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In this case report, we describe a patient who developed metastatic liver cancer of unknown primary origin one year following the surgical removal of a retroperitoneal adenocarcinoma. The retroperitoneal adenocarcinoma is considered a malignant transformation of teratoma (MTT), given the patient's distant history of testicular tumor excised 25 years prior and treated with chemotherapy. Despite no primary tumor being identified, the leading primary hypothesis is that the liver metastasis stemmed from the resected retroperitoneal adenocarcinoma from one year prior. We theorize that the patient's cisplatinbased chemotherapy 25 years ago may have triggered the MTT, as documented in the existing literature. Using TEMPUS gene testing on both the retroperitoneal adenocarcinoma and the recently discovered liver metastasis, we identified several genes with variants of unknown significance (VUS) that could potentially be linked to cisplatin chemotherapy resistance. While we cannot conclude that this patient definitively underwent MTT, it remains the most plausible explanation. Future research should investigate both the validity of the genes we have uncovered with respect to cisplatin resistance, as well as other genes associated with cisplatin resistance to further understand the pathogenesis of cisplatin resistance for better prediction of treatment response. As the world of medicine shifts towards individualized therapies and precision medicine, reporting and analyzing genetic mutations derived from tumors remains imperative. Our case report aims to contribute to the growing database of defined mutations and underscores the immense potential of genetic analysis in directing personalized treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this case report, we describe a patient who developed metastatic liver cancer of unknown primary origin one year following the surgical removal of a retroperitoneal adenocarcinoma. The retroperitoneal adenocarcinoma is considered a malignant transformation of teratoma (MTT), given the patient’s distant history of testicular tumor excised 25 years prior and treated with chemotherapy. Despite no primary tumor being identified, the leading primary hypothesis is that the liver metastasis stemmed from the resected retroperitoneal adenocarcinoma from one year prior. We theorize that the patient’s cisplatin-based chemotherapy 25 years ago may have triggered the MTT, as documented in the existing literature. Using TEMPUS gene testing on both the retroperitoneal adenocarcinoma and the recently discovered liver metastasis, we identified several genes with variants of unknown significance (VUS) that could potentially be linked to cisplatin chemotherapy resistance. While we cannot conclude that this patient definitively underwent MTT, it remains the most plausible explanation. Future research should investigate both the validity of the genes we have uncovered with respect to cisplatin resistance, as well as other genes associated with cisplatin resistance to further understand the pathogenesis of cisplatin resistance for better prediction of treatment response. As the world of medicine shifts towards individualized therapies and precision medicine, reporting and analyzing genetic mutations derived from tumors remains imperative. Our case report aims to contribute to the growing database of defined mutations and underscores the immense potential of genetic analysis in directing personalized treatment options.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) faced certain difficulties caused by the so-called "shortage" of qualified personnel and the need to modernize the educational system in these countries, inherited from the USSR. Since education was the dominant factor in the development of the economy for the newly independent new republics. And one of the main conditions for the integration of the educational systems of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan into the international higher education zone was international cooperation with the European Union. The article presents the experience of cooperation between the European Union and the Central Asian countries in the field of education, on the example of the participation of the Central Asian region in the educational programs of the European Union (Tempus, Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus+, Jean Monnet). The relevance of the research topic is determined by the role of higher education in bilateral cooperation between the European Union and the Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan). The purpose of the study is to reveal the peculiarities of the development of educational cooperation between the European Union and Central Asia, in the context of the implementation of EU educational programs in the region. The main conclusions of the study were the presented indicators of participation of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the EU educational programs, which had a significant impact on the reform of educational systems in the countries of the region and contributed to the further development of partnerships between EU universities and Central Asian countries

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Abstract Objective Transcriptome analysis of human whole blood is used to discover biomarkers of diseases and to assess phenotypic traits. Here we have collected small volumes of blood in Tempus solution and tested whether different storage conditions have an impact on transcriptomic profiling. Fifty µl of blood were collected in 100µl of Tempus solutions, freezed at − 20 °C for 1 day and eventually thawed, stored and processed under five different conditions: (i) − 20 °C for 1 week; (ii) +4 °C for 1 week; (iii) room temperature for 1 week; (iv) room temperature for 1 day, − 20 °C for 1 day, room temperature until testing at day 7, (v) − 20 °C for 1 week, RNA was isolated and stored in GenTegra solution. We used 272 immune transcript specific assays to test the expression profiling using qPCR based Fluidigm BioMark HD dynamic array. Results RNA yield ranged between 0.17 and 1.39µg. Except for one sample, RIN values were > 7. Using Principal Component Analysis, we saw that the storage conditions did not drive sample distribution. The condition that showed larger variability was the RT-FR-RT (room temperature–freezing–room temperature), suggesting that freezing–thawing cycles may have a worse effect on data reproducibility than keeping the samples at room temperature.

Higher Education reform and modernization processes in Serbia were initiated by the overall 'Europe of knowledge' project, which encompassed Bologna and Lisbon declarations aiming to enroll Western Balkan countries into unique European Higher Education Area. By the adoption of the Law on Higher Education in 2005, these processes obtained their legal ground in Serbia and regulated implementation of the principles of both declarations, while Tempus (Trans-European Mobility Programme for University Studies) as the European Union programme for reform and modernization of Higher Education additionally supported internationalization of Higher Education Institutions in Serbia and harmonization of their curricula with highest European educational standards. This essay gives an overview on development of Tempus programme at the University Pristina temporarily settled in Kosovska Mitrovica since 2009, when the university for the first time applied for this kind of donation until its official closure and completion of implementation of all its projects where university was involved.

Am Material des historischen und gegenwartssprachlichen Psalmenkorpus (Notkers Psalter, Luthers Psalmenübersetzung in der Redaktion von 1912 und moderne sog. Einheitsübersetzung) wird untersucht, wie die Formen des Tempus, Modus bzw. die Modalverbkonstruktionen bei der Wiedergabe der Zukunft interagieren und wie sich die Modalverbkonstruktionen bei der Kodierung der Vergangenheitsperspektive verhalten. Auf Systemebene wären die (genuin deontischen oder volitiven) Modalverben theoretisch gerade im Althochdeutschen, wo die morphologische Futurform fehlt, ein ideales Mittel zur Kodierung der prospektiven Funktion, insbesondere bei den Verben nichtterminativer Aktionsartklassen, gewesen. Nichtsdestoweniger entscheidet sich Notker in seiner Übersetzung am häufigsten für den Einsatz der Präsensformen des jeweiligen Grundverbs, selbst auf Kosten einer möglichen temporalen Ambiguität der jeweiligen Lesart. Die Modalverbfügungen erscheinen bei ihm in aller Regel lediglich in seinen eigenen Kommentaren und Erläuterungen zu seiner Übersetzung, welche in den Gesamttext integriert sind. Bei Luther und in der modernen Einheitsübersetzung werden dagegen nahezu durchweg die Modalverben verwendet, um die lateinischen Futurformen bzw. die Formen des Präsens Konjunktiv mit Zukunftsbezug wiederzugeben. Bei der Kodierung des Vergangenheitsbezugs fungieren die Modalverben dagegen nur als modale und nicht als temporale Signale. Die Analyse hat gezeigt, dass sich Notker im Haupttext des Psalters generell an die lateinische Sprachform hält, während Luther und die auf ihn folgenden Übersetzer die Möglichkeiten des deutschen Modalverbsystems nutzen, um eine genauere sinngemäße Entsprechung zu bewerkstelligen. Ferner hat sich bestätigt, dass die – overten wie koverten – Signale für Temporalität, Aspektualität bzw. Aktionsart und Modalität nicht autonom auftreten, sondern mehrfache kategoriale Schnittstellen bilden.

Abstract Objective Type I interferons (IFN) have important roles in many immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) and are a relatively new therapeutic target. Direct detection of type I IFNs has proved challenging, thus their presence is often inferred from the expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and calculation of an interferon score (IS). The objective of this research was to determine if the expression of six common ISGs and subsequent IS were comparable when RNA was derived from the Tempus and PAXgene whole blood RNA collection systems. Results Whole blood was obtained from ten healthy adults, incubated ex vivo in the absence and presence of recombinant human IFNα then divided into PAXgene and Tempus tubes. Despite reports of tube-specific patterns of gene expression, quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed no significant differences between PAXgene and Tempus tubes in either the homeostatic or IFNα-induced expression of six ISGs (IFI27, IFI44L, IFIT1, ISG15, RSAD2, SIGLEC1). Overall there was a strong correlation in the IS between unstimulated (r = 0.92, p = 0.0005) and IFNα-stimulated (r = 0.71, p = 0.0268) samples derived from the PAXgene and Tempus tubes.

Thermophysical properties of the A169.1Cu12.8Agl eutectic liquid alloy are of particular interest for support of self-and inter-diffusion studies. In the presented work. A169.1Cu12.8Agl-samples were processed contactlessly by electromagnetic levitation under microgravity conditions using the TEMPUS facility. The measurements were performed onboard the Airbus A310 Zero-G in parabolic flight campaigns. The oscillating-drop-method (ODM) was used for measurements of the viscosity via oscillations damping and surface tension via oscillations frequency. These were determined for temperatures in the range of 900-1500 K by analysis of the oscillation spectrum obtained from the electrical impedance. The latter was measured using the Sample Coupling Electronics. An Arrhenius-law η(T) ηexp(EηR/T) was used to fit the temperature-dependent viscosity data. The resulting fit parameters were η = (0.632 * 0.160) mPas and activation energy of viscous flow Eη = (2.344 * 0.233) ·10+4 j/mol. A linear law γ(T) = γl +γT (T-Tm) was fit to the surface tension data yielding % = (0.9013 * 0.02625) Nm and γr = -(0.7462 zE 0.2675) · 10-4Nm-1K-1. The Kozlov-model was applied to determine the enthalphyofmixing as AHmix = - (18.576 20.018) Id/mol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Quaestiones naturales 4b.4.2 Seneca states that in early spring the weather drastically changes: in the warmer sky larger water droplets are formed and cause rain. The description of this 'greater change' (maior inclinatio) is linked in the manuscript tradition to two different controversial readings, temporis and aeris, which are irregularly distributed. Most recent editors have printed the first reading, but H.M. Hine is probably right to accept aeris. A careful linguistic, stemmatic and stylistic examination shows that temporis is likely to be a Medieval Latin gloss of aeris: the equivalence of both words would be difficult to justify in Classical Latin, but in Late Latin and in Medieval Latin tempus developed a climatological meaning which is explicitly found in medieval writers and glossaries and is also very widespread in Romance languages. The presence of this gloss in the hyparchetype Ψ, which is ultimately the source for most medieval copies, accounts for the irregular distribution of both readings in the manuscript tradition; this hypothesis is particularly consistent with Hine's suggestion that Ψ probably had interlinear or marginal readings. This historical investigation on the meaning of tempus is also relevant to the end of the same passage, where stylistic and linguistic evidence supports the reading tepore rather than tempore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Objective We use Tempus blood RNA tubes (Applied Biosystems) during health assessments of American moose (Alces alces spp.) as a minimally invasive means to obtain RNA. Here we describe a novel protocol to additionally isolate high-quality DNA from the supernatant remaining after the RNA isolation methodology. Metrics used to qualify DNA quality included measuring the concentration, obtaining a DNA integrity number from a genomic DNA ScreenTape assay (Agilent), and running the isolated DNA on an agarose gel. Results Of the 23 samples analyzed, the average DNA concentration was 121 ng/µl (range 4–337 ng/µl) and a genomic DNA ScreenTape assay of seven samples indicated high DNA integrity values for 6 of the 7 samples (range 9.1–9.4 out of 10). Of the DNA sent for genotyping by sequencing, all proved to be of sufficient integrity to yield high-quality next-generation sequence results. We recommend this simple procedure to maximize the yield of both RNA and DNA from blood samples.

Objective: Transcriptome analysis of human whole blood is used to discover biomarkers of diseases and to assess phenotypic traits. Here we have collected small volumes of blood in Tempus solution and tested whether different storage conditions have an impact on transcriptomic profiling. Fifty µl of blood were collected in 100µl of Tempus solutions, freezed at − 20 °C for 1 day and eventually thawed, stored and processed under five different conditions: (i) − 20 °C for 1 week; (ii) +4 °C for 1 week; (iii) room temperature for 1 week; (iv) room temperature for 1 day, − 20 °C for 1 day, room temperature until testing at day 7, (v) − 20 °C for 1 week, RNA was isolated and stored in GenTegra solution. We used 272 immune transcript specific assays to test the expression profiling using qPCR based Fluidigm BioMark HD dynamic array. Results: RNA yield ranged between 0.17 and 1.39µg. Except for one sample, RIN values were > 7. Using Principal Component Analysis, we saw that the storage conditions did not drive sample distribution. The condition that showed larger variability was the RT-FR-RT (room temperature–freezing–room temperature), suggesting that freezing–thawing cycles may have a worse effect on data reproducibility than keeping the samples at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The natural history of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is challenging to investigate, especially as pre-diabetic individuals are difficult to identify. Numerous T1D consortia have been established to collect whole blood for gene expression analysis from individuals with or at risk to develop T1D. However, with no universally accepted protocol for their collection, differences in sample processing may lead to variances in the results. Here, we examined whether the choice of blood collection tube and RNA extraction kit leads to differences in the expression of genes that are changed during the progression of T1D, and if these differences could be minimized by measuring gene expression directly from the lysate of whole blood. Results Microarray analysis showed that the expression of 901 genes is highly influenced by sample processing using the PAXgene versus the Tempus system. These included a significant number of lymphocyte-specific genes and genes whose expression has been reported to differ in the peripheral blood of at-risk and T1D patients compared to controls. We showed that artificial changes in gene expression occur when control and T1D samples were processed differently. The sample processing-dependent differences in gene expression were largely due to loss of transcripts during the RNA extraction step using the PAXgene system. The majority of differences were not observed when gene expression was measured in whole blood lysates prepared from blood collected in PAXgene and Tempus tubes. Conclusion We showed that the gene expression profile of samples processed using the Tempus system is more accurate than that of samples processed using the PAXgene system. Variation in sample processing can result in misleading changes in gene expression. However, these differences can be minimized by measuring gene expression directly in whole blood lysates.

Background: Efficient blood stabilization is essential to obtaining reliable and comparable RNA analysis data in preclinical operations. PAXgene (Qiagen, Becton Dickinson) and Tempus (Applied Biosystems, Life Technologies) blood collection tubes with RNA stabilizers both avoid preanalytical degradation of mRNA by endogenous nucleases and modifications in specific mRNA concentrations by unintentional up- or down-regulation of gene expression. Methods: Sixteen different preanalytical conditions were tested in PAXgene and Tempus blood samples from seven donors: different mixing after collection, different fill volumes and different 24-h transport temperature conditions after collection. RNA was extracted by column-based methods. The quality of the extracted RNA was assessed by spectrophotometric quantification, A260/A280 purity ratio, RNA Integrity Number (Agilent Bioanalyzer), miRNA quantative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on two target miRNAs (RNU-24 and miR-16), mRNA quality index by qRT-PCR on the 3′ and 5′ region of the GAPDH gene, and the PBMC preanalytical score, based on the relative expression levels of the IL8 and EDEM3 coding genes. Results: When PAXgene RNA and Tempus blood collection tubes were used following the manufacturers' instructions, there was no statistically or technically significant difference in the output RNA quality attributes. However, the integrity of the RNA extracted from Tempus collection tubes was more sensitive to fill volumes and effective inversion, than to storage temperature, while the integrity of RNA extracted from PAXgene collection tubes was more sensitive to effective inversion and storage temperature than to fill volumes. Conclusions: Blood collection tubes with different RNA stabilizers present different robustness to common preanalytical variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the analysis of the implementation of the international project Tempus “IMPRESS” – “improving the efficiency of student services. The main aim of the project is to create modern Centers of student support services at the leading classical universities of Ukraine. One of the outcomes was the creation of the latest training course “Soft Skills” developed up to the modern international academic standards. In its framework, students will gain knowledge and skills that will facilitate their full adaptation to study at the University, and to the future professional activity. The course is designed to provide students with additional preference in employment, promote in their self-presentation skills, effective team work and decision making, enhance reflection ability and develop critical thinking.

With this report we aim to make available a standard operating procedure (SOP) developed for RNA stabilization of small blood volumes collected via a finger stick. The anticipation that this procedure may be improved through peer-review and/or readers public comments is another element motivating the publication of this SOP. Procuring blood samples from human subjects can, among other uses, enable assessment of the immune status of an individual subject via the profiling of RNA abundance using technologies such as real time PCR, NanoString, microarrays or RNA-sequencing. It is often desirable to minimize blood volumes and employ methods that are the least invasive and can be practically implemented outside of clinical settings. Finger stick blood samples are increasingly used for measurement of levels of pharmacological drugs and biological analytes. It is a simple and convenient procedure amenable for instance to field use or self-collection at home using a blood sample collection kit. Such methodologies should also enable the procurement of blood samples at high frequency for health or disease monitoring applications.

Este artículo ofrece un estudio sobre los conceptos de mensura y compás durante el siglo XVI, sacado de libros de teoría y práctica musical de la época en España y Europa (Glareanus, Ornitoparchus, Bermudo, Marcos Durán, Santa María...), con vistas a la comprensión de las señales indiciales, sus cambios de significado a lo largo del siglo y la estructura rítmica interna y externa de las Obras de música de Antonio de Cabezón, de cara a su moderna interpretación.

With this report we aim to make available a standard operating procedure (SOP) developed for RNA stabilization of small blood volumes collected via a finger stick. The anticipation that this procedure may be improved through peer-review and/or readers public comments is another element motivating the publication of this SOP. Procuring blood samples from human subjects can, among other uses, enable assessment of the immune status of an individual subject via the profiling of RNA abundance using technologies such as real time PCR, NanoString, microarrays or RNA-sequencing. It is often desirable to minimize blood volumes and employ methods that are the least invasive and can be practically implemented outside of clinical settings. Finger-stick blood samples are increasingly used for measurement of levels of pharmacological drugs and biological analytes. It is a simple and convenient procedure amenable for instance to field use or self-collection at home using a blood sample collection kit. Such methodologies should also enable the procurement of blood samples at high frequency for health or disease monitoring applications.

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Oeconomia is the property of Wydawnictwo SGGW and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The natural history of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is challenging to investigate, especially as pre-diabetic individuals are difficult to identify. Numerous T1D consortia have been established to collect whole blood for gene expression analysis from individuals with or at risk to develop T1D. However, with no universally accepted protocol for their collection, differences in sample processing may lead to variances in the results. Here, we examined whether the choice of blood collection tube and RNA extraction kit leads to differences in the expression of genes that are changed during the progression of T1D, and if these differences could be minimized by measuring gene expression directly from the lysate of whole blood. Results: Microarray analysis showed that the expression of 901 genes is highly influenced by sample processing using the PAXgene versus the Tempus system. These included a significant number of lymphocyte-specific genes and genes whose expression has been reported to differ in the peripheral blood of at-risk and T1D patients compared to controls. We showed that artificial changes in gene expression occur when control and T1D samples were processed differently. The sample processing-dependent differences in gene expression were largely due to loss of transcripts during the RNA extraction step using the PAXgene system. The majority of differences were not observed when gene expression was measured in whole blood lysates prepared from blood collected in PAXgene and Tempus tubes. Conclusion: We showed that the gene expression profile of samples processed using the Tempus system is more accurate than that of samples processed using the PAXgene system. Variation in sample processing can result in misleading changes in gene expression. However, these differences can be minimized by measuring gene expression directly in whole blood lysates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we look at the University of Crete experience to integrate the concept of sustainable development across all its operations. Through a review of current sustainability practices of universities worldwide, this paper has identified a number of principles for developing a sustainable university. These principles are then used as a framework for analysing the sustainable initiatives being implemented at the University of Crete in the context of the Reorient University Curricula to Address Sustainability (RUCAS) project - an EU-Tempus initiative. This effort has been backed-up by two research studies, which indicate the urgent need for institutionalising sustainability across all university functions.