Lexicometric and Informational Measures in Political and Literary Corpora

in Studii şi Cercetări Lingvistice (2021), 2(LXXI – 2020, iulie–decembrie (July - December)), 163-178

The paper presents a method for corpus-based informational analysis, using an open source platform for lexicometric processing and a spreadsheet application. This type of study may serve in illustrating ... [more ▼]

The paper presents a method for corpus-based informational analysis, using an open source platform for lexicometric processing and a spreadsheet application. This type of study may serve in illustrating the factors that influence informational measures such as entropy, energy and informativity, and in detecting certain structural or stylistic particularities of the analysed corpora. [less ▲]

Loss of function variants in the KCNQ5 gene are associated with genetic generalized epilepsies

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Objective: De novo missense variants in KCNQ5, encoding the voltage gated K+ channel KV7.5, have been described as a cause of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) or intellectual disability ... [more ▼]

Objective: De novo missense variants in KCNQ5, encoding the voltage gated K+ channel KV7.5, have been described as a cause of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) or intellectual disability (ID). We set out to identify disease-related KCNQ5 variants in genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) and their underlying mechanisms. Methods: 1292 families with GGE were studied by next-generation sequencing. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, biotinylation and phospholipid overlay assays were performed in mammalian cells combined with docking and homology modeling. Results: We identified three deleterious heterozygous missense variants, one truncation and one splice site alteration in five independent families with GGE with predominant absence seizures, two variants were also associated with mild to moderate ID. All three missense variants displayed a strongly decreased current density indicating a loss-of-function (LOF). When mutant channels were co-expressed with wild-type (WT) KV7.5 or KV7.5 and KV7.3 channels, three variants also revealed a significant dominant-negative effect on WT channels. Other gating parameters were unchanged. Biotinylation assays indicated a normal surface expression of the variants. The p.Arg359Cys variant altered PI(4,5)P2-interaction, presumably in the non-conducting preopen-closed state. Interpretation: Our study indicates that specific deleterious KCNQ5 variants are associated with GGE, partially combined with mild to moderate ID. The disease mechanism is a LOF partially with dominant-negative effects through functional, rather than trafficking deficits. LOF of KV7.5 channels will reduce the M-current, likely resulting in increased excitability of KV7.5-expressing neurons. Further studies on a network level are necessary to understand which circuits are affected and how the variants induce generalized seizures. [less ▲]

Projects, plans and publications

Presentation (2021, April 20)

Presenting the TRANSLA project among others

Studying transnational events through web archives

Scientific Conference (2021, April 20)

This short presentation was a mid-term feedback on the collective work of WG2 that I lead within the WARCnet project. I especially underlined the research we conducted through an internal datathon we ... [more ▼]

This short presentation was a mid-term feedback on the collective work of WG2 that I lead within the WARCnet project. I especially underlined the research we conducted through an internal datathon we organised in January 2021 and which used seed lists, derived data and metadata. [less ▲]

Multilingual education in early years in Luxembourg: a paradigm shift?

in International Journal of Multilingualism (2021)

This paper is based in Luxembourg where a multilingual programme has been implemented in early childhood education in 2017. The research project examines the language use in daily communication and ... [more ▼]

This paper is based in Luxembourg where a multilingual programme has been implemented in early childhood education in 2017. The research project examines the language use in daily communication and literacy activities of educators and parents in day care centres, as reported by educators in two online-questionnaires. The findings show that the educators and parents use multiple languages when communicating, singing and reading with children in the centres. In addition to French and Luxembourgish which dominate, they use five other languages. Their reported multilingual practice reflects their beliefs that speaking and reading in several languages promotes language learning. However, while the programme is multilingual, a range of home languages are marginalised. The educators produce a language hierarchy in the centres which the parents reproduce. While collaboration with parents can be effective in bringing home languages into day care centres, educators need to be aware of language hierarchies and ideologies. [less ▲]

Symposium on the ‘Legacy’ of the USA Sanctions against International Criminal Court Prosecutor Ms Fatou Bensouda and Mr Phakiso Mochochoko

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Understanding the role of colorectal cancer-associated bacteria in colorectal cancer

Doctoral thesis (2021)

Mounting evidence from 16S rRNA-based or metagenomic analyses suggests that dysbiosis, a state of pathological microbial imbalance, is prevalent in the gut of patients with CRC. Numerous microbial taxa ... [more ▼]

Mounting evidence from 16S rRNA-based or metagenomic analyses suggests that dysbiosis, a state of pathological microbial imbalance, is prevalent in the gut of patients with CRC. Numerous microbial taxa have been identified of which representative isolate cultures can interact with cancer cells, further triggering distinct disease pathways in animal models. Nevertheless, how these complex interrelationships of a dysbiotic microbiota may be involved in the pathogenesis of CRC remains a fundamental question and requires multifaceted mechanistic studies. This thesis moves beyond observational studies, it integrates novel experimental approaches for the study of the gut microbiome in colorectal cancer. It incorporates current knowledge in the field as well as interdisciplinary approaches. My work aims at contributing to an ecosystem-level mechanistic understanding of the CRC-associated microbiome in the initiation and progression of the disease. In detail, the objective of my work comprised an integrative approach of microbiome-CRC interaction studies. We revised current knowledge on, and studied the CRC-associated bacteria, in particular Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) and Gemella morbillorum (Gm). We assessed their direct and indirect effects on CRC cells, their interactions with immune cells, as well as their tumor-modulating potential in vitro, in silico, and in vivo. The results presented in this thesis comprise new findings on human microbial cross-talk of Fn with CRC. We identified formate as a potential fusobacterial oncometabolite, which enhanced cancer incidence and progression via increased cancer stemness signaling. Furthermore, we discovered immune-suppressive functions of Gm in the context of CRC. With my work in collaboration projects, I contributed to the development of two novel approaches in anti-cancer therapy: First, to the establishment of a personalized in vitro model (iHuMiX) for the study of microbe-host-immune interactions in anti-cancer therapy, and second, to the validation of an in silico workflow that uses metabolic rewiring strategies for network-based drug target predictions for CRC therapy. Taken together, this thesis work broadened the mechanistic understanding of CRC-associated microbes and it contributed to potential strategies for the development of an improved CRC therapy. [less ▲]

Die "mentions honorifiques" - Kann man Patriotismus bewerten?

Article for general public (2021)

Third-country National Labour Workers' Mobility to and inside Europe during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Scientific Conference (2021, April 15)

This presentation analyses the situation generated by the Covid-19 pandemic crisis regarding border closures and the reintroduction of temporary border controls at the internal borders in the EU and the ... [more ▼]

This presentation analyses the situation generated by the Covid-19 pandemic crisis regarding border closures and the reintroduction of temporary border controls at the internal borders in the EU and the impact that this border closures and the pandemic had on third-country nationals living or visiting the European Union. [less ▲]

Perspectives from the French-Luxembourgish and the Belgian-German Borders

Presentation (2021, April 15)

When six European nations embarked on the integration process in the wake of World War II, there was no blueprint. Of course, the founders had a vision and shared ideals, but European integration has left ... [more ▼]

When six European nations embarked on the integration process in the wake of World War II, there was no blueprint. Of course, the founders had a vision and shared ideals, but European integration has left some citizens afraid of losing their identity and cultural heritage and an influx of immigrants has fuelled these fears. Building on this topic, this panel brings together researchers who focus on different aspects of what happens to history and heritage in multicultural European societies and particularly those in the border regions over time. New technologies are being used in innovated ways to communicate histories and memories to the public and with the goal to boost social and cultural participation. Since these former industrial regions in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany have coped with similar challenges including the decline of the mining industry and changing borders, this panel aims to help us understand what opportunities lie in engaging local communities in research and how this can contribute to creating a sense of shared European heritage and identity. [less ▲]