Nuclear Family Research Articles

All you need is [somebody's] love "third-party reproduction" and the existential density of biological affinity.

What is the true significance of biological kinship? During the last decades, it seemed to be uncontroversial that abandoned and even adopted people feel the negative impact of biological parents' absence throughout life in several ways (Miller et al. 2000; Keyes, Margaret A., Anu Sharma, Irene J Elkins, and William G. Iacono, Matt McGue. 2008. The Mental Health of US Adolescents Adopted in Infancy. Archive Pediatric Adolescense Medicine 162(5): 419-425.). However, in the case of people conceived via "third-party reproduction", especially in sperm donation, the disruption of the kinship network derived from natural bonds tends to be presented as something irrelevant. This article disputes that assumption, explores its relationship with a deconstructivist vision that presents kinship as a purely social construct and defends the personal and existential value of a person's biological bonds with her parents. While analysing the anthropological shift inherent to the way some political discourses present the nuclear family and heterologous biotechnology, it proposes renewed philosophical attention on the significance of filiation and human affinity. This article argues for the density of genealogical ties and defends that the consecration of an individual "right to a child", namely (but not exclusively) through the normalised access to sperm banks, is incompatible with the rights of the child, since it deprives people from knowing not only who but also how is their father.

Taraxerone inhibits M1 polarization and alleviates sepsis-induced acute lung injury by activating SIRT1.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is the most lethal disease associated with sepsis, and there is a lack of effective drug treatment. As the major cells of sepsis-induced ALI, macrophages polarize toward the proinflammatory M1 phenotype and secrete multiple inflammatory cytokines to accelerate the disease process through nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathways. Taraxerone, the main component of the Chinese medicinal Sedum, possesses numerous biological activities. However, uncertainty remains regarding the potential of taraxerone to protect against sepsis-induced ALI. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of taraxerone against ALI. An animal model for ALI was established by cecal ligation and puncture and treated with taraxerone via intraperitoneal administration. The protective effect of taraxerone on the lungs was analyzed using H&E staining, dihydroethidium staining, ELISA kits, cell counting, myeloperoxidase kit, malondialdehyde kit, glutathione kit, superoxide dismutase kit and flow cytometry. Western blotting, RT-PCR, flow cytometry, co-immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence were used to investigate the regulatory of taraxerone on SIRT1. Our study demonstrates for the first time that taraxerone can activate SIRT1 in macrophages, promoting SIRT1 activity. This activation inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway primarily through the dephosphorylation and deacetylation of p65. Simultaneously, taraxerone disrupted the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway, thereby alleviating M1 polarization of macrophages and mitigating sepsis-induced pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress. In vivo, EX527 was used to validate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects of taraxerone mediated by SIRT1. SIRT1-mediated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects may be important targets for taraxerone in treating ALI.

Helicopter Parenting among Late Adolescents

Background: In the contemporary context, helicopter parenting which is a common practice and in Southeast Asia region, it is a growing parenting approach. It has several components that affect adolescents and emerging adults physical, psychological and social well-being. The aim of the study is to measures the parenting style for the adolescent for which the Helicopter Parenting Scale (HPS) was used. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the state of helicopter parenting style of parents on late adolescents of Police Lines School and College, Rangpur, Bangladesh. Results: The mean age of the adolescent was 17.7±0.6 years. The mean of HP scores was 3.6±0.5. About three out of five participants had a perceived average level of HP (58.9%) and a few of them had a high level of HP (2.3%). A statistically significant association found within the level of HP and adolescent’s family type (p<0.05) and the perceived level of HP was average among the adolescents who came from the nuclear family (61.8%). The HP scores were high in the nuclear family (3.62±0.413) and parents’ living together (3.59±0.422). There were significant differences found in the HP scores with the adolescent’s family type and their parent’s relationship state (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study found that nuclear families were more likely to adopt helicopter parenting than other types of families, with their perceived level of this parenting style being assessed as averagely good. IAHS Medical Journal Vol 7(1), June 2024; 26-31

Exploring PPAR Gamma and PPAR Alpha’s Regulation Role in Metabolism via Epigenetics Mechanism

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) belong to a family of nuclear receptors. To date, three types of PPARs, namely PPARα, PPARδ, and PPARγ, have been identified, demonstrating co-expression across numerous tissues. PPARγ is primarily distributed in adipose tissue, the colon, the immune system, and the retina, while PPARα is predominantly expressed in metabolic tissues such as brown adipose tissue, the liver, and the kidneys. Both PPARγ and PPARα play crucial roles in various cellular processes. Recent data suggest that the PPAR family, among other mechanisms, might also be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Our recent studies, alongside numerous others, have highlighted the pivotal roles of DNA methylation and histone modifications in the regulation of PPARγ and PPARα, implicating them in the deterioration of metabolic disorders via epigenetic mechanisms. This still not fully understood mechanism of regulation in the nuclear receptors family has been summarized and described in the present paper. The present review summarizes the available data on PPARγ and PPARα regulation via epigenetic mechanisms, elucidating the link between the development of metabolic disorders and the dysregulation of PPARγ and PPARα resulting from these mechanisms.

Determination of the Prevalence of Postpartum Depression and Its Affecting Factors in Turkish Mothers and Syrian Refugee/Asylum Seeker Mothers.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression and the factors that influence postpartum depression in Turkish and Syrian refugee mothers. The participants were administered the Personal Information Form and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in the 6th week of the postpartum period. While the number of Turkish mothers participating in the study was 66, the number of Syrian mothers was 71. The study was conducted in Çubuk Halil Şıvgın State Hospital in 2022. The postpartum depression prevalence was found to be 16.7% in Turkish mothers and 0% in Syrian mothers. Turkish mothers' postpartum depression mean score was found to increase due to factors such as being exposed to social violence by the spouse, having had an abortion before, having had a stillbirth before, living in a nuclear family, losing a child before, having an acute social problem in the postpartum period, having full-term delivery, and being primipara. Syrian mothers' postpartum depression mean score (p < .05) was found to increase due to factors such as having had an abortion before, experiencing problems during pregnancy, experiencing an acute social problem in the postpartum period, being primigravida, and losing a child before. The postpartum depression rate was found to be 2.29 times higher in Turkish mothers compared to Syrian mothers.

Examining the Influence of Demographic Factors on Problem-Solving Ability: A Study of Gender, Family Structure, and School Characteristics

Problem-solving involves overcoming obstacles that hinder goal attainment and finding optimal solutions to issues. This ability empowers learners to address challenges they encounter effectively. Consequently, problem-solving has become one of the most crucial 21st-century skills for better future adjustment in a complex society. This paper examines gender, family type, school type, and locality as correlates of problem-solving ability. The researchers conducted descriptive research with 1,200 secondary school students from the Thoubal district of Manipur. They used the Problem-solving Ability Test (PSAT), which they constructed based on five dimensions of problem-solving ability, to collect data. The findings reveal that male students significantly outperformed female students in the PSAT. Although students from joint families performed slightly better than those from nuclear families, the difference was insignificant. Additionally, students in private schools significantly outperformed those in government schools. Moreover, students from urban schools substantially outperformed those in rural schools on the PSAT.

Smokeless tobacco use and its associated factors among secondary school students of Rangeli Municipality of Morang district, Nepal.

The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats and the world's leading cause of preventable death which is responsible for killing 8 million people every year. Adolescents are the vulnerable age group and are at greater risk of any tobacco use including smokeless tobacco (SLT) and nicotine addiction. Tobacco use at a young age increases the risk of various non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as respiratory illness, asthma, chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD), reduced pulmonary function, and cancers. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of smokeless tobacco and its associated factors among secondary school students of grades 11 and 12 in Rangeli Municipality, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 355 students from the selected secondary schools. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was cleaned and then exported to IBM SPSS Statistics 20 for analysis. Participants' characteristics were described using frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine the association between individual characteristics and prevalence of smokeless tobacco. All the tests were performed at a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and a p-value less than 0.05. The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 18.0±1.3 years. Most participants were female (61.1%). The majority of the participants were from grade 11 (58.3%), government schools (60%), and nuclear families (64.8%). This study found that 38.4% and 61.6% of the participants were SLT ever users and never users respectively. Among the ever users, 29.5% were current users and most tried (47.7%) at the age of 10-14 years. Most participants revealed that homes and public places were common sites for SLT use. Paan Masala and Gutkha were the most commonly preferrable SLTs. This study found that age (AOR = 1.5, CI: 1.2-2.2), sex (AOR = 2.6, CI:1.6-4.4), and school type (AOR = 1.8, CI:1.1-3.0) were significantly associated with the prevalence of SLT. This study found that the prevalence of current SLT users is higher than the national survey. This study concludes that males, young adolescents, and students from private schools are at greater risk of SLT use and are unaware of the consequences on their health. Concerned stakeholders must expand awareness and promote educational programs on the harmful use of tobacco targeting secondary school students. The government organizations, educational institutions, and private organizations jointly work to strengthen the implementation of tobacco cessation programs and tobacco control strategies.

Who can refuse? Attitudes About the Fertility Decisions of Wives and Husbands

This research explored Americans’ responses to dual questions from the “Constructing the Family II” survey asking if it was “all right” for wives and husbands to refuse to have children with their spouses. We reviewed the data descriptively, demographically using multinomial logistic regression, and qualitatively, investigating subset respondents’ rationales. Most respondents supported or opposed refusal equally, with only about five percent of respondents supporting refusal for one partner but not both. Among subset respondents, qualitative themes varied by refusal type and included Family Considerations, Rights, and Nuclear Family Ideals. Together, the quantitative and qualitative findings suggested that those who supported refusal for both spouses were the most egalitarian; however, these respondents along with those who supported refusal for one partner but not both were also likely to provide dissimilar, and often quite traditionally gendered, rationales. We conclude that despite surface-level egalitarianism, attitudes about fertility decision-making were not free from gendered thinking.

Moderated Mediating Effects of Earthquake Experiences of Adolescents in the Relationship between Hope, Meaning in Life and Gratitude

The research examines the mediating role of the presence of the meaning of life in the relationship between gratitude and hope and whether this relationship differs because of moving to another city after the earthquake and loss. In the study in which the correlational research model was used, the study group consisted of 443 high school students from different school types who experienced the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake. The findings indicate that the presence of meaning plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between gratitude and hope. Also, loss due to the earthquake causes significant differences in the relationship between gratitude and hope mediated by the presence of the meaning of life. Additionally, the presence of meaning scores of the participants who lost their nuclear family members or loved ones are lower than those who didn’t. The results show that grateful individuals will feel more hopeful with meaning in their lives.

Common Genetic Factors May Play a Role in the Relationships Between Body Composition, Adipokines, and Low-Back-Pain-Related Disability

In this study, we evaluated the contribution of the putative genetic factors into the established associations between selected circulating adipokine levels, body composition measurements, and low-back-pain-related disability scores (LBP_DS). A total of 1078 individuals from 98 nuclear families (with 1 to 11 siblings per family) were examined. A detailed self-report questionnaire was used to collect LBP disability data; body composition (fat, skeletal muscle mass, and extracellular water (ECW)) was assessed using the bioimpedance method; plasma levels of adipokines were measured by ELISA. Pedigree-based statistical analysis methods were used, including family-based variance component analysis (VCA) and principal phenotype analysis (PPA), to estimate the contribution of potential genetic and environmental factors. The VCA revealed a significant additive genetic component in LBP_DS and for the selected body composition phenotypes and adipokines. The study also revealed that both adipokines (GDF-15, chemerin, and follistatin) and body composition variables (BMI, fat mass/weight, waist circumference, and ECW) were genetically correlated with LBP_DS. Next, PPA generated two synthetic phenotypes: PPCT (combining cytokines) and PPBC (combining body composition variables). There was no significant correlation between the putative genetic factors underlying the created PPs. However, each of them displayed a significant genetic correlation with LBP_DS. These findings indicate that genetic factors that are assumingly common for several adipokine variations and several body composition measurements, respectively, presumably have a pleotropic genetic influence on the LBP_DS variation, independently from one another. This, in turn, suggests that the alleged genetic factors employing pleiotropic effects on LBP_DS have a complex and probably non-overlapping composition.

Health Insurance Awareness and its Socio Demographic Correlates among Fishermen of Dakshina Kannada District, Southern India

Background: Fishing is a substantial contributor to the Indian economy and Fishermen are subjected to a variety of occupational risks and are at high risk of injury. Health insurance (HI) is a strategy for reducing out-of-pocket expenses during times of illness. Fishermen are subjected to a variety of occupational risks and are at high risk of injury. People with limited resources often lack access to quality health care. Most people obtain healthcare from private providers. This results in catastrophic healthcare costs and the impoverishment of low- and middle-income people. Lack of information about health insurance schemes, budgetary restrictions, and the unavailability of suitable insurance plans customized to their individual needs, the fisherman community frequently struggles to secure health insurance coverage.Methodology: Community-based interventional research among fisherman in the field practice area of medical college in Dakshina Kannada District in Coastal Karnataka. The data was gathered from consented individuals.Results: The majority of the study participants 248 (75.2%) were men between the ages of 40- 50 years 101 (30.6%). A large part of study population belonged to nuclear households 260 (78.8%), with a monthly income of less than or equal to INR 10,000/- among 209 (63.3%) participants. Intervention on health insurance led to increase in awareness and entitlement among the participants.Conclusions: Enrolment in any health insurance plan would be a tool for reducing the family's financial burden and accessing appropriate treatment when needed. This may be accomplished by educating communities about the need for health insurance.

Independent contributions of nuclear and extended families to risk of early childhood caries among children from low socio-economic status in India.

The family is a fundamental unit of society and provides care to the needs of its members. This study aims to assess the independent contributions of nuclear and extended families through direct and indirect pathways towards the risk of early childhood caries among 5-year-old children from low socio-economic status families in Central India. Cross-sectional study with two-stage sampling of 313 randomly selected school children. The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry criteria were used for diagnosing early childhood caries (ECC) and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). It was hypothesised that the type of family would impact ECC and S-ECC by acting on individual-level variables such as frequency of cleaning teeth, dietary patterns, and utilisation of dental services. Examiner-administered interviews collected information about demographic details and oral hygiene practices. Generalized structural equation modelling (GSEM) examined the relationship between exogenous variables, including nuclear and extended families with ECC and SECC. Path coefficients and the standard error with a 95% confidence interval were reported. ECC and SECC were present among 186 (59.4%) and 47 (15%) children. Nuclear families, more frequent between meal sugar consumption and lower utilization of dental care were associated with ECC (odds ratios of 2.43, 2.78, and 8.65, respectively (p⟨ 0.001)). Nuclear families were also associated with SECC. Type of family directly (p⟨ 0.001) and indirectly (p⟨ 0.05) predicted ECC via three or more times sugar consumption and lower utilization of dental services. Nuclear families were associated with ECC and SECC among children. Health professionals need to understand the influence of the type of family and the associated pathway to tackle and reduce the burden of ECC.

PPARs: modulating lipotoxicity and thus inhibiting fibrosis.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) belong to the nuclear hormone receptor family of ligand-activated receptors and are known for their roles as key factors in the regulation of lipid metabolism. In the more than three decades since their discovery, most reports on PPARs have focused on their roles in lipid metabolism, and a portion of the new research has also focused on the relationship between PPARs and fibrosis. Interestingly, lipid metabolism disorders and fibrosis are also inextricably linked. This implies that PPARs, lipid metabolism and fibrosis are interrelated. On this basis, we have summarized the molecular mechanisms of PPARs regulating fibrosis through lipid metabolism and PPARγ directly regulating fibrosis, and pointed out the contradictions and enigmas that need to be further explored in the processes of PPARs regulating lipid metabolism and fibrosis. The aim of the present review is to provide new ideas for PPARs for the treatment of lipid metabolism disorders and fibrosis.

A geographic and social profile of Italy's great migration (1876–1913)

AbstractThis article sheds light on Italian emigration flows with a focus on their geographical origins in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, that is, during the so‐called Great Migration. Annual province‐level data on Italian emigration are analysed in order to reconstruct the regional origins of emigrants, the factors motivating their decisions, their gender, and their literacy levels. The regions generating the largest population outflows were located in the North of the country. Despite the literature's focus on the Italian south diaspora to the US, the main destinations of Italian emigration in this period were other European countries. Explanations focusing on economic factors as emigration drivers prove weak. The provinces generating the greatest outflows do not appear to share any characteristics nor obey any underlying pattern: some tentative explanations concerning provinces of origin will be offered. Data relating to the emigration of women and children point to the central role of nuclear families, displaying a higher rate of growth compared to overall emigration, with peaks during the migration booms to Latin America (1890s) and the United States (1905–1907). No obvious connection emerges between emigrant outflow size and literacy levels: people migrated from the literate North as well as from the more impoverished regions featuring much lower literacy levels.

Caribbean Confederations as Relationalities

In this essay, I connect my work on Archipelago studies with Édouard Glissant’s notions of relationality and Caribbean confederations to formulate what I denominate as the erotics of archipelagic thinking. My main goal is to share my process of thinking with and through Glissant’s work to focus on a series of theoretical gestures that have allowed me to propose modes of reading literary depictions of Caribbean con/federations that go beyond the binary opposition between colonialism and nationalism. I am performing an exercise that I assign to my students when I teach the “Introduction to Critical Theory” course at the University of Miami. Instead of writing an essay with a short theoretical introduction followed by a detailed close reading of literary and cultural texts that illustrate a keyword or a theoretical insight, I conduct a methodological meditation in which I theorize the archipelagic as a form of relationality that configures an erotic imaginary beyond the nuclear family and towards affective networks. To think about the Caribbean as an archipelagic formation, I use my comparative work on the Antillean Confederation in the Hispanic Caribbean (1860-1898) and the West Indies Federation in the English Caribbean (1958-1962) as a historical context in which the region congealed as a network of locations “act[ing] in concert."

Socio-Economic and Buying Behavior of Groundnut Growers towards Micronutrient Fertilizer in Sabarkantha District of Gujarat, India

The study aims to analyze the impact of socio-economic, knowledge level and buying behavior of groundnut growers towards micronutrient in Sabarkantha district. This study employed a multistage sampling technique in the Sabarkantha district of north Gujarat, known for its high groundnut productivity. The focus was on three talukas-Himmatnagar, Idar and Talod-chosen for their extensive groundnut cultivation areas in 2024. From each taluka, five villages were randomly selected and eight growers from each village, totaling 120 growers, were selected. The study aimed to explore the socio-economic profiles of groundnut growers, assess their knowledge of micronutrient fertilizers, analyze their buying behavior. The majority of growers (55.83%) were between 36 and 50 years old, with more than 15 years of farming experience. Most belonged to nuclear families and had completed higher secondary education. Borewells and open wells were the main irrigation sources, with 57.50% also involved in animal husbandry. Annual incomes ranged between ₹1,44,901 and ₹6,72,800. Additionally, 73.33% between ₹3,38,501 and ₹8,26,500 from both farming and other sources. Groundnut growers demonstrated high awareness of the importance, access and benefits of micronutrients, though only 19.17% had soil health cards. Agro-input dealers (54.16%) were the primary information source and mixed micronutrients (49.16%) were most preferred. The study found a strong relationship between socio-economic variables and buying behavior, with 96.20% of the variation explained. Positive influences on purchasing included the price of micronutrients, growers’ income, farming experience and larger landholdings, while older growers and those with higher knowledge were less likely to purchase micronutrients. Most growers (75.00%) purchased from agro-service centers or dealers. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the socio-economic profiles, knowledge and buying behavior of groundnut growers in the Sabarkantha district.

Geriatric Oral Health and Quality of Life Among the Indigenous Irula Tribes of Tamil Nadu.

This study aims to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among the Irula tribes and to know the factors influencing quality of life among the elderly irula tribes of Tamil Nadu. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Northern district of Tamil Nadu, including 486 Irula individuals aged 65 and above. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling method. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, including the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) to evaluate OHRQoL. The study tool covered demographics, medical history, and oral health issues. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 23, with logistic regression applied to account for confounders. The sample primarily consisted of individuals aged 65-69 years (55.6%), with a predominance of females (76.3%). The majority were Hindu (94.9%) and lived in nuclear families (88.3%). Educational levels were low, with 66.5% being illiterate. Most participants were agricultural laborers (64.6%) and had low monthly incomes. GOHAI results revealed that many respondents faced significant oral health challenges, including difficulties with eating, speaking, and discomfort. Multivariate analysis showed that educational level significantly affected OHRQoL, with higher education correlating with better quality of life. Arthritis was associated with poorer OHRQoL, while other health conditions did not show significant impacts. The study highlights severe oral health issues among the Irula community, with significant physical and psychological impacts. Educational attainment plays a crucial role in OHRQoL, while arthritis notably affects quality of life. The findings emphasize the need for targeted oral health interventions and increased awareness in tribal communities to improve overall health outcomes. Further research in larger populations is necessary to comprehensively understand and address geriatric oral health needs.

Use of Meat Industry By-products in Pet Food Industry: Prospects and Sustainability for Startups in India

With the increasing nuclear family, urbanization, incidents of theft, and isolation in society in the last decades there has been a drastic rise in the number of companion animals, especially pet dogs in the country. The pet food industry is witnessing rapid growth due to the increasing demand for pet foods since pet owners are much more aware of well-being and a balanced diet. India is one of the emerging pet food markets in Asia-Pacific. The country imports 45-50% of pet food to meet the domestic requirements. Therefore there is a huge opportunity in the Indian Pet Food Industry and immense potential to venture into the pet food segment. With a series of opportunities, the sector also witnessed a few challenges which include the absence of a uniform regulatory framework, isolated government policies, higher taxation for pet food compared to other food processing industries, and scattered availability of raw materials. This article throws light on the prospects, sustainability, regulation issues, scope, and opportunities for start-ups in the pet food manufacturing segment by utilizing meat industry by-products as the primary source of protein components to produce cost-effectively and meet the recommended nutritional standards to fulfill the present demands of pet foods.

Radish red protects against early diabetic kidney disease through inhibiting inflammation, pyroptosis and insulin resistance via IRAK1 signaling suppression

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a major diabetic complication and a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but the therapeutic strategies for DKD are still limited. Red radishes (Raphanus sativus L.) are a rich source of natural anthocyanins that have antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we attempted to explore the effects of natural pigment anthocyanin called radish red (RR) extracted from red radishes on DKD progression and the underlying molecular mechanisms. RR dose-dependently reduced the tubular cell injury, indicated by the decreased expression of kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM1). Furthermore, releases of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) stimulated by HF were strongly relieved by RR. Inflammatory response and pyroptosis were also identified to be induced by HF stimulation but were mitigated by RR in HK2 cells through repressing nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and NLR family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. IR and lipogenesis due to HF exposure were also significantly ameliorated by RR in HK2 cells. Mechanistically, RNA-Seq analysis showed that RR strongly depressed interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK1)-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome, pyroptosis, IR and lipid deposition. Importantly, IRAK1 overexpression almost diminished the beneficial effects of RR, while being rescued upon NLRP3 knockdown in HF-treated HK2 cells, revealing that RR performed its nephroprotective functions in diabetic kidney via inactivating the IRAK1-NLRP3 signaling pathway. Similarly, animal studies confirmed that RR supplementation efficiently ameliorated HFF-caused metabolic disturbance, IR, renal dysfunctions in mice and improved structural kidney damage. Consistently, RR consumption dramatically reduced lipid accumulation, inflammatory response and pyroptosis in kidney tissues of HFF-challenged mice mainly through repressing IRAK1-NLRP3 axis. Our results demonstrated that dietary supplementation with RR may serve as an IRAK1-NLRP3 inhibitor for preventing and treating diabetic nephropathy.

A Portrait of My Father

This work of life writing aims to piece together my late father, Muhammad Iftikhar Butt, who passed away on 20 of September 1996, in Lahore, Pakistan, when I was a teenager. A loss of a parent is a great tragedy and an emotional trauma, but this tragedy and trauma are deeper when the child has not mourned the loss but has erased it from its memory. By pondering father-daughter relationships in patriarchal cultures and gender dynamics in nuclear families, I re-member the forgotten bits of the past not only to mourn my father after more than two decades but also to commemorate the extraordinary phases of his fatherhood. Since my father has left behind no traces of his past life, the only way to bring him back to life is through my words – written words. With the help of shards and scraps of memory – some vivid, some fading – I seek to put the fragments of his life together to understand him long after his death due to my inability to understand him in his life. Indeed, I finally manage to re-collect him and see him as a person rather than a parent.