Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm, with a tendency for local recurrence. In contrast to other bone tumors with secondary cystic change, ABC is characterized by ...USP6 gene rearrangement. There is a growing list of known USP6 fusion partners, characterization of which has been enabled with the advent of next‐generation sequencing (NGS). The list of known fusion partners includes CDH11, CNBP, COL1A1, CTNNB1, EIF1, FOSL2, OMD, PAFAH1B1, RUNX2, SEC31A, SPARC, STAT3, THRAP3, and USP9X. Using NGS, we analyzed a series of 11 consecutive ABCs and identified USP6 fusions in all cases, providing further evidence that USP6 fusions are universally present in primary ABCs. We identified four novel fusion partners in five ABCs and confirmed them by RT‐PCR and Sanger sequencing, ASAP1, FAT1, SAR1A, and TNC (in two cases). Because of high sensitivity and specificity, detection of a USP6 fusion by NGS may assist in differentiating between ABC and its mimics, especially in small biopsy samples when a definite diagnosis cannot be achieved on morphological grounds alone. Further studies with a large number of cases and follow‐up are needed to determine whether different fusion partners are associated with specific clinical and pathologic features of ABCs.
Knowledge transfer initiatives aim to improve farmers’ knowledge and skills for tackling the growing economic, environmental and social challenges in agriculture. However, their evaluation is often ...inadequate due to institutional barriers and a lack of comprehensive methodology for assessing normative and behavioural shifts within this social group. To address this gap, we developed an extended evaluation framework for the knowledge transfer activities within the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), including three indicators levels: output, result and impact. The indicators and survey instruments were based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and piloted in a selected EU Member State for evaluating knowledge transfer measures in the programming period 2014–2022. The results indicate a promising potential of the proposed framework for capturing the multifaceted outcomes of knowledge transfer activities in agriculture. The usefulness and feasibility of the evaluation framework were further assessed through interviews with AKIS actors. They highlighted that evaluation activities at the Member State level may be hindered by inconsistent long-term data collection, insufficient response and involvement of farmers, deviations from the agreed protocols and a lack of dedicated resources. To ensure the uptake of the proposed evaluation framework, evaluation culture within the managing authorities and among stakeholders should be systematically fostered at the Member State level. This process can be enhanced by adopting a more elaborated CAP monitoring framework and methodology guidelines and by providing targeted training on evidence-driven policy-making.
Paleoreconstructions of coastal and near-coastal areas have always served as a tool towards better understanding of past, present and future geological and geomorphological processes. The reliability ...of paleocoastline and sea-land extent modelling is controlled by input data. Here the difference between paleoreconstructions based on present-day bathymetry and a paleotopographic elevation model are examined on the example of the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic sea) - a low-gradient submerged Last Glacial Maximum alluvial plain with fairly well-resolved bathymetry and pre-transgressional paleotopography. Results presented in this study show striking differences between the spatial extent of the two modelled sets of paleocoastlines which in places exceeds tens of kilometers. These results demonstrate the importance of using an appropriate geologically-supported elevation model for paleoreconstruction as unsuitable models can result in significant errors and unreliable reconstructions. This is especially noteworthy for low-gradient settings where even a slight variation in sea level can affect vast areas. Finally, the results of this study provide insight into the Early Holocene evolution of the present-day area of the Gulf of Trieste as an abrupt and predominant northeasterly oriented transgression direction is indicated from the paleocoastline reconstructions.
Increasing awareness of the importance of effective communication of scientific results and concepts, and the need for more accurate mapping and increased feature visibility led to the development of ...novel approaches to visualization of high-resolution elevation data. While new approaches have routinely been adopted for land elevation data, this does not seem to be the case for the offshore and submerged terrestrial realms. We test the suitability of algorithms provided by the freely-available and user-friendly Relief Visualization Toolbox (RVT) software package for visualizing bathymetric data. We examine the algorithms optimal for visualizing the general bathymetry of a study area, as well as for highlighting specific morphological shapes that are common on the sea-, lake- and riverbed. We show that these algorithms surpass the more conventional analytical hillshading in providing visualizations of bathymetric data richer in details, and foremost, providing a better overview of the morphological features of the studied areas. We demonstrate that the algorithms are efficient regardless of the source data type, depth range, resolution, geographic, and geological setting. The summary of our results and observations can serve as a reference for future users of RVT for displaying bathymetric data.
Constant integration of digital technologies in economic and social life is rapidly and significantly shaping and changing our environment and ourselves. To function in such a world, even in daily ...routines, it is necessary to possess certain digital competencies.
This paper aims to examine how university and high-school students of economic orientations from selected European countries self-assess their digital competencies, and to analyse the identified differences. This will enable further understanding of university and high-school students’ digital competencies that can serve as guidance for improving teaching practices and curricula.
A survey was conducted to collect data that were analysed using non-parametric statistic tests (Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test) and Spearman Rank-Order Correlation coefficient.
University and high-school students consider to have below intermediate level of digital competencies. High-school students self-assessed digital competencies at a higher level than university students. University students of higher years of study self-assessed digital competencies at a higher level. There is no universal pattern among high-school students of different years of study. University students in the Accounting module and high-school students in the Tourism module assessed their digital competencies at the lowest level in several areas. There is a consistency in self-assessment of digital knowledge and digital skills. Conclusions: The identified below intermediate level of digital competencies and discovered discrepancies indicated the need for educational process improvements to provide university and high-school students with a higher degree of digital competencies. Programming is the most lagging behind in all the observed groups.
We applied an interdisciplinary approach to analyze the late Quaternary activity of the Sava Fault in the Slovenian Southern Alps. The Sava Fault is an active strike-slip fault, and part of the ...Periadriatic Fault System that accommodated the convergence of Adria and Europe. It is one of the longest faults in the Southern Alps. Using high-resolution digital elevation models from lidar and photogrammetric surveys, we were able to overcome the challenges of assessing fault activity in a region with intense surface processes, dense vegetation, and relatively low fault slip rates. By integrating remote sensing analysis, geomorphological mapping, structural geological investigations, and near-surface geophysics (electrical resistivity tomography and ground penetrating radar), we were able to find subtle geomorphological indicators, detect near-surface deformation, and show distributed surface deformation and a complex fault pattern. Using optically stimulated luminescence dating, we tentatively estimated a slip rate of 1.8 ± 0.4 mm/a for the last 27 ka, which exceeds previous estimates and suggests temporal variability in fault behavior. Our study highlights the importance of modern high-resolution remote sensing techniques and interdisciplinary approaches in detecting tectonic deformation in relatively low-strain rate environments with intense surface processes. We show that slip rates can vary significantly depending on the studied time window. This is a critical piece of information since slip rates are a key input parameter for seismic hazard studies.
As cardio-vascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, establishing measures to improve cardiovascular health is of crucial importance. Exercise plays an essential role in cardiac ...rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), in whom an evaluation of the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is necessary. CRF of CAD patients could be assessed using 6-min walk test (6MWT), and the results interpreted by using Enright-Sherill prediction equation which has mainly been designed and evaluated for a healthy population. Hypothesizing that the Enright-Sherill prediction equation might not be best suited for CAD patients, our aim was to reevaluate this equation in CAD patients, and potentially establish a more accurate 6MWD prediction equation to be applied in these patients.
6MWD was measured in a cross-sectional study in 67 CAD patients (44 women) who were members of the Coronary club Ljubljana, Slovenia. In addition, the predicted 6MWD was calculated for men and women using Enright-Sherill gender specific regression equation. Multivariate regression analysis was used to obtain a new prediction equation, and the agreement between the measured and the predicted 6MWD analyzed using the repeated measures ANOVA.
Men achieved 451 ± 122 m and women 485 ± 69 m without significant differences between sexes (F = 0.022,
= 0.882) when adjusted for age, height, body mass, and waist circumference. When comparing the measured (473 ± 91 m) and the predicted (422 ± 57 m) values of 6MWD in CAD patients we found that the Enright-Sherill prediction equation significantly (F = 27.734,
< 0.001) underestimated the 6MWD by 52 ± 81 m. A significant regression equation was established F (3,63) = 44.663,
< 0.001, with a
of 0.680 where 6MWD equals 1,057 m-4.966 x age (years)-0.614 x WC (cm)-68.629 x NYHA class.
The results of this study stress the importance of regular and actual walking ability testing in patients with stable CAD to obtain their CRF, rather than simply predicting it from regression equations obtained from non-representative or non-comparable samples. Our developed prediction equation warrants additional validation and may represent a good substitute for currently used predictions obtained from a healthy population.
Estimating sound velocity in seabed sediment of shallow near-shore areas submerged after the Last Glacial Maximum is often difficult due to the heterogeneous sedimentary composition resulting from ...sea-level changes affecting the sedimentary environments. The complex sedimentary architecture and heterogeneity greatly impact lateral and horizontal velocity variations. Existing sound velocity studies are mainly focused on the surficial parts of the seabed sediments, whereas the deeper and often more heterogeneous sections are usually neglected. We present an example of a submerged alluvial plain in the northern Adriatic where we were able to investigate the entire Quaternary sedimentary succession from the seafloor down to the sediment base on the bedrock. We used an extensive dataset of vintage borehole litho-sedimentological descriptions covering the entire thickness of the Quaternary sedimentary succession. We correlated the dataset with sub-bottom sonar profiles in order to determine the average sound velocities through various sediment types. The sound velocities of clay-dominated successions average around 1530 m/s, while the values of silt-dominated successions extend between 1550 and 1590 m/s. The maximum sound velocity of approximately 1730 m/s was determined at a location containing sandy sediment, while the minimum sound velocity of approximately 1250 m/s was calculated for gas-charged sediments. We show that, in shallow areas with thin Quaternary successions, the main factor influencing average sound velocity is the predominant sediment type (i.e. grain size), whereas the overburden influence is negligible. Where present in the sedimentary column, gas substantially reduces sound velocity. Our work provides a reference for sound velocities in submerged, thin (less than 20 m thick), terrestrial-marine Quaternary successions located in shallow (a few tens of meters deep) near-shore settings, which represent a large part of the present-day coastal environments.
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