Marked Increase Research Articles

Hypomethylation of the ENPP3 promoter region contributes to the occurrence and development of ovarian endometriosis via the AKT/mTOR/4EBP1 signaling pathway.

Growing evidence indicates that aberrant methylation is pivotal in the development and progression of endometriosis (EMs). This study explores the relationship between abnormal methylation of the ENPP3 promoter and the pathogenesis of ovarian EMs, focusing on its regulatory effect on ENPP3 expression. We analyzed the methylation levels of ENPP3 in ectopic endometrial tissues from ovarian EMs patients and in normal endometrial tissues from women without EMs. The expression and distribution of ENPP3 were evaluated using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Transwell assays were conducted to examine the impact of ENPP3 overexpression on the migratory and invasive capabilities of endometrial stromal cells. Our results demonstrated significantly reduced methylation levels at the CpG sites of the ENPP3 promoter region in ectopic endometrial tissues compared to normal endometrial tissues. RT-qPCR findings revealed a marked increase in ENPP3 expression in ovarian EMs tissues relative to endometrial tissues from patients without EMs, and this upregulation was negatively correlated with the methylation levels of the ENPP3 promoter region. Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed elevated ENPP3 expression in the glandular epithelial cells and stroma of ovarian EMs tissues. Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed that overexpressed ENPP3 notably intensified the invasion and migration of endometrial stromal cells. Transcriptome sequencing and functional analyses indicated that the increased ENPP3 expression activated the AKT/mTOR/4EBP1 signaling pathway. In summary, the study suggests that hypomethylation in the ENPP3 promoter region may contribute to the initiation and advancement of ovarian EMs by activating the AKT/mTOR/4EBP1 pathway, supporting the theory that EMs might be an epigenetically regulated disorder.

A survey study for the dental students’ satisfaction with the “needling therapies for temporomandibular disorders” lectures

Background/purposeDry needling therapy and acupuncture can effectively relieve myofascial pain in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This study evaluated dental students’ satisfaction with the “needling therapies for TMDs” lectures given in 2022 and 2023. Materials and methodsThe “needling therapies for TMDs” lectures included mainly a dry needling therapy lecture and an acupuncture lecture which were given to the fifth-year dental students in both 2022 and 2023. An additional needling therapy demonstration lecture was given in 2023 only. Immediately after the lectures, the students were asked to complete an online-based questionnaire with four survey questions regarding their satisfaction with (1) the dry needling therapy, (2) the acupuncture, (3) the overall, and (4) the needling therapy demonstration lectures using 5-point Likert scale ratings. ResultsFifty-three (80 %) of 66 and 60 (81 %) of 74 students answered the questions in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The satisfaction rates improved from 70 % in 2022 to 83 % in 2023 for the dry needling therapy lecture, from 64 % in 2022 to 85 % in 2023 for the acupuncture lecture, and from 70 % in 2022 to 88 % in 2023 for the overall lecture. The satisfaction rate was 88 % in 2023 for the needling therapy demonstration lecture. ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that inclusion of the needling therapy demonstration lecture in 2023 can results in a marked increase in the satisfaction rates for the lectures. The relatively-lower satisfaction rate for the acupuncture lecture in 2022 may be due to the difficulty in understanding the mechanisms underlying the acupuncture therapy.

The impact of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University reconstruction on the soil aggregate structure

The reconstruction factor can significantly affect changes in soil cover. Physical soil properties changes are one of the main reasons for some plant species disappearance and the existing communities disintegration. The variation of soil aggregate structure in the areas affected by the reconstruction and in the areas without such within the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University has been studied. It is established that on all sample polygons there is a predominance of content of microfractions (less than 0.25 mm in size). But in the polygons affected by reconstruction, the proportion of microfractions is markedly higher compared to polygons without reconstruction. The sample polygon a, on which the reconstruction was carried out, differs significantly from the others in the lowest content of macrofractions, as well as mesoaggregates of size 7–10, 5–7 and 3–5 mm. At the same time, the highest content of fractions of 1–2, 0.5–1 and 0.25–0.5 mm is observed in this polygon. On polygons that were not affected by reconstruction (polygons c and d), there is a predominance of mesoaggregates 2–3 and 3–5 mm compared to polygons that were reconstructed (polygons a and b). The discriminant analysis made it possible to differentiate the polygons by the aggregate structure pacularities. By the peculiarities of the aggregate structure, the canonical root 1 separates polygon a from all other polygons, and the canonical root 2 opposes polygon b to polygons c and d. Root 1 correlates with the content of aggregates from 3 to 10 mm in size, while root 2 correlates with the content of micro-aggregates and aggregates from 0.25 to 0.5 mm in size. The influence of the reconstruction of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University noticeably affected the aggregate structure of the soil reconstructed polygons, leading to a marked increase in microaggregates and a corresponding decrease in mesoaggregates, favorable for the growth of phytocenosis.

GADGETS, PARENTS AND CHILDREN: NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE IN FAMILIES

The rapid proliferation of digital technologies has significantly transformed the way individuals interact with the world around them. This digital revolution has also permeated the sphere of parenting, leading to a marked increase in the use of digital devices by both parents and children. While this shift has brought about numerous benefits, it has also raised concerns about potential negative consequences. This article highlights the research undertaken to understand the trends of digital usage among parents and children in Malaysia, by utilising a cross-sectional survey among parents who have 7-9 years old children using an online survey platform. A total of 532 parents responded to the survey and the data were analyse descriptively. This study found that many households own computers, tablets and smartphones, as compared to other devices such as smartwatch and digital game console. In addition, majority of the parents use digital devices between 3 to 5 hours and more than 5 hours daily, while many children use between 1 to 5 hours daily. Parents also use digital devices throughout the day, while children usage was reported higher during the weekend. Majority of the parents use digital devices for communication purpose, to search for information and to stay informed about current news, but most of the children use digital devices to fill free time, to complete school work and for entertainment purpose, but less use to get current news. Majority of the parents prefer WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, while children prefer video-sharing and entertainment platforms namely YouTube, TikTok and online games. This study contributes to the enhancement of understanding of the trends in digital usage between parents and children.

Development of an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method and its application in tryptophan pathway modification in Catharanthus roseus.

The biosynthetic pathway of Catharanthus roseus vinca alkaloids has a long research history, including not only identification of metabolic intermediates but also the mechanisms of inter-cellular transport and accumulation of biosynthesized components. Vinca alkaloids pathway begins with strictosidine, which is biosynthesized by condensing tryptamine from the tryptophan pathway and secologanin from the isoprenoid pathway. Therefore, increasing the supply of precursor tryptophan may enhance vinca alkaloid content or their metabolic intermediates. Many reports on the genetic modification of C. roseus use cultured cells or hairy roots, but few reports cover the production of transgenic plants. In this study, we first investigated a method for stably producing transgenic plants of C. roseus, then, using this technique, we modified the tryptophan metabolism system to produce transgenic plants with increased tryptophan content. Transformed plants were obtained by infecting cotyledons two weeks after sowing with Agrobacterium strain A13 containing a plant expression vector, then selecting with 1/2 B5 medium supplemented with 50 mg l-1 kanamycin and 20 mg l-1 meropenem. Sixty-eight regenerated plants were obtained from 4,200 cotyledons infected with Agrobacterium, after which genomic PCR analysis using NPTII-specific primers confirmed gene presence in 24 plants with a transformation rate of 0.6%. Furthermore, we performed transformation into C. roseus using an expression vector to join trpE8 and aroG4 genes, which are feedback-resistant mutant genes derived from Escherichia coli. The resulting transformed plants showed exactly the same morphology as the wild-type, albeit with a marked increase in tryptophan and alkaloids content, especially catharanthine in leaves.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Triiodothyronine Suppression and Withdrawal Versus Thyrogen Injections in Thyroid Cancer Assessments.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the specificity and effectiveness of triiodothyronine (T3) suppression and withdrawal, as compared to the conventional diagnostic approach using Thyrogen recombinant thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) injections, in the assessment of thyroid cancer patients post-thyroidectomy. Methods In this retrospective study, 18 patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer at a tertiary care hospital (Mediclinic City Hospital) in Dubai were included. The patients underwent total thyroidectomy, iodine ablation, and neck ultrasound. The cohort's clinical characteristics were analyzed, and histopathological examination of thyroid nodules was performed.In this study, paired T-tests were applied to evaluate the before-and-after impact of T3 and Thyrogen treatments on TSHand thyroglobulin (TG) levels in individual patients. To further analyze the effectiveness of these treatments, independent T-tests were conducted, allowing for a comparison of TSH and TG levels between different treatment groups within the patient cohort. This approach provided a comprehensive assessment of the treatments' effects on key thyroid indicators. Additionally, the diagnostic accuracy of T3 withdrawal and Thyrogen post-test on TGlevels was assessed using statistical measures including sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Results The cohort had a mean age of 42.1 years and a female predominance. Distinct clinical profiles were observed across different thyroid cancer subtypes. Histopathological analysis confirmed typical features of papillary carcinoma variants. Significant changes in TSHlevels post-treatment were noted, with T3 treatments showing a marked increase in TSH and TGlevels, although changes in TGlevels were not always statistically significant. Diagnostic test evaluation showed a sensitivity of 77.78%, a specificity of 83.33%, and an overall accuracy of 80.00% for T3 withdrawal and Thyrogen post-test on TG. Conclusion The study provides comprehensive insights into the clinical profiles and treatment responses in thyroid cancer patients post-thyroidectomy. The effectiveness of T3 and Thyrogen treatments in altering TSHand TGlevels was established, with significant implications for patient management. The diagnostic tests for T3 withdrawal and Thyrogen post-test on TGdemonstrated high accuracy, underlining their clinical utility in the post-treatment evaluation of thyroid cancer patients.

Estimates of irrigation requirements throughout Germany under varying climatic conditions

As climate change brings about hotter and often drier summers, an improved understanding of how irrigation requirements vary according to climatic conditions is of increasing importance. Within Germany, temperate conditions have historically enabled most agriculture to be supplied solely by green water, but recent crop yield reductions and crop failures have demonstrated its increased vulnerability to climatic conditions. The raster-based mGROWA hydrological water balance model was implemented over all agricultural areas in Germany for the period 1961–2020 at a high spatial (200 m) and temporal (daily) resolution. Grid-cells were each assigned one of 10 major crop classes, which account for 86.7 % of all agricultural areas in Germany, and effectively all irrigated areas. Using crop-specific irrigation rules that reflect actual practices, irrigation requirements were simulated for all crop areas. To investigate the relationship between climatic water balance over the crop growing season and irrigation requirements, the simulated annual irrigation requirements were compared with the standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI-6), calculated at the end of September. Through this comparison, irrigation requirements could be characterised for near-normal and dry conditions, and results were aggregated to the district level. Additionally, using district-level data on the areas with irrigation infrastructure, the actual water used for irrigation was estimated. The results highlight marked increases in irrigation requirements in dry conditions compared to near-normal conditions (median increase of 72 %), which are more pronounced over crops in silty soils than in sandy soils. The results also demonstrate how the increased irrigation requirements in dry years are in many cases higher than what is suggested by guidelines for irrigation management in Germany. This study provides important information for actors related to the agricultural sector and water management and is based on a robust and transferable framework to quantify how irrigation requirements vary according to climatic variability and local soil conditions.

Bioactive composition and protective properties of Talium triangulare in dextran sodium sulphate-induced ulcerative colitis in rats

BackgroundsThe prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is gradually becoming a global health challenge. Talinum triangulare, commonly called "waterleaf" (Tu ren shen in Chinese) is a plant that is cultivated in Asia, western Africa, and other tropical rainforest regions as a food and medicine plant. Due to its medicinal significance, Talium triangulare has been used in Chinese traditional medicines to treat various human diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of aqueous leaf extract of Talium triangulare (TT) on dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis. MethodsExposure of rats to 5 % DSS in drinking water induced colitis, and the effect of 200 mg/kg TT was studied over a 10-day period via oral administration. The effect of TT on anti-inflammatory, redox assays, clinical manifestations (disease activity index), and colonic mucosa histological changes was determined. ResultsDSS induced colonic inflammation in rats with a significant increase in NO, MPO, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels compared to the untreated group. Oxidative stress was markedly increased in the DSS group with concomitant suppression of antioxidant enzymes activities. Exposure of rats to DSS causes lipid peroxidation with a marked increase in colonic level of malondialdehyde. Nevertheless, the administration of TT significantly suppressed inflammation in the colon by downregulating expression of the inflammatory indicators. TT suppressed the levels of MDA and H2O2 thus mitigating lipid peroxidation chain reaction. Furthermore, TT attenuated DSS-facilitated oxidative damage by improving the enzymatic activities of the protective enzymes (CAT, GST, and SOD) and increasing GSH level. ConclusionTT enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activities, attenuated oxidative stress, suppressed lipid peroxidation, inhibited inflammation, and reduced DAI score. These beneficial activities of TT could be attributed to its phytoconstituents depicted in GCMS results. The results of this research indicated that TT could contain therapeutic agents for the treatment of inflammatory colitis.

Effects of different chronic restraint stress periods on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism along the brain-gut axis in C57BL/6N mice

Chronic restraint stress (CRS) is a widely used stimulus to induce anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, linked to alterations in tryptophan-kynurenine (TRP-KYN) metabolism in animals. This study assessed the effects of different CRS periods on anxiety- or depression-like behaviors and TRP-KYN metabolism along brain-gut axis in C57BL/6N mice. Results showed that one-week CRS decreased the open arm entries of mice in elevated plus maze and delayed latency of feeding in novelty suppressed feeding test. Four-week CRS reduced sucrose preference, increases forced swimming immobility time, and also induced anxiety-like behaviors of mice. UPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed decreased levels of the neurotoxic 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and quinolinic acid (QA), and an increase in the neuroprotective kynurenic acid (KA) in the hippocampus of one-week CRS mice; meanwhile, four-week CRS mice displayed a reduction in KA and increases in 3-HK and QA. In the colon, both one-week and four-week CRS mice exhibited significant reductions in 3-HK and QA, with a marked increase of KA exclusively in four-week CRS mice. Briefly, one-week CRS only induced anxiety-like behaviors with hippocampal neuroprotection in TRP-KYN metabolism, whereas four-week CRS caused anxiety- and depression-like behaviors with neurotoxicity. In the colon, during both CRS periods, KYN was metabolized in the direction of NAD+ production. However, four-week CRS triggered intestinal inflammation risk with increased KA. Summarily, slightly short-term stress has beneficial effects on mice, while prolonged chronic stress can lead to pathological changes. This study offers valuable insights into stress-induced emotional disturbances.

Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals intratumoral heterogeneity in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a major health concern worldwide. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides a valuable platform for exploring the intratumoral heterogeneity in LUAD and holds great potential for facilitating the development and application of personalized therapeutic approaches. The TCGA-LUAD (n = 503), GSE68465 (n = 442), GSE72094 (n = 398), and GSE26939 (n = 115) datasets were retrieved for prognostic assessment. Subgroup analysis was performed for the epithelial cells, endothelial cells, immune cells, and fibroblasts, and the transcription factors and tumor-related pathways enriched in each subgroup were analyzed using PROGENy and DoRothEA package. The InferCNV software was used to calculate the copy number variations (CNVs) in tumor cell subgroups with normal epithelial cells as the reference. The association between the annotated cell types and survival was analyzed using the Scissor software. We identified eight major cell types in LUAD, namely epithelial cells, NK cells, T and B cells, endothelial cells, mast cells, myeloid cells, and fibroblasts, of which the epithelial cells and B cells showed a marked increase in the tumor samples. In addition, we also detected an intense signal transduction network from the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to malignant cells, mainly involving the DCN/MET, COLA1/DDR1, COL1A1/SDC1, and COL1A2/SDC1 pathways. The tumor differentiation trajectory consisted of state 1 and state 2, which were enriched in HIF1A, and state 4. Furthermore, only a few B cells originated from the normal tissue, suggesting significant recruitment and infiltration of B cells in LUAD. Based on differentially upregulated genes in the cells positively and negatively associated with survival, we established a prognostic model that showed satisfactory predictive performance in three different cohorts. States 3 and 2 of epithelial cells included the majority of cells with KRAS mutation, whereas state 2 showed high frequency of EGFR mutations. We analyzed intra-tumor heterogeneity of LUAD at the single-cell level and developed a prognostic index that was highly effective across multiple cohorts.

Spirulina as a promising agent in rheumatoid arthritis with no observed hepatic injury

Aim of the workTo examine early mitigation and conservative effects of low-dose gamma radiation (LDR) or spirulina (SPR) algae on inflammation, oxidative stress and liver function in experimentally-induced arthritis in rats, and comparing such effects to conventionally used rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs; methotrexate (MTX) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in an attempt to unleash a safer remedy/therapeutic modality for RA management. Materials and methodsMale Wister albino rats were rendered arthritic by sub-plantar injection of 0.1 ml Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). Adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats were treated with each of LDR (0.5 Gy at day 0 of arthritis induction), MTX (1 mg/kg/week, intra-peritoneal), HCQ sulphate (15 mg/kg/day, orally), MTX + HCQ, and SPR (1 g/kg/day, orally) for 28 days. ResultsSub-plantar injection of FCA led to marked increase in paw volume accompanied with increased serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP) and oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels. Exposure to LDR did not induce any significant alteration in the estimated parameters. Treatment with MTX and HCQ alone or combined induced deterioration in liver function (transaminases), insignificantly reduced paw edema, yet failed to attenuate CRP, MDA and NO levels. Instead, treatment with SPR significantly guarded against changes in nearly all measured parameters and kept liver function at normal level. ConclusionThis is a leading work showing the hepato-preservative impact of spirulina as a promising alternative therapy during the course management of RA. It could thus be considered as a potential option in the management armamentarium of RA.

Changes in prescribing of psychotropic vs some physical health medication in primary care through the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a national-level survey

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic globally impacted healthcare provision. Prescribing changes in common medications can be used as a marker for new diagnoses. We describe how the prescribing of specific psychotropics was impacted by the pandemic.MethodsPrimary Care Prescribing data for different classes of drugs from March 2017 to February 2022 were considered. To capture the impact during periods of restricted access to health services for new diagnoses/existing conditions, repeat prescriptions/episodic prescribing were included with account taken of historical trends.The pre-pandemic prescriptions issued each month from March 2018 to February 2020 were linearly extrapolated forward to give an expected annual growth (EAG). The monthly average expected prescriptions for the pandemic period (March 2020–February 2022) were compared.ResultsPhysical health medications had lower monthly prescriptions during the pandemic, most markedly for antibiotics − 12.5% (EAG − 1.3%). Bronchodilator prescribing showed a marked increase in the early pandemic months from March 2020 of 5% (EAG 0.1%). Mental health medication prescribing increased above trend for hypnotics/anxiolytics by 0.2% (EAG − 2.3%), while antidepressants fell by − 0.2% (EAG 5.0%), with no net change for antipsychotics (EAG 2.8%), but a temporary increase in antipsychotic prescribing in the early pandemic period. For all the main antidepressants prescribed in England (Sertraline, Mirtazapine, Venlafaxine, Fluoxetine and Citalopram), prescribing actually decreased in the main pandemic period vs historical trend.ConclusionsThe increase in anxiolytic/hypnotic prescribing above trend links to pandemic effects on anxiety/worry. If anything, there was a slight fall in prescribing of the main antidepressants prescribed, which given prevailing circumstances at the time, suggests that access to services may have restricted access to timely assessment.

CO2 emission-mitigation pathways for China's data centers

Increased emissions related to China's burgeoning digital economy pose significant challenges. Using a Kaya–LMDI model, this study investigates the driving factors of data-center CO2 emissions in China from 2017 to 2021, highlighting the roles of computing scale, energy intensity, power usage effectiveness, and emission intensity. We find a marked increase in emissions across various Chinese provinces, largely driven by computing scale. While projections suggest that data-center emissions could reach 430 million tons by 2050 (three times greater than 2021 levels), such emissions could potentially be reduced to 11–29 million tons under the “net-zero emissions” scenario. Highlighting the need to mitigate data-center emission intensity, our findings underscore the recalibrations in operational methods, technology, and energy sourcing needed to expedite the transition to net-zero emissions.

Histological Evaluation of Arthritis in Mice

Arthritis is one the almost commonly prevalent painful diseases which cause limit the movement of joints. This study conducts to investigate histological alterations resulted in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-induced in mice and estimating the levels of some serum biomarkers including serum IL-6, CRP and RF. Totally, 30 were purchased, acclimated, and divided into two groups; control that injected distilled water, and arthritis that injected adjuvant (CFA). Post the 25th day of experiment, all study mice of both groups were subjected for collection of blood and right ankle joints. Serologically, the findings of IL-6, CRP and RF of arthritis group were elevated significantly when compare to control mice. Histologically, the findings observed in mice of control group were included the proliferation of chondrocytes of articular cartilage with moderate cellular and subchondral marrow space, infiltration few inflammatory cells in dermis, proliferation of chondrocytes in articular cartilage with absence of inflammatory reaction in synovial cavity, moderate infiltration of inflammatory cells in subcutaneous tissue, nearly normal articular cartilage with regular tidemark and absence of sclerosis in marrow spaces, regenerative articular cartilage and regular tidemark line with presence of very narrow distance between articular cartilage and marrow bone, and existence of normal bone trabeculae. In arthritis mice, there were an infiltration of inflammatory cells in subcutaneous tissues and dermis, marked increases in numbers of osteoclasts, sclerosis, regular tidemark and proliferation of chondrocytes, low amonunt of abscesses in subcutaneous tissue, thickness of bone trabeculae, fragments of bone, subchondral sclerosis, moderate distance between bone and articular cartilage. In conclussion, RA causes severe impacts on tissues of affected joints. Studying the mechanism of inhibition during different inflammatory process appear needed.

Investigation of seasonal changes in lipid synthesis and metabolism-related genes in the oviduct of Chinese brown frog (Rana dybowskii).

A peculiar physiological characteristic of the Chinese brown frog (Rana dybowskii) is that its oviduct dilates during pre-brumation rather than during the breeding season. This research aimed to examine the expression of genes connected with lipid synthesis and metabolism in the oviduct of R. dybowskii during both the breeding season and pre-brumation. We observed significant changes in the weight and size of the oviduct between the breeding season and pre-brumation. Furthermore, compared to the breeding season, pre-brumation exhibited significantly lower triglyceride content and a marked increase in free fatty acid content. Immunohistochemical results revealed the spatial distribution of triglyceride synthase (Dgat1), triglyceride hydrolase (Lpl and Hsl), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), and fatty acid oxidases (Cpt1a, Acadl, and Hadh) in oviductal glandular cells and epithelial cells during both the breeding season and pre-brumation. While the mRNA levels of triglycerides and free fatty acid synthesis genes (dgat1 and fasn) did not show a significant difference between the breeding season and pre-brumation, the mRNA levels of genes involved in triglycerides and free fatty acid metabolism (lpl, cpt1a, acadl, acox and hadh) were considerably higher during pre-brumation. Furthermore, the R. dybowskii oviduct's transcriptomic and metabolomic data confirmed differential expression of genes and metabolites enriched in lipid metabolism signaling pathways during both the breeding season and pre-brumation. Overall, these results suggest that alterations in lipid synthesis and metabolism during pre-brumation may potentially influence the expanding size of the oviduct, contributing to the successful overwintering of R. dybowskii.

Breaking through the glass ceiling: unveiling women’s representation by gender and race in the higher education hierarchy

This retrospective study examined progress towards diversity at the intersection of gender and ethnicity amongst senior higher education academics and managers in England and Wales. The study aimed to assess any evidence of competing diversity agendas and the impact of diversity initiatives on female racial minorities. This study investigates the advancement of diversity at the nexus of gender and ethnicity within senior academic and management roles in higher education across England and Wales. Using employment records of senior staff from higher education institutions were used to assess trends in race and gender, it retrospectively examines trends in employment for ethnic minority women and the effectiveness of diversity awards from 2012 to 2019. We also collected data on the receipt of Athena SWAN or Race Equality Charter awards by higher education institutions. Mixed-effects modelling was employed to analyse the correlation between institutions awarded the Athena SWAN Silver or Race Equality Charter Bronze and variances in the representation of women from racial minorities. Results indicate that the representation of ethnic minority females in senior roles showed a marked increase over the study period. However, disparities were observed, with Black females showing fewer signs of advancement. Institutions that received Athena SWAN Silver or Race Equality Charter Bronze awards demonstrated increasing gender and racial diversity, with no evidence of competing diversity effects. The study found evidence of progress in advancing gender and ethnic diversity in senior academic and leadership positions in higher education in England and Wales. Despite this, certain racial groups, such as Black females, faced greater challenges in advancement. The positive impact of diversity initiatives was observed, with no evidence of conflicting diversity agendas. Further research is recommended to investigate structural factors affecting ethnic minorities in higher education, and to assess the potential influences of external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic on the diversity agenda.

The Flows of Racial Capitalism: Charting the Spread of COVID-19 through Alberta’s Meatpacking Industry

This article will present a case study of Cargill’s High River meatpacking plant operations to show how at crucial historical junctures racial capitalism shaped its working conditions and in so doing determined the spread of COVID-19. First, the Canadian meatpacking industry’s 1980s-era economic restructuring relocated and reorganized its workforce from a core to peripheral one, allowing for the low wage employment of many precarious workers; this restructuring enabled the Cargill company to gain overwhelming control of the meatpacking industry in Canada and to become a “choke point” in the supply chain. Second, Canadian immigration policy from 2006 to 2010 supported a marked increase in migrant workers to meet the labour market needs of business; this reconstituted the labour class to heighten their disposability. With these pieces in place, the Albertan provincial government could classify meatpackers as “essential workers” who worked even in the face of mass COVID infection in April through June 2020. Across this crucial historical period racial capitalism enabled the plant to circumvent public health interventions protecting workers through the onset of the pandemic. Political championing of business interests, enacted through legislative mechanisms, allowed for the exploitation of workers and consistently rendered workers personally responsible for their own health and safety, despite their lack of control over what exposed them to risk.

Statewide implementation of the cardiac arrest registry to enhance survival in Ohio

ObjectivePublic health surveillance is essential for improving community health. The Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) is a surveillance system for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We describe results of the organized statewide implementation of Ohio CARES. MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of CARES enactment in Ohio. Key elements included: establishment of statewide leadership, appointment of a dedicated coordinator, conversion to a statewide subscription, statewide dissemination of information, fundraising from internal and external stakeholders, and conduct of resuscitation academies. We identified all adult (≥18 years) OHCA reported in the registry during 2013–2020. We evaluated OHCA characteristics before (2013–2015) and after (2016–2019) statewide implementation using chi-square test. We evaluated trends in OHCA outcomes using the Cochran-Armitage test of trend. ResultsStatewide CARES promotion increased participation from 2 (urban) to 136 (129 urban, 7 rural) EMS agencies. Covered population increased from 1.2 M (10% of state) to 4.8 M (41% of state). After statewide implementation, OHCA populations increased male (58.1% vs 60.8%, p < 0.01), white (50.1% vs 63.7%, p < 0.01), bystander witnessed (26.9% vs 32.9%, p < 0.01) OHCAs. Bystander CPR (34.7% vs 33.2%, p = 0.22), bystander AED (13.5% vs 12.3%, p = 0.55) and initial rhythm (shockable 18.0% vs 18.3%, p = 0.32) did not change. From 2013 to 2019 there were temporal increases in ROSC (29.7% to 31.9%, p-trend = 0.028), survival (7.4% to 12.3%, p-trend < 0.001) and survival with good neurologic outcome (5.6% to 8.6%, p-trend = 0.047). ConclusionThe organized statewide implementation of CARES in Ohio was associated with marked increases in community uptake and concurrent observed improvements in patient outcomes. These results highlight key lessons for community-wide fostering of OHCA surveillance.

Phenomenon of suppression of estrogen signaling in breast cancer cells under ultraviolet irradiation: role of Snail proteins

Introduction. The study of the effect of irradiation or any other DNA-damaging agents on the sensitivity of tumors to conservative therapy, drug or hormonal, is among the most imporant tasks that determine the efficiency of combined therapy of cancer patients.Aim. To investigate the effect of irradiation on the activity of key signaling proteins and the level of hormone dependence of breast cancer cells.Materials and methods. The experiments were performed on in vitro cultured estrogen-dependent MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in the range of 254 nm with the intensity of 25–50 J/m2 was used as an experimental model to study the response of tumor cells to DNA damage. Cell growth rate was determined using the MTT test, cell survival after irradiation was analyzed using the colony-forming test. Estrogen receptor transcriptional activity was determined by reporter assay; cellular protein expression was determined by immunoblotting.Results. Single UV irradiation of MCF-7 cells leads to a marked increase in the level of apoptotic markers: p53, cPARP, suppression of expression of growth signaling proteins: CDK4/6 and estrogen receptor α (ERα). The above changes are accompanied with an increase in phosphorylation of Akt protein kinase and a marked increase in the expression of Snail1, one of the key proteins of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In UV-resistant MCF-7/UVR cell subline obtained under repeated irradiation cycles, the levels of apoptotic and growth signaling proteins (p53, cPARP, CDK4/6) return to control levels, except for the phosphorylated form of Akt and Snail1, whose content remains high. Transfection of Snail1-expressing plasmid into MCF-7 cells is accompanied by activation of apoptotic signaling, suppression of ERα activity, and development of partial hormone resistance; however, the sensitivity of cells to irradiation is practically unchanged. Transfection of microRNA-181a-2, one of the microRNAs associated with cell resistance, simultaneously activates Akt and Snail1 and leads to the development of cross-resistance of cells to irradiation and hormonal drugs.Conclusion. The obtained data allow us to consider irradiation-induced Snail1 activation as one of the factors involved in deregulation of estrogen signaling and formation of cell resistance to hormonal drugs, while simultaneous activation of Akt and Snail1 is accompanied by the development of cross-resistance to irradiation and hormonal drugs.

Impact of growth hormone receptor gene on measurements of dimen-sions and body weights of local Iraqi sheep

This research involved a sample of 50 local Iraqi sheep, consisting of 27 males and 23 females, aged between 5 and 17 months. Data collection occurred during two distinct seasonal periods: October 2022 and January 2023. The primary objective was to investigate the variations in the expression of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) and its influence on the physical attributes of local Iraqi sheep within this age range. The results showed that the GHR gene exhibited a marked increase in expression during the second seasonal timeframe with levels of 23.8 ± 0.2 and 29.7 ±1.4 for first period. This increase in gene expression was paralleled by substantial differences in the sheep's body weights, with values of 33.7376±0.732(kg) for the first seasonal period and 35.77±1.111(kg) for the second seasonal period. Similarly, the dressing percentage showed significant differences, with values of 47.71±0.49 (kg) for the first period and 50.11±0.59 (kg) for the second period. Furthermore, carcass weight demonstrated highly statistically significant variations, measuring 16.037±0.440 (kg) during the first seasonal period and 17.978±0.655 (kg) during the second seasonal period. Gender-based analyses revealed significant disparities, with males exhibiting greater weight measurements (kg) (36.764±1.002) compared to females (32.122±806.0). The same trend was observed in carcass weight (18.362±0.606 for males and 15.242±0.369 for females), dressing percentage (49.8±0.0062 for males and 47.8±0.0047 for females), and viscera weight (1.382±0.029 for males and 1.258±0.032 for females). In addition to these findings, body dimension measurements (cm) showed significant differences in lump height, with measurements of 67.81±0.891 in the first period and 64.88±0.717 in the second period. However, non-significant differences were observed in other body dimension measurements. These findings have implications for understanding the genetic factors affecting the growth and development of sheep which can inform breeding and livestock management practices.