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Global warming and greenhouse gas emissions pose severe threats to environmental sustainability. A sustainable environment is a prerequisite for long‐term socioeconomic growth and human survival. Green technology is brought about by a country's economic and financial openness, and education provides knowledge to the public and labor, contributing to environmental sustainability. Thus, this research aims to unveil the liaison between human capital, trade openness, and environmental quality for Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) countries from 1998 to 2018. Several econometric methods, including the Driscoll–Kraay standard errors and the Dumitrescu–Hurlin causality approaches, reveal long‐run and causal relationships among the modelled indicators. The Driscoll–Kraay standard error results show that human capital is negatively related to carbon dioxide emissions (CO2 emissions). Imposing high tariffs and excise duties, changing tax structures, discouraging the inflow of polluted commodities, and encouraging green trade can help BRICS combat high environmental pollution. The results show that a one‐point increase in human capital in models 1 and 2 can reduce CO2 emissions by 1.5279 and 0.1538 points, respectively. In contrast, a 1% growth in trade can lead to a rise in CO2 emissions of 0.3731% and 0.2384%, respectively. Similarly, financial development and energy consumption result in high CO2 emissions in the long run. Moreover, a feedback effect of the human capital index on CO2 emissions is discovered. As a result of the findings, the government and responsible authorities should provide financial support and encourage investments in the region's energy‐resourceful and sustainable green projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) and articular chondrocytes (AC) derive from a common pool of embryonic precursor cells. They are currently believed to engage in largely distinct differentiation programs to build synovium and articular cartilage and maintain healthy tissues throughout life. We tested this hypothesis by deeply characterizing and comparing their transcriptomic attributes. Methods: We profiled the transcriptomes of freshly isolated AC, synovium, primary FLS, and dermal fibroblasts from healthy adult humans using bulk RNA sequencing assays and downloaded published single‐cell RNA sequencing data from freshly isolated human FLS. We integrated all data to define cell‐specific signatures and validated findings with quantitative reverse transcription PCR of human samples and RNA hybridization of mouse joint sections. Results: We identified 212 AC and 168 FLS markers on the basis of exclusive or enriched expression in either cell and 294 AC/FLS markers on the basis of similar expression in both cells. AC markers included joint‐specific and pan‐cartilaginous genes. FLS and AC/FLS markers featured 37 and 55 joint‐specific genes, respectively, and 131 and 239 pan‐fibroblastic genes, respectively. These signatures included many previously unrecognized markers with potentially important joint‐specific roles. AC/FLS markers overlapped in their expression patterns among all FLS and AC subpopulations, suggesting that they fulfill joint‐specific properties in all, rather than in discrete, AC and FLS subpopulations. Conclusion: This study broadens knowledge and identifies a prominent overlap of the human adult AC and FLS transcriptomic signatures. It also provides data resources to help further decipher mechanisms underlying joint homeostasis and degeneration and to improve the quality control of tissues engineered for regenerative treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial structure plays a key role in economic and sustainable development, global competitiveness, and prosperity. Hence, it is crucial to understand the current industrial structure and technological trade in the top‐ten high‐income countries. Therefore, the aspiration of this research is to unpack the stance of upgradation of industrial structure, technological trade, and sustainable development. To this end, the second‐generation estimation approaches were adopted for the Top‐ten high‐per‐capita high‐income countries, namely, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Singapore, Norway, Sweden, and the United States from 2001 to 2018. The results drawn from the Driscoll–Kraay standard errors suggest that the current industrial structure contributes to carbon footprint and increases environmental degradation. In the same way, financial development increases environmental degradation and poses a threat to sustainable development. Contrarily, trade is negatively related to carbon footprint and curbing environmental degradation. Globalization and renewable energy mitigate carbon footprint and bring sustainable development. The HDI has a positive but insignificant relationship with carbon footprint. Additionally, the causation illustrates a reciprocal interaction between carbon footprint and trade; however, no causal link was detected between industrialization and carbon footprint. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners to formulate effective policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To carry out cross‐culture adaptation and validation of the English version of Rheumatoid Arthritis Knowledge Assessment Scale (RAKAS) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted for 2 months in 2 tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. Sample size was calculated based on item‐subject ratio. The translation was carried out using standard procedures for translation and cross‐culture adaptation. The validation process included estimation of discrimination power, item difficulty index, factorial, convergent, construct and known group validities and reliability. Reliability of the scale was estimated using Kuder‐Richardson Formula 20 and a value of σ2 ≥ 0.6 was acceptable. SPSS v23, Remark Classic OMR v6 software and MedCalc Statistical Software v16.4.3, were used to analyze the data. The study was approved by the relevant ethics committee (IRB#NOV:15). Results: The mean score was 7.68 ± 2.52 (95% CI: 7.31‐8.05) for 177 patients. The σ2 = 0.601, that is, >0.6, test‐retest reliability ρ =.753, P <.05. The average discrimination power = 47.27, average Item Difficulty Index = 0.557. The fit indices were acceptable in a range that established its factorial validity and average factor loading was ≥0.7 which established convergent validity. A significant association (χ2 = 33.074, P <.01) between score interpretation and previous counseling by pharmacists established its construct validity. A significant association (χ2 = 19.113, P <.05) between score interpretation and patient occupation established known group validity. Conclusion: The English version of RAKAS was deemed a reliable and validated tool to measure knowledge about disease in Pakistani patients with RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pomegranate fruit extract (PE) rich in polyphenols has been shown to exert chondroprotective effects, but the mechanism is not established. Here, we used an in vitro model of inflammation in osteoarthritis (OA) to investigate the potential of PE to suppress interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β)-stimulated expression of inflammatory cytokine IL-6, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and investigated the mechanism of NF-κB inhibition by analyzing the activation of the kinases upstream of IκBα in primary human chondrocytes. Total and phosphorylated forms of kinases and expression of IL-6 were determined at protein and mRNA levels by western immunoblotting and Taqman assay, respectively. Dihydrorhodamine 123 staining estimated ROS generation. Pomegranate fruit extract inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of IL-6, generation of ROS, and inhibited the IL-1β-mediated phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta (IKKβ), expression of IKKβ mRNA, degradation of IκBα, and activation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB/p65 in human chondrocytes. Importantly, phosphorylation of NF-κB-inducing kinase was blocked by PE in IL-1β-treated human OA chondrocytes. Taken together, these data suggest that PE exerts the chondroprotective effect(s) by suppressing the production of IL-6 and ROS levels. Inhibition of NF-κB activation by PE was blocked via modulation of activation of upstream kinases in human OA chondrocytes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT There is growing evidence in support of the involvement of inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Harpagoside, one of the bioactive components of Harpagophytum procumbens (Hp), has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Here we used an in vitro model of inflammation in OA to investigate the potential of harpagoside to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines such as IL-6 and matrix degrading proteases. We further investigated the likely targets of harpagoside in primary human OA chondrocytes. OA chondrocytes were pre-treated with harpagoside before stimulation with IL-1β. mRNA expression profile of 92 cytokines/chemokines was determined using TaqMan Human Chemokine PCR Array. Expression levels of selected mRNAs were confirmed using TaqMan assays. Protein levels of IL-6 and MMP-13 were assayed by ELISA and immunoblotting. Total protein levels and phosphorylation of signaling proteins were determined by immunoblotting. Cellular localization of IL-6 and c-Fos was performed by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. DNA binding activity of c-FOS/AP-1 was determined by ELISA. Harpagoside significantly altered the global chemokine expression profile in IL-1β-stimulated OA chondrocytes. Expression of IL-6 was highly induced by IL-1β, which was significantly inhibited by pre-treatment of OA chondrocytes with harpagoside. Harpagoside did not inhibit the IL-1β-induced activation of NF-κB and C/EBPβ transcription factors but suppressed the IL-1β-triggered induction, phosphorylation, and DNA binding activity of c-FOS, one of the main components of AP-1 transcription factors. Further, harpagoside significantly inhibited the expression of MMP-13 in OA chondrocytes under pathological conditions. siRNA-mediated knockdown of IL-6 resulted in suppressed expression and secretion of MMP-13 directly linking the role of IL-6 with MMP-13 expression. Taken together, the present study suggests that harpagoside exerts a significant anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the inflammatory stimuli mediated by suppressing c-FOS/AP-1 activity in OA chondrocytes under pathological conditions. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:311-320, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]