Primary Function Research Articles

Arterial Stiffness and Oxidized LDL Independently Associated With Post-Acute Sequalae of SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 survivors can experience lingering symptoms known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) that appear in different phenotypes, and its etiology remains elusive. We assessed the relationship of endothelial dysfunction with having COVID and PASC. Data was collected from a prospectively enrolled cohort (n=379) of COVID-negative and COVID-positive participants with and without PASC. Primary outcomes, endothelial function (measured by reactive hyperemic index [RHI]), and arterial elasticity (measured by augmentation index standardized at 75 bpm [AI]), were measured using the FDA approved EndoPAT. Patient characteristics, labs, metabolic measures, markers of inflammation, and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) were collected at each study visit, and PASC symptoms were categorized into 3 non-exclusive phenotypes: cardiopulmonary, neurocognitive, and general. COVID-negative controls were propensity score matched to COVID-negative-infected cases using the greedy nearest neighbor method. There were 14.3% of participants who were fully recovered COVID positive and 28.5% who were COVID positive with PASC, averaging 8.64 ± 6.26 total number of symptoms. The mean RHI was similar across the cohort and having COVID or PASC was not associated with endothelial function (P=0.33). Age (P<0.0001), female sex (P<0.0001), and CRP P=0.04) were positively associated with arterial stiffness, and COVID positive PASC positive with neurological and/or cardiopulmonary phenotypes had the worst arterial elasticity (highest AI). Values for AI (P=0.002) and ox-LDL (P<0.0001) were independently and positively associated with an increased likelihood of having PASC. There is evidence of an independent association between PASC, ox-LDL, and arterial stiffness with neurological and/or cardiopulmonary phenotypes having the worst arterial elasticity. Future studies should continue investigating the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of PASC.

ПРОФСПІЛКИ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ РАДЯНСЬКОГО ПОЛІТИЧНОГО РЕЖИМУ (1945–1991)

In the post-war years democratic principles were effectively nullified in the practical activities of Communist party structures at both the central and local levels. The role of the appointed party apparatus continued to expand, reinforcing bureaucratic methods of management. Centralism permeated all aspects of society, elevating arbitrary management techniques. The party, represented by the apparatus, assumed control over all facets of life. Trade unions constituted a link in the Soviet political system. Under the conditions of the totalitarian regime, they were subordinated to the party, transforming into a quasi-state entity performing political, industrial, and ideological functions as defined for them. Trade unions did not play an independent political role in the USSR and Ukrainian SSR. They merely served as a “transmission link from the party to the masses”, an additional tool for social regulation and a conduit for party influence in production across millions of workers engaged in various branches of the economy, culture, and science. The primary function of trade unions, protective in nature, took a backseat. They were now primarily tasked with production objectives such as “organizing workers and employees to fight for the steady development of the national economy...”. In essence, trade unions transformed into a branch of the administrative apparatus, intended to ensure the implementation and over-implementation of business plans, and increase labor productivity. Furthermore, they fulfilled certain ideological and educational functions based on Lenin's definition of trade unions as “schools of communism”. They had at their disposal clubs, houses of culture, libraries, and movie theaters. The cultural realm became a massive and potent channel through which the perception of the steadfastness and “correctness” of the principles of the totalitarian system was ingrained in the minds of the people.

Streamlined Yearbook Automation System

The primary function of online company year book development is to ensure the correct upkeep of personnel records. The ability to articulate one's thoughts and feelings is a great benefit of this medium. Staff members can access all company-related information, including Staff Details and corporate function details, in one convenient location. Both during and after their time as students, administrators keep meticulous records. Access to employee and company details can only be granted by the administrator. After that, students need to get into the development of the Year Book. The website allows for the reduction of manual processes, errors, and time consumption. That's right; computer technology is pervasive across all industries. That is why the invention of computers was crucial in making previously insurmountable jobs much easier. This Online Year Book Development project is designed to keep track of workers' work records and achievements for a specific academic time. This is where the new user has to fill out their details. Once they log in, users will be able to view the company's profile, staff data, and a gallery of the company's work.

Magnetic particle image scanner based on asymmetric core-filled electromagnetic actuator

Monitoring the distribution of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the vascular system is an important task for the advancement of precision therapeutics and drug delivery. Despite active targeting using active motilities, it is required to visualize the position and concentration of carriers that reach the target, to promote the development of this technology. In this work, a feasibility study is presented on a tomographic scanner that allows monitoring of the injected carriers quantitatively in a relatively short interval. The device is based on a small-animal-scale asymmetric magnetic platform integrated with magnetic particle imaging technology. An optimized isotropic field-free region (FFR) generation method using a magnetic manipulation system (MMS) is derived and numerically investigated. The in-vitro and in-vivo tracking performances are demonstrated with a high position accuracy of approximately 1 mm. A newly proposed tracking method was developed, specialized in vascular system, with quick scanning time (about 1s). In this paper, the primary function of the proposed system is to track magnetic particles using a magnetic manipulation system. Through this, proposed method enables the conventional magnetic actuation systems to upgrade the functionalities of both manipulation and localization of magnetic objects.

გრამატიკალიზებული ადგა ფორმის ფუნქციურ-სემანტიკური ანალიზი

Language as a system of signs is a complex phenomenon. Full analysis of language means, on the one hand, studying the linguistic system and, on the other hand, studying the mechanisms of its functioning, i.e., analysing the interaction between deep and surface structures. At the same time, language is a constantly changing system. Changes occur on each level of language: in its phonological setup, its morphological system and its syntactic structures. Changes also apply to the field of semantics and pragmatics.The primary function of language – its use in communication – builds upon the linguistic inventory, which consists of lexical units and functional elements. The inventory of a language can be divided into different paradigmatic classes. Due to changes, a sign can be transposed from one paradigmatic class to another in natural languages. This type of change in a given language system is called grammaticalisation. Grammaticalisation is a well-known phenomenon in typology. During the process of grammaticalisation, a lexical unit looses its historically developed semantics and after its desemanticisation acquires some specific grammatical function; consequently, it becomes a functional element. In general, the change of lexical units into grammatical/functional elements is quite common in natural languages and it is characteristic for both nouns and verbs; however, the research methodology concerning them is different. In typological terms, grammaticalisation is particularly specific in the transformation of verb forms into functional elements. The process of grammaticalisation involves a change of the paradigmatic class of a linguistic sign. A change of this type does not occur at once, it is gradual, as a grammaticalisation process as Hopper says: “a change is only incompletely achieved at any given stage of language” (Hopper 2005:25). The present paper refers to the process of grammaticalisation, the functional and semantic analysis of grammaticalised items, and the ways to tackle the problems that arise in computer linguistics due to grammaticalised elements of verbal origin. The goal of the paper is to demonstrate the grammaticalised function of the verbal form a-dg-a (PR-stand-AOR.S3.SG) ‘stood up’ vs. ‘abruptly stopped an action and began a new one’ and the semantic and functional aspects of this form. The investigation uses both corpus-based and corpus-oriented methods and is carried out on the basis of the Georgian National Corpus (GNC; www.gnc.gov.ge). The empirical data are collected from the Old, Middle and Modern Georgian corpora, as well as the subcorpora of juridical and political texts. In order to search the functional and semantic characteristics of the grammaticalised form a-dg-a, we applied the methods of lexical substitution and elimination, and to describe the functions of the form, we used a language competency test. The results of the test are illustrated by charts. Functional elements create special difficulties in computational language processing, i.e. in computational linguistics. Today no one argues about the establishment of digital bases of spoken and written language and the importance of its processing with digital methods: in the 21st century, scientists’ efforts are rather aimed at creating and improving methods of artificial intelligence. The creation of systems for automatic recognition and analysis is one of the main tasks. This requires a thorough analysis of the linguistic system on phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic levels. Since the Georgian language material is not yet functionally processed in all its facets, the Georgian National Corpus does not possess an algorithm to distinguish functional elements from homonymous elements belonging to another paradigmatic class, which is an unsettled problem of disambiguation. The present paper describes the homonymy that is caused by the grammaticalisation of the form a-dg-a and the ways of removing the ambiguity in the GNC. On the basis of the collected data, it suggests rules which are illustrated by charts. We hope that the suggested rules will be a basis for an improvement of the corpus-internal mechanism of morphological analyis.

On the use of rhetorical questions in tweets related to the Russia-Ukrainian war: Podolyak vs Polyanskiy

The paper explores the use of rhetorical questions in Twitter posts of Mykhailo Podolyak (a Ukrainian presidential adviser) and Dmitry Polyanskiy (a Russian official), in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The goals of the paper are, among others, to find out what kinds of rhetorical questions are used, what their main communicative functions are, and what differences or similarities can be observed in the use of these questions on Twitter by the two officials. The obtained results indicate that notable, statistically significant differences in the use of rhetorical questions by the two individuals do exist, regarding the form of such questions, who they are addressed at, as well as in terms of the primary functions that they perform in the analysed tweets.

Viperin mutation is linked to immunity, immune cell dynamics, and metabolic alteration during VHSV infection in zebrafish.

Viperin is a prominent antiviral protein found in animals. The primary function of Viperin is the production of 3'-deoxy-3',4'-didehydro-cytidine triphosphate (ddhCTP), an inhibitory nucleotide involved in viral RNA synthesis. Studies in mammalian models have suggested that ddhCTP interferes with metabolic proteins. However, this hypothesis has yet to be tested in teleost. In this study, the role of Viperin in regulating metabolic alterations during viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) infection was tested. When infected with VHSV, viperin -/- fish showed considerably higher mortality rates. VHSV copy number and the expression of the NP gene were significantly increased in viperin -/- fish. Metabolic gene analysis revealed significant differences in soda, hif1a, fasn, and acc expression, indicating their impact on metabolism. Cholesterol analysis in zebrafish larvae during VHSV infection showed significant upregulation of cholesterol production without Viperin. In vitro analysis of ZF4 cells suggested a considerable reduction in lipid production and a significant upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation with the overexpression of viperin. Neutrophil and macrophage recruitment were significantly modulated in viperin -/- fish compared to the wild-type (WT) fish. Thus, we have demonstrated that Viperin plays a role in interfering with metabolic alterations during VHSV infection.

Predictors of graft function and survival in second kidney transplantation: A single center experience.

The increasing kidney retransplantation rate has created a parallel field of research, including the risk factors and outcomes of this advanced form of renal replacement therapy. The presentation of experiences from different kidney transplantation centers may help enrich the literature on kidney retransplantation, as a specific topic in the field of kidney transplantation. To identify the risk factors affecting primary graft function and graft survival rates after second kidney transplantation (SKT). The records of SKT cases performed between January 1977 and December 2014 at a European tertiary-level kidney transplantation center were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Beside the descriptive characteristics, the survivals of patients and both the first and second grafts were described using Kaplan-Meier curves. In addition, Kaplan-Meier analyses were also used to estimate the survival probabilities at 1, 3, 5, and 10 post-operative years, as well as at the longest follow-up duration available. Moreover, bivariate associations between various predictors and the categorical outcomes were assessed, using the suitable biostatistical tests, according to the predictor type. Out of 1861 cases of kidney transplantation, only 48 cases with SKT were eligible for studying, including 33 men and 15 women with a mean age of 42.1 ± 13 years. The primary non-function (PNF) graft occurred in five patients (10.4%). In bivariate analyses, a high body mass index (P = 0.009) and first graft loss due to acute rejection (P = 0.025) were the only significant predictors of PNF graft. The second graft survival was reduced by delayed graft function in the first (P = 0.008) and second (P < 0.001) grafts. However, the effect of acute rejection within the first year after the first transplant did not reach the threshold of significance (P = 0.053). The mean follow-up period was 59.8 ± 48.6 mo. Censored graft/patient survival rates at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years were 90.5%/97.9%, 79.9%/95.6%, 73.7%/91.9%, and 51.6%/83.0%, respectively. Non-immediate recovery modes of the first and second graft functions were significantly associated with unfavorable second graft survival rates. Patient and graft survival rates of SKT were similar to those of the first kidney transplantation.

The role of plant proteases in the response of plants to abiotic stress factors

The primary function of proteolytic enzymes is the hydrolysis of peptide bonds. Enzymes responsible for catalyzing this reaction are commonly referred to as proteases. The vast majority of these enzymes belong to the class of hydrolases and operate in aqueous environments. However, there is a distinct group of proteases known as intramembrane proteases, which are integral membrane proteins capable of cleaving peptide bonds in the hydrophobic environment of biological membranes. Proteolysis serves several essential functions in plant cells, ranging from the degradation of damaged and unnecessary proteins to the removal of non-functional protein aggregates. It plays a role in the quality control system for proteins and even releases transcription factors from membrane proteins. Proteolytic processes are indispensable at every stage of plant development and allow for the modification of the cell’s protein composition based on developmental needs and environmental requirements. Proteases are also enzymatic components of the cell that facilitate the efficient regeneration of many key metabolic pathways, such as photosynthesis and respiration. The response of plant cells and the entire plant organism to various biotic and abiotic stresses often requires the remodeling of metabolic pathways, the regeneration of key enzymatic complexes, or changes in the protein profile. By participating in all these processes, proteases constitute a crucial element of the cellular response to environmental stresses. The aim of this work is to review the role that individual proteases play in the response of plant cells to abiotic stress factors, such as drought, salinity, cold, temperature, and light.

Effects of Increased Temperature on Brain and Sensory Development in the Port Jackson Shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)

Morphological differences in the peripheral (sensory) and central (brain) nervous system may confer sensory and/or behavioral variation in elasmobranchs, both across taxa and throughout ontogeny. Over the last century, sea surface temperatures have increased over 0.5 °C and are predicted to rise 1–4 °C by the year 2100, potentially affecting species’ physiological performance negatively. As the nervous system of fishes grows continually throughout their lives, it may be highly plastic in response to environmental changes. This study examined the effects of increased rearing temperature on nervous system development in Port Jackson sharks (Heterodontus portusjacksoni). Egg cases (n = 21) were collected from Gulf St. Vincent (Adelaide, SA) and placed into either ambient (17.6 °C) or 3 °C above ambient seawater conditions through hatching and reared for up to five months post-hatch. Relative volumes of the eyes and nose (olfactory rosette) were quantified using magnetic resonance imaging, and relative brain size and size of major brain regions were compared between the two treatment groups. The size of the olfactory bulbs and tegmentum varied significantly between the treatment groups, which suggest differences in primary, secondary, or tertiary sensory processing and/or motor functions at elevated temperatures. While studies on acute responses to environmental conditions cannot inform true adaptation across broad timescales, understanding the effects of increased temperature on the brain phenotype can aid in predicting how elasmobranchs may fare in response to changing ocean conditions.

Relationship between intrathrombotic appearance of HSP27 and HSP70 and thrombus ages in a murine model of deep vein thrombosis

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones whose primary function is cytoprotection, supporting cell survival under (sub) lethal conditions. They have been implicated in various diseases such as inflammatory diseases and cancer due to their cytoprotective and immunomodulatory effects, and their biological mechanisms have been studied. Central family members include, HSP27, which is induced by various stimuli such as heat shock, hypoxia, hyperoxia, ultraviolet exposure, and nutritional deficiency, and HSP70, which is homeostatically expressed in many organs such as the gastrointestinal tract and has anti-cell death and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, HSP27 and HSP70 were investigated during thrombus formation and dissolution in a deep vein thrombosis model by immunohistochemistry to determine their involvement in this process and whether their expression could be used as a forensic marker. In the process of thrombus formation and lysis, HSP27 and HSP70 were found to be expressed by immunohistochemical analysis. The role of inhibitors of HSP27 and HSP70 in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in mice was also investigated. When HSP27 or HSP70 inhibitors were administered, thrombi were significantly smaller than in the control group on day 5 after inferior vena cava ligation, indicating pro-thrombotic effects HSP27 and HSP70. If HSP27- or HSP70-positive cells were clearly visible and easily identifiable in the thrombus sections, the thrombus was presumed to be more than 10 days old. Thus, the detection of intrathrombotic HSP27 and HSP70 could forensically provide useful information for the estimation of thrombus ages. Collectively, our study implied that both HSP27 and HSP70 might be molecular targets for thrombus therapy and that the detection of HSP-related molecules such as HSP27 and HSP70 could be useful for the determination of thrombus ages.

Early environmental sustainability guidance on supercritical water gasification technologies for sugarcane bagasse management

The sugar industry is considered a high-energy-demand and wasteful industrial sector in many developing countries. Such a high energy demand can undermine the sugar industry's economic and environmental aspects. Shifting from a linear economy model to a circular economy (CE) can help this industrial sector solve the current economic and environmental crises, decrease dependencies on fossil-based energies, increase circularity, and save considerable resources. However, such a transition necessitates comprehensive pre-feasibility studies to avoid problem shifts. Herein, we compared some novel waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies from a life cycle assessment (LCA) point of view; (a) integrated supercritical water gasification (SCWG) at 700 °C with solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), (b) integrated SCWG at 700 °C with combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT), (c) cogeneration (Boiler), (d) integrated fixed-bed gasification combined cycle (IFXBGCC), and (e) integrated fluidized-bed gasification combined cycle (IFLBGCC). Iran, as a developing country with high dependencies on fossil resources and less CE implementation, was selected as a case study. Scenarios were compared using a functional unit (FU) of thermal management of 1 tonne of bagasse. SCWG is found to be an environmentally superior approach when hydrogen production is the primary function of the system. Otherwise, using boiler and steam turbine is is still the best approach to generate heat and electricity from bagasse. Direct combustion in the boiler showed considerable savings in climate change, i.e., 469 kg CO2 eq saving/FU. The LCA results showed that bagasse to energy throughout direct combustion is a promising pathway to generating clean energy; in addition to helping industries earn more income, and contribute to sustainable development.

The role of hospital-based vascular access teams and implications for patient safety: A multi-methods study.

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and midline catheters are often placed by nurse-led vascular access teams (VATs). While some data regarding the effectiveness of these teams exists, less is known about their structure and function. To examine the roles, functions, and composition of VATs related to the use and management of PICC and midline catheters. A descriptive, multi-method study that included an online survey of 62 hospitals participating in a quality improvement consortium and qualitative interviews with 74 hospital-based clinicians in 10 sites. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a rapid analysis and matrix approach. The survey, which contained closed-ended, categorical questions, was analyzed using frequencies and percentages. More than 77% (n = 48) of hospitals had an on-site VAT. The average team size was seven nurses; their primary function was device insertion. Interview findings revealed that teams varied in characteristics and functions. Interviewees described the broad role that teams play in device insertion, care and removal, and in educating/training hospital staff. However, we found that teams' role in decision making, particularly related to appropriate device selection, was limited and, in some cases, met with physician resistance. To realize the full benefit of VATs, changes in hospital culture, along with an increased willingness from physicians to integrate VAT nurses in decision making, may be needed. Future interventions aimed at engaging and empowering teams appear necessary.

Civil Society Perspectives on Rights and Freedoms in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Abstract This pan-regional analysis of non-governmental organisations’ (NGO) perspectives on the contemporary factors which constrain or repress civil society in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is based on United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) data. It shows that, paradoxically, whilst the majority of ASEAN states have ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that upholds civil society’s political role in promoting rights and democracy, this is inimical to the region’s political elites who regard civil society’s primary function as non-political delivery of social welfare and development. This disjuncture results in repression, performativity, and legitimation. The UPR data reveal an ever-shrinking civil space. Civil society, including human rights defenders (HRD s), faces a raft of rights pathologies, including threats, violence and murder—as well as increasing state restrictions on freedom of association and expression. This is compounded by impunity for offenders, corruption, and government inaction following earlier UPR recommendations.

Immortalized Canine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Maintain the Immunomodulatory Capacity of the Original Primary Cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising cell source for stem cell therapy of intractable diseases in veterinary medicine, but donor-dependent cellular heterogeneity is an issue that influences therapeutic efficacy. Thus, we previously established immortalized cells that maintain the fundamental properties of primary cells, but functional evaluation had not been performed. Therefore, we evaluated the immunomodulatory capacity of the immortalized canine adipose-derived MSCs (cADSCs) in vitro and in vivo to investigate whether they maintain primary cell functions. C57BL/6J mice were treated with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce colitis, injected intraperitoneally with immortalized or primary cADSCs on day 2 of DSS treatment, and observed for 10 days. Administration of immortalized cADSCs improved body weight loss and the disease activity index (DAI) in DSS-induced colitic mice by shifting peritoneal macrophage polarity from the M1 to M2 phenotype, suppressing T helper (Th) 1/Th17 cell responses and inducing regulatory T (Treg) cells. They also inhibited the proliferation of mouse and canine T cells in vitro. These immunomodulatory effects were comparable with primary cells. These results highlight the feasibility of our immortalized cADSCs as a cell source for stem cell therapy with stable therapeutic efficacy because they maintain the immunomodulatory capacity of primary cells.

Facial Recognition-Based Entry System for Student Residence Halls: Enhancing Security and Accessibility

Protecting an organization from numerous threats both inside and outside is the primary function of the security system. Automated embedded systems have come a long way in the contemporary era and have shown to be highly beneficial in applications related to security and surveillance. Face recognition is one of the study fields in computer vision, which is commonly used in security systems for video surveillance. Even though facial recognition technology has advanced significantly and is employed in several significant applications, numerous challenges need to be solved. These challenges include changes in posture, occlusions, expression, aging, lighting, and other elements. Deep learning can be useful in these situations. By using several processing layers to develop data representations with multiple feature extraction layers, deep learning may achieve higher accuracy. With the purpose of providing better security for student residence halls, in this work, we present a real-time deep learning-based facial recognition system that can be used to identify an individual's identity and give a warning when the individual's face is not recognized in front of the system. Here, faces from the face database are matched in order to identify students based on a video of their arrival into the residence halls. This process begins with face detection and ends with face recognition. We used a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based model Multi-Task Cascaded Convolutional Neural Networks (MTCNN) for face detection and recognizing faces using the Google FaceNet model. The model was trained on around 3000 photos, taken by 30 distinct people.

The Legal and Human Rights Challenges of Interfaith Marriage in Indonesia

Objective: This research aims to analyze the legal rules on interfaith marriage in Indonesia in relation to human rights, and whether there are any aspects of human rights violations or conflicts arising from the absolute prohibition of interfaith marriage without exception, as clarified by the Supreme Court Circular (SEMA) No. 2 of 2023, which provides a more detailed interpretation of the rules in the Marriage Act No. 1 of 1974 and the Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI) No. 1 of 1991. Theoretical Framework: The right to freedom of religion and the right to form a family are integral aspects of human rights and also Islamic teachings. The absolute prohibition of interfaith marriage by the Supreme Court Circular (SEMA) No. 2 of 2023 is considered by some religious followers to be in conflict, thus encountering resistance from a segment of society. The theories of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), pluralism of applicable legal rules, and differences in the understanding of religious figures themselves are utilized as foundational theories to examine challenges to the implementation of law and the UDHR in Indonesia, determining whether these legal rules still leave room for conflicts. Method: The study employs a normative legal research methodology. Data is acquired through an extensive review of relevant legal frameworks, doctrines, and pertinent literature. The acquired data is then subject to qualitative analysis techniques for thorough examination and interpretation, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Results: The findings of the study indicate that the legal rules on interfaith marriage in Indonesia have the potential to cause several aspects of human rights violations or conflicts, especially the right to freedom of religion and the right to form a family. This is because these rules restrict the individual's freedom to choose a religion and form a family with someone of a different religion without exception. The absolute prohibition of interfaith marriage, as upheld by SEMA No. 2 of 2023, further exacerbates these concerns by creating a legal vacuum that leaves interfaith couples without legal recognition and protection. Conclusion: One of the primary functions of law and regulations is to safeguard society, protect their rights, and regulate human activities fairly to achieve harmony and prosperity in the life of the nation and state. However, this objective will not be achieved if the legal rules in place still leave injustice and a lack of protection for the fulfillment of citizens' fundamental rights. Therefore, further regulation is needed to find solutions to overcome this problem. The adoption of a more nuanced approach to interfaith marriage, one that respects individual rights and accommodates religious diversity, would be a significant step towards ensuring human rights protection in Indonesia. For instance, providing dispensation for Muslim men to marry non-Muslim women (Christian or Jewish) if they are deeply in love, approved by both families due to their belief in living harmoniously and peacefully. There is concern that the intense love shared between them might lead to one of them taking their own life if separated, or due to the difficulty of finding a Muslim woman in non-Muslim-majority countries when the man is studying abroad, among other reason.

The oversight functions of school governing bodies in the management of budgets

The South African Schools Act, No. 84 of 1996 (RSA, 1996) heralded a shift in decision-making powers through decentralising school governance from the state to local communities. One of the primary functions of school governing bodies (SGBs) is to manage school finances. It is imperative for SGBs to design and implement irrefutable finance policies that clearly and unambiguously spell out specific structures and processes by applying relevant legislation and regulations enforced by the Ministry of Education. Using a generic qualitative approach within an interpretivist paradigm, this paper accentuates the oversight functions of SGBs to manage budgets effectively and efficiently. This research was grounded in a social constructivist paradigm and data were collected by way of semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Findings revealed that many SGBs place very little importance on the oversight functions of budgets which usually result in the mismanagement of school funds. This is reflected in poor finance policy formulation and implementation, and the absence of operational mechanisms (e.g. budget variance analysis) to curb wasteful and fruitless expenditure. Furthermore, challenges associated with the non-compliance of a finance policy and the failure of SGBs to take timely corrective action exasperate the problems of poor financial management.

Thoracic and abdominal outgrowths in early pterygotes: a clue to the common ancestor of winged insects?

One of the fundamental questions in insect evolution is the origin of their wings and primary function of ancestral wing precursors. Recent phylogenomic and comparative morphological studies broadly support a terrestrial ancestor of pterygotes, but an aquatic or semiaquatic ancestor cannot be ruled out. Here new features of the branchial system of palaeodictyopteran larvae of several different instars of Katosaxoniapteron brauneri gen. et sp. nov. (Eugereonoidea) from the late Carboniferous collected at Piesberg (Germany) are described, which consist of delicate dorsolateral and lamellate caudal abdominal gills that support an aquatic or at least semiaquatic lifestyle for these insects. Moreover, the similar form and surface microstructures on the lateral abdominal outgrowths and thoracic wing pads indicate that paired serial outgrowths on segments of both tagmata presumably functioned as ancestral type of gills resembling a protopterygote model. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the wing sheaths of later stage damselfly larvae in hypoxic conditions have a respiratory role similar to abdominal tracheal gills. Hence, the primary function and driving force for the evolution of the precursors of wing pads and their abdominal homologues could be respiration.

A qualitative study to understand the Duchenne muscular dystrophy experience from the parent/patient perspective

BackgroundDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare, severe, fatal neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive atrophy and muscle weakness, resulting in loss of ambulation, decreased upper body function, and impaired cardiorespiratory function. This study aimed to generate qualitative evidence to describe the primary symptoms and impacts of DMD in ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients as reported by patient/caregiver dyads. Information was also gathered on expectations for future DMD treatments.MethodsForty-six dyads (caregiver and patients with DMD aged 4 to 22 years) participated in 60-min semi-structured video interviews. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Differences in experiences with DMD by ambulation status were examined.ResultsMean ages of ambulatory (n = 28) and non-ambulatory participants (n = 18) were 8.7 and 11.3 years, respectively, with an average age of diagnosis of 3.7 years (SD = 2.3). The primary symptoms reported by both groups were lack of strength (ambulatory: n = 28, 100.0%; non-ambulatory: n = 17, 94.4%) and fatigue (ambulatory: n = 24, 85.7%; non-ambulatory: n = 14, 77.8%). Physical function was the domain that was most impacted by DMD, with participants describing progressive decline of physical function due to loss of physical strength as the primary defining feature of the disease across all stages of ambulatory ability. For those who maintained ambulatory ability at the time of the interview, physical function impacts described impaired mobility (e.g., climbing stairs: n = 16, 57.1%; running: n = 13, 46.4%), impaired upper body function, in particular fine motor skills like holding a pen/pencil or buttoning clothes (n = 17, 60.7%), problem with transfers (e.g., getting off the floor: n = 10, 35.7%), and activities of daily living (ADLs; n = 15, 53.6%). For non-ambulatory participants, the functional impacts most frequently described were problems with transfers (e.g., getting in/out of bed: n = 13, 72.2%; getting in/out of chair or position in bed: both n = 10, 55.6%), impaired upper body function (reaching: n = 14, 77.8%), and ADLs (n = 15, 83.3%). Meaningful treatment goals differed by ambulatory status; for ambulatory participants, goals included maintaining current functioning (n = 20, 71.4%), improving muscle strength (n = 7, 25.9%), and reducing fatigue (n = 6, 22.2%). For non-ambulatory participants, these included increased upper body strength (n = 8, 42.1%) and greater independence in ADLs (n = 6, 31.6%). A preliminary conceptual model was developed to illustrate the primary symptoms and physical function impacts of DMD and capture their relationship to disease progression.ConclusionThis study contributes to the limited qualitative literature by characterizing impacts of physical limitations and symptoms of DMD on disease progression and thus providing insights into the lived experience with DMD. Differences in treatment goals were also identified based on ambulatory status. Taken together, these findings can help inform patient-centered measurement strategies for evaluating outcomes in DMD clinical research.