Control Levels Research Articles

Risk of Infection in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes With Relaxed Glycemic Control.

To compare the risk of hospitalization for infection among patients who achieve intensive versus relaxed glycemic control. This retrospective cohort study included adults age ≥65 years with type 2 diabetes from an integrated health care delivery system. Negative binomial models were used to estimate incidence rates and relative risk (RR) of hospitalization for infections (respiratory; genitourinary; skin, soft tissue, and bone; and sepsis), comparing two levels of relaxed (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] 7% to <8% and 8% to <9%) with intensive (HbA1c 6% to <7%) glycemic control from 1 January 2019 to 1 March 2020. Among 103,242 older patients (48.5% with HbA1c 6% to <7%, 35.3% with HbA1c 7% to <8%, and 16.1% with HbA1c 8% to <9%), the rate of hospitalization for infections was 51.3 per 1,000 person-years. Compared with HbA1c 6% to <7%, unadjusted risk of hospitalization for infections was significantly elevated among patients with HbA1c 8% to <9% (RR 1.25; 95% CI 1.13, 1.39) but not among patients with HbA1c 7% to <8% (RR 0.99; 95% CI 0.91, 1.08), and the difference became nonsignificant after adjustment. Across categories of infections, the adjusted RR of hospitalization was significantly higher among patients with HbA1c 8% to <9% only for skin, soft tissue, and bone infection (RR 1.33; 95% CI 1.05, 1.69). Older patients with type 2 diabetes who achieve relaxed glycemic control levels endorsed by clinical guidelines are not at significantly increased risk of hospitalization for most infections, but HbA1c 8% to <9% is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for skin, soft tissue, and bone infections.

Advanced HPLC Method with Diode Array Detection Using a Phenyl-Bonded Column for Simultaneous Quantitation of Three Sunscreen Filters in a Moisturizing Sunscreen Cream for Acne-Prone Skin

This study introduces a novel, robust, and efficient method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of three sunscreen filters, namely, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, octyl methoxycinnamate, and avobenzone, in a moisturizing sunscreen cream specifically designed for acne-prone skin. The method employs high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array detection, providing a reliable separation of the analytes. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a Fortis Phenyl analytical column (150.0 × 2.1 mm, 5 μm), with isocratic elution at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The mobile phase was composed of a 57/43 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile/45 mM aqueous ammonium formate solution, ensuring sufficient resolution and peak symmetry for the target compounds. The method was validated comprehensively for critical performance parameters, including linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness. Linearity was established across a suitable range for all three analytes, with high correlation coefficients. Precision was confirmed with intra-run and total precision coefficients of variation of ≤4.6%, while accuracy assessments yielded a percent recovery between 98.6 and 100.4, for all quality control levels. Additionally, the method was able to effectively separate the sunscreen filters from other cosmetic ingredients, such as [β-(1.3), (1.6)-D-glucan], low molecular weight (LMW) hyaluronic acid and plant extracts ensuring specificity in complex formulations. This straightforward and time efficient sample preparation process, involving methanol extraction followed by serial dilution, makes the method suitable for routine quality control in cosmetic laboratories. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of two different lots of a commercial sunscreen cream, achieving excellent recovery for all filters, ranging between 94.6% and 99.8%, thus demonstrating its reliability and applicability for the quality control of cosmetics.

Assessment of self-care practices & associated factors among hypertensives in urban slum areas of Mysuru city: A community-based cross-sectional study.

Background & objectives Hypertension is a significant modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and premature mortality worldwide, particularly affecting low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). This study focused on evaluating self-care practices among hypertensive affected individuals in urban slum areas of Mysuru city, India, and explore associated factors and their relationship with hypertension control levels. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was carried out from March 2022 to August 2023, enrolling 650 hypertensive affected individuals from 63 urban slums of Mysuru city. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, self-care practices, and hypertension control were collected using structured questionnaires and standardized scales. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for data presentation and analyses. Results Among the participants, 62.9 per cent reported poor self-care awareness, and only 37.1 per cent had good self-care awareness. Factors such as age group, education, occupation, type of family, marital status, socioeconomic status, and hypertension control showed significant associations with self-care scores (P≤0.001). However, no significant association was found between gender and self-care scores. Interpretation & conclusions This study highlights the critical need for comprehensive interventions integrating self-care awareness into existing health programmes to address the growing burden of hypertension, particularly in urban slum populations. By prioritizing self-care education and empowerment, healthcare stakeholders can equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective hypertension management, thus improving health outcomes at individual level and also reducing public health impact of hypertension.

Management of the Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) using different techniques

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the world's most widely cultivated vegetable crops. However, tomato cultivation requires intensive management due to its high susceptibility to pests and diseases that can compromise and increase production costs. Therefore, this research aimed to compare different tactics and methods for monitoring and managing the small tomato borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis, in the field. The experiments were conducted in the 2012 and 2013 harvests on a rural property in the Conceição do Castelo - ES municipality. The evaluated systems were: 1. Monitoring associated with the release of the parasitoid Trichogramma and the biological product based on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) (Trich + Agree), 2. Monitoring associated with Bt and bagging of bunches (Bagg + Agree), 3. Monitoring associated with bagging of fruits and release of Trichogramma (Bagg + Tricho), 4. Monitoring associated with the release of the parasitoid Trichogramma (Mon + Trich), 5. Release of the parasitoid Trichogramma + control level (Trich + CL) and 6. Conventional System (Conv). In both harvests, it was found that the highest incidence of borer occurred in the conventional method, which was statistically superior to other management systems. The Trich + CL and Bagg + Trich methods stood out the most in terms of reducing the incidence of drills. It was concluded that, regardless of the growing season and treatments, all combinations of N. elegantalis management techniques presented significantly superior results to the conventional system. Thus, using these methods and control tactics can minimize environmental impacts and promote more sustainable agriculture.

A comprehensive study on a tapered Paul trap: from design to potential applications

Abstract We present a tapered Paul trap whose radio frequency electrodes are inclined to the symmetric axis of the endcap electrodes, resulting in a funnel-shaped trapping potential. With this configuration, a charged particle confined in this trap has its radial degrees of freedom coupled to that of the axial direction. The same design was successfully used to experimentally realize a single-atom heat engine, and with this setup amplification of zeptonewton forces was implemented. In this paper, we show the design, implementation, and characterization of such an ion trap in detail. This system offers a high level of control over the ion’s motion. Its novel features promise applications in the field of quantum thermodynamics, quantum sensing, and quantum information.

Cytogenetic Violations in Blood Lymphocytes of Macaca Mulatta Monkeys in the Long Term after Irradiation with Accelerated Krypton Ions

A study has been performed of cytogenetic violations that occur in blood lymphocytes of Macaca mulatta monkeys after local exposure of the hippocampal region to accelerated 78Kr ions at a dose of 3 Gy. Analysis revealed a low level of chromosomal aberrations in the control group of monkeys. The number of cells with chromosomal aberrations did not exceed 1.67٪. The main fraction was chromatid-type aberrations. A cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes of monkeys exposed to accelerated krypton ions revealed the maximum level of chromosomal aberrations 24 h after exposure, which exceeded the control level by 2.7 times. By day 96, the number of aberrations decreased 1.7-fold. However, it still exceeded the control level. By 460 days, some animals showed a slight increase in the number of aberrations compared to the previous observation period. In the long term, a number of irradiated animals showed deviations from the standard behavior of monkeys. Data on chromosomal aberrations in blood lymphocytes of monkeys and humans after in vitro irradiation with 170 MeV protons are compared. The relevance of this research is due to the preparation of interplanetary manned flights.

Monitoring pilot trainees’ cognitive control under a simulator-based training process with EEG microstate analysis

The objective of pilot training is to equip trainees with the knowledge, judgment, and skills to maintain control of an aircraft and respond to critical flight tasks. The present research aims to investigate changes in trainees’ cognitive control levels during a pilot training process while they underwent basic flight maneuvers. EEG microstate analysis was applied together with spectral power features to quantitatively monitor trainees’ cognitive control under varied flight tasks during different training sessions on a flight simulator. Not only could EEG data provide an objective measure of cognitive control to complement the current subjective assessments, but the application of EEG microstate analysis is particularly well-suited for capturing rapid dynamic changes in cognitive states that may happen under complex human activities in conducting flight maneuvers. Comparisons were conducted between two types of tasks and across different training stages to monitor how pilot trainees’ cognitive control responds to varied flight task types and training stages. The present research provides insights into the changes in trainees’ cognitive control during a pilot training process and highlights the potential of EEG microstate analysis for monitoring cognitive control.

РАДІАЦІЙНИЙ СТАН ЗОНИ ВІДЧУЖЕННЯ В 2023 РОЦІ ЗА РЕЗУЛЬТАТАМИ РАДІАЦІЙНО-ЕКОЛОГІЧНОГО МОНІТОРИНГУ

The article presents results of radiation and environmental monitoring in the Exclusion Zone for the year 2023, after de-occupation of the territory, which was carried out in accordance with the current regulation of work, with the exception of objects on which it is temporarily impossible to carry out work due to the lack of safe access. In 2022, due to the full-scale invasion of russian federation, radiation monitoring of the environment was interrupted, monitoring of radiation-hazardous objects and environmental components of the Exclusion Zone was not carried out. Implementation of priority measures to restore the radiation and environmental monitoring system in the Exclusion Zone, after occupation by russian troops, made it possible to resume the work of the automated radiation monitoring system points, to create an additional network of measurement of gamma radiation indicators in the Exclusion Zone, to restore work of the central analytical laboratory and to restore the work of aspiration units. Thus, the enterprise resumed obtaining the necessary data on the dose rate of gamma radiation, information on the radiation state of the surface layer of the atmosphere, radiation state of surface and underground waters, radiation state of landscapes and places of residence of self-settlers. According to the results of radiation and environmental monitoring in the Exclusion Zone in 2023, important analytical data were obtained: - Maximum power values of the ambient dose equivalent of gamma radiation are characteristic of the territories in the northern and western 'traces' of radioactive fallout; - Radiation state of the Exclusion Zone air environment and its dynamics during 2023 were determined by the nature of surface contamination of the territory, man-made and biological factors, as well as meteorological conditions. Control levels exceeding by 2.5 times of 137Cs volumetric activity in the air was recorded in Chornobyl; - Surface waters remain an important route of radionuclide removal beyond the Exclusion Zone. Removal of 90Sr from Pripyat River in the area of Chornobyl in 2023 was at a level that was 2.4 times higher than the average value for the last 5 years; - As a result of observations of the radiation state of underground waters, it was determined that the average value of radionuclide contamination of eocene and cenomanian-lower cretaceous water-bearing complexes does not exceed 1 Bq/m3 for 137Cs and 5.7 Bq/m3 for 90Sr; - Monitoring results at landscape landfills indicate that the most contaminated component of the environment is the top layer of soil cover; - Radiation survey results of unauthorized residence places of the population in the Exclusion Zone showed that over the years there is an increase in the intake of 90Sr in the food products of 'self-settlers'.

Oral supplementation of choline attenuates the development of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD)

BackgroundChronic alcohol intake is associated with alterations of choline metabolism in various tissues. Here, we assessed if an oral choline supplementation attenuated the development of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) in mice.MethodsFemale C57BL/6 J mice (n = 8/group) were either pair-fed a liquid control diet, or a Lieber DeCarli liquid diet (5% ethanol) ± 2.7 g choline/kg diet for 29 days. Liver damage, markers of intestinal permeability and intestinal microbiota composition were determined. Moreover, the effects of choline on ethanol-induced intestinal permeability were assessed in an ex vivo model.ResultsALD development as determined by liver histology and assessing markers of inflammation (e.g., nitric oxide, interleukin 6 and 4-hydroxynonenal protein adducts) was attenuated by the supplementation of choline. Intestinal permeability in small intestine being significantly higher in ethanol-fed mice was at the level of controls in ethanol-fed mice receiving choline. In contrast, no effects of the choline supplementation were found on intestinal microbiota composition. Choline also significantly attenuated the ethanol-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in small intestinal tissue ex vivo, an effect almost entirely abolished by the choline oxidase inhibitor dimbunol.ConclusionOur results suggest that an oral choline supplementation attenuates the development of ALD in mice and is related to a protection from intestinal barrier dysfunction.

Synthesis of a novel β-cyclodextrin chiral stationary phase and its application to the evaluation of the enantioselective bioaccumulation and elimination behavior of tebuconazole in Rana nigromaculata tadpoles

BackgroundThe increased production and use of chiral pesticides will enhance their exposure in the environment. Chiral pesticides typically exhibit varied biological effects among these enantiomers. Therefore, it is very essential to develop and validate chiral analytical methods to investigate their potential ecological risks from a stereoselective perspective. Current separation of pesticides enantiomers relies extensively on chiral stationary phases (CSPs), while the development of β-Cyclodextrin derivatives CSPs become the research focus due to their great modifiability and excellent chiral recognition capabilities. ResultsA novel chiral stationary phase, 3,5-dichlorophenylaminomethyl-6-phenylenediamine-β-cyclodextrin chemically bonded silica gel (MPDCDA), was successfully prepared. Based on that, a stereoselective HPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of tebuconazole enantiomers in Rana nigromaculata tadpoles. After extraction by QuEChERS, the tebuconazole enantiomers were completely separated with the resolutions of 1.63 using the mobile phase of methanol-water (70/30, v/v). Good linearity (r > 0.9990) for both enantiomers over a concentration range of 0.20–500.0 ng/mL was obtained with the accuracy ranged from 6.7 % to 9.3 % and the intra-day and inter-day precisions below 6.2 % at three quality control levels. The proposed method was successfully applied in evaluating the enantioselective bioaccumulation and elimination profiles of tebuconazole in tadpoles. At the tested conditions, there was no significantly enantioselective difference in the bioaccumulation process for S- tebuconazole and R-tebuconazole. However, the elimination process of tebuconazole enantiomers was enantioselective with R-tebuconazole preferentially degraded. SignificanceThis work provided an accurate risk assessment of chiral pesticides to non-target aquatic organisms from a stereoselective perspective. These findings would deepen our understanding of the potential ecological risks of chiral pesticides on aquatic organisms and provide scientific support for the protection of aquatic organisms and their ecological environments, as well as sustainable development.

Fluid mediated communication among flexible micro-posts in chemically reactive solutions.

Communication in biological systems typically involves enzymatic reactions that occur within fluids confined between the soft, elastic walls of bio-channels and chambers. Through the inherent transformation of chemical to mechanical energy, the fluids can be driven to flow within the confined domains. Through fluid-structure interactions, the confining walls in turn are deformed by and affect this fluid flow. Imbuing synthetic materials with analogous feedback among chemo-mechanical, hydrodynamic and fluid-structure interactions could enable materials to perform self-driven communication and self-regulation. Herein, we develop computational models to determine how chemo-hydro-mechanical feedback affects interactions in biomimetic arrays of chemically active and passive micro-posts anchored in fluid-filled chambers. Once activated, the enzymatic reactions trigger the latter feedback, which generates a surprising variety of long-range, cooperative motion, including self-oscillations and non-reciprocal interactions, which are vital for propagating coherent, directional signals over net distances in fluids. In particular, the array propagates a distinct message; each post interprets the message; and the system responds with a specific mode of organized, collective behavior. This level of autonomous remote control is relatively rare in synthetic systems, particularly as this system operates without external electronics or power sources and only requires the addition of chemical reactants to function.

“journalists are just employees”: Examining Journalistic Autonomy from an Audience Perspective

ABSTRACT Autonomy is a fundamental requirement for the professional practice of journalism. However, while its role in ensuring well-informed audiences is widely acknowledged, the way in which audiences make sense of journalists’ autonomy remains unexplored. Similarly, the understanding of how audience perceptions of journalists’ autonomy, their attributed professionalism and authority, and the resulting impact on journalism practice remains incomplete. To address these gaps, this study conducts a qualitative analysis involving semi-structured interviews with 64 news users in Chile. Results show that journalists’ autonomy, from audiences’ view, is limited by labor forces and organizational influences. Journalists’ working conditions are perceived to be connected to high levels of editorial control, yielding a deficiency of autonomy that relegates journalists to a subservient role, compromising their professionalism, undermining their authority, and eroding the quality of the information they provide. Also, findings show that autonomy assumes a prominent role as a distinct form of authority when journalists diverge from conventional news norms, establishing a closer connection with their audience. Furthermore, independent journalists frequently garner recognition for their autonomy and credibility, attributed to their detachment from specific media outlets. The article delves into the implications of these findings for journalism studies and practice.

Phosphine Sorption on Paddy Rice: Effects on Fumigation and Grain Quality Parameters.

During storage, infestation by insect pests occurs, causing quantitative and qualitative losses in grains, which requires the control of these insects with phosphine gas. Rice husk has a high phosphine adsorption capacity, influencing the gas concentration during fumigation and potentially leading to inefficient fumigation. Additionally, the high sorption of rice husk results in a higher residue of phosphine in the grain. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the phosphine sorption and phosphine residue in rice husk, paddy rice, and brown rice, as well as the industrial quality (head rice yield, rehydration capacity, cooking time, colorimetric profile) of brown and white rice during storage. To achieve this, fumigation of paddy rice, brown rice, and rice husks with 3.0 g·m-3 of phosphine was carried out for 240 h (recommended duration in the industry). A high sorption rate was observed in the rice husk (94.77%), paddy rice (97.61%), and, lastly, brown rice (35.17%). Due to the high sorption rate, only brown rice maintained a concentration above the recommended level for effective pest control (400 ppm for 120 h). Higher phosphine residues than permitted were observed in the rice husk (0.25 ppm). Lower rice head yields were observed in non-fumigated rice samples when analyzing the brown rice samples (66.21% for paddy rice and 65.01% for brown rice). A greater rehydration capacity was observed in fumigated samples at the beginning of storage when analyzing the brown rice samples (1.21 for paddy rice, 1.23 for brown rice), reducing the cooking time (24.00 for paddy rice, 23.80 for brown rice). More studies should be carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of fumigation on paddy rice, considering the high sorption rate of the paddy.

Envoy Trade and the End of the Tribute Relationship between Vietnam and China, 1802–1885

ABSTRACT This article analyses the commercial activities between Vietnam and China that were conducted by diplomatic envoys (ambassadors) in the 19th century, focusing on three aspects: those that envoys coordinated during tribute missions or diplomatic visits, the trade that they facilitated in the form of buying and selling goods in the other country, and the commerce that occurred when envoys escorted distressed or expelled travellers back to their home country. The analysis reveals that the trade conducted by ambassadors through most of the century was a two-way commercial exchange and driven by mutual interests. However, China’s demand for foreign goods was significantly less pronounced than that of Vietnam. Furthermore, there was a notable degree of asymmetry in benefits and an unequal level of control and influence in this form of trade. This asymmetry, along with the increasingly diverse forms of exchange between China and other countries (especially the growth of private trade) and the expanding role of Western merchants in the regional trade network, eventually ended the dominance of ambassadorial trade in commercial relations between Vietnam and China by the late 19th century. It also contributed to the end of the centuries-long tributary relationship between the two countries.

Depression in the schistosomiasis japonica population based on the PHQ-9 scale: a cross-sectional survey from Jiangxi Province, China

Depression is the second leading-cause of disability in China. Although studies have shown that more than 80% of patients with advanced schistosomiasis (AS) suffer from anxiety and depression, these study groups are all hospitalized patients with AS and do not represent the extent of the disease in the whole group. To our knowledge, there are no studies assessing the severity of depression in patients with other forms of schistosomiasis japonicum. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the occurrence and potential risk factors of depression in the schistosomiasis endemic population. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jiangxi Province, where schistosomiasis is relatively common in China, as the investigation site. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale was selected to assess the depressive symptoms in the study population. At the same time, basic personal information of the research subjects and relevant socio-economics and schistosomiasis endemic area indicators were collected. The survey results show that AS has the highest incidence of depression (34.35%), while non-advanced schistosomiasis (N-AS) and control group (CG) have 22.35% and 22.24% respectively; the incidence of depression in AS is significantly higher than in N-AS and CG, while there is no statistical significance in the comparison between N-AS and CG; the incidence of mild depressive symptoms accounts for 61.08%-75.54% of the total incidence of depression in different groups; multivariate analysis shows that the occurrence of moderate/severe depressive symptoms in the AS group was significantly related to above 60 years old, male, the combination of other serious diseases, personal financial difficulties, and marshland and lake endemic areas. In the N-AS group, the occurrence of moderate/severe depressive symptoms was significantly related to the combination of other serious diseases, personal financial difficulties, significant correlation between marshland and lake endemic areas and the level of control of schistosomiasis epidemics. In conclusion, depression is still relatively common among patients with schistosomiasis patients, especially those with AS. It is recommended that the government and relevant departments consider mental health care when developing prevention and control work in schistosomiasis-endemic areas, in order to effectively protect the physical and mental health of schistosomiasis patients and residents in endemic areas.

Relationship between Serum Vitamin D Levels and Asthma Control in Adult Patients

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by respiratory symptoms that vary both over time and in intensity, along with limited expiratory airflow. This heterogeneity is related to the patient's genetic and environmental phenotype. Vitamin D levels can affect the severity of asthma and the success of asthma treatment. Vitamin D can also influence the effectiveness of glucocorticoid therapy as an anti-inflammatory. This study aimed to determine the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and asthma control, severity, obstruction, and exacerbation levels. This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study on asthma patients at Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital and its network for the period October–December 2023. Each research subject had a venous blood sample taken and then checked vitamin D levels at the Hasanuddin University Teaching Hospital Research Laboratory. This research involved 72 research subjects. Most of the research subjects were female (61.1%), aged &lt;45 years (52.8%), worked as housewives (29.2%), had overweight BMI (33.3%), and had a history of atopy (59.7%). The degree of airway obstruction in the study subjects was mostly mild (66.7%) and the degree of severity was intermittent, persistent, and the degree of exacerbation in the same sample (33.3%). The results of the study showed a relationship between vitamin D levels and nutritional status, history of atopy, degree of asthma control using the ACT questionnaire, degree of stable asthma, and exacerbations where p&lt;0.05. Also, it is found that a weakly positive connection (R: 0.2–0.4) between vitamin D levels and ACT, FEV1, FEV/FVC. There is a relationship between vitamin D levels and nutritional status, history of atopy, degree of asthma control using the ACT questionnaire, degree of stable asthma, and exacerbations. There was a relationship between vitamin D levels and the degree of obstruction assessed by spirometry in this study.

Camel milk inhibits pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammation in a rat model of COPD induced by cigarette smoke exposure

BackgroundOne of the main causes of death in the world is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with partially reversible airflow limitation, which is defined as a preventable and treatable pathological condition. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of camel milk (CM) were indicated previously. The effect of CM in cigarette smoke induced-COPD in rats was evaluated in this study. MethodsFive groups of rats including a) control, b) chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD, cigarette smoke exposed), c) COPD group treated with dexamethasone, d) COPD group treated with low dose of camel milk (CM) and e) COPD group treated with high dose of CM by gavage during the cigarette smoke exposure period (n = 7) were studied. ResultsIn the COPD group, total and differential white blood cells (WBC) count in the bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) level in the lung tissue and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the BALF and lung tissue, lung pathological changes and tracheal responsiveness to methacholine were significantly increased, but catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and the level of thiol in the BALF and lung tissue were significantly decreased compared to the control group (all, p < 0.001). However, in the COPD groups treated with both doses of CM and dexamethasone, most variable did not achieved to the control levels and were significantly different with the control group (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). In the COPD group treated with both doses of CM (dose dependently) and dexamethasone, almost all measured variables were significantly improved (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). ConclusionThe potential effect of CM on lung inflammation and oxidative stress in a rat model of COPD comparable to dexamethasone was demonstrated.

The dance of power and responsibility: understanding the multilevel government influence on CSR practices in Chinese state-owned enterprises

ABSTRACT This study investigates how multilevel government influences the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Using the control rights theory, we illustrate how the supervisor (the provincial government) utilizes residual control rights allocated by the principal (the central government) to exert both top-down binding and bottom-up buffering effects on the CSR practices of their agents (local governments and SOEs). Our findings reveal a U-shaped relationship between government control levels and SOEs’ CSR practices, with administrative intervention reinforcing this trend and fiscal decentralization leading to an inverted U-shaped relationship. These insights highlight complex inter-governmental dynamics influencing SOEs’ CSR practices.

Effects of acute hypoxia and reoxygenation on the coelomic fluid of Phascolosoma esculenta: Oxidative stress and transcriptome analysis

Phascolosoma esculenta is an economically species inhabiting a soft substrate of mud in the intertidal zone, which is bad breathability, especially during the prolonged heavy rainstorms, that will bring hypoxia environment to P. esculenta. In this study, the negative impact of hypoxia on P. esculenta was firstly studied. The results showed that there were no P. esculenta died post 7 days hypoxia. However, P. esculenta surface became black after hypoxia stress and changed to brown after reoxygenation. The body cavity fluid’s total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) showed notable increases at 48 h, 120 h, and 168 h post hypoxia stress and returned to the control level after reoxygenation. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased significantly at 24 h, 48 h, and 96 h but decreased substantially after reoxygenation. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased during the hypoxia but decreased significantly after reoxygenation. Transcriptomic analysis was performed and a total of 55.26 GB of clean data were collected, 362 DEGs were obtained based on FPKM values, including 77 DEGs between control and hypoxia groups, 48 DEGs between control and reoxygenation groups, and 237 DEGs between hypoxia and reoxygenation groups. DEGs are enriched in pathways associated with immune system, carbon metabolism, apoptosis, ribosome and ion transport. These data enriched the molecular mechanism of invertebrate hypoxia tolerance and provided genetic material reference for future breeding of hypoxia-tolerant P. esculenta and other aquatic species.

Therapeutic Potential of Methanolic Stem Extract of Costus afer on Serum Uric Acid, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Levels in Monosodium Urate (MSU)-Induced Gouty Arthritis in Wistar Rats

The therapeutic potential of methanolic stem extracts of Costus afer was investigated to evaluate their effects on serum uric acid, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels, which are the key biomarkers associated with inflammatory and metabolic disorders like gouty arthritis. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of C. afer indicated the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenol, anthraquinone and glycosides, these bioactive compounds have been implicated for numerous medicinal uses and as such the therapeutic potentials of the extract were investigated by administering varying doses (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg) of the extract to a Wistar rat model with induced gouty arthritis and assessing its impact compared to a control group and an untreated MSU group. The results revealed that the extracts significantly reduced ( serum uric acid levels in a dose-dependent manner, with the high dose achieving a reduction below the control level. Additionally, the extracts effectively decreased ( TNF-α and IL-6 levels, indicating potent anti-inflammatory properties. The high dose exhibited the most substantial reduction in these biomarkers, underscoring the extract’s therapeutic potential. These findings support the traditional use of C. afer and provide scientific validation for its application in managing hyperuricemia and inflammatory conditions.