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This article contains two measurement development studies on writing apprehension. Study 1 reexamines the validity of the writing apprehension measure based on the finding from prior research that a second false factor was embedded. The findings from Study 1 support the validity of a reduced measure with 6 items versus the original 20-item measure. However, this shorter measure had poor reliability. Therefore, Study 2 sought to correct the reliability issue by updating the wording of items so it was applicable to broader platforms of writing. The final measure had excellent reliability and validity statistics.

Immunomodulatory biomaterials have the potential to stimulate an immune response able to promote constructive and functional tissue remodeling responses as opposed to persistent inflammation and scar tissue formation. As such, the controlled activation of macrophages and modulation of their phenotype through implant surface modification has emerged as a key therapeutic strategy. Methods: Online databases were searched for in vitro studies between January 1991 and June 2020 which examined the effect of titanium implant surface topography on the adherent macrophage phenotype at either the gene or protein level. Results: Thirty-nine studies were subsequently included for review. Although there was significant heterogeneity between studies, treatment of titanium surfaces increased the surface roughness or hydrophilicity, and hence increased macrophage attachment but decreased cell spreading. Physical coating of the titanium surface also tended to promote the formation of cell clusters. Titanium and titanium-zirconium alloy with a micro- or nano-scale rough topography combined with a hydrophilic surface chemistry were the most effective surfaces for inducing an anti-inflammatory phenotype in adherent macrophages, as indicated by significant changes in cytokine gene expression and or cytokine secretion profiles. Conclusions: The published data support the hypothesis that incorporation of specific topographical and physiochemical surface modifications to titanium can modulate the phenotypic response of adherent macrophages.

Tigranakert in Artsakh was founded at the end of 90s BC by the Armenian King Tigranes II the Great (95–55 BC) and in the Early Christian period continued to play a role of an important military-administrative and religious center. As аresult of excavations the Early Christian square of the Central district with two churches, remains of a monumental stela witha cross, as well as an Early Christian underground reliquary and a graveyard were unearthed. The sepulchre-reliquary was opened under the floor of the small church of early Christian Square. It has only the eastern entrance. As had been shown by further excavations Saint Grigoris’s sepulchre-reliquary in Amaras also had an eastern entrance. Saint Stephanos’s reliquary in Vachar also has only an eastern entrance. All these three structures are dated from 5th–6th centuries. In early Christian East the only tomb that had an only eastern entrance is Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Analysis of the data on Vachagan the Pious (end of 5th–early 6th centuries), king of Albania (which included since the middle of 5th century the eastern provinces of Greater Armenia – Artsakh and Utik), allows us to conclude that at the end of the 5th century the king initiated theecclesiastical reform, trying to link the origin of the Albanian church to Jerusalem. One ofthe manifestations of this reform was the creation of the legend of the Apostle Yeghisha arriving to Albania from Jerusalem. Comparative analysis of archaeological, architectural and written data leads to the conclusion that all three tombs with the single east entrance are the result of the reformist activity of Vachagan, and the idea of single eastern entrance, most likely, was taken from the tomb of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. A new approach to the localizations of Early Christian sanctuaries in and near Tigranakert allows to compare this sacred area with early Christian sacred topography of Jerusalem.

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an arbovirus that is endemic to tropical forests in Central and South America, particularly within the Amazon basin. In recent years, concern has increased regarding MAYV's ability to invade urban areas and cause epidemics across the region. We conducted a systematic literature review to characterise the evolutionary history of MAYV, its transmission potential, and exposure patterns to the virus. We analysed data from the literature on MAYV infection to produce estimates of key epidemiological parameters, including the generation time and the basic reproduction number, R0. We also estimated the force-of-infection (FOI) in epidemic and endemic settings. Seventy-six publications met our inclusion criteria. Evidence of MAYV infection in humans, animals, or vectors was reported in 14 Latin American countries. Nine countries reported evidence of acute infection in humans confirmed by viral isolation or reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). We identified at least five MAYV outbreaks. Seroprevalence from population based cross-sectional studies ranged from 21% to 72%. The estimated mean generation time of MAYV was 15.2 days (95% CrI: 11.7-19.8) with a standard deviation of 6.3 days (95% CrI: 4.2-9.5). The per-capita risk of MAYV infection (FOI) ranged between 0.01 and 0.05 per year. The mean R0 estimates ranged between 2.1 and 2.9 in the Amazon basin areas and between 1.1 and 1.3 in the regions outside of the Amazon basin. Although MAYV has been identified in urban vectors, there is not yet evidence of sustained urban transmission. MAYV's enzootic cycle could become established in forested areas within cities similar to yellow fever virus.

The language of advertising is unique and very peculiar in comparison with other elements of media discourse. The effectiveness of speech in advertising media discourse focuses on catching the attention of the target audience. Since the language of advertising is characterized by a distinguished persuasive function, the creators of ads spare no effort to make them catchy, interesting and witty. This is the reason why various linguistic devices are used to facilitate the comprehension and memorization of advertisements. In this regard, wordplay plays a significant role as the intentional usage of puns ensures the effectiveness of the composed texts.

CD8 T cells play a key role in defense against the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma, but why certain CD8 responses are more potent than others is not well understood. Here, we describe a parasite antigen, ROP5, that elicits a CD8 T cell response in genetically susceptible mice. ROP5 is secreted via parasite organelles termed rhoptries that are injected directly into host cells during invasion, whereas the protective, dense-granule antigen GRA6 is constitutively secreted into the parasitophorous vacuole. Transgenic parasites in which the ROP5 antigenic epitope was targeted for secretion through dense granules led to enhanced CD8 T cell responses, whereas targeting the GRA6 epitope to rhoptries led to reduced CD8 responses. CD8 T cell responses to the dense-granule-targeted ROP5 epitope resulted in reduced parasite load in the brain. These data suggest that the mode of secretion affects the efficacy of parasite-specific CD8 T cell responses.

The mining industry is pivotal in ensuring Armenia's foreign exchange earnings. Therefore, we investigate the role of real exports of companies representing the mining of metal ores industry using quarterly data (2012q1 2023q2) in explaining statistically significant changes in the real GDP in the short run based on the least squares estimation technique. We conclude that significant positive changes in the real GDP are not associated with the increase in the industry's real exports since the growth of the mining of metal ores industry in Armenia mainly reflects the developments in the global commodity market. Hence, we find no evidence of the "multiplier effect." Based on the findings, we substantiate the main challenges the industry could face and highlight the prospects ahead while meeting the objectives that the Mining Sector Development Strategy (until 2035) defined to ensure the industry's growth and attract new investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study's objective was to examine the percentage of patients with an initial antiobesity medication (AOM) fill who were persistent with AOM at 3, 6, and 12 months and to characterize factors associated with persistence at 12 months. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used electronic health records from January 2015 to July 2023 in a large health system in Ohio and Florida and included adults with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 who had an initial AOM prescription filled between 2015 and 2022. Results: The authors identified 1911 patients with a median baseline BMI of 38 (IQR, 34–44). Over time, 44% were persistent with AOM at 3 months, 33% at 6 months, and 19% at 12 months. Across categories of AOM, the highest 1‐year persistence was in patients receiving semaglutide (40%). Semaglutide (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.26, 95% CI: 3.04–6.05) was associated with higher odds of 1‐year persistence, and naltrexone‐bupropion (AOR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46–1.00) was associated with lower odds, compared with phentermine‐topiramate. Among patients who were persistent at 6 months, a 1% increase in weight loss at 6 months was associated with 6% increased odds of persistence at year 1 (AOR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03–1.09). Conclusions: Later‐stage persistence with AOM varies considerably based on the drug and the weight loss at 6 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the Titchmarsh–Weyl theory of the impulsive q -Dirac equation is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]