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5,7,3′,4′,5′-pentamethoxyflavone (PMF) exhibits anti-obesity and neuroprotective effects in an obese zebrafish model
No full textObesity is a multi-chronic illness characterized by superfluous fat accumulation, contributing to significant metabolic and neurological complications. Current therapeutic approaches have limited efficacy and notable side effects, underscoring an urgent demand for novel, safer alternatives. This study is the first to investigate the anti-obesity potential of 5,7,3′,4′,5′-pentamethoxyflavone (PMF) in vivo using a zebrafish model. Our findings demonstrate that PMF administration exerts pronounced anti-obesogenic effects, evidenced by reductions in blood glucose, plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, hepatic low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Mechanistically, PMF suppressed hepatic adipogenic and lipogenic gene expression while promoting lipid catabolism through activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α) and its downstream enzymes, including acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1), medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (ACADM), and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1B (CPT-1β). Additionally, PMF markedly mitigated oxidative stress by lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels, accompanied by increased antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione S-transferase (GST). Notably, PMF effectively prevented obesity by suppressing food intake, downregulating orexigenic genes, and enhancing anorexigenic signals. Furthermore, PMF exhibited neuroprotective properties by elevating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B2 (TrkB2), revealing a novel link between metabolic and neurological regulation. This study provides pioneering, comprehensive in vivo evidence supporting PMF as a promising therapeutic candidate with dual beneficial roles in metabolic health and neuroprotection
DNA damage repair-related methylated genes RRM2 and GAPDH are prognostic biomarkers associated with immunotherapy for lung adenocarcinoma
No full textResearch has highlighted the significant role of methylated genes associated with DNA damage repair in pathogenesis of Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the potential of DNA damage repair-related gene (DDRG) methylation as a prognostic biomarker remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of methylated DDRGs in LUAD. Analysis of the TCGA-LUAD dataset revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially methylated genes (DE-MGs), from which methylated DE-DDRGs were identified. An independent prognostic risk model was constructed based on these methylated DE-DDRGs by integrating risk scores with clinical features. Additionally, the study examined responses to immunotherapy. Results indicated that CLU exhibited hypermethylation and elevated expression in LUAD tissues, while eight other genes (BUB1B, SHCBP1, RRM2, RPL39L, TRIP13, GAPDH, ENO1, and CENPM) showed high expression and hypomethylation. Among these, RRM2 and GAPDH were significantly linked to poorer overall survival. Furthermore, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) revealed that patients with LUAD in the high-risk group had lower immune scores and less immune cell infiltration. TIDE analysis suggested that patients in the low-risk group may exhibit greater sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. In conclusion, RRM2 and GAPDH represent promising prognostic and immunotherapeutic biomarkers, offering new avenues for LUAD treatment strategies
Employee Brand Relationship Quality in Pakistan Higher Education: The Role of Digital Enablement as the Moderator
Get PDFDeveloping a strong and consistent brand image that can be effectively communicated to
employees is becoming more important in today's competitive higher education context.
Making use of digital enablement opportunities to build employee brand relationships is key.
An organization can gain numerous benefits, including a prominent position in the market,
from technological advancements. A dearth of studies examining the impact of digital
enablement on the development of employee-brand relationships has been identified, with a
focus on HEIs. This study investigates the complex interaction among various variables,
including communication, training, leadership, job autonomy, competence, and relatedness,
and how they influence the quality of Employee Brand Relationships (EBRQ) and the
moderating role of digital enablement on these relationships. This study focuses on data
collected from 541 participants employed in Pakistan's higher education institutions (HEIs),
applies Social Exchange Theory and Self-Determination Theory, uses structured
questionnaires and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) within
SmartPLS 4.0 software. The analysis validates the reliability, validity, and distinctiveness of
constructs. The findings substantiate significant connections between communication,
training, leadership, job autonomy, competence, relatedness, and EBRQ. Digital enablement
significantly moderates all these relationships except for job autonomy and relatedness
Extreme philately. Top 2024 releases
Get PDFWe list the top 10 (and three runners-up) for the most unusual stamps of 2024. Our criteria are innovation as well as aesthetics. These include: the longest stamp(s), a stamp with glitter, a stamp that smells of menthol, a stamp printed on beer mat material, one like a jig-saw puzzle, a laser-cut stamp, stamps that resemble a deck of playing cards, in addition to stamps printed with gold foil, embroidered on cloth, silk paper or wood
FROM STATIC DISPLAYS TO INTERACTIVE AR: EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN AR APP FOR GEN Z AND ALPHA IN MUSEUM PUSAKA
Get PDFMuseums play a crucial role in preserving and disseminating cultural heritage; however, they often struggle to engage modern audiences who seek immersive and interactive experiences. Traditional static displays fail to engage visitors or transfer cultural values to the new generations, specifically the Gens Z and Alpha. This research explores the implementation of Augmented Reality (AR) in museum settings to enhance visitor engagement and learning effectiveness, with a particular focus on the Museum Pusaka at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in Jakarta. An applied empirical research design was utilized, two different studies involving a total of 40 and 86 students who were divided into a control or an experimental group. The experimental group used an AR mobile application that contains 3D models and interactive content, while the control group used traditional printed materials. To measure the learning outcomes and engagement, pre-and post-tests were conducted, and the data were analysed and compared using paired sample t-tests and ANCOVA. The results showed significant improvements in both learning and engagement among participants using the AR mobile application. These findings indicate that AR has the potential to transform the museum exhibit more engaging, interactive, and impactful
Voice Metaphors in Female Magazines in The United States and China
Get PDFFeminism plays a crucial role in advancing gender equality and social justice. Among others, magazines are critical in shaping public understanding of feminism. Metaphors in feminist discourse enrich expressions and shape societal attitudes. Existing studies focus on newspapers, literary works, and social media, while magazines remain underexplored. This study investigates how voice metaphors in women’s magazines from the United States and China reflect feminist ideologies utilizing Kövecses’ (2017) Multilevel View of Conceptual Metaphors. A comparative analysis of 5,280 articles (5.3 million words) from Ms. and Bust, 中国妇女 (Women of China), and 婚姻与家庭 (Marriage and Family) published between July 1st, 2023 and June 30th, 2024 was conducted. Findings reveal that voice metaphors portray protest in American magazines, framing vocal expression as individual empowerment and resistance against systemic silencing. On the other hand, voice metaphors portray harmony in Chinese magazines, prioritizing state-me-diated dialogues, which symbolically link feminist discourse to nationalist projects. These divergences underscore the contrast between neoliberal individualism in American society and postfeminist discourses that stigmatize feminism as radical or self-serving in Chinese society. The findings show that metaphors in feminist discourse constructed by media practitioners are moulded by prevailing cultural and political ideologies. The findings from the cross-cultural analysis of metaphorical mappings on feminism enriches global feminist scholarship, by revealing the paradoxical role of metaphors in perpetuating and challenging patriarchal structures
Review Studies on Task based Language Teaching Method and Teaching Mandarin as a Foreign Language
No full textThe Task based Language Teaching method (TBLT) which also known as Task based Approach (TBA) or Task based Instruction (TBI) was proposed by Prabhu. It became popular in the 1990s, which earned the title of "The Age of Task". This teaching approach is appl icable to second language or foreign language teaching. The application of TBLT method helps to mobilize learners' subjective initiative and enhance students' language creativity. The authenticity principle of the T BLT method enables learners to learn, use , and create language through participation in real life situations. This paper briefly describes the application of the theoretical basis, teaching mode, and the roles of teachers and students of the TBLT in teaching Chinese as a foreign language. It also makes an evaluation and reflection on the application of task based teaching in teaching Chinese as a foreign language based on previous research, aiming to provide reference for learning Chinese as a second language or foreign language
Penerimaan Guru Menggunakan Google Classroom Dalam Pembelajaran Teradun Matematik
No full textKajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti dan menentukan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi penerimaan guru untuk menggunakan Google Classroom dalam Pembelajaran Teradun matematik berdasarkan model UTAUT. Kajian ini telah menggunakan kaedah tinjauan dan borang soal selidik secara dalam talian melalui aplikasi Google Forms untuk proses pengumpulan data. Responden kajian ini terdiri daripada 288 orang guru yang mengajar matematik sekolah rendah di Sarawak. Teknik persampelan yang digunakan ialah teknik persampelan kluster dan persampelan rawak secara perkadaran. Data kajian ini telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan perisian IBM SPSS Statistics Versi 27 dan perisian SmartPLS 4.0. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa tahap persepsi guru terhadap faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi penerimaan guru untuk menggunakan Google Classroom dalam Pembelajaran Teradun matematik sekolah rendah di Sarawak adalah pada tahap yang sederhana sahaja. Dapatan kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa Pengaruh Sosial (PS), Keadaan Kemudahan (KK) dan Sikap (SK) mempunyai hubungan yang positif dan signifikan terhadap Penerimaan Guru (PG) untuk menggunakan Google Classroom dalam Pembelajaran Teradun matematik sekolah rendah di Sarawak. Manakala Jangkaan Prestasi (JP), Jangkaan Usaha (JU) dan Nilai Pembelajaran (NP) tidak mempunyai hubungan yang positif dan signifikan terhadap Penerimaan Guru (PG) untuk menggunakan Google Classroom dalam Pembelajaran Teradun matematik sekolah rendah di Sarawak. Keenam-enam faktor peramal atau pemboleh ubah bebas (JP, JU, PS, KK, NP dan SK) menyumbang sebanyak 73.5% varian terhadap pemboleh ubah PG. Secara teoretikalnya, kajian ini menyumbang kepada peluasan ilmu dan teori sedia ada (model UTAUT) kepada tiga dimensi utama iaitu peluasan teknologi (technological extension), peluasan populasi (population extension) dan penambahan pemboleh ubah baharu. Dari aspek empirikal, kajian ini menyediakan satu model spesifik yang menjelaskan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi penerimaan guru untuk menggunakan Google Classroom khususnya dalam kalangan guru matematik sekolah rendah di Sarawak. Dari aspek praktikal, dapatan kajian dipercayai dapat memberi input yang berguna kepada pelbagai pihak untuk merancang, mengurus dan menilai kejayaan pelaksanaan inisiatif penggunaan Google Classroom khususnya di sekolah rendah di Sarawak