bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dual targeting of hepatocyte DGAT2 and stellate cell FASN alleviates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice
Authors: Yenilmez Batuhan , Harney Shauna , DiMarzio Chloe , Kelly Mark , Min Kyounghee , Echeverria Dimas , Bramato Brianna M. , Jackson Samuel O. , Reddig Keith , Kim Jason K. , Khvorova Anastasia , Czech Michael P.
Published: July 2023

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a malady of multiple cell types associated with hepatocyte triglyceride (TG) accumulation, macrophage inflammation, and stellate cell-induced fibrosis, with no approved therapeutics yet available. Here, we report that stellate cell fatty acid synthase (FASN) in de novo lipogenesis drives the autophagic flux that is required for stellate cell activation and fibrotic collagen production. Further, we employ a dual targeting approach to NASH that selectively depletes collagen through selective stellate cell knockout of FASN (using AAV9-LRAT Cre in FASNfl/flmice), while lowering hepatocyte triglyceride by depleting DGAT2 with a GalNac-conjugated, fully chemically modified siRNA. DGAT2 silencing in hepatocytes alone or in combination with stellate cell FASNKO reduced liver TG accumulation in a choline-deficient NASH mouse model, while FASNKO in hepatocytes alone (using AAV8-TBG Cre in FASNfl/flmice) did not. Neither hepatocyte DGAT2 silencing alone nor FASNKO in stellate cells alone decreased fibrosis (total collagen), while loss of both DGAT2 plus FASN caused a highly significant attenuation of NASH. These data establish proof of concept that dual targeting of DGAT2 plus FASN alleviates NASH progression in mice far greater than targeting either gene product alone.
Effects of sexual dimorphism and estrous cycle onC. difficileinfections in rodent models
Authors: Phan Jacqueline R. , Washington McKenzie , Do Dung M. , Mata Tiffany V. , Niamba Maria , Heredia Efren , Soriano Robert , Hassan Chandler , Cross Chad L. , Abel-Santos Ernesto
Published: July 2023

Clostridioides difficileinfection (CDI) is responsible for the majority of identifiable hospital-related antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Susceptibility to CDI and severity of disease varies depending on a variety of factors such as aggressive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, age, and immune status. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that female patients are more at risk for CDI than their male counterparts. In this study, we show that female mice developed more severe CDI than males when challenged with spores from three differentC. difficilestrains. CDI sexual dimorphism was still apparent when animals were placed under diet conditions that exacerbated CDI severity. Unlike male mice, females undergo the estrous cycle. Thus, female mice were challenged withC. difficilespores when they were at the estrus, metestrus, diestrus, late diestrus/early proestrus, proestrus, or late proestrus/early estrus stages. Animals were scored for CDI sign severity while continuously monitoring their estrous cycle stages. The resulting data showed a striking spike in CDI severity when animals were in proestrus the day before sign scoring. In contrast, animals who were in estrus the day before sign scoring were protected from CDI. Prophylactic treatment of CDI also showed sexual dimorphism with females responding better to treatment than males. Interestingly, infection sexual dimorphism was reversed in hamsters, with male hamsters developing more severe CDI signs than females. In conclusion, we have shown that mice recreate many of the conditions of sexual dimorphism of human CDI.
Missing-link fold reveals the evolutionary pathway between RNA polymerase and ribosomal proteins
Authors: Yagi Sota , Tagami Shunsuke
Published: July 2023

Numerous molecular machines are required to drive the central dogma of molecular biology. However, the means by which such numerous proteins emerged in the early evolutionary stage of life remains enigmatic. Many of them possess small β-barrel folds with different topologies, represented by DPBB conserved in DNA and RNA polymerases, and RIFT, OB, and SH3 in ribosomal proteins. Here, we discovered that the previously reconstructed ancient DPBB sequence could also adopt a novel β-barrel fold named DZBB, which shares similarities with RIFT and OB. Indeed, DZBB could be transformed into them through simple engineering experiments. Furthermore, the OB designs could be converted into SH3 by circular-permutation. These results indicate that these β-barrels diversified quickly from a common ancestor at the beginning of the central dogma evolution.
Mycorrhizal symbiont provides growth benefits in host plants via phosphate and phenylpropanoid metabolism
Authors: Chen Cheng-Yen , Naqvi Naweed I.
Published: July 2023

Using functional interaction assays,Tinctoporellus speciesisolate AR8 was identified as a plant growth-promoting fungus from Arabidopsis roots.

Confocal microscopy revealed interstitial growth and intracellular endophytic colonization within root cortex by AR8 hyphae prior to induction of beneficial effects.

AR8 improved plant growth and fitness across a broad range of monocot and dicot host species. AR8 solubilized inorganic phosphate and enabled macronutrient phosphorus assimilation into the host plants, and the resultant growth promotion required an intact phosphate starvation response therein.

Metabolomics analysis identified a highly specific subset of primary and secondary metabolites such as sugars, organic acids, sugar alcohols, amino acids, and phenylpropanoids, which were found to be essential for the plant growth-promoting activities of AR8.

trans-Cinnamic acid was identified as a novel AR8-induced plant growth promoting metabolite.
Community-based volunteering in response to Covid-19: people, process and planning
Authors: MacInnes Julie , Jones Bridget , Frere-Smith Kat , Abrahamson Vanessa , Eida Tamsyn , Sharp Rebecca , Gage Heather , Wilson Patricia
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The Covid-19 pandemic saw a dramatic rise in the number of people volunteering to support older people shielding at home. This study aimed to determine the processes by which volunteers were rapidly engaged in their communities and their impact on the older people who were supported and health and social care services.

Design/methodology/approach

The study took place in South East England between May–August 2020. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 88 participants including health and social care practitioners (n = 12), leaders of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations (n = 25), volunteers (n = 26) and older people receiving volunteer support (n = 25). Policy and procedure documents were sourced from the VCSE organisation leaders. Data were analysed thematically according to a framework method.

Findings

The authors identified key themes of People, Process and Planning. People: volunteers had a significant, positive impact on older people in their communities, with volunteers themselves, also benefiting. Process: VCSE organisations needed to work together and with health and care providers to avoid gaps and duplication of services. VCSE organisations were able to act quickly, by-passing many complex operational procedures. However, there was a need to ensure the safety of both volunteers and older people. Planning: Looking forward, there were concerns about the long-term funding of VCSE organisations and the availability of volunteers.

Originality/value

This study took place during the first wave of the pandemic, hence, it provides a snapshot of how voluntary organisations operated at this time and highlights the importance of integration with health and care statutory services.
Gender balance in the workforce and abortion attitudes: A cross‐national time‐series analysis
Authors: Fernández Juan J. , Valiente Celia , Jaime‐Castillo Antonio M.
Published: July 2023

This article explores the relationship between gender balance in the workforce and attitudes towards abortion worldwide. Studies on macro‐level conditions related to abortion attitudes overlook the role of gender balance in the workforce—specifically the degree of female representation in a country's workforce. There are strong reasons why this factor could shape abortion attitudes. We argue that such a gender balance creates necessary conditions to break with traditional, anti‐abortion ideology and facilitates dissemination and public acceptance of pro‐choice views. We test this argument with two different datasets ‐ the Integrated Values Survey and three waves of the International Social Survey Programme—along with two outcomes: general tolerance towards abortion and tolerance towards abortion for pregnant women of low income. Using three‐level random intercept models and multiple controls for individual and country‐level conditions, the results support our hypothesis: In countries with higher gender balance in the workforce, individuals display higher tolerance towards abortion.
Boarding versus day‐students: A mixed‐methods analysis of sleep and its relationship with psychological distress
Authors: Reardon Alexander , Lushington Kurt , Junge Andrew , Crichton Jonathan , Agostini Alex
Published: July 2023

Background

Boarding students face unique challenges when entering school, including: adapting to a novel environment, where they are separated from family, friends and culture, for up to 40 weeks per year. A particular challenge is sleep. A further challenge is coping with the demands of boarding with its potential impact on psychological well‐being.

Aims

To explore how boarders' sleep differs from that of their day‐student peers, and how this relates to psychological well‐being.

Sample and Methods

309 students (59 boarding students and 250 day‐students, at one Adelaide school) completed the School Sleep Habits Survey, Depression‐Anxiety‐Stress‐Scale‐21 (DASS‐21), and Flourishing Scale. Boarding students additionally completed the Utrecht Homesickness Scale. Thirteen boarding students described experiences of sleeping in boarding through focus groups.

Results

Boarding students, compared to day‐students reported 40 minutes more sleep per weeknight (p < .001), with earlier sleep onset (p = .026), and later wake‐up (p = .008) times. No significant differences were observed between boarding' and day‐students' DASS‐21 scores. Hierarchical regression revealed longer total weekday sleep time predicted higher psychological well‐being in both boarding and day‐students. Additionally, in boarding students, low homesickness‐loneliness and homesickness‐ruminations further predicted psychological well‐being. Thematic analysis of boarding students' focus group responses revealed that night‐time routine, and restricting technology use at night facilitated sleep.

Conclusions

This study supports – in both boarding and day‐students – the importance of sleep for adolescent well‐being. Sleep hygiene can play an important role in boarding student sleep, especially: regular night‐time routine and restricting technology use at night. Finally, these findings suggest that poor sleep and homesickness have an adverse effect on boarding student psychological well‐being. This study highlights the importance of strategies which promote sleep hygiene and minimize homesickness, in boarding school students.
Metformin sensitizes AML cells to venetoclax through endoplasmic reticulum stress—CHOP pathway
Authors: Hua Lei , Yang Nianhui , Li Yue , Huang Kexiu , Jiang Xinya , Liu Fangshu , Yu Zhi , Chen Jie , Lai Jing , Du Juan , Zeng Hui
Published: July 2023

Venetoclax inhibits acute myeloid leukaemia by inhibiting BCL‐2 targeting, and a combination regimen with venetoclax has been explored. Although these regimens produce better clinical results, the vast majority of patients still suffer from disease recurrence or primary drug resistance. Metformin has been demonstrated to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. However, whether it can synergize with venetoclax and the underlying mechanisms of metformin‐induced apoptosis are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of metformin and venetoclax on the growth of AML cells in vitro and in vivo. In both Molm13 and THP‐1 cell lines, metformin and venetoclax synergistically inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of leukaemia cells. Most importantly, the combination of metformin and venetoclax treatment significantly increased the expression levels of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress‐related marker CHOP, for example, in AML cell lines. Knockdown of CHOP markedly attenuated the metformin‐ and venetoclax‐induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, the combination of metformin and venetoclax demonstrated prominent anti‐leukaemia effects in xenograft models and bone marrow samples from AML patients. In summary, the combination of metformin and venetoclax showed enhanced anti‐leukaemia activity with acceptable safety in AML patients, representing a new combinatorial strategy worth further clinical investigation to treat AML.
Guideline of guidelines: follow‐up after orchidectomy for clinical stage 1 testicular cancer
Authors: Chavarriaga Julian , Bobrowski Adam , Hamilton Robert J.
Published: July 2023

Several medical organisations have developed evidence‐based guidelines for the diagnosis, management, and follow‐up of testicular cancer. This article aimed to review, compare, and summarise the most updated international guidelines and surveillance protocols for clinical stage 1 (CS1) testicular cancer. We reviewed a total of 46 articles on proposed follow‐up strategies for testicular cancer, and six clinical practice guidelines including four guidelines published by urological scientific associations and two guidelines published by medical oncology associations. Most of these guidelines have been developed by panels of experts with different backgrounds in clinical training, and geographic practise patterns, which explains the considerable variability between published schedules, and recommended follow‐up intensity. We present you with a comprehensive review of the most important clinical practice guidelines and propose unifying recommendations based on the most up to date evidence to help standardise follow‐up schedules based on patterns and risk of disease relapse.
Room‐temperature structural, magnetic, and dielectric characteristics of La‐doped CuO bulk multiferroic
Authors: Brajesh Kumar , Ranjan Sudhir , Kumar Rishow , Gupta Rajeev , Dixit Ambesh , Garg Ashish
Published: July 2023

In this manuscript, we report room‐temperature structural, microstructural, optical, dielectric, and magnetic properties of CuO and Cu0.995La0.005O ceramics, synthesized by solid‐state reaction method. La doping in CuO leads to the evolution of compact and dense microstructure with reduced porosity. Due to noticeable differences in the ionic radii of Cu2+ (0.73 Ǻ) and La3+ (1.03 Ǻ), La doping creates vacancy defects which induces considerable strain in the CuO lattice resulting in a reduction in the lattice parameters and cell volume. However, both ceramics process similar monoclinic structure with C2/c space group. Detailed characterization using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman, and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the incorporation of the La3+ in CuO lattice. Interestingly, La doping enhances the dielectric constant and results in a reduced leakage current. The onset of large dielectric constant is attributed to dense microstructure and strain/distortion in CuO lattice after La doping. Additionally, the bandgap of Cu0.995La0.005O ceramics decreases which is attributed to increased vacancy defect concentration that creates intermediate dopant energy level within bandgap of CuO matrix. Furthermore, improvement in magnetic and dielectric properties is also discussed and correlated with the grain size in La‐doped CuO.
Modeling the effects of ration on individual growth of Oncorhynchus tshawytscha under controlled conditions
Authors: Johne Alexandra S. , Carter Chris G. , Wotherspoon Simon , Hadley Scott , Symonds Jane E. , Walker Seumas P. , Blanchard Julia L.
Published: July 2023

Fed aquaculture is one of the fastest‐growing and most valuable food production industries in the world. The efficiency with which farmed fish convert feed into biomass influences both environmental impact and economic revenue. Salmonid species, such as king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), exhibit high levels of plasticity in vital rates such as feed intake and growth rates. Accurate estimations of individual variability in vital rates are important for production management. The use of mean trait values to evaluate feeding and growth performance can mask individual‐level differences that potentially contribute to inefficiencies. Here, the authors apply a cohort integral projection model (IPM) framework to investigate individual variation in growth performance of 1625 individually tagged king salmon fed one of three distinct rations of 60%, 80%, and 100% satiation and tracked over a duration of 276 days. To capture the observed sigmoidal growth of individuals, they compared a nonlinear mixed‐effects (logistic) model to a linear model used within the IPM framework. Ration significantly influenced several aspects of growth, both at the individual and at the cohort level. Mean final body mass and mean growth rate increased with ration; however, variance in body mass and feed intake also increased significantly over time. Trends in mean body mass and individual body mass variation were captured by both logistic and linear models, suggesting the linear model to be suitable for use in the IPM. The authors also observed that higher rations resulted in a decreasing proportion of individuals reaching the cohort's mean body mass or larger by the end of the experiment. This suggests that, in the present experiment, feeding to satiation did not produce the desired effects of efficient, fast, and uniform growth in juvenile king salmon. Although monitoring individuals through time is challenging in commercial aquaculture settings, recent technological advances combined with an IPM approach could provide new scope for tracking growth performance in experimental and farmed populations. Using the IPM framework might allow the exploration of other size‐dependent processes affecting vital rate functions, such as competition and mortality.
Effect of different anti‐cardiovascular disease treatments on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Lin Ruihan , Zhang Yuan , Yan Wenjie , Hu Wenru , Chen Yuwei , Yi Minhan
Published: July 2023

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular co‐morbidities have a mutually reinforcing effect, but existing studies have focussed only on the improvement of the associated co‐morbidities by treatment for OSA. To provide fresh guidelines for the treatment of OSA from a co‐morbidity standpoint, we conducted a systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for articles published from inception up to 2 May 2023. Fourteen original studies of patients with OSA with cardiovascular co‐morbidities and who received related treatment were included in the analysis. We found that diuretic treatment can reduce the apnea–hypopnea index in patients with OSA and hypertension (−19.41/h, p = 1.0 × 10−5), aldosterone‐angiotensin inhibitors also have a 9.19/h reduction (p = 0.003), while the effect of renal sympathetic denervation is insignificant (−2.32/h, p = 0.19). The short‐term treatment (<4 weeks) did not show an improvement (−2.72/h, p = 0.16), while long‐term treatment (>4 weeks) produced surprising outcomes (−12.78/h, p = 0.002). Patients with milder disease (baseline AHI < 35/h) had insignificant improvements (−1.05/h, p = 0.46), whereas those with more severe disease (baseline AHI > 35/h) could achieve satisfactory outcomes (−14.74/h, p < 0.00001). In addition, it also showed some improvement in the oxygen desaturation index and blood oxygen. Our results support the additional benefit of antihypertensive treatment for OSA symptoms, and the efficacy can be affected by different therapy, treatment duration, and severity levels. It could be useful in developing clinical therapy, educating patients, and exploring interaction mechanisms. The proposal was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022351206).
Anesthesia for laryngotracheal reconstruction in children: A narrative review
Authors: Lee Amy J. , Prager Jeremy D. , Mandler Tessa N. , Chatterjee Debnath , Wine Todd M. , Janosy Norah R.
Published: July 2023

Laryngotracheal stenosis, congenital or acquired, is a common cause of pediatric airway obstruction. Acquired subglottic stenosis frequently results from prolonged neonatal intubation. The clinical presentation of subglottic stenosis is variable, ranging from biphasic stridor and frequent upper respiratory infections to acute airway compromise. Optimal patient care requires clinical coordination within a multidisciplinary subspecialty team. Medical management includes optimizing respiratory status, gastroesophageal reflux, speech, feeding, nutrition therapies, and providing psychosocial support. If surgical intervention is required, the otolaryngologist, anesthesiologist, and perioperative team must collaborate closely to ensure successful operative outcomes. This narrative review of laryngotracheal stenosis will discuss the pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, medical management, and surgical interventions, and focus on the perioperative anesthetic considerations for children undergoing laryngotracheal reconstruction.
Chromatin expansion microscopy reveals nanoscale organization of transcription and chromatin
Authors: Pownall Mark E. , Miao Liyun , Vejnar Charles E. , M’Saad Ons , Sherrard Alice , Frederick Megan A. , Benitez Maria D. J. , Boswell Curtis W. , Zaret Kenneth S. , Bewersdorf Joerg , Giraldez Antonio J.
Published: July 2023

Nanoscale chromatin organization regulates gene expression. Although chromatin is notably reprogrammed during zygotic genome activation (ZGA), the organization of chromatin regulatory factors during this universal process remains unclear. In this work, we developed chromatin expansion microscopy (ChromExM) to visualize chromatin, transcription, and transcription factors in vivo. ChromExM of embryos during ZGA revealed how the pioneer factor Nanog interacts with nucleosomes and RNA polymerase II (Pol II), providing direct visualization of transcriptional elongation as string-like nanostructures. Blocking elongation led to more Pol II particles clustered around Nanog, with Pol II stalled at promoters and Nanog-bound enhancers. This led to a new model termed "kiss and kick", in which enhancer–promoter contacts are transient and released by transcriptional elongation. Our results demonstrate that ChromExM is broadly applicable to study nanoscale nuclear organization.
Long-Read Metagenomics of Marine Microbes Reveals Diversely Expressed Secondary Metabolites
Authors: Huang Ranran , Wang Yafei , Liu Daixi , Wang Shaoyu , Lv Haibo , Yan Zhen
Published: July 2023

Genome mining of metagenomic data has become the preferred method for the bioprospecting of novel compounds by cataloguing secondary metabolite potential. However, the accurate detection of BGCs requires unfragmented genomic assemblies, which have been technically difficult to obtain from metagenomes until recently with new long-read technologies.
Supplemental Material: Interseismic creep of carbonate-hosted seismogenic normal faults: Insights from central Italy
Authors: Sole Leonardo Del , et al.
Published: July 2023

Supplemental Item S1: Analytical techniques used for fault-rock characterization. Supplemental Item S2: Additional micrographs of fault rocks of the Monte Vettore fault. Supplemental Item S3: EBSD data useful for the evaluation of subgrains and plastic deformation. Supplemental Item S4: XRPD patterns and additional micrographs of fault rocks of the Gola della Rossa fault. Supplemental Item S5: Additional micrographs and SEM microanalysis data of fault rocks of the Gubbio fault.
Supplemental Material: Late Jurassic paleogeography of the U.S. Cordillera from detrital zircon age and hafnium analysis of the Galice Formation, Klamath Mountains, Oregon and California, USA
Authors: Surpless Kathleen D. , et al.
Published: July 2023

Table S1: Detrital zircon U-Pb age data and Hf data. Table S2: Pluton U-Pb age data and Hf data. Supplemental Text S1: Pluton sample descriptions, locations, weighted mean ages, and Tera-Wasserburg concordia diagrams.
Supplemental Material: Examining the influence of disequilibrium landscape on millennial-scale erosion rates in the San Bernardino Mountains, California, USA
Authors: Argueta Marina O. , Moon Seulgi , et al.
Published: July 2023

Text to explain blank corrections for 10Be data and the influence of drainage area on erosion rates, tables, and additional figures to supplement the main text are included in the Supplemental Material.
Supplemental Material: Watershed-scale provenance heterogeneity within Eocene nonmarine basin fill: Southern Greater Green River Basin, western USA
Authors: Parrish Ethan C. , al. et
Published: July 2023

Table S1: Petrographic point counting data was gathered using a modified Gazzi-Dickinson point counting methodology. Table S2: U-Pb data for all samples from this study. Table S3: Paleocurrent data. Figures S1 and S2: Shepard plots for MDS analysis. Table S4: Sample results for DZmix modeling. Supplemental Text S1: Pertinent detrital zircon provenance populations.
Supplemental Material: Paleogeographic maps: Audience insights on portrayal of ancient terrain and climate
Authors: Admin Editing , Hagadorn James W. , Bonner Hannah , Roth Ellen K. , Arthurs Leilani A.
Published: July 2023

File S1. Interview script. File S2. Coding manual. Table S1. Metadata for the public and professional populations interviewed. Table S2. Types of landscape features identified by participants. Table S3. Common questions and hypotheses expressed by participants.  
Impact of inertial drag on the entropy generation for water-based hybrid nanofluid through a permeable medium with heat generation/absorption
Authors: Acharya S. , Nayak B. , Mishra S. R.
Published: July 2023

The consequence of thermal radiation vis-a-vis external heat generation/absorption on the inertial drag force of a hybrid nanoliquid flow in three-dimensional geometry is investigated. It is proposed that with the symmetric or non-symmetric particle shape, the velocity differs because of the direction of the drag. Furthermore, the conducting fluid for the interaction of the magnetic field through a permeable medium past an expanding surface influences the flow phenomenon. The present analysis is useful for the dialysis of blood in the artificial kidneys, the flow of blood in capillaries as well as the design of filters in engineering problems. However, the formulated problem is transformed into its non-dimensional form for the implementation of particular similarity rules. The set of nonlinear governing equations with specific contributing parameter values is subjected to handle by employing shooting-based Runge–Kutta fourth-order technique. Because of the system’s irreversibility, the simulation of entropy and the Bejan value is the main draw. For each profile, the graphical results of specific parameters such as momentum, temperature, entropy, and the Bejan number are shown. Further, the important outcomes are the axial and the transverse velocity profiles are restricted by the inclusion of volume concentration in association with magnetic field and the enhanced Brinkman number augments the entropy generation significantly. However, the numerical validation shows a good correlation between the earlier investigations in particular cases.
Structural, electronic, and elastic properties of RbI using the FP-LAPW method
Authors: Mualla Zainab , Abu-Jafar Mohammed S. , Bassalat Ahmed , Abualrob Hadil , Mousa Ahmad A. , Manzoor Mumtaz , Sharma R. , Khenata R. , Farout Mahmoud
Published: July 2023

The structural, mechanical, and electronic properties of rubidium iodide (RbI) have been extensively investigated utilizing the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) approach. The potential was roughly calculated using a modified Becke–Johnson (mBJ) approximation, which increased the precision of the electronic properties. In this study, RbI is analyzed in a wide range of crystal structures, including topologies like rock salt (RS), CsCl, zinc blende (ZB), NiAs, and wurtzite (WZ), among others. Our research shows a strong relationship between the material’s physical properties and the conclusions drawn from both theoretical and experimental studies. Significantly, our results show that the RS form corresponds to RbI’s ground state. All the aforementioned topologies display wide-bandgap semiconductor capabilities, according to further examination of their electronic band structures. Notwithstanding these findings, it was discovered that RbI has a poor fracture resistance due to its low bulk modulus. Born’s stability analysis has shown that RbI is stable in the RS, CsCl, ZB, NiAs, and WZ structures. All RbI structures were discovered to have ionic bonding and to be ductile, and every stabilized system displayed anisotropic stability. Using the Cauchy pressure and Poisson’s ratio, the stiffness of the systems was evaluated, with the RS structure proving to be the stiffest. Overall, the findings illuminate the physical properties of RbI, providing valuable insights that could facilitate the creation and refinement of novel materials possessing desirable characteristics.
Experience of online physiology laboratory teaching for undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
Authors: Ekarattanawong Sophapun , Piyabhan Pritsana , Srisawat Umarat , Thongsepee Nattaya , Sookprasert Nattapon , Mathuradavong Nakorn , Charoenphandhu Jantarima , Wannasiri Supaporn
Published: July 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced physiology educators to use online teaching. At the time of this work, there was no research investigating the effectiveness of online and face-to-face physiology lab teaching in undergraduate students. A synchronized online lab teaching of a virtual lab classroom on the Microsoft Teams platform was successfully implemented. Our data showed that online physiology lab teaching could make the students understand physiology concepts and have the same effectiveness as the onsite lab experience.
Digoxin for the Management of Unstable Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia in a Patient Who Refused Electrical Cardioversion in a Rural Hospital
Authors: Kassa Belayneh Dessie , Amede Mekbib , Wubante Mollalign , Libanos Mebratu , Geta Kumlachew
Published: July 2023

Background. The most frequent atrioventricular tachycardia in the emergency room is atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). The first treatment option for ending stable narrow QRS complex SVTs is vagal maneuvers and adenosine. When adenosine or vagal maneuvers fail to change a patient’s rhythm to normal sinus rhythm, long-acting AV nodal-blocking medications, including nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem), flecainide, or beta-blockers, are employed. Electricity (synchronized cardioversion) is the preferred form of treatment for unstable patients. Case Presentation. A 40-year-old male patient presented to the Emergency Department of Dubti General Hospital, the Afar regional state in Ethiopia, with a complaint of shortness of breath, palpitation, extreme fatigue, and chest pain of a day’s duration. His blood pressure was 80/50 mmHg, he had cold extremities and a weak radial pulse, and his apical heart rate was fast, making it difficult to count. His electrocardiogram (ECG) showed paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) with a heart rate of 200. He was a candidate for electrical cardioversion due to unstable PSVT, but he and his family members refused to give consent. Even though he is not indicated for pharmacologic therapy, none of the commonly used drugs were available at the hospital. We managed him with digoxin, and the outcome was positive. Conclusion. Even though we could not find a clear recommendation regarding the use of digoxin for patients with unstable PSVT (AVNRT), by taking into consideration its negative chronotropic effect and its action to suppress the AV nodal conduction velocity, it may reduce the heart rate, and it can be used as an alternative in such difficult scenarios and a resource-limited setting. But this should be further investigated.
Determinants of High School Student Knowledge on HIV/AIDS
Authors: Lidia Sari Nirma
Published: July 2023

Introduction: The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia has increased. Because adolescents are the age group that experiences the most rapid social change, they are among the most likely to be infected with HIV or AIDS. This study aimed to determine the determinants of knowledge of SMA 6 Bandar Lampung students about HIV/AIDS. Methods: An observational study with a cross-sectional design is the approach that this research method takes. Students enrolled in the 12th grade at SMA Negeri 6 Bandar Lampung made up both the population and the sample for this study. Results: According to the findings of this study, the majority of students are female (62.7 %), with the majority also being over the age of 17 (97.1 %), and 89.2 % being Muslim. Only 24.5 % of respondents get their health information from health workers, despite the fact that 81.4 % of students are aware of HIV/AIDS. Gender and previous lead exposure are both factors that affect a student's level of knowledge. Conclusion: Schools need to increase the amount of information about HIV/AIDS that students are exposed to in a variety of different ways in order to increase students' knowledge about HIV/AIDS. These ways include incorporating material about adolescent reproductive health into the school curriculum, creating peer study groups, and increasing education and information through the media.
Avanços da odontologia digital na prática forense: a virtópsia enquanto técnica para identificação humana em Odontologia Legal
Authors: Coelho Bárbara Dantas , Pinto Paulo Henrique Viana , Silva Ricardo Henrique Alves da
Published: July 2023

A necropsia é uma técnica que tem como principal objetivo estabelecer a causa da morte. No entanto, esse procedimento é invasivo e pode afetar emocionalmente os familiares e as pessoas próximas do ente querido. Visando uma necropsia minimamente invasiva e um mapeamento digital da parte interna de um cadáver, foi criado o projeto virtópsia, no ano de 2000, na Suíça, o qual preconiza a utilização de exames de imagens na medicina forense, principalmente os obtidos por meio de tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética. O objetivo dessa revisão de literatura foi elucidar como a virtópsia pode ser útil para a identificação humana em odontologia legal, além de discorrer sobre as principais vantagens e desvantagens da técnica. Realizou-se uma busca de artigos científicos nas bases de dados PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO e Lilacs, entre os anos de 2000 e 2021, utilizando os descritores “Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X”, “Ressonância Magnética”, “Necrópsia” e “Odontologia Legal” nos idiomas português, inglês e espanhol. Para uma ampla abordagem dos artigos, operadores booleanos “AND” e “OR” foram utilizados. A virtópsia tem diversas indicações, as quais incluem, por exemplo, o processo de identificação humana por meio dos arcos dentais. Além disso, a virtópsia tem como vantagens não ser invasiva como a necropsia convencional, manutenção das informações relacionadas ao cadáver, diminuição do tempo de investigação, além de possibilitar uma ampla comparação ante mortem e post mortem. Contudo, a principal desvantagem da técnica ainda consiste no alto custo e na falta de profissionais treinados. É possível concluir que a virtópsia é uma ferramenta útil, sobretudo no processo de identificação humana em odontologia legal, apresentando vantagens quando comparada à necropsia convencional.
Lesão autoprovocada em crianças e adolescentes durante a pandemia da COVID-19: análise epidemiológica
Authors: Sgobbi Felipe Mazari , Bernardo Henrique Nicola Santo Antonio , Seba Maria Clara Cardoso , Silva Nicoly Ogeda da , Gabriel Júlia Corrêa , Rapozero Ana Laura Donaire , Aguiar Luan Salguero de , Miziara Ivan Dieb , Miziara Carmen Sílvia Molleis Galego
Published: July 2023

INTRODUÇÃO: as consequências da pandemia da COVID-19 na incidência de lesão autoprovocada em crianças e adolescentes não são totalmente conhecidas. No entanto, essa doença e as estratégias para conter a transmissão do vírus afetaram a saúde mental dessa população. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever e comparar os dados de lesão autoprovocada em crianças e adolescentes pré e durante a pandemia da COVID-19. MÉTODOS: estudo ecológico, com dados de notificações realizadas no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação devido à lesão autoprovocada, entre 1 de janeiro a 30 de setembro dos anos de 2018 a 2021. Os dados apresentaram distribuição paramétrica (teste Shapiro-Wilk). A comparação entre as médias foi feita por teste-t independente. Utilizado o SPSS® versão 22.2. RESULTADOS: foram analisados 88.483 casos de lesões autoprovocadas voluntariamente no período, destes, 47.785 correspondem ao período pré-pandemia (2018 e 2019) e 40.698, ao período de pandemia (2020 e 2021). Não houve diferença estatística quanto à frequência nos períodos levantados (t(34)= 1,533; p=0,056. Houve predominância feminina (77% dos casos, p=0,007), nas faixas etárias de 15 a 19 anos (71% dos casos, p=0,021) e de pessoas de pele branca (46%) ou parda (38%) p=0,039). DISCUSSÃO: não houve diferença entre as médias de internações por lesões autoprovocadas nos períodos levantados. Ao contrário dos resultados deste estudo, a literatura mostra que houve agravo dos transtornos mentais. A hipótese para esta divergência se sustenta na baixa notificação, uma vez que os atendimentos médicosforam focados na doença viral, e outros casos deixaram de ser identificados e notificados pelos médicos. CONCLUSÃO: devido à divergência entre os resultados encontrados e os estudos na literatura, são necessárias mais pesquisas para afirmar o verdadeiro cenário da incidência de lesão autoprovocada em crianças e adolescentes durante a pandemia da COVID-19.
DiscoVari
: A Web-Based Precision Medicine Tool for Predicting Variant Pathogenicity in Cardiomyopathy- and Channelopathy-Associated Genes
Authors: Kurzlechner Leonie M. , Kishnani Sujata , Chowdhury Shawon , Atkins Sage L. , Moya-Mendez Mary E. , Parker Lauren E. , Rosamilia Michael B. , Tadros Hanna J. , Pace Leslie A. , Patel Viraj , Chahal C. Anwar A. , Landstrom Andrew P.
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND:

With genetic testing advancements, the burden of incidentally identified cardiac disease-associated gene variants is rising. These variants may carry a risk of sudden cardiac death, highlighting the need for accurate diagnostic interpretation. We sought to identify pathogenic hotspots in sudden cardiac death-associated genes using amino acid-level signal-to-noise (S:N) analysis and develop a web-based precision medicine tool,
DiscoVari
, to improve variant evaluation.

METHODS:

The minor allele frequency of putatively pathogenic variants was derived from cohort-based cardiomyopathy and channelopathy studies in the literature. We normalized disease-associated minor allele frequencies to rare variants in an ostensibly healthy population (Genome Aggregation Database) to calculate amino acid-level S:N. Amino acids with S:N above the gene-specific threshold were defined as hotspots.
DiscoVari
was built using JavaScript ES6 and using open-source JavaScript library ReactJS, web development framework Next.js, and JavaScript runtime NodeJS. We validated the ability of
DiscoVari
to identify pathogenic variants using variants from ClinVar and individuals clinically evaluated at the Duke University Hospitals with cardiac genetic testing.

RESULTS:

We developed
DiscoVari
as an internet-based tool for S:N-based variant hotspots. Upon validation, a higher proportion of ClinVar likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants localized to
DiscoVari
hotspots (43.1%) than likely benign/benign variants (17.8%;
P<
0.0001). Further, 75.3% of ClinVar variants reclassified to likely pathogenic/pathogenic were in hotspots, compared with 41.3% of those reclassified as variants of uncertain significance (
P<
0.0001) and 23.4% of those reclassified as likely benign/benign (
P
<0.0001). Of the clinical cohort variants, 73.1% of likely pathogenic/pathogenic were in hotspots, compared with 0.0% of likely benign/benign (
P<
0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

DiscoVari
reliably identifies disease-susceptible amino acid residues to evaluate variants by searching amino acid-specific S:N ratios.
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF KNOWLEDGE SHARING IN EMPLOYEES INNOVATIVE BEHAVIOUR
Authors: ABU SHWİEMEH Osama , YILDIRAN Canan
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of knowledge sharing on innovative behavior of employees at MS Pharma Company in Amman, Jordan. Questionnaire method was chosen to collect data and it was applied to 206 employees at MS Pharma Company. Descriptive analysis, Pearson Correlation analysis, Regression method and One Way ANOVA were used. The most important result of the research was found that the level of knowledge sharing and innovative behavior of employees in the pharmaceutical industry was above the average. The effectiveness of information sharing in innovative behavior in the pharmaceutical industry has an important role and a statistically positive effect. There is no difference between information sharing and demographic (gender) variable, and between innovative behavior and demographic (education level) variable. In line with the findings, incentives for employees to share new learned information can be increased and improved with relationship and cooperation between departments.
Populism in Times of a Pandemic
Authors: Gruber Mirjam , Isetti Giulia , Ghirardello Linda , Walder Maximilian
Published: July 2023

This article provides an analysis of the COVID-19 discourse within six European populist parties from Spain, Germany, and France, with the aim of shedding light on the diverse interpretations and presentations of the pandemic by these parties. While most studies focus on right-wing or far-right populism, this study looks at both right and left ideologies paired with populism. By applying the discourse-historical approach of critical discourse studies, we highlight similarities and differences across the right-left political spectrum, as well as variations within and between different countries. The study contributes thus to the existing literature on populism and extends our understanding of the relationship between populist parties and the pandemic beyond right-wing populist parties only. Results, consistent with previous research, show that the host ideology decisively shapes parties’ discourses about COVID-19 and the need to consider alternative perspectives in populism research.
1. Introducing the Philosophy of Limitarianism
Authors: Robeyns Ingrid
Published: July 2023

This chapter starts by describing the basic intuition of limitarianism, namely that there can be situations in which a person has accumulated too many material resources. It then gives some brief comments on the recent emergence of this literature, as well as its development. Next, it moves to describing the three aims of the volume: to provide an overview of the literature, to advance novel arguments, and to bring the debates on economic limitarianism and ecological limitarianism more into conversation. The chapter closes by discussing some areas of future work.
3. Limits to Wealth in the History of Western Philosophy
Authors: Kramm Matthias , Robeyns Ingrid
Published: July 2023

In contemporary political philosophy, it has recently been proposed that upper limits should be put on individual wealth acquisition. In this article, we discuss the arguments made by canonical writers in the history of economic and political phi- losophy about ideas that can be considered prototypes of limitarianism. In contemporary discussions, a distinction has been made between intrinsic and non-intrinsic limitarianism, whereby it has been doubted that, in present-day pluralistic societies, the former can be justified. We have found proto- limitarian claims or justifications for limitarianism in four moral domains: moral psychology, moral reasoning, virtue ethics and political morality. While in the present-day context, the view that there should be an upper limit to wealth may sound much too radical, we show that throughout history, many influential philosophers made limitarian or proto-limitarian claims, including many intrinsic arguments for wealth limitarianism. We end the article by outlining the implications of those historical insights for systematic contemporary discussions of limitarianism.
12. Climate Change, Distributive Justice, and “Pre-Institutional” Limits on Resource Appropriation
Authors: Hickey Colin
Published: July 2023

In this paper I argue that individuals are, prior to the existence of just institutions requiring that they do so, bound as a matter of global distributive justice to restrict their use, or share the benefits fairly of any use beyond their entitlements, of the Earth's capacity to absorb greenhouse gases (EAC) to within a specified justifiable range. As part of the search for an adequate account of climate morality, I approach the task by revisiting, and drawing inspiration from, two prominent models from classical political philosophy for thinking about norms (rights, permissions, limits, etc.) regarding “pre-institutional” appropriation of unowned resources; Locke and Kant, respectively. The basic resources they develop—connected to fundamental norms of equality and rights to self-preservation and freedom—in order to generate their particular schema for distributive shares prior to the existence of just institutions can be usefully and plausibly connected with the scarce, valuable, rival, non-excludable, global, and unowned resource that is EAC in order to undergird a picture of individual climate duties in the contemporary world. It is a picture that comes with some fairly radical implications, especially for the well-off.
Notoginsenoside R1 can inhibit the interaction between FGF1 and VEGFA to retard podocyte apoptosis
Authors: Li ChangYan , Zhong HuaChen , Ma JingYuan , Liang Zhang , Zhang Le , Liu Tao , Fan WenXing
Published: July 2023

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a chronic condition resulting from microangiopathy in a high-glucose environment. The evaluation of vascular injury in DN has primarily focused on active molecules of VEGF, namely VEGFA and VEGF2(F2R). Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1), a traditional anti-inflammatory medication, exhibits vascular activity. Therefore, identifying classical drugs with vascular inflammatory protection for the treatment of DN is a valuable pursuit.

Methods

The “Limma” method was employed to analyze the glomerular transcriptome data, while the Spearman algorithm for Swiss target prediction was utilized to analyze the drug targets of NGR1. The molecular docking technique was employed to investigate the relationship between vascular active drug targets, and the COIP experiment was conducted to verify the interaction between fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) and VEGFA in relation to NGR1 and drug targets.

Results

According to the Swiss target prediction, the LEU32(b) site of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA) protein, as well as the Lys112(a), SER116(a), and HIS102(b) sites of the Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF1) protein, are potential binding sites for NGR1 through hydrogen bonding. Additionally, the Co-immunoprecipitation (COIP) results suggest that VEGFA and FGF1 proteins can interact with each other, and NGR1 can impede this interaction. Furthermore, NGR1 can suppress the expression of VEGFA and FGF1 in a high-glucose environment, thereby decelerating podocyte apoptosis.

Conclusion

The inhibition of the interaction between FGF1 and VEGFA by NGR1 has been observed to decelerate podocyte apoptosis.