Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu Wu, Sisi Peng, Richard H. Finnell, Yufang Zheng
Summary: The neural tube is a critical structure in embryonic development, essential for the central nervous system. Neural tube defects are severe congenital anomalies with complex pathogenesis, and research into the mechanisms is ongoing. Neural tube organoids offer a promising model system to study neural tube formation and defects.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lidan Yang, Jiahong Guo, Shixiong Cao
Summary: In contrast to previous predictions of overpopulation, the issue of depopulation has become increasingly important. This study collected birth rate data from 31 Chinese provinces from 1990 to 2019 and conducted regression analysis to identify key factors. It found that marketization, education level, and the proportions of secondary and tertiary industries were the key factors contributing to the decreasing birth rate, while improvements in transportation and medical services supported the desire to have children. Economic and educational factors remained important and should not be underestimated. The study's methodology and findings can provide a reference for other countries developing population policies.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Oumer Ali, Mersha Kinfe, Maya Semrau, Abebayehu Tora, Abraham Tesfaye, Asrat Mengiste, Gail Davey, Abebaw Fekadu
Summary: The study found that integrating mental health and physical health care in the holistic care package for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) is effective. The package improved awareness and reduced discrimination. However, barriers to implementation include unrealistic patient expectations and insufficient communication among healthcare workers.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Yang Liu, Qiong Yuan, Zhilong Wang, Lijun Ding, Na Kong, Jingyu Liu, Yali Hu, Yang Zhang, Chaojun Li, Guijun Yan, Yue Jiang, Haixiang Sun
Summary: The study found that a high level of KLF12 overactivated the Shh signaling pathway in mice, leading to neural tube defects. Folic acid and formate did not promote normal neural tube closure in mutant fetuses, but an antagonist of the Shh signaling pathway partially rescued the defects. The regulatory hierarchy between high levels of KLF12 and FA-resistant NTDs could offer insights for the future diagnosis and treatment of unexplained NTDs.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Editorial Material
Infectious Diseases
Gerrit Kann, Hermann Juling, Valentina Ilievski, Gerrit Burger, Stephan Goettig, Christoph Stephan, Nils Wetzstein
Summary: A 24-year-old patient from Cameroon presented to our hospital with a foreign structure in her left eye. For the first time, fluorescent microscopy revealed motile microfilariae, and the diagnosis of loiasis was confirmed. Despite high levels of microfilaremia, eosinophilia only became evident after antiparasitic therapy was initiated.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Economics
Britta Augsburg, Antonella Bancalari, Zara Durrani, Madhav Vaidyanathan, Zach White
Summary: Our study demonstrates that sustained follow-up activities can lead to modest reductions in reversal to unsafe sanitation, especially in areas with poor public infrastructure and sanitation facilities, highlighting the importance of targeted promotion efforts.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Miguel A. Soto, Mohammad T. Chaudhry, Gunwant K. Matharu, Francesco Lelj, Mark J. MacLachlan
Summary: Despite their unique potential, metal-metal bonds have seldom been studied as active components in supramolecular assemblies. In this research, a dynamic molecular container named "flytrap" was constructed using Pt-Pt bonds, and its flexible jaw can adapt to bind large inorganic cations. The flytrap was characterized spectroscopically and crystallographically, and its photochemical assembly was reported, which enables the capture and transport of ions. Additionally, the reversible nature of the Pt-Pt bond allows for the regeneration of the flytrap's starting material. The advances presented here could be applied to assemble other molecular containers and materials for substrate harvesting from solution.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Lisa Luu, Germanus S. Bah, Ndode Herman Okah-Nnane, Catherine S. Hartley, Alexandra F. Glover, Tessa R. Walsh, Lu-Yun Lian, Bin Zhan, Maria Elena Bottazzi, David Abraham, Nikolai Petrovsky, Nicolas Bayang, Bernard Tangwa, Rene Billingwe Ayiseh, Glory Enjong Mbah, David D. Ekale, Vincent N. Tanya, Sara Lustigman, Benjamin L. Makepeace, John Graham-Brown
Summary: This study evaluated the protective effects of co-administering leading O. volvulus-derived recombinant vaccine candidates with subsequent natural exposure to a closely related cattle parasite. The results showed that vaccinated calves had a significantly lower rate of infection compared to unvaccinated control animals. Furthermore, the levels of specific antibodies were negatively correlated with adult female worm burdens. The findings suggest that vaccine formulations for human onchocerciasis should aim to elicit similarly balanced immune responses.
Article
Area Studies
Razak Khan
Summary: The article explores the genealogies of Muslim cultural and Urdu language reform in late nineteenth-century colonial India and traces its post-colonial trajectories in contemporary public culture in Pakistan. By analyzing the language and gender politics of Urdu in two Pakistani TV dramas, the article emphasizes the gendered language and performative politics of Urdu and respectability in colonial and post-colonial South Asia.
SOUTH ASIA-JOURNAL OF SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carissa Bryce Christensen
Summary: As commercial firms reshape the global space economy, the space governance of each country will determine its opportunities for the next few decades.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kimiko Tomioka, Midori Shima, Keigo Saeki
Summary: The prevalence of self-reported low back pain was higher in agricultural/forestry/fishery workers and non-workers among both genders. Gender differences were also found in the association between occupational class factors and self-reported low back pain. Preventive measures should be tailored based on gender and occupational class factors in Japan.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Riccardo Gambioli, Gianpiero Forte, Giovanni Buzzaccarini, Vittorio Unfer, Antonio Simone Lagana
Summary: Pregnancy is a complex process, and myo-inositol may have positive effects on fertility and preventing pregnancy-related pathologies, with potential therapeutic benefits.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Brendan Clark, Lili Xia, Alan Robock, Simone Tilmes, Jadwiga H. Richter, Daniele Visioni, Sam S. Rabin
Summary: This study analyzes the impacts of 11 different stratospheric aerosol intervention scenarios on maize, rice, soybean, and wheat production. The results show that higher-latitude nations produce the most calories under unabated climate change, while midlatitude nations maximize calories under moderate stratospheric aerosol intervention and equatorial nations produce the most calories from crops under high levels of intervention.
Article
Forestry
Toko Tanikawa, Hidetoshi Ikeno, Chikage Todo, Keitaro Yamase, Mizue Ohashi, Toru Okamoto, Takeo Mizoguchi, Katsuhiro Nakao, Shinji Kaneko, Atsushi Torii, Yoshiyuki Inagaki, Asami Nakanishi, Yasuhiro Hirano
Summary: The soil held by tree roots is significantly heavier than the tree biomass, helping to balance the weight above and belowground. Actual measurements of root-soil plate mass show that soil plays a crucial role in overall tree mass. Aboveground allometric indices are useful for estimating belowground mass to understand tree anchorage.
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Francisco M. D. Evangelista, Arnoud H. M. van Vliet, Scott P. Lawton, Martha Betson
Summary: This study used a reverse vaccinology approach to identify four potential vaccine candidates against ascariasis. These proteins, expressed in the muscle or ovaries of Ascaris, contained high affinity epitopes for T-cells and B-cells, making them suitable for further testing as vaccine candidates.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)