Search Results (4,152)

In vitro cartilage explant culture has been used to assess nutraceuticals on cartilage responses to inflammatory stimuli. However, applying extracts of nutraceuticals directly to cartilage explants does not account for effects of digestion and hepatic biotransformation, or selective exclusion of product metabolites from joint fluid by the synovial membrane. The current study produced a simulated biological extract of a common nutraceutical (glucosamine; G_sim) by exposing it to a simulated upper gastrointestinal tract digestion, hepatic biotransformation by liver microsomes, and purification to a molecular weight cut-off of 50 kDa. This extract was then used to condition cartilage explants cultured for 120 h in the presence or absence of an inflammatory stimulus (lipopolysaccharide). Media samples were analyzed for prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), glycosaminoglycan (GAG), and nitric oxide (NO). Tissue was digested and analyzed for GAG content and stained for viability. Conditioning of explants with G_sim significantly reduced media GAG in stimulated and unstimulated explants and reduced nitric oxide production in unstimulated explants. These data provide evidence for the value of glucosamine in protecting cartilage from deterioration following an inflammatory challenge, and the model improves applicability of these in vitro data to the in vivo setting. Full article

The intersection of religion and education in the United States dates to colonial times, as do attempts by religious institutions and individuals to regulate educational content. After a prominent retreat by religious fundamentalists following the Scopes Monkey Trial, conservative Christians have once again entered political debates about educational content in the form of modern culture wars issues. Both conservatives and liberals have attempted to punish educators for political comments made in class, but the influence of religion on individual attitudes has yet to be examined. In this article, we use an original survey experiment to examine individuals’ propensity to punish a professor who makes politically charged comments in class. We also assess whether religious individuals are more likely to punish professors for comments disparaging conservatives or liberals. We find that high-attending religious individuals, including both Evangelicals and Catholics, are more likely to support punishing the professor. However, we find that the propensity to punish is not related to the target of the professor’s comments. These findings suggest a resurgence of religious interest in education as a cultural issue at the individual, and not just institutional, level and a coalition between Evangelicals and Catholics on this issue. Full article

Diabetes mellites (DM) is a chronic disease with increasing prevalence worldwide and multiple health implications. Among them, sarcopenia is a metabolic disorder characterized by loss of muscle mass and function. The two age-related diseases, DM and sarcopenia, share underlying pathophysiological pathways. This narrative literature review aims to provide an overview of the existing evidence on metabolomic studies evaluating DM associated with sarcopenia. Advancements in targeted and untargeted metabolomics techniques could provide better insight into the pathogenesis of sarcopenia in DM and describe their entangled and fluctuating interrelationship. Recent evidence showed that sarcopenia in DM induced significant changes in protein, lipid, carbohydrate, and in energy metabolisms in humans, animal models of DM, and cell cultures. Newer metabolites were reported, known metabolites were also found significantly modified, while few amino acids and lipids displayed a dual behavior. In addition, several therapeutic approaches proved to be promising interventions for slowing the progression of sarcopenia in DM, including physical activity, newer antihyperglycemic classes, D-pinitol, and genetic USP21 ablation, although none of them were yet validated for clinical use. Conversely, ceramides had a negative impact. Further research is needed to confirm the utility of these findings and to provide potential metabolomic biomarkers that might be relevant for the pathogenesis and treatment of sarcopenia in DM. Full article

Coastal erosion poses an acute threat to cultural heritage resources, particularly in island contexts where erosional and degradational threats can be amplified by increased exposure and sea-level changes. We present a generalizable, best-practice approach that integrates multi-temporal, multi-resolution, and inconsistently ground-controlled data to demonstrate how suites of remotely sensed data can be integrated under real-world constraints. This approach is used to conduct a longitudinal analysis of cultural resources on the island of Inishark, Western Ireland. Results show evidence of significant and potentially accelerating shoreline erosion and structural loss within the past century, with rates of erosion ranging from 0.15 to 0.3 m/year along shorelines and 3–5 m²/year for structures. Outcomes demonstrate the utility and importance of an integrative data approach for cultural resource management. Full article

Family empowerment is a key component of effective family-centered practices in healthcare, mental health, and educational services. The Family Empowerment Scale (FES) is the most commonly used instrument to evaluate empowerment in families raising children with emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders. Despite its importance, the FES for diverse populations, especially Latinx parents, has rarely been evaluated using innovative psychometric approaches. In this study, we evaluated key dimensions and psychometric evidence of the Family Empowerment Scale (FES) for 96 Latinx parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States using an exploratory graph analysis (EGA). The EGA identified a five-dimensional structure, and EGA models outperformed the original CFA 3-factor models for both parents of children with autism and other disabilities. This study identified distinct, meaningful dimensions of empowerment that reflect both shared and unique empowerment experiences across two Latinx parent groups. These insights can inform the design of culturally responsive interventions, instruments, and policies that more precisely capture and boost empowerment in Latinx families. This study contributes to closing a gap in the literature by elevating the voices and experiences of Latinx families by laying the groundwork for more equitable support systems in special education and disability services. Full article

This paper aims to explore the potentialities and systemic relationships between the ‘regenerative’ process and ‘circular economy’ concept within the conservation and reuse of a built cultural heritage framework through contextualizing the concept of ‘process programming’ of the Preventive and Planned Conservation methodology. As a case study, it depicts a decommissioned industrial agricultural silo in Corbetta—a small historic city with its hinterland located in the protected Southern Milan Regional Agricultural Park. The context includes the industrial agricultural lands of the 20th century, together with historical water infrastructure, farmhouses, and the typical flora of the Lombardy region, all evidences of Corbetta’s rural archaeological values and the sophisticated material culture of its past collective production/economy system—the locus in which the silo was once one of the main productive symbols of Corbetta’s agricultural identity. Within such a complex and challenging context, this paper argues in favor of the constructive role of such a methodology in upholding circular economy principles within the process of conservation and reuse of the silo, highlighting its broader application of the ‘coevolution’ concept from a multidisciplinary long-term perspective. Full article

Biological extracellular vesicles in tear fluids, such as exosomes, are thought to have physiological functions in the management of healthy ocular surface epithelium, including corneal epithelium. However, the physiological roles of tear extracellular vesicles in the ocular surface remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the physiological function of tear extracellular vesicles in mouse tear fluids in the ocular surface epithelium in vitro. Morphological analysis of the isolated extracellular vesicles from mouse tear fluids was performed using nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The identified particles were characterised by immunoblotting for exosomal markers. After confirming the uptake of tear exosomes in cultured corneal epithelial cells, gene expression changes in mouse cultured corneal epithelial cells after tear exosome treatment were analysed. Immunostaining analysis was performed to confirm cell proliferation in the cultured corneal epithelial cells with tear exosome treatment. Tear fluids from mice contain nanoparticles with exosome-like morphologies, which express the representative exosomal markers CD9 and TSG101. The extracellular vesicles can be taken up by cultivated murine corneal epithelial cells in vitro and induce expression changes in genes related to the cell cycle, cell membranes, microtubules, and signal peptides. Treatment with the tear extracellular vesicles promoted cell proliferation of cultured murine corneal epithelial cells. Our study provides evidence that murine tear fluids contain extracellular vehicles like exosomes and they may contribute to the maintenance of the physiological homeostatic environment of the ocular surface. Full article

The impact of cultural identity on music performance anxiety (MPA) is under-researched. This retrospective case study explores the treatment of a professional musician in her 30s who presented with MPA associated with performing music related to her estranged father’s cultural background. The case formulation identified attachment ruptures and negative cognitions associated with her mixed cultural heritage that contributed to an experience of imposterism—referred to in lay literature as ‘racial imposter syndrome’ (RIS). It was hypothesized that RIS served to perpetuate her MPA. An attachment-based approach and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy framework was adopted, drawing on evidence-based treatment for MPA and mixed heritage individuals. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) and Session Rating Scale (SRS) were used as outcome measures. These measures fluctuated throughout the therapy. While improvements were observed in depression scores midway through treatment, elevated stress and depression scores at the conclusion of treatment were understood to reflect situational factors related to financial and housing precarity. Nonetheless, at the conclusion of treatment, the client showed improvement in managing MPA, evidenced by her progress in recording an album and reengagement with public performances. This case study adds to the limited research on treating MPA in racially minoritized and mixed-race individuals, Further research is required across larger and more diverse samples to better understand the relationship between MPA and RIS and to develop effective interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs is an invaluable intervention in the ongoing efforts to contain the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in low-resource settings. This study evaluates the impact of the Telementoring, Education, and Advocacy Collaboration initiative for Health through Antimicrobial Stewardship (TEACH AMS), which uses the virtual Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) learning model to enhance AMS capacity in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used, which included attendance data collection, facility-level assessments, post-session and follow-up surveys, as well as focus group discussions. Results: Between September 2023 and February 2025, 77 virtual learning sessions were conducted, engaging 2445 unique participants from hospital-based AMS committees and health professionals across the three countries. Participants reported significant knowledge gain, and data showed facility improvements in two core AMS areas, including the implementation of multidisciplinary ward-based interventions/communications and enhanced monitoring of antibiotic resistance patterns. Along those lines, participants reported that the program assisted them in improving prescribing and culture-based treatments, and also evidence-informed antibiotic selection. The evidence of implementing ward-based interventions was further stressed in focus group discussions, as well as other strengthened practices like point-prevalence surveys, and development or revision of stewardship policies. Substantial improvements in microbiology services were also shared by participants, particularly in Malawi. Other practices mentioned were strengthened multidisciplinary communication, infection prevention efforts, and education of patients and the community. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a virtual case-based learning educational intervention, providing structured and tailored AMS capacity building, can drive behavior change and strengthen healthcare systems in low resource settings. Future efforts should aim to scale up the engagements and sustain improvements to further strengthen AMS capacity. Full article

The southern conifer Agathis australis (D.Don) Lindl. is a large and long-lived species endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand. It is threatened due to past logging activities, pathogen attack and potentially climate change, with increasing severity and frequency of drought and heatwaves across its distribution. Like many large tree species, little is known about the carbon dynamics of this ecologically and culturally significant species. We explored seasonal variations in non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) and growth in trees ranging from 20 to 175 cm diameter at breast height (DBH). NSCs were seasonally stable with no measurable pattern across seasons. However, we found growth rates standardised to basal area and sapwood area (growth efficiency) declined with tree age and stem NSC concentrations (including total NSCs, sugars and starch) all increased as trees aged. Total NSC concentrations were 0.3%–0.6% dry mass for small trees and 0.8%–1.8% dry mass for larger trees, with strong relationships between DBH and total NSC, sugar and starch in stems but not roots. Cumulative growth efficiency across the two-year study period declined as tree size increased. Furthermore, there was an inverse relationship between growth efficiency across the two-year study period and NSC concentrations of stems. This relationship was driven by differences in carbon dynamics in trees of different sizes, with trees progressing to a more conservative carbon strategy as they aged. Simultaneously declining growth efficiency and increasing NSC concentrations as trees age could be evidence for active NSC accumulation to buffer against carbon starvation in larger trees. Our study provides new insights into changing carbon dynamics as trees age and may be evidence for active carbon accumulation in older trees. This may provide the key for understanding the role of carbon processes in tree longevity. Full article

The design and planning of Western-style constructions during the early Qing Dynasty in China constituted a significant multicultural encounter that fused technological advancement with aesthetic innovation. This cultural interplay is particularly evident in the imperial garden and pavilion projects commissioned by the Qing court, which served as physical and symbolic sites of cross-cultural dialogue. Influenced by the intellectual and artistic movements of the European Renaissance, Western architectural concepts gradually found their way into the spatial and visual language of Chinese architecture, especially within the royal gardens and aristocratic buildings of the time. These structures were not simply imitative but rather represented a selective adaptation of Western ideas to suit Chinese imperial tastes and principles. This article examines the architectural language that emerged from this encounter between Chinese and European cultures, analysing symbolic motifs, spatial design, ornamental aesthetics, the application of linear perspective, and the integration of foreign architectural forms. These elements collectively functioned as tools to construct a unique visual discourse that communicated both political authority and cultural hybridity. The findings underscore that this architectural phenomenon was not merely stylistic imitation, but rather a dynamic convergence of technological knowledge and artistic vision across cultural boundaries. Full article

True slime molds (Eumycetozoa) remain under-explored globally, particularly in water-logged forest habitats. Despite evidence suggesting a high biodiversity potential in the Knyszyn Forest of north-eastern Poland, no systematic effort had previously been undertaken there. In the present survey, plant substrates from eight swampy sub-compartments were incubated for over four months, resulting in the detection of fifteen slime mold species. Four of these taxa are newly reported for northern and north-eastern Poland, while several have been recorded only a handful of times in the global literature. These findings underscore how damp, nutrient-rich conditions foster Eumycetozoa and demonstrate the effectiveness of moist-chamber culturing in revealing rare or overlooked taxa. Current evidence shows that, although slime molds may occasionally colonize living plant or fungal tissues, their influence on crop productivity and tree vitality is negligible; they are therefore better regarded as biodiversity indicators than as pathogens or pests. By establishing a replicable framework for studying water-logged environments worldwide, this work highlights the ecological importance of swamp forests in sustaining microbial and slime mold diversity. Full article

Burnout syndrome is a growing concern in higher education, affecting the psychological well-being and performance of university professors. This systematic review presents a narrative synthesis of findings from quantitative studies on sociodemographic and psychosocial determinants of academic burnout. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, sixty peer-reviewed articles published between Jan 2019 and May 2024 were selected from Scopus and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria required validated psychometric instruments and exclusive focus on university faculty. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and CASP checklist. Data from approximately 43,639 academic staff were analyzed. Key risk factors identified include excessive workload, lack of institutional support, and workplace conflict. In contrast, collegial support, participative leadership, and job satisfaction functioned as protective elements. Variables such as age, gender, academic rank, and employment stability significantly influenced burnout vulnerability. While general patterns were observed across studies, differences in design and sampling require caution in generalization. The evidence supports the implementation of integrated strategies encompassing mental health programs, workload regulation, participatory governance, and culturally responsive approaches. These findings inform the development of institutional policies aimed at preventing burnout and fostering academic well-being. Future research should adopt longitudinal and cross-cultural designs to further explore burnout trajectories and support educational reform. Full article

Thailand’s southern border provinces need youth-focused multicultural leadership programs integrating local religious–cultural elements, community involvement, and long-term evaluation to enhance social cohesion and sustainable development. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a program to foster multicultural leadership among youth in Thailand’s three southern border provinces. The research was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved synthesizing key multicultural leadership characteristics, designing a structured program and assessing its relevance and coherence through expert evaluation. The second phase focused on empirical validation by implementing the program with 22 selected youth participants, employing repeated-measures analysis of variance to assess its effectiveness. Additionally, experts evaluated the program’s validity, appropriateness, cost-effectiveness, utility, and feasibility. The resulting program, “EARCA”, comprises five core components: Experiential Exposure, Active Exploration & Engagement, Reflective Thinking & Analysis, Concept Integration & Synthesis, and Application & Extension. Expert assessments confirmed its appropriateness at the highest level, with a consistency index ranging from 0.8 to 1.0. Statistical analyses demonstrated significant improvements in all dimensions of multicultural leadership among participants. Furthermore, the program was rated highly accurate, appropriate, cost-effective, practical, and feasible for real-world implementation. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to enhance multicultural leadership development through structured, evidence-based interventions. Full article

There is insufficient evidence regarding the cytotoxicity of restorative 3D-printing resins, used as part of the digital workflow in dentistry. This study presents a novel comparative evaluation of cell viability and adhesion using human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs), a less commonly used but clinically relevant cell line in dental biomaterials research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cell viability of WJ-MSCs seeded on 3D-printed resins intended for temporary restorations. Resin discs of three commercial 3D-printing resins (NextDent C&B, Leaf Dental C&B, and UNIZ Temp) and a conventional self-curing acrylic resin (NicTone) were used. WJ-MSCs were cultured on the specimens for 1, 4, and 10 days. Cell viability was assessed using the PrestoBlue assay, Live/Dead immunofluorescence staining, and 7AAD/Annexin V staining. Cell adhesion was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Direct exposure to the 3D-printed resins and the self-curing acrylic caused slight reductions in cell viability compared to the control group in both microscopic analyses. 7AAD/Annexin V showed the highest percentage of viable WBCs for the conventional acrylic (34%), followed by UNIZ (35%), NextDent (42%), and Leaf Dental (36%) (ANOVA p < 0.05 Tukey’s post-hoc test p < 0.05). These findings suggest that 3D-printed resins could be considered safe for use in temporary restorations. Full article