Traditional communities have long been recognized as actors practicing nature-friendly behaviors. They are commonly deemed the champion of sustainable lifestyles. Since the 1980s, there has been a ...call to learn the so-called Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) embraced by traditional communities. One of the reasons is that the issues of climate crises should be addressed and tackled from various corners. This article attempts to delineate a TEK, an ecological ritual practiced by the traditional community living on the island of Sumba. The ritual, called WHL (warung hupu liku, which means giving the rope tips back to nature), could give us an idea of how the community perceives their relationship with natural surroundings, which in turn, exposes their ecological ethics. Primary research data were collected through interviews with four experts of Sumbanese culture/environmental activists and two ritual speakers (wunang). The research reveals that WHL ritual portrays the Sumbanese’s worldview of the human-nature relationship. WHL gives an idea of the Sumbanese ecological ethics, covering reciprocity with nature, mutual respect, modesty in consumption, and sustainable use of natural resources. Because Indonesia is rich in TEK, this time-enduring knowledge and practice should be exposed as a valuable contribution to ecological discourses and policies. The discussion on Sumbanese WHL suggests that traditional and modern approaches could work in tandem to address current environmental issues.
Venous malformations (VMs) are the most common vascular malformations. TEK and PIK3CA are the causal genes of VMs, and may be involved in the PI3K/AKT pathway. However, the downstream mechanisms ...underlying the TEK or PIK3CA mutations in VMs are not completely understood. This study aimed to identify a possible association between genetic mutations and clinicopathological features. A retrospective clinical, pathological, and genetic study of 114 patients with VMs was performed. TEK, PIK3CA, and combined TEK/PIK3CA mutations were identified in 49 (43%), 13 (11.4%), and 2 (1.75%) patients, respectively. TEK-mutant VMs more commonly occurred in younger patients than TEK and PIK3CA mutation-negative VMs (other-mutant VMs), and showed more frequent skin involvement and no lymphocytic aggregates. No significant differences were observed in sex, location of occurrence, malformed vessel size, vessel density, or thickness of the vascular smooth muscle among the VM genotypes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the expression levels of phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) were higher in the TEK-mutant VMs than those in PIK3CA-mutant and other-mutant VMs. The expression levels of p-mTOR and its downstream effectors were higher in all the VM genotypes than those in normal vessels. Spatial transcriptomics revealed that the genes involved in “blood vessel development”, “positive regulation of cell migration”, and “extracellular matrix organization” were up-regulated in a TEK-mutant VM. Significant genotype-phenotype correlations in clinical and pathological features were observed among the VM genotypes, indicating gene-specific effects. Detailed analysis of gene-specific effects in VMs may offer insights into the underlying molecular pathways and implications for targeted therapies.
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•Venous malformations (VMs) are the most common vascular malformations.•TEK and PIK3CA are the causal genes of VMs.•Significant genotype-phenotype correlations in VMs indicate gene-specific effects.•Gene-specific effects in VMs may uncover the underlying molecular pathways.•Gene-specific effects in VMs may uncover the implications for targeted therapies.
Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) are central regulators of angiogenesis and are often inactivated in various cardiovascular diseases. VEGF forms complexes with ETS ...transcription factor family and exerts its action by downregulating multiple genes. Among the target genes of the VEGF-ETS complex, there are a significant number encoding key angiogenic regulators. Phosphorylation of the VEGF-ETS complex releases transcriptional repression on these angiogenic regulators, thereby promoting their expression. Ang-1 interacts with TEK, and this phosphorylation release can be modulated by the Ang-1-TEK signaling pathway. The Ang-1-TEK pathway participates in the transcriptional activation of VEGF genes. In summary, these elements constitute the Ang-1-TEK-VEGF signaling pathway. Additionally, Ang-1 is activated under hypoxic and inflammatory conditions, leading to an upregulation in the expression of TEK. Elevated TEK levels result in the formation of the VEGF-ETS complex, which, in turn, downregulates the expression of numerous angiogenic genes. Hence, the Ang-1-dependent transcriptional repression is indirect. Reduced expression of many target genes can lead to aberrant angiogenesis. A significant overlap exists between the target genes regulated by Ang-1-TEK-VEGF and those under the control of the Ang-1-TEK-TSP-1 signaling pathway. Mechanistically, this can be explained by the replacement of the VEGF-ETS complex with the TSP-1 transcriptional repression complex at the ETS sites on target gene promoters. Furthermore, VEGF possesses non-classical functions unrelated to ETS and DNA binding. Its supportive role in TSP-1 formation may be exerted through the VEGF-CRL5-VHL-HIF-1α-VH032-TGF-β-TSP-1 axis. This review assesses the regulatory mechanisms of the Ang-1-TEK-VEGF signaling pathway and explores its significant overlap with the Ang-1-TEK-TSP-1 signaling pathway.
Ekoloji ve teknoloji kavramlarının birleşimlerinden oluşan eko-tek tasarım anlayışı, günümüz tasarım stratejilerinin çevre sorunlarına mekân ölçeğinde bir çözüm getirememesi sebebiyle ihtiyaç olarak ...doğmuştur. Çevre sorunlarına karşı bilinçlenme ile yapısal alan ve doğal çevre arasındaki ilişkilere dikkat çekmektedir. Eko-tek kavramı, teknolojik araçlar yardımıyla ekolojinin en iyi şekilde korunmasını ifade etmektedir. Ekoloji ve teknolojinin birlikte düşünülmesi ile sürdürülebilir bir yaşamı sağlamak adına, doğal elemanları, doğal süreçleri temel almakta, doğanın korunması için teknolojiden yararlanılması gerektiğini savunmaktadır. Çalışmada ekoloji ve teknoloji merkezli tasarımı aynı başlık altında buluşturma fikri amaçlanmaktadır. Bu kapsamda kent ölçeğinde bir karşılığı bulunan eko-tek kent modeli incelenmiş ve eko-tek mekânlara bir bakış geliştirilmiştir. Çalışmanın cevabını aradığı soru “eko-tek kent modelinde gelişecek mekân tasarımında ekoloji ve teknoloji arasında bir seçim yapmadan nasıl mekân tasarlar?” sorusudur. Bu kapsamda tasarlanan yapılar ve iç mekânlar enerji verimli, ekolojiye duyarlı ve birçok teknoloji sistemini bünyesinde barındırmaktadır. Yüksek lisans tez çalışmasından üretilmiş olan makale kapsamında geleceğin tasarım anlayışını oluşturan eko-tek kavramı mekân ölçeğinde ele alınmıştır. Bu süreçte eko-tek kentler kavramın genel çerçevesinin oluşmasında yol gösterici olmuştur. Literatür taraması sonucunda eko-tek kavramına yönelik bir bakış oluşturulmuş ve bu kavram kapsamında kullanılan dört teknoloji sistemi ele alınmıştır. Çevre, bilgi, iletişim ve coğrafi bilgi teknolojilerinin tasarıma katkıları ekolojik boyutta değerlendirilmiştir. Kavramın mekânsal ölçekte değerlendirilmesi adına dünyanın farklı bölgelerinden seçilen beş adet örnek eko-tek kavramı doğrultusunda analiz edilmiştir. Eko-tek kavramı kapsamında oluşturulabilecek iç mekân özellikleri örnekler üzerinden incelenmiştir. Sonuç olarak kavrama genel bir bakış oluşturulmuş, altı ana başlıkta eko-tek tasarım süreci ele alınmıştır. Süreç, sosyolojik etmenler, bölgesel veriler, eko-teknolojiler, akıllı sistemler ve malzeme başlıkları eko-tek kavramının sürecini tanımlamaktadır. Kavramsal süreç iç mekân ölçeğinde değerlendirilmiş ve iç mekânların eko-tek özelliği taşıması için sekiz madde oluşturulmuştur. Bu maddeler geleceğin iç mekânlarının niteliğini ve işlevlerini belirlemektedir. Eko-tek kavramı dünyada çözümü aranan çevre sorunlarına ve kaynak problemlerine yapı ve iç mekân ölçeğinde katkı sağlamaktadır.
Iskandar BS, Irawan B, Mulyanto D, Iskandar J, Afinanda A, Rajab B. 2023. Gastronomic ethnobotany of traditional vegetables among the Sundanese in rural West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: ...3932-3950. Sundanese people in West Java have been known for their tradition of consuming various vegetable plants (Lalab). This study aims to elucidate the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) on various vegetable plants, folk classification, and use and processing of vegetable plants for family use in the rural Sundanese community in Cijambu Village, Tanjungsari Sub-district, Sumedang District, West Java, Indonesia. This study employed mixed qualitative and quantitative methods with an ethnobotanical and gastronomic approach. The results showed that 67 different local varieties (landraces) of vegetable plants were documented from 65 species, representing 56 genera and 27 families that the Sundanese people of Cijambu commonly use. These vegetable plants can be classified into three categories: vegetable source, part used, and use and processing of vegetables. The people obtain their vegetables from various sources, such as their homegardens, gardens, rice fields, Perhutani agroforests, and other non-farming sources, including markets, small village shops, and vegetable sellers. The parts of vegetable plants usually consumed by the people of Cijambu Village can be divided into eight parts: the bulb, flower, fruit, leaf, rhizome, root/tuber, seed, and shoot. The vegetable plants are traditionally consumed as fresh raw salad and cooked vegetables, spices, and at least 12 main or basic types of Sundanese food meals, namely various Acar, Asinan, Buntil, Karedok, Lodeh, Lotek, Rujak, Sambel, Sayur/Angeun, Semur, Tumis/Oseng, and Urab with a total of 58 kinds of food meals. At the same time, various Sundanese chili sauces (Sambel) were documented in at least 14 types. Based on ethnobotanical gastronomy, the Sundanese community's cultural practice of consuming Lalab results from a complex interaction between human communities, food, and their local environment.
Endothelial cells that form the inner layer of blood and lymphatic vessels are important regulators of vascular functions and centrally involved in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. In addition ...to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor pathway, the angiopoietin (Ang)-Tie system is a second endothelial cell specific ligand-receptor signalling system necessary for embryonic cardiovascular and lymphatic development. The Ang-Tie system also regulates postnatal angiogenesis, vessel remodelling, vascular permeability and inflammation to maintain vascular homoeostasis in adult physiology. This system is implicated in numerous diseases where the vasculature has an important contribution, such as cancer, sepsis, diabetes, atherosclerosis and ocular diseases. Furthermore, mutations in the TIE2 signalling pathway cause defects in vascular morphogenesis, resulting in venous malformations and primary congenital glaucoma. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of the Ang-Tie signalling system, including cross-talk with the vascular endothelial protein tyrosine phosphatase (VE-PTP) and the integrin cell adhesion receptors, focusing on the Ang-Tie system in vascular development and pathogenesis of vascular diseases.
Günümüzde enerji talebinin artmasıyla birlikte, fotovoltaik panellerin performansının artırılması önem kazanmaktadır. Bu nedenle, tek yüzeyli ve çift yüzeyli fotovoltaik panellerin (FV) ...performanslarının karşılaştırılması ve değerlendirilmesi önemli bir araştırma konusudur. Bu çalışmada, PVsyst yazılımı kullanılarak tek yüzeyli ve çift yüzeyli panellerin performansları karşılaştırılmıştır. Çalışma, hesaplamaların hem tek taraflı hem de çift taraflı paneller için aynı koşullar altında yapılmasını sağlamak için Ankara ilinde aynı model tek yüzeyli ve çift yüzeyli FV paneller ile iki farklı güneş enerji santrali tasarlanmıştır. Bu iki tasarımın verimlilikleri kıyaslanmış, albedo etkisi incelenmiş, CO2 emisyon analizi ve teknik analizleri yapılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonuçları, tek yüzeyli panellerin ortalama %82,21 performans oranıyla 1537 kWh/yıl ve çift yüzeyli panellerin ortalama %93,06 performans oranıyla 1740 kWh/yıl üretim potansiyeline sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Çift yüzeyli panellerin tek yüzeyli panellere göre daha yüksek performans gösterdiği ve yıllık ortalama enerji üretiminin %13 daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bu sonuçlar, çift yüzeyli güneş paneli sistemlerinin verimliliği ve çevresel faydaları nedeniyle tek yüzeyli sistemlere göre daha yaygın hale getirilmesi, sürdürülebilir enerji üretimi için önemli bir adım olabilir.
Although many species are threatened by hunting or resource extraction from indigenous human communities, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of local communities has the potential to support ...management and conservation of natural resources and wildlife. The newly described skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) is found on the border of China and Myanmar, and a large proportion of the remaining population in China occurs outside nature reserves. We surveyed this species across its range in China, and interviewed 622 people in 99 villages to evaluate the relationship between gibbon status and TEK of local communities. The total confirmed population was estimated to be less than 150 individuals. Gibbon subpopulations appear to have remained stable from 2009 to 2017 both within and outside nature reserves. Sociological and environmental correlates of gibbon survival outside the reserve were: (1) more Lisu than Han people present in villages; (2) greater forest cover; (3) greater distance from county towns; (4) existence of traditional taboos on hunting gibbons; and (5) higher dependency on forest resources by villagers. Interviewees living closer to surviving gibbon populations were more knowledgeable about gibbons, although interviewees living more than 25km away also knew more about gibbons. Formal education level was also correlated with better knowledge of gibbons, and men were better informed about gibbons than women. TEK appears to limit poaching of gibbons, thus contributing to their survival. The persistence of gibbons outside nature reserves may depend on incorporating TEK within community-based conservation strategies.
This paper explores the significance of ecosystem functions in maintaining the health and balance of ecological systems, particularly in the context of planning, managing, and maintaining trees in ...landscape settings. It emphasises the multifaceted relationship between humans and trees, encompassing cultural, ecological, economic, and emotional connections, and underscores the value of traditional ecological knowledge alongside empirical science. By combining these two ways of knowing, along with social science insights into human health and well-being, future landscapes can be crafted to be sustainable, diverse, and functional. As urbanisation continues to shape landscapes globally, urban planners face the challenge of managing rapidly changing environments. Urban forestry and arboriculture have emerged to address these challenges, aiming to enhance environmental quality and human well-being. The concept of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) has gained traction, recognising the importance of integrating natural systems into urban planning to address environmental challenges while preserving functional ecosystems. This paper advocates for an enhanced understanding of tree and human ecology to navigate the complex relations between trees, people, and their environments. It calls for interdisciplinary collaboration, research, and education to inform policy, assess environmental impacts, and widen approaches to ecosystem management. By monitoring ecosystem health and collaborating across disciplines, arboriculturists and urban foresters can shape resilient practices for tree conservation and sustainable urban development. In conclusion, integrating tree ecology into urban planning and management practices is essential for ensuring the health, resilience, and sustainability of tree populations and the ecosystems they inhabit. By embracing a holistic understanding of trees and their environments, professionals can contribute to shaping future landscapes that support both human well-being and biodiversity.
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