What Can We Learn From Qualitative Impact Evaluations About the Effectiveness of Lobby and Advocacy? A Meta-Evaluation of Dutch aid Programmes and Assessment Tool.

Official development agencies are increasingly supporting civil society lobby and advocacy (L&A) to address poverty and human rights. However, there are challenges in evaluating L&A. As programme objectives are often to change policies or practices in a single institution like a Government Ministry, L&A programmes are often not amenable to large-n impact evaluation methods.

Wearable technology in inflammatory bowel disease: current state and future direction.

Introduction: Wearables are electronic devices worn on the body to collect health data. These devices, like smartwatches and patches, use sensors to gather information on various health parameters. This review highlights current use and the potential benefit of wearable technology in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In Vitro Cytotoxic Potential and Integrated Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic Approaches to Decipher the Mechanism of Gymnostachyum febrifugum Benth., in the Treatment of Breast Cancer.

Gymnostachyum febrifugum, a less-known ethnomedicinal plant from the Western Ghats of India, is used to treat various diseases and serves as an antioxidant and antibacterial herb. The present study aims to profile the cytotoxic phytochemicals in G. febrifugum roots using GC-MS/MS, in vitro confirmation of cytotoxic potential against breast cancer and an in silico study to understand the mechanism of action.

Molecular Taxonomy Suggests Presence of Two Distinct Lineages of Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in Indian Himalayan Region.

Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) supports a plethora of biodiversity with a unique assemblage of many charismatic and endemic species. We assessed the genetic diversity, demographic history, and habitat suitability of blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in the IHR through the analysis of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (CR) and Cytochrome b gene, and 14 ecological predictor variables. We observed high genetic divergence and designated them into two genetic lineage groups, i.

Highly Luminescent Nitrogen Doped Carbon Quantum Dots for Mercury Ion Sensing with Antibacterial Activity.

Nitrogen doped Carbon Quantum Dots (NCQDs) have been synthesized using most economical and easiest hydrothermal process. Here, N-phenyl orthophenylenediamine and citric acid were utilised as a source of nitrogen and carbon for the preparation of NCQDs. The synthesized NCQDs were characterized using experimental techniques like UV - Vis absorption, FT-IR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), EDX, dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorimeter and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.

Effect of age-associated oxidative stress on sperm viability, acrosomal integrity and sperm apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in Sahiwal breeding bulls.

Sperm motility is the prime functional attribute for semen quality and fertility of the bull. However, the bull's age directly affects the semen quality, and the bull's fertility and productive life decline with age. Even though research on age has been conducted in the past, it is still unclear how old a bull should be maintained at artificial insemination centers.

Microsurgical preservation of lenticulostriate artery perforators in insular glioma: the two point antegrade skeletonization technique.

Background: Reaching parenchymal segments of the lateral lenticulostriate artery (LSA) perforators, which represent the medial resection limit in insular gliomas (IG), remains a challenge. The currently described methods are indirect and sometimes, imprecise.

Methods: We report an antegrade direct skeletonization technique to identify these tiny arteries at the medial end of IGs with an illustrative case of grade 2 astrocytoma.

Marine-derived bioactive compounds for neuropathic pain: pharmacology and therapeutic potential.

Neuropathic pain, a challenging condition often associated with diabetes, trauma, or chemotherapy, impairs patients' quality of life. Current treatments often provide inconsistent relief and notable adverse effects, highlighting the urgent need for safer and more effective alternatives. This review investigates marine-derived bioactive compounds as potential novel therapies for neuropathic pain management.

Eu-ion doped strontium molybdate perovskite quantum dots as a turn-off-on fluorescent sensor for simultaneous detection of hypoxanthine biomarker and Fe ions.

A fluorescence "turn-off-on" nanoprobe is designed by using europium-doped strontium molybdate perovskite quantum dots (Eu:SMO PQDs) for the sequential detection of hypoxanthine (Hx) and Fe. The Eu:SMO PQDs were prepared by the sol-gel method using Sr(NO), (NH)MoO.4HO, and Eu(OCOCH) as precursors.

TP53 mutations and MDM2 polymorphisms in breast and ovarian cancers: amelioration by drugs and natural compounds.

Globally, breast and ovarian cancers are major health concerns in women and account for significantly high cancer-related mortality rates. Dysregulations and mutations in genes like TP53, BRCA1/2, KRAS and PTEN increase susceptibility towards cancer. Here, we discuss the impact of mutations in the key regulatory gene, TP53 and polymorphisms in its negative regulator MDM2 which are reported to accelerate cancer progression.

Vat-Based 3D-Bioprinted Scaffolds from Photocurable Bacterial Levan for Osteogenesis and Immunomodulation.

Emerging techniques of additive manufacturing, such as vat-based three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, offer novel routes to prepare personalized scaffolds of complex geometries. However, there is a need to develop bioinks suitable for clinical translation. This study explored the potential of bacterial-sourced methacrylate levan (LeMA) as a bioink for the digital light processing (DLP) 3D bioprinting of bone tissue scaffolds.

Alkoxy-Directed Dienamine Catalysis in [4 + 2]-Cycloaddition: Enantioselective Synthesis of Benzo-[3]-ladderanol.

Despite tremendous progress of dienamine catalysis along with its application in enantioselective synthesis over nearly two decades, certain limitations, especially with respect to the regioselectivity in the dienamine generation step, continue to persist. To overcome these shortcomings of classical dienamine catalysis, we now introduce the concept of alkoxy-directed dienamine catalysis and apply it to the enantioselective arene construction by desymmetrizing -enediones through [4 + 2]-cycloaddition. Catalyzed by a diphenylprolinol silyl ether, this reaction utilizes γ-alkoxy α,β-unsaturated aldehydes as the substrate and proceeds in a highly regioselective fashion through the intermediacy of δ-alkoxy dienamine.

Investigation of Metal Tellurides As Cathode Materials for High-Energy Lithium-Tellurium Batteries.

Lithium-tellurium (Li-Te) batteries are gaining attention as a promising next-generation energy storage system due to their superior electrical conductivity and high volumetric capacity compared to sulfur and selenium. Tellurium's unique properties, such as suitable redox potential, excellent conductivity, high volumetric capacity, and greatest stability, position it as a strong candidate for negative electrode materials. This study explores the potential of metal tellurides, specifically CuTe and FeTe monolayers, as effective tellurium host materials, leveraging their polar interactions with lithium polytellurides.

A prospective comparative study of open versus laparoscopic stage II Fowler-Stephens orchidopexy in pediatric patients.

Introduction: Laparoscopic Fowler Stephens orchidopexy, single stage or two-stage, is now routinely performed in non-palpable testis. We performed second stage orchidopexy as open inguinal approach and compared the outcome of this approach to two-staged laparoscopic orchidopexy.

Methods: We performed a prospective randomized interventional study of two different approaches for intra-abdominal testis.

Potential of flaxseed oil blends to modulate tissue fatty acid composition and determination of safety parameters in Wistar rats.

Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are associated with inflammation and oxidative stress which is further associated with omega-6 (ω6) and omega-3 (ω3) fatty acid (FA) imbalance favoring ω6 FA. By improving ω3 FA consumption, this imbalance can be altered to control NCD. Previously we have reported blends of flaxseed oil (FSO, ω3 FA) with palm olein (PO) or coconut oil (CO) were thermo-oxidatively stable with good storage stability and could improve ω6:ω3 ratio in cell lines.

Exploring the Intricate Connection Between Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Hearing Loss: A Systematic Literature Review.

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient crucial for overall health, and deficiencies can lead to hearing loss. The aim of the systematic review was to explore the intricate connection between vitamin B12 deficiency and hearing loss using a systematic literature review. A systematic literature search was carried out to identify the articles exploring the connection between vitamin B12 deficiency and hearing loss.

Ion Sensing Modulation of Charge Transfer in Donor-pi-Acceptor Molecules: Structure, Mechanism & Photophysical Aspects.

This review article highlights the importance of novel charge transfer (CT) sensing approach for the detection of ions which are crucial from environmental and biological point of view. The importance, principles of charge transfer, ion sensing, its different types, and its basic process will all be covered here. The strategy has been reported with enormous sensitivity and fast signaling response owing to the fact that strong electronic connection communication exists between donor (D) and acceptor (A) part.

From Antipsychotic to Neuroprotective: Computational Repurposing of Fluspirilene as a Potential PDE5 Inhibitor for Alzheimer's Disease.

Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors have shown great potential in treating Alzheimer's disease by improving memory and cognitive function. In this study, we evaluated fluspirilene, a drug commonly used to treat schizophrenia, as a potential PDE5 inhibitor using computational methods. Molecular docking revealed that fluspirilene binds strongly to PDE5, supported by hydrophobic and aromatic interactions.

'They attacked you just like that': Negotiating racial epistemics in making claims about racism.

Social psychological research on race and racism has shown that claims about racism are not always accepted or received as valid reports. In this paper, I offer racial epistemics as one mechanism by which race-talk takes place. I examine how ascribing category-bound entitlements to experiential or other knowledge about racism is variously realised and complicated in the production of claims about racism.

Methionine-Derived Fluorescent Probes Targeting Mitochondria: A Tool for Real-Time Oxidative Stress Monitoring in Live Cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play crucial roles in both cell signaling and defense mechanisms. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a strong oxidant, aids the immune response by damaging pathogens. In this study, we developed two pyridinium-based fluorophores PSSM and PSSE for selective hypochlorite detection.

COX-2 Inhibitor Prediction With KNIME: A Codeless Automated Machine Learning-Based Virtual Screening Workflow.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in inflammation by converting arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. The overexpression of enzyme is associated with conditions such as cancer, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease (AD), where it contributes to neuroinflammation. In silico virtual screening is pivotal in early-stage drug discovery; however, the absence of coding or machine learning expertise can impede the development of reliable computational models capable of accurately predicting inhibitor compounds based on their chemical structure.

Integrating Model-Informed Drug Development With AI: A Synergistic Approach to Accelerating Pharmaceutical Innovation.

The pharmaceutical industry constantly strives to improve drug development processes to reduce costs, increase efficiencies, and enhance therapeutic outcomes for patients. Model-Informed Drug Development (MIDD) uses mathematical models to simulate intricate processes involved in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, as well as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Artificial intelligence (AI), encompassing techniques such as machine learning, deep learning, and Generative AI, offers powerful tools and algorithms to efficiently identify meaningful patterns, correlations, and drug-target interactions from big data, enabling more accurate predictions and novel hypothesis generation.