Search Results (350)

This contribution aims to shed light on two hermeneutical perspectives of the twentieth century which, although developed in different contexts and through distinct languages, share not only certain conceptual affinities but are both grounded in a relational ontological framework. The first is the notion of reading (notion de lecture) elaborated by the French thinker Simone Weil (1909–1943), particularly during her time in Marseille (1940–1942); the second is the idea of reading as “performance” or “execution” (esecuzione) proposed by the Italian philosopher Luigi Pareyson (1918–1991) within the framework of his aesthetic theory of formatività (1954). The aim of this study is, first, to outline the essential features of both perspectives and resonances and, subsequently, to highlight their points of convergence and original features. The goal, however, is not to propose a systematic comparison between the two authors, but rather to show the theoretical fruitfulness of a dialogue between Weil’s and Pareyson’s reflections on aesthetics and hermeneutics, from which a profile of “renewed thought” in a broad sense can emerge, opening up to a fruitful inter- and trans-disciplinary dialogue rooted in the search for truth as a shared horizon. Full article

Many scholars believe that the Yi Jing 易經 (the Book of Changes) and traditional Chinese medicine share common mathematical principles, which are both predicated on the ontological of qi 氣 and the cosmological of correlative between nature and human. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the systemic organization of organs, meridians, qi, and blood as central components by incorporating the mathematical principles, including the theory of “Chaos-Crack”, the infinite classification methods of yinyang 陰陽, the generative and restrictive interactions of wuxing 五行, and the metaphysical significance of special numbers such as one, two, three, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine also formulates many theories and methodologies by integrating these mathematical principles with the schemata of luoshu 洛書 and jiugong 九宮, as well as the special combination numbers such as tianliu diwu 天六地五. This research tries to explain the mathematical principles and applications from the body dimension in traditional Chinese medicine. Full article

Glutamine synthetase plays an essential role in regulating plant growth and development. However, few studies have analyzed the roles of TaGS in wheat under abiotic stress conditions. In this study, we identified and analyzed the members of the TaGS gene family in Triticum aestivum L., focusing on their gene characteristics, phylogenetic evolution, cis-elements, transcriptional and post-translational modifications, and expression profiling in response to abiotic stress. Twelve TaGS genes were divided into four subfamilies. The synteny analysis revealed that wheat and the five other species share GS homologs. Several potential transcription factors were identified as regulators of TaGS genes. TaGS contains 19 microRNA binding sites, phosphorylation sites, and ubiquitination sites. TaGS genes exhibited tissue-specific expression across various developmental stages and were differentially expressed in response to abiotic stress. For instance, TaGS1-3-4A/4B/4D were upregulated in the leaves and roots of wheat seedlings under abiotic stress conditions. Furthermore, gene ontology annotation was performed on the TaGS-interacting proteins screened by immunoprecipitation–mass spectrometry to elucidate the regulatory network associated with TaGS. This study lays a foundation for further functional research of TaGS genes in response to abiotic stress and provides potential information for enhancing stress tolerance in wheat. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major public health issue with rising global occurrence and metabolic consequences. Modeling the addictive behaviors associated with AUD remains inadequate and elusive. Even more so, models that are representative of AUD in concert with excessive caloric intake are limited. Some consequences of chronic alcohol use overlap with the metabolic phenotype of hypercaloric diets. Recently characterized metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease with increased alcohol intake (MetALD) helps to differentiate these conditions. This study aims to investigate metabolic phenotypes and gene expression alterations in MetALD mice that are grouped by alcohol preference based on blood phosphatidylethanol levels and alcohol consumption. Methods: Mice were fed high-fat and chow diets, with water and 10% EtOH, for 13 weeks. mRNA sequencing was performed across multiple tissues including brain, liver, skeletal muscle, ileum, and white adipose tissue, and gut microbiome diversity was evaluated via 16S sequencing. Results: Key findings included reduced glucagon in alcohol-preferring mice with no significant differences in dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis. Additionally, we observed reduced gut microbiome diversity and Wnt signaling with elevated acute-phase response genes in ileum tissue. Reduced Wnt and Hippo signaling in the brain and liver, respectively, was also revealed. Other gene ontologies discovered included increased neural inflammation and adipose mitochondrial translation. Nek3, Ntf3, Cux1, and Irf6 expression changes were shared across at least three tissues and may be potential biomarkers of alcohol addiction. Conclusions: This novel model assists future intervention research in the characterization of MetALD and identifies potential biomarkers of alcohol preference. Full article

Rett syndrome (RTT) and MECP2 duplication syndrome, a subtype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are neurodevelopmental disorders caused by MeCP2 loss and gain of function, respectively. While MeCP2 is known to regulate transcription through its interaction with methylated DNA and chromatin-associated factors such as topoisomerase IIβ (TOP2β), the downstream transcriptional consequences of MeCP2 dosage imbalance remain partially characterized. Here, we present a transcriptome-centered analysis of mouse primary cortical neurons subjected to MeCP2 knockdown (KD) or overexpression (OE), which model RTT and ASD-like conditions in parallel. Using a robust computational pipeline integrating generalized linear models with quasi-likelihood F-tests and Magnitude–Altitude Scoring (GLMQL-MAS), we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in KD and OE relative to wild-type (WT) neurons. This study represents a computational analysis of secondary transcriptomic data aimed at nominating candidate genes for future experimental validation. Gene Ontology enrichment revealed both shared and condition-specific biological processes, with KD uniquely affecting neurodevelopmental and stress-response pathways, and OE perturbing extracellular matrix, calcium signaling, and neuroinflammatory processes. To prioritize robust and disease-relevant targets, we applied Cross-MAS and further filtered DEGs by correlation with MeCP2 expression and regulation directional consistency. This yielded 16 high-confidence dosage-sensitive genes that were capable of classifying WT, KD, and OE samples with 100% accuracy using PCA and logistic regression. Among these, RTT-associated candidates such as Plcb1, Gpr161, Mknk2, Rgcc, and Abhd6 were linked to disrupted synaptic signaling and neurogenesis, while ASD-associated genes, including Aim2, Mcm6, Pcdhb9, and Cbs, implicated neuroinflammation and metabolic stress. These findings establish a compact and mechanistically informative set of MeCP2-responsive genes, which enhance our understanding of transcriptional dysregulation in RTT and ASD and nominate molecular markers for future functional validation and therapeutic exploration. Full article

Intelligent robotic systems frequently operate under stringent energy limitations, especially in complex and dynamic environments. To enhance both adaptability and reliability, this study introduces a semantic planning framework that integrates ontology-driven reasoning with energy awareness. The framework estimates energy consumption based on the platform-specific behavior of sensing, actuation, and computational modules while continuously updating place-level semantic representations using real-time execution data. These representations encode not only spatial and contextual semantics but also energy characteristics acquired from prior operational history. By embedding historical energy usage profiles into hierarchical semantic maps, this framework enables more efficient route planning and context-aware task assignment. A shared semantic layer facilitates coordinated planning for both single-robot and multi-robot systems, with the decisions informed by energy-centric knowledge. This approach remains hardware-independent and can be applied across diverse platforms, such as indoor service robots and ground-based autonomous vehicles. Experimental validation using a differential-drive mobile platform in a structured indoor setting demonstrates improvements in energy efficiency, the robustness of planning, and the quality of the task distribution. This framework effectively connects high-level symbolic reasoning with low-level energy behavior, providing a unified mechanism for energy-informed semantic decision-making. Full article

Lower extremity artery disease (LEAD), abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and varicose veins (VV) are frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated peripheral vascular diseases that pose considerable public health challenges. More research is required to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these conditions and to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers. Therefore, in our study, we aimed to identify shared and distinct pathways associated with angiogenesis and inflammation in LEAD, AAA, and VV. The expression of 18 genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the plasma levels of six proteins were compared between groups of 40 patients with LEAD, 40 patients with AAA, and 40 patients with VV. Independent RNA-seq and microRNA-seq data were integrated to predict differentially expressed transcription factors and microRNAs associated with the most significant genes. Gene Ontology functional analysis was performed to determine the potential biological effects of the observed dysregulations. The elevated expression of VEGFB and TGFB1, along with increased plasma levels of VEGF-C and reduced plasma levels of VEGF-A, were distinguishing features of patients with LEAD compared to those with AAA and VV. Decreased plasma levels of TGF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 were found to be indicative of varicose veins compared to individuals with arterial diseases (LEAD and AAA). Transcription factors and microRNAs potentially regulating the obtained signatures were identified and integrated into a hypothetical regulatory network. The observed dysregulations were found to be functionally associated with the response to hypoxia, the positive regulation of angiogenesis, chemotaxis, vascular permeability, and cell adhesion. The presented study identified dysregulations of key angiogenesis- and inflammation-related factors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma between LEAD, AAA, and VV patients, providing new insights into the shared and distinct molecular mechanisms underlying these diseases. Full article

This article reconstructs Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī’s (d. 1210) systematic treatment of the jinn in his Great Exegesis (al-Tafsīr al-Kabīr) and his summa The Sublime Objectives in Metaphysics (al-Maṭālib al-ʿĀliya min al-ʿIlm al-Ilāhī). In these works, al-Rāzī treats the jinn not as a marginal curiosity but as a test case for probing core metaphysical categories such as substance, embodiment, and divine action. His analysis unfolds through a sequence of guiding questions. Do the jinn exist at all? If not, we arrive at (1) the Denialist View. If they do exist, they must be either immaterial or material. The first yields (2) the Immaterialist View. The second raises the further question of whether bodies differ in essence or share a single essence. If they differ, we arrive at (3) the Non-Essentialist Corporealist View. Notably, these first three views are associated, in different ways, with various figures in the falsafa tradition. If they share a single essence, this produces the Essentialist Corporealist position, which then divides according to whether bodily structure is metaphysically necessary for life and agency. If not necessary, this produces (4) the Essentialist Corporealist—Structural Independence View, associated with the Ashʿarīs. If necessary, it leads to (5) the Essentialist Corporealist—Structural Dependence View, associated with the Muʿtazilīs. Al-Rāzī rejects (1) and (5), but he leaves (2), (3), and (4) as live possibilities. While he shows greater sympathy for (4), his broader purpose is not to settle the matter but to map the full range of theological and philosophical options. Al-Rāzī’s comprehensive exposition reflects the wider dialectic between falsafa, Ashʿarī theology, and Muʿtazilī theology, showcasing a sophisticated willingness to engage and entertain multiple metaphysical possibilities side by side. The result is an exercise in systematic metaphysics, where the question of the jinn, as liminal beings, becomes a means for interrogating broader ontological commitments in Islamic theology and philosophy. Full article

This paper challenges the Western philosophical and theological tradition’s subordination of finitude to the infinite, arguing instead for finitude as the positive ontological foundation of human existence and credible theological discourse. Drawing primarily on Emmanuel Falque’s critique of “the pre-emption of the infinite” and Jan Patočka’s concept of “being shaken,” the study demonstrates how finitude constitutes not a limitation to be overcome but the necessary horizon within which any authentic encounter with transcendence must occur. The argument proceeds through four stages: deconstructing the Cartesian legacy that privileges the infinite over the finite; establishing phenomenological reorientation toward “impassable immanence;” introducing “being shaken” as the existential manifestation of finitude; and addressing critiques of this approach. The paper argues that Christianity’s incarnational logic—particularly Christ’s assumption of human finitude—provides theological validation for this phenomenological insight. The central contribution lies in proposing “credible theology”—theological discourse that derives legitimacy not from abstract rationality but from fidelity to the common human condition of finitude. This approach offers a methodological alternative to traditional fundamental theology by grounding theological reflection in the shared structures of existence. Full article

Acorus calamus, a traditional Tibetan medicine with potential antiviral activity but undefined mechanisms, was studied for its anti-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) mechanisms using network pharmacology and molecular docking, given RSV’s substantial disease burden and lack of specific therapies. The primary active compounds were identified and analyzed through a literature search, the PubChem database, and the SwissADME. Relevant targets were sifted through the SwissTargetPrediction platform, OMIM, and GeneCards databases. Common targets underwent enrichment analysis using Disease Ontology (DO), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Molecular docking and GEO datasets were used for further analysis. Among the screened data, 268 targets were associated with Acorus calamus compounds and 1633 with RSV. KEGG analysis of the shared targets revealed potential therapeutic roles via the PI3K–Akt and JAK–STAT signaling pathways. Molecular docking results demonstrated that CCND1, EGFR, and SRC exhibited relatively lower binding energies with compounds in comparison to other proteins, suggesting better interactions, and GEO-derived RSV datasets further validated CCND1’s significance. This study demonstrates Acorus calamus’s anti-RSV activity and its potential mechanism, providing a theoretical foundation for the effective active ingredients of Acorus calamus targeting CCND1 as a strategy to combat RSV infection. Full article

Information system design and implementation require generally accepted norms, principles, and standards. Lately, the challenge for achieving a high degree of general acceptance has increased with the presence of formal governance structures. Compliance with norms for information system development depends on the shared recognition of regulations and standards. The research problem in this study concerns standards and their role in the development of a pathology laboratory information system. In this paper, in the theoretical background section, the authors present regulations, standards, and disease classification, which are necessary for planning the pathology laboratory information system. Next, in the template design project section, the authors focus on development of a new, ontology-based, and standard-oriented approach for elaboration of a standardized template of the pathological assessment of histopathology material. Authors use the World Health Organization (WHO) ICD-11 classification to elaborate on that template, which permits the precise coding of diagnoses and medical procedures. The main findings concern the proposed ontology-based document template, which can further be used in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), and as such can be considered a pattern for the development of other LIMS documents. In conclusion, the authors emphasized the standardized method application for designing and implementing medical documents. This original contribution concerns the assessment template design based on existing ontologies ICD-10 and ICD-11. Full article

Background: Intramuscular fat (IMF) enhances marbling, improving meat quality and value. Transcriptome analysis enables the identification of genes and pathways involved in IMF deposition, supporting targeted breeding and nutritional strategies to improve beef quality. Methods: This study used RNA-Seq to compare gene expression in high- (Hereford; Her), moderate- (Holstein Friesian; Hf), and low-marbling (Limousine; Lim) Semitendinosus muscle. Using Illumina’s NovaSeqX Plus, sequencing data underwent quality control with FastQC to remove low-quality reads and adapters, followed by alignment to the bovine genome using HISAT2. Differential expression analysis was performed using DESeq2, and genes were filtered based on a threshold of p-value < 0.05 and |log2FC| > 0.5 to identify significantly regulated genes. Results: A total of 21,881 expressed genes were detected, with 3025 and 7407 significantly differentially expressed in Her and Hf vs. Lim, respectively (|log2FC| > 0.5, p < 0.05). Protein–protein interaction analysis revealed 20 hub genes, including SMAD3, SCD, PLIN2, SHH, SQLE, RXRA, NPPA, NR1H4, PRKCA, and IL10. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analyses linked these genes to lipid metabolism and IMF-associated pathways, such as PPAR signaling, fatty acid metabolism, and PI3K–Akt signaling. Conclusions: These findings highlight RNA-Seq’s utility in uncovering the genetic basis of marbling and the importance of aligning beef production with consumer demands through genetic improvements. This study aimed to identify breed-independent molecular mechanisms of intramuscular fat deposition and shared metabolic processes in the Semitendinosus muscle to improve beef quality. Full article

Background. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health threat, necessitating a deeper understanding of bacterial adaptation mechanisms. Introduction. This study investigates the genotypic and phenotypic evolutionary trajectories of Escherichia coli under meropenem and gentamicin selection, and it benchmarks these findings against florfenicol-evolved strains. Methodology. Utilizing a downsized, three-layer acrylic modified “Microbial Evolution and Growth Arena (MEGA-plate) system”—scaled to 40 × 50 cm for sterile handling and uniform 37 °C incubation—we tracked adaptation over 9–13 days, enabling real-time visualization of movement across antibiotic gradients. Results. Meropenem exposure elicited pronounced genetic heterogeneity and morphological remodeling (filamentous and circular forms), characteristic of SOS-mediated division arrest and DNA-damage response. In contrast, gentamicin exposure produced a uniform resistance gene profile and minimal shape changes, suggesting reliance on conserved defenses without major morphological adaptation. Comprehensive genomic analysis revealed a core resistome of 22 chromosomal loci shared across all three antibiotics, highlighting potential cross-resistance and the central roles of baeR, gadX, and marA in coordinating adaptive responses. Gene ontology enrichment underscored the positive regulation of gene expression and intracellular signaling as key themes in resistance evolution. Discussion. Our findings illustrate the multifaceted strategies E. coli employs—combining metabolic flexibility with sophisticated regulatory networks—to withstand diverse antibiotic pressures. This study underscores the utility of the MEGA-plate system in dissecting spatiotemporal AMR dynamics in a controlled yet ecologically relevant context. Conclusions. The divergent responses to meropenem and gentamicin highlight the complexity of resistance development and reinforce the need for integrated, One Health strategies. Targeting shared regulatory hubs may open new avenues for antimicrobial intervention and help preserve the efficacy of existing drugs. Full article

This paper starts from the assumption that the human individual and its concomitant, the human body, are conceivably idols of secularism. There is a certain irony, perhaps an irony shared with all idols, that such idolatry is so close to, and yet so far from, true Christian worship. This article explores the notion that idolatry of the individual and the body may be a form of idolatry that involves re-conception rather than replacement. Utilizing an affirmative approach to culture (albeit not uncritical) that is theologically rooted in Trinitarian relationality, or what could be called a relational ontological approach, this paper concludes that embodied difference naturally calls out for a unity of alterity that opens beyond itself and can thereby become a means of transforming idols into icons. Full article

Sarcopenia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are chronic conditions that gradually affect the elderly, often coexisting and interacting in complex ways. Sarcopenia, which is characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass and function, is frequently observed in individuals with T2DM. Although the clinical association is well known, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Gene expression datasets were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. DEGs were identified using the limma package in R (R 4.4.0). Shared DEGs were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Protein–protein interaction networks were constructed using the STRING database and were visualized with Cytoscape. Hub genes were identified via six topological algorithms in the CytoHubba plugin. Pearson’s correlation analysis was conducted between hub genes and selected metabolic regulators. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, and immune–inflammatory responses were significantly enriched. A PPI network revealed a mitochondrial hub of five key genes involved in energy metabolism, whose downregulation suggests mitochondrial dysfunction as a shared mechanism in sarcopenia and T2DM. Our results provide new insight into the molecular overlap between T2DM and sarcopenia, highlighting potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for addressing both metabolic disruption and muscle decline. Full article