R♯, along lines valid for first-order relevant theories in general. This formulation of R♯ makes it possible to construct relevantly valid arithmetical deductions in an easy and natural way; it is based on, but is in some respects more convenient than, the natural deduction formulations for relevant logics developed by Anderson and Belnap in Entailment.

Predictive value of diabetes mellitus for freedom from arrhythmia recurrence after cryoballoon-guided pulmonary vein isolation

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been identified to play an important role in the regulation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Data concerning the impact of DM on the development of individual arrhythmia substrates are still lacking. Purpose Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to examine the outcome of cryoballoon-guided pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients (pts) suffering from DM and coexisting AF. Methods 523 consecutive pts undergoing initial PVI using the 2nd generation cryoballoon were analysed. 273 pts (52%) suffered from paroxysmal AF (PAF) (51 ± 23.2 years old, 26% female), 250 pts (48%) from persistent AF (PERS) (63.9 ± 10.0 years old, 30% female) and 69 pts (13%) were diagnosed with DM (68 ± 19.6 years old, 30% female). Follow-up (FU) visits were performed at 3, 6 and 12 months including 7-day Holter ECGs. Primary endpoint was the first documented recurrence of any atrial arrhythmia after a 3 months blanking period (> 30 sec.). Results Within the observation period of 12 months AF recurrence occurred in 29% (n = 151 pts). Regardless of the coincidence of DM, PAF pts were significantly younger than those with PERS (p = 0.001). PAF pts additionally suffering from DM presented with a significantly higher risk for arrhythmia recurrence (p = 0.047). Multivariate analyses verified DM as a strong independent predictor for arrhythmia recurrence associated with a > 4 fold higher risk for recurrence after ablation (p = 0.009, hazard ratio (HR) 4.363, confidence interval (CI) 1.46-13.07). PERS pts showed a slightly increased rate of arrhythmia recurrence when additional DM was diagnosed. In these patients multivariate analyses revealed that DM was associated with a 43% higher risk for arrhythmia recurrence (p = 0.321, HR 1.143, CI 0.59-2.22). Beyond that, severe gender disparities were observed with female gender as independent predictor for arrhythmia recurrence (p = 0.027*, HR 1.927, CI 1.079-3.440). Conclusions DM has relevant implication for arrhythmia recurrence after PVI. More distinct effects were observed in PAF patients following AF ablation. This could be related to more severe arrhythmia substrates in PAF pts suffering from DM compared to PAF pts without additional DM and even more substantial structural changes in PERS. Thus, individual paths in ablation management are required in these pts with AF and coexisting DM.

The National Budget Circular 461: Emerging trends in Philippines higher education promotion system

This research aimed to identify trends on promotion challenges and concerns (CaCs) encountered by the faculty members in selected State universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines. To specifically identify significant CaCs, the study employed the mixed-method research design utilizing the delphi model technique for data collection. Thematic data coding was thoroughly conducted to come up with a consensus from the experts in the field of promotion in higher education. There were 10 focal persons from the SUCs in the national capital region (NCR) purposively chosen as the study participants. The identified challenges and concerns as the trend indicators were categorized into themes such as appreciation of documents, faculty engagement for promotion, information dissemination, schedule of implementation, responsiveness of the national budget circular No. 461 (NBC 461) focal persons to promotion-related concerns, faculty engagement to promotion, and stakeholder’s engagement to promotion. These indicators would be a relevant implication to the holistic and a uniform faculty promotion scheme in higher education institutions of the country. Hence, the result of the study shall be utilized by the SUCs policymakers in crafting the standardized NBC 461 policy guideline that is inclusive for implementing equal promotion opportunity as well as job security.

Management accounting use in micro and small enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore if and how micro and small firms apply management accounting (MA) techniques. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on 36 semistructured interviews with micro and small firm owners/managers in Mexico. Content analysis is used to identify how these enterprises use MA tools. Findings Micro and small firms consistently use MA tools. Most of them have some sort of planning, set objectives, have a costing system – even if budgeting is unusual – and use one or two metrics to monitor performance. Research limitations/implications This is exploratory research with a limited and nonrandom sample. Only a limited number of MA tools were studied. Practical implications Micro and small firms’ use of MA tools. This is arguably important because these enterprises use these techniques in a way that is different from the traditional approach used in bigger corporations. A relevant implication emerging from the findings, as a contribution to practice would be the need to include MA for micro and small businesses in formal training and textbooks. Originality/value On top of providing and assessing empirical evidence on a debate that has been so far largely theoretical, and on the back of the relative weight of micro and small enterprises in any given economy, this paper aims at reinforcing awareness on the need to further the study of the decision-making process in such firms.

Imperatives of Quality Insuring of the Production Cycle and Effective Functioning Process of the Enterprises of Agro-Product Subcomplex of Ukraine

The article deals with the imperatives of quality insuring of the production cycle and the effective functioning process of the enterprises of agro-product subcomplex of Ukraine. An effective functional system has been built which, based on the quantitative and qualitative criteria of competitiveness of enterprises, determines the scale and effectiveness of their activity, provides opportunities to reproduce the resource potential of the agro-product subcomplex industries. The set of processes of relevant implication ‘resources – structure – efficiency – development of the system’ was singled out in order to improve the qualitative and quantitative properties of the production cycle as a creation of efficiency. An adaptive-renovation approach is proposed, which allows selecting from the system of indicators representative-effective indicators and factors of financial and resource load on the level of self-financing of the production cycle with 95% probability. The criterion of ‘optimal maximum profit’, which meets the requirements of a clear economic interpretation of the performance indicators, provides an increase in the value of cash flow to reduce the dependence of the entities of inter-economic relations on the slowdown in the self-financing of the production cycle. It is proved that the integration of agro-product industries with a long continuous cycle has specified functional changes in their efficiency. We have grouped the entities of inter-economic relations by the level of production cost and profitability of the sold products, which ensure the effective process of functioning of the enterprises of the agro-product subcomplex. The parameters of financial and resource load on indicators of self-financing of the production cycle of enterprises of poultry agro-complex in the average for one region of Ukraine are determined. Alternative business projects for the production of poultry products are proposed while changing the cash flow discount rate.

COVID-19 Immunopathology and the Central Nervous System: Implication for Multiple Sclerosis and Other Autoimmune Diseases with Associated Demyelination

In the frame of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, recent reports on SARS-CoV-2 potential neuroinvasion placed neurologists on increased alertness in order to assess early neurological manifestations and their potentially prognostic value for the COVID-19 disease. Moreover, the management of chronic neurological diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), underwent guided modifications, such as an Extended Interval Dose (EID) of Disease-Modifying Treatment (DMT) administration, in order to minimize patients’ exposure to the health system, thus reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this review, we summarize existing evidence of key immune pathways that the SARS-CoV-2 modifies during COVID-19 and the relevant implication for MS and other autoimmune diseases with associated demyelination (such as Systemic lupus erythematosus and Antiphospholipid syndrome), including the context of potential neuroinvasion by SARS-Cov-2 and the alterations that DMT induces to the immune system. Moreover we hereby aim to provide an overview of the possible consequences that COVID-19 may carry for the Central Nervous System (CNS) in People with MS (PwMS) and other demyelinating diseases, which are likely to pose challenges for treating Neurologists with respect to the long-term disease management of these diseases.

Truthmaker Semantics for Relevant Logic

I develop and defend a truthmaker semantics for the relevant logic R. The approach begins with a simple philosophical idea and develops it in various directions, so as to build a technically adequate relevant semantics. The central philosophical idea is that truths are true in virtue of specific states. Developing the idea formally results in a semantics on which truthmakers are relevant to what they make true. A very natural notion of conditionality is added, giving us relevant implication. I then investigate ways to add conjunction, disjunction, and negation; and I discuss how to justify contraposition and excluded middle within a truthmaker semantics.