Minor Ones Research Articles

Divergent Biosynthesis of Bridged Polycyclic Sesquiterpenoids by a Minimal Fungal Biosynthetic Gene Cluster.

The bridged polycyclic sesquiterpenoids derived from sativene, isosativene, and longifolene have unique structures, and many chemical synthesis approaches with at least 10 steps have been reported. However, their biosynthetic pathway remains undescribed. A minimal biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC), named bip, encoding a sesquiterpene cyclase (BipA) and a cytochrome P450 (BipB) is characterized to produce such complex sesquiterpenoids with multiple carbon skeletons based on enzymatic assays, heterologous expression, and precursor experiments. BipA is demonstrated as a versatile cyclase with (-)-sativene as the dominant product and (-)-isosativene and (-)-longifolene as minor ones. BipB is capable of hydroxylating different enantiomeric sesquiterpenes, such as (-)-longifolene and (+)-longifolene, at C-15 and C-14 in turn. The C-15- or both C-15- and C-14-hydroxylated products are then further oxidized by unclustered oxidases, resulting in a structurally diverse array of sesquiterpenoids. Bioinformatic analysis reveals the BipB homologues as a discrete clade of fungal sesquiterpene P450s. These findings elucidate the concise and divergent biosynthesis of such intricate bridged polycyclic sesquiterpenoids, offer valuable biocatalysts for biotransformation, and highlight the distinct biosynthetic strategy employed by nature compared to chemical synthesis.

Does reaction to controversy in corporate narratives depend on its significance for various stakeholders?

PurposeThe study aims to determine whether a relationship exists between the potential significance of corporate controversies for stakeholders and how organisations respond to them in their annual and sustainability reports.Design/methodology/approachThis paper employs content analysis on annual and sustainability reports of 48 listed companies from the Refinitiv database. The logit regression was used to estimate the model.FindingsThe study revealed that the main factors increasing the probability of a controversial issue being addressed in a corporate report are the controversy’s potential significance, companies’ financial performance and lawsuits.Research limitations/implicationsOur study has three major limitations. These are a relatively small sample of companies and reports, focusing on disclosures made in corporate reports and omitting other channels of communication, for example, social media, and a certain amount of subjectivity in the process of coding information.Social implicationsFormer studies show that corporations face a serious risk of their hypocritical strategies becoming too evident for stakeholder groups. Our findings suggest that the risk is already materialising and may undermine the idea of CSR and sustainability reporting.Originality/valueOur research focuses on high-profile adverse incidents widely reported in the media, the omission of which from corporate reports seems to constitute a particular case of organised hypocrite. It also demonstrates that companies use an impression management strategy to defuse adverse publicity and that major controversies cause minor ones to be omitted from their reports.

A River Runs Through It: Reading the Text and Context of a River

This article is framed and inspired by Jacklyn Cock’s Writing the Ancestral River (Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 2018), which traces the history of the Kowie river in the Eastern Cape and its significance both in her own life and in shaping a specific geographical area. We set out to “read” the Kromme river through the lens of Cock’s “biography-of-a-river” approach, which is both an evocative personal account and a social and environmental history of a river. Like the Kowie, the story of the Kromme river raises issues of competing interests; environmental, economic, and social justice concerns; and the tension between a river viewed in instrumentalist terms or as a complex, precious wetland and estuary. We consider questions such as whether the natural world in itself has inalienable rights, and whether rivers—even minor ones such as the Kromme—should have the right to be protected.

Giovanni Moioli's Theological Portrait. The 40th Anniversary of the Milanese Theologian's Deat

Father Giovanni Moioli, who died prematurely on 6 October 1984, is one of the outstanding theologians of the 20th century and a representative of the so-called Milan School of Theology. He left behind many theological works, especially on the theology of spirituality, Christology, sacramentology and eschatology. The vast majority of them were published in Opera Omnia, while minor unpublished ones have been deposited in an archival collection dedicated to him. Undoubtedly, at the center of his theology is the revelation of Jesus the Son of God in history an exceptional and one-of-a-kind individual. The acceptance in faith of this particular Jesus determines not only the shape of theology as a science, but also the experience of spiritual life. The article presents a synthetic look at the history of his life, scientific legacy, wishing to encourage the reader to learn more about him and his scientific achievements, which is further provoked by the 40th anniversary of his unexpected death.

Inheritance and molecular mapping of the genomic regions governing seedviability in soybean (Glycine max. L. Merr.)

Loos of seed viability in soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill, 2n=40) during ambient storage from harvest to the next planting season is a significant barrier for the production of high-quality seeds. The present study includes the inheritance and molecular mapping of the loci linked to seed viability in soybean. For this, five high viable genotypes (>90% germination after one year of storage) viz. EC-1023, EC-105790, G2651, UPSL34, UPSL736 and three poorly viable genotype (<70% germination after one year of storage) viz. MACS-565, PK1243, VLS61 were hybridized in all possible combination. Obtained F1 were advanced separately. Cross EC1023 x VLS61 and their derived F2:3 seeds, were exposed to 72 hours of accelerated ageing (AA) at 41°C and 100% RH, followed by a germination. After AA test, germination % of EC1023 and VL5-61 were 40 and 14, respectively, whereas range of F2:3 seeds were 4.16 to 71.42 %. The seed viability is governed by polygenes or quantitative trait loci (QTL), as evidenced by the continuous distribution of germination % of F2:3 seeds. Parental polymorphism was studied with 506 SSR markers indicated it to 20.35% whereas distribution of the polymorphism was not uniform across the chromosomes; Chr. 15 had 46.15% polymorphism as against 15.78% on Chr. 3 and 4. Through inclusive composite interval mapping 8 QTL for seed viability on Chr. 6, 7, 8, 10, 13 and 17, respectively, were mapped. Two of the eight QTLs appear to be major QTLs, as their PVE percent is greater than 10% and other seems as minor ones. Previously reported markers linked to seed viability were also validated in the parental genotypes, with only Satt538 being able to differentiate the five good and three poor storing genotypes. The genetics of seed viability, as well as the QTLs and markers found in this study, will pave the way for molecular breeding to generate genotypes with improved seed viability.

Effect of addition of different additives: Magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone versus plain bupivacaine in ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block in pediatrics undergoing repair of inguinal hernia

ABSTRACT Background Erector spinae plane (ESP) block has been evaluated in many studies in pediatric surgeries by the use of postoperative rescue analgesia which is the objective parameter assessing the efficacy of the technique in controlling postoperative pain. Adjuvants were used with ESP block to densify its postoperative analgesia. Magnesium sulfate was used for suppressing somatic, endocrine and autonomic reflexes induced by noxious stimuli during surgery. Dexamethasone is a highly potent glucocorticoid that has been used in different regional anesthesia to prolong the anesthetic effect of the local anesthesia by inducing local vasoconstriction. Methodology Sixty pediatric patients underwent inguinal hernia repair under general anesthesia, and then they were assigned randomly into three groups that received ESP block either with local anesthetic alone or with magnesium sulfate or dexamethasone. Results Our study revealed no statistical significance among the three groups as regards demographic and vital data. Children’s Hospital Eastern Ontario Pain Scale score for postoperative assessment of magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone which were added to bupivacaine in ESP block had a better score than bupivacaine alone with high statistical significance. Also, magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone had a delayed first-dose postoperative rescue analgesia with significant statistical value (P value = 0.002) and total postoperative doses of postoperative rescue analgesia were lesser in magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone groups with marked statistical significance (P value < 0.001). As regards complications, there were minor ones in the form of mild bruising and mild pain at injection site with no statistical significance between the three groups (P value = 0.108). Conclusion In our study, magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone added to bupivacaine in ESP block prolonged the duration of postoperative pain control and decreased the consumption of postoperative analgesia than bupivacaine alone. No major complications were recorded in our study in the three groups which solidify the safety of the technique.

Anthropogenic Microparticles in Sea-Surface Microlayer in Osaka Bay, Japan.

The abundance, distribution, and composition of microparticles (MPs) in the sea-surface microlayer (S-SML, less than 100 μm of sea surface in this experiment) and in bulk water (1 m under the sea surface) were investigated to evaluate the pollution level of MPs in Osaka Bay in Japan. Both seawater fractions were collected at eight sites including ship navigation routes, the coastal area, and the center of Osaka Bay for 2021-2023. MPs were filtered for four size ranges (10-53, 53-125, 125-500, and >500 μm) and then digested with H2O2. MPs' abundance was microscopically assessed; and polymer types of MPs were identified by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). For the 22 collections performed along eight sites, the average MPs' abundance was 903 ± 921 items/kg for S-SML, while for the 25 collections performed along the same sites, the average MPs' abundance was 55.9 ± 40.4 items/kg for bulk water, respectively. MPs in both S-SML and bulk water exhibited their highest abundance along the navigation routes. The smallest MPs (10-53 μm) accounted for 81.2% and for 62.2% of all MPs in S-SML and in bulk water among all sites, respectively. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was the major type of MPs identified while minor ones were polyethylene, polyesters, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, etc. PMMA comprised 95.1% of total MPs in S-SML and 45.6% of total MPs in bulk water. In addition, PMMA accounted for 96.6% in S-SML and 49.5% in bulk water for the smallest MP category (10-53 μm). It can be assumed that the MP sources were marine paints-primarily APPs (antifouling paint particles)-as well as land coatings. Sea pollution due to microparticles from ship vessels should be given proper attention.

Identification and quantification of bioactive compounds indifferent extracts of &lt;i&gt;morinda lucida&lt;/i&gt; benth (rubiaceae) root using GC–MS analysis

This study aims to analyze and describe the chemical constituents of various crude extracts derived from the root of Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae), an ethnomedicinal plant commonly found in Nigeria. The root of Morinda lucida was dried at room temperature and pulverized into powder. The soxhlet extraction technique was used with solvents of different polarities, namely hexane, chloroform, and methanol, to obtain three distinct extracts. Subsequently, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was carried out on the extracts. A total of 69 compounds were identified from the different extracts of M. lucida root. The hexane extract had 3 major compounds and 8 minor ones, with diethyl phthalate being the most prominent with 87.10% peak area. The chloroform extract had 24 compounds, with phthalic acid, 2-Ethylhexyl isohexyl ester being the highest with 16.61% peak area. Six of these compounds had more than 5%, while the remaining 18 ranged from 2.50% to 1.00%. The ethanol extract contained 36 compounds, with 6 compounds being greater than 5% and the remaining 30 less than 5%. The highest percentage in the ethanol extract was 2-Pyrrolidinone, 1-methyl-, at 16.05%. In terms of the biological and pharmacology benefits, these chemicals are regarded as crucial. Also, each of the three extracts has a few similarities in their physicochemical properties that can be related to the natural substances that are abundantly found in M. lucida root. The GC-MS analysis of different extracts of M. lucida revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds that have potential therapeutic properties.

HIV Drug Resistance Mutations and Subtype Profiles among Pregnant Women of Ho Chi Minh City, South Vietnam.

According to the latest data released by UNAIDS, the global number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2021 was 38.4 million, with 1.5 million new HIV infections. In different countries, a significant proportion of these cases occur in the adult fertile population aged 15-49 years. According to UNAIDS, Vietnam had a national HIV prevalence of 0.3% of the total population at the end of 2019, with approximately 230,000 PLHIV. The most effective way to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV is ART to reduce maternal viral load. HIV-infected pregnant women should undergo monthly monitoring, especially before the expected date of delivery. The aim of our work was to analyze subtypic structure and drug-resistant variants of HIV in pregnant women in Ho Chi Minh City. The study material was blood plasma samples from HIV-infected pregnant women: 31 women showed virological failure of ART, and 30 women had not previously received therapy. HIV-1 genotyping and mutation detection were performed based on analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the pol gene region. More than 98% of sequences genotyped as HIV-1 sub-subtype CRF01_AE. When assessing the occurrence of drug resistance mutations, genetic resistance to any drug was detected in 74.41% (95% CI: 62.71-85.54%) of patients. These included resistance mutations to protease inhibitors in 60.66% (95% CI: 47.31-72.93%) of patients, to NRTIs in 8.20% (95% CI: 2.72-18.10%), and to NNRTIs in 44.26% (95% CI: 31.55-57.52%). Mutations associated with NRTI (2) and NNRTI (8) resistance as well as PI mutations (12), including minor ones, were identified. The high prevalence of drug resistance mutations found in this study among pregnant women, both in therapeutically naive individuals and in patients with virological failure of ART, indicates that currently used regimens in Vietnam are insufficient to prevent vertical HIV infection.

A rapid method for the determination of alkenylbenzenes in spices by gas chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS)

Alkenylbenzene is a group of natural toxins that can cause genetic damage and cancer in rodents. These toxins are found in high amounts in common spices such as pepper, basil, cinnamon, dill, and others. This study aimed to develop a method for measuring eight alkenylbenzenes (eugenol, methyl eugenol, acetyl eugenol, trans-isoeugenol, safrole, estragole, myristicin and trans-anethole) in various spices using gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC&amp;ndash;HRMS) with a simple ultrasonic vibration sample extraction method. The method was validated according to AOAC standards. The method had detection and quantification limits of 0.05 mg/kg and 0.15 mg/kg, respectively. The recovery ranged from 90.1% to 107% and the repeatability (RSD) ranged from 1.00% to 6.60% for all eight compounds, meeting the AOAC requirements. The analysis of 90 different dried and fresh spice samples revealed that eugenol (1.86&amp;ndash;3581 mg/kg), trans-anethole (0.89&amp;ndash;45.6 &amp;times; 103 mg/kg) and estragole (0.19-248 mg/kg) were the main alkenylbenzenes, while trans-isoeugenol (0.69&amp;ndash;7.86 mg/kg) and safrole (0.15&amp;ndash;0.42 mg/kg) were the minor ones.

ИММУНОФЕНОТИП МЕЗЕНХИМАЛЬНЫХ СТВОЛОВЫХ КЛЕТОК ЖИРОВОЙ ТКАНИ ПАЦИЕНТОВ С СЕРДЕЧНО СОСУДИСТЫМИ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЯМИ

Introduction. Due to a set of unique properties, for example, the ability to differentiate into different types of connective tissue cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are attracting more and more attention from researchers. In 2001, stem cells were found in the stromal-vascular fraction of adipose tissue, which, unlike bone marrow MSCs, show a higher tissue density, grow faster, and are available in large numbers when collected from a small amount of adipose tissue. Currently, a large number of studies are devoted to the study of the morphology and immunophenotype of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue stem cells (ASSCs) due to the possibility of easy cell production. Experimental work aimed at studying MSCs of cardiac localization is currently insufficient. Objective: to evaluate the immunophenotype of adipose tissue stromal cells isolated from epicardial and perivascular fat depots in patients with coronary heart disease and acquired heart defects. Materials and methods. The study included 5 patients with ischemic heart disease and 5 with acquired heart disease. The average age is 64.5±2.5 years. All patients had indications for open heart intervention - direct myocardial revascularization by coronary bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve surgery. SCZhT from subcutaneous, epicardial and perivascular VT biopsies (3-5 years) obtained from patients during surgery (CABG or correction of heart defects) and isolated according to the method of Zeng G. [Zeng G. et al., 2013] . When cells grew to 80–90% confluence, they were digested with 0.25% trypsin and subjected to continuous cell growth and proliferation for subsequent experimental analyses. Flow cytometry analysis was performed on passage 2 cells. Results: The obtained results showed that the MSC culture of the 2nd passage was characterized by increased expression of CD73, CD90, CD105 antigens. Approximately 90% of passage 2 cells derived from epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) from a patient with coronary heart disease (CHD) expressed classical MSC markers (CD73, CD90, CD105). In EAT cell culture in a patient with acquired heart disease (ACD), we observed a lower level of co-expression of the main markers of stem cells, in contrast to a patient with CHD (CD90 and CD105 about 61% of cells, and CD90 and CD73 - 58.72%) . The percentage of the studied stem markers on cells isolated from PVAT in a patient with heart disease did not differ significantly from the level of expression of these markers in a patient with coronary artery disease. The level of CD34 expression varied depending on the localization of VT and the disease: thus, in patients with coronary artery disease, the level of CD34 did not exceed 3.5% in both epicardial and perivascular VT. At the same time, a higher percentage of CD34 (32.32%) was found in the epicardial adipose tissue of a patient with PPS. It should be noted that in addition to the main population, both in the EAT culture and in the PVAT, there were 2 minor ones: 1 - CD 90- CD 105+ CD 34-/+ CD 73+ - presumably endothelial population, 2 - CD 90+ CD 105- CD 34- CD 73- - the smallest population. Conclusion: In the early stages of cultivation, cells of the stromal-vascular fraction isolated from epicardial and perivascular adipose tissue express surface markers characteristic of adipose tissue stem cells.

Biomarkers of chronic spontaneous urticaria

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a distressing skin condition that is characterized by the daily or nearly daily appearance of pruritus and wheals of more than 6-week duration. CSU is now believed to have two endotypes, namely, the more common auto-allergic type and the more recalcitrant autoimmune type. It is often difficult to treat the disorder and various treatment modalities are recommended for symptom control, including second-generation non-sedative antihistamines, cyclosporin, and omalizumab. To track the progression of the disease and the efficacy of treatment, certain biomarkers play a key role. Biomarkers identified for CSU include some major ones such as Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and IL-31 and minor ones such as periostin and oncostatin-M. Not only do they may serve as important prognostic tools for proper diagnosis of the disease, but they have also been utilized in several clinical studies to track the progression of the disease, which underlines their importance in the clinical setting.

The effectiveness of application of ice massage to accelerate fatigue recovery in football athletes

Introduction. Injuries in soccer players frequently range from minor ones like abrasions, hematomas, grade one strains and sprains, and muscle cramps, where players can continue to play, to severe injuries such as torn ligaments, dislocations, and fractures that prevent players from continuing the game. Based on field observations, some trainers apply ice massage treatments to injured athletes. Aim. This study aimed to determine the effect of ice massage on accelerating muscle fatigue recovery in soccer athletes, specifically in relation to blood lactate levels. Method. The research methodology employed in this study is a True Experiment. Result. Findings indicate that ice massage therapy provided to injured soccer athletes can expedite the healing process and alleviate pain. Conclusion. Based on data processing and analysis, it's concluded that ice massage significantly accelerates recovery from muscle fatigue in soccer athletes when considering lactate levels and the results from the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) test.

Synergism in Two-Component Insecticides with Dillapiole against Fall Armyworm.

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a polyphagous insect pest, is a major threat to food production, rapidly spreading through all the tropical areas in the world. Resistance has developed to the control protocols used so far (pyrethroids, organophosphorus, and genetically modified plants), and alternative strategies must be found. The bioactivity in essential oils is usually associated with the major constituents, but synergistic interactions among the constituents (even minor ones) can improve the levels of activity considerably. Herein, we tested the insecticidal activity of several constituents of the essential oil from Piper aduncum, an Amazonian Piperaceae, both separately and as binary mixtures, through their application on the dorsal side of the larva pronotum. Dillapiole proved to be, isolated, the most active compound in this oil (LD50 = 0.35 ppm). In binary mixtures, a strong synergistic effect was observed for the pairs of dillapiole with β-caryophyllene (LD50 = 0.03 ppm), methyl eugenol (LD50 = 0.05 ppm), and α-humulene (LD50 = 0.05 ppm). In some cases, however, antagonism was recorded, as for dillapiole + β-pinene (LD50 = 0.44 ppm). The use of binary mixtures of essential oil constituents as low-environmental-toxicity insecticides allows a fine tuning of the insecticidal activity, and the exploitation of synergy effects.

Structural Properties of Quinoa Protein Isolate: Impact of Neutral to High Alkaline Extraction pH.

In this work, we extracted proteins from white quinoa cultivated in the northeast of Qinghai-Tibet plateau using the method of alkaline solubilization and acid precipitation, aiming to decipher how extraction pH (7-11) influenced extractability, purity and recovery rate, composition, multi-length scale structure, and gelling properties of quinoa protein isolate (QPI). The results showed that protein extractability increased from 39 to 58% with the increment of pH from 7 to 11 whereas protein purity decreased from 89 to 82%. At pH 7-11, extraction suspensions and QPI showed the similar major bands in SDS-PAGE with more minor ones (e.g., protein fractions at > 55 or 25-37 kDa) in suspensions. Extraction pH had limited effect on the secondary structure of QPI. In contrast, the higher-order structures of QPI were significantly affected, e.g., (1) emission maximum wavelength of intrinsic fluorescence increased with extraction pH; (2) surface hydrophobicity and the absolute value of zeta-potential increased with increasing extraction pH from 7 to 9, and then markedly decreased; (3) the particle size decreased to the lowest value at pH 9 and then increased to the highest value at pH 11; and (4) denaturation temperature of QPI had a large decrease with increasing extraction pH from 7/8 to 9/10. Besides, heat-set QPI gels were formed by loosely-connected protein aggregates, which were strengthened with increasing extraction pH. This study would provide fundamental data for industrial production of quinoa protein with desired quality.

Educational changes and barriers to change in the statements of teachers-innovators and non-innovators

The aim of the article is to present the differences in the way of thinking about educational change and its barriers between teachers-innovators and non-innovators. The former understood the concept of educational change in a more radical and profound way. In their statements, they demanded a breakthrough that was, in fact, a questioning of the dominant education model. Non-innovators would like transformations, but more moderate, minor ones that do not go beyond the area of the dominant model of education but can potentially facilitate or make the time spent by teachers and students at school easier or more enjoyable. Teachers-innovators more often focused on bottom-up sources of change, i.e., primarily on teachers and their students. Non-innovators focused rather on top-down sources of change, locating them in particular in state authorities, experts, and politicians, and the role of the market as an institution (in the sociological sense). Both groups also differed in terms of the barriers to change they mentioned. While the former mainly emphasized the importance of what hinders or prevents changes and is dependent on the teacher, the latter emphasized the role of issues independent of teachers. In order to explain the differences between the two groups of teachers, the article refers to the theories of W. Reckless and J.B. Rotter.

Estimation of long-term series of total nutrient loads flowing into a large perialpine lake (Lake Como, Northern Italy) from incomplete discrete data by governmental monitoring

Continuous series of nutrient loads released into a water body are essential for nutrient budgeting, water quality modelling and watershed management activities. A quintessential example of pursued data are the series of total nutrient loads flowing from multiple tributaries into a lake. However, except for extraordinary cases in which high-frequency monitoring (HFM) stations are installed for both discharge and concentrations, measured nutrient loads are available on a discrete basis. Such observations are typically obtained by governmental agencies for environmental monitoring purposes, with an at best monthly resolution, yet commonly with gaps spanning years. Usually, monitoring activities are limited to major inflows, neglecting minor ones. However, the latters can play a more relevant role in nutrient load budgets than in hydrological ones, in response to different natural features and pollution among tributary watersheds. In this work, we present a methodology we developed to estimate long-term series of total nutrient loads flowing into a water body, employing as case study Lake Como, a large deep lake in the Italian Alps with manifold monitored and unmonitored tributary watersheds. The method uses observed long-term relationships between discharges and concentrations (Q – C) and available discharge measurements and hydrological estimations to estimate continuous load series for the monitored basins. For the unmonitored watersheds, Q – C relationships are estimated from those of the monitored basins, given the observed dependence of the power-law coefficients on basin hydromorphological parameters. This equals to extending the regionalisation approach applied in hydrology for rainfall and discharges to the ecohydrological field for nutrient load estimation. The application of the method to the case study led to overall annual load estimations congruent to traditional techniques and revealed interesting Q – C watershed dynamics at interannual time scales which could not be disclosed through previous approaches. This work represents an exploratory development and application of ecohydrological regionalisation techniques, whose future development is fostered.

Vacuum and electromagnetic field in synergy for skin rejuvenation: A retrospective study on 217 patients.

There are many aesthetic treatments aimed at combating aging. In the most common and frequently used ones there are often side effects, albeit minor ones. However, sometimes it is necessary to use medications before or after treatments. To evaluate the anti-aging efficacy and application safety of a therapy based on the combination of vacuum and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the aesthetic effects of the treatment on 217 subjects. Before treatment (T0) and after the last session (T1), skin hydration levels, the amount of sebum present and the pH were measured. The presence of discomfort during the sessions and side effects at T1 was verified. At T1, the levels of satisfaction of the patients and of the doctors who performed the treatment were assessed. At 3 and 6 months of follow-up the aesthetic results were re-evaluated. For all treated subjects, an evident qualitative improvement was observed in the quality of the skin of the neck and face, with an increase in tone and a reduction in wrinkles. The instrumental tests highlighted a normalization of skin hydration, pH, and sebum values. High levels of satisfaction at T0 and good stability of results up to 6 months of follow-up were reported. No discomfort was referred during the treatment sessions, nor any side effects after the entire treatment. The treatment that exploits the synergy between vacuum and EMFs is very promising given the effectiveness and safety of the technique.

Travelling Festivals in Late Antiquity: How Christmas Came to the Greek East

This article argues that the liturgical tradition of celebrating Christmas on 25 December travelled from the Latin West to the Greek East at the behest of Theodosius I upon his arrival in Constantinople in AD 380. From there it made its way to Cappadocia, Pontus and Syrian Antioch by means of travelling clerics who belonged to a pro-Nicene network. The essay also makes the larger methodological point that in late antiquity liturgical traditions did not travel of their own accord; rather, they were often carried by networks of travelling bishops and ‘radiated out’ from major sees to minor ones.

Summertime and the drivin' is easy? Daylight saving time and vehicle accidents.

We investigate how exogenous variation in daylight caused by Daylight Saving Time affects road safety as measured by the count of vehicle crashes. We use administrative daily data from Greece covering the universe of all types of recorded vehicle accidents during the 2006-2016 period. Our regression discontinuity estimates support an ambient light mechanism that reduces the counts of serious vehicle accidents during the Spring transition and increases the count of minor ones during the Fall transition. The effects are driven from the hour intervals that are mostly affected from seasonal clock changes. We then discuss the potential cost implications of those seasonal transitions. In light of the talks about abolishing seasonal clock changes in the European Union (EU), our findings are policy relevant and can inform the public debate as empirical evidence for the block is scarce.