Cognitive functions of young Novosibirsk residents and metabolic syndrome

The aim of the study was to provide a population assessment of cognitive impairment patterns in a representative sample of 25–44-year-old men and women living in Western Siberia with metabolic syndrome (MS). Material and methods. A cross-sectional population survey of a random representative sample of 25–44-year-olds of both sexes (1503 people) permanently residing in Western Siberia (Novosibirsk) was performed. The study of cognitive functions was conducted in 1009 people: 463 men (45.9 %) and 546 women (54.1 %). A 10-word memorization test was performed according to the methodology proposed by A.R. Luria (unified for screening purposes), with subsequent reproduction after interfering tasks (recall), a proof-reading test (a letter modification of the Bourdon test used for screening purposes), as well as the exclusion of concepts (a verbal version of the test). The MS criteria (VNOK, 2009) were used: FROM > 80 cm in women and > 94 cm in men and 2 of the following criteria: blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg, TG content ≥ 1.7 mmol/L, HDL-C < 1.0 mmol/L in men and < 1.2 mmol/L in women, LDL-C > 3.0 mmol/L, plasma hyperglycemia > 6.1 mmol/L. Results. In the surveyed sample of residents of In Novosibirsk, 25–44 years old, MS occurred in every fourth person tested for cognitive functions (26.06 %): 148 men (31.96 %) and 115 women (21.06 %), MS occurred more often in women than in men. With age, there is an increase in the frequency of MS in both sexes (p < 0.05). For MS, statistically significant associations are shown with direct memorization (1st memorization experience, p = 0.025), the number of directly memorized words (p = 0.015) and with delayed reproduction of words after an interfering task (p = 0.015) in the 10-word memorization test by A.R. Luria. The average rank, as well as the average values of these cognitive tests, were higher in individuals without MS compared to those with MS diagnosed. There were no links between MS and the indicators of the proofreading test. There were also no statistically significant associations of MS with the number of animals named in 1 min in the speech activity test when studying semantically mediated associations. Conclusion. In a population study of young people (25–44 years old) for the first time in Russia/A statistically significant deterioration of cognitive memory patterns in individuals with MS components has been proven in Siberia (Novosibirsk). This confirms the importance of the «cerebrovascular continuum» in the genesis of cognitive impairment at a young age.

Editorial Notes: Issues in Islamic Economics, Banking and Financial Institutions during the Covid-19 Pandemic

In this second issue of the 2021 edition, we mostly received manuscripts discussing the challenges of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions (IBFIs) within the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, they discuss various topics within the field, such as institutional and employees' performances, financial stability, waqf institutions, the trend of Islamic economics research, and the relevance of Islamic economics and finance essential components to the modern economy. Approaching the publication deadline, only ten were accepted out of the dozen manuscripts that were reviewed. Nine were ready for publication, while the rest still needed quality improvements. As for the process, each manuscript will have to pass an initial review from our editor(s) before forwarding it to suitable reviewers. Some manuscripts would have to go through several rounds before being accepted. The reviewers' feedback was taken into consideration to provide the final decisions. Following that, the manuscripts would have to pass the editing stages, including proof-reading and layout, where our editor(s) will intensely communicate with the authors if needed. It is to ensure that each published manuscript has undergone a quality check. Interestingly, of the published articles, five of them discuss the performance issues in Islamic financial institutions, whilst the rest discuss Islamic economics and financial matters in other topics ranging from waqf institutions, the trend of Islamic economics research, to the relevance of Islamic economics and finance essential components to the modern economy. Please check the PDF file for detailed information.

Assessing Proof Reading Comprehension Using Summaries

In this paper, we explore the role of mathematical proof summaries as a tool for capturing students’ reading comprehension of a given proof. We present an interview study based on mathematicians’ pairwise evaluations of student-produced summaries of a proof demonstrating the uncountability of the open unit interval. We present a thematic analysis, exploring features of mathematicians’ pairwise decision-making and their priorities in evaluating summaries. We argue that the students’ proof summaries shared several properties with traditional modes of proof-writing and were frequently evaluated against similar conventions. We consider the consequences for research and practice with proof comprehension and conclude that proof summaries have the potential to form the basis of a new approach to assessment in this area.

Within-Host and Between-Host Evolution in SARS-CoV-2—New Variant’s Source

Some of the newly emerging corona viral variants show high numbers of mutations. This is unexpected for a virus with a low mutation rate due to an inherent proof-reading system. Could such a variant arise under very special conditions occurring in a host where the virus replicates and mutates in a rather unlimited fashion, such as in immune compromised patients? The virus was shown to replicate in an immunosuppressed cancer patient for more than 105 days and might be a source of new variants. These patients are asymptomatic and the virus may therefore escape detection and attention and be high-risk. Similarly, HIV-infected individuals may be immunocompromised and support coronavirus replication with increased mutation rates. The patients may promote “within-host evolution”. Some of the viruses present in such a highly mutagenic swarm or quasispecies within one patient may become founders and cause a pandemic by further “between-host evolution”. B.1.1.7 with 23 mutations may be such a case. Immunosuppressed patients can be identified and treated by the synthetic antibody cocktails as passive immunization and kept under control. Immunosuppressed patients can be easily identified and supervised by healthcare workers—once they become aware of the risk—to avoid new variants with pandemic potential.

Presence of Human G Rotavirus Genotypes Amongst Bovine Calves and its Combination with P Genotypes

Background: Bovine Rotavirus is one of the most important viral etiological agent responsible for causing neonatal diarrhea incurring severe economic loss to farmers. The presence of large genome size, segmented nature and absence of proof reading activity of RNA polymerase leads to frequent reassortment and thus emergence of new G and P types with ability of interspecies transmission. Methods: During an epidemiological study (July 2016 to July 2019) 200 diarrheic fecal samples were screened for Bovine Rotavirus A using ELISA and RNA-PAGE. Further, twenty two positive samples for RVA were subjected to molecular detection for VP6, VP4 and VP7 genes. Result: Ten (20/200) and 11(22/200) percent diarrheic fecal samples were found positive using ELISA and RNA-PAGE respectively. Twenty samples found positive in ELISA were also found positive in RNA-PAGE. Amongst which 22 (100%) samples were found positive for VP6, while 15 (68.18%) samples showed amplification for VP4 and VP7 gene. All Rotavirus A positive samples were genotyped by multiplex RT-PCR assay. G1G3 was found to be most predominant (53.33%) followed by G3 (26.66%), while one sample each showed the presence of G1G5 and G3G8 (6.66%). Ten samples showed mixed genotype (66.66%). One sample was non typeable (6.66%). Among the P types, P[11] was the most predominant (73.33%), while one sample each showed the presence of P[5] and P[5]P[11] (6.66%) and 02 samples were non typeable (13.33%). The G and P genotype combination determined in 12 samples were as follows; G3P [11] found in two samples (16.66%), G3P[5] in 01(08.33%), G1G5P[11] in 01(08.33%), G1G3P[11] in 07 (58.33%), while 01 (08.33%) sample had mixed genotype G1G3P[5]P[11] combination.

Communicating with Data

Communicating with Data: The Art of Writing for Data Science aims to help students and researchers write about their data insights in a way that is both compelling and faithful to the data. This book aims to be both a resource for students who want to learn how to write about scientific findings both formally and for broader audiences and a textbook for instructors who are teaching science communication. In addition, a researcher who is looking for help with writing can use this book to self-train. The book consists of five parts. Part I helps the novice learn to write by reading the work of others. Part II delves into the specifics of how to describe data at a level appropriate for publication, create informative and effective visualizations, and communicate an analysis pipeline through well-written, reproducible code. Part III demonstrates how to reduce a data analysis to a compelling story and organize and write the first draft of a technical paper. Part IV addresses revision; this includes advice on writing about statistical findings in a clear and accurate way, general writing advice, and strategies for proof-reading and revising. Finally, Part V gives advice about communication strategies beyond the witten page, which includes giving talks, building a professional network, and participating in online communities. This part also contains 22 “portfolio prompts” aimed at building upon the guidance and examples in the earlier parts of the book and building a writer’s portfolio of data communication.

Ribosomal RNA methylation by GidB is a capacitor for discrimination of mischarged tRNA

SummaryDespite redundant cellular pathways to minimize translational errors, errors in protein synthesis are common. Pathways and mechanisms to minimize errors are classified as pre-ribosomal or ribosomal. Pre-ribosomal pathways are primarily concerned with appropriate pairing of tRNAs with their cognate amino acid, whereas to date, ribosomal proof-reading has been thought to only be concerned with minimizing decoding errors, since it has been assumed that the ribosomal decoding centre is blind to mischarged tRNAs. Here, we identified that in mycobacteria, deletion of the 16S ribosomal RNA methyltransferase gidB led to increased discrimination of mischarged tRNAs. GidB deletion was necessary but not sufficient for reducing mistranslation due to misacylation. Discrimination only occurred in mycobacteria enriched from environments or genetic backgrounds with high rates of mistranslation. Our data suggest that mycobacterial ribosomes are capable of discriminating mischarged tRNAs and that 16S rRNA methylation by GidB may act as a capacitor for moderating translational error.

Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases as Valuable Targets for Antimicrobial Drug Discovery

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) catalyze the esterification of tRNA with a cognate amino acid and are essential enzymes in all three kingdoms of life. Due to their important role in the translation of the genetic code, aaRSs have been recognized as suitable targets for the development of small molecule anti-infectives. In this review, following a concise discussion of aaRS catalytic and proof-reading activities, the various inhibitory mechanisms of reported natural and synthetic aaRS inhibitors are discussed. Using the expanding repository of ligand-bound X-ray crystal structures, we classified these compounds based on their binding sites, focusing on their ability to compete with the association of one, or more of the canonical aaRS substrates. In parallel, we examined the determinants of species-selectivity and discuss potential resistance mechanisms of some of the inhibitor classes. Combined, this structural perspective highlights the opportunities for further exploration of the aaRS enzyme family as antimicrobial targets.

Rare Cases of Medulloblastoma with Hypermutation

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood and is reported to have a low mutational burden. However, in this study, we identified nine MBs with high mutational burden by next generation sequencing. Of them, two had canonical mutations in the POLE proof-reading domain, where a large proportion of mutations in these tumor genomes contributed to signature 10. We report very rare incidences of hypermutation in MB and mechanisms driving mutagenesis. Strikingly, of the four known molecular subgroups in MB—-SHH, WNT, Group 3, and Group 4—both the POLE-mutated MBs belonged to the SHH subgroup.

Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus and assessment of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine

A safe and effective vaccine is urgently needed to bring the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic under control. The spike protein (SP) of SARS-CoV-2 represents the principal target for most vaccines currently under development. Despite the presence of a CoV proof-reading function in viral replication, SP protein from SARS-CoV still extensively mutates, which might have an impact on current and future vaccine development. Here, we present analysis of more than 1600 SP unique variants suggesting that vaccine candidates based on the Wuhan-Hu-1 reference strain would be effective against most of currently circulated SARS-CoV-2 viruses, but that further monitoring of the evolution of this virus is important for identification of other mutations, which could affect the effectiveness of vaccines.