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Character Studies
No full textA study of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot through the concept of character.Unfunde
Metalloelastase-12 is involved in the temporomandibular joint inflammatory response as well as cartilage degradation by aggrecanases in STR/Ort mice
Get PDFTemporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD) is characterised by clinical symptoms involving both the masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Disc internal derangement and osteoarthritis (OA) are the most common forms of TMJD. Currently, the molecular process associated with degenerative changes in the TMJ is unclear. Our previous study showed that elastin-digested peptides act on human TMJ synovial cells and lead to upregulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and metalloelastase-12 (MMP-12; an elastin-degrading enzyme) in vitro. However, there is limited information regarding the involvement of elastin-degradation by MMP-12 in the processes of inflammatory responses and cartilage degradation in vivo. STR/Ort mice were used as a model of TMJ OA in the present study. Significant articular cartilage degeneration was observed starting at 20 weeks of age in the STR/Ort mice and this progressed gradually until 40 weeks, compared with the age-matched CBA mice. Immunostaining analysis showed that MMP-12 and IL-6 were expressed in the chondrocytes in the superficial zones of the cartilage. Immunostaining also showed that aggrecanases [a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)-4 and ADAMTS-5] were expressed in the chondrocytes in the superficial zones of the cartilage. These findings suggest that an inflammatory and degradative process was initiated in the TMJ. Harmful mechanical stimuli, particularly pressure, may cause damage to the elastin fibres in the most elastin-rich superficial layer of the articular cartilage. Elastin-digested peptides are then generated as endogenous warning signals and they initiate a pro-inflammatory cascade. This leads to upregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as IL-6 and MMP-12, which further trigger tissue damage resulting in elevated levels of elastin-digested peptides. IL-6 increases expression of the aggrecanases ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5, following cartilage degradation. This leads to the establishment of a positive feedback loop and may result in chronic inflammation and cartilage degradation of the TMJ in vivo.Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Japa
“Out of the mouths of babes” – capturing young children's perceptions of disability through the use of diversity dolls
Get PDFThis study utilises diversity dolls to elicit children’s perceptions of visual disabilities. The study which involved 20 participants aged between six to seven years old suggests that although many children have positive attitudes towards peers with physical disabilities, attitudes are often grounded in the deficit medical model, with concepts related to medical causes, assistive devices, social consequences, and dependency. The study contributes to the literature through its use of a child-centred research method, which enabled children to offer their innermost thoughts that might have otherwise remained hidden. Some of the comments gathered were derogatory, particularly with regards to facial features, and without disability awareness education children risk carrying negative and hostile views into adulthood. Methods which unearth children’s core belief structures about disability provide an important foundation on which early years practitioners can build intervention programs to critically examine social inequalities and deconstruct problematic discourses, helping young children to develop positive attitudes towards disability.N/
Personality in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus): Temporal stability and methods of assessment
Get PDF© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.Personality is the essence of individuality in animals, affecting individual behaviours, perceptions and lived experiences. Being able to reliably assess personality in animals holds the key to understanding individual differences, and application of this knowledge is paramount in the provision of individual-level management of animals to optimise welfare. A key aspect of the definition of animal personality is ‘consistency over time’. Yet, despite the range of studies assessing elephant personality, there is a lack of consistency within methodologies and personality is usually assessed at a single point in time. Here, we examine personality data from adult members of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) herd at Chester Zoo at five separate time points, across a ten-year period (2013−2023). Data were analysed in terms of the instruments used to measure personality (differences in questions/items across assessments, presentation of the personality assessments, raters), and changes over time in elephant personality assessment scores. Select personality traits were consistent over multiple time points. Inter-rater reliability across personality adjectives is highest when keepers are involved in scale development, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between scientists and animal caregivers in building tools for evidence-based management decisions over the lifetime of animals.Chester Zo
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and the Internet of Things: A Scoping Review
Get PDF© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder impacting women’s health and quality of life. This scoping review explores the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in PCOS management. Results were grouped into six domains of the IoT: mobile apps, social media, wearables, machine learning, websites, and phone-based. A further domain was created to capture participants’ perspectives on using the IoT in PCOS management. Mobile apps appear to be useful for menstrual cycle tracking, symptom recording, and education. Despite concerns regarding the quality and reliability of social media content, these platforms may play an important role in disseminating PCOS-related information. Wearables facilitate detailed symptom monitoring and improve communication with healthcare providers. Machine learning algorithms show promising results in PCOS diagnosis accuracy, risk prediction, and app development. Although abundant, PCOS-related content on websites may lack quality and cultural considerations. While patients express concerns about online misinformation, they consider online forums valuable for peer connection. Using text messages and phone calls to provide feedback and support to PCOS patients may help them improve lifestyle behaviors and self-management skills. Advancing evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and accessible IoT solutions can enhance their potential to transform PCOS care, address misinformation, and empower women to better manage their symptoms.University of Wolverhampto
Environmental toxicology: how pervasive organic environmental pollutants cause toxicity at the molecular, cellular and organism level
Get PDF© 2024 The Author(s). FEBS Open Bio published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Federation of European Biochemical Societies.This special issue in FEBS Open Bio was conceived to highlight some of the current research and future directions regarding research in the field of environmental toxicology of some organic pollutants, in relation to human health and disease. It has long been established that man has been exposed to many new (un‐natural) organic chemicals since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, many of which are found in a vast and diverse range of products, such as agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics and electronic components, which have been instrumental in driving man's exponential advances in technology over the last 150 years. However, an unforeseen consequence of these advances is that our ecosystem has been exposed to a vast number of these organic chemicals, many of which appear to be persistent within the environment, as well as bioaccumulating in living organisms, including man.Unfunde
Designing a Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata-Based Half-Adder Circuit Using Partially Reversible Majority Gates
No full textThis conference paper is not available on ChesterRepDeveloping quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) digital circuits reversibly leads to substantial reductions in energy dissipation. However, this is usually accompanied by time delays and accompanying increases in the circuit cost metric. In this study, an innovative, partially reversible design method is presented to address the latency and circuit cost limitations of reversible design methods. The proposed partially reversible design method serves as a middle ground between fully reversible and conventional irreversible design methodologies. Compared with irreversible design methods, the partially reversible design method still optimises energy efficiency. Moreover, the partially reversible design method improves the speed and decreases the circuit cost in comparison with fully reversible design techniques. The key ingredient of the proposed partially reversible design methodology is the introduction of a partially reversible majority gate element building block. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed partially reversible design approach, a novel partially reversible half-adder circuit is designed and simulated using the QCADesigner-E 2.2 simulation tool. This tool provides numerical results for the circuit input/output response and heat dissipation at the physical level, within a microscopic quantum mechanical model.Unfunde
Mediating kinase activity in Ras-mutant cancer: Potential for an individualised approach?
Get PDFCopyright © 2024 Healy, Turner, Marensi and MacEwanIt is widely acknowledged that there is a considerable number of oncogenic mutations within the Ras superfamily of small GTPases which are the driving force behind a multitude of cancers. Ras proteins mediate a plethora of kinase pathways, including the MAPK, PI3K, and Ral pathways. Since Ras was considered undruggable until recently, pharmacological targeting of pathways downstream of Ras has been attempted to varying success, though drug resistance has often proven an issue. Nuances between kinase pathway activation in the presence of various Ras mutants are thought to contribute to the resistance, however, the reasoning behind activation of different pathways in different Ras mutational contexts is yet to be fully elucidated. Indeed, such disparities often depend on cancer type and disease progression. However, we are in a revolutionary age of Ras mutant targeted therapy, with direct-targeting KRAS-G12C inhibitors revolutionising the field and achieving FDA-approval in recent years. However, these are only beneficial in a subset of patients. Approximately 90% of Ras-mutant cancers are not KRAS-G12C mutant, and therefore raises the question as to whether other distinct amino acid substitutions within Ras may one day be targetable in a similar manner, and indeed whether better understanding of the downstream pathways these various mutants activate could further improve therapy. Here, we discuss the favouring of kinase pathways across an array of Ras-mutant oncogenic contexts and assess recent advances in pharmacological targeting of various Ras mutants. Ultimately, we will examine the utility of individualised pharmacological approaches to Ras-mediated cancer.Unfunde
Legal Implications for Clinicians in Cybersecurity Incidents: A Review
Get PDFCopyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.Cybersecurity incidents in healthcare present significant legal implications for clinicians, necessitating careful consideration of technological advancements and regulatory frameworks. This literature examines the healthcare cybersecurity landscape, emphasizing clinicians’ challenges, and legal responsibilities. It explores the impact of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, highlighting the potential benefits and risks, including biases and ethical dilemmas. The review addresses international regulatory differences, offering a comparative analysis of how various countries handle cybersecurity incidents. This analysis provides insights into best practices and identifies areas for improvement. Practical recommendations are provided, tailored to different healthcare settings, including large hospitals and small clinics, to enhance cybersecurity preparedness. Case studies illustrate real-world scenarios, offering practical guidance for clinicians in managing cybersecurity challenges. The review also identifies critical gaps in the literature, particularly concerning artificial intelligence ethics and international regulatory frameworks, suggesting specific areas for future research. These findings underscore the need for robust cybersecurity policies, comprehensive training for healthcare professionals, and a nuanced understanding of the legal landscape. This review informs policymakers, clinicians, and researchers about the evolving nature of cybersecurity challenges in healthcare, addressing key concerns raised by reviewers and contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the field.Unfunde
Government and Politics in the Gambia, 1816–1866
Get PDF© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis GroupThis paper explores the key features of government and politics in the Gambia from Bathurst’s foundation in 1816 to the establishment of the British West African Settlements in 1866. Drawing on both contemporary and more recent primary and secondary sources, as well as on information provided by family members of officials and merchants who worked in the Gambia, the paper focuses on two main issues. First, it builds on and develops the work of Anthony Kirk-Greene by exploring the overall characteristics of the three key groups of political actors: senior Gambian government officials; British and Eurafrican merchants and traders; and the local African community. Second, it examines the relations between these groups and how these changed over time. In the case of government officials, it also considers their relations with the Colonial Office and between one another. Where possible, comparisons are made with the other British West African colonies of the Gold Coast and Sierra Leone.Unfunde
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