Understanding the role of cognitive constructs employed in reading in global math and science achievement.

We utilized PISA-2018 data from 71 countries to investigate the relationship between cognitive constructs employed in reading literacy (locating information, understanding, evaluating and reflecting, single and multiple thinking) and math and science achievement. We found that these cognitive constructs collectively accounted for 56% of the variance in math and 63% in science achievement, even after adjusting for gender, socioeconomic status, and country fixed effects. This means that the majority of cultural differences in math and science achievement (resulting from different education systems) can be explained by cognitive constructs employed in reading.

The association of plasma pancreastatin levels with insulin resistance in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) occurs on the background of increased insulin resistance. We aimed to investigate the levels of plasma pancreastatin (PST) levels and its association with metabolic, demographic, and anthropometric parameters in gestational diabetic and normal glucose-tolerant pregnant women.

Materials And Methods: A total of 165 pregnant women in the 24th-28th week of pregnancy were enrolled in this cross-sectional study.

Preparation and Characterization of Hydrophobin 4-Coated Liposomes for Doxorubicin Delivery to Cancer Cells.

The properties of nanoparticle surfaces are crucial in influencing their interaction with biological environments, as well as their stability, biocompatibility, targeting abilities, and cellular uptake. Hydrophobin 4 (HFB4) is a class II HFB protein produced by filamentous fungi that has a natural ability to self-assemble at hydrophobic-hydrophilic interfaces. The biocompatible, non-toxic, biodegradable, and amphipathic properties of HFB4 render it valuable for improving the solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs.

The bio-artificial pancreas to treat type 1 diabetes: Perspectives from healthcare professionals in the Netherlands.

Aims: Healthcare professionals are relevant stakeholders because of their gatekeeper role in the clinic. This study aims to explore their perspectives on the potential future clinical implementation of the bio-artificial pancreas (BAP) for people with type 1 diabetes, and suitable target groups.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 healthcare professionals, including endocrinologists, nurses, and pancreas transplant surgeons.

Clinical Translation and Implementation of a Bioartificial Pancreas Therapy: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Perspectives of People With Type 1 Diabetes.

Background: The development of a hybrid beta-cell replacement approach, referred to as a personalized, transplantable bioartificial pancreas (BAP), holds promise to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D). This interview study aimed to explore patients' expectations, needs, concerns, and considerations when considering to undergo a BAP transplantation.

Research Design And Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 participants diagnosed with T1D.

Uncovering the drivers of CO emissions in the United States: The hidden spillover effects.

This study explores the applicability of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in the United States (US) from 2006 to 2020, employing the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) to analyze the cross-border effects of pollution among states. The results indicate that although economic growth initially decreases environmental degradation, it subsequently contributes to more significant environmental degradation, challenging the EKC hypothesis's validity at the US state level. Factors such as higher energy prices and reliance on fossil fuels are also identified as significant drivers of environmental deterioration, with varying impacts observed across states.

The Evaluation of Clinical Applications for the Detection of the Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker GFAP.

One of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases is Alzheimer's disease (AD). The hallmarks of AD include the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which cause related secondary diseases, progressive neurodegeneration, and ultimately death. The most prevalent cell type in the human central nervous system, astrocytes, are crucial for controlling neuronal function.

New methods of modification of α-cyclodextrin.

While being some of the oldest supramolecular hosts, cyclodextrins remain very popular as molecular binders in materials, devices, artificial enzymes and more. The popularity is undoubtedly connected to the ready availability, carbohydrate biomass origin, biodegradability and water solubility of the cyclodextrins. Many of these applications require synthetic modification of the cyclodextrin - at the simplest the attachment of a linker - but also often attachment of several functional groups, lids, bridges .

Application of purple basil leaf anthocyanins-loaded alginate-carrageenan emulgel beads in gelatin-based jelly candies.

Jelly candies could be considered promising food matrices for the delivery of bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins (ACNs). In this study, gelatin-based jelly candies were fortified with free ACNs-rich purple basil leaf extract (PBLE) and PBLE-loaded emulgel beads. The interaction between free ACNs and gelatin in the jelly matrix resulted in a lower release of ACNs in the mouth (8.

Cost-Effectiveness of an Ultrasound-First Strategy in the Diagnostic Evaluation of Noncalcified Lesions Recalled From Screening Digital Breast Tomosynthesis.

Ultrasound may be sufficient in the diagnostic evaluation of many noncalcified lesions recalled from screening digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). In some scenarios, omission of diagnostic mammography can save health care costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a strategy of performing ultrasound first versus diagnostic mammography first in the diagnostic evaluation of noncalcified lesions recalled from screening DBT.

No evidence that post-training dopamine D2 receptor agonism affects fear generalization in male rats.

Background: The neurotransmitter dopamine plays an important role in the processing of emotional memories, and prior research suggests that dopaminergic manipulations immediately after fear learning can affect the retention and generalization of acquired fear.

Aims: The current study focuses specifically on the role of dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs) regarding fear generalization in adult, male Wistar rats, and aims to replicate previous findings in mice.

Methods: In a series of five experiments, D2R (ant)agonists were injected systemically, immediately after differential cued fear conditioning (CS+ followed by shock, CS- without shock).

Stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes expressing a dominant negative pacemaker HCN4 channel do not reduce the risk of graft-related arrhythmias.

Background: Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) show tremendous promise for cardiac regeneration following myocardial infarction (MI), but their transplantation gives rise to transient ventricular tachycardia (VT) in large-animal MI models, representing a major hurdle to translation. Our group previously reported that these arrhythmias arise from a focal mechanism whereby graft tissue functions as an ectopic pacemaker; therefore, we hypothesized that hPSC-CMs engineered with a dominant negative form of the pacemaker ion channel HCN4 (dnHCN4) would exhibit reduced automaticity and arrhythmogenic risk following transplantation.

Methods: We used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-editing to create transgenic dnHCN4 hPSC-CMs, and their electrophysiological behavior was evaluated by patch-clamp recordings and optical mapping.

Polysaccharides from fruit and vegetable wastes and their food applications: A review.

Fruit and vegetables are a great source of nutrients and have numerous health benefits. The fruit and vegetable industry produces enormous amounts of waste such as peels, seeds, and stems. The amount of this waste production has increased, causing economic and environmental problems.

Alzheimer's disease linked Aβ42 exerts product feedback inhibition on γ-secretase impairing downstream cell signaling.

Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides accumulating in the brain are proposed to trigger Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, molecular cascades underlying their toxicity are poorly defined. Here, we explored a novel hypothesis for Aβ42 toxicity that arises from its proven affinity for γ-secretases.

The Effect of and on Continuous Glucose Levels in Overweight Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Feasibility Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Brown seaweed is promising for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Its bioactive constituents can positively affect plasma glucose homeostasis in healthy humans. We investigated the effect of the brown seaweeds and in their natural form on glucose regulation in patients with T2DM.

PD-L1 and PD-L2 Expression in Different Tumor Stages and Types of Malignant Salivary Gland Neoplasms: A Single-center Experience.

There is a limited amount of data on the role of programmed cell death ligand (PD-L) -1 and PD-L2 in salivary gland carcinomas. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of PD-L1 and PD-L2 expressions, which are closely related to immune mechanisms, with respect to salivary gland tumor types and stages. Data from patients with salivary gland masses surgically removed between 2006 and 2021, diagnosed with a malignant salivary gland neoplasm, were retrospectively analyzed.

Comparative Effects of Exercises Combined With Kinesio Taping and Electrotherapy in Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological problem characterized by menstrual pain without any pelvic pathology. It affects a significant portion of women of reproductive age, impacting their quality of life and daily activities. Physiotherapy interventions such as therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, electrotherapy, and kinesio taping reduce menstrual pain and symptoms.

No harmful effect of propranolol administered prior to fear memory extinction in rats and humans.

Exposure therapy is an evidence-based treatment option for anxiety-related disorders. Many patients also take medication that could, in principle, affect exposure therapy efficacy. Clinical and laboratory evidence indeed suggests that benzodiazepines may have detrimental effects.

Evaluation of apolipoprotein A5 variants: A cohort of patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia from Turkiye.

Background: This study aims to show the clinical and biochemical features in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) associated with rare variants in the apolipoprotein A-V (APOA5) gene.

Materials And Methods: Demographics, blood lipid levels, body mass index (BMI) and APOA5 mutation subtypes were collected from the endocrinology clinic registry and analyzed for a retrospective cohort study of ten patients with severe HTG and APOA5 gene variants.

Results: Of the 10 cases, four were female, and six were male.

Tocilizumab Reduces Lung Injury in a Rat Lung Ischemia and Reperfusion Model.

Objective: In this study, the effect of tocilizumab (TCZ) on lung tissue in lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats was investigated.

Material And Methods: A total of 24 Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups, with 6 rats in each group: Left lung I/R was applied to I/R groups. In the I/R groups, the left lung hilum was clamped for 45 minutes, and then the clamp was removed and reperfused for 120 minutes.

Artificial Intelligence in Breast Imaging: Challenges of Integration Into Clinical Practice.

Artificial intelligence (AI) in breast imaging is a rapidly developing field with promising results. Despite the large number of recent publications in this field, unanswered questions have led to limited implementation of AI into daily clinical practice for breast radiologists. This paper provides an overview of the key limitations of AI in breast imaging including, but not limited to, limited numbers of FDA-approved algorithms and annotated data sets with histologic ground truth; concerns surrounding data privacy, security, algorithm transparency, and bias; and ethical issues.

A Tale of Two Hospitals: Effect of Access to Care Through a Safety Net Hospital on Adjuvant Therapy, Imaging Compliance and 5-Year Survival Rates Compared to the University Hospital Served by the Same Breast Cancer Clinical Teams.

Rationale And Objectives: To compare rates of guideline-concordant care, imaging surveillance, recurrence and survival outcomes between a safety-net (SNH) and tertiary-care University Hospital (UH) served by the same breast cancer clinical teams.

Materials And Methods: 647 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer treated in affiliated SNH and UH between 11.1.