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We live in an age of inequality--or so we're frequently told. Across the globe, but especially in the wealthy economies of the West, the gap between the rich and the [...]

Byline: Luka. Cavka, Branko. Zakotnik Metastatic salivary duct carcinomas (SDC) are rare tumors and evidence-based guidelines for their treatment have not yet been established. Reports of such cases like ours [...]

The Meddlers: Sovereignty, Empire, and the Birth of Global Economic Governance BY JAMIE MARTIN. Harvard University Press, 2022, 352 pp. In 2010, Greece was mired in a major debt crisis. [...]

Ageing is a complex biological process with variations among individuals, leading to the development of ageing clocks to estimate biological age. Glycans, particularly in immunoglobulin G (IgG), have emerged as potential biomarkers of ageing, with changes in glycosylation patterns correlating with chronological age.

AbstractThis research aimed to determine the effectiveness of applying instructive simulation experiments (SE) to the development of deeper conceptual understanding, retention of static electricity contents, and engagement of 4th-grade students. The correlation between student achievements and engagement was examined. 76 4th graders (10–11 years) were assigned to one of the groups: direct – DI + SE (DSE) and indirect instruction – II + SE (ISE) group. The results indicate that the ISE group showed significantly better achievements on the highest cognitive level compared to the DSE group. The application of SE had a significantly greater impact on the perceived behavioral, cognitive, and agentic engagement of the ISE group compared to the DSE group. A positive correlation was observed between student engagement and achievements.

Trust and distrust are important elements of the fiduciary relationship in the professions. Whether to trust or to distrust someone is a decision that has real consequences for success or failure of secret operations in undercover policing, in fraud investigation, or in audit. In this article, we focus on the spying profession as an extreme context in which we attempt to answer the question: how do spies navigate the trust/distrust dynamic in their work? The world of spies has often been out of bounds for those studying the professions and given that field studies in this context are extremely difficult, we analyzed biographies and autobiographies of secret agents. Based on our analysis, we identified different functions of trust and distrust: trust can be used as an instrument of manipulation and an option of last resort, while distrust is a protective mechanism aimed at shielding from vulnerability. We argue that a better understanding of trust and distrust dynamic may illuminate some of the behaviours of people in other professions.

Formamide (NH2CHO) is the simplest molecule containing a peptide linkage [−NH–C(═O)−], and it plays an essential role in the study of prebiotic chemistry. Exposure to UV irradiation allows formamide to decompose and act as a prebiotic feedstock in the formation of nucleobases and other necessary starting materials. The photodissociation mechanism of gaseous formamide at 193 nm is studied using (a) chirped-pulse Fourier transform millimeter-wave spectroscopy in the 260–290 GHz spectral region in a room-temperature flow-tube reactor at 1 μbar pressure, (b) a combination of electronic structure theory, transition state theory, and quasiclassical trajectories, and (c) the Active Thermochemical Tables. The HCN and HNC photoproducts of hydrogenated (NH2CHO) and deuterated (NH2CDO and ND2CHO) formamide precursors are examined to gain insight into the photodissociation mechanism. The theoretical investigation has characterized the main pathway leading to each of the HCN/HNC isomers from the precursor isotopologues. The theoretical branching ratio [HNC]/[HCN] = 2.1 for nascent photofragments agrees with the experiment. The effect of the postphotolysis HNC ↔ HCN isomerization on the [HNC]/[HCN] ratio is predicted. We report the experimental branching ratio [HNCO]: ([HNC] + [HCN]) = 12 ± 3 and propose that most of HNCO originates from dissociation on the S1electronic state of formamide.

ABSTRACTContemporary education adopts various new visualisation techniques for content to be learned. Recently, research on the application of 3D modelling and printing (3DMP) has been expanding. However, as the latest literature reviews indicate, little research is available on the contribution of 3DMP to learning of students with blindness (SWB) and students without disabilities (SWOD). This research aims to fill the gap through an exploratory case study, conducted in an inclusive Biology classroom in a primary school. Eight SWOD and four SWB (12 years old) participated in the study. The focus of the research was on pre-interventional and post-interventional students’ knowledge about cells, and students’ views on using 3DMP in Biology education. The data was analysed using Grounded Theory. The results indicate that 3DMP contributes to students’ learning by improving the ability to enumerate, describe, and visualise the cell and its parts, by remediating some of the students’ misconceptions and by increasing communication within a classroom. In terms of encountered obstacles, SWB noted that the quality of 3D models could cause new misconceptions. Adjusting the ratio, positioning and scaling of printed objects, inaccuracy in printing, and long printing process, are some of the problems which students encounter in 3DMP.

Globally, marine bioinvasions threaten marine ecosystem structure and function, with the Mediterranean Sea being one of the most affected regions. Such invasions are expected to increase due to climate change. We conducted a risk screening of marine organisms (37 fishes, 38 invertebrates, and 9 plants), both extant and ‘horizon’ (i.e., not present in the area but likely to enter it). Based on expert knowledge for the Eastern Adriatic Sea coasts of Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro, screenings were conducted under both current and predicted climate conditions indicating with an increase in sea surface temperature and salinity of the Adriatic Sea together with changes in precipitation regime. Our aims were to: (1) identify non-native extant and horizon marine species that may pose threats to native biodiversity and (2) evaluate the risk of invasiveness of the selected species under current and predicted climate conditions. Of the 84 species screened, there was an increase in those ranked as ‘high risk’ from 33 (39.3%) under current climate conditions and to 47 (56.0%) under global warming scenarios. For those ranked as ‘very high’ risk, the increase was from 6 (7.1%) to 21 (25.0%). Amongst the screened species, the already established high-risk species Pacific oyster Magallana gigasand Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidusrepresent a threat to ecosystem services. Given the under-representation of marine species in the current European Union List, the species we have ranked as high to very high risk should be included.

Capitalism rules the world. With only the most minor exceptions, the entire globe now organizes economic production the same way: labor is voluntary, capital is mostly in private hands, and [...]

The invasion of Ukraine and military operations around Ukrainian nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities have prompted us to search for radiocaesium in mosses from the Kopački Rit Nature Park in Croatia, since mosses are known bioindicators of airborne radioactive pollution, and Kopački Rit is a known low radiocaesium background area. Sampling was finished in August 2023, and our analysis found no elevated radiocaesium levels. Kopački Rit therefore remains a suitable place for future detection of anthropogenic radioactive pollutants.

Thromboembolic events are a common cause of morbidity and mortality with significant socioeconomic impact especially when young patients are affected. They are a rare medical event in young people and their clinical presentation can be mild or asymptomatic. The manifestation of symptoms and thrombotic events depends on both: the genetic mutations and the external risk factors that will induce the process. We present a case of a 34-year old young female, with three consecutive cerebrovascular insults in a period of ten years, and an acute myocardial infarction. There is a combination of gene mutations and polymorphism, with a predisposition to thromboembolic events. We emphasized the role of e-NOS (Endothelial nitric oxide synthase 786 T>C mutation) and the connection with smoking. The dual effect of the prolonged smoking and dysfunctional nitric oxide synthase in our young patient led to several thrombotic events. We discussed the various diagnostic tests and possible therapeutic and prophylactic strategies.

Background: Essential phospholipids (EPL) are hepatoprotective. Methods: The effects on interleukin (IL)-6 and -8 secretion and on certain lipid-metabolizing enzymes of non-cytotoxic concentrations of EPL (0.1 and 0.25 mg/ml), polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC), and phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) (both at 0.1 and 1 mg/ml), compared with untreated controls, were assessed in human hepatocyte cell lines (HepG2, HepaRG, and steatotic HepaRG). Results: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-6 secretion was significantly decreased in HepaRG cells by most phospholipids, and significantly increased in steatotic HepaRG cells with at least one concentration of EPL and PtdIns. LPS-induced IL-8 secretion was significantly increased in HepaRG and steatotic HepaRG cells with all phospholipids. All phospholipids significantly decreased amounts of fatty acid synthase in steatotic HepaRG cells and the amounts of acyl-CoA oxidase in HepaRG cells. Amounts of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase were significantly decreased in HepG2 and HepaRG cells by most phospholipids, and significantly increased with 0.1 mg/ml PPC (HepaRG cells) and 1 mg/ml PtdIns (steatotic HepaRG cells). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was unaffected by any phospholipid in any cell line. Conclusions: EPL, PPC, and PtdIns impacted the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and affected amounts of several key lipid-metabolizing enzymes in human hepatocyte cell lines. Such changes may help liver function improvement, and provide further insights into the EPL’s mechanism of action.

Introduction: We investigated the burden of microembolic signals (MES) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and atrial fibrillation (AF), assessing their impact on functional outcomes.Patients and methods: This multicentre international prospective cohort study involved patients with AIS and either a known or newly diagnosed anticoagulant-naïve AF. All centres utilised the same transcranial Doppler machine for 1-h monitoring with bilateral 2 MHz probes within 24 h of symptom onset. Recordings underwent MES analysis by a blinded central reader. The primary objectives were to ascertain the MES proportion and its association with functional outcomes assessed by the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at 90 days.Results: Between September 2019 and May 2021, we enrolled 61 patients, with a median age of 78 years (interquartile range 73–83) and a median stroke severity score of 11 (interquartile range 4–18). MES were observed in 14 patients (23%), predominantly unilateral (12/14, 86%), with a median rate of 6 counts/hour (interquartile range 4–18). MES occurrence was higher post-thrombectomy and among those with elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels (p< 0.05). A worse mRS score of 3–6 was more frequent in patients with MES, occurring in 11/14 (79%), compared to those without MES, 20/47 (43%), with an adjusted odds ratio of 5.04 (95% CI, 1.15–39.4), p= 0.04.Conclusions: Nearly a quarter of patients with AIS and AF exhibited silent microembolization after the index event. Detecting MES within 24 h post-stroke (using transcranial Doppler) could signify a marker of poor functional outcomes. Subsequent trials will assess if very early antithrombotic treatment might enhance outcomes in this highly selective group of cardioembolic stroke patients. (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06018090).

This article explores the role of dark money and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in shaping the political landscape and targeting progressive members of Congress, such as the Squad. AIPAC's efforts align with Wall Street and corporate interests, and they have been spending significant amounts of money to remove critics of Israel from Congress. However, there is a growing resistance to this influence, and AIPAC's tactics may be losing effectiveness. The article provides examples of progressive candidates being targeted and the impact of outside spending on elections. It also discusses the motivations behind donations and AIPAC's reputation and strategic choices. The article concludes by highlighting the need for a long-term strategy to challenge AIPAC's power. [Extracted from the article]

•FHD-286 reduced chromatin accessibility, repressed c-Myc and PU.1, and diminished leukemia-initiating potential in AML stem/progenitor cells.•FHD-286 combined with BET or menin inhibitor reduced AML burden and improved survival in xenograft models of AML with MLL1r or mtNPM1.