Search Results (1,177)

The reciprocal relationship between genes and nutrients, known as nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, has been established in many studies. However, current investigations of maternal and neonatal nutrition using a precision nutrition approach focused on genomics are limited, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This review aims to summarize the impacts of the dietary micronutrients, folic acid, thiamine, and cobalamin on optimal health outcomes during pregnancy, fetal development, lactation, and infant growth. In this review, the roles of folic acid, thiamine, and cobalamin are discussed in the context of various aspects of pregnancy, such as preconception, fetal development, and lactation, highlighting how genetic events occurring during developmental periods can have consequential impacts on health outcomes later in life. Deficiency rates and related health consequences as well as the prevalence of genetic mutations related to these nutrients of interest in the MENA region are also elaborated on. How to advance knowledge and applications of precision nutrition, how genes interact with the neurochemical changes during pregnancy, and how this interaction impacts maternal eating behaviors, and consequently fetal development and infant and child growth and health, should be further explored in future studies. This includes taking advantage of cutting-edge technologies and the role of artificial intelligence in this endeavor. Full article

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) stand at the forefront of reticular chemistry, weaving crystalline porosity with unparalleled designability and functional tunability. Their expansive channels and modular architectures have driven rapid advances in photocatalytic organic transformations, providing a platform for sunlight-driven reactions with high selectivity and sustainability. This review spotlights the rational engineering of metal-free COFs—from pore-size orchestration to chromophore integration—as versatile platforms for selective C–H activation, cross-coupling, and beyond. We survey landmark advances since 2016, dissecting the structure–activity relationships that drive efficiency under visible light, while unveiling challenges such as charge recombination and scalability issues. By establishing in-depth correlations between the structure of metal-free COFs and their photocatalytic performance, this work offers new opportunities to forge ahead in synthetic chemistry. Full article

Bromodomain (BRD)-containing proteins are gaining attention as key targets in epigenetic drug development. BRDs bind to acetylated lysine residues on histones and other proteins, significantly impacting transcriptional regulation and chromatin remodeling. As our grasp of bromodomain structures and biochemistry deepens, the momentum behind developing small-molecule inhibitors for these BRD domains is triggered and potent inhibitors targeting different family members of BRDs are proposed. In addition, computational simulations have also played a significant role in advancing inhibitor design for the BRD family. This review delves into recent breakthroughs in small-molecule BRD receptor inhibitors and computational studies, spotlighting their biological impact and therapeutic potential, and outlining the research road ahead. This review is expected to provide guidance for future drug design of BRD inhibitors. Full article

The Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) service is the contribution from the European constellation to the international Cospas–Sarsat system. This system uses a variety of space and ground infrastructure to detect and localize distress signals from beacons on the 406 MHz frequency. Satellites in different orbits detect the signals coming from the Earth and transmit them back to Earth stations that route them to the appropriate government authorities. On top of the standard detection and relay service, the Galileo constellation is the first to offer a Return Link Service (RLS) that acknowledges the processing of the distress signal with a Return Link Message (RLM) back to the originating beacon. This RLM is transmitted in the SAR field of the E1 signal I/NAV message, which allocates 20 bits every 2 s page. Therefore, transmitting a short RLM (80 bits) takes four consecutive pages or eight seconds. Moreover, each RLM is transmitted in parallel from two Galileo satellites. The RLS has been active since 2020, avoiding the spotlight of the GNSS community. This paper presents an analysis of the SAR Return Link Messages extracted from more than 3 months of signal-in-space data to investigate the current bandwidth use, monitor the type of SAR usage, and detect anomalies in the service. To extract and parse the Return Link Messages, we have developed and published an open-source Python library called GalileoSARlib on GitHub, which is also detailed in the paper. Full article

Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD) is an enzyme that controls malonyl-CoA levels and regulates fatty acid synthesis and oxidation. Although its physiological relevance in peripheral tissues is well known, the role of MCD in the central nervous system remains poorly understood. MCD is expressed in mitochondria, cytosol, and peroxisomes and may be regulated by PPAR-α, AMPK, and SIRT4 in tissues such as muscle, liver and kidney. In the brain, MCD expression varies during development and can respond to nutritional states. Inherited MCD deficiency (malonic aciduria) leads to the toxic accumulation of malonic acid and predominantly affects the central nervous system. The underlying mechanisms leading to brain damage in MCD patients remain unclear. Conversely, pharmacological modulation of MCD activity has been studied in obesity, diabetes, and ischemic injury, highlighting its therapeutic potential. There are still major gaps regarding MCD cellular distribution, regulatory pathways, and metabolic interaction with CPT1c (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1c) in neural metabolism. A deeper understanding of the role of MCD in brain physiology and pathology may indicate novel therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic disorders that involve altered malonyl-CoA dynamics. Here, we discuss the current knowns and unknowns regarding MCD physiology, regulation, and pathophysiology, emphasizing brain aspects. Full article

As the world grows more and more out of kilter with wars and fake news, the climate crisis is being ignored, leaving eco-media scholars striving to uncover new ways of keeping it firmly in the spotlight. This paper draws on extensive scholarship across eco-film studies, using narratives I have not analysed before—The Age of Stupid and Zone of Interest—to speak to contrasting ways of representing and communicating the crisis. While in the academy and within particular strands of environmental communications (EC), eco-textual analysis is often sidelined and replaced with a focus on empirical audience and behavioural research, together with more political economy types of investigations. Nevertheless, there remains a central place for understanding and appreciating how stories and images function, both in stylistic and thematic terms, while deploying new creative imaginaries to represent the climate crisis and provoke debate over future, more sustainable models of living. These readings will be analysed through an ethics of care lens while being underpinned by environmental media literacy, which can be argued to drive pro-active engagement and consideration. Full article

Lipid metabolism sits at the heart of tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Against this background, the regulation of lipid flux has emerged as a fertile ground for anticancer strategies. Chanarin–Dorfman syndrome (CDS), a rare genetic disorder marked by massive lipid droplet accumulation, offers compelling human evidence that α/β-hydrolase domain-containing protein 5 (ABHD5) plays a central role in lipid droplet mobilization through the ATGL axis. This clinical insight has, perhaps unexpectedly, pushed ABHD5 into the spotlight of cancer research. ABHD5 does not behave uniformly across malignancies. In many solid tumors—such as lung, liver, and renal cell carcinoma—it restrains tumor growth. Yet in other settings, notably endometrial cancer, it appears to fuel malignant progression. Colorectal and prostate cancers occupy a more ambiguous middle ground, where ABHD5 can tip the balance in either direction depending on context. Mechanistically, ABHD5 influences lipid homeostasis and cell fate by intersecting with signaling pathways including AMPK/mTOR, AKT, and NF-κB, thereby shaping proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, immune evasion, and drug responsiveness. This review brings together experimental and clinical evidence to map the diverse, sometimes contradictory roles of ABHD5 in cancer. By tracing its context-dependent functions and molecular circuits, we also explore its emerging value as a diagnostic marker and a therapeutic target—one that demands nuance rather than blunt intervention. Full article

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder associated with significant cardiometabolic morbidity, impaired neurocognitive functioning, daytime sleepiness, and reduced quality of life. Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment for moderate-to-severe OSA, long-term adherence is frequently suboptimal, and a substantial proportion of patients experience residual symptoms despite adequate therapy. These limitations have driven increasing interest in non-CPAP treatment strategies and, more recently, in pharmacological approaches tailored to specific OSA pathophysiological mechanisms. This narrative review provides an updated overview of non-CPAP therapies for OSA, including oral appliances, surgical interventions, positional therapy, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, and behavioral strategies, with a particular focus on emerging and established pharmacological treatment and their role in endotype/phenotype-guided management of OSA. Overall, the expanding pharmacological landscape of OSA reflects a paradigm shift toward personalized, multimodal management. Integrating non-CPAP and pharmacological therapies with patient-specific pathophysiology may improve symptom control, adherence, and long-term outcomes in OSA. Full article

The Ugandan Asian expulsion of 1972 was a landmark moment in postcolonial politics, but the people at the centre of it have often been a footnote in Idi Amin’s story. This paper explores the strengths, if not essential nature, of bringing a critical family history and life-writing lens to this history of migration, within the boundaries of genealogy, as the family is central to both the experience of exodus and understanding the origins of South Asians in East Africa. Moving to a ‘history from below’ spotlighting underrepresented voices privileging gender, caste and class is a vital step in democratising this history. Through an examination of the methodologies of the author’s testimony and memoir-led history of the exodus, The Exiled: Empire, Immigration and the Ugandan Asian Exodus, this work reflects on personal scholarship, objectivity and positionality, showing the significance of an intimate and marginalised approach. It demonstrates how reclaiming this history among next-generation diaspora requires challenging revisionism, self-serving success narratives, and increasing politicisation in service of anti-immigration narratives, moving beyond the nostalgic view of empire invoked by some retellings towards a more nuanced living history of the expulsion. Full article

Professional learning communities (PLCs) are widely researched and of growing interest internationally. In Oman, some research has been started at the school level. However, at the time of this study, no research had been conducted at the higher education (HE) level. Hence, the study took place at an Omani university through an action research project lasting one semester. It aimed at establishing and evaluating a PLC to understand the first-hand experiences of the members of this community. The study is based on the sociocultural theory of Vygotsky, which stresses that learning is social. Also, the study used interpretivism and social constructivism to deeply analyse members’ interactions and perceptions of the PLC. Data were collected via preliminary documentary analysis of the reports produced by Staff Development Committee, observations of PLC meetings, and semistructured interviews during and at the end of the semester. The findings showed positive attitudes towards the PLC, where the members could sense a supportive learning environment. They were happy sharing their classroom practices, challenges, reflections, and learning from one another. Overall, they found professional development (PD) sessions fruitful, and they encouraged establishing a PLC along with the current PD programme because the PLC directly spotlighted their needs. Although the members indicated the potential of creating a sustainable PLC, their participation was challenged by factors (e.g., workload, time constraints, and technical issues). The members suggested many solutions to make the PLC a successful learning experience. Implications for policymakers and educators were drawn from the findings. Full article

Sub-terahertz (sub-THz) frequencies are in the spotlight in the ongoing development of sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication systems, offering ultra-high data rates and low latency for rapidly emerging applications. However, employment of sub-THz frequencies introduces strict propagation challenges, including free-space path loss and atmospheric absorption, which limit coverage and reliability. To address these issues, highly directional links are required. The conventional beam-shaping solutions such as refractive lenses and parabolic mirrors are bulky, heavy, and costly, making them less attractive for compact systems. Diffractive optical elements (DOEs) offer a promising alternative by enabling precise wavefront control through phase modulation, resulting in thin, lightweight components with high focusing efficiency. Employing the fused deposition modelling (FDM) using high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) allows cost-effective fabrication of DOEs with minimal material waste and high diffraction efficiency. This work investigates the beam-shaping performance of the FDM-printed structures comparing DOEs and spherical refraction-based structures, wherein both are aiming for application in sub-THz communication systems. DOEs exhibit clear advantages over classically employed solutions. Full article

This study provides a critical examination of Nike’s sustainability reporting by comparing disclosures across six major frameworks: the Higg Index, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), and Double Materiality. Drawing on a directed content analysis of Nike’s 2022–2023 sustainability documents, the research codes and compares how these frameworks are applied to environmental, social, and governance topics. The analysis shows that Nike’s environmental reporting is the most consistent and well-developed across the six frameworks. In contrast, significant gaps and inconsistencies remain in areas such as labor rights, living wages, and supply chain transparency. These findings reveal both the advantages and the tensions that come with using multiple frameworks, illustrating where they reinforce one another and where they diverge. Overall, the study highlights the essential need for harmonized reporting practices across the global apparel sector. It also reflects both the strengths and the limitations of using multiple frameworks to produce sustainability reports that are transparent and comprehensive. Full article

This article examines the subject of SME failures due to financial distress in emerging economies by focusing on Uganda as a case study. It adopts a convergent doctrinal and empirical approach, drawing on existing black letter law and literature alongside some of the empirical data obtained from a survey of SME business owners impacted by financial distress, a survey of accredited insolvency practitioners and exchanges from a stakeholder workshop on SME insolvencies in Uganda. The article examines existing legal, regulatory and procedural frameworks on corporate rescue and the identified gaps exacerbating SME failures in unpacking why, despite the availability of these frameworks, business rescue as the policy objective of Uganda’s insolvency law has yet to be fully achieved. The article devises a recommended toolkit that if adopted, may guide the approaches needed to improve SME rescue, and meet legal and statutory objectives of Uganda’s insolvency frameworks to enhance economic stability. Full article

Harnessing nature’s ingenuity with microorganisms for industrial production is an attractive solution to today’s climate concerns. Nature’s innate diversity allows the production of many value-added chemicals and can be expanded on through genetic engineering. Although the use of microbial cell factories (MCFs) has been extremely successful at lab scale, the numbers of successful bioprocesses remain limited. High cell densities and long cultivation times lead to reductions in productivity over the course of the cultivation through the effects of genetic and expression instability of the strain. This instability leads to population diversification. In this review, we explore the roots of genetic instability in microorganisms, focusing on prokaryotic bioprocesses, and how organisms cope with this instability. We spotlight single-cell detection methods capable of monitoring populations within the bioprocess both in- and on-line. We also examine different approaches to minimizing population diversification, both through strain development and bioprocess engineering. With this review, we highlight the fact that population-averaged metrics overlook the single-cell stresses driving genetic and functional instability, leading to an overestimation of microbial bioprocess robustness. High-throughput single-cell monitoring in industry-like conditions remains essential to identify and select truly stable microbial cell factories and bioprocesses. Full article