Association between vitamin D3 levels and insulin resistance: a large sample cross-sectional study

Previous studies have shown that vitamin D3 may be a potential factor in insulin resistance, but the relationship between vitamin D3 and insulin resistance still remains controversial. At present, more research is needed to explore the relationship between vitamin D3 and insulin resistance. The samples from 2009 to 2018 in NHANES database were analyzed to Investigate the relationship and the potential mechanism. We performed a cross-sectional study of five periods in the NHANES database. Finally, 9298 participants were selected through strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, Multivariate logistic regression analysis and curve fitting were conducted to explore the relationship between vitamin D3 level and insulin resistance. Moreover, subgroup analysis was used to further prove the association. The results revealed that there was a strong association between vitamin D3 and insulin resistance (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72–0.93). However, subgroup analyses indicated that this correlation varied between individuals and races. There was a negative correlation between vitamin D3 level and insulin resistance, which provides a new proof for exploring the influencing factors of insulin resistance. More well-designed studies are still needed to further elaborate on these associations.

MUSIC AS A FACTOR IN ETIOLOGY OF CRIME: CAN IT MAKE US ACCEPT THE UNACCEPTABLE?

With no intention to present the importance of music for our lives and for the culture, lesser than it truly has, authors are testing the role of music as a potential factor in etiology of crime. More specifically, they are trying to question whether the music lyrics whose content indicates acceptability of actions that are usually not acceptable, moreover that are criminal, might have an influence on individual so that person perpetrates criminal offence. After brief overview of criminological theories that correlate music and crime, authors will present qualitative study on lyrics of one of the most famous rap duos in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the analysis of the text, and results of survey conducted among student population of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regarding the general and personal influence of the duo's music.

Potential Analysis of Organic Fertilizer Business Development from Beef Cattle Manure

This study aimed to determine the availability of technical, economic, and social aspects that support the development of organic fertilizer business based on beef cattle manure in Karangtengah Prandon Village, Ngawi District, Ngawi Regency, Indonesia. The research method used interviews, questionnaires, and observation. This study involved 37 respondents who were selected by proportional random sampling technique. The data analysis was carried out by descriptive analysis. The results revealed that the availability of technical aspects has a potential of 64.4 percent, the availability of economic aspects has a potential of 62.7 percent, and the availability of social aspects has a potential of 47.9 percent. The most potential factor of technical aspect was the raw material availability in the location. Meanwhile, social factors, such as labor skills and leader community supports need to be increased. Developing a fertilizer business in Karang Tengah Prandon village may be accomplished by empowering farmers to turn fertilizer into a business.

Spastic paraplegia protein ortholog, reticulon-like 1, governs presynaptic ER organization and Ca2+ dynamics

Neuronal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) appears continuous throughout the cell. Its shape and continuity are influenced by ER- shaping proteins, mutations in which can cause axon degeneration in Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP). While HSP is thought of as an axon degeneration disease, the susceptibility of distal axons suggests a ″dying back″ pathology, in which presynaptic terminals could also be affected. We therefore asked how loss of Rtnl1, a Drosophila ortholog of the human HSP gene RTN2 (SPG12), which encodes an ER-shaping protein, affected ER organization and the function of presynaptic terminals. Loss of Rtnl1 depleted ER membrane markers at larval presynaptic motor terminals, and appeared to deplete mainly narrow tubular ER while leaving cisternae largely unaffected, thus suggesting little change in Ca2+ storage capacity at rest. Nevertheless, these changes in presynaptic ER architecture were accompanied by major reductions in activity-evoked Ca2+ fluxes in the cytosol, ER lumen, and mitochondria, as well as by reduced evoked and spontaneous neurotransmission. Our results provide a unique model to explore the roles of presynaptic tubular ER, and show the importance of ER architecture in regulating presynaptic physiology and synaptic function. Altered presynaptic Ca2+ physiology is therefore a potential factor in the pathological changes found in HSP.

Bayesian analyses question the role of climate in Chulmun demography

We investigate the relationship between climatic and demographic events in Korea during the Chulmun period (10,000–3,500 cal. BP) by analyzing paleoenvironmental proxies and 14C dates. We focus on testing whether a cooling climate, and its potential negative impact on millet productivity around the mid 5th-millennium cal. BP, triggered the population decline suggested by the archaeological record. We employ a Bayesian approach that estimates the temporal relationship between climatic events and change-points in the rate of growth in human population as inferred from radiocarbon time frequency data. Our results do not support the climate-induced population decline hypothesis for three reasons. First, our Bayesian analyses suggest that the cooling event occurred after the start of the population decline inferred from the radiocarbon time–frequency record. Second, we did not find evidence showing a significant reduction of millet-associated dates occurring during the cooling climate. Third, we detected different magnitudes of decline in the radiocarbon time–frequency data in the inland and coastal regions, indicating that the even if cooling episodes were ultimately responsible of these population ‘busts’, their impact was most likely distinct between these regions. We discuss our results highlighting the long tradition of mobility-based subsistence strategy in coastal regions as a potential factor contributing to the regional differences we were able to detect.

Cross-Reactive Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV in Pre-COVID-19 Blood Samples from Sierra Leonians

Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced lower COVID-19 caseloads and fewer deaths than countries in other regions worldwide. Under-reporting of cases and a younger population could partly account for these differences, but pre-existing immunity to coronaviruses is another potential factor. Blood samples from Sierra Leonean Lassa fever and Ebola survivors and their contacts collected before the first reported COVID-19 cases were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the presence of antibodies binding to proteins of coronaviruses that infect humans. Results were compared to COVID-19 subjects and healthy blood donors from the United States. Prior to the pandemic, Sierra Leoneans had more frequent exposures than Americans to coronaviruses with epitopes that cross-react with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), SARS-CoV, and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The percentage of Sierra Leoneans with antibodies reacting to seasonal coronaviruses was also higher than for American blood donors. Serological responses to coronaviruses by Sierra Leoneans did not differ by age or sex. Approximately a quarter of Sierra Leonian pre-pandemic blood samples had neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, while about a third neutralized MERS-CoV pseudovirus. Prior exposures to coronaviruses that induce cross-protective immunity may contribute to reduced COVID-19 cases and deaths in Sierra Leone.

Efficacy of Ozone Gas against All Stages of Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) at Different Temperatures and Exposure Periods

Ozone efficacy (approximately of 600 Mg.hr-1) was evaluated against Red Flour Beetle’s (RFB, Tribolium castium (Herbst)) eggs, larvae, pupae and adults at different temperatures (35, 40 and 45 ° C) and exposure times (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 hours) under laboratory. The control treatments included above thermal levels without ozone at the mentioned exposure periods. The results indicated ozone effectively suppressed hatching with increasing temperature. The hatch egg rates was reduced to 0 % in the treated treatments after 10 h at 45° C. However, mortality rates of RFB were increased with maximizing of the exposure time to ozone. After 10-h exposure to ozone at the lowest temperature 35˚ C, complete mortality (100%) or few survivals of RFB were recorded in the susceptible stages (larvae and adults). Also, the complete mortality of adults and larvae resulted after an exposure to ozone at 40 ° C for 10 hours, compared than the high survival rates at the pest’s stages at 30 and 40° C, even after 10 hours of monitoring time. However the exposure time which is required to 100% mortality was decreased to 4 hours at 45 ° C, comparing to the thermal treatment only (control) which needed more time (6 h) for 100% of mortality. In conclusion, ozone application showed the efficacy on the mortality at all stages of RFB and the temperature was a potential factor enhancing the application of ozone for RFB control.

Solar activity as a potential factor for foreshadowing drought in Indian summer monsoon regime

An attempt bas been made to determine Influence o solar activity on drought incidence in India, 100 year's rainfall (1875-1974) for northwest and peninsular India, have been analysed with respect to sunspot numbers and Baur's solar index and their distribution during drought years determined. Frequency of drought per cycle of solar activity have been obtained. Association between drought and maximum/minimum spottedness was tested by chi-square technique. Correlation have been computed between sunspots, Baur's index and rainfall during different phases of solar activity. The results revealed that on an average drought occures once in a solar cycle. Occurrence of maxima or minima did not have any relationship with the drought, which was found to occur earlier as well as later than either of the epochs, Correlation analysis revealed that for the Peninsula, sunspots numbers and its values during middle of the waxing phase were significant. The Baur's index bears significant correlation with northwest Indian rainfall. It's value during the waxing phase as also during middle of waxing phase is also significantly correlated with northwest Indian rainfall. The index was significant for peninsula rainfall during middle of waxing phase.