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AbstractVisual arts have witnessed the emergence of various roles and themes throughout history, resulting in the development of diverse methods and platforms within the industry. In the realm of urban music, specifically in Iran, musical instruments are adorned with various images, becoming integral accessories to this art form.In the 6th century AH, along the banks of the Aras River in the region historically known as the Kingdom of Sharvan, Khaghani Sharvani, a poet and musicologist, highlighted the unique role of Daf, a percussion instrument adorned with depictions of domestic and wild animals, especially in hunting situations. This article employed a historical-analytical method and relied on library studies to explore this topic. Multiple factors contribute to the significance of Daf in this context, making it difficult to pinpoint a single definitive reason. However, considering the historical connection between similar practices among the shamans of Siberia and the Caucasus, as well as Khaghani Sharvani's emphasis on the association between Daf and the hunting grounds of the kings of Sharvan, this explanation emerges as the most compelling and informative among the various reasons that can be discussed.Keywords: Collection of Khaghani Poems, Hunting Ground, Daf, Images of Animals, Reason for Painting on Daf.IntroductionUtilization of various motifs derived from inanimate objects, plants, animals, and other natural elements in Iranian visual arts has been a prevalent practice, extending across different mediums, such as containers, pages, coins, textiles, and more, continuing into the present era. This artistic motif is not limited to a specific region but has adapted to different climatic and cultural conditions, playing a significant role. Beyond its decorative purpose, these motifs often carry symbolic meanings. The range of symbolic patterns and their application is extensive, especially when considering Iranian musical instruments used in urban settings and various regions of Iran, which encompass diverse elements.Exploring the poetry of Khaghani Sharvani from the 6th century AH, it became evident that this artistic craftsmanship had flourished in the region of Sharvan and its surrounding territories. Khaghani Sharvani, a poet in the court of the Sharvan dynasty during the reign of Manuchehr and Akhsetan, frequently and distinctively portrayed an instrument known as Daf in his poems. This suggested that the art form may have originated in that specific region or, at the very least, within the court of the Sharvan shahs. Khaghani repeatedly referenced incorporation of wild and domestic animals in combination on the surface of this instrument, a unique and distinguishing characteristic not found in historical references or the poetry of other Persian-speaking poets, similar to the depiction that can be observed today on the instrument of "Dayereh" from Kerman Region, which bears resemblance to Daf.Materials and MethodsThe research problem was identified through a combination of comparative studies and historical and analytical methods. This study bridged the fields of historical musicology and literature (music-literature), contributing to a deeper understanding of Khaghani's poetry on the subject and shedding new light on the history of Iranian music. Research FindingsRegarding the reasons for depicting and occasionally engraving animal figures on the instrument of Daf in Sharvan Region or at least within the court of Sharvan kings, the following could be stated: The Influence of Mythology and Shamanic Culture:The influence of mythological and shamanic cultures on Iranian religious and mystical art forms is significant. Depicting animal forms in art is a recurring theme in Iranian mythology and religious art, aligning with shamanic culture. Shamans often integrate animal symbolism and imagery into their rituals and ceremonies. The use of drums in shamanic rituals also bears resemblance to Sufi musical traditions in Iran, specifically the use of Daf. The drum played a central role in shamanic rituals, similar to the function of Daf in Sufi music. The geographic proximity of regions where shamanism was practiced, such as Siberia and the Caucasus, to the land of Sharvan further suggested the potential influence of shamanic culture on Iranian art and religious practices. Cultural exchange and interaction between these regions may have contributed to the incorporation of shamanic elements into Iranian religious and mystical art forms. Depiction of Animals in Hunting Situations:Khaghani was found to refer to the depiction of animals on the instrument of Daf twelve times and in most instances, the pictures followed a specific theme—the gathering of animals in a hunting situation. These depictions portrayed animals entangled in a hunting ground, sometimes attacking each other, sometimes coexisting peacefully, and sometimes praising and congratulating the king. The circular shape of Daf aligned with the circular hunting technique called "Pareh" or "Jargeh" practiced in Iran where animals were surrounded in a circular fashion and then hunted within the circle. This could potentially explain the recurring theme of hunting depicted on Daf. Connection to Animal Skin:The reliance of Daf instrument on animal skin, typically sourced from sheep, goat, or deer, for resonation is another significant point. Khaghani had made multiple references to this aspect in his poetry. Association of Music with Hunting:Association of music with hunting could be another reason for the depiction of animals on Daf instrument. In the past, Daf was used as a musical accompaniment during hunting activities. Continuity of Feast and Hunting in Iranian Art:Continuity of feasts and hunting and their role in the depiction of Iranian artworks from pre-Islamic times to the present also provided context for the recurring motifs on Daf instrument.By exploring these findings, a deeper understanding of the cultural, historical, and symbolic significance of animal depictions on Daf instrument in Sharvan Region or within the court of Sharvan kings could be gained.Discussion of Results and ConclusionThe findings of this study highlighted the intricate nature of artistic creation and emphasized that the choice of motifs in art was influenced by a multitude of factors. In the case of painting on Daf instrument, it was evident that there were multiple reasons for the selection of animal motifs.The spiritual and ecstatic function of Daf coupled with its round shape emerged as significant factors in the decision to incorporate animal imagery onto this particular instrument. Association of Daf with ecstatic practices and its interpretive potential stemming from its circular form contributed to the prevalence of animal motifs in its decoration.Significantly, it was observed that animal imagery was absent in other musical instruments, such as Barbat, Azerbaijani Tar, Harp, and Rabab. This observation prompted a deeper exploration of why these motifs were limited to Daf. The distinct characteristics and functions of Daf, including its association with ecstatic experiences and artistic possibilities afforded by its circular shape, were the key factors that explained the prevalence of animal motifs in its adornment.This perspective emphasized the importance of comprehending the cultural and functional contexts of artistic expressions and how these elements influenced the selection of motifs in different art forms.In conclusion, the research findings shed light on the significance and complexity of the animal motifs depicted on Daf instrument. The enduring presence of this artistic style in Iran for over 9 centuries underscored its cultural significance. By delving into the multifaceted reasons behind the depiction of animals on Daf, we gained a deeper understanding of the interplay between artistic expression, cultural practices, and functional attributes of musical instruments. This knowledge enriches our appreciation of the diverse factors that shape artistic creation in different contexts.

Sludge thickening is a fundamental stage of treatment. This study investigated the application, in continuous treatment, of polymeric bubbles produced with cationic polymer P2900 and cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), a zwitterionic surfactant. The proposed reagent combination aims to form aerated flakes, solid waste structures, and rapidly rising air bubbles, ideal for treatments in compact units. Using this combination, it was possible to achieve a total solids concentration of 45% with the modified bubbles and 25% with the conventional water treatment. This level of thickening occurred under the following operating conditions: initial total solids (TS) concentration of 10 g L−1, a flow rate of 5 L min−1, saturation pressure (psat) of 3 atm, and polymer dosage of 10 mg (gTS)−1. The suggested mechanism of action involves the adhesion of P2900 molecules to CAPB at the air/water interface, forming a lining on the bubble surface. Additionally, polymerized species form due to the residual aluminum (Al) in the sludge, which would occur during flocculation in the helical tubular flocculator (HTF), adsorbing the micelles and bubbles of CAPB. The critical micellar concentration (CMC) of CAPB was 0.26 mmol L−1. Polymeric bubble technology can provide an efficient and cost-effective approach to sludge thickening in continuous treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual arts have witnessed the emergence of various roles and themes throughout history, resulting in the development of diverse methods and platforms within the industry. In the realm of urban music, specifically in Iran, musical instruments are adorned with various images, becoming integral accessories to this art form. In the 6th century AH, along the banks of the Aras River in the region historically known as the Kingdom of Sharvan, Khaghani Sharvani, a poet and musicologist, highlighted the unique role of Daf, a percussion instrument adorned with depictions of domestic and wild animals, especially in hunting situations. This article employed a historical-analytical method and relied on library studies to explore this topic. Multiple factors contribute to the significance of Daf in this context, making it difficult to pinpoint a single definitive reason. However, considering the historical connection between similar practices among the shamans of Siberia and the Caucasus, as well as Khaghani Sharvani's emphasis on the association between Daf and the hunting grounds of the kings of Sharvan, this explanation emerges as the most compelling and informative among the various reasons that can be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Die Einbeziehung künstlicher Intelligenz (KI) – wie ChatGPT – in den Sprachunterricht öffnet neue Perspektiven für den Erwerb eines Fachwortschatzes und von Sprachkompetenzen. Die vorliegende Studie widmet sich, im Deutschunterricht an einer slowenischen Universität für zukünftige Expert/innen der Agrarwissenschaften mithilfe von ChatGPT-3 Termini und deren grammatische Eigenschaften zu extrahieren. Dabei wird untersucht, wie ChatGPT-3 diesbezüglich bei öffentlich verfügbaren wissenschaftlichen Beiträgen zum Thema Landwirtschaft, grüner Wandel und Nachhaltigkeit vorgeht. Die Ergebnisse haben gezeigt, welche Begriffe ChatGPT als bedeutsam für den Deutschunterricht identifiziert und wie sie von dem KI-Instrument dargestellt werden. Außerdem wird aufgezeigt, wie hoch die Fehlerrate ist und welche Terminologie für Studierende der Agrarwissenschaften einerseits hilfreich und relevant, andererseits jedoch potenziell irreführend sein kann. Die Studie könnte zur Erstellung zielgerichteter Lehrmaterialien für Studierende der Agrarwissenschaften genutzt werden, indem Lehrende die von ChatGPT generierten Termini als Ausgangspunkt präsentieren, die von den Studierenden verbessert werden können. Alternativ könnte sie auch in der Form einer „Finde die Fehler“-Aufgabe gestaltet werden.

Abstract Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is an effective method for separating suspended oil and solid particles from wastewater by utilizing small air bubbles. This study aims to investigate the impact of key factors, such as saturating pressure and water flow rate, on the separation of fine oil droplets from a water stream. The macroscopic flow patterns within the cell were analyzed using particle image velocimetry (PIV), while Digital Image Analysis (DIA) was employed to study microscopic phenomena, including oil droplet rising velocity and oil-bubble contact mechanisms. Our findings propose a safe operating window (specifically, water flow rate and saturation pressure) for the effective separation of oil droplets without any oil escaping into the clean water stream. It was found that the oil droplet rising velocity increases with the saturation pressure up to 200 kPa. However, a further increase in the pressure of the air saturating chamber leads to a decrease in oil droplet rising velocity. Additionally, we identified a peak in rising velocity at an oil droplet size of approximately 200 µm. Below this threshold, the rising velocity increases with droplet size, while for droplet sizes exceeding 200 µm, the rising velocity decreases with size. This behavior can be explained by the conflicting effects of droplet size increment according to the Stokes law for the rising velocity of oil droplets. As the droplet size increases, the average density of the bubbles/droplet aggregate rises, reducing the ∆ρ in the Stokes law and subsequently lowering the aggregate rising rate. However, as per the Stokes law, the oil droplet rising velocity increases proportionally to the square of its size.

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is an effective method for separating suspended oil and solid particles from wastewater by utilizing small air bubbles. This study aims to investigate the impact of key factors, such as saturating pressure and water flow rate, on the separation of fine oil droplets from a water stream. The macroscopic flow patterns within the cell were analyzed using particle image velocimetry (PIV), while Digital Image Analysis (DIA) was employed to study microscopic phenomena, including oil droplet rising velocity and oil-bubble contact mechanisms. Our findings propose a safe operating window (specifically, water flow rate and saturation pressure) for the effective separation of oil droplets without any oil escaping into the clean water stream. It was found that the oil droplet rising velocity increases with the saturation pressure up to 200 kPa. However, a further increase in the pressure of the air saturating chamber leads to a decrease in oil droplet rising velocity. Additionally, we identified a peak in rising velocity at an oil droplet size of approximately 200 µm. Below this threshold, the rising velocity increases with droplet size, while for droplet sizes exceeding 200 µm, the rising velocity decreases with size. This behavior can be explained by the conflicting effects of droplet size increment according to the Stokes law for the rising velocity of oil droplets. As the droplet size increases, the average density of the bubbles/droplet aggregate rises, reducing the ∆ρ in the Stokes law and subsequently lowering the aggregate rising rate. However, as per the Stokes law, the oil droplet rising velocity increases proportionally to the square of its size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: To further substantiate the role of antibody‐mediated complement activation in multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) immunopathology, we investigated the distribution of promotor polymorphisms of genes encoding the membrane‐bound complement regulators CD46, CD55, and CD59 in patients with MMN and controls, and evaluated their association with disease course. Methods: We used Sanger sequencing to genotype five common polymorphisms in the promotor regions of CD46, CD55, and CD59 in 133 patients with MMN and 380 controls. We correlated each polymorphism to clinical parameters. Results: The genotype frequencies of rs28371582, a 21‐bp deletion in the CD55 promotor region, were altered in patients with MMN as compared to controls (p.009; Del/Del genotype 16.8% vs. 7.7%, p.005, odds ratio: 2.43 [1.27–4.58]), and patients carrying this deletion had a more favorable disease course (mean difference 0.26 Medical Research Council [MRC] points/year; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.040–0.490, p.019). The presence of CD59 rs141385724 was associated with less severe pre‐diagnostic disease course (mean difference 0.940 MRC point/year; 95% CI: 0.083–1.80, p.032). Interpretation: MMN susceptibility is associated with a 21‐bp deletion in the CD55 promotor region (rs2871582), which is associated with lower CD55 expression. Patients carrying this deletion may have a more favorable long‐term disease outcome. Taken together, these results point out the relevance of the pre‐C5 level of the complement cascade in the inflammatory processes underlying MMN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dieser Bericht präsentiert die Schlüsselideen, die während der Online-Podiumsdiskussion über das Thema „Zum Stellenwert des ästhetischen Lernens in der Fremdsprachendidaktik“ erörtert wurden. Die Diskussion fand im Rahmen der Veranstaltungsreihe „Zehn Jahre ästhetisches Lernen - ein Blick zurück, zwei Blicke nach vorne“ (18. bis 26.01.2024) statt, die sowohl in Präsenz als auch digital durchgeführt wurde. Unter der Moderation von Dr. Nils Bernstein und Charlotte Lerchner wurde ein Konsens unter allen Teilnehmenden erzielt: Die Integration von emotionalem Erleben durch die Künste führt zu einem nachhaltigen Lernerfolg in einem ganzheitlich ausgerichteten Fremdsprachenunterricht. Als Studierende der Sprachwissenschaften und Mitarbeiterin des Sprachenzentrums der Universität Hamburg wurde mir die Gelegenheit geboten, an dieser Podiumsdiskussion als Zuschauerin teilzunehmen und aus dieser Perspektive diesen Bericht zu verfassen.

Der Fokus dieses Beitrages liegt auf der Darstellung und dem Einsatz der didaktischen Methode Lernen durch Lehren (LdL) im Landeskunde-Unterricht. Im ersten Teil unserer Arbeit haben wir recherchiert, wie dieses Thema in der Fachliteratur behandelt wird und welche Entwicklung es im Laufe der Zeit durchgemacht hat. Dann haben wir genau verfolgt, welche Rolle diese Methode und die Projektarbeit im Unterricht haben können. Durch den Einsatz der LdL-Methode wollten wir unsere Studierenden auffordern, sich intensiver mit dem Fach Landeskunde auseinanderzusetzen und verantwortungsbewusster zu studieren. Im Rahmen eines Projektes haben wir die LdL-Methode systematisch in den Unterricht integriert und am Ende des Semesters ein Treffen zwischen Studierenden und Schüler*innen organisiert, das beiderseits vorteilhaft war. Unsere Studierenden mussten die neu erworbenen landeskundlichen Kenntnisse an jüngere Lerner*innen (Gymnasiast*innen) weitervermitteln. Auf diese Weise ist es uns gelungen, die meisten Ziele, die wir uns gesetzt haben, zu erreichen, was durch die Ergebnisse von Befragungen der Studierenden und Schüler*innen bestätigt wurde.

Nowadays, moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR) and dissolved air flotation (DAF) are frequently used in combination for the biological and physical treatments of synthetic oily wastes. The efficiency of the biocarriers utilized in MBBR is crucial since it has a big impact on the system's overall performance. A study was carried out utilizing a DAF-MBBR technique to treat synthetic oily wastewater in order to evaluate this. Two different kinds of biocarriers were used in this modified MBBR: polyethylene and plastic bottle caps. The result showed the DAF-MMBBRs process demonstrated excellent removal efficiencies for a range of parameters. Moreover, it seemed that DAF had higher COD, nitrite, nitrate, and turbidity removal efficiencies. For COD, the average removal efficiency was 39.62%; for oil and grease, it was 77.05%; and for ammonia, it was 39.71%. In the same way, MBBR1 is effective at eliminating phosphate, ammonia, TSS, and oil and grease. For COD, the average removal efficiency was 39.12%; for oil and grease, it was 94.10%; and for ammonia, it was 85.42%. The average removal efficiencies for COD, oil and grease, and ammonia in MMBBR2 were 38.76%, 84.95%, and 86.49%, respectively. Furthermore, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the biofilm within the system. This revealed a well-developed biofilm layer on the interior surfaces of the biocarriers, improving the effectiveness of synthetic wastewater treatment. Excellent removal efficiencies were shown by the DAF-MBBR system for a range of parameters during a ten-day operational period.

Content and Language Integrated Learning, or CLIL, is an eclectic approach, which makes use of a foreign language to teach academic content in different areas. Within this context, those communicative activities of mediation proposed by the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) deserve a particular interest. This small-scale study employs a linguistic mediation activity involving information processing in order to compare the outcomes of two learner groups of German as a foreign language (DaF) at an A2-B1 level. One of the groups has received CLIL instruction, whereas the other one was taught following a mainstream approach (non-CLIL group). Results show that CLIL learners perform better at using reformulation strategies to present a mediated text. Furthermore, the data also show a positive effect regarding L1 use during mediation activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Linguistische Treffen in Wrocław is the property of Oficyna Wydawnicza ATUT 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.)

Copyright of Diyalog Interkulturelle Zeitschrift für Germanistik is the property of Diyalog Interkulturelle Zeitschrift fur Germanistik 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.)

Copyright of Diyalog Interkulturelle Zeitschrift für Germanistik is the property of Diyalog Interkulturelle Zeitschrift fur Germanistik 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.)

The collection of washing wastewater (oily water) in petroleum service stations represents an environmental problem particularly after the introducing of cars washing stations to the petroleum station site. The generated water from washing and maintenance of the petroleum stations, rain water is collected in the storage tank. This water contains hydrocarbons and suspended solids with high organic load. Discarding this type of water to the water bodies like rivers without treatment causes increasing of pollution. This study aims to manage generated wastewater in petroleum service stations successfully by using methods keeping the source of water and protect the environment from the pollution. Alsmood and Alnaher petroleum stations which are located at the east of Baghdad were taken as case study. A mixed sample of wastewater from both two stations was prepared. The sample was fully tested to study the expected specifications of water. The mixed samle was underwent to many treatement stages(oil skimming, coagulation-flocculation, sand filteration).The oil concentration of the raw smixed sample was decreased from (5%, 50000mg/L) to 1mg/L . The turbidity value was reduced after filteration from 175 to 1.4 NTU and also the total suspended solids(TSS) was decreased from 272 mg/L to 4 mg/L. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) underwent reduction during wastewater treatment from 730 to 44 mg O2 /L . Badse on the research fndings,the proposed scenario to manage the watstewater is installing a wastewater (oily water) treatment plant with 100m3/day capacity next to Aldura refinery in Baghdad to treat the water for reusing application as a make-up water for the cooling towers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overexpression of the inducible heme oxygenase (HO-1) isoform in visceral renal glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes) using in vivo transgenesis methods was shown to increase glomerular expression of the complement regulatory protein decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) and reduce complement activation/deposition in a rat model of immune-mediated injury. In this preliminary study, we assessed whether constitutively expressed HO-1 regulates CD55 expression in cultured rat podocytes. We employed methods of flow cytometry, quantitative (q) RT-qPCR and post-transcriptional HO-1 gene silencing (HO-1 interfering RNA, RNAi), to assess changes in constitutive (basal) levels of podocyte HO-1 and CD55 mRNA in cultured rat podocytes. Additionally, the effect of the HO-1 inducer, heme, on HO-1 and CD55 expression was assessed. Results indicate that rat podocytes constitutively express HO-1 and DAF and that the HO-1 inducer, heme, increases both HO-1 and DAF expression. HO-1 gene silencing using RNA interference (RNAi) is feasible but the effect on constitutive CD55 transcription is inconsistent. These observations are relevant to conditions of podocyte exposure to heme that can activate the complementary cascade, as may occur in systemic or intraglomerular hemolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

„Facettenreich“ ist ein Theaterkurs am Lehrstuhl für deutsche Sprache an der Westböhmischen Universität Pilsen, der im Sommersemester 2021 erstmals stattfand. Aufgrund der bis dahin geltenden Corona- Regelungen wurde der Kurs online abgehalten. Zu Beginn des Wintersemesters 2021/ 2022 fand der Kurs in Präsenzform statt, anschließend wurde er, infolge des erneuten Umstiegs auf Online-Unterricht, zunächst u?ber Zoom online weitergeführt und im Frühling 2022 bis zur Aufführung wieder vor Ort durchgeführt. Die Ziele des Kurses waren vielfältig: Den Student:innen sollte die Möglichkeit gegeben werden, in einem ungezwungenen Setting frei zu sprechen, sich fantasievoll mit Sprache zu befassen und die Scheu davor genommen werden, sich spontan auf Deutsch zu äußern. Der Fokus lag darin, den Studierenden Platz für Kreativität zu geben, einen sicheren Raum für Emotionen zu bieten und ihr Empathievermögen zu fördern.

This paper first provides an overview of topics covered in Info DaF from the first decade of the twenty-first century that are considered to be of particular relevance and interest to practitioners and researchers in the field. Second, foreign language teacher education and its necessary reorganization in terms of content are focused on as important focal points in the contributions of Info DaF and in the professional discussions outside of Info DaF during this decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovations such as the widespread use of motorized microscopes, the automatic scanning of the tissue taken from the patient and transferring it to a single large image, and the production of deep/adversarial networks specific to segmentation have increased the hope of automatically producing outputs very close to expert labeling in the segmentation problem. Particularly, it is known that segmentation performances are improved by integrating attention modules into classical 3D-UNet or GAN architectures. In this study, the effects of four different attention modules (DAF, DAF3D, DANet and MSA) were analyzed in solving the histopathological image segmentation problem. While single (SLF) and multiple (MLF) layer features are used together in DAF and DAF3D modules, two different mechanisms, position attention module and channel attention module, are used in DANet and MSA modules. As a result of the experimental studies, it has been seen that the DAF3D attention module maximizes the segmentation accuracy (0.76 mIoU and 0.89 PA). At the same time, the method with the lowest segmentation cost (0.156 seconds for 1 image) among the approaches was again DAF3D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was aimed at assessing the implementation of ZHA approach and students' opinion of the strategy. ZHA was carried out at the end of every Konversation 2(speaking) course class at the German Language Education Study Program at State University of Malang (PSPBJ UM). This research utilized the descriptive, qualitative approach using WhatsApp voice notes and open questionnaires as data collecting techniques. The data comprise ZHA voice notes produced by Konversation 2 course students and teachers and student surveys. The findings of this research indicated that ZHA technique was effectively utilized in the classroom. Students engaged in this technique successfully and took an active role in each ZHA session. Students gave a favorable opinion on the implementation of ZHA approach. Almost all students indicated that the technique helped them pronounce words in German properly and correctly, add new vocabulary, and improve their overall German language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overexpression of the inducible heme oxygenase (HO-1) isoform in visceral renal glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes) using in vivo transgenesis methods was shown to increase glomerular expression of the complement regulatory protein decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) and reduce complement activation/deposition in a rat model of immune-mediated injury. In this preliminary study, we assessed whether constitutively expressed HO-1 regulates CD55 expression in cultured rat podocytes. We employed methods of flow cytometry, quantitative (q) RT-qPCR and post-transcriptional HO-1 gene silencing (HO-1 interfering RNA, RNAi), to assess changes in constitutive (basal) levels of podocyte HO-1 and CD55 mRNA in cultured rat podocytes. Additionally, the effect of the HO-1 inducer, heme, on HO-1 and CD55 expression was assessed. Results indicate that rat podocytes constitutively express HO-1 and DAF and that the HO-1 inducer, heme, increases both HO-1 and DAF expression. HO-1 gene silencing using RNA interference (RNAi) is feasible but the effect on constitutive CD55 transcription is inconsistent. These observations are relevant to conditions of podocyte exposure to heme that can activate the complementary cascade, as may occur in systemic or intraglomerular hemolysis.

Alteration in lipid metabolism can result in fat accumulation in adipose tissues, which may lead to two most important human diseases, obesity and diabetes. A shift in lipid metabolism deregulates signaling pathways which regulates obesity and/or diabetes. In this study, we examined the components of insulin/ TGF-β pathways and their genetic interaction with Krüppel-like transcription factors (KLFs). Their role in energy homeostasis were discussed. We separately created klf/daf genes double mutants by carrying out klfs RNAi on daf-2 (e1391), daf-4 (e1364), daf-7 (e1372); dpy-1 (e1), daf-14 (m77), daf-16 (mgDf50) mutants. And then conducted Oil O Red staining to assay the klf/daf RNAi worms for fat deposits and examine genetic interaction between klfs and daf genes. The results showed that worms bearing klf-1, 2, or 3 and daf-2, or daf-4 mutations deposit large, but similar fat levels as individual mutants. The results suggested that they target the same molecular pathway of fat storage. klf-1, 2 or 3 RNAi /daf-7 worms showed higher fat deposits in klf-1, 2, or 3 RNAi/daf-7 worms than klf-1, 2, or 3 RNAi or daf-7 mutants alone, which showed a functional interaction between klfs and daf-7 in perhaps TGF-β-like pathway. Altogether our study suggests a direct role of klfs in insulin signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main areas of current glottodidactics is LSP didactics. The LSP teaching and learning concepts were developed parallel to the theoretical reflection and they were incorporated into academic didactics. The aim of this article is to present the concept of LSP teaching in the curricula for LSP in university teaching offered at the Institute for Specialised and Intercultural Communication and the Centre for Foreign Language Teacher Training and European Education (University of Warsaw). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Echoviruses, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or drugs, are responsible for a range of human diseases, for example echovirus 11 (E11) is a major cause of serious neonatal morbidity and mortality. Decay-accelerating factor (DAF, also known as CD55) is an attachment receptor for E11. Here, we report the structure of the complex of E11 and the full-length ectodomain of DAF (short consensus repeats, SCRs, 1–4) at 3.1 Å determined by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). SCRs 3 and 4 of DAF interact with E11 at the southern rim of the canyon via the VP2 EF and VP3 BC loops. We also observe an unexpected interaction between the N-linked glycan (residue 95 of DAF) and the VP2 BC loop of E11. DAF is a receptor for at least 20 enteroviruses and we classify its binding patterns from reported DAF/virus complexes into two distinct positions and orientations, named as E6 and E11 poses. Whilst 60 DAF molecules can attach to the virion in the E6 pose, no more than 30 can attach to E11 due to steric restrictions. Analysis of the distinct modes of interaction and structure and sequence-based phylogenies suggests that the two modes evolved independently, with the E6 mode likely found earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studii de Ştiintă şi Cultură is the property of Studii de Stiinta si Cultura 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.)