Focal Point Research Articles

Focus point on tensions in cosmology from early to late universe: part II: new directions in the light of observations from the most modern astronomical facilities

Oxidase of D-amino acid (DAAO, EC 1.4.3.3) is FAD containing enzyme catalyzing oxidation of D-amino acids to the corresponding α-keto acids and ammonia ion. DAAO is widely applied in biotechnological processes, namely in production of 7-aminocephalosporic acid (7-ACA) from cephalosporin C (CPC). 7-ACA is the precursor of many semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotics of various generations, such as cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, etc. It is promising time DAAO as biomarker of diverse pathologies (neurodegenerative (schizophrenia), malignant tumors (gastric cancer, breast milk gland cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer)) since these diseases are accomplied by significant changes in both the concentration of certain D-amino acids and activity thereof. Aim of this study is to conduct analysis of D-amino acid oxidases using computer technology. Software BLASTp and databases UniProt NCB were applied to engage for analysis 11 microbial genera producers of D-amino acid oxidase – were selected for analysis. Among them, 6 genera of yeast: Candida, Lipomyces, Ogataea, Rhodotorula, Schizosaccharomyces, Trigonopsis and 5 genera of mycelial fungi were sorted at Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Rasamsonia, Talaromyces. Homologous of DAAO were found in the studied microbial species. High level of homology was identified with fungi, whereas with bacteria homology level did not exceed 30 %. To identity open reading frames for DAAO translation of nucleotide sequences was conducted in six possible reading frames (3 in the 5'→3' direction and 3 in the reverse 3'→5' direction) to identify DAAO. In silico analysis with SnapGene instruments confirmed the presence of a single open reading frame (ORF), starting from start codon ATG and ending with stop codon TAG, which with high possibility encodes polypeptide of 356 amino acids long. Analysis of the amino acid composition has enabled to reveal high content of leucine (Leu 9.3%), valine (Val 8.1%) and glycine (Gly 9.0%), evidencing the presence of α-helices or β-sheets typical for structural proteins or enzymes. Theoretically calculated molecular weight of protein encoded by this polypeptide is ~39.2 kDa. Theoretical isoelectric focusing point (pI) 6.52 is the consequence of prevalence of mildly acidic residues (Asp, Glu) over basic moieties (Arg, Lys). Low level of cysteine (Cys 1.7 %) is typical with the intracellular localization of the enzyme. The deduced data on the structure of DAAO will enable to develop strategy for its heterologous expression in industrially valuable organisms.

Climatic factors have always played a key role in the construction of food-related architecture: mitigation of outdoor temperatures or winds, adoption of raining waters in the productive processes, etc. However, sometimes, climate change has impacted the profitability of those structures and eventually caused their abandonment. Today, historical food-related architectures are significant elements of local rural heritage, and they are also tangible symbols of all the values connected to the corresponding typical food productions. When the cultural value of rural cultural assets and the historical management of climatic factors coexist, this potential can be investigated, and the results can ultimately be included in the corresponding enhancement processes. To exploit this potential, the paper introduces the theoretical concept of food-related architecture as climatic indicators, with reference to the changes in the climate that have occurred during their construction, as well as their abandonment. According to the thesis of the research, the adoption of the concept of climatic indicators can implement the value of selected minor cultural assets, support sustainable rural regeneration plans and integrate missing historical climate series and data. In the Materials and Methods section, two theoretical charts have been introduced, and the pyramid of the Mediterranean diet was analyzed to allow for the selection of some food-related architectures to test the theoretical approach developed. Then, three Italian case studies have been analyzed: the concept of climate indicators was tested, and some potential focus points of actions connected to this aspect were elucidated. The case studies are the Pietragalla wine district in the Basilicata Region, the Apulian rock-cut oil mills and Mills’s Valley in the Campania Region.

Long-term dynamics of the spinal cord injury neuroinflammatory response and sensory dysfunction in female mice.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a critical public health and human rights issue, ranking among the leading causes of death globally. It often begins with verbal abuse, leading to anxiety, despair, and, in severe cases, death. This issue affects individuals of all genders in Nigeria and worldwide and is frequently overlooked as a risk factor for depression and mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV/AIDS). This study focused on participants from ART Clinics at various teaching hospitals in Nigeria, including the University of Port Harcourt, University of Uyo, Federal Medical Center Asaba, and Federal Medical Center Yenagoa. Method Using a quasi-experimental design from September 2023 to May 2024, the study enrolled 334 patients through a multistage sampling method. Data were collected via an interviewer- administered semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 22, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Inclusion criteria targeted PLHIV/AIDS aged 18 and older receiving treatment, while those who were physically or psychologically unwell were excluded. Results Among the 334 participants, 131 (39.2%) were male and 203 (60.8%) were female. The study found that 38.7% experienced GBV, with economic violence at 25.2% and sexual violence at 31.7%. Conclusion The prevalence of GBV is notably high among PLHIV/AIDS attending ART clinics in South- South Nigeria. Factors such as educational attainment, income level, marital status, poverty, depression, and inadequate health information contribute to this violence. Implementing health education interventions at the point of ART enrollment and focusing on the economic empowerment of PLHIV/AIDS is essential for improving their well-being.

The focus of this qualitative exploratory studies is on the genesis, impact, and alleviation of foreign language anxiety among Pakistani college students. Collection of data using focus group and individual semi-structured interviews as well as the corresponding thematic analyses of the results is an example of this. The findings point towards the existence of primary anxiety stemming from communication, a centerpiece of test, and the feared negative evaluation which then gets compounded through the lens of the sociolinguistic hierarchy of English in Pakistan. The Anxiety impacts the students’ ability to speak and results in students’ poor performance, low self-esteem, a confining sense of professional aspirations, and a weak level of confidence. The variety of tactical avoidance coupled with rote learning to engage in social peer behavior, interaction, preparation, self-associational/anxiety provoking and cultural strategies to positive prayer, and self-constructive language. It is a point of focus, of this study, which seeks to address the issue of minimizing anxiety, it is claimed, such equally important and an issue of equally important pedagogical change at the institutional level.

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives COVID Stress Syndrome (CSS) is a new type of health anxiety triggered by the COVID epidemic. However, we know little about the causal relationship with CSS symptoms and the temporal and dynamic interactions between symptoms and cognitive processes associated with health anxiety. Design During the epidemic of COVID-19, 193 Chinese university students completed experience sampling methods on CSS symptoms and related constructs of health anxiety three times a day for 14 days. Methods Multilevel vector autoregressive (mlVAR) models were used to estimate contemporaneous and temporal networks at the within-person level. Results (1) The CSS symptoms were divided into two periods of growth and maintenance during these 14 days. (2) The COVID-19 traumatic stress dimension played a crucial role in maintaining the symptom network. (3) Catastrophizing of bodily sensations and rumination formed a positive feedback loop with COVID traumatic stress symptoms dimension of the CSS. Conclusion This study advances the current understanding of CSS at the symptom level and temporal dynamics. The results suggest that the COVID traumatic stress dimension is a core mechanism for CSS maintenance and could be a point of focus for intervention and treatment in clinical practice.

Perylene diimide (PDI)-based semiconductor materials show significant promise for photocatalytic environmental decontamination and the conversion of energy resources but suffer from inefficient photocarrier separation which greatly limits their activity. Consequently, designing PDI-based photocatalysts to enhance carrier separation has become a major research focus. This persistent challenge has positioned the rational design of PDI-based architectures to enhance carrier dissociation kinetics and elevate functional efficacy as a central focus point of research in the field of contemporary photocatalysis. This review firstly examines recent progress in the rational design of PDI-based photocatalysts and their charge transfer mechanism. Then, advances in the fabrication of PDI photocatalysts and associated electron/hole transfer mechanisms are discussed. It systematically evaluates their enhanced activity in key applications: water splitting, CO2 reduction, N2 fixation, and pollutant degradation etc. Subsequently, the fundamental photocatalytic mechanism inherent to PDI-based materials is scrutinized in depth. Finally, outstanding issues and prospective uses for PDI-based photocatalysts are also discussed. It is believed that this review provides a valuable direction for engineering advanced PDI-based photocatalytic systems.

Complex investigation of the effect mechanism of polyvinylpyrrolidone in the additive-assisted crystallization of famotidine.

Anthropogenic climate change caused by CO2 emissions forces humanity to reduce the usage of fossil fuels. Along with the task of emission reduction, societies face the task of removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere by using negative emission technologies (NETs). Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a proposed NET, aiming at increasing oceanic CO2 uptake through the addition of alkaline substances. This is an anthropogenically accelerated version of rock weathering, a natural global process for atmospheric CO2 regulation. The environmental impacts of OAE remain poorly understood. This study was part of a comprehensive OAE-mesocosm experiment in the North Sea (RETAKE), and focused on the effects of OAE on the pelagic bacterial community during the experiment. We assessed changes in bacterial community structure with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and abundance with flow cytometry, to evaluate responses to alkalinity addition. Beta diversity analysis showed that sampling time was the primary driver for community variation, with only marginal structural differences linked to alkalinity treatments. PERMANOVA tests conducted on predictions of functional metabolic pathways of the community revealed significant differences between treatments and baseline controls. A deeper analysis of the identified metabolic pathways revealed little evidence for alkalinity-induced changes. In contrast, total bacterial cell counts were influenced by alkalinity additions, showing delayed abundance peaks at higher concentrations and a non-linear response threshold between 500–750 µmol/L. These dynamics were linked to shifts in chlorophyll concentrations, suggesting an indirect effect of OAE on bacteria mediated by phytoplankton derived resources. This study is one of the first to assess ecological impacts of OAE on bacteria. Our findings highlight a structural resilience of bacterial communities to OAE but also show a quantitative response. By discussing our findings, this study aims to provide focus points, such as a threshold for save levels of alkalinity addition, to direct future research.

Adipose tissue browning, the conversion of white adipose tissue (WAT) into brown or beige adipose tissue, offers potential for combating obesity and metabolic disorders. This review delves in to the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of WAT browning and how it impacts metabolic health and its significance in various disease conditions. Further the review explains how various external factors such as diet and exercise play an influential role in the regulation of WAT browning. UCP1 gene, which plays a crucial role in cellular thermogenesis is found to be the major mediator of this phenomenon along with functional dynamics of mitochondria. Gut microbiome has been another focus point in this review that highlights how alterations to the composition of different species of bacteria in gut microbiome can directly influence WAT browning. Finally the review discusses the various pharmaceutical and neutraceutical options under research that targets WAT browning to improve metabolic status of an individual. Therapeutic strategies include β3-adrenergic receptor agonists, GLP-1 receptor agonists, AMPK activators, and natural compounds such as capsaicin and resveratrol. Emerging CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapies aim to induce WAT browning. Clinical evidence to prove the significance of this phenomena is currently limited but growing rapidly as seen in the number of clinical trials that are undergoing currently, therefore the review strongly rely upon animal model and cell culture based studies to justify this area of novel research. Despite its potential, challenges like individual variability, long-term safety, and complex gut microbiome interactions remain. Future research should target novel pathways, optimize therapeutic regimens, and personalize treatments.

The use of children’s drawings to examining their conceptual understanding has been proven to be an effective method, but there are two major problems with previous research: (i) The content of the drawings heavily relies on the task, and the ecological validity of the conclusions is low. (ii) The interpretation of drawings relies too much on the subjective feelings of the researchers. To address this issue, this study uses the Large Language Model (LLM) to identify 1420 children’s scientific drawings (covering nine scientific themes/concepts) and uses the word2vec algorithm to calculate their semantic similarity. The study explores whether there are consistent drawing representations for children on the same theme and attempts to establish a norm for children’s scientific drawings, providing a baseline reference for follow-up children’s drawing research. The results show that the representation of most drawings has consistency, manifested as most semantic similarity >0.8. At the same time, it was found that the consistency of the representation is independent of the accuracy (of LLM’s recognition), indicating the existence of consistency bias. In the subsequent exploration of influencing factors, we used Kendall rank correlation coefficient to investigate the effects of “sample size,” “abstract degree,” and “focus points” on drawings and used word frequency statistics to explore whether children represented abstract themes/concepts by reproducing what was taught in class. It was found that accuracy (of LLM’s recognition) is the most sensitive indicator, and data such as sample size and semantic similarity are related to it. The consistency between classroom experiments and teaching purpose is also an important factor, many students focus more on the experiments themselves rather than what they explain. In addition, most children tend to use examples they have seen in class to represent more abstract themes/concepts, indicating that they may need concrete examples to understand abstract things.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the possibility of detecting and evaluating the characteristics of fibrosis of palmar aponeurosis tissues in Dupuytren's disease using near-field resonant microwave sensing. The study involved 12 patients who underwent an examination before undergoing surgical treatment. The dielectric characteristics of the skin and underlying tissues were evaluated at 4 points, one of which was obviously in an unchanged area, and the rest in a potentially fibrous area. Near-field microwave sensing was performed using a proprietary hardware and software complex that included applicators with a radiation penetration depth of 2 to 5 mm. It has been established that in the area of fibroly transformed palmar aponeurosis, the actual part of the dielectric constant decreases significantly, and this process occurs fairly evenly at various points of the pathological focus. Our studies have also shown that the depth of fibrosis in the examined patients with Dupuytren's disease is approximately 3.5 mm.

Decentralized manufacturing has emerged as a promising approach to improve the accessibility and scalability of cell and gene therapy products, particularly for autologous treatments. This paper proposes a comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS) framework tailored to decentralized cell therapy manufacturing, integrating current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) principles and regulatory oversight through a centralized Control Site model. The Control Site serves as the regulatory nexus, maintaining POCare Master Files and ensuring consistency across multiple decentralized manufacturing sites. Decentralized manufacturing has the potential to facilitate accessibility for cell and gene therapies. The proposed model leverages automated, closed-system technologies to minimize process variability and hardware deviations, thereby enhancing product quality and regulatory compliance. The Control Site holds functional roles like primary focus point for interaction with regulatory agencies, provision of quality assurance, qualified person (QP) and oversight systems. It also maintains the POCare Master File for the individual POCare GMP manufacturing sites. A standardized GMP manufacturing platform (e.g., deployable as prefabricated units allowing quick expansion) and an overarching training platform should guarantee quality standards. Key regulatory expectations will be discussed, e.g., the demonstration of consistency and comparability, the central role of QP (as proposed in the context of the European Commission’s Pharma strategy), and the Control Site as single point of contact for competent authorities. This approach aims to streamline cell therapy production at or near point of care, supporting rapid and cost-effective clinical implementation.

Oral antiretroviral adherence interventions in the era of U=U.

NASA scientists have claimed that the rescue of the stricken Apollo 13 spacecraft in 1970 created the first digital twin system. In this article, I examine NASA’s narrative, which is gathering consensus as the origin story of digital twin technologies, with two main points of focus. First, through an examination of the dynamics of control and error, I scrutinise the ways in which the NASA ethos and worldview may be embedded within contemporary uses of digital twin technologies. Second, through an analysis of two subsequent NASA missions and the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey , I frame digital twin technologies as ‘space media’ which, Gál et al. claim, can ‘reorient our view [. . .] to “off-Earth” perspectives’. This approach reveals the potential of digital twins to propagate imaginaries beyond the managerial systems of control that constitute their dominant contemporary usages.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be associated with fatal cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aim to identify CVD-related mortality trends in patients with CKD in the US, examining the variation by sex, race, and region, and compare them to CVD-related mortality trends in general. The CDC-WONDER database was used to obtain age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 population. Annual percent change (APC) and average APC (AAPC) in these rates were calculated using Joinpoint regression and comparisons were done using pairwise comparison. From 1999 to 2020, a total of 605,384 CVD-related deaths were observed in patients with CKD. The AAMR was almost double in males (11.0) than females (6.3). NH (Non-Hispanic) Blacks or African Americans displayed the highest overall AAMR while NH Asians or Pacific Islanders displayed the lowest. AAMRs also varied substantially by region (Midwest: 8.8; West: 8.6; South: 8.0; Northeast: 7.3). States with the highest AAMR was the District of Columbia. Nonmetropolitan regions exhibited a slightly higher AAMR (8.6) than metropolitan regions (8.1). The AAPC for CVD-related deaths in patients with CKD differed significantly from that of the general population for the entire cohort, across both sexes, as well as among NH Whites, NH Black or African Americans, and Hispanics or Latinos. Regional differences were also observed in the Midwest, Northeast, and West. Significant differences in CVD-related deaths in patients with CKD were observed. These high-risk groups should be the point of focus for targeted interventions to reduce CVD-related mortality in CKD patients.

Deployment of digital twins is developing at a slow pace in the built environment practice, which includes the “architecture, engineering and construction” (AEC) sectors. This study investigates the built environment studies from the perspective of digital twins and aims to determine the research tendencies and focus points. For that purpose, a bibliometric analysis was performed employing data from the Web of Science platform and VOSviewer was utilized for visualization. Bibliometric analysis focused on three main elements: buildings, infrastructure, and urban areas. The findings indicate the prominence of technologies such as building information modeling (BIM) and the Internet of Things (IoT), especially for building- and urban-scale inquiries. Findings of this study offer a comprehensive overview regarding the state-of-the-art of digital twin research on built environment and provide valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. Study outcomes further shed light on the recent evolution of digital twin concept in the AEC sector.

Manganese-based halide perovskites have gradually become a focus point for exploring photoluminescent materials due to their attractive electronic and photophysical properties. However, little attention has been paid to the dual-emission and thermochromic phenomena in all-inorganic Mn-based materials. In this study, Sn2+-doped Cs3MnBr3Cl2 is synthesized at room temperature, which exhibits bright yellow emission, with two broad emission peaks at 525 and 605 nm, corresponding to full width at half-maximum (fwhm) of 92 and 91 nm, respectively. The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) is significantly increased from 5.3% for the absence of Sn2+ to 33.41% for the presence of Sn2+. The excitation, temperature-dependent, and time-resolved spectra indicate that the dual emissions originate from the spin-forbidden transition (4T1 → 6A1) of Mn2+ and the self-trapped exciton emission induced by Sn2+ doping. The introduction of Sn2+ modifies the crystal field environment and symmetry around Mn2+, intensifying the electron-phonon coupling, thereby causing the emergence of a new emission peak and significant broadening of the fwhm. Furthermore, due to the different temperature sensitivities of the two emission peaks, the emitted color is transitioned from yellow to orange-red as the temperature is increased. Combined with its enhanced stability, this material demonstrates promising application potential in the optoelectronic field.

Abstract The present paper examines the social dimension of business models with a particular focus on human rights, aligning the analysis with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). This study explores how three major European companies – Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy SE (LVMH), Industria de Diseno Textil SA (INDITEX) and H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) address social issues within their business models, as reflected in their annual reports and publicly available statements. These companies were selected based on their size, specifically the number of employees. Recent literature on social responsibility in the apparel sector has increasingly investigated the consequences of poor applicability of policies and the lack of understanding human rights, which have led to negative outcomes for companies, industry, workers and communities. Despite this, there is a notable gap in research regarding how companies report their actions, especially when aligning their activities with the SDGs. This paper aims to provide a comparative analysis of major industry actors’ commitments and identify patterns in the companies’ reporting. The methodology of the study involves text mining techniques, conducted through R Studio statistical software. This analysis focused on the frequency of key terms, as well as bigrams and trigrams to create an understanding of the patterns of reporting and how the narratives reflect companies’ real efforts. The findings reveal various focus points, with each of the companies demonstrating unique approaches. This paper contributes to the field by offering an assessment of social impact reporting and provides recommendations for a better, transparent and heightened responsibility toward the 2030 Agenta and activities that respect human rights in the Apparel industry.