bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catecholamine treatment induces reversible heart injury and cardiomyocyte gene expression
Authors: Bode Christine , Preissl Sebastian , Hein Lutz , Lother Achim
Published: May 2024

Background

Catecholamines are commonly used as therapeutic drugs in intensive care medicine to maintain sufficient organ perfusion during shock. However, excessive or sustained adrenergic activation drives detrimental cardiac remodeling and may lead to heart failure. Whether catecholamine treatment in absence of heart failure causes persistent cardiac injury, is uncertain. In this experimental study, we assessed the course of cardiac remodeling and recovery during and after prolonged catecholamine treatment and investigated the molecular mechanisms involved.

Results

C57BL/6N wild-type mice were assigned to 14 days catecholamine treatment with isoprenaline and phenylephrine (IsoPE), treatment with IsoPE and subsequent recovery, or healthy control groups. IsoPE improved left ventricular contractility but caused substantial cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy. However, after discontinuation of catecholamine treatment, these alterations were largely reversible. To uncover the molecular mechanisms involved, we performed RNA sequencing from isolated cardiomyocyte nuclei. IsoPE treatment resulted in a transient upregulation of genes related to extracellular matrix formation and transforming growth factor signaling. While components of adrenergic receptor signaling were downregulated during catecholamine treatment, we observed an upregulation of endothelin-1 and its receptors in cardiomyocytes, indicating crosstalk between both signaling pathways. To follow this finding, we treated mice with endothelin-1. Compared to IsoPE, treatment with endothelin-1 induced minor but longer lasting changes in cardiomyocyte gene expression. DNA methylation-guided analysis of enhancer regions identified immediate early transcription factors such as AP-1 family members Jun and Fos as key drivers of pathological gene expression following catecholamine treatment.

Conclusions

The results from this study show that prolonged catecholamine exposure induces adverse cardiac remodeling and gene expression before the onset of left ventricular dysfunction which has implications for clinical practice. The observed changes depend on the type of stimulus and are largely reversible after discontinuation of catecholamine treatment. Crosstalk with endothelin signaling and the downstream transcription factors identified in this study provide new opportunities for more targeted therapeutic approaches that may help to separate desired from undesired effects of catecholamine treatment.
Multi-modal imaging for the detection of early keratoconus: a narrative review
Authors: Al Bdour Muawyah , Sabbagh Hashem M. , Jammal Hisham M.
Published: May 2024

Keratoconus is a common progressive corneal disorder that can be associated with significant ocular morbidity. Various corneal imaging techniques have been used for the diagnosis of established cases. However, in the early stages of the disease, which include subclinical keratoconus and forme fruste keratoconus, detection of such cases can be challenging. The importance of detecting such cases is very important because early intervention can halt disease progression, improve visual outcomes and prevent postrefractive surgery ectasia associated with performing corneal refractive procedures in such patients. This narrative review aimed to examine several established and evolving imaging techniques for the detection of early cases of keratoconus. The utilization of combinations of these techniques may further increase their diagnostic ability.
Growth characteristics and classification systems of hemifacial microsomia: a literature review
Authors: Huh Joonyoung , Park Ji-Song , Sodnom-Ish Buyanbileg , Yang Hoon Joo
Published: May 2024

Background

Hemifacial microsomia is characterized by the hypoplasia of the mandible and temporomandibular joint, involving a variety of abnormalities of the craniofacial area. Since it gradually worsens as patients grow, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of facial bone growth and facial deformity in hemifacial microsomia patients in order to determine appropriate treatment timing and treatment methods.

Main body

Appropriate classification of hemifacial microsomia would facilitate accurate diagnosis, selection of treatment methods, and prognosis prediction. Therefore, in this article, we review previously published hemifacial microsomia classification and provide an overview of the growth of the facial skeleton and the characteristics of hemifacial microsomia-related facial deformities. The OMENS system is the most comprehensive classification method based on the characteristics of hemifacial microsomia deformity, but it needs to be improved to include malar/midface abnormalities and nerve involvement. In hemifacial microsomia, growth is progressing on the affected side, but to a lesser degree than the unaffected side. Therefore, surgical intervention in growing patients should be performed selectively according to the severity of deformity.

Conclusion

Understanding growth patterns is important to develop appropriate treatment protocols for correcting asymmetry in adult patients and to minimize secondary anomalies in growing patients.
Exploring carbon emission accounting methods for typical public institutions: a case study of hospitals
Authors: Zhang Lan , Zhang Rui , Ma Yuexin , Bai Yan
Published: May 2024

Typical public institutions such as government offices, hospitals, and schools play important leading and exemplary roles in the green and low-carbon development of the whole society. This paper analyzes the business and energy consumption characteristics of public institutions, as well as the characteristics of personnel travel, and constructs a carbon accounting model for public institutions. It innovatively proposes a methodology for carbon accounting of personnel travel related to public institutions and validates and analyzes it using a comprehensive hospital as an example. The paper analyzes the carbon emission characteristics of various energy types, systems, and types of travelers in hospitals, provides schemes for the transformation of main energy systems, and corresponding emission reduction effects, thereby providing technical support for the full-chain carbon accounting of public institutions. Additionally, this paper explores the carbon reduction pathways for hospitals to support the peak carbon and carbon neutrality goals of public institutions, and promote the high-quality development of public institutions in China.
A Dose-Response Study on Functional and Transcriptomic Effects of FSH on Ex Vivo Mouse Folliculogenesis
Authors: Zhan Tingjie , Zhang Jiyang , Zhang Ying , Zhao Qingshi , Chemerinski Anat , Douglas Nataki C , Zhang Qiang , Xiao Shuo
Published: May 2024

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) binds to its membrane receptor (FSHR) in granulosa cells to activate various signal transduction pathways and drive the gonadotropin-dependent phase of folliculogenesis. Both FSH insufficiency (due to genetic or nongenetic factors) and FSH excess (as encountered with ovarian stimulation in assisted reproductive technology [ART]) can cause poor female reproductive outcomes, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Herein, we conducted single-follicle and single-oocyte RNA sequencing analysis along with other approaches in an ex vivo mouse folliculogenesis and oogenesis system to investigate the effects of different concentrations of FSH on key follicular events. Our study revealed that a minimum FSH threshold is required for follicle maturation into the high estradiol-secreting preovulatory stage, and such threshold is moderately variable among individual follicles between 5 and 10 mIU/mL. FSH at 5, 10, 20, and 30 mIU/mL induced distinct expression patterns of follicle maturation–related genes, follicular transcriptomics, and follicular cAMP levels. RNA sequencing analysis identified FSH-stimulated activation of G proteins and downstream canonical and novel signaling pathways that may critically regulate follicle maturation, including the cAMP/PKA/CREB, PI3K/AKT/FOXO1, and glycolysis pathways. High FSH at 20 and 30 mIU/mL resulted in noncanonical FSH responses, including premature luteinization, high production of androgen and proinflammatory factors, and reduced expression of energy metabolism-related genes in oocytes. Together, this study improves our understanding of gonadotropin-dependent folliculogenesis and provides crucial insights into how high doses of FSH used in ART may impact follicular health, oocyte quality, pregnancy outcome, and systemic health.
Effects of antioxidant supplementation for polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Łopacińska Olga , Stańczyk Katarzyna , Korn Aleksandra , Czarnecka Karolina , Wójcik Emilia , Korczak Anna , Jędrzejczyk Justyna , Szewczyk Oliwia , Olek Ewa , Burda Katarzyna
Published: May 2024

Introduction and purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrinopathy in women, with a prevalence ranging from 10% to 13%. Oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant levels contribute to the development of various diseases, and one of them is polycystic ovary syndrome. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current knowledge about the effects of antioxidant administration in PCOS treatment.
A brief description of the state of knowledge: Oxidative stress is an imbalance between increased levels of reactive oxygen species and a decreased efficiency of antioxidant mechanisms, which can potentially cause damage. The harmful effects of free radicals might be neutralized by antioxidants obtained from the diet, such as polyphenols, vitamins C, and E. These compounds improve several aspects of the PCOS pathomechanism, including hormonal imbalance, glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and ovarian functionality.
Conclusions: The outcomes of all the reviewed studies in this paper indicate that antioxidants such as resveratrol, curcumin, vitamin C and E, N-acetylcysteine, and melatonin have therapeutic potential in the management of PCOS. However, currently antioxidant therapies cannot be recommended in PCOS therapy since there is a need for more prospective randomized clinical trials on a larger sample to establish a long-term effects of antioxidants supplementation in PCOS, the optimal dosage, and finally to assess which antioxidant is the most efficient in PCOS treatment.
Measuring quality of life in older migrants: assessing the construct and convergent validity of the CASP-12 among older Chinese migrants
Authors: Szabó Ágnes , Sieng Vanessa , Du Amy , Allen Joanne , Yeung Polly
Published: May 2024

Objectives:

Many people are ageing outside of their countries of origin, and the older adult population is becoming increasingly diverse globally. Although research with older migrants is growing, key constructs, such as quality of life (QOL), are routinely measured with instruments developed with the native population within a single country. Understanding the cultural appropriateness and validity of these measures should be a key focus for research with older migrants to ensure findings reported are based on reliable estimates. In this study, we investigated the validity of the CASP-12, an older adult-specific QOL scale, with a sample of older Chinese migrants in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Methods:

Survey data were collected from 245 older Chinese migrants. The CASP-12 and criterion measures assessing QOL, self-reported health, income adequacy, length of residence, perceived language barriers, household composition and education were administered.

Results:

Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the three-factor structure of the CASP-12. Control & Autonomy, Pleasure and Self-realisation emerged as independent factors. A significant method effect was, however, identified in connection with reverse-scored items of the Control & Autonomy subscale, indicating a potential response bias. The CASP-12 and its subscales related to criterion measures in expected ways.

Conclusions:

There is partial evidence for the validity and reliability of the CASP-12 as a QOL measure to be used with older Chinese migrants. The presence of a method effect, however, suggests that estimates related to the Control & Autonomy subscale are impacted by bias, and revision of the CASP-12 may be necessary in the future.
Transport policies and their everyday impact on mobilities of older adults in Bengaluru
Authors: Nagesh Prajwal , Bailey Ajay , George Sobin , Ettema Dick , Subaiya Lekha
Published: May 2024

Background and objectives:

Cities in the Global South are simultaneously witnessing wide-scale population ageing and rapid urbanisation. There is overwhelming pressure on policy makers to rapidly envision and provision age-friendly transport environments. In Indian cities, later-age mobilities face unique risks due to traffic congestion and inequities. However, the policy and transport research has treated congestion, equity and age-friendly mobilities as unrelated issues. This article goes a step ahead to understand how the policies to mitigate congestion can impact the provisioning of age-friendly infrastructure.

Research design and methods:

Bengaluru, once termed the ‘pensioners’ paradise’, is known for its ‘alarming’ levels of traffic congestion (Pucher et al, 2005; Pojani and Stead, 2017). We review Bengaluru’s transport policies and peer-reviewed articles concerning these policies to understand the positioning of age-friendly transport within this context.

Results:

Our findings recognise a shift from sufficientarianism to utilitarian orientations in Bengaluru’s policy making on easing congestion, which narrows the options for later-age transport users in terms of access and affordability. Some of the features not unique to Bengaluru – such as top-down planning, institutional fragmentation and distancing of users from policy making – have resulted in buses being inaccessible for passengers with mobility issues, metro rail being unaffordable for those on low incomes, lack of safe modes of transport and safe access to streets.

Discussion and implications:

The article is an initial foray into the ambiguity in the philosophical underpinning of transport policy making, which prioritises solving congestion ahead of providing age-friendly transport. We highlight specific challenges the cities of the Global South experience as they envision age-friendly transport policies amid the ascendance of congestion-solving policies.
Globalisation and the value of Ulrich Beck’s concept of ‘cosmopolitanisation’ in orienting a new sociology of later life
Authors: Gilleard Chris , Higgs Paul
Published: May 2024

German sociologist Ulrich Beck has described ‘cosmopolitanisation’ as the sociological face of globalisation and has advocated for a cosmopolitan sociology. The turn to the cosmopolitan he suggested involves an epistemic shift within the discipline. It demands a move away from a sociology dominated by methodological nationalism to one whose focus is not so much on the external, ‘out there’ processes of globalisation, but on the internalised global practices reflected within societies. This article employs such a cosmopolitan lens to explore the changing nature of old age/later life. We highlight a number of domains where Beck’s elaboration of cosmopolitanisation may be actualised in later life. These include: (a) the ‘assetisation’ of later life; (b) the transgenerational expansion of information and communications technology; (c) the experience of transnational ageing; (d) the development and promotion of transnational policies for a senior citizenry; and (e) the impact of global climate change. We conclude by noting how Beck’s desire to shift sociology from its traditional base in methodological nationalism to what he termed a more cosmopolitan sociology can apply equally to analysis of the changing character of later life. In seeking to apply and extend Beck’s concept of cosmopolitanisation to the sociological study of later life, we hope to enrich and enliven a new sociology of later life; our article aims to make such a start.
Globalising dementia research: echoes of racialisation and colonialism
Authors: Fletcher James Rupert
Published: May 2024

This paper offers some provocations regarding the contemporary globalisation of dementia research. I begin with a brief account of the late 20th-century genesis of the dementia research economy in the US and subsequent initiatives to extend that research across the majority world. I then trouble this political movement. I consider racialisation in dementia research as a parallel process to globalisation, with minoritised groups being positioned as new subjects for moral and knowledge claims regarding dementia. I suggest resonances with critiques of the global mental health movement as a technology of coloniality, which I argue are relevant to the current globalisation of dementia research. I contend that majority world populations are being positioned – scientifically and morally – as new research sites and as examples of why Anglo-American approaches to dementia are superior. These parallels require critical gerontologists to ask who is benefiting from the globalisation of dementia.
Critical, connected and caring: older adults’ agency during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mandache Luminița-Anda , Ivan Loredana
Published: May 2024

Considering (1) the current context of social and economic polarisation in Eastern Europe, which represents older people as experiencing ‘red nostalgia’ and presents them as passive citizens, and (2) the increased vulnerabilities of older people during the COVID-19 pandemic as a main target of restrictive policies, we explored the experiences of older people during the COVID-19 lockdown period in Romania in 2020. We carried out 12 semi-structured interviews with older people from rural and urban areas to understand how they experienced the lockdown period and made sense of the pandemic. We perceived the pandemic as a holistic experience that affected different aspects of social life. We learned that older people manifested their agency in multiple forms. First, they were critical of lockdown measures imposed on them while at the same time understanding the need to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, signalling a more complex political subjectivity among this group than popular narratives suggest. Second, older people made heavy independent use of information and communications technology. Lastly, all interviewees shared a sense of care for people they considered to be more vulnerable than themselves, illustrating that older people are not only the target of care and empathy by others in society but also the source of care and empathy for others in society. These aspects situate older people as active citizens, critical of the state, engaged in the use of technology and caring for people other than those in their immediate circle – all signs that they are actively part of the flow of society.
The Immigration Advantage in the U.S.-China Strategic Contest for STEM Talent
Authors: Neufeld Jeremy
Published: May 2024

executive summary: This essay argues that recruitment of globally mobile scientists, researchers, and inventors gives the U.S. an advantage in great-power competition with China, but one the U.S. risks squandering. main argument
The U.S. has a powerful asymmetric advantage over the People's Republic of China in advancing its global technological leadership: the ability to draw on the top talent from around the world. The recruitment of international talent in STEM fields is a major force multiplier for U.S. scientific and technological enterprises, especially in critical and emerging technologies and defense-related industries. Attracting top international talent is not a tool that China can easily replicate. For all its efforts to lure its own émigrés back and attract international students, China is still a net emigration country, while the U.S. is the top destination for immigrants, especially scientists and inventors. However, the deteriorating conditions of legal pathways to immigration for high-skilled STEM experts threaten to undermine this strategic advantage. policy implications
• The U.S. is becoming less attractive for globally mobile international talent over time, largely due to the onerous and worsening conditions facing legal immigrants. Most notably, there is a mismatch between the number of people allowed to apply and receive permanent residence each year, leading to untenably long—and growing—backlogs and associated wait times. • The U.S. could increase its innovative output by expanding the quantity and improving the quality of international STEM researchers welcomed to the country. It could do so through changes in laws and regulations or merely by better recruiting and retaining talent through increased uptake of existing programs. It could also achieve greater contributions from talent it already has recruited by removing visa barriers restricting innovation-generating activities. • Efforts by the Chinese government to transfer technologies illicitly through espionage pose a serious risk. This risk needs to be managed with care to protect sensitive information without setting back U.S. technological development.
Pleasant Disruption: Queer Theory, Entrepreneurship, and the Memoirs of Charlotte Charke
Authors: Layman Thomas
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This article explores the intersection of entrepreneurial studies and queer studies as it appears in Charlotte Charke's A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Charlotte Charke , examining the relationship between Charke's queer identity and labor history. I come to the conclusion that the queer "catallactic" capitalist is an antinormative identity that queers the space around it; queer capitalism becomes a type of applied queer theory that operates in a space I refer to as the bazaar.
Antiracism and Regimes of Truth in Eighteenth-Century Studies
Authors: Pichichero Christy
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This article argues that carving pathways of antiracist praxis in eighteenth-century studies necessitates centering not only the subjects that we study but also our own subjectivity as scholars. Though subject positions and presentist situatedness are often viewed as corrupting hermeneutic lenses, purported academic objectivity—the chimera of the disembodied, inscrutably objective, geopolitically, culturally, and historically "unmarked scholar"—obfuscates both the political investments and "regimes of truth" that inevitably underwrite our scholarship and professional activity. Engaging with Audre Lorde, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, Michel Foucault, and Ann Laura Stoler on issues of knowledge and power, I contend that scholars of eighteenth-century studies must radically challenge "regimes of truth" that animate our professional practices as well as notions of canonicity, temporality, periodization, and racialized identities that traditionally (mis)shape our field.
The Empire Never Ended
Authors: Pierrot Grégory
Published: May 2024

Abstract: In his 1981 novel VALIS , science fiction writer Philip K. Dick proposed a vision of human existence in which superimposing the past, present and future reveals the Black Iron Prison, the materialization of oppression as the constant running through all eras of history. "The Empire never ended," says Dick. He might as well be speaking of the French Empire, whose current ubiquity demonstrates, if necessary, that in a time when political leaders in France and elsewhere aggressively promote sanitized official history, revisionist historical and archival work has immediate bearing on the political discussions of our day.
Dual grating single-shot pump-probe technique
Authors: Tianchen Yu , Yang Junyi , Li Zhongguo , Wu Xingzhi , fang yu , Yang Yong , SONG Ying-lin
Published: May 2024

A simple and effective single-shot pump-probe technique is reported. Using only two commercial gratings, a large time window of 95.4 ps is spatially encoded in a single probe pulse, and single-shot time-resolved measurements are implemented. The time window exceeds the maximum reported values for single-shot pump-probe techniques using the echelon or angle beam encoding strategy. The phase difference problem in the echelon encoding strategies is also eliminated and a customized echelon is not needed in this technique. The measurements of the ultrafast two-photon absorption dynamic of ZnSe at a wavelength of 650 nm verify the effectiveness of this technique.
New Insights in ATP Synthesis as Therapeutic Target in Cancer and Angiogenic Ocular Diseases
Authors: van Noorden Cornelis J.F. , Yetkin-Arik Bahar , Serrano Martinez Paola , Bakker Noëlle , van Breest Smallenburg Mathilda E. , Schlingemann Reinier O. , Klaassen Ingeborg , Majc Bernarda , Habic Anamarija , Bogataj Urban , Galun S. Katrin , Vittori Milos , Erdani Kreft Mateja , Novak Metka , Breznik Barbara , Hira Vashendriya V.V.
Published: May 2024

Lactate and ATP formation by aerobic glycolysis, the Warburg effect, is considered a hallmark of cancer. During angiogenesis in non-cancerous tissue, proliferating stalk endothelial cells (ECs) also produce lactate and ATP by aerobic glycolysis. In fact, all proliferating cells, both non-cancer and cancer cells, need lactate for the biosynthesis of building blocks for cell growth and tissue expansion. Moreover, both non-proliferating cancer stem cells in tumors and leader tip ECs during angiogenesis rely on glycolysis for pyruvate production, which is used for ATP synthesis in mitochondria through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Therefore, aerobic glycolysis is not a specific hallmark of cancer but rather a hallmark of proliferating cells and limits its utility in cancer therapy. However, local treatment of angiogenic eye conditions with inhibitors of glycolysis may be a safe therapeutic option that warrants experimental investigation. Most types of cells in the eye such as photoreceptors and pericytes use OXPHOS for ATP production, whereas proliferating angiogenic stalk ECs rely on glycolysis for lactate and ATP production. (J Histochem Cytochem XX.XXX–XXX, XXXX)
Physiological responses and intestinal conditions of broiler chickens treated with encapsulated Acalypha australis L. leaf extract and chitosan
Authors: Sugiharto Sugiharto , Zulpa Yuki , Agusetyaningsih Ikania , Widiastuti Endang , Wahyuni Hanny Indrat , Yudiarti Turrini , Sartono Tri Agus
Published: May 2024

Background and Aim: The ban on antibiotic growth promoters adversely affects the physiological condition and health of poultry. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of encapsulated Acalypha australis L. leaf extract, chitosan, or a combination of both on the physiological and intestinal conditions of broiler chickens.

Materials and Methods: A total of 280 Cobb broiler chicks were randomly distributed into four groups: Basal feed without additives (CNTL), basal feed with 0.01% encapsulated A. australis leaf extract (EALE), 0.01% chitosan (CHIT), and 0.01% EALE and 0.01% chitosan (EACH). Sample collection and data measurement were conducted on day 36.

Results: There was a tendency (p = 0.08) for EACH bird to have a higher body weight than the other groups. Feed consumption was higher (p < 0.05) in EACH than in EALE and CHIT. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower (p < 0.05) in EALE, CHIT, and EACH than in CNTL. Erythrocyte numbers were lower (p < 0.05) in EALE than in CNTL and EACH. Hematocrit was lower (p < 0.05) in EALE and CHIT groups than in the other two groups. There was a tendency (p = 0.09) for heterophils to be higher in EACH than in CNTL. Thrombocyte counts were lower (p < 0.05) in EACH group than in the other groups. Serum globulin levels were higher (p < 0.05) in EACH than in CNTL and CHIT. The albumin-to-globulin ratio was higher (p < 0.05) in CNTL than in EALE and EACH. Coliform bacteria tended to be lower (p = 0.05) in the cecum of EACH broilers than that of other broilers. Similarly, the ratio of Lactic acid bacteria to coliforms tended to be higher (p = 0.08) in the cecum of EACH group than that in the other groups. Treatments did not influence the intestinal morphology of broiler chickens (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: A combination of EALE and chitosan as feed additives enhanced the final body weight and feed efficiency (FCR) of broilers. These additives also increased the levels of heterophils, serum globulin, the ratio of LAB to coliforms, and reduced thrombocytes, albumin-to-globulin ratio, and cecal coliform bacteria. Hence, EALE and chitosan blend improved the growth performance, immune status, and intestinal health of broiler chickens.

Keywords: broilers, chitosan, herbs, immune system, intestinal health, synergistic effect.
Analysis of the contribution of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome and glycemic level variability to the development and progression of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Enert A. V. , Apalkov D. G. , Pereletova S. R. , Trubchenko K. V. , Saprina T. V.
Published: May 2024

In this review, information is presented within the triad: obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSA), glycemic variability, and cardiac arrhythmias in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Epidemiological aspects, pathogenetic relationships, possible instrumental and laboratory diagnostic methods, as well as approaches to personalized therapy are analyzed. Research is being actively conducted in certain areas of the designated triad, however, no studies have been found that include simultaneous monitoring of indicators reflecting these disorders in patients with DM2. Many issues are still controversial. Sleep disturbances in patients with DM2 are actively studied, but more often questionnaires are used for diagnosis, rather than instrumental methods. There is insufficient data examining the effect of hypoxia on the progression of complications in patients with DM2. Rhythm disturbances are being actively studied in patients with DM2 in combination with various cardiological problems. Of greatest interest is the study of rhythm disturbances in patients with DM2 without concomitant comorbid conditions of the cardiovascular system, in order to identify early signs of diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and cardiomyopathy, as well as additional early risk factors for the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Most of the studies are devoted to the study of the association of OSA and various arrhythmias in cardiac patients. However, there is no data on the combined effect of glycemic variability and OSA on the development of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with DM2. Additional studies are needed to identify the features of the effect of OSA on cardiac arrhythmias in patients with DM2.
Evaluation of the effect of testosterone replacement therapy with a transdermal testosterone on glycemic control in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Rozhivanov R. V. , Chernova M. O. , Ioutsi V. A. , Mel’nichenko G. A. , Shestakova M. V. , Rozhivanova E. R. , Andreeva E. N. , Mokrysheva N. G.
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND: It is important to evaluate the effect of androgen replacement therapy on glycemic control.

AIMS: Assessment of the effect of transdermal testosterone therapy on glycemic control in men with hypogonadism and T2DM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prospective, comparative study included 300 men aged 55[49;61] years: men receiving both glucose-lowering therapy (GLT) and transdermal testosterone; and patients receiving only GLT. Observation period 1 year. A medical history, a questionnaire for symptoms of androgen deficiency, and measurement of total testosterone and glycated hemoglobin were carried out. Groups were compared using nonparametric methods.

RESULTS: Patients receiving androgen replacement therapy in combination with GLT at both 6 and 12 months from the moment of inclusion in the study, they had a statistically significantly higher level of total testosterone and less severity of symptoms of androgen deficiency. When assessing the magnitude of changes in the studied parameters, it was found that patients receiving testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) were characterized by a statistically significantly more pronounced decrease in the level of glycated hemoglobin (average difference 0,3%). In 29 (20,4% (95% ДИ 13,8–27,0)) men who received only GLT, hypogonadism was eliminated. In 3 patients from the TRT group, a pathological increase in the level of total blood PSA was observed, and therefore TRT was discontinued. An increase in hemoglobin above the reference value (>172 g/l) was detected in 8% and 1,3% of men on TRT and without correction of hypogonadism, respectively, p=0,011.

CONCLUSIONS: The combination of transdermal TRT and GLT has a positive effect on glycemic control, which is manifested by a decrease in glycated hemoglobin to a greater extent than when using GLT alone. Normalization of testosterone levels leads to a decrease in the symptoms of androgen deficiency, which is accompanied by an improvement in quality of life. Elimination of hypogonadism only with GLT is possible in a small number of cases.
Связь субъективной религиозности с антииммигрантскими установками в Европе: анализ на основе данных Европейского социального исследования (ESS)
Authors: Парвадов Семен Олегович
Published: May 2024

В работе рассматривается, как субъективная религиозность и конфессиональная принадлежность связаны с антииммигрантскими установками в европейских странах на индивидуальном уровне. Теоретической основой исследования выступают теория культурной угрозы и теория религиозного сострадания. Согласно теории культурной угрозы, религиозность и конфессиональная принадлежность могут маркировать идентичность и быть основанием для антииммигрантских установок в результате конструируемого страха размытия этнокультурного единства. Теория религиозного сострадания, напротив, подчеркивает, что религиозным индивидам свойственно разделять альтруистические ценности, а это предполагает эмпатичное отношение к иммигрантам как уязвимой группе.
Исходя из таких предположений, автор выдвигает гипотезы и тестирует их на данных десятой волны Европейского социального исследования (ESS) по 30 европейским странам (общий объем выборки N = 23 624). В качестве главных предикторов выбраны уровень субъективной религиозности и конфессиональная принадлежность респондента. В качестве зависимых переменных выступают ответы на два вопроса, раскрывающие готовность респондента принимать иммигрантов разного происхождения — той же этнической группы/расы или отличной от большинства. Основным методом анализа выступило регрессионное моделирование: были построены множественные линейные модели с робастными оценками.
В результате установлено, что статистические связи с антииммигрантскими установками имеет не только субъективная религиозность респондента, но и его принадлежность к определенной конфессии, а также эффекты их взаимодействия. Теория культурной угрозы продемонстрировала больший объяснительный потенциал, в то время как предположения, связанные с теорией религиозного сострадания, не нашли подтверждения.
Блогеры в сфере здоровья в оценках горожан: практики, коммуникация, доверие
Authors: Богомягкова Елена Сергеевна
Published: May 2024

В статье представлены результаты комбинированного эмпирического исследования, реализованного в 2020―2021 гг. и включавшего полуструктурированные интервью с жителями крупных городов России (n = 90), а также телефонный опрос жителей Санкт-Петербурга (n = 861). Цель работы ― описать опыт обращения к материалам интернет-инфлюенсеров, специализирующихся на теме здоровья, и специфику коммуникации в их блогах, а также осветить механизмы формирования доверия новым экспертам. Показано, что обращение к материалам блогеров, работающих в сфере здоровья, — одновременно рутинная и ситуативная практика для горожан. Тематика запросов и «специализация» наиболее популярных блогеров демонстрируют, что больший интерес представляет информация не о методах лечения, а о способах поддержания хорошего самочувствия. Сетевой характер коммуникации в блогах, отличающий ее от институциональных форм, требует доверия, критериями формирования которого выступают контент, персонификация, сетевой капитал, публичность, соответствие рекомендаций личному опыту пользователя. Практики чтения постов и просмотра видео в большей степени свойственны молодым респондентам, наиболее интегрированным в интернет-коммуникации и доверяющим онлайн-источникам информации о здоровье. С большей вероятностью к блогерам прислушиваются горожане, усвоившие новые способы заботы о здоровье: внимание к эмоциональному состоянию, контроль питания, цифровой селф-трекинг. Доверие к интернет-инфлюенсерам невелико и не связано с (не)доверием врачам. Востребованность блогов о здоровье объясняется вниманием к вопросам здорового образа жизни и особенностями взаимодействия новых экспертов с пользователями. Блогеры занимают тематические ниши, где не присутствует официальное здравоохранение, при этом выступая не альтернативными, а параллельными институциональной медицине структурами, коммуникации в которых соответствуют трендам социальных изменений и привлекательны для горожан.
Благодарность. Материал подготовлен при финансовой поддержке РНФ в рамках научного проекта № 21-18-00125. Автор выражает благодарность М. Е. Глуховой (аспирантка ЕУСПб), А. А. Дупак (магистр социологии), А. С. Захаровой (магистр социологии) за помощь в сборе эмпирического материала.
A comparative analysis of phytochemical constituents and bioactivity of two wild medicinal herbs of the Amaranthaceae family
Authors: Das Jinti Moni , Nath Namita , Sharma Anindita , Tayung Kumananda
Published: May 2024

Alternanthera sessilis and Alternanthera paronychioides are 2 common herbaceous plants in the North Eastern region of India. The 2 species are known traditionally for edibility and medicinal use. The objectives are to qualitatively screen phytochemicals and test for antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity between the 2 species– Alternanthera sessilis and Alternanthera paronychioides. The samples for analysis were collected from aerial leaves and air-dried for phytochemical screening and biological activity tests. Antioxidant assays used are DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-1picrylhydrazyl), H2O2, and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assay. For antimicrobial tests, 2 different strains of microbes were used to test the bioactivity of the plants. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of several antioxidant potential groups of phytochemicals like phenols, flavonoids, etc. Phytochemical constituents of Alternanthera sessilis showed more antioxidant potential than Alternanthera paronychioides in DPPH and H2O2 assays but Alternanthera paronychioides showed more potential than Alternanthera sessilis in FRAP assay. The phytochemicals also showed positive tests for antimicrobial activity against 2 bacterial strains, i.e., Escherichia coli (MTCC 443) and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 737). This study reveals the presence of phytonutrients which suggest the antioxidant and antibacterial activities exhibited by the 2 species of the family. Further exploration of phytochemicals in different aspects could lead to better-performing drugs for various ailments.
Characterization of Azotobacter beijerinckii for PGP properties isolated from tomato rhizosphere of Darjeeling Hills
Authors: Basnett Deewa , Chowdhury Swapan Kumar , Sharma Binod Chandra , Lama Projjwal Chandra
Published: May 2024

The rhizosphere soil is the habitat of a various kind of microorganisms that play a key role in the enhancement of plant growth. The present study was carried out to screen the abundance of free-living dinitrogen-fixing microorganisms from the tomato rhizosphere of Darjeeling Hills. The bacteria that could fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and grow on media devoid of nitrogen were isolated. One of the potent strains was selected and identified as Azotobacter beijerinckii through molecular characterization using 16S rRNA homology at NCMR-NCCS, Pune. In-vitro production of IAA was 27 (?g/mL), Gibberellic acid was 48 (?g/mL) and the Phosphate solubilization index (SI) was 2.86. The plant growth promotion test was performed on rice seeds using the strain. The results showed that the % increase in germination over control was 7.52%.
Us and IT: Capacity-building for blended learning
Authors: Cleary Kaye , Samarawickrema Gayani , Gauci Sally
Published: May 2024

When Victoria University (VU) Australia, adopted a new learning management system (LMS) as part of its Blended Learning Strategy and Operational Plan in 2014, it introduced a range of support structures including a staff support and training program. Complementing this, the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (the course providing professional development for early career academic staff) offered an elective AET4010 Blended Learning Design and Development fusing the pedagogical and theoretical aspects of blended learning to foster teaching as a design science. In this study we investigate the effectiveness of AET4010 in developing participants’ capacity to design and, develop blended learning. In this paper we report on the data from the first stage of this investigation. Data is derived from assessment rubrics. Complementary qualitative data will be collected in the second stage via interviews conducted after the participants complete the unit. We analyse our findings against the JISC Building Digital Capability Framework mapped to the UK Professional Standards Framework. This Framework identifies early career academics’ capabilities (Associate Fellows). The emerging findings indicated the value of capacity building through a structured unit of study enabling participants to experience learning from their own learner’s standpoint while reflecting on pedagogical perspectives and ‘teaching as design’.
A learning analytics pilot in Moodle and its impact on developing organisational capacity in a university
Authors: Froissard Jean-Christophe , Liu Danny , Richards Deborah , Atif Amara
Published: May 2024

Moodle is used as a learning management system around the world. However, integrated learning analytics solutions for Moodle that provide actionable information and allow teachers to efficiently use it to connect with their students are lacking. The enhanced Moodle Engagement Analytics Plugin (MEAP), presented at ASCILITE2015, enabled teachers to identify and contact students at-risk of not completing their units. Here, we discuss a pilot using MEAP in 36 units at Macquarie University, a metropolitan Australian university. We use existing models for developing organisational capacity in learning analytics and to embed learning analytics into the practice of teaching and learning to discuss a range of issues arising from the pilot. We outline the interaction and interdependency of five stages during the pilot: technology infrastructure, analytics tools and applications; policies, processes, practices and workflows; values and skills; culture and behaviour; and leadership. We conclude that one of the most significant stages is to develop a culture and behaviour around learning analytics.
Me in a Minute
Authors: Jorre de St Jorre Trina , Johnson Liz , O’Dea Gypsy
Published: May 2024

Graduates require evidence of employability beyond marks and grades to differentiate themselves in the highly competitive labour market. Universities cannot guarantee employment, but they can engage students in learning and recognise achievement that is relevant to employment. Here, we share preliminary insights from interviews investigating student perceptions of an extra-curricular video strategy designed to develop and showcase graduate employability. The Me in a Minute video strategy provides students with support to film a one minute video pitch aimed at potential employers. Student perceptions of the strategy suggest that in addition to providing an individualised artefact that can be used to showcase achievement, the strategy engages students in reflection that helps them to better understand and articulate evidence of their achievements relevant to employment. Furthermore, students value the learning associated with pitching, more than the video itself.
The power of Us:
Authors: Kelly Oriel , Seve-Williams Nuhisifa , Kumar Keshni , Laureta Binky
Published: May 2024

The power of community – of Us – has long been assumed to be important in adult learning. Student interactions on discussion forums are encouraged, and it has been claimed that they foster a learning community which makes a difference to student outcomes through collaboration and joint construction of knowledge. This paper reports on interim results of a research project to establish, firstly, if there is a correlation between student participation in forums and their overall course outcomes, and secondly, shares a matrix designed to code both social and cognitive forum activity, to support an investigation into the existence of a learning community in student forum conversations – the power of Us.
Knowing when to target students with timely academic learning support
Authors: McCarthy Elizabeth
Published: May 2024

The strategic scheduling of timely engagement opportunities with academic learning support, targeting specific student cohorts requires intentional, informed and coordinated planning. Currently these timing decisions appear to be made with a limited student focus, which considers individual course units only as opposed to having an awareness of the schedule constraints imposed by the students’ full course workload. Hence, in order to respect the full student academic workload, and maximise the quantity and quality of opportunities for students to engage with learning advisors, a means to capture and work with the composition and distribution of student full workload is needed. A data mining approach is proposed in this concise paper, where public domain information accessed from the back end html language of course unit information webpages is collected and consolidated in graphical form. The resulting visualisation of the students’ academic learning activities provides a quick and convenient means for academics to make informed scheduling decisions. The case study presented describes the implementation of the data mining in the context of discipline specific academic learning advisors at the University of Southern Queensland servicing three campuses under the ‘One-University’ model.
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Authors: McDonald Jenny , Christian Michael Moskal Adon
Published: May 2024

We introduce a web-based tool for teachers to support the rapid analysis of student responses to short answer or mini-essay questions. Designed to support teaching in large-class settings, it aims to bring to practicing teachers analytic tools that can reveal insights in their student text data. We background development of the tool to date, briefly describe its architecture and features, and report on a benchtest evaluation. Finally, we introduce a pilot study to evaluate the tool in classrooms at three NZ universities and one polytechnic. We conclude with options for accessing the tool and outline plans for ongoing development.