Sod1 integrates oxygen availability to redox regulate NADPH production and the thiol redoxome

Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Sod1) is a highly conserved and abundant antioxidant enzyme that detoxifies superoxide (O2•−) by catalyzing its conversion to dioxygen (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammalian cells, we discovered that a major aspect of the antioxidant function of Sod1 is to integrate O2 availability to promote NADPH production. The mechanism involves Sod1-derived H2O2 oxidatively inactivating the glycolytic enzyme, GAPDH, which in turn reroutes carbohydrate flux to the oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (oxPPP) to generate NADPH. The aerobic oxidation of GAPDH is dependent on and rate-limited by Sod1. Thus, Sod1 senses O2 via O2•− to balance glycolytic and oxPPP flux, through control of GAPDH activity, for adaptation to life in air. Importantly, this mechanism for Sod1 antioxidant activity requires the bulk of cellular Sod1, unlike for its role in protection against O2•− toxicity, which only requires <1% of total Sod1. Using mass spectrometry, we identified proteome-wide targets of Sod1-dependent redox signaling, including numerous metabolic enzymes. Altogether, Sod1-derived H2O2 is important for antioxidant defense and a master regulator of metabolism and the thiol redoxome.

A weighted network analysis framework for the hourglass effect—And its application in the C. elegans connectome

Understanding hierarchy and modularity in natural as well as technological networks is of utmost importance. A major aspect of such analysis involves identifying the nodes that are crucial to the overall processing structure of the network. More recently, the approach of hourglass analysis has been developed for the purpose of quantitatively analyzing whether only a few intermediate nodes mediate the information processing between a large number of inputs and outputs of a network. We develop a new framework for hourglass analysis that takes network weights into account while identifying the core nodes and the extent of hourglass effect in a given weighted network. We use this framework to study the structural connectome of the C. elegans and identify intermediate neurons that form the core of sensori-motor pathways in the organism. Our results show that the neurons forming the core of the connectome show significant differences across the male and hermaphrodite sexes, with most core nodes in the male concentrated in sex-organs while they are located in the head for the hermaphrodite. Our work demonstrates that taking weights into account for network analysis framework leads to emergence of different network patterns in terms of identification of core nodes and hourglass structure in the network, which otherwise would be missed by unweighted approaches.

Misleading clinical presentation of carcinoid syndrome

Rare cases of carcinoid syndromes can develop from either gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) without liver metastasis or large retroperitoneal involvement. We report a case of a patient with isolated flushing highly suggestive of carcinoid syndrome caused by an ileal NET with adjacent lymph node metastases but with no liver metastases. The final diagnose was delayed for this patient due to a combination of misleading clinical presentation and negative usual screening tests (urinary 5-HIAA and serum chromogranine A). Given its high sensitivity and specificity, 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET confirmed the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumor. Therefore, this case reminds clinicians that carcinoid syndrome may manifest as flushing only and highlights that imaging is a major aspect of the evaluation and diagnosis of patients with suspected gastrointestinal NETs.

Trends of bivalve (Bivalvia) research in East Malaysia: a systematic review

The unique biodiversity in Malaysia makes this country a global hotspot for different aspects of research. Many European and non-native research activities are conducting by different research groups, whereas local institutions also collaborate with them to explore the pristine nature of west (peninsular Malaysia) and East Malaysia (Sarawak and Sabah province). East Malaysia is located in Borneo Island, and the biodiversity of this area are huge. The current review work scrutinized the information about the research activities on aquatic bivalve species and their different aspects of the investigation. This investigation revealed, to date 28 research publications were published on aquatic bivalves from eastern Malaysia, where biodiversity, conservation and ecology was the major aspect of research. The other aspects were aquaculture, natural history and taxonomy, nutritional study, reproduction of bivalve, morphology, and pollution can be mentionable. The major portion of this eastern Malaysia are not investigated and it is assumed that many species are still not reported. Further studies demand to explore the vast bivalve biodiversity of this part of Malaysia. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2021, 6 (2), 50-59

The Relationship of Emotion Intelligence, Knowledge-Sharing and Group Work Results of Vietnam Students

Teamwork is arguably a major aspect of university teaching as it gives students opportunities to apply their expertise to problem-solving skills, and to sharpen their skills for future jobs; to improve study outcomes, motivation, and attitudes toward learning. In addition, Emotion Intelligence (EI) and knowledge-sharing are said to have an impact on group work results. The goal of this study is to investigate the relationship between EI, knowledge-sharing, and group work results of university students. The research team conducted a survey that involved 372 students from universities majoring in economics in Hanoi, Vietnam. Research results confirm that EI has a positive effect on students' knowledge-sharing skills and group work results, and knowledge-sharing is the mediator in the relationship between EI and the performance of the group.

Pubertal status of children with congenital heart disease

Background: CHD influences many aspects of life in affected individuals. Puberty, a major aspect of development, is a concern for patients and families. Objectives: We investigated pubertal status in children and adolescents with CHD. Methods: Patients with CHD aged 6–18 were enrolled. Cardiac diagnoses were confirmed using history, examination, and paraclinical tools including echocardiography. An endocrinologist determined pubertal stages, and the second Tanner stages for pubarche (P2), thelarche (B2), and gonadarche (G2) were considered as the pubertal onset. A study with a large sample size on pubertal onset in a normal population was used for comparison. Results: Totally, 451 patients (228 girls and 223 boys) at a median (10th–90th percentile) age of 10.79 (8.02–14.28) years for the girls and 10.72 (8.05–14.03) years for the boys were enrolled. The median (10th–90th percentile) ages at B2 and P2 in the girls with CHD were 10.77 (9.55–12.68) and 10.53 (9.39–12.28) years, respectively, which were higher than the median ages of 9.74 (8.23–11.94) and 10.49 (8.86–12.17) years in the normal girls. The median (10th–90th percentile) ages at G2 and P2 in the boys with CHD were 11.04 (8.85–13.23) and 11.88 (9.78–13.46) years, correspondingly, which were higher than the median ages of 9.01 (6.00–11.84) and 10.34 (6.84–13.10) years in the normal boys. Conclusions: Pubertal onset could be delayed in children with CHD when compared with the normal population.

Disease and the Christian Discourse of Jewish Death in "De Excidio Hierosolymitano" 5, 2

The late-fourth century work called On the Destruction of Jerusalem (De Excidio Hierosolymitano), or “Pseudo-Hegesippus”, records the history of the Roman-Jewish War (66-73 CE) and particularly the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. As a Christian version of this history based largely upon Flavius Josephus’ earlier Jewish War, De Excidio understands himself to be telling the story of the effective death of the Jews in history. One major aspect of this narrative, I argue, is a discourse of Jewish disease, wherein Ps-Hegesippus portrays the Jews as “sick” with the plague of civil insurrection and sedition. But this discourse goes much further as well, cutting to the very core of De Excidio’s narrative logic. Here I argue that this discourse of Jewish disease finds its most powerful expression in one particular chapter of the work, Book 5, Chapter 2. I show that De Excidio 5.2 epitomizes the work’s rhetoric of Jewish contagion, which can nevertheless be traced throughout the entirety of the work.

Sustainability Comes to Life. Nature-Based Adventure Tourism in Norway

This paper investigates how tourists and guides perform sustainability during adventure tourism trips in natural environments. The paper draws on empirical data from an ethnographic study of five different multi-day trips in Norway, each of which used skiing, hiking, or biking as the mode of travel. In our analysis, we focus on how the different actors understood, operationalized and practiced elements of sustainability in their everyday lives while on the trips. The paper applies a micro-sociological perspective to the nature-based adventure tourism scene where the interplay between tourists, guides, adventure activities and nature is understood as multiple dialectic performances co-produced by the different actors. Goffman's dramaturgical metaphors, and concepts of frames, appearance, and manner saturate recent research on tourism and nature guiding. This paper builds on the “performance turn” as a theoretical point of departure for understanding sustainability in nature-based adventure tourism experiences. In participant observations and post-trip interviews with Norwegian and international tourists and their guides, we found that sustainability performances were not a major aspect of the trips. We did find some performances of mainly “light” sustainability and, among them, elements of ambivalence and ambiguity. Our data indicate that some guides tread a fine line between enhancing and deepening tourists' experiences of nature and sustainability or negatively impacting the perceived enjoyment imperative of the trip. International tourists expressed deeper sustainability overall. We reflect on the relative explanatory strengths of Goffman's “frames” and interaction order, and Persson's “framing,” for understanding the interplay between guide and tourist sustainability performances and conclude with pointers for teasing out the complexities we identify.

ReVisioning Sexuality: Relational Joy and Embodied Flourishing

Sexuality and relationships are a major aspect of teen development. Youth Ministry programs that embrace relational joy and embodied flourishing promote healthy, holistic sexuality for the teens they serve. Yet, many youth ministry programs treat sexuality as a risk (or sin) to be reduced or about which to remain completely silent. Sexuality is part of our created goodness that youth need help to understand and embrace. Faith leaders can influence how teens understand their sexuality and relationships, either as a positive dimension of joy and flourishing or as an inhibitor to health and thriving. In addition to this theological conversation, this article describes increased risks to adolescents who experience high levels of disapproval from families and faith leaders with regards to their sexuality and suggests specific ways to integrate healthy and holistic approaches to faith-based sexuality education that cultivates joy and flourishing related to teen sexuality and relationships.

A Weighted Network Analysis Framework for the Hourglass Effect — and its Application in the C. Elegans Connectome

ABSTRACTUnderstanding hierarchy and modularity in natural as well as technological networks is of utmost importance. A major aspect of such analysis involves identifying the nodes that are crucial to the overall processing structure of the network. More recently, the approach of hourglass analysis has been developed for the purpose of quantitatively analyzing whether only a few intermediate nodes mediate the information processing between a large number of inputs and outputs of a network. We develop a new framework for hourglass analysis that takes network weights into account while identifying the core nodes and the extent of hourglass effect in a given weighted network. We use this framework to study the structural connectome of theC. elegansand identify intermediate neurons that form the core of sensori-motor pathways in the organism. Our results show that the neurons forming the core of the connectome show significant differences across the male and hermaphrodite sexes, with most core nodes in the male concentrated in sex-organs while they are located in the head for the hermaphrodite. Our work demonstrates that taking weights into account for network analysis framework leads to emergence of different network patterns in terms of identification of core nodes and hourglass structure in the network, which otherwise would be missed by unweighted approaches.