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CRISPR-Cas systems revolutionized the genome engineering field but need to induce double-strand breaks (DSBs) and may be difficult to deliver due to their large protein size. Tn7-like transposons such as CRISPR-associated transposons (CASTs) can be repurposed for RNA-guided DSB-free integration, and obligate mobile element guided activity (OMEGA) proteins of the IS200/IS605 transposon family have been developed as hypercompact RNA-guided genome editing tools. CASTs and OMEGA are exciting, innovative genome engineering tools that can improve the precision and efficiency of editing. This review explores the recent developments and uses of CASTs and OMEGA in genome editing across prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The pros and cons of these transposon-based systems are deliberated in comparison to other CRISPR systems.

Fatty acids are a requirement for normal development, however, since humans are unable to de novo produce essential fatty acids, they must be obtained from diet. Atlantic salmon is a major dietary source of nutritious and digestible fatty acids. Here, we set out to uncover the genomic basis of individual fatty acids and indices (saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, n-3, and n-6) in 208 North American Atlantic salmon, to understand selection potential toward increasing relative quantities of essential fatty acids and to identify candidate genes for future research. Total n-6 (pro-inflammatory) was higher than total n-3 (anti-inflammatory) fatty acids with a ratio of 1 : 1.31 (n-3 : n-6). Heritability of fatty acids ranged from 0 to 0.99, however, most fatty acids and indices had moderate to high heritabilities (ranged from 0.20 to 0.88), implying that selection for improvement of traits could be possible. We found the same significant markers on chromosome 23 (based on false discovery rate thresholds of 2.0e-6 and suggestive significant thresholds of 2.0e-5 in Manhattan plots) in four fatty acids (γ-linoleic acid, stearidonic acid, dihimo-γ-linolenic acid, and eicosatrienoic acid), where three genes (sin3b, acbd6, and fads2) are known to be involved in lipid metabolism. These genes, fads2 in particular, would all make ideal candidates for future functional studies. In addition, there were four fatty acids with loci over the suggestive significant threshold with a variety of markers on different chromosomes (lauric acid, stearic acid, eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA), and docosadienoic acid), with associated genes that had relevant functions to fatty acids or adipose cells in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive success is crucial in dairy farming as it heavily relies on the consumption of a complete mixed ration for the diet. The current study investigated the effects of adding saturated (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to dairy cows' diets on reproductive performance and reproductive hormones during the transition period. A total of 30 Holstein dairy cows were randomly divided into three groups (10 animals in each group), based on parity and body condition score. The cows had an initial body weight of 567.5 ± 40.3 kg (mean ± SD), a body condition score of 3.5 ± 0.26 out of 5 (mean ± SD), and a parity of 1.7 ± 0.02 (mean ± SD). The control group received a balanced ration meeting all the nutrient requirements according to the National Research Council (NRC) guidelines. The SFA group received 1.4% of dry matter (DM) as palm oil (RumiFat®), while the omega group had 5% of DM as safflower (a source of n-6 fatty acids) added from 21 days before parturition to 21 days after, and 4% of DM as flaxseed (a source of n-3 fatty acids) added from 21 to 42 days after parturition. In the Omega group, estradiol concentration significantly increased on artificial insemination (AI) day (12.54 pg/mL). Additionally, serum prostaglandin F2-alpha concentration was significantly higher in the omega group (0.732 pg/mL on day 7 and 1.68 pg/mL on day 14) compared to other groups. The control group exhibited the highest progesterone concentrations at 14 and 21 days post-calving compared to the other groups, other groups. whereas the omega group highest concentration five days after AI. The omega group also showed a significantly higher mean number of follicles >10mm and larger ovulatory follicle diameter. Moreover, a higher percentage of pregnant cows at 120 days in milk, fewer open days, and lower service per conception were observed in the omega group compared to the other groups. In conclusion, supplementing dairy cows' diets with PUFAs during the transition period positively influenced ovarian function, hormone levels, and reproductive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic Psychological Needs Theory, one of six mini-theories forming the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), postulates three innate and universal basic psychological needs: need for autonomy, need for competence, and need for relatedness. The SDT assumes non-unidimensionality of basic psychological needs satisfaction scales, but at the same time some authors form three scale scores and an additional composite general score as an index of general need satisfaction. In this study we wanted to test the plausibility of a general basic psychological needs satisfaction factor hypothesis. We wanted to address the fundamental psychometric properties of the Croatian version of the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale - General in more detail using the dataset of 668 individual self-assessed scores. Based on the reliability indicators (Cronbach’s alpha, Omega total, Greatest Lower Bound, Explained Common Variance) only relatedness and composite general score scales reach satisfactory levels. On the other hand, based on Exploratory Factor Analysis hierarchical models, there is no latent generalized factor of basic psychological needs satisfaction and three specific group factors of basic psychological needs. Hypothesis of a general factor, representing a global basic psychological needs satisfaction construct, seems non-plausible. It is difficult to make clear recommendations as to how a researcher in this field should form scale scores at this point, so two possible strategies for scale revision are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern edition of the Greek New Testament, the Nestle-Aland, prints Romans 5:1 as follows: Δικαιωθέντες οὖν ἐκ πίστεως εἰρήνην ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ("Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"). The main verb is ἔχομεν ("we have [peace]"). However, is this the right verb form? The person who copied the text (from an earlier, now lost manuscript) in the two fourth-century manuscripts, Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, wrote the hortative subjunctive ἔχωμεν ("let us have"). A later, correcting, hand changed it to the indicative ἔχομεν ("we have")—present in the Nestle-Aland. The subjunctive introduces an element of uncertainty about whether Christians (already) enjoy peace with God. This question relates to the doctrine of justification—one of the most divisive topics of the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. The indicative variant supports the Lutheran side, while the subjunctive conforms to the Catholic viewpoint. Instead of the exclusive choice of one variant or the other, this essay proposes that future editions of the Greek New Testament print a neologism that combines both variants into one, ἔχôμεν ("let us have" and "we have"). M. C. Escher's lithograph Drawing Hands is used to show that the correcting and the original hands (in Sinaiticus and Vaticanus) are on the same level (in a tangled hierarchy). Finally, J. Derrida's neologism "otobiography" is used to demonstrate that the omicron and the omega are interwoven in Rom. 5:1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic Psychological Needs Theory, one of six mini-theories forming the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), postulates three innate and universal basic psychological needs: need for autonomy, need for competence, and need for relatedness. The SDT assumes non-unidimensionality of basic psychological needs satisfaction scales, but at the same time some authors form three scale scores and an additional composite general score as an index of general need satisfaction. In this study we wanted to test the plausibility of a general basic psychological needs satisfaction factor hypothesis. We wanted to address the fundamental psychometric properties of the Croatian version of the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale - General in more detail using the dataset of 668 individual self-assessed scores. Based on the reliability indicators (Cronbach’s alpha, Omega total, Greatest Lower Bound, Explained Common Variance) only relatedness and composite general score scales reach satisfactory levels. On the other hand, based on Exploratory Factor Analysis hierarchical models, there is no latent generalized factor of basic psychological needs satisfaction and three specific group factors of basic psychological needs. Hypothesis of a general factor, representing a global basic psychological needs satisfaction construct, seems non-plausible. It is difficult to make clear recommendations as to how a researcher in this field should form scale scores at this point, so two possible strategies for scale revision are discussed.

The most common equine tapeworm, Anoplocephala perfoliata, has often been neglected amongst molecular investigations and has been faced with limited treatment options. However, the recent release of a transcriptome dataset has now provided opportunities for in-depth analysis of A. perfoliata protein expression. Here, global, and sub-proteomic approaches were utilized to provide a comprehensive characterization of the A. perfoliata soluble glutathione transferases (GST) (ApGST). Utilizing both bioinformatics and gel-based proteomics, GeLC and 2D-SDS PAGE, the A. perfoliata ‘GST-ome’ was observed to be dominated with Mu class GST representatives. In addition, both Sigma and Omega class GSTs were identified, albeit to a lesser extent and absent from affinity chromatography approaches. Moreover, 51 ApGSTs were localized across somatic (47 GSTs), extracellular vesicles (EVs) (Whole: 1 GST, Surface: 2 GSTs) and EV depleted excretory secretory product (ESP) (9 GSTs) proteomes. In related helminths, GSTs have shown promise as novel anthelmintic or vaccine targets for improved helminth control. Thus, provides potential targets for understanding A. perfoliata novel infection mechanisms, host–parasite relationships and anthelmintic treatments.

Copyright of Al-Anbar Journal of Veterinary Sciences 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.)

Producing bulk AlN with grain sizes in the nano regime and measuring its thermal conductivity is an important milestone in the development of materials for high energy optical applications. We present the synthesis and subsequent densification of nano-AlN powder to produce bulk nanocrystalline AlN. The nanopowder is synthesized by converting transition alumina (δ-Al2O3) with

Abstract What are the pertinent indicators of the Church being lived by the GPI in the middle of a disruption related to its identity between oneness and independence, as well as the difficulties of the international context and nationality? is the question that this essay’s introduction poses. This article employs a qualitative approach to address this query, attempting to build a meaning for the church in the age of disruption by analytically interpreting the data obtained. The findings of this research demonstrate that GPI’s courage is walking with God to maintain the independence and unity of being a brother-sisterhood in God’s open banquet by fostering the concept of brother-sisterhood within its own body and assisting in the resolution of national and international problems. It is clear that GPI deserves to display the distinctive characteristics of the Church, including its commitment to multiculturalism, freedom, and Indonesian public liquidity. Abstrak Tulisan ini dimulai dengan sebuah pertanyaan, apa tanda-tanda Gereja yang relevan dihidupi oleh GPI di tengah disrupsi terkait identitas dirinya di antara keesaan dan kemandirian, dan tantangan konteks global dan kebangsaan? Untuk menjawab pertanyaan ini, pembahasan tulisan ini menggunakan metode kualitatif, dengan berusaha menginterpretasi secara analitis ke atas data-data yang ditemukan untuk mengonstruksi makna menggereja di era disrupsi. Hasil penelitian ini memperlihatkan bahwa keberanian (courage) GPI adalah berjalan bersama Allah untuk meneruskan keesaan dan kemandirian menjadi persaudaraan dalam perjamuan Allah yang terbuka dengan mengusung gagasan persaudaraan di tubuhnya sendiri dan turut mengatasi tantangan kebangsaan dan global hingga ke titik omega. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa GPI layak mengusung tanda-tanda Gereja yang khas, yaitu: persaudaraan, keesaan, kemandirian, multikultural dan keindonesiaan-kepublikan-kecairan.

With the Edict of Milan and the full adoption of Christianity in Egypt, the city of Oxyrhynchus became a major religious center and was one of the most important cities during the Coptic period. From 2009 to 2021 excavations have been carried out in Sector 24 of the Upper Necropolis of Oxyrhynchus, where major finds from this Christian phase are coming to light and a basilica dedicated to St. Philoxenus has been documented. In the excavation of this building a series of crosses painted on the columns of the building have been found, from which we will analyze the iconography of this type of crosses in Egypt and how Christianity adopted them from the fourth century for their shape and symbolism. In addition, we will study the value and function of the letters alpha and omega that accompany in many cases not only the ansadas crosses, but also the staurograms, chrismons and christograms in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bu araştırmanın amacı, çok boyutlu test yapılarının güvenirliğinin incelenmesidir. Bu amaçla iki boyutlu bir test için örneklem büyüklüğü (100,200 ve 400), boyutlar arası korelasyon (0,00 ve 0,50), maddeler arası korelasyon (0,30-0,50 ve ≥0,65) , test uzunluğu (10 ve 20) ve boyutlara düşen madde sayısı (5-5, 7-3, 10-10 ve 15-1) koşulları altında üretilen verilerden Cronbach Alfa, Tabakalı Alfa ve Omega katsayılarının kestirim değerleri incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda Tabakalı Alfa ve Omega değerlerinin genel Alfa değerinden yüksek fakat birbirine benzer sonuçlar verdiği bulunmuştur. Ayrıca üç güvenirlik katsayısının kestirimleri üzerinde maddeler arası korelasyon koşulunun boyutlar arası korelasyona göre daha etkili olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

La presente investigación realiza un recorrido por el concepto de confiabilidad como una de las propiedades psicométricas fundamentales en la Teoría Clásica de los Test. Se desarrolla el concepto y cuáles son sus diferentes aplicaciones prácticas para indagar el grado de confiabilidad de un instru-mento de medición. Se centra el estudio en el cálculo de la consistencia interna a partir del alfa y el omega como los coeficientes más utilizados y la importancia de calcularlos mediante la utilización de matrices de correlaciones policoricas (MCP). Como objetivo principal se presenta una guía en español para el cálculo de coeficientes ordinales de confiabilidad al utilizar el programa R/RStudio. Se brinda un ejemplo a nivel empírico que da cuenta la relevancia de calcular este tipo de coeficientes para el cálculo de la confiabilidad de un instrumento. Al emplear una muestra de 266 adultos entre 18 y 63 años (M = 31.91, DE = 11.50), se administró la versión adaptada a argentina del Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck y el Cuestionario de Regulación Emocional. De esta manera, se exponen coefi-cientes para estimar la confiabilidad de los instrumentos que dan cuenta de sus ventajas y desventa-jas, al realizar el cálculo mediante MCP, matriz de correlaciones de Pearson y matriz de covarianzas de Pearson. A partir de los resultados, se evidencia que el cálculo mediante MCP proporcionó grados de confiabilidades mayores respecto al cálculo mediante las otras dos matrices. Se espera que el pre-sente documento sea de importancia para investigadores no familiarizados con R.

Polya was the first to establish the concept of a counting polynomial in chemistry. Despite the fact that the spectra of the characteristic polynomial of graphs were exhaustively researched by quantitative means in order to ascertain the molecular orbitals of unsaturated hydrocarbons, the field garnered little attention from chemists for several decades. Polynomials can be used to produce a variety of significant topological indices, either explicitly or after calculating derivatives or numerical methods. Certain firmly related polynomials, namely Theta, Omega, PI, and Sadhana polynomials, subordinate the equidistant edges and non-equidistant edges of structural graphs, which have a rich application in computing the corresponding topological indices. A topological index is a numerical value associated with a network that predicts chemical, physical, and biological activities. This article investigates these polynomials for three classes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene, hexa-cata-hexabenzocoronene, and dodeca-benzo-circumcoronene. In addition, closed formulas for these polynomials' corresponding indices are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the 20th century the alpha coefficient (α) was widely used in the estimation of the internal consistency reliability of test scores. After misuses were identified in the early 21st century alternatives became widespread, especially the omega coefficient (ω). Nowadays, a is re-emerging as an acceptable option for reliability estimation. Method: A review of the recent academic contributions, journal publication habits and recommendations from normative texts was carried out to identify good practices in estimation of internal consistency reliability. Results: To guide the analysis, we propose a three-phase decision diagram, which includes item description, fit of the measurement model for the test, and choice of the reliability coefficient for test score(s). We also provide recommendations on the use of R, Jamovi, JASP, Mplus, SPSS and Stata software to perform the analysis. Conclusions: Both α and ω are suitable for items with approximately normal distributions and approximately unidimensional and congeneric measures without extreme factor loadings. When items show non-normal distributions, strong specific components, or correlated errors, variants of ω are more appropriate. Some require specific data gathering designs. On a practical level we recommend a critical approach when using the software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ahmet Kelesoglu Educational Faculty is the property of Journal of Ahmet Kelesoglu Educational Faculty 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.)

Reliability is a crucial concept in psychometrics. Although it is typically estimated as a single fixed quantity, previous work suggests that reliability can vary across persons, groups, and covariates. We propose a novel method for estimating and modeling case-specific reliability without repeated measurements or parallel tests. The proposed method employs a "Reliability Factor" that models the error variance of each case across multiple indicators, thereby producing case-specific reliability estimates. Additionally, we use Gaussian process modeling to estimate a nonlinear, non-monotonic function between the latent factor itself and the reliability of the measure, providing an analogue to test information functions in item response theory. The reliability factor model is a new tool for examining latent regions with poor conditional reliability, and correlates thereof, in a classical test theory framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to quantify fatty acids in the edible body parts (skin, dorsal muscle, and belly muscle) and inedible body parts (head, bone, and visceral fat) of the jade perch, Scortum barcoo, for nutraceutical purposes. Results showed that the head and skin contained the significantly highest levels of omega-3 at 44.96 ± 3.64 mg FA/g tissue and 40.51 ± 2.07 mg FA/g tissue. Comparatively, bone and skin contained the highest level of omega-6 at 24.02 ± 5.53 mg FA/g tissue and 23.32 ± 5.65 mg FA/g tissue. The head was found to contain the highest level of polyunsaturated fatty acids at 66.6 ± 3.94 mg FA/g tissue, whereas bone contained the highest level of monounsaturated fatty acids at 55.54 ± 10.70 mg FA/g tissue. The highest saturated fatty acid level was found in visceral fat at 51.69 ± 6.51 mg FA/g tissue. Docosahexaenoic acid was found to be the highest among omega-3 composition at 91.5 ± 0.56 mg FA/g tissue, followed by eicosapentaenoic acid at 54.0 ± 0.18 mg FA/g tissue in both edible and inedible body parts. Examination confirms that jade perch is a fatty fish containing high amounts of fatty acids even in the inedible parts, which indicates good potential to be used for animal feed application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Inferring the selective forces that orthologous genes underwent across different lineages can help us understand the evolutionary processes that have shaped their extant diversity and the phenotypes they underlie. The most widespread metric to estimate the selection regimes of coding genes—across sites and phylogenies—is the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (dN/dS, also known as ω). Nowadays, modern sequencing technologies and the large amount of already available sequence data allow the retrieval of thousands of orthologous genes across large numbers of species. Nonetheless, the tools available to explore selection regimes are not designed to automatically process all genes, and their practical usage is often restricted to the single‐copy ones which are found across all species considered (i.e., ubiquitous genes). This approach limits the scale of the analysis to a fraction of single‐copy genes, which can be as low as an order of magnitude in respect to those which are not consistently found in all species considered (i.e., nonubiquitous genes). Here, we present a workflow named BASE that—leveraging the CodeML framework—eases the inference and interpretation of gene selection regimes in the context of comparative genomics. Although a number of bioinformatics tools have already been developed to facilitate this kind of analyses, BASE is the first to be specifically designed to allow the integration of nonubiquitous genes in a straightforward and reproducible manner. The workflow—along with all relevant documentation—is available at github.com/for‐giobbe/BASE.

Anti-inflammatory properties of fish-oil are well known and suggested during pregnancy. MMP-1 is involved in inflammation and tissue remodelling. There have been studies focused on anti-inflammatory effect of maternal omega use on human milk while little is known about the effect of omega use on breastmilk proteases. Leptin is an important hormone that influences MMP levels in various tissues and exerts its metabolic effects. In our study we assessed the levels of MMP-1, TIMP-1, leptin, IL-6 and FA's including PUFA in breastmilk from women who used omega-3. Our study was a cross-sectional study included 67(Group 1, n = 32, omega user; Group 2 n = 35, non-user)lactating women and their infan MMP-1, TIMP-1, leptin, IL-6 and FA's were evaluated in breastmilk of both groups. MMP-1, TIMP-1, IL-6 and leptin were measured by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) method. Breastmilk fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography flame ionisation detector (GC-FID). Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) levels in breastmilk were significantly lower in breastmilk from omega users (mean ± SD, 0.455 ± 0.1) than non-users (mean ± SD, 0.677 ± 0.289) (p=.0001). MMP-1 and omega 6:3 ratio were positively correlated (r: 0.301, p=.01). MMP levels were correlated with IL-6 (Pearson's r: 0.411, p<.001). MMP-1 and leptin levels were positively correlated (r:.388, p=.001). MMP-1 levels in breastmilk, may be modified by maternal omega use in pregnancy which may help to redirect extracellular matrix remodelling and metabolic programming in early infancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science and theology are often confronted each other since these two disciplines have developed their respective methods. The first is based on empirical research, while the later is based on faith reflection. At the same time, it seems difficult to fi nd theological reflection which bases its reflection on scientific invention. Among a few theologians who base their theological reflection on scientific invention is Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. This article, by way of a literature research, explains Teilhard’s reflection on Christology based on his view of evolution theory. In this article, the author combines Teilhard’s writings about Christological reflection and other theologians’ writings exploring Teilhard’s thoughts. Teilhard was influenced by Henri Bergson’s view of evolution. Nevertheless, quite different from Bergson’s view about evolution as an aimless movement, Teilhard, on the contrary, sees the evolution as a process with a definite purpose to the Omega point. The Omega point is another name of Christ, as the apex of the evolution of all creation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "From alpha to omega: Estimation of ordinal reliability. A practical guide" presents a guide in Spanish for calculating ordinal reliability coefficients using the R/RStudio program. It focuses on calculating internal consistency through alpha and omega coefficients, and highlights the importance of using polychoric correlation matrices. An empirical example is provided to demonstrate the relevance of calculating these coefficients to evaluate the reliability of an instrument. The authors of the article are Nicolás Alejandro Vizioli and Alejandro Emilio Pagano, who are teachers and researchers at the University of Buenos Aires. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: Our objective is to provide preliminary evidence of the English translation of the Integrative Hope Scale (IHS). Hope is a critical concept for recovery. Synthesizing from other hope models, Schrank and colleagues developed the IHS. Although translated into five languages, no known studies assess the IHS's English translation within a clinical sample. Additionally, no known studies investigate the IHS's relationships with mental health measures in a mixed-diagnostic clinical sample. Method: To address these gaps in the literature, we used confirmatory factor analyses, alpha, and omega reliability coefficients, and correlational analyses to assess the IHS within a suburban, mixed-diagnostic intensive outpatient community mental health sample (n = 125) in the midwestern United States. Results: While poorest fit was found within the one-factor model, the four-factor oblique, higher-order, and bifactor models showed improved fit. Reliability for the total score was good, with subscales ranging from acceptable to good. Significant relationships were found for the IHS in expected directions with measures of hope and depression at a large effect size and anxiety and stress at a moderate effect size. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: This study provides preliminary evidence that the IHS may have the potential to serve as a central measure of hope. Given hope's role within recovery and given its relationships with mental health measures shown in this mixed-diagnostic clinical sample, the IHS should continue to be investigated by researchers, clinicians, and clients, especially in recovery-focused programs. Impact and Implications: This study provides psychometric support for the Integrative Hope Scale's (IHS) English translation among individuals who meet criteria for a variety of mental health diagnoses using confirmatory factor analysis, alpha and omega calculations, and correlational analyses. The IHS conceptualizes hope as containing internal and external elements; its public-domain status provides a free tool to assess hope within community mental health settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work delves into the role of parent phase size on occurrence of displacive phase transformation with emphasis on transformation in nanometric dimension. Beta phase with compositions suitable for displacive martensitic and omega phase transformations has been generated in different length scales in a Zr-1 wt.% Nb alloy through heat treatment. The beta phase distribution was in the form of (i) patches at grain boundaries and tri-junctions and (ii) needle-shaped intragranular precipitates. The transformation inside the beta phase following quenching has been probed by transmission electron microscopy. Very fine beta precipitates remained untransformed despite their compositions falling in the domain of martensitic, omega phase transformations. The parent phase size dependency was more prevalent in the case of martensitic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine biomineralization is a globally important biological and geochemical process. Understanding the mechanisms controlling the precipitation of calcium carbonate [CaCO3] within the calcifying fluid of marine organisms, such as corals, crustose coralline algae, and foraminifera, presents one of the most elusive, yet relevant areas of biomineralization research, due to the often-impenetrable ability to measure the process in situ. The precipitation of CaCO3 is assumed to be largely controlled by the saturation state [Ω] of the extracellular calcifying fluid. In this study, we mimicked the typical pH and Ω known for the calcifying fluid in corals, while varying the magnesium, calcium, and carbonate concentrations in six chemo-static growth experiments, thereby mimicking various dissolved inorganic carbon concentration mechanisms and ionic movement into the extracellular calcifying fluid. Reduced mineralization and varied CaCO3 morphologies highlight the inhibiting effect of magnesium regardless of pH and Ω and suggests the importance of strong magnesium removal or calcium concentration mechanisms. In respect to ocean acidification studies, this could allow an explanation for why specific marine calcifiers respond differently to lower saturation states.

Over the past three decades, numerous scaling and attitudinal measurement techniques have been developed to facilitate the assessment of an individual's financial risk tolerance. Cronbach's alpha has traditionally been used as the primary measure of scale reliability for assessment tools that have been developed using classical psychometric theory. Recently, however, psychometricians have raised concerns about the ongoing use of Cronbach's alpha as a robust measure of scale reliability. In its place, some have argued that reliability estimates should be based on greatest lower bound (GLB) and omega estimations. The purpose of this paper is to describe and compare these alternative reliability measures to Cronbach's alpha for a widely used research‐focused financial risk‐tolerance scale. Using a dataset with 179,450 observations, findings from this study suggest that while estimates based on Cronbach's alpha, omega, and the GLB do differ, for the most part, reliability estimates across the measures are more similar than dissimilar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article “Ghosts of Empire in Egypte” offer a fresh approach to the Cold War. The full story of Turkey’s ambassador in Egypt and his revenge remained out of the public eye until newspapers offered full details of a plot, clearly aimed at staging: “a military coup, assassinate Gamal Abdul Nasser and other revolution leaders, and re-establishing the monarchy in Egypt.” Great Britain’s prime minister Anthony Eden concluded the maintenance of his country’s Middle Eastern interests demanded the removal of Nasser from power, planning to isolate Nasser inside Egypt, placing a “gradual squeeze on the Egyptian economy in order to ferment popular dissatisfaction with the military regime”.

A basilica has been found in Hazor-Ashdod, with a narthex in the west and a hall attached on the north side. The eastern part has not survived, but a capital of an altar table leg has been found, not in situ. The complex is decorated with mosaic floors, and each part of the building is decorated with a different pattern. The dedicatory inscriptions on the mosaic floors date completion of the mosaic floor in the northern hall to 506/507 CE, and completion of the basilica floor to 512 CE. The nave of the basilica is emphasized by the choice of a vine scroll pattern, populated by inanimate objects, animals, and birds. The carpet is dynamic, rich and crowded with motifs. By contrast, the aisles, the intercolumnars, and the northern hall are decorated with geometric carpets. Special panels mark the entrances to the nave, the northern aisle, and the transition between the first and second carpet in the northern hall. The Hazor-Ashdod panels contain a few crosses, the letters Α, Ω, Ι, Χ, and motifs with deep and symbolic Christian significance. All the motifs in the panels are depicted in one direction – from west to east from the viewpoint of a worshipper entering the church. The mosaic floor is similar in style, composition and iconography to early 6th century CE mosaic floors in the southern coastal plain, western Negev, and Gaza area. The floor belongs to a group of mosaics made to a moderately high technical standard. The style is schematic and quite flat. The style and technique are uniform throughout the church, and differ from those documented in the neighboring mosaic floors – evidence that they were made by an anonymous artist or a local workshop.

Background: Globally, 1 in 11 adults has diabetes mellitus, and most of these cases are type 2 diabetes (T2D). The risk of T2D is influenced by many factors, including diet. The synthesis of long-chain n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-6 PUFA) has been posited as a risk factor for T2D; however, its causal role is uncertain. Aim: To test the causal effect of LC n-6 PUFA synthesis on insulin resistance and transgenerational T2D risk in a large cohort of men and women. Methods: Two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted to evaluate the effect of low or high levels of LC n-6 PUFA synthesis on glycemia and development of T2D in the UK Biobank (n = 463,010) and Meta-Analysis of Glucose- and Insulin-Related Traits Consortium (MAGIC; n = 5,130) cohorts. The increased likelihood of a predisposition to low or high LC n-6 PUFA synthesis and the risk of T2D was also investigated using the participants’ siblings and parents. In MR-Base, 4 genetic variants associated with LC n-6 PUFA synthesis were found (p < 10–8). After pruning, 1 variant (rs174547) on the FADS1 gene was retained. Results: Lower LC n-6 PUFA synthesis and abundance (per % unit decrease) are associated with small reductions in the insulin disposition index (–0.038 ± 0.012 mM–1; p = 0.002) within MAGIC. In the UK Biobank, we report negligible effects of low n-6 PUFA synthesis on the odds of T2D (OR

CRISPR-Cas systems revolutionized the genome engineering field but need to induce double-strand breaks (DSBs) and may be difficult to deliver due to their large protein size. Tn7-like transposons such as CRISPR-associated transposons (CASTs) can be repurposed for RNA-guided DSB-free integration, and obligate mobile element guided activity (OMEGA) proteins of the IS200/IS605 transposon family have been developed as hypercompact RNA-guided genome editing tools. CASTs and OMEGA are exciting, innovative genome engineering tools that can improve the precision and efficiency of editing. This review explores the recent developments and uses of CASTs and OMEGA in genome editing across prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The pros and cons of these transposon-based systems are deliberated in comparison to other CRISPR systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

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Inferring the selective forces that orthologous genes underwent across different lineages can help us understand the evolutionary processes that have shaped their extant diversity and the phenotypes they underlie. The most widespread metric to estimate the selection regimes of coding genes—across sites and phylogenies—is the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (dN/dS, also known as ω). Nowadays, modern sequencing technologies and the large amount of already available sequence data allow the retrieval of thousands of orthologous genes across large numbers of species. Nonetheless, the tools available to explore selection regimes are not designed to automatically process all genes, and their practical usage is often restricted to the single‐copy ones which are found across all species considered (i.e., ubiquitous genes). This approach limits the scale of the analysis to a fraction of single‐copy genes, which can be as low as an order of magnitude in respect to those which are not consistently found in all species considered (i.e., nonubiquitous genes). Here, we present a workflow named BASE that—leveraging the CodeML framework—eases the inference and interpretation of gene selection regimes in the context of comparative genomics. Although a number of bioinformatics tools have already been developed to facilitate this kind of analyses, BASE is the first to be specifically designed to allow the integration of nonubiquitous genes in a straightforward and reproducible manner. The workflow—along with all relevant documentation—is available at github.com/for‐giobbe/BASE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual scientists typically default to appraising the reliability of their self-report measures by calculating one or more α coefficients. Despite the prolific use of α, few researchers understand how to situate and make sense of α within the psychometric theories used to develop the measures used in their research (e.g., latent variable theory) and many unknowingly violate the assumptions of α. In this paper, we describe the disconnect between α and latent variable theory and the subsequent restrictive assumptions α makes. Simultaneously, we introduce an alternative metric of reliability—omega (ɷ)—that is compatible with latent variable theory. Subsequently, we provide a tutorial to walk readers through didactic examples on how to calculate ɷ metrics of reliability using the getOmega() function—a simple open-source function we created to automate the estimation of ɷ. We then introduce the Measurement of Sexuality and Intimacy Constructs (MoSaIC) project to provide insight into the state of reliability in sexuality science. We do this through contrasting α and ɷ estimates of reliability across seven sexuality measures, selected based on their emerging and pre-existing relevance and influence in the field of sexuality, in both a queer (LGBTQ+) sample (n = 545) and a United States' representative sample (n = 548). We finish our paper with pragmatic suggestions for editors, reviewers, and authors. By more deeply understanding one's options of reliability metrics, sexual scientists may carefully consider how they present and assess their measures' reliability, and ultimately help improve our science's replicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This randomized clinical trial (RCT) was designed to assess the effect of VD3, n-3FA, and their combination on serum leptin levels in people with vitamin D deficiency (VDD). Subjects and methods: One hundred and forty six participants, were randomly assigned into four groups supplemented with the dose of 50,000 IU VD3 taken weekly (D), 300 mg n-3FA taken daily (Om), and their combination (D+Om) or control (C) for eight weeks. Fasting baseline and follow-up (10 weeks; 8 weeks supplementation plus washout period of 2 weeks) of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), leptin, glucose, triglycerides (TG), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, and phosphorus were assayed. A paired T-test was used to assess the changes in serum leptin levels over of the follow-up period. Results: Significant increase in follow-up serum leptin (10.62 ± 7.18 to 14.42 ± 8.29 ng/mL, P = 0.002) and TG (154 ± 84.4 to 200.1 ± 79, P = 0.015) levels were observed in n-3-FA supplemented group. Combination therapy (VD3 plus n-3 FA) significantly increased serum 25OHD (13.49 ± 4.64 to 37.09 ± 11.13 ng/mL, P < 0.001), TG levels (114.3 ± 57.3 to 139.1 ± 60.7 mg/mL, P = 0.007) and insignificantly serum leptin (6.74 ± 4.87 to 8.01 ± 6.77 ng/mL, P = 0.269). Conclusion: Our study referred that notable elevation in leptin and TG levels might be linked to leptin resistance. However, further RCTs are required to clarify possible consequences resulted from the extensive administration of n-3FA supplements and their combinations with high doses of VD3 supplements on humans’ health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Omega-3 fatty acids, including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and derivatives, play a key role in the resolution of inflammation. Higher intake has been linked to decreased morbidity in several diseases, though effects on respiratory diseases like COPD are understudied. Methods The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), with a focus on dietary assessment, provides a unique opportunity to explore relationships between omega-3 intake and morbidity in respiratory diseases marked by inflammation in the United States (US) population. We investigated relationships between ALA or EPA + DHA intake and respiratory symptoms among US adults with COPD, as well as variation in relationships based on personal characteristics or exposures. Results Of 878 participants, mean age was 60.6 years, 48% were current smokers, and 68% completed high school. Omega-3 intake was, 1.71 ± 0.89 g (ALA), and 0.11 ± 0.21 g (EPA + DHA). Logistic regression models, adjusting for age, gender, race, body mass index, FEV1, education, smoking status, pack-years, total caloric intake, and omega-6 (linoleic acid, LA) intake demonstrated no primary associations between omega-3 intake and respiratory symptoms. Interaction terms were used to determine potential modification of relationships by personal characteristics (race, gender, education) or exposures (LA intake, smoking status), demonstrating that at lower levels of LA intake, increasing ALA intake was associated with reduced odds of chronic cough (pint = 0.015) and wheeze (pint = 0.037). EPA + DHA, but not ALA, was associated with reduced symptoms only among current smokers who did not complete high school. Conclusions Individual factors should be taken into consideration when studying the association of fatty acid intake on respiratory diseases, as differential responses may reveal susceptible subgroups.