EHF suppresses cancer progression by inhibiting ETS1-mediated ZEB expression

ETS homologous factor (EHF) belongs to the epithelium-specific subfamily of the E26 transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factor family. Currently, little is known about EHF’s function in cancer. We previously reported that ETS1 induces expression of the ZEB family proteins ZEB1/δEF1 and ZEB2/SIP1, which are key regulators of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), by activating the ZEB1 promoters. We have found that EHF gene produces two transcript variants, namely a long form variant that includes exon 1 (EHF-LF) and a short form variant that excludes exon 1 (EHF-SF). Only EHF-SF abrogates ETS1-mediated activation of the ZEB1 promoter by promoting degradation of ETS1 proteins, thereby inhibiting the EMT phenotypes of cancer cells. Most importantly, we identified a novel point mutation within the conserved ETS domain of EHF, and found that EHF mutations abolish its original function while causing the EHF protein to act as a potential dominant negative, thereby enhancing metastasis in vivo. Therefore, we suggest that EHF acts as an anti-EMT factor by inhibiting the expression of ZEBs, and that EHF mutations exacerbate cancer progression.

Variant-synonymous varieties of generally used phrases in the works of M. Rudenko (lexical, morphological and phonetic)

The article analyzes the variant-synonymous varieties of commonly used phrases used by M. Rudenko in his works, determines their functional load in the structure of the literary text. The subject of consideration are modified units that form variant or synonymous pairs with codified forms. In prose works, the author often uses variants of commonly used codified phraseological units or their synonyms. In the scientific literature, unfortunately, there are no clear criteria for distinguishing between variants and synonyms of phrases. Therefore, following V. Uzhchenko, we use the terms variant-synonymous pair (pair of phrases that are in synonymous relations or are considered as variants) or variant-synonymous type of phraseological unit (a type of commonly used expression that is its variant or synonym). The emergence of these units of the phraseological system is mainly due to the substitution of one structural component of the expression to another. Most often in a stable combination of words the verb is replaced (there are 19 such phrases), less often the noun (15 units). Adjectives or verbs, pronouns can also be replaced. Rudenko skillfully uses also known methods of creative comprehension of phraseology in the fabric of a work of art. First of all, he resorted to expanding the component composition of a stable combination of words, so that the newly introduced author’s words complicate the traditional formula of phraseology, while enhancing their expressiveness. By actualizing the statement, the author reduces the component composition of the phrase, because a short version of the phraseology involves knowledge of a more complete form and thus intrigues the reader. The general meaning of the whole image of the phrase is often conveyed by the author descriptively, which creates a new expression. Rudenko rarely introduces formal variants, but in artistic texts we find morphological and phonetic variants of commonly used phrases.

CONTENT OF TEACHING THE ELEMENTS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN A SCHOOL INFORMATICS COURSE

The article considers the feasibility of integrating artificial intelligence technologies into school education and identifies a problem in identifying didactic elements in the field of artificial intelligence, which must be mastered in a school informatics course. The purpose of the article is to propose variant of the content of teaching the elements of artificial intelligence for the general education of schoolchildren as part of the curricular and extracurricular activities in informatics. An analysis of the psychological, pedagogical and scientific-methodical literature in the field of artificial intelligence made it possible to identify the appropriateness of teaching schoolchildren the elements of artificial intelligence in the framework of a comprehensive informatics course, as the theoretical foundations of modern information technologies. Summarizing and systematizing the learning experience of schoolchildren in the field of artificial intelligence made it possible to form variant of the content of teaching the elements of artificial intelligence, which can be implemented in a compulsory informatics course for 9th grade, as well as in elective classes. The results of the study are the theoretical basis for the further development of the components of the methodological system of teaching the elements of artificial intelligence in a school informatics course. The research materials may be useful to specialists in the field of teaching informatics and to informatics teachers.

Measuring User Experience With 3, 5, 7, or 11 Points: Does It Matter?

Objective: To assess versions of the shorter form variant of Usability Metric for User Experience (UMUX-LITE) questionnaire differing in the number of response options for the items (3, 5, 7, and 11). Background: The UMUX-LITE is an efficient (two-item) standardized questionnaire that measures perceived usability. A growing body of evidence shows it closely corresponds to one of the most widely used standardized usability questionnaires, the System Usability Scale (SUS), with regard to both correlation and magnitude of concurrently collected means. Although the “standard” version of the UMUX-LITE uses items with seven response options, there is some variance in practice. Method: Members of a corporate user experience panel ( n = 242) completed surveys rating a recent Web site experience with the SUS and UMUX-LITE, also providing ratings of overall experience and likelihood-to-recommend. Results: Scale reliabilities were acceptable (coefficient α >.70) with the exception of UMUX-LITE with three response options. All UMUX-LITE correlations with SUS, overall experience, and likelihood-to-recommend were highly significant. For likelihood-to-recommend, there was a significant difference in the magnitude of correlations, with 11 response options higher than three. Although some statistically significant differences were observed in correspondence between SUS and UMUX-LITE scores, these did not seem to translate to practically significant differences. Conclusion: The number of UMUX-LITE response options does not matter much, especially in practice. Because the version with three response options showed some weakness with regard to reliability and correlation with likelihood-to-recommend, practitioners should avoid it. Application: Unless there is a strong reason to do otherwise, use the “standard” version with seven response options.

Ground form verb patterns

Chapter 3 considers the semantics of the three variants of Arabic ground form verb, distinguished by the quality of their second vowel, termed the theme vowel, in the perfective. The chapter illustrates that the theme vowel indicates the semantic role assigned to the subject of the verb. It relies on the notion of prototypical transitivity that encompasses an agent and a patient, expanding this to cover other related types of prototypical participant order. It argues that one ground form variant consists of verbs whose subject serves an initiator-type semantic role, a second variant is comprised of verbs with subjects assigned an endpoint role, and the third variant simply construes an entity in a state. The conclusion notes that in some cases all three variants containing the same consonantal root are attested, and considers the implications of this for a possible direction of derivation.

Complex Form Variant of Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor of the Cerebellum

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) is a benign neoplasm with typical supratentorial location, but the possibility of these rare tumors can also be located in the posterior fossa must be taken into account. We report a 21-year-old woman that suffered gait instability, headache, and diplopia. On CT-scan, an intraparenchymatous cerebellar tumor was disclosed. It was isodense, showing light enhancement after contrast administration. On MRI (T1-weighted image) the tumor was isointense, showing inhomogeneous hyperintensity after-gadolinium administration. On T2-weighted MRI, the tumor was inhomogenously hyperintense. At surgery, a solid and hypervascularized tumor was completely removed. Two years after surgery, the patient is symptom-free. Pathological study showed coexistence of areas of pilocytic astrocytoma with areas in which small rounded oligodendrocyte-like cells (OLC), with strong synaptophysin expression were identified. These neurocytic areas showed an eosinophilic matrix forming microcysts, and cells with aspect of “floating neurons” were occasionally identified. A complex form variant of DNT was diagnosed. Our case suggests that in presence of a cerebellar tumor with features of pilocytic astrocytoma, the possibility of a complex form variant of DNT should be considered.