Plant Introduction
Not a member yet
60263 research outputs found
Sort by
Introduction Archives, Temporalities, and Spaces of Revolution
No full textWhat is the relationship between theater and revolution? This introduction proposes a critical framework by integrating comparative approaches to revolutionary studies and approaches to historiography and cultural memory rooted in theater and performance studies, within the large body of scholarly literature on theater and revolution. Acknowledging the volume's broad global and temporal scope, it poses a series of generative, transferable questions for teasing out performance's role in the unfolding and anticipation of political revolutions, as well as in the aftermath, including the inscription of past events as "revolutionary." Analyses from the revolutionary contexts of 1790s France, the history and legacy of the Haitian Revolution, the Cuban Revolution, the United States in the 1960s, and twenty-first-century Tunisia and Egypt help to elucidate these questions while establishing global points of reference. The Introduction also presents three key paradigms for understanding the relationships between theater and revolution across cultural contexts: (1) theater as an archive of past revolutions, (2) revolutionary time, and (3) revolutionary spaces. These three paradigms make up the thematic organization for the volume. Brief chapter summaries display the breadth of revolutionary contexts featured and each author's methodological approach and answers to the questions raised, within the theoretical framework of the selected paradigm
Photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol and parathion using gel-like carbon dots under simulated solar irradiation
No full textIn this work, gel-like carbon dots (gelCDs), synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction between citric acid and 1,2ethylenediamine, were investigated as a sustainable, metal-free advanced oxidation processes universal photocatalyst for the degradation of common persistent organic pollutants. In order to prove the universality of this photocatalyst, we have tested the photocatalytic oxidative degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and parathion, two common persistent organic pollutants with unrelated structures, under simulated solar light. Photocatalytic advanced oxidation process degradation experiments demonstrated efficient removal of both pollutants, with the process following pseudo-first-order kinetics for 2,4-DCP and zero-order kinetics for parathion. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger studies identified superoxide radicals (O2-& sdot;) and photogenerated holes (h+) as the dominant oxidative species, supported by consistent inhibition trends across both pollutants. The catalyst retained photocatalytic activity over multiple reuse cycles, indicating moderate operational stability. These findings position gelCDs as a potential promising candidate for solar-driven wastewater treatment applications.</p
Critical Communication Research with Global Inclusivity
No full textCritical Communication Research with Global Inclusivity provides a critical lens through which to prepare, engage and read communication research methods.
Inviting new and innovative perspectives that question the status quo and push the boundaries of knowledge production, the book begins with the premise of global inclusivity, intentionally correcting the power imbalance of research conducted by those in areas of privilege against those in conditions of marginality. Building on emerging research on and from the Global South, this book echoes a growing need to interested students and scholars, not only to advance the subject of this work, but also to strengthen communication scholarship overall. Inspired by knowledge formed through feminist, critical and postcolonial perspectives, the book questions the imbalance of our knowledge production and suggests avenues for improvement.
Accompanying scholars in their negotiating processes to conduct research in non-Western contexts and supporting graduate and postgraduate students in research that does not conform to the standards developed in Western academic cultures, this volume will be of interest to those working in intercultural communication, interpersonal communication, research methods in communication, critical communication studies and journalism, as well as those from adjacent fields such as political studies, anthropology, sociology and area studies
Nitric Oxide Reduction at a Single Iron Site Facilitated by Second Coordination Sphere Hydrogen Bonding via a Putative Fe(IV)-Oxo Intermediate
No full textMetalloenzymes use second coordination sphere (SCS) hydrogen bond (H-bond) donors and acceptors to facilitate small molecule activation by lowering the activation energies for chemical transformations or by stabilizing reactive intermediates. Borovik and co-workers studied the role of SCS groups in dioxygen and chalcogen activation in well-defined mononuclear model complexes. Here, we use the same complex, K[Fe
(H
L)], to study the role of H-bonding for nitric oxide (NO) activation. Remarkably, in solution, K[Fe
(H
L)] is capable of direct NO reduction to nitrous oxide (N
O) at a single Fe center. Initial formation of a hs-{FeNO}
intermediate is followed by fast attack by a second NO molecule to form N
O and a putative Fe
═O intermediate, which then undergoes multiple decomposition pathways, forming an antiferromagnetically coupled
= 1/2 Fe
/Fe
dimer and a diamagnetic diferric species as confirmed by Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopy. Notably, in the absence of the SCS H-bond donors, only the formation of a stable hs-{FeNO}
species is observed. Intermediates of NO reduction were observed by reacting K[Fe
(H
L)] in the solid state with NO, which leads to the formation of hs-{FeNO}
species, N
O, and the Fe
═O intermediate, as confirmed by IR spectroscopy. To the best of our knowledge, direct reduction of NO at a single Fe center has not been reported. Furthermore, the ability to form a high-valent metal-oxo species directly from NO is unprecedented for nonheme iron chemistry. This novel reactivity has significant implications in biology and for catalytic systems for NO
reduction
Influence of Race, Ethnicity, and Nativity on Distribution and Outcomes Among Women With Choriocarcinoma in Florida
No full textIntroductionWhile race/ethnicity are established factors of risk and outcomes for multiple cancers in women, nativity may more precisely estimate cancer risk and survival. The role of nativity in choriocarcinoma, a form of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia arising from the placenta, is unexplored. Our objective was to examine how race, ethnicity, and nativity influence disease presentation and survival in women with choriocarcinoma in Florida.MethodsUsing the Florida Cancer Data System (FCDS), we identified women diagnosed with choriocarcinoma from 1981-2020. Clinicodemographic data were extracted, including nativity (US-born/Non-US-born). Statistical analyses included chi-square, Cox proportional hazards models, and Kaplan-Meier method, with significance set at
< 0.05.Results262 eligible patients were included. Black women more frequently presented with distant disease vs White women (63.8% vs 46.2%,
= 0.05). Non-US-Born women were older at diagnosis than US-born (32.8 vs 26.7 years,
< 0.01) and received fewer surgical and radiation treatments (
< 0.05). Nativity, ethnicity, and race were not associated with overall survival (OS) (all
> 0.05). Multivariable analyses adjusted for race and birthplace showed increasing age (HR 1.05 [1.02-1.09],
= 0.023) and surgical treatment (HR 0.28 [0.09-0.79],
= 0.016) were associated with OS. Despite favorable OS, survival curves diverged after initial treatment, favoring White over Black patients, and Hispanic over Non-Hispanic patients, though neither were statistically significant (
> 0.05).ConclusionRace and nativity are associated with variations in choriocarcinoma presentation and treatment course but do not affect survival. Race and ethnicity may predict post-treatment, long-term survival, though whether this reflects choriocarcinoma biology or broader disparities remain unclear
Activating Muscarinic Receptor Signaling in Intrapancreatic Neurons Is Required for Parasympathetic Cholinergic Control of Pancreatic Cell Function
No full textThe parasympathetic nervous system modulates hormone and digestive enzyme secretion from the pancreas. However, the mechanisms of neuroeffector transmission within the final parasympathetic pathway in the pancreas have not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that intrapancreatic cholinergic neurons are bona fide postganglionic neurons that functionally couple vagal input to target cells in the pancreas. In living pancreatic slices from various mice expressing genetically encoded sensors and actuators, we found that intrapancreatic neurons responded to cholinergic input via nicotinic and muscarinic M1 acetylcholine receptors. However, only muscarinic receptor signaling was necessary and sufficient to elicit responses in exocrine and endocrine target cells. We established that muscarinic receptor signaling in intrapancreatic neurons is linked to the potassium M-current, thus producing the sustained reverberating activity required to efficiently modulate insulin and glucagon secretion and elicit oscillatory responses in acinar cells. Whereas intrapancreatic neurons triggered responses in acinar cells without additional stimulation, they only primed and amplified hormone secretion already stimulated by changes in glucose levels. This mechanistic insight into how intrapancreatic neurons regulate pancreas function challenges canonical models of parasympathetic neurotransmission and is critical to understanding autonomic control of the pancreas.
Neurotransmission mechanisms at the final parasympathetic pathway in the pancreas have not been elucidated. We manipulated and recorded neuronal and target cell responses in living pancreatic slices to assess how intrapancreatic neurons affect pancreatic cell function. Activating muscarinic receptor signaling in intrapancreatic neurons was required to trigger exocrine cell activity and modulate endocrine cell secretion. Our findings revise conventional models of parasympathetic neuronal control of pancreatic function
Nasal Retinal Degeneration Is a Feature of a Subset of CRX-Associated Retinopathies
No full textBackground/Objectives: Genetic variants in the cone–rod homeobox (CRX) gene, a transcription factor critical for the differentiation, function, and survival of photoreceptors, are a rare cause of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). CRX-associated retinopathies can produce variable phenotypes, including Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), maculopathy (M), cone-rod dystrophy (CRD), and rod-cone dystrophy (RCD), such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Based on clinical observations at our eye institute, we hypothesized that nasal retinal degeneration is a feature of CRX-associated maculopathy and M/CRD. Methods: We performed an IRB-approved, retrospective review of patients at our eye institute with CRX-associated retinopathy to assess the frequency of nasal degeneration and potential genotype–phenotype correlations. Results: A total of 15 patients with a CRX-associated retinopathy and meeting the inclusion criteria were identified (LCA 3, RCD/RP 2, M/CRD 10). Overall, nasal degeneration occurred in 8 of 15 patients (53.3%) in the cohort. Nasal retinal degeneration was seen in the M/CRD (6 of 10; 60.0%) as well as LCA groups (2 of 3; 66.6%). No significant differences in age, gender, or presenting visual acuity were observed between patients with and without nasal degeneration. Genetic variants associated with nasal degeneration are localized to both the homeobox motif and activation domain. Intronic variants were relatively more common in patients with nasal degeneration, while missense variants predominated in those without, although these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: We conclude that nasal degeneration is a feature of a subset of CRX-associated phenotypes, affects both genders, and can be caused by genetic variants in multiple locations and of various subtypes
Romiplostim for Prevention of Severe Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Lymphoma Patients—Phase I Study
No full textBackground/Objectives: Intensive chemotherapy is the cornerstone of lymphoma treatment but often leads to severe chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (sCIT), resulting in treatment delays, reduced dose intensity, and the need for transfusions. While granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) are commonly used to manage neutropenia, the use of thrombopoietic growth factors has not been adequately studied. Methods: This phase I dose-finding study evaluated the use of weekly romiplostim as prophylaxis for recurrent sCIT in patients undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. Eligible patients were those treated with a 21-day chemotherapy cycle who previously experienced sCIT, thus serving as their own “controls”. sCIT was defined as one of the following: (A) a platelet count (PLT) 450 × 109/L. Romiplostim prevented recurrent grade 4 thrombocytopenia in 47% of the chemotherapy cycles and averted recurrent transfusion in 65% of cycles. Notably, low starting doses, as used in solid malignancies, were insufficient, leading to recurrent thrombocytopenia. Conclusions: Romiplostim was well-tolerated, with no thromboembolic events, and allowed most patients to complete their chemotherapy on schedule at full dose intensity
GJB2-Related Hearing Loss: Genotype-Phenotype Correlations, Natural History, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies
No full textThis review integrates molecular, clinical, and translational data to provide an updated understanding of
-related deafness and its emerging treatment landscape. Truncating mutations in
typically cause severe-profound hearing loss (HL) phenotypes, whereas non-truncating alleles are often associated with milder or progressive phenotypes. Geographic variation in variant prevalence contributes to regional differences in disease burden. Beyond the coding region, deletions and cis-regulatory mutations within the DFNB1 locus, including
and
, can influence HL severity when compounded with other pathogenic
variants. DFNB1 hearing loss generally presents as symmetric, bilateral, and flat to gently sloping across frequencies, with preserved cochlear neurons that support excellent cochlear implant (CI) outcomes. Early implantation CI in
-positive children yields superior speech and language development compared with non-
etiologies. Emerging therapies include dual-AAV (AAV1 + AAV-ie/ScPro) delivery, achieving cell-specific Cx26 restoration, adenine base-editing for dominant-negative variants, and allele-specific suppression using RNA interference or antisense oligonucleotides. Concurrent progress in human iPSC-derived cochlear organoids provides a physiologic model to advance toward clinical trials. By integrating genotype-phenotype correlations, natural history insights, and advances in molecular therapeutics, this review presents a comprehensive update on
-related HL and highlights how gene-based strategies are poised to change the treatment of this condition
Orbital mode structure of random vectorial light beams
No full textA characterization of a structured, stationary light beam having any distributions of polarization and orbital angular momentum states is proposed via the second-order correlation of its polarization-orbitalization tensor recently introduced for treating harmonic, vectorial light beams. We show that the tensor correlation can be decomposed into pure and completely mixed states in its polarization projection and into pure, partially mixed, and completely mixed states in its orbitalization projection. We also illustrate the behavior of the polarization and orbitalization metrics, derived from these correlations, by numerical examples.A characterization of a structured, stationary light beam having any distributions of polarization and orbital angular momentum states is proposed via the second-order correlation of its polarization-orbitalization tensor recently introduced for treating harmonic, vectorial light beams. We show that the tensor correlation can be decomposed into pure and completely mixed states in its polarization projection and into pure, partially mixed, and completely mixed states in its orbitalization projection. We also illustrate the behavior of the polarization and orbitalization metrics, derived from these correlations, by numerical examples