Dynamic Intervention in Gene Regulatory Networks: A Partially Observed Zero-Sum Markov Game.

Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs) are pivotal in governing diverse cellular processes, such as stress response, DNA repair, and mechanisms associated with complex diseases like cancer. The interventions in GRNs aim to restore the system state to its normal condition by altering gene activities over time. Unlike most intervention approaches that rely on the direct observability of the system state and assume no response of the cell against intervention, this paper models the fight between intervention and cell dynamic response using a partially observed zero-sum Markov game with binary state variables.

The mediating role of English learning motivation between socioeconomic status and pragmatic awareness.

Socioeconomic status (SES) has received great attention in learning a second or foreign language (SL/FL). However, little research has investigated the association between SES and SL/FL pragmatic learning, let alone the influencing pathways of SES on SL/FL pragmatic awareness (PA). Therefore, this research aimed to address the link between learners' SES and PA with the mediating effects of learning motivation based on the L2 motivation self-system (L2MSS) theory by surveying 292 Chinese EFL university students.

Caledonian reactivation and reworking of Timanian thrust systems and implications for latest Mesoproterozoic to mid-Paleozoic tectonics and magmatism in northern Baltica.

Background: The Trollfjorden-Komagelva Fault Zone is the southernmost thrust fault of the Timanian Orogen and extends for thousands of kilometers from northwestern Russia to northern Norway. Though there is little about its location onshore northeastern Norway, where it is mapped as a major fault system dominantly comprised of NNE-dipping thrust faults, its continuation to the west below Caledonian nappes and offshore post-Caledonian sedimentary basins remains a matter of debate.

Methods: The present study provides a more definitive answer about the continuation of Trollfjorden-Komagelva Fault Zone west of the Varanger Peninsula by using seismic reflection, bathymetric, topographic, and magnetic data onshore Finnmark and offshore on the Finnmark Platform.

Timber harvesting was the most important factor driving changes in vegetation composition, as compared to climate and fire regime shifts, in the mixedwood temperate forests of Temiscamingue since AD 1830.

Context: The vegetation composition of northeastern North American forests has significantly changed since pre-settlement times, with a marked reduction in conifer-dominated stands, taxonomic and functional diversity. These changes have been attributed to fire regime shifts, logging, and climate change.

Methods: In this study, we disentangled the individual effects of these drivers on the forest composition in southwestern Quebec from 1830 to 2000 by conducting retrospective modelling using the LANDIS-II forest landscape model.

Seagrass wasting disease prevalence and lesion area increase with invertebrate grazing across the northeastern Pacific.

Disease is a key driver of community and ecosystem structure, especially when it strikes foundation species. In the widespread marine foundation species eelgrass (Zostera marina), outbreaks of wasting disease have caused large-scale meadow collapse in the past, and the causative pathogen, Labyrinthula zosterae, is commonly found in meadows globally. Research to date has mainly focused on abiotic environmental drivers of seagrass wasting disease, but there is strong evidence from other systems that biotic interactions such as herbivory can facilitate plant diseases.

Enhancing social functioning using multi-user, immersive virtual reality.

Rates of loneliness and other forms of social disconnection have been increasing worldwide. Prior studies have suggested that brief behavioral interventions can teach skills that may improve social functioning and connection but, currently, access to such interventions is limited. One previously untested approach for addressing this gap is to teach these skills using immersive, multi-user virtual reality (VR).

Synthesis and characterization of photo-cross-linkable quince seed-based hydrogels for soft tissue engineering applications.

The convenience, versatility, and biocompatibility of photocrosslinkable hydrogel precursors make them promising candidates for developing tissue engineering scaffolds. However, the current library of photosensitive materials is limited. This study reports, for the first time, the modification of quince seed mucilage (QS) with glycidyl methacrylate (GM), resulting in the synthesis of methacrylated QS (QSGM).

Toward a Consistent Framework for Describing the Free Vibration Modes of the Brain.

Frequency-domain analysis of brain tissue motion has received increased focus in recent years as an approach to describing the response of the brain to impact or vibration sources in the built environment. While researchers in many experimental and numerical studies have sought to identify natural resonant frequencies of the brain, limited description of the associated vibration modes limits comparison of results between studies. We performed a modal analysis to extract the natural frequencies and associated mode shapes of a finite element model of the head.

Mapping the priority conservation areas for three endangered Cupressaceae plants under climate change in China.

The establishment of conservation areas is an important strategy for endangered species conservation. In this study, we investigated the distributions of suitable habitat areas for three level 1 endangered Cupressaceae plants (, , and ) in China and used the Marxan model to delineate the priority conservation areas for each species. The results showed that had the broadest suitable growing area under the current climate in China and is followed by , with an area of 91 × 10 km, and had the smallest suitable habitat areas at only 7 × 10 km.

Correlation Between Gender of Department Chairs and Paid Parental Leave Benefits in Academic Dermatology Residency Programs.

Background: Although the number of women entering dermatology residency programs is increasing, they still encounter numerous challenges and disparities, including limited career opportunities and difficulties in balancing family planning with their professional lives. Parental leave policies have been recognized for their positive impact on maternal, fetal, and familial well-being, career satisfaction, and gender equality. However, negative perceptions and a lack of awareness surrounding these policies may discourage female residents from taking parental leave during training.

Design and Development of a Web-Based Registry for Outpatient Rehabilitation: A Delphi Multi-Disciplinary, Expert Consensus Study.

Background And Aims: The goal of this research was to create a minimum data set (MDS) and design a web-based registry for outpatient rehabilitation, focusing on four disciplines: speech therapy, audiology, optometry, and physical therapy. The registry was intended to enhance assessment, guide optimal care, and provide value-based and evidence-based rehabilitation management for patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized the Delphi technique at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in northeastern Iran from 2022 to 2023.

Burnt Plastic (Pyroplastic) from the M/V Ship Fire and Plastic Spill Contain Compounds That Activate Endocrine and Metabolism-Related Human and Fish Transcription Factors.

In May 2021, the M/V ship fire disaster led to the largest maritime spill of resin pellets (nurdles) and burnt plastic (pyroplastic). Field samples collected from beaches in Sri Lanka nearest to the ship comprised nurdles and pieces of pyroplastic. Three years later, the toxicity of the spilled material remains unresolved.

Sanctuary policies and type 2 diabetes medication prescription trends among community health center patients.

Immigrants in the United States are at increased risk of diabetes-related complications due to delayed diagnoses compared with US-born individuals. Immigration-related federal policies may support immigration enforcement activities and restrict some immigrants' access to health insurance and other publicly funded resources. Conversely, state and county-level sanctuary policies may reduce the fear of deportation and increase mobility in the community, improving the accessibility of essential pharmacological treatment for type 2 diabetes patients.

From FCC to BCC: Engineering Pd Nuclearity in the PdCu Catalyst to Enhance Ethylene Selectivity in Acetylene Hydrogenation.

The ability to finely tune the nuclearity of active metal sites is critical for designing highly selective catalysts, especially for hydrogenation processes. In this work, we developed a novel PdCu catalyst with an ordered body-centered cubic (BCC) structure, enabling precise control over Pd nuclearity to optimize selectivity. Using a facile polyol synthesis method, we modulated the Pd coordination environment, reducing the Pd-Pd coordination number from 3 (disordered face-centered cubic, FCC) to 0 (ordered BCC), thereby achieving full isolation of Pd by the surrounding Cu atoms.

Emergence of locally acquired Japanese encephalitis virus in Australia, January 2021-June 2022: a national case series.

Background And Methods: In March 2022, an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection was identified in temperate south-eastern Australia, with detections in humans and animals. The unexpected emergence of JEV prompted a national public health response and a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance was declared. JEV has previously only been identified in tropical north-eastern Australia in localised outbreaks.

Rigorous Analysis of Multimodal HDX-MS Spectra.

An inherent strength of hydrogen/deuterium exchange coupled to mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) is its ability to detect the presence of multiple conformational states of a protein, which often manifest as multimodal isotopic envelopes. However, the statistical considerations for accurate analysis of multimodal spectra have yet to be established. Here we outline an unrestrained binomial distribution fitting approach with the corresponding statistical tests to accurately detect and, when possible, deconvolute isotopic distributions that contain multiple subpopulations.

Senility-Related Mortality in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Context: Senility has been shown to negatively impact health outcomes. While national stressors have altered death trajectories for numerous diseases, little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on senility-related outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on senility-related mortality in the United States.

Relationship between trait mindfulness and physical activity among emerging adults: The mediating roles of exercise-related cognitive errors and trait self-control.

Objective: Exercise-related cognitive errors (ECEs) is a significant factor that can negatively influence physical activity (PA) engagement among emerging adults, whereas mindfulness interventions may be beneficial for promoting PA. Against this background, we investigated the potential association between trait mindfulness and PA levels among emerging adults and determined whether trait self-control and ECEs serve as mediators.

Method: 328 Chinese participants (61.

Evaluation of Clinically Integrated Community Health Worker Support Interventions for Adults With Cardiovascular Disease: A Literature Review Guided by the PRISM Framework.

Background And Purpose: Chronically ill individuals with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been extensively challenged by the complexities of disease management. Although clinically integrated community health worker (cCHW) support interventions have been increasingly implemented to help manage CVDs, a comprehensive analysis of interventions implemented in real-world settings is lacking. Additionally, the influence of contextual factors (eg, patient/organization characteristics) on such interventions is underexplored.

Map2k6 is a potent genetic modifier of arterial rupture in vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome mice.

Aortic dissection or rupture is a major cause of mortality in vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (vEDS), a connective tissue disorder caused by heterozygous mutations in the COL3A1 gene. C57BL6/J (BL6) mice carrying the Col3a1 G938D/+ mutation recapitulate the vEDS vascular phenotype and die suddenly of aortic rupture/dissection. However, 129S6/SvEvTac (129) mice expressing the same Col3a1 G938D/+ mutation show near-complete life-long protection from vascular rupture.

Symptom assessment related to the menstrual cycle to predict endometriosis and adenomyosis in university students.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of endometriosis and adenomyosis among university students and identify potential predictors of these diseases among these symptoms.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a private university in northeastern Brazil. The students were asked to complete an electronic questionnaire using a Google Form link.

Detection, characterization, and antibiotic resistance profiling of multidrug-resistant bacteria isolated from circulating currency in the Northeastern region of Bangladesh.

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the prevalence of multidrug resistant bacteria on paper and coin currency obtained from various occupational groups in Bangladesh and to identify the bacterial species present. The research further seeks to evaluate the antibiotic resistance patterns of the identified bacterial isolates.

Methods: 84 paper currency notes and 56 coins were collected from seven different sources.

The pattern and burden of non-communicable diseases in armed conflict-exposed populations in Northeastern Nigeria.

Background: The risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in conflict and post-conflict settings in Northeastern Nigeria has not been evaluated to date. As this region undergoes recovery, understanding the prevalence of NCDs, such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and obesity, and the associated behavioral coping mechanisms, is crucial for developing tailored healthcare solutions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of conflict on the prevalence of NCDs in conflict-exposed areas in Northeastern Nigeria compared with non-conflict regions.

A time for sex: circadian regulation of mammalian sexual and reproductive function.

The circadian clock regulates physiological and biochemical processes in nearly every species. Sexual and reproductive behaviors are two processes controlled by the circadian timing system. Evidence supporting the importance of proper clock function on fertility comes from several lines of work demonstrating that misalignment of biological rhythms or disrupted function of the body's master clock, such as occurs from repeated shift work or chronic jet lag, negatively impacts reproduction by interfering with both male and female fertility.

Effects of Lipid Headgroups on the Mechanical Properties and In Vitro Cellular Internalization of Liposomes.

We performed all-atom and coarse-grained simulations of lipid bilayer mixtures of the unsaturated lipid DOPC, with saturated lipids having the same 18-carbon acyl tails and different headgroups, to understand their mechanical properties. The secondary lipids were DSPG, DSPA, DSPS, DSPC, and DSPE. The DOPC:DSPG system with 65:35 molar ratio was the softest, with area compressibility modulus ∼ 22% smaller than the pure DOPC value.