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Graddiv-conforming spectral element method for fourth-order div problems
No full textThis paper introduces a novel numerical method to solve fourth-order div problems using graddiv-conforming spectral elements on cuboidal meshes. We start by determining the continuity requirements for graddiv-conforming spectral elements, followed by constructing these elements using generalized Jacobi polynomials and the Piola transformation. The resulting basis functions exhibit a hierarchical structure, making them easily extendable to higher orders. We apply these graddiv-conforming spectral elements to solve the fourth-order div problem and present numerical examples to verify both the efficiency and effectiveness of the method.</p
RNA catalysis moving towards metabolic reactions:progress with ribozyme catalyzed alkyl transfer
No full textThe RNA world hypothesis proposes that the early stages of the emergence of life on Earth comprised primitive cells in which RNA acted both to store genetic information and catalyze chemical reactions as RNA enzymes (ribozymes). Most contemporary ribozymes catalyze phosphoryl transfer reactions, but early ribozymes would have been required to catalyze a broader range of metabolic interconversions. None has been found in modern cells, yet ribozymes have been generated by in vitro evolution to catalyze several different chemical reactions, providing proof of principle of RNA-catalyzed metabolism. Recently, several different ribozymes that accelerate methyl or alkyl transfer have been isolated. As we discuss here, one of these, MTR1, uses a remarkably sophisticated catalytic mechanism involving nucleobase-mediated general acid catalysis.</p
Being a Kalpwasi:Pilgrimage and Identity on the Banks of the Ganga<sup>1</sup>
No full textThis chapter presents the findings of a research program focused on the lived experiences of pilgrims undertaking Kalpvas during the Prayag Magh Mela (a culturally distinctive mass gathering event which involves living on the banks of the holy Ganga at Allahabad). The research focused on the experience of a shared social identity among Kalpwasis and how this impacted their social relations with each other (e.g., their ability to coordinate the enactment of culturally specific values and beliefs). The analysis of this culturally specific pilgrimage illustrates the importance of bringing culture to the center stage of social psychological studies.</p
Toward a critical study of boundaries in and around organizations:Introduction to the Special Issue
No full textThis introduction to the Special Issue makes the political implications of boundaries in and around organizations the central locus of inquiry. It explores the experiences and interests of those who encounter marginalization and exclusion through processes of boundary drawing. Next to introducing the individual papers of the Special Issue and identifying overlapping themes across them, we highlight opportunities to inspire future research on the ambivalence of the enabling and constraining effects of boundaries, the role of different power positions for negotiating boundaries, how boundaries are brought in and out of consciousness and how boundaries are connected with (inter)national boundary drawing.</p
HvABI5 is an important ABA-dependent regulator of drought stress response at heading time in barley
No full textAbscisic acid (ABA) and the ABA-dependent bZIP transcription factor ABA INSENSITIVE5 (HvABI5) are involved in regulating ecophysiological responses during the reproductive phase of barley under drought stress. Here, we show that a mutant allele of HvABI5, Hvabi5.d, exhibits disturbed photosynthesis and leaf stomatal closure in response to drought applied at heading (when the inflorescence emerges from the flag leaf), resulting in both reduced height and yield. Comparative transcriptome analysis of RNA from the second leaf below the flag leaf revealed increased expression of genes involved in stress response and jasmonic acid biosynthesis in Hvabi5.d under drought. In contrast, Flowering Locus T (HvFT) and auxin-related genes showed decreased expression. The metabolome of Hvabi5.d revealed increased amounts of dihydrojasmonic acid and the inactive auxin indole-3-carboxylic acid in response to drought. ABA treatment of Hvabi5.d at booting (when the flag leaf sheath extends and becomes visibly swollen) induced expression of ABA-dependent kinases along with barley MADS-box 3 (HvBM3) and barley MADS-box 8 (HvBM8), genes involved in flowering regulation, in leaves. Our data indicate that HvABI5 is a key ABA-dependent stress regulator in barley and plays an essential role in ABA crosstalk with jasmonic acid and auxin under drought at the reproductive phase of inflorescence development.</p
Feasibility of integrating depression care into tuberculosis services in India
Get PDFBackground Depression is three times more common in Tuberculosis (TB) patients than in the general population and worsens TB outcomes, often goes undetected or untreated. Integrating depression care into existing TB services is essential. Objectives To develop and assess the feasibility of a tailored care pathway that integrates depression screening and management into existing TB services in India. Methods The study was conducted in three TB care facilities in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, in two phases: (i)Co-design of tailored depression in the TB care pathway through a series of workshops. (ii)Testing the feasibility of the pathway A training manual was developed and used to train TB health workers. The feasibility of the care pathway was assessed by evaluating the proportion of persons with TB attending each facility during the study period who were screened for depression, as well as through a series of feedback workshops to assess acceptability. Results A total of 114/164 (69.51 %) TB patients underwent screening over a six month period, with seven reporting scores of over 2 on the PHQ-2. The feedback workshops identified the acceptability and appropriateness of the tools, as well as areas for improvement in knowledge and understanding. Addressing complex health issues such as suicidality, alcohol and tobacco use and the burden on existing staff due to a higher volume of cases reported as challenges. Conclusions This care pathway warrants further testing to establish its feasibility in a larger context and to understand how to optimise its wider implementation, scale-up and sustainability.</p
Philtrum morphology and its dental correlates:a cross-sectional study of sex and age variation
No full textThe philtrum is a key perioral landmark contributing to facial aesthetics. While sex, age, and ancestry influence philtrum morphology, its relationship with underlying dental structures remains underexplored. This study aimed to classify philtrum morphology, quantify its dimensions in an adult cohort, and examine associations with sex, age, and upper dental measurements. The study cohort consisted of 99 adults of European background (71 females, 28 males). Anthropometric assessment was conducted using digital calipers and standardized frontal photography. Philtrum morphology was classified by two independent observers. Statistical analyses included t-tests, correlations, and multiple regression, with additional predictive modelling using machine learning. Parallel morphology was the most common (55.7%). Philtrum height and width were significantly greater in males than females (p < 0.001). Philtrum width and height showed moderate positive correlations with age. In females, central incisor lengths showed moderate negative correlations with age. Multiple regression identified sex and first premolar width as significant predictors of philtrum width and sex, age, and upper central incisor length as predictors of philtrum height. Machine learning models substantially improved predictive accuracy compared to multiple regression, explaining 72% of the variance in philtrum width and 58% in philtrum height. Inter-observer agreement for morphological classification was high. These findings indicate that philtrum morphology varies with sex and age and is associated with underlying dental structures. The study contributes to understanding soft tissue–hard tissue relationships and provides reference data with relevance to aesthetic, orthodontic, and reconstructive contexts.</p
Energy Bounds from Relative Magnetic Helicity in Spherical Shells
Get PDFRelative magnetic helicity is commonly used in solar physics to avoid the well known gauge ambiguity of standard magnetic helicity in magnetically open domains. But its physical interpretation is difficult owing to the invocation of a reference field. For the specific case of spherical shell domains (with potential reference field), relative helicity may be written intrinsically in terms of the magnetic field alone, without the need to calculate the reference field or its vector potential. We use this intrinsic expression to prove that non-zero relative helicity implies lower bounds for both magnetic energy and free magnetic energy, generalizing the important Arnol'd inequality known for closed-field magnetic helicity. Further, we derive a stronger energy bound by spatially decomposing the relative helicity over a magnetic partition of the domain to obtain a new ideal invariant which we call unsigned helicity. The bounds are illustrated with analytical linear force-free fields (that maximize relative helicity for given boundary conditions) as well as a non-potential data-driven model of the solar corona. These bounds confirm that both relative helicity and the unsigned helicity can influence the dynamics in the solar corona
The synthesis of antibacterial ZnO nanoparticle incorporated polyethersulfone (PES) membranes through green chemistry
Get PDFIn conventional fabrication methods of polymer membranes, toxic solvents are widely used that result in significant water pollution, additionally, membrane function can be enhanced by the incorporation of nanoparticles (NP) to impart properties into them such as antimicrobial activity. To identify if a more environmentally friendly solvent can replace toxic solvents whilst enhancing membrane functionally by NPs, N,N-dimethyl lactamide (DML) was employed in the synthesis of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes and its performance was compared with the traditionally used toxic solvent of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The successful synthesis of PES by DML and NMP with varying concentrations of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) NPs were achieved and were systematically characterized via different techniques to evaluate their structure, morphology, and performance. The results show that the DML-based PES–ZnO membranes exhibit a more uniform pore size distribution and higher porosity than the NMP-based PES membranes. Antibacterial tests further demonstrated that, at the same ZnO NPs concentration, the DML-based PES membrane offers a superior antimicrobial activity, highlighting DML to be a promising green chemical to replace NMP for sustainable synthesis of NP enhanced PES membranes
GLP-1RA precision medicine in people with type 2 diabetes:current insights and future prospects
Get PDFGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have become an essential drug class for treating type 2 diabetes, offering proven benefits in glycemic control, weight reduction, and cardiovascular and renal protection. However, growing evidence of heterogeneity in GLP-1RA treatment effects highlights the potential for developing precision medicine approaches to more accurately allocate GLP-1RAs to maximize patient benefit. In this Review, we explore the evidence for treatment effect heterogeneity with GLP-1RAs, focusing on clinical and genetic factors that robustly influence established therapeutic outcomes. We also highlight the potential of recent predictive models that integrate routine clinical data with personalize treatment decisions, comparing GLP-1RA to other major type 2 diabetes drug classes. While such models have shown considerable promise in identifying optimal type 2 diabetes treatment based on glycemic response, their utility for informing treatment choice for other clinical outcomes remains largely unexplored
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