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Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is a specialized intracellular parasitic pathogen capable of causing pneumonia, sinusitis, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases, which pose significant public health challenges. Therefore, rapid, accurate, and sensitive diagnosis is crucial for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases caused by C. pneumoniae. In this study, we combined enzymatic recombination amplification (ERA) with the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) 12a system (CRISPR/Cas12a) to develop a dual detection platform termed the Cpn-ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a dual system. This system integrates both the ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a fluorescence system and the ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a lateral flow system. Detection results can be measured using a fluorescence detector or observed with the naked eye on lateral flow strips. The fluorescence system and the lateral flow system detect C. pneumoniae in 30 minutes and 15 minutes, respectively. This dual system exhibits no cross-reactivity with the other seven pathogens, demonstrating high specificity, and achieves a sensitivity of 100 copies/µL. Additionally, the Cpn-ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a dual system was employed to analyze 39 clinical samples, comprising 19 positive and 20 negative samples. The detection rate for positive samples was 100%, with no positive results in the negative samples, indicating a high level of concordance with qPCR results. In summary, the Cpn-ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a dual system represents a novel tool for diagnosing C. pneumoniae and holds promising application potential in grassroots community hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute fish toxicity test (AFT) is one of the cornerstones of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of chemicals for the aquatic environment. Despite many efforts to find an alternative able to fully replace the test, there is still lasting pressure from stakeholders for AFT results. Results: Here, we present the results of a case study with eight pharmaceuticals from various pharmaceutical groups with different levels of expected toxicity to fish. Selected compounds were tested in two validated alternative tests—fish embryo toxicity test with zebrafish (Danio rerio) (zFET) and in vitro RTgill-W1 assay according to their corresponding OECD guidelines TG 236 and TG 249, respectively. Data for AFT were collected from PubMed and ECOTOX knowledgebase databases, and acute toxicity to fish was further predicted in silico by the ECOSAR program. Predicted environmental risks (risk quotients, RQ, calculated using the exposure data from NORMAN) from both zFET and RTgill-W1 well correlated with the average RQs based on AFT LC50s. The strongest and most significant correlation was observed while comparing the AFT results with the median of combined alternative methods (zFET, RTgill-W1, ECOSAR). Conclusions: This proposed approach combining experimental data with modeling could serve as a reliable tool for predictions of environmental risks promoting the 3R alternatives to acute fish toxicity testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The impact of COVID-19 on the educational systems across the globe was characterized by the shutdown of university education systems. In the post COVID-19 era, examining the prospect of on-line education becomes demanding with emphasis on promoting effective and uninterrupted university education sector in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: This study employed phenomenological and descriptive research design. The sample size for the study was 15, comprising university lecturers, students and school social workers. In-depth Interview (IDI) interview was the instrument for data collection. Findings: Findings revealed that university education in Nigeria was adversely disrupted by COVID-19 lockdown during the pandemic. Similarly, the study revealed that online education will facilitate effective and uninterrupted university education in post-COVID-19 era. Challenges such as lack of access to laptops, smartphones, reliable internet services, electricity etc. are major obstacles to an effective transition to online education in the post-COVID-19 University education era. The students lamented that poor knowledge of ICT by their lecturers and inclusivity of indigent/disabled students were major concerns. Originality/value: Revitalizing the education sector is a core concern for low-income countries. Online education presents the lasting solution to the constant interruption of university education in Africa. Promoting effective and uninterrupted university education is pegged on an adequate government education budgetary allocation targeted towards providing an enabling environment for online education to thrive. The study recommends that school social workers' engagement in the educational sector would help advocate for the availability of technological infrastructures and mainstreaming of the poor and disabled in the online education dispensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the current data, the endometrium acts as a "sensor" of embryo quality, which promotes the implantation of euploid embryos and prevents the implantation and/or subsequent development of genetically abnormal embryos. The present review addresses the nature of the "sensory function" of the endometrium and highlights the necessity for assessing its functional status. The first section examines the evolutionary origin of the "sensory" ability of the endometrium as a consequence of spontaneous decidualization that occurred in placental animals. The second section details the mechanisms for implementing this function at the cellular level. In particular, the recent findings of the appearance of different cell subpopulations during decidualization are described, and their role in implantation is discussed. The pathological consequences of an imbalance among these subpopulations are also discussed. Finally, the third section summarizes information on currently available clinical tools to assess endometrial functional status. The advantages and disadvantages of the approaches are emphasized, and possible options for developing more advanced technologies for assessing the "sensory" function of the endometrium are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Acute fish toxicity test (AFT) is one of the cornerstones of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of chemicals for the aquatic environment. Despite many efforts to find an alternative able to fully replace the test, there is still lasting pressure from stakeholders for AFT results. Results Here, we present the results of a case study with eight pharmaceuticals from various pharmaceutical groups with different levels of expected toxicity to fish. Selected compounds were tested in two validated alternative tests—fish embryo toxicity test with zebrafish (Danio rerio) (zFET) and in vitro RTgill-W1 assay according to their corresponding OECD guidelines TG 236 and TG 249, respectively. Data for AFT were collected from PubMed and ECOTOX knowledgebase databases, and acute toxicity to fish was further predicted in silico by the ECOSAR program. Predicted environmental risks (risk quotients, RQ, calculated using the exposure data from NORMAN) from both zFET and RTgill-W1 well correlated with the average RQs based on AFT LC50s. The strongest and most significant correlation was observed while comparing the AFT results with the median of combined alternative methods (zFET, RTgill-W1, ECOSAR). Conclusions This proposed approach combining experimental data with modeling could serve as a reliable tool for predictions of environmental risks promoting the 3R alternatives to acute fish toxicity testing.

Plotinus is the greatest Neoplatonic philosopher and one of the most prominent thinkers of ancient times, whose ideas have greatly influenced later philosophers. The issue of time is of great importance to philosophers and philosophical schools after Aristotle, especially in the thinking of Plotinus. One of the important aspects of time-related discussions is how temporal fluid entities are related to fixed and discrete entities. Regarding the issue of time, Plotin first criticized Aristotle's definition of time and then explained the eternal, eternal and fixedness of the order of ages. pay Plotin finally proves his innovative point of view about the time of the image or the appearance of the soul in the world of matter. In the current research, it has been stated with the analytical-comparative method that Plotin's problems with the definition of time are not correct from Mulla Sadra's point of view. Plotin's claim that time is the image of the soul also faces many problems according to Mulla Sadra's principles in transcendental wisdom.

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) was the only symptom relieving and life-prolonging treatment until transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) became available. This option was introduced to treat old and high-risk patients. In a series of 2500 consecutive patients referred for SAVR with a biologic heart valve (BHV) prosthesis, their age, comorbid conditions, the complexity of the procedure, postoperative outcome, need for resources, and long-term survival were compared in patients before versus after the introduction of TAVI. Although the Carpentier-Edwards valve was used in most patients, the outcomes with respect to several other BHV types were studied. Patients undergoing isolated SAVR (i-SAVR) were studied separately from those who underwent SAVR with a concomitant procedure (c-SAVR). The number of referrals increased over time until 2016, whereafter the reimbursement for TAVI broadened. Age, prior percutaneous coronary interventions, diabetes, and chronic renal disease increased over time in both groups, while atrial fibrillation, the need for emergent SAVR, and other comorbid conditions increased significantly only in the c-SAVR group. Postoperative acute renal injury, conduction defects, and bleeding increased over time in both groups. The need for renal replacement therapy increased in both surgical groups, but this was more pronounced in c-SAVR; the need for a pacemaker implant (p < 0.001), blood products, and reintervention increased only in the c-SAVR group. There was a moderate but non-significant increase in the 30-day mortality for both groups over time. Furthermore, the long-term survival of both groups did not change after the introduction of TAVI. The Carpentier-Edwards Perimount valve showed good long-term results for durability. The Perceval device was used in older patients and showed good hemodynamic results, but the need for a postoperative permanent pacemaker implant was high. The results seem to indicate that a broader reimbursement for TAVI was warranted after its introduction in 2008. Nevertheless, with the development of newer devices for SAVR, surgery will remain one of the major treatment options for aortic valve disease.

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) was the only symptom relieving and life-prolonging treatment until transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) became available. This option was introduced to treat old and high-risk patients. In a series of 2500 consecutive patients referred for SAVR with a biologic heart valve (BHV) prosthesis, their age, comorbid conditions, the complexity of the procedure, postoperative outcome, need for resources, and long-term survival were compared in patients before versus after the introduction of TAVI. Although the Carpentier-Edwards valve was used in most patients, the outcomes with respect to several other BHV types were studied. Patients undergoing isolated SAVR (i-SAVR) were studied separately from those who underwent SAVR with a concomitant procedure (c-SAVR). The number of referrals increased over time until 2016, whereafter the reimbursement for TAVI broadened. Age, prior percutaneous coronary interventions, diabetes, and chronic renal disease increased over time in both groups, while atrial fibrillation, the need for emergent SAVR, and other comorbid conditions increased significantly only in the c-SAVR group. Postoperative acute renal injury, conduction defects, and bleeding increased over time in both groups. The need for renal replacement therapy increased in both surgical groups, but this was more pronounced in c-SAVR; the need for a pacemaker implant (p < 0.001), blood products, and reintervention increased only in the c-SAVR group. There was a moderate but non-significant increase in the 30-day mortality for both groups over time. Furthermore, the long-term survival of both groups did not change after the introduction of TAVI. The Carpentier-Edwards Perimount valve showed good long-term results for durability. The Perceval device was used in older patients and showed good hemodynamic results, but the need for a postoperative permanent pacemaker implant was high. The results seem to indicate that a broader reimbursement for TAVI was warranted after its introduction in 2008. Nevertheless, with the development of newer devices for SAVR, surgery will remain one of the major treatment options for aortic valve disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of transcriptomics, the role of epigenetics in the study of cancers in females has gained increasing recognition. This article explores the impact of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA, on cancers in females, including breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers (1). Our findings suggest that these epigenetic markers not only influence tumor onset, progression, and metastasis but also present novel targets for therapeutic intervention. Detailed analyses of DNA methylation patterns have revealed aberrant events in cancer cells, particularly promoter region hypermethylation, which may lead to silencing of tumor suppressor genes. Furthermore, we examined the complex roles of histone modifications and long non-coding RNAs in regulating the expression of cancer-related genes, thereby providing a scientific basis for developing targeted epigenetic therapies. Our research emphasizes the importance of understanding the functions and mechanisms of epigenetics in cancers in females to develop effective treatment strategies. Future therapeutic approaches may include drugs targeting specific epigenetic markers, which could not only improve therapeutic outcomes but also enhance patient survival and quality of life. Through these efforts, we aim to offer new perspectives and hope for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers in females.

Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is a specialized intracellular parasitic pathogen capable of causing pneumonia, sinusitis, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases, which pose significant public health challenges. Therefore, rapid, accurate, and sensitive diagnosis is crucial for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases caused by C. pneumoniae. In this study, we combined enzymatic recombination amplification (ERA) with the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) 12a system (CRISPR/Cas12a) to develop a dual detection platform termed the Cpn-ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a dual system. This system integrates both the ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a fluorescence system and the ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a lateral flow system. Detection results can be measured using a fluorescence detector or observed with the naked eye on lateral flow strips. The fluorescence system and the lateral flow system detect C. pneumoniae in 30 minutes and 15 minutes, respectively. This dual system exhibits no cross-reactivity with the other seven pathogens, demonstrating high specificity, and achieves a sensitivity of 100 copies/µL. Additionally, the Cpn-ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a dual system was employed to analyze 39 clinical samples, comprising 19 positive and 20 negative samples. The detection rate for positive samples was 100%, with no positive results in the negative samples, indicating a high level of concordance with qPCR results. In summary, the Cpn-ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a dual system represents a novel tool for diagnosing C. pneumoniae and holds promising application potential in grassroots community hospitals.

In the year 2000, cancer research in Europe had the potential to make a difference as it had several unique strengths, such as a strong foundation in biomedical science, good patient registries, infrastructures that spanned from biological repositories to bioinformatic hubs as well as thriving Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) and basic/preclinical cancer research institutions of high international standing. Research, however, was fragmented and lacked coordination. As a result, Europe could not harness its potential for translating basic research discoveries into a clinical setting for the patients' benefit. What was needed was a paradigm shift in cancer research that addressed the translational research continuum. Along these lines, in 2000, European Union (EU) Commissioner Philippe Busquin established the European Research Area (ERA) and in 2002 the European Cancer Research Area (ECRA), and their political approval was a powerful catalyst for the increased involvement of scientists in science policy in the EU. In this report, we briefly describe the actions embraced by the cancer community and cancer organizations in response to Busquin's proposals that led to the creation of the EU Mission on Cancer (MoC) in Horizon 2020 in 2021.

Targeting IL-17A using Secukinumab, a humanized monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1)/κ against IL-17A is a therapeutic option for immune-mediated disorders such as psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis. The US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency have approved it for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and non-radiographic axial spondylarthritis. Recently it has also been approved for use in children with severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis, and enthesitis-related arthritis. This review focuses on the role of Secukinumab in the management of children and adolescents with enthesitis-related arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. We discuss the salient findings of pivotal RCTs and other studies supporting the use of Secukinumab in adults and children, in particular, focusing on its safety and efficacy. Secukinumab is a therapeutic target for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and spondyloarthropathies in both adults and children. No major safety signals are observed with its use in short-term follow-up. Thus far, Secukinumab has not been found to significantly increase the risk of tuberculosis (TB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the year 2000, cancer research in Europe had the potential to make a difference as it had several unique strengths, such as a strong foundation in biomedical science, good patient registries, infrastructures that spanned from biological repositories to bioinformatic hubs as well as thriving Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) and basic/preclinical cancer research institutions of high international standing. Research, however, was fragmented and lacked coordination. As a result, Europe could not harness its potential for translating basic research discoveries into a clinical setting for the patients' benefit. What was needed was a paradigm shift in cancer research that addressed the translational research continuum. Along these lines, in 2000, European Union (EU) Commissioner Philippe Busquin established the European Research Area (ERA) and in 2002 the European Cancer Research Area (ECRA), and their political approval was a powerful catalyst for the increased involvement of scientists in science policy in the EU. In this report, we briefly describe the actions embraced by the cancer community and cancer organizations in response to Busquin's proposals that led to the creation of the EU Mission on Cancer (MoC) in Horizon 2020 in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Estrogens are crucial regulators of ovarian function, mediating their signaling through binding to estrogen receptors. The disruption of the estrogen receptor 1 (Esr1) provokes infertility associated with a hemorrhagic, cystic phenotype similar to that seen in diseased or aged ovaries. Our previous study indicated the possibility of altered iron metabolism in Esr1-deficient ovaries showing massive expression of lipocalin 2, a regulator of iron homeostasis. Methods: Therefore, we examined the consequences of depleting Esr1 in mouse ovaries, focusing on iron metabolism. For that reason, we compared ovaries of adult Esr1-deficient animals and age-matched wild type littermates. Results and discussion: We found increased iron accumulation in Esr1-deficient animals by using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Western blot analysis and RT-qPCR confirmed that iron overload alters iron transport, storage and regulation. In addition, trivalent iron deposits in form of hemosiderin were detected in Esr1-deficient ovarian stroma. The depletion of Esr1 was further associated with an aberrant immune cell landscape characterized by the appearance of macrophage-derived multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs) and increased quantities of macrophages, particularly M2-like macrophages. Similar to reproductively aged animals, MNGCs in Esr1-deficient ovaries were characterized by iron accumulation and strong autofluorescence. Finally, deletion of Esr1 led to a significant increase in ovarian mast cells, involved in iron-mediated foam cell formation. Given that these findings are characteristics of ovarian aging, our data suggest that Esr1 deficiency triggers mechanisms similar to those associated with aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution has been increased by the discharge of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including Benzo (a) pyrene (BaP), which may affect aquatic animal lives and threaten human health. Common sole, Solea solea was selected as a bioindicator benthic fish to monitor pollution from El-Maadeya (one of the industrially polluted areas in Egypt). Concentration of "BaP" in collected samples of water, sediments and some organs of sole was detected using HPLC. A detected level of 21 μg ″BaP″/L was reported in water samples from El-Maadeya. Analysis results of ″BaP″ in El-Maadeya water, sediment, and biota exceeded the permissible limits. In a new trial for water remediation from ″BaP″, chitosan (Cs) was experimentally applied. Moreover, the impact of ″BaP″ alone or in combination with Cs for two weeks on water quality, sole fish brooders and histopathological changes in their ovaries was studied. Fifteen fish/tank were randomly classified into five groups in triplicates exposed to: GI) sea water only, GII) sea water with "DMSO", GIII) 21 μg ″BaP″/L (equivalent to the level detected in El-Maadeya), GIV) 50 μg ″BaP″/L, GVa) 21 μg ″BaP″/L & 0.5 g ″Cs″/L for 24 hrs and GVb) 21 μg ″BaP″/L & 0.5 g ″Cs″/L for one week. Obtained results showed that ″BaP″ accumulated in the liver and ovary of fish resulting in a negative impact on the reproduction due to the alteration of the ovarian architecture, atresia, and gonadosomatic index. Western Blot analysis showed also that ″BaP″ disrupted steroidogenic enzymes, upregulated the expression of Hsp-70, and forced the degradation of ERα. The addition of 0.5 g Cs/L has showed its efficiency against BaP toxicity, since it plays a role in ″BaP″ elimination by fast adsorption from water and sediments in timedependent manner, improved fish health, restored reproductive characteristics, decreased the percentage of atretic oocytes and reduced fish mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis represents a significant global public health issue, particularly among the aging population. Its incidence reaches 18.3% of the total population, with the highest prevalence observed in elderly postmenopausal women. A key factor in osteoporosis is the decreased expression level of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), attributed to its degradation by the ubiquitin ligase protein complex Cullin4B (CUL4B), DNA damage binding 1 (DDB1), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), collectively known as CUL4BAhR. Acanthus ilicifolius L contains compounds exhibiting antiosteoporosis activity, primarily by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis via RANKL. However, no reports exist of antiosteoporosis agents that act by inhibiting ERα degradation via CUL4BAhR. This study employed an in silico approach to predict active compounds from A. ilicifolius that could inhibit ERα degradation via CUL4BAhR, potentially developing them into antiosteoporosis agents. We utilized the 3D structures of proteins CUL4B-DDB1 (PDB ID:4A0L), AhR (5NJ8), and ERα (1A52) in various molecular docking tools, including ClusPro2.0, PyRx0.8, PyMol, PLIP, and SWISS-MODEL for QMEAN and structure assessment analysis. The ligands tested were acancifoliuside, acanthaminoside, acteoside, isoacteoside, (-)-lyoniresinol, (-)-lyioniresinol-3a-O-β-glucopyranoside, and estradiol. Acteoside displayed lower binding affinity energy (-9.7 kcal/mol) compared to estradiol (-8.9 kcal/mol) and was the lowest among all compounds. Acteoside was found to weaken the interaction between CUL4B-Rbx1 and CUL4B-DDB1 but not between AhR and ERα. Consequently, acteoside could be a viable candidate as an antiosteoporosis agent by inhibiting ERα degradation via the CUL4B-DDB1-AhR pathway. Further biochemical, in vitro, and in vivo studies are required to strengthen this evidence.

Objective: To compare the consistency of endometrial receptivity array (ERA) and histologic dating among 3 spatially distinct endometrial samples obtained during a cycle of exogenous estrogen and progesterone. Design: Prospective blinded study. Setting: University practice. Patients: Twelve patients undergoing a mock frozen embryo transfer cycle. Intervention: Endometrial biopsy was performed in a manner that provided a spatially organized endometrial specimen, corresponding to the fundus, middle, and lower segment. Each of these 3 sections was further divided into immediately adjacent specimens for ERA and histology. Main Outcome Measure: Consistency of the ERA and histology results among fundal, mid, and lower endometrial biopsy specimens. Results: The ERA showed variability in outcome among different patients but dated all specimens originating from the same patient identically. Histologic dating showed variability between patients as well as between different locations within the uterus. When comparing average dating results for each patient, we saw a positive correlation between histologic and ERA dating (Spearman Rho = 0.45); however, this did not reach statistical significance. The ERA results from upper, mid, and lower uterine biopsy specimens were identical for each autologous biopsy, whereas histologic dating showed variability with an average standard deviation of 0.71 days. Conclusions: The increased heterogeneity of histologic dating is likely to be attributed to the subjectivity of the test. Furthermore, we did not observe a consistent lag or advancement in histologic or ERA dating between the fundal or lower uterine biopsies. Overall, clinicians should be reassured that endometrial tissue will return consistent ERA results independent of the location within the uterus in which it was obtained.

This case report describes a couple with nine years of primary infertility and three failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts that showed no reproductive abnormality. Negative results were observed following the conventional IVF protocol. The couple then insisted on laser-assisted hatching (LAH) and endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA). The ERA results showed a specific window for embryo implantation, and accordingly, the treatment was carried out, which resulted in seven good-quality oocytes, leading to the formation of four blastocyst-stage embryos. These embryos were then frozen, single embryo transfer (ET) was performed following the ERA results, and the embryos were successfully implanted. The βhCG level was 245 mIU/mL, indicating that the female had successfully conceived. This case highlights the challenges of a thick zona pellucida and recurrent implantation failure (RIF), defining how a personalized method combining both LAH and ERA could lead to successful implantation.

As long as the United States perpetuates the unequal statuses of males and females in the Constitution, dignity will mean different things to each. While males automatically have the dignity and worth of fully enfranchised citizens, females must accept a version of dignity based upon the manner in which they acquiesce to their legally inferior position. In suing the United States Soccer Foundation for equal pay, The United States Women's Soccer team brought the issue of status and dignity into the open in a very public way, enacting the dignity of those accorded full Constitutional rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction. Disputes about the “uniqueness” of one’s era in comparison with the achievements of previous ones have always been a “cornerstone” in the perception of past concepts regarding the values of the achievements of predecessors. However, at one time, Confucius said his world-famous phrase that if you don’t look back, there is no way forward. But many people are not interested in their past. That is why the “Querelle des Anciens et des Modernes” in the form of a literary debate, centered on a comparison of the value of the contributions of ancient authors and French authors of the 17th century, and which was widespread at the time, is still relevant today. The purpose and objectives of the article. The purpose of the article is to highlight the perception of the values of previous eras in the paradigms of “non-contemporary” prominent philosophers and writers. The tasks of the article are to reveal the reasons for the primordial disputes about “ancient and new”, a natural return to ancient literature and ancient philosophy. Research methodology. The leading research methods were: content-comparative - to analyze the reliability of judgments of French writers of the 17th century; retrospective, which helps to investigate the phenomenon of the value of “the ancient in the new” in the century-old controversy, the method of personalization, which ensures the study and understanding of the works of S. Perrault and his contemporaries. The results. It’s no secret that the tasks of art in the Antiquity, Middle Ages and Modern times differed greatly. For Antiquity, every craftsman was an artist, while the activity of a painter and sculptor was a more complex craft. It is typical for that time that there was almost no idea about creativity and the creative act, but despite this, the ancient Greeks were able to create immortal examples of art. The art of the Middle Ages was supposed to embody a moralistic character and remind of the eternal, the art of romanticism saw godlike creativity as its goal. The art of the 20th century presented its ideal in the denial of everything that the previous era saw as its goal, periodically declaring the death of art. Based on the fact that today there are many different ideas about the goals and tasks of modern art, we cannot say with full confidence what is the common goal of the art of our days, and it is even more difficult for us to imagine how art will live, for example, through a hundred years. Conclusions. So, we can come to the conclusion that in the era of the early Enlightenment, the attitude to the ancient heritage, in particular in France and England, was not unambiguous even among the educated aristocracy or university professors who knew Greco-Roman works well enough. This is clearly evidenced by the century-old dispute “about ancient and new”, which caused a lot of auxiliary discussions. Undoubtedly, even today arguing and debating about the art of previous eras and our own has a place in philosophy and literature, and they continue to do this with success for more than one hundred years. But to prove the rightness of one of the sides of these disputes is a sufficiently dubious matter for science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Basrah Journal of Science / Magallat Al-Barat Li-L-ulum is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite lower‐troposphere wind flow being a major control of rainfall in equatorial Africa, no studies have systematically compared winds from multiple reanalyses nor have attempted to validate the wind directions. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to assess differences in wind directions among multiple reanalysis products and compare reanalysis winds with wind measurements made at weather stations. The study region is western Uganda, part of the transition region between western equatorial Africa (WEA) and eastern equatorial Africa (EEA). Four‐times daily (i.e., 0Z, 6Z, 12Z and 18Z) 10‐m and 850‐hPa winds from 1980 to 2021 are obtained for ECMWF Reanalysis v5 (ERA5), Japan Meteorological Agency 55‐year Reanalysis (JRA55), Modern‐Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications Version 2 (MERRA2), NCEP‐NCAR Reanalysis 1 (R1) and NCEP/DOE Reanalysis II (R2). Wind measurements at 10 m and 850 hPa are obtained for six weather stations and two weather stations, respectively. Agreements between pairs of products and between measurements and reanalysis estimates are determined. In addition, differences between reanalyses and measurements with respect to wind vectors are calculated. Results show that the majority of reanalyses have western Uganda within the prevailing easterly flow over EEA and east of the prevailing westerly flow over WEA. Ten‐meter wind measurements also show easterly flow being prevalent throughout western Uganda. R1 is unique among the products due to a relatively large number of westerly days. However, much of the westerly flow is likely artificial, based on station data. MERRA2 has large easterly biases. JRA55 is much more accurate than the other products at reproducing the intra‐annual frequencies of wind directions. JRA55 and ERA5 are the least biased products based on the magnitudes of difference vectors. Therefore, it is recommended that JRA55 and ERA5 continue to be used in examinations of winds in western Uganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that adult adoptees with histories of maltreatment face particular challenges when they become parents. Here we explore this issue using a qualitative analysis of the views of 14 adoptee mothers, who suffered severe institutional deprivation in the Romanian orphanages of the late 1980s before being adopted into the UK, and their adoptive parents. Following a thematic analysis, we report several perceived benefits of becoming a parent, as well as co-occurring difficulties and challenges. Benefits included a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment, feeling more motivated personally and professionally and the positive experience of having a relationship with a biological relative. Challenges related, in particular, to some adoptee parents' abilities to appraise risk relating to their children and to difficulties in organising day-to-day activities. Practical and emotional support from adoptive grandparents was very often crucial for adoptee parents' success and wellbeing. Implications for research and practice are discussed, emphasising that deprivation-related difficulties expand into adulthood and for some can impact their ability to parent. Plain Language Summary: Care-experienced individuals are at an increased risk of having their own children taken into care. The reasons for this are currently not clear, but questions have been raised about the importance of early adversity versus a continuation of adversity, unfortunately commonly experienced by care leavers. The English and Romanian Adoptees (ERA) study has followed the progress of individuals who were adopted into high functioning homes following a period of early deprivation. Last assessed in young adulthood, 20% have become parents and in the current study, these parents, and their adoptive (grand)parents, were interviewed. Most parents reported no areas of difficulty and for them, becoming a parent had been a globally positive experience, which included a closer sense of connectivity, a sense of fulfilment and a greater sense of motivation. However, significant difficulties in providing childcare were experienced by around a fifth of the group, often resulting in care proceedings. Areas of difficulties appeared to revolve around appraising and responding to risk. Consequently, the adoptive grandparents were an important source of day-to-day support. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La quête d’acceptabilité sociale comme nouvelle norme de l’action publique pour les grands projets implique une transformation des processus décisionnels et des instruments. Au coeur de la transition énergétique, la question du transport de l’électricité apparaît stratégique. Le rôle des ententes sur les retombées et les avantages (ERA) est de plus en plus important et permet de poser la question de la justice distributive. L’article propose d’étudier la question de l’évolution d’une ERA sur quatre décennies, le Programme de mise en valeur intégrée (PMVI) d’Hydro-Québec concernant une vingtaine de projets de lignes à haute tension. Une approche sociopolitique par les instruments est mobilisée à cette fin et permet de rendre compte des résistances, ajustements et changements à l’oeuvre en s’interrogeant sur les implications de cet instrument de type conventionnel et incitatif du point de vue de la justice distributive dans le cadre de la gouvernance énergétique. La méthodologie repose sur l’analyse de contenu des rapports du Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE).

Arctic warming has accelerated surface melting even in the highland areas of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS). Understanding the relationship between climate and surface melting is essential for improving the estimates of ice‐sheet mass loss due to warming. Here we analyze a 250 m‐long ice core from the southeastern dome of GrIS (SE‐Dome site; 67°19′17″ N, 36°47′03″ W, 3,161 m a.s.l.), where the annual mean temperature is −20.9°C and the accumulation rate is high and there is a large discrepancy among climate models regarding snow accumulation estimates. A time scale was established for 1799–2020 with a half‐year uncertainty using annual counting of H2O2 concentration and five time horizons determined by electrical conductivity, melt events, and tritium concentration. The annual accumulation rate from the ice core shows no significant trend over 221 years and has an average of 1.04 ± 0.20 m w.e. year−1. In contrast, the frequency and thickness of refrozen melt layer (ML) have increased over 221 years, and are synchronized with temperature changes in the Arctic. The thickness of MLs correlates positively with the time‐integrated summer temperature anomaly using a reanalysis of air temperature. The in‐situ accumulation records in the southeastern GrIS provide an important basis for correcting reanalysis data such as ERA5, which in turn are valuable for improving regional climate models. Plain Language Summary: In recent years, Arctic temperatures have been increasing faster than global temperatures. In the inland Greenland ice sheet (GrIS), the surface snow melts on warm days, then the meltwater percolates in the snowpack and refreezes into melt layers (MLs). Here we describe an ice core, collected from the southeastern GrIS, which contains records of precipitation and MLs from 1799 to 2020. We then compare these results with the climatic data. The annual precipitation rate obtained from the ice core shows neither a decrease nor an increase over 221 years, suggesting no significant trend in the southeastern region. On the other hand, with Arctic warming, the ML thickness per year has increased through the 19th–21st centuries. In addition, there is a positive correlation between ML thickness and summer temperature. We conclude that the annual precipitation rate in southeastern GrIS is constant regardless of Arctic warming and the ice core is favorable for reconstructing environmental records from the pre‐industrial era to the present. Key Points: From an ice core in the southeastern Greenland ice sheet, we establish a time scale spanning 1799–2020 with a half‐year uncertaintyOver 221 years, the annual accumulation rate shows no significant trend, while the melt layer thickness has increased with Arctic warmingThe in‐situ accumulation records provide an important basis for correcting reanalysis data, which in turn are valuable for improving models [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the most common chronic rheumatologic condition in childhood, remains a cause of significant morbidity, particularly in those with spondyloarthropathy, including psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA). While secukinumab was recently approved for the treatment of children and adolescents with ERA and PsA, there is limited published data on its use in JIA, particularly in refractory cases, despite its efficacy in the treatment of adult arthritis. We aim to examine the use of this therapy in JIA in a single pediatric rheumatology center. A retrospective chart review was performed and 10 JIA patients who received treatment with secukinumab were identified. Data extracted included disease activity, patient demographics, comorbidities, medications, and laboratory data. Seven ERA, 2 PsA, and 1 poly JIA patient were treated with secukinumab at our center between April 2011 and July 2021. These patients had notably resistant disease, with a mean disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) failure rate of 3.8. One hundred percent of patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after being on at least 3 months of secukinumab therapy demonstrated improvement in their MRI findings. One patient developed a flare of uveitis while on secukinumab therapy, with no other adverse events recorded in our patients. Secukinumab therapy was recently approved for children and adolescents with ERA and PsA, and may offer an efficacious option given its demonstrated improvement in imaging and joint examination, as well as qualitative reports of pain, even in those who have failed other therapies. However, caution may be warranted in those with a history of uveitis and warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpesvirus type I (FHV-1) are the most common viral pathogens responsible for cat respiratory diseases, and coinfection with these two pathogens is often found. In veterinary clinics, the main diagnostic methods for FCV and FHV-1 are test strips and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, the sensitivity of test strips are not sufficient, and PCR is time-consuming. Therefore, developing a rapid and high-performance clinical diagnostic test is imperative for the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Enzymatic recombinase amplification (ERA) is an automated isothermal nucleic acid amplification technique that maintains a constant temperature, and is both rapid and highly accurate. In this study, a dual ERA method was developed using the Exo probe for a differential detection of FCV and FHV-1. This dual ERA method demonstrated high performance with the detection limit of 101 copies for both viruses, and no cross-reactions with feline parvovirus virus and F81 cells. To test the utility of the method for clinical applications, 50 nasopharyngeal swabs from cats with respiratory symptoms were collected and tested. The positive rates of FCV and FHV-1 were 40% (20/50, 95% confidence interval [CI], 26.4 to 54.8%) and 14% (7/50, 95% CI, 5.8 to 26.7%), respectively. The rate of coinfection with FCV and FHV-1 was 10% (5/50, 95% CI, 3.3 to 21.8%). These results were in agreement with those found using quantitative real-time PCR. Therefore, this dual ERA method is a novel and efficient clinical diagnostic tool for FCV and FHV-1 detection.

STUDY QUESTION Does a personalized embryo transfer (pET) guided by tests for endometrial receptivity (TER) increase the effectiveness of ART procedures? SUMMARY ANSWER The use of TER-guided pET is not supported by current published evidence in women without repeated implantation failure (RIF), while in women with RIF more research is needed to assess a potential benefit. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Implantation rates are still far from ideal, especially in some patients that have RIF with good-quality embryos. As a potential solution, a wide range of diverse TER use different sets of genes to identify displacements of the window of implantation to adjust the individual length of progesterone exposure in a pET. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed. Search terms included endometrial receptivity analysis, ERA, personalized embryo transfer. CENTRAL, PubMed, Embase, reference lists, clinical trials registers, and conference proceedings (search date October 2022) were searched, with no language restrictions. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies comparing a pET guided by TER vs standard embryo transfer (sET) in different subgroups that undergo ART were identified. We also investigated pET in non-receptive-TER vs sET in receptive-TER, and pET in a specific population vs sET in a general population. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed with the Cochrane tool and ROBINS-I. Only those with low/moderate RoB underwent meta-analysis. The GRADE approach was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence (CoE). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We screened 2136 studies and included 35 (85% used ERA and 15% used other TER). Two studies were RCTs comparing endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA)-guided pET vs sET in women with no history of RIF. In women without RIF, no important differences (moderate-CoE) were found in live birth rates and clinical pregnancy rates (CPR). We also performed a meta-analysis of four cohort studies that were adjusted for confounding. In agreement with the RCTs, no benefits were found in women without RIF. However, in women with RIF, low CoE suggests that pET might improve the CPR (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.42–4.40). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION We found few studies with low RoB. Only two RCTs in women without RIF were published, and none in women with RIF. Furthermore, the heterogeneity observed in populations, interventions, co-interventions, outcomes, comparisons, and procedures limited the pooling of many of the included studies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS In the population of women without RIF, in agreement with previously published reviews, pET did not prove to be more effective than sET and, therefore, it precludes the routine use of this strategy in this population until more evidence is available. However, more research is advisable in women with RIF as low-certainty evidence from observational studies adjusted for confounders suggests that the CPR might be higher with pET guided by TER in this population. Although this review presents the best available evidence, it is still insufficient to change current policies. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) No specific funding was obtained for this study. There are no conflicts of interest to declare. REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO CRD42022299827. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Christianity is not just a slogan for the Christian community, but refers to the identity of one being a disciple of Jesus Christ. As a disciple of Christ, Christians live in the midst of family, their church, the world of work and broader society. This means that the expression 'Christianity' represents all Christians in all ages and in all places. Christianity shows that there is indeed a unity as one is a follower of Jesus and lives according to God's will. Indeed, in the past, humans have lost the glory of God and lived in sin. But because of His grace, God in His absolute sovereignty requires that everyone must believe in Him in order to obtain eternal life. God's grace poured out upon all Christians enables them to do God's will in often vexing times. This has been the hallmark of Christianity throughout the ages, including the current era of disruption. The first, and foremost advantage of being a Christian is that one belongs to Jesus. In Him, one has eternal life, and in this world, peace and joy that is in essence beyond anything the world can offer one. In Jesus believers have hope, and have the strength to face and defeat whatever comes their way, be it illness or even death. This brief article seeks to show in a modest manner that that every era has always had its own distinct and soul shattering challenges, but God gives excellence for every Christian to be able to adjust to His divine will so that His people have a positive impact on the family, their church, the world of work and the society where God places has placed them to serve. Believers must demonstrate their faith and this refers both to the their acts of trust and to the content of their faith. The Christian faith is having confidence in Jesus Christ in his ability to bring a believer through every difficult circumstance of life. Digital media technology must be used in the propagation of the faith as it offers endless opportunities, but also challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persian gardens are valuable historical and cultural human-built landscapes however, Persian gardens are deteriorating gradually. Thus, comprehensive studies would be helpful in obtaining deeper insights into different aspects and meaning of Persian gardens. The descriptive-analytical approach was used to review the EmaratBirooni garden of Urmia (Campus of Urmia University) as it is the only remnant of Qajar period demonstrating a clear image of the past of the Persian garden model in Urmia. Data were employed through literature review and on-site field study. It was found that the Campus of Urmia University had three historical eras- era 1: Before the garden was purchased by American missionaries, era 2: The settlement of American missionaries, era 3: After American missionaries left and delivered the garden to the government. By examining the periods, it was seen that the survival of the campus stemmed from proper uses in each era. This suggests that new uses suiting the contemporary conditions could be beneficial in protecting historical gardens. In this respect, it is essential to protect historical gardens since these gardens can become a cultural capital to the future generations.

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The ability of a chemical transport model to simulate accurate meteorological and chemical processes depends upon the physical parametrizations and quality of meteorological input data such as initial/boundary conditions. In this study, weather research and forecasting model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) is used to test the sensitivity of PM2.5 predictions to planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization schemes (YSU, MYJ, MYNN, ACM2, and Boulac) and meteorological initial/boundary conditions (FNL, ERA-Interim, GDAS, and NCMRWF) over Indo-Gangetic Plain (Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan) during the winter period (December 2017 to January 2018). The aim is to select the model configuration for simulating PM2.5 which shows the lowest errors and best agreement with the observed data. The best results were achieved with initial/boundary conditions from ERA and GDAS datasets and local PBL parameterization (MYJ and MYNN). It was also found that PM2.5 concentrations are relatively less sensitive to changes in initial/boundary conditions but in contrast show a stronger sensitivity to changes in the PBL scheme. Moreover, the sensitivity of the simulated PM2.5 to the choice of PBL scheme is more during the polluted hours of the day (evening to early morning), while that to the choice of the meteorological input data is more uniform and subdued over the day. This work indicates the optimal model setup in terms of choice of initial/boundary conditions datasets and PBL parameterization schemes for future air quality simulations. It also highlights the importance of the choice of PBL scheme over the choice of meteorological data set to the simulated PM2.5 by a chemical transport model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpesvirus type I (FHV-1) are the most common viral pathogens responsible for cat respiratory diseases, and coinfection with these two pathogens is often found. In veterinary clinics, the main diagnostic methods for FCV and FHV-1 are test strips and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, the sensitivity of test strips are not sufficient, and PCR is time-consuming. Therefore, developing a rapid and high-performance clinical diagnostic test is imperative for the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Enzymatic recombinase amplification (ERA) is an automated isothermal nucleic acid amplification technique that maintains a constant temperature, and is both rapid and highly accurate. In this study, a dual ERA method was developed using the Exo probe for a differential detection of FCV and FHV-1. This dual ERA method demonstrated high performance with the detection limit of 101 copies for both viruses, and no cross-reactions with feline parvovirus virus and F81 cells. To test the utility of the method for clinical applications, 50 nasopharyngeal swabs from cats with respiratory symptoms were collected and tested. The positive rates of FCV and FHV-1 were 40% (20/50, 95% confidence interval [CI], 26.4 to 54.8%) and 14% (7/50, 95% CI, 5.8 to 26.7%), respectively. The rate of coinfection with FCV and FHV-1 was 10% (5/50, 95% CI, 3.3 to 21.8%). These results were in agreement with those found using quantitative real-time PCR. Therefore, this dual ERA method is a novel and efficient clinical diagnostic tool for FCV and FHV-1 detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, extreme temperatures are associated with global warming and cause great concerns worldwide, particularly in Africa because of low resilience, adaptation and mitigation strategies. The present study investigates the performance of RegCM4 climate model in reproducing extreme temperatures over Central Africa (CA) during 2002–2006 period. Apart of daily minimum and maximum temperatures, the study uses six extreme temperature indices based on the recommendations of Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices. These include four intensity indices and two duration indices. Focus has been done in two sub-regions embedded over the study area for more specific analysis. The first sub-region named zone 1 is semi-arid while the second one named zone 2 is humid. We found that whatever the region or season over CA, RegCM4 displays fairly well the intensity indices associated to daily minimum temperatures, namely T N N and T N X , with underestimations not exceeding 4 ∘ C. For intensity indices based on daily maximum temperatures, namely T X X and T X N , the warm bias can reach up to 10 ∘ C. This model behavior is associated to its inability to depict surface downward solar and thermal fluxes as well as surface sensible heat flux. Regarding the duration indices, RegCM depicts the hot sequences with high biases, unlike the cold sequences. Statistical parameters used for evaluation show that despite the differences between model and ERA5, RegCM4 can be used to investigate extreme temperatures over the study region mainly if indices of interest are based on daily minimum temperatures and cold sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Christianity is not just a slogan for the Christian community, but refers to the identity of one being a disciple of Jesus Christ. As a disciple of Christ, Christians live in the midst of family, their church, the world of work and broader society. This means that the expression ‘Christianity’ represents all Christians in all ages and in all places. Christianity shows that there is indeed a unity as one is a follower of Jesus and lives according to God's will. Indeed, in the past, humans have lost the glory of God and lived in sin. But because of His grace, God in His absolute sovereignty requires that everyone must believe in Him in order to obtain eternal life. God's grace poured out upon all Christians enables them to do God's will in often vexing times. This has been the hallmark of Christianity throughout the ages, including the current era of disruption. The first, and foremost advantage of being a Christian is that one belongs to Jesus. In Him, one has eternal life, and in this world, peace and joy that is in essence beyond anything the world can offer one. In Jesus believers have hope, and have the strength to face and defeat whatever comes their way, be it illness or even death. This brief article seeks to show in a modest manner that that every era has always had its own distinct and soul shattering challenges, but God gives excellence for every Christian to be able to adjust to His divine will so that His people have a positive impact on the family, their church, the world of work and the society where God places has placed them to serve. Believers must demonstrate their faith and this refers both to the their acts of trust and to the content of their faith. The Christian faith is having confidence in Jesus Christ in his ability to bring a believer through every difficult circumstance of life. Digital media technology must be used in the propagation of the faith as it offers endless opportunities, but also challenges.

تناول هذ البحث قراءة تاريخ ي ة مختصرة في الحديث الن بوي الشريف في عهد ال ن ب وة؛ بهدف بيان المنهج في رواية الحديث وتلقيه في عهد الن بوة، وللوصول لمس م يات الكلام الن بوي قبل استقرار المصطلح الحديثي.اتّبع الباحثُ المنهج الاستقرائي والتاريخي والوصفي في الدّراسة. وأخيرا تو صلت الدّراسة إلى أ ن الكلام الن بوي م ر بمسميات متعددة منها كان يطلق عليه "حديثا " وأحيانا "مقالة" وقليلا كان يطلق عليه"علم ا "، واستق ر أخيرا عند علماء الحديث وغيرهم مصطلح "الحديث" للدلالة على الكلام الن بوي. كما بي نت الد راسة مصادر ومجالس تلقي الحديث في عهد الن بوة، وكشفت حرص الصحابة على حضور مجالس العلم. واستوثقت من رواية الصحابي عن الصحابي في حضرة الن بوة وبعدها. ومن ثّ م أوصتْ الد راسة بإجراء مزيدٍ من البحث في هذا الموضوع لأهميته. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes an algorithm for constructing generalized suffix trees using distributed parallel platforms, which is optimal from the point of view of both time complexity and memory consumption. The distributed construction approach allows operating with large alphabets and very long strings. The algorithm is efficient for scalability on distributed parallel platforms. It supports indexing suffixes for various long strings, ranging from a single long string to multiple long strings of varying lengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GTPase Era from Staphylococcus aureus belongs to the TRAFAC superfamily of the TrmE-Era-EngA-EngB-Septin-like GTPases class and plays a significant role in the vital activity of this pathogenic microorganism as a maturation factor of the 30S ribosome subunit. However, the functions of this protein are not fully understood, making it a promising object for further study. Here, the 2.76 Å resolution crystal structure of Staphylococcus aureus Era in complex with GDP is presented. Structural comparison with other GTP-bound and GDP-bound homologous proteins, GTPase domain and the KH domain revealed a mutual orientation in S. aureus which has not been described before. The GDP-bound Era structure presented here will facilitate efforts to elucidate its interactions with its regulators and lay the foundation for a structure-based search for specific inhibitors. • Crystal structure of Sa Era is solved in GDP-bound form. • GTPase and KH domain folds differ in Sa Era. • The C-terminal part of the KH domain of Era differs in S. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moral and legal Autonomy in the Era of artificial Intelligence The ethical principle of autonomy is one of the core principles in the field of applied ethics, from bioethics to ethics of artificial intelligence (AI). In this paper, we pursue an ethical inquiry into how AI systems can affect human autonomy according to a moral and legal perspective, that is, both in its moral dimension (as implicit endorsement) as well as in its legal one (as explicit consent). More specifically, after having defined the concept of individual autonomy from a moral and juridical standpoint as the human normative power of self-determination both in the moral sphere and in the legal one, and thus, better substantiating the AI ethics principle of autonomy as currently adopted in the field, we show how the design of novel AI systems, such as machine-learning and deep-learning algorithms, that widely rule the functioning of digital information and communication technology (ICT), can negatively affect both the preconditions of our moral and legal autonomy, by suspending intrinsic consent that individuals can express in order to endorse external information as a true motive of their choices and actions, as well as bypassing the legal conditions for a valid consent, as the external manifestation of the individual legal autonomy. We conclude by highlighting the ethical implications and risks of such phenomenon and proposing ethical and legal design practices to prevent or mitigate them.

Résumé : Au Sénégal, plusieurs actions ont été mises en œuvre pour accélérer l’accès à l’électricité aussi bien en milieu urbain qu’en milieu rural. C’est ainsi qu’un programme prioritaire d’électrification rurale a été lancé afin de répondre à la forte demande d’accès au réseau électrique dans les zones rurales. Dans le cadre de ce programme, la société d’énergie rurale africaine (ERA) a mis en place différents projets pour répondre à cet objectif. Du fait de la spécificité du monde rural (demande énergétique généralement faible, population dispersée, etc.), les projets d’électrification rurale sont souvent non rentables, d’où la question de l’optimisation de la subvention et des fonds propres se pose avec encore plus d’acuité. Les contraintes de réalisation du projet sont avant tout liées à l’identification des villages à fort potentiel de développement avec des coûts de d’électrification optimales, implicitement ce qui implique une étape de sélection de villages plus fastidieuse avec les méthodes classique de planification de projet d’électrification rurale. Pour faciliter la sélection des localités à électrifier, nous avons recouru au SIG qui est aujourd’hui l’outil par excellence d’aide à la décision dans plusieurs domaines notamment en matière de planification et de gestion des projets d’électrification rurale. Nous avons utilisé les logiciels ArcGIS, le SQL server, le power BI Desktop, SharePoint et Google Earth pour traiter, interroger, analyser et visualiser les données. L’étude a permis de connaitre les taux d’électrification et de pénétration. Elle a également permis d’identifier et de hiérarchiser les localités à fort potentiel de développement économique et social qu’il conviendrait d’électrifier en priorité, dans le but de maximiser l’impact économique et social de l’électrification rurale à l’échelle du territoire étudié.

Background: Complications leading to early technical failure have been the Achilles' heel of simultaneous pancreas‐kidney transplantation (SPKT). The study purpose was to analyze longitudinally our experience with early surgical complications following SPKT with an emphasis on changes in practice that improved outcomes in the most recent era. Study design: Single center retrospective review of all SPKTs from 11/1/01 to 8/12/20 with enteric drainage. Early relaparotomy was defined as occurring within 3 months of SPKT. Patients were stratified into two sequential eras: Era 1 (E1): 11/1/01–5/30/13; Era 2 (E2) 6/1/13–8/12/20 based on changes in practice that occurred pursuant to donor age and pancreas cold ischemia time (CIT). Results: 255 consecutive SPKTs were analyzed (E1, n = 165; E2, n = 90). E1 patients received organs from older donors (mean E1 27.3 vs. E2 23.1 years) with longer pancreas cold CITs) (mean E1 16.1 vs. E2 13.3 h, both p <.05). E1 patients had a higher early relaparotomy rate (E1 43.0% vs. E2 14.4%) and were more likely to require allograft pancreatectomy (E1 9.1% vs. E2 2.2%, both p <.05). E2 patients underwent systemic venous drainage more frequently (E1 8% vs. E2 29%) but pancreas venous drainage did not influence either relaparotomy or allograft pancreatectomy rates. The most common indications for early relaparotomy in E1 were allograft thrombosis (11.5%) and peri‐pancreatic phlegmon/abscess (8.5%) whereas in E2 were thrombosis, pancreatitis/infection, and bowel obstruction (each 3%). Conclusion: Maximizing donor quality (younger donors) and minimizing pancreas CIT are paramount for reducing early surgical complications following SPKT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of implantation is characterized by a complex cross-talk between the endometrium and the blastocyst, with the endometrium only being receptive to implantation during a transient window of implantation of approximately 2-3 days during the midsecretory phase. The timing of embryo transfer, including frozen embryo transfer, is therefore critical to the success of implantation. In this article, we discuss various elements that may guide the timing of frozen embryo transfer, including the role of endometrial characteristics such as thickness, days postovulation or length of progesterone administration, stage of the embryo, and the application of endometrial receptivity tests to guide personalized embryo transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is a prevalent neoplasm that occurs in women all over the world. Growth and differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) plays an essential role in cancer progression. This study focused on investigating the biological role and underlying mechanisms of GDF11 in BC. We detected the expression of GDF11 in 27 patients with BC and BC cell lines. Kaplan-Meier plotter was employed to analyze the relationship between GDF11 expression and overall survival (OS) of BC patients. The proliferative, migratory, invasive, and apoptotic abilities of T47D cells were examined. Correlation analysis of GDF11 with Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 1 (SMURF1) was conducted. The association between GDF11 and the p53 pathway was analyzed by western blot and PFT-a (a p53 inhibitor)-mediated rescue assays. A brief analysis of the role of estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) signaling in BC progression was performed. The results showed that GDF11 was increased in BC tissues and cell lines, and the high expression of GDF11 was associated with the poor OS of BC patients. GDF11 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of T47D cells, but promoted cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, the GDF11 knockdown reduced the SMURF1 expression and invoked the p53 pathway activation. SMURF1 overexpression and PFT-a partially blocked the effects of GDF11 knockdown. In addition, GDF11 knockdown and SMURF1 silencing inhibited the activation of the ERa signaling pathway. In summary, GDF11 was involved in the progression of BC by regulating SMURF1- mediated p53 and ERa pathways, opening up a new way for BC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis (ERA), one of the most widely used precipitation products, has evolved from ERA‐40 to ERA‐20CM, ERA‐20C, ERA‐Interim, and ERA5. Studies evaluating the performance of individual ERA products cannot adequately assess the evolution of the products. We compared the performance of all ERA precipitation products at daily, monthly, and annual data (1980–2018) using more than 2100 Iran precipitation gauges. Results indicated that ERA‐40 performed worst, followed by ERA‐20CM, which showed only minor improvements over ERA‐40. ERA‐20C considerably outperformed its predecessors, benefiting from the assimilation of observational data. Although several previous studies have reported full superiority of ERA5 over ERA‐Interim, our results revealed several shortcomings in ERA5 compared with the ERA‐Interim estimates. Both ERA‐Interim and ERA5 performed best overall, with ERA‐Interim showing better statistical and categorical skill scores, and ERA5 performing better in estimating extreme precipitations. These results suggest that the accuracy of ERA precipitation products has improved from ERA‐40 to ERA‐Interim, but not consistently from ERA‐Interim to ERA5. This study employed a grid‐grid comparison approach by first creating a gridded reference data set through the spatial aggregation of point source observations, however, the results from a point‐grid approach showed no change in the overall ranking of products (despite the slight changes in the error index values). These findings are useful for model development at a global scale and for hydrological applications in Iran. Key Points: Estimations over Iran improved from ERA‐40 to ERA‐Interim but not from ERA‐Interim to ERA5ERA‐Interim performed better than ERA5 in statistical and categorical skill scoresERA5 has improved estimations of extreme precipitations over Iran [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional ecological risk assessment (ERA) predominately evaluates the impact of individual chemical stressors on a limited range of taxa, which are assumed to act as proxies to predict impacts on freshwater ecosystem function. However, it is recognized that this approach has limited ecological relevance. We reviewed the published literature to identify measures that are potential functional indicators of down‐the‐drain chemical stress, as an approach to building more ecological relevance into ERA. We found wide variation in the use of the term "ecosystem function," and concluded it is important to distinguish between measures of processes and measures of the capacity for processes (i.e., species' functional traits). Here, we present a classification of potential functional indicators and suggest that including indicators more directly connected with processes will improve the detection of impacts on ecosystem functioning. The rate of leaf litter breakdown, oxygen production, carbon dioxide consumption, and biomass production have great potential to be used as functional indicators. However, the limited supporting evidence means that further study is needed before these measures can be fully implemented and interpreted within an ERA and regulatory context. Sensitivity to chemical stress is likely to vary among functional indicators depending on the stressor and ecosystem context. Therefore, we recommend that ERA incorporates a variety of indicators relevant to each aspect of the function of interest, such as a direct measure of a process (e.g., rate of leaf litter breakdown) and a capacity for a process (e.g., functional composition of macroinvertebrates), alongside structural indicators (e.g., taxonomic diversity of macroinvertebrates). Overall, we believe that the consideration of functional indicators can add value to ERA by providing greater ecological relevance, particularly in relation to indirect effects, functional compensation (Box 1), interactions of multiple stressors, and the importance of ecosystem context. Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1135–1147. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: Considering functional indicators in addition to structural indicators adds value to ERA, but wide variation in the use of the term "ecosystem function" limits implementation.We classify different types of potential functional indicators and argue it is important to distinguish between measures of processes and measures of the capacity for processes (i.e., species' functional traits).Some measures have great potential to be developed as functional indicators (such as rate of leaf litter breakdown, oxygen production, carbon dioxide consumption, and biomass production), but further study is needed before these measures can be implemented and interpreted within a regulatory context.It is valuable for ERA to include multiple types of indicators relevant to each function of interest (e.g., both rate of leaf litter breakdown and functional composition of macroinvertebrates), alongside structural indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]