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We define a total k-labeling φ of a graph G as a combination of an edge labeling φe:E(G)→{1,2,...,ke} and a vertex labeling φv:V(G)→{0,2,...,2kv}, such that φ(x)=φv(x) if x&#V(G) and φ(x)=φe(x) if x∈E(G), where k= max {ke,2kv}. The total k-labeling φ is called an edge irregular reflexive k-labeling of G if every two different edges has distinct edge weights, where the edge weight is defined as the summation of the edge label itself and its two vertex labels. Thus, the smallest value of k for which the graph G has the edge irregular reflexive k-labeling is called the reflexive edge strength of G. In this paper, we study the edge irregular reflexive labeling of corona product of two paths and corona product of a path with isolated vertices. We determine the reflexive edge strength for these graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An imbalance in estrogen signaling is a critical event in breast tumorigenesis. The majority of breast cancers (BCs) are hormone-sensitive; they majorly express the estrogen receptor (ER+) and are activated by 17β-estradiol (E2). The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) mediates the rate-limiting step in steroid biosynthesis. The dysregulation of the epigenetic machinery, modulating E2 levels, is a primary occurrence for promoting breast tumorigenesis. StAR expression, concomitant with E2 synthesis, was reported to be aberrantly high in human and mouse hormone-dependent BC cells compared with their non-cancerous counterparts. However, the mechanism of action of StAR remains poorly understood. We discovered StAR as an acetylated protein and have identified a number of lysine (K) residues that are putatively acetylated in malignant and non-malignant breast cells, using LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry), suggesting they differently influence E2 synthesis in mammary tissue. The treatment of hormone-sensitive MCF7 cells with a variety of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs), at therapeutically and clinically relevant doses, identified a few additional StAR acetylated lysine residues. Among a total of fourteen StAR acetylomes undergoing acetylation and deacetylation, K111 and K253 were frequently recognized either endogenously or in response to HDACIs. Site-directed mutagenesis studies of these two StAR acetylomes, pertaining to K111Q and K253Q acetylation mimetic states, resulted in increases in E2 levels in ER+ MCF7 and triple negative MB-231 BC cells, compared with their values seen with human StAR. Conversely, these cells carrying K111R and K253R deacetylation mutants diminished E2 biosynthesis. These findings provide novel and mechanistic insights into intra-tumoral E2 regulation by elucidating the functional importance of this uncovered StAR post-translational modification (PTM), involving acetylation and deacetylation events, underscoring the potential of StAR as a therapeutic target for hormone-sensitive BC.

Leydig cells, located in the testis interstitial space, are the primary source of testosterone in males. Testosterone plays critical roles in both reproductive and metabolic functions and therefore is essential for male health. Steroidogenesis must be properly regulated since dysregulated hormone production can lead to infertility and metabolic disorders. Leydig cell steroidogenesis relies on the coordinated interaction of various factors, such as hormones and signaling molecules. While luteinizing hormone (LH) is the main regulator of Leydig cell steroidogenesis, other molecules, including growth hormones (GH), prolactin, growth factors (insulin, IGF, FGF, EGF), and osteocalcin, have also been implicated in the stimulation of steroidogenesis. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the mechanisms and signaling pathways employed by LH and other molecules in the stimulation of Leydig cell steroidogenesis, providing valuable insights into the complex regulation of male reproductive and metabolic health.

ABSTRACT: The ovarian circadian clock plays a regulatory role in the avian ovulation-oviposition cycle. However, little is known regarding the ovarian circadian clock of geese. In this study, we investigated rhythmic changes in clock genes over a 48-h period and identified potential clock-controlled genes involved in progesterone synthesis in goose ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells. The results showed that BMAL1, CRY1, and CRY2, as well as 4 genes (LHR, STAR, CYP11A1, and HSD3B) involved in progesterone synthesis exhibited rhythmic expression patterns in goose ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells over a 48-h period. Knockdown of BMAL1 decreased the progesterone concentration and downregulated STAR mRNA and protein levels in goose ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells. Overexpression of BMAL1 increased the progesterone concentration and upregulated the STAR mRNA level in goose ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that the BMAL1/CLOCK complex activated the transcription of goose STAR gene by binding to an E-box motif. These results suggest that the circadian clock is involved in the regulation of progesterone synthesis in goose ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells by orchestrating the transcription of steroidogenesis-related genes.

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous condition and comprises molecularly distinct subtypes. An imbalance in the levels of epigenetic histone deacetylases (HDACs), modulating estrogen accumulation, especially 17β-estradiol (E2), promotes breast tumorigenesis. In the present study, analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pan-cancer normalized RNA-Seq datasets revealed the dysregulation of 16 epigenetic enzymes (among a total of 18 members) in luminal BC subtypes, in comparison to their non-cancerous counterparts. Explicitly, genomic profiling of these epigenetic enzymes displayed increases in HDAC1, 2, 8, 10, 11, and Sirtuins (SIRTs) 6 and 7, and decreases in HDAC4–7, –9, and SIRT1–4 levels, respectively, in TCGA breast tumors. Kaplan–Meier plot analyses showed that these HDACs, with the exception of HDAC2 and SIRT2, were not correlated with the overall survival of BC patients. Additionally, disruption of the epigenetic signaling in TCGA BC subtypes, as assessed using both heatmaps and boxplots, was associated with the genomic expression of factors that are instrumental for cholesterol trafficking/utilization for accelerating estrogen/E2 levels, in which steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) mediates the rate-limiting step in steroid biosynthesis. TCGA breast samples showed diverse expression patterns of a variety of key steroidogenic markers and hormone receptors, including LIPE, CYP27A1, STAR, STARD3, CYP11A1, CYP19A1, ER, PGR, and ERBB2. Moreover, regulation of STAR-governed steroidogenic machinery was found to be influenced by various transcription factors, i.e., CREB1, CREM, SF1, NR4A1, CEBPB, SREBF1, SREBF2, SP1, FOS, JUN, NR0B1, and YY1. Along these lines, ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) recognized a number of new targets and downstream effectors influencing BCs. Of note, genomic, epigenomic, transcriptional, and hormonal anomalies observed in human primary breast tumors were qualitatively similar in pertinent BC cell lines. These findings identify the functional correlation between dysregulated epigenetic enzymes and estrogen/E2 accumulation in human breast tumors, providing the molecular insights into more targeted therapeutic approaches involving the inhibition of HDACs for combating this life-threatening disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy diffusion is the process in which an innovation is communicated over time through various channels among the members of a social system. It is a special type of communication, in that the messages are concerned with new ideas. Diffusion theory or diffusion of innovations is the theoretical framework utilized in this study to compare successful programs aimed at providing health care for the homeless population. This study examines the Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) program in Hawaii and explains how the diffusion innovation theory and programs in other states can be used to develop policies and processes to successfully address the medical and crisis intervention needs of the homeless on O'ahu. The study also includes suggested recommendations and strategies for the CORE program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ciliary neurotrophic factor is a member of the interleukin‐6 family of cytokines. Ciliary neurotrophic factor drives many cells for their development. However, its effects on Leydig cell development remain unclear. Methods: In the current study, we used three‐dimensional seminiferous tubule culture system to induce the proliferation and differentiation of tubule‐associated stem Leydig cells and primary progenitor Leydig cells culture to address the effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor. Results: We found that ciliary neurotrophic factor stimulated the proliferation of stem Leydig cells but inhibited their development into the Leydig cell lineage. The ciliary neurotrophic factor‐mediated effects can be reversed by signal transducer and activator 3 inhibitor S3I‐201 and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase inhibitor wortmannin, indicating that ciliary neurotrophic factor acts via signal transducer and activator 3–phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase signaling pathways to increase stem/progenitor Leydig cell proliferation. Ciliary neurotrophic factor at 1 and 10 ng/mL significantly decreased androgen production by progenitor Leydig cells. Microarray analysis of ciliary neurotrophic factor‐treated progenitor Leydig cells showed that ciliary neurotrophic factor blocked steroidogenic pathways by downregulating Scarb1, Star, and Hsd3b1, possibly by downregulating the transcription factor Nr5a1 expression. Conclusion: Ciliary neurotrophic factor stimulates proliferation but blocks the differentiation of stem/progenitor Leydig cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: One of the most common causes of infertility in adult women is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which has been identified with symptoms such as chronic hyperandrogenism, anovulation, and polycystic ovaries. Adiponectin modulates steroidogenesis and the expression of ovulation-related genes. Herein, we assessed the effect of AdipoRon (adiponectin agonist) in the PCOS model mice. Methods: The PCOS model was induced with letrozole in the adult female mice and the animals received intraperitoneal injection of AdipoRon (5 mg/kg) for 10 days. Expression of CYP11A, CYP17A, and CYP19A genes, StAR protein, and histomorphology of the ovary were evaluated using real-time RT-PCR, western blotting, and histochemistry methods, respectively. Results: Although administration of letrozole caused an increase in the expression of CYP11A, CYP17A, and StAR and a decrease in the CYP19A1 expression, injection of AdipoRon reversed these changes. Moreover, AdipoRon treatment resulted in an improvement of folliculogenesis and a reduction of cysts compared to the letrozole-treated mice. Conclusion: It is likely that AdipoRon has protective effects on the PCOS through modulation of cytochrome P450-related genes and steroidogenesis but needs further study to be sure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this conceptual article, we review experience-centered approaches to the design of personal digital interactive technologies, with a view to exploring how these approaches might be of value in understanding the experience-in-use and the responsible design of today's highly networked, data-rich, and ubiquitous software technologies. Experience-centered design research leans heavily on pragmatist philosophy for its conceptual underpinnings, particularly John Dewey's accounts of aesthetic experience and of inquiry. After reviewing this body of work, we argue that these foundations could be usefully extended to also include Dewey's approach to ethics as an empirical, situated act of moral imagination. In addition, we look to other researchers for perspectives that complement and extend Deweyan experiential pragmatics. In particular, we look to the ways in which Susan Leigh Star's account of socio-technical infrastructures and dialogical approaches to human relations together can provide important insights into the experience-in-use of today's digital infrastructure and can critically highlight issues of boundaries and privacy. We also offer pragmatic and methodological concepts that may be of value to the field of responsible software design and engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let be a family of graphs. The Turán number of the family ℱ is the maximum number of edges in an n-vertex {H1, ..., Hk}-free graph, denoted by ex(n, ℱ ) or ex(n, {H1,H2, ... Hk}). The blow-up of a graph H is the graph obtained from H by replacing each edge in H by a clique of the same size where the new vertices of the cliques are all different. In this paper we determine the Turán number of the family consisting of a blow-up of a cycle and a blow-up of a star in terms of the Turán number of the family consisting of a cycle, a star and linear forests with k edges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical use of sildenafil citrate (Viagra), a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction, is limited because of its many side effects on tissues. In this context, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of hesperidin, a citrus flavonoid, on hepatic and testicular damage induced by a high dose of sildenafil citrate in male rats. Rats were randomly divided into four groups. The first group was used as the control group. The second group was orally administered sildenafil citrate at a high dose of 75 mg/kg thrice a week. In the third group, hesperidin was administered orally at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day. The fourth group was administered 75 mg/kg sildenafil citrate three times a week with 50 mg/kg hesperidin daily. The experiment lasted for 28 days. Results: In the sildenafil-treated groups, blood indices were altered, liver function tests were deranged, and serum testosterone levels were reduced. In the liver and testicular tissue, sildenafil citrate treatment resulted in significant reductions in catalase and total antioxidant capacity; as well as increased malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, and nitrous oxide levels. In addition, sildenafil citrate treatment caused abnormal histopathological patterns in both the liver and the testes. Liver vascular endothelial growth factor and testicular steroidogenic acute regulatory protein gene expression were upregulated. Conclusions: Hesperidin attenuated the harmful effects of intensive sildenafil citrate treatment on liver and testicular functions, alleviated oxidative stress and normalized blood indices. Therefore, hesperidin could be protective against sildenafil citrate-induced oxidative damage that may develop over the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leydig cells, located in the testis interstitial space, are the primary source of testosterone in males. Testosterone plays critical roles in both reproductive and metabolic functions and therefore is essential for male health. Steroidogenesis must be properly regulated since dysregulated hormone production can lead to infertility and metabolic disorders. Leydig cell steroidogenesis relies on the coordinated interaction of various factors, such as hormones and signaling molecules. While luteinizing hormone (LH) is the main regulator of Leydig cell steroidogenesis, other molecules, including growth hormones (GH), prolactin, growth factors (insulin, IGF, FGF, EGF), and osteocalcin, have also been implicated in the stimulation of steroidogenesis. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the mechanisms and signaling pathways employed by LH and other molecules in the stimulation of Leydig cell steroidogenesis, providing valuable insights into the complex regulation of male reproductive and metabolic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We find the exact value of the Ramsey number R (C 2 ℓ , K 1 , n) , when ℓ and n = O (ℓ 10 / 9) are large. Our result is closely related to the behaviour of Turán number ex (N , C 2 ℓ) for an even cycle whose length grows quickly with N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A distinct Meander Curve Based Star Shaped novel Wearable Hybrid Fractal Antenna is explored in this paper. The Meander curve is utilized to build the geometry of the antenna. A Star Shaped structure is additionally built in the middle of the patch also. It is planned over the jean substrate having dielectric constant 1.7 and having dimensions 52.3 × 58.7 × 1 mm3. The antenna is energized by microstrip line feed, placed at the base corner. The PSO technique is specially used to optimize the width of the ground plane using the fitness function. A numerical model is determined utilizing the IFS to produce the fractal geometry in MATLAB programming. The planned design is compact, mathematical engaging, and offers adequate bandwidth. It operates over 2.33–2.56 GHz and 6.20–6.44 GHz with resonant frequencies 2.44 and 6.31 GHz respectively. It provides 230 and 240 MHz bandwidth at the corresponding resonant frequencies. This antenna provides 8.84 dB and 5.77 dB gain and stable radiation patterns at resonant frequencies. HFSS software is utilized for simulating and planning the antenna. The proposed antenna is fabricated and tested, and the simulated and experimental results are compared to examine the reliability of it. The performance of this antenna is further described by analyzing the behavior using different wearable substrate materials like wash cotton, felt, polyester, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leydig cells produce hormones required for the development and maintenance of sex characteristics and fertility in males. MEF2 transcription factors are important regulators of Leydig cell gene expression and steroidogenesis. ERK5 is an atypical member of the MAP kinase family that modulates transcription factor activity, either by direct phosphorylation or by acting as a transcriptional coactivator. While MEF2 and ERK5 are known to cooperate transcriptionally, the presence and role of ERK5 in Leydig cells remained unknown. Our goal was to determine whether ERK5 is present in Leydig cells and whether it cooperates with MEF2 to regulate gene expression. We found that ERK5 is present in Leydig cells in testicular tissue and immortalized cell lines. ERK5 knockdown in human chorionic gonadotrophin–treated MA-10 Leydig cells reduced steroidogenesis and decreased Star and Nr4a1 expression. Luciferase assays using a synthetic reporter plasmid containing 3 MEF2 elements revealed that ERK5 enhances MEF2-dependent promoter activation. Although ERK5 did not cooperate with MEF2 on the Star promoter in Leydig cell lines, we found that ERK5 and MEF2C do cooperate on the Nr4a1 promoter, which contains 2 adjacent MEF2 elements. Mutation of each MEF2 element in a short version of the Nr4a1 promoter significantly decreased the ERK5/MEF2C cooperation, indicating that both MEF2 elements need to be intact. The ERK5/MEF2C cooperation did not require phosphorylation of MEF2C on Ser387. Taken together, our data identify ERK5 as a new regulator of MEF2 activity in Leydig cells and provide potential new insights into mechanisms that regulate Leydig cell gene expression and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, the main accelerator of which has been consumerism and the industry driving it, soon will force companies to make changes that will intensify their activities in the natural environment. The Covid-19 pandemic, Due to their specificity, has disrupted global supply chains on an unprecedented scale. In addition, the progress of the analysis supported by the assumptions and tools of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) opens unlimited development opportunities. These changes also have a significant impact on Logistics, making the concept of Logistics 4.0 (L4.0) increasingly popular. The scope of defining L4.0 varies from the use of individual I4.0 tools to the presentation of complex models. This paper presents a literature review using the STAR method on the L4.0 concept to identify the scope of its determinants and possible perspectives for the development of logistics in the context of I4.0 and the challenges mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the pair difference cordial labeling behaviour of some star related graphs.

Let $ G = (V, E) $ be a simple graph with vertex set $ V $ and edge set $ E $, and let $ f $ be a function $ f:V\mapsto \{0, 1, 2\} $. A vertex $ u $ with $ f(u) = 0 $ is said to be undefended with respect to $ f $ if it is not adjacent to a vertex with positive weight. The function $ f $ is a weak Roman dominating function (WRDF) if each vertex $ u $ with $ f(u) = 0 $ is adjacent to a vertex $ v $ with $ f(v) > 0 $ such that the function $ f_{u}:V\mapsto \{0, 1, 2\} $, defined by $ f_{u}(u) = 1 $, $ f_{u}(v) = f(v)-1 $ and $ f_{u}(w) = f(w) $ if $ w\in V-\{u, v\} $, has no undefended vertex. The weight of $ f $ is $ w(f) = \sum_{v\in V}f(v) $. The weak Roman domination number, denoted $ \gamma_{r}(G) $, is the minimum weight of a WRDF in G. The domination number, denoted $ \gamma(G) $, is the minimum cardinality of a dominating set in $ G $. In this paper, we give some sufficient conditions for a tree to have its weak Roman domination number be equal to its domination number plus 1 ($ \gamma_{r}(T) = \gamma(T)+1 $) by recursion and construction.

The highly challenging hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) genome is becoming ever more accessible due to the continued development of multiple reference genomes, a factor which aids in the plight to better understand variation in important traits. Although the process of variant calling is relatively straightforward, selection of the best combination of the computational tools for read alignment and variant calling stages of the analysis and efficient filtering of the false variant calls are not always easy tasks. Previous studies have analyzed the impact of methods on the quality metrics in diploid organisms. Given that variant identification in wheat largely relies on accurate mining of exome data, there is a critical need to better understand how different methods affect the analysis of whole exome sequencing (WES) data in polyploid species. This study aims to address this by performing whole exome sequencing of 48 wheat cultivars and assessing the performance of various variant calling pipelines at their suggested settings. The results show that all the pipelines require filtering to eliminate false-positive calls. The high consensus among the reference SNPs called by the best-performing pipelines suggests that filtering provides accurate and reproducible results. This study also provides detailed comparisons for high sensitivity and precision at individual and population levels for the raw and filtered SNP calls.

Let be a simple graph with vertex set and edge set , and let be a function . A vertex with is said to be undefended with respect to if it is not adjacent to a vertex with positive weight. The function is a weak Roman dominating function (WRDF) if each vertex with is adjacent to a vertex with such that the function , defined by , and if , has no undefended vertex. The weight of is . The weak Roman domination number, denoted , is the minimum weight of a WRDF in G. The domination number, denoted , is the minimum cardinality of a dominating set in . In this paper, we give some sufficient conditions for a tree to have its weak Roman domination number be equal to its domination number plus 1 ( ) by recursion and construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The high speed of cardiorespiratory motion introduces a unique challenge for cardiac stereotactic radio-ablation (STAR) treatments with the MR-linac. Such treatments require tracking myocardial landmarks with a maximum latency of 100 ms, which includes the acquisition of the required data. The aim of this study is to present a new method that allows to track myocardial landmarks from few readouts of MRI data, thereby achieving a latency sufficient for STAR treatments. Approach. We present a tracking framework that requires only few readouts of k-space data as input, which can be acquired at least an order of magnitude faster than MR-images. Combined with the real-time tracking speed of a probabilistic machine learning framework called Gaussian Processes, this allows to track myocardial landmarks with a sufficiently low latency for cardiac STAR guidance, including both the acquisition of required data, and the tracking inference. Main results. The framework is demonstrated in 2D on a motion phantom, and in vivo on volunteers and a ventricular tachycardia (arrhythmia) patient. Moreover, the feasibility of an extension to 3D was demonstrated by in silico 3D experiments with a digital motion phantom. The framework was compared with template matching—a reference, image-based, method—and linear regression methods. Results indicate an order of magnitude lower total latency (<10 ms) for the proposed framework in comparison with alternative methods. The root-mean-square-distances and mean end-point-distance with the reference tracking method was less than 0.8 mm for all experiments, showing excellent (sub-voxel) agreement. Significance. The high accuracy in combination with a total latency of less than 10 ms—including data acquisition and processing—make the proposed method a suitable candidate for tracking during STAR treatments. Additionally, the probabilistic nature of the Gaussian Processes also gives access to real-time prediction uncertainties, which could prove useful for real-time quality assurance during treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femtoscopy has the capacity to probe the space-time geometry of the particle-emitting source in heavy-ion collisions. In particular, femtoscopy of like-sign kaon pairs may shed light on the origin of non-Gaussianity of the spatial emission probability density. The momentum correlations between like-sign kaon pairs are measured in data recorded by the STAR experiment, from s NN = 200 GeV Au + Au collisions at RHIC, BNL. Preliminary results hint at the possible existence of non-Gaussian, Lévy-stable sources, with the likely presence of an anomalous diffusion process in the signal for the identically charged kaon pairs so produced. More statistically significant studies at lower centre-of-mass energies may contribute to the search for the critical end point of QCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In last times the dynamic development of astrophysics studied the interaction of matter and radiation on cosmos space, as well as the appearance of new possibilities of observation of celestial bodies allow to investigate the physical processes in the interstellar medium in detail. The density and quantity of interstellar gas and dust determine the possibility of new star formation, meanwhile star changes the properties of the surrounding interstellar medium, they heat it, support the continues movement of gas and supplement the medium with their own matter and change their chemical composition. In the present work, the first searches of young stellar objects were carried out in the region of the infrared duct bubble N19 and also there were created the program for searching of new stellar objects in computer simulation by MatLab. 11 objects were attributed to the young stars of I class by the found sources of infrared radiation, 26 objects to the II class and 20 objects are regarded to the young stars at the stage of transition disks. As a result, "a color-color" diagram for young stellar objects candidates detected near the infrared dust bubble N19 was constructed. In addition, there were analyzed the ranges of variation of the color indices and that diagram allows to determine the new criteria for determination of the new star objects in accordance with the stage of their evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the pair difference cordial labeling behaviour of some star related graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study the pair difference cordial labeling behavior of some trees and some graphs derived from cube graph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on the Skills Training for Advancing Resources (STAR) project for the youth initiative of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) in Bangladesh. The objective was to explore the consequences of social and economic inclusion of this project for the persons with disability (PWDs) and transgender (TG) youth people. The research focused on how inclusive programmatic interventions created multidimensional impacts among the "marginalized" and "excluded" PWD and TG youths at the grassroots level. This study adopted a qualitative approach where in‐depth case interviews and observation were applied for data collection. PWD and TG graduates, master craft persons (MCPs), employers, and program staff members were the participants in this study. Results found that PWD and TG youths faced vulnerabilities and social stigma in their lives and livelihood trajectories due to their physical inability and low level of social dignity. The STAR project has a certain level of contribution to the livelihoods of PWD and TG people, where these helped them to gain their social, cultural, and economic capital. Findings would be an important guideline for policymakers, NGO managers, and human rights workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian television industry is transforming via an increasing number of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms. This shift from broadcast to OTT has given rise to research assessing the impact on the television ecosystem. With the case of Star Network, this study examines how the emergence of live sports streaming has affected the power dynamics in the sports broadcasting ecosphere. This study employs the Critical Political Economy framework to address the following question: How do television-based media conglomerates – and by extension television itself – negotiate the challenge of Internet-based digital media in India? Keeping the focus on sports live-streaming services, we study the transition from Star television network to Disney+ Hotstar, its corresponding OTT platform. We however argue that the Political Economy of Communication holds its ground despite the apparently disruptive promise of web-based platforms. Despite the Internet posing new challenges in terms of distribution networks, media conglomerates find a way to convert their dominance of the television industry into the OTT space.

Climate change, the main accelerator of which has been consumerism and the industry driving it, soon will force companies to make changes that will intensify their activities in the natural environment. The Covid-19 pandemic, Due to their specificity, has disrupted global supply chains on an unprecedented scale. In addition, the progress of the analysis supported by the assumptions and tools of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) opens unlimited development opportunities. These changes also have a significant impact on Logistics, making the concept of Logistics 4.0 (L4.0) increasingly popular. The scope of defining L4.0 varies from the use of individual I4.0 tools to the presentation of complex models. This paper presents a literature review using the STAR method on the L4.0 concept to identify the scope of its determinants and possible perspectives for the development of logistics in the context of I4.0 and the challenges mentioned.

Background. Acne vulgaris belongs to androgen-dependent diseases where androgens cause sebaceous gland hypertrophy with a subsequent enlargement of sebum production. Aims. Determination of the expression profile of steroidogenesis-related proteins in normal skin and skin of patients with acne. Material and methods. Immunohistochemical assay was carried out to characterize TSPO, StAR, CYP11A1, and 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression in skin of patients with acne vulgaris and in normal skin. Results. Expression levels of a protein TSPO which is involved in a steroidogenesis-limited step was increased in mature sebocytes of acne vulgaris patients. StAR, CYP11A1, and 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase immunovisualization was found both in normal skin and in the skin of acne patients. Conclusions. The revealed alterations in expression of steroidogenesis-related protein in acne skin may indicate not only the conversion of steroids produced by external steroidogenesis organs but elevated steroids local production as well. The fact may account both for sebaceous gland hyperplasia and inflammation sustenance in skin.

The article is based on a thorough analysis of the most relevant works of the world’s leading scientists engaged in research in the field of gastronomic tourism. It reveals the main aspects of the development of the famous French restaurant guide «Michelin», which is very important today in the world of haute cuisine, culinary tourism and the art of living. The subject of the article is the study of the main trends in the evolution of the red guide, which during the 20th century passed through three stages – at first it was a technical guide that offered information about goods and services for drivers, later it turned into a tourist guide, and, finally, it was transformed into a gastronomic guide. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the role and the significance of this guide for gastronomic tourism. The history of the French company for the production of car tires «Michelin», the activities of the founders brothers André Michelin and Édouard Michelin, the creation of its symbol Bibendum, the development of the guide itself, and the search for ways to form the optimal principles of cuisine quality classification are described. Attention is also paid to the professional activities of the most famous female chefs, who have been awarded Michelin stars. To achieve the goal, such research methods as historical, descriptive, comparative ones, systematization and generalization were used. Today, the Michelin red guide is published for many worldcountries and for the largest metropolises, the company started publishing the guide-magazine «Food & Travel», launched the «Michelin Green Star» award to recognize restaurants that particularly adhere to sustainable gastronomy, and also launched production of kitchen utensils. It has been established that the best chefs in the world strive to turn their business into business empires, not content with just receiving Michelin awards. They actively write culinary bestsellers, participate in the filming of reality shows, films and TV programs, found schools, and also work in the format of takeaway food and food trucks. At the same time, it was revealed that gastronomy business caused constant stress, consumption of alcohol and drugs by chefs, bullying, significant financial burden, ratings pressure, criticism of Michelin rating system approaches, fear of losing business and suicide. The obtained results make it possible to supplement and expand specialized training courses in higher education institutions of Ukraine, where personnel for tourism and hospitality industry are trained. So, in the course of its historical development, the red guide «Michelin» has become the most famous culinary guide in the world, aimed at ensuring that customers get maximum pleasure from visiting restaurants.

Abstract Background Responding to the increasing demand for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) treatment in the United Kingdom (UK) at times of limited budgets and resources is a great challenge for decision-makers. Therefore, there is a need to find innovative policies, which improve operational efficiency and achieve the best value for money for patients. This study aims to develop a Decision Support Tool (DST) that assesses the impact of implementing new DVT patients’ management and care policies aiming at improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing value for money. Methods With the involvement of stakeholders from a number of DVT services in the UK, we developed a DST combining discrete event simulation (DES) for DVT pathways and the Socio Technical Allocation of Resources (STAR) approach, an agile health economics technique. The model was inputted with data from the literature, local datasets from DVT services, and interviews conducted with DVT specialists. The tool was validated and verified by various stakeholders and two policies, namely shifting more patients to community services (CSs) and increasing the usage of the Novel Oral Anticoagulant (NOAC) drug were selected for testing on the model. Results Sixteen possible scenarios were run on the model for a period of 5 years and generated treatment activity, human resources, costing, and value for money outputs. The results indicated that hospital visits can be reduced by up to 50%. Human resources’ usage can be greatly lowered driven mainly by offering NOAC treatment to more patients. Also, combining both policies can lead to cost savings of up to 50%. The STAR method, which considers both service and patient perspectives, produced findings that implementing both policies provide a significantly higher value for money compared to the situation when neither is applied. Conclusions The combination of DES and STAR can help decision-makers determine the interventions that have the highest benefits from service providers' and patients’ perspectives. This is important given the mismatch between care demand and resources and the resulting need for improving operational and economic outcomes. The DST tool has the potential to inform policymaking in DVT services in the UK to improve performance.

Abstract Background Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) belongs to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of growth factors. HB-EGF and its receptors, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER4, are expressed in the human corpus luteum. HB-EGF has been shown to regulate luteal function by preventing cell apoptosis. Steroidogenesis is the primary function of the human corpus luteum. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) plays a critical role in steroidogenesis. StAR expression and progesterone (P4) production in human granulosa-lutein (hGL) cells have been shown to be upregulated by a ligand of EGFR, amphiregulin. However, whether HB-EGF can achieve the same effects remains unknown. Methods A steroidogenic human ovarian granulosa-like tumor cell line, KGN, and primary culture of hGL cells obtained from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment were used as experimental models. The underlying molecular mechanisms mediating the effects of HB-EGF on StAR expression and P4 production were explored by a series of in vitro experiments. Results Western blot showed that EGFR, HER2, and HER4 were expressed in both KGN and hGL cells. Treatment with HB-EGF for 24 h induced StAR expression but did not affect the expression of steroidogenesis-related enzymes, P450 side chain cleavage enzyme, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and aromatase. Using pharmacological inhibitors and a siRNA-mediated knockdown approach, we showed that EGFR, HER4, but not HER2, were required for HB-EGF-stimulated StAR expression and P4 production. In addition, HB-EGF-induced upregulations of StAR expression and P4 production were mediated by the activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Conclusion This study increases the understanding of the physiological role of HB-EGF in human luteal functions. Video Abstract

Let L $ \mathcal{L}$ be a set which consists of some connected graphs. Let E be a spanning subgraph of graph G. It is called a L $ \mathcal{L}$ -factor if every component of it is isomorphic to the element in L $ \mathcal{L}$. In this contribution, we give the lower bounds of four parameters (t(G), I(G), I′(G),bind (G)) of G, which force the graph G admits a ({K1,i: q ≤ i ≤ 2q − 1} ∪ {K2q+1})-factor for q ≥ 2 and a {P2, P2q+1}-factor for q ≥ 3 respectively. The tightness of the bounds are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]