Unlike Glycerophosphocholine or Choline Chloride, Dietary Phosphatidylcholine Does Not Increase Plasma Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Levels in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Choline, betaine, and L-carnitine are transformed into trimethylamine (TMA) by gut microbiota, absorbed into the liver, and oxidized into trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) by flavin-containing monooxygenases. Elevated TMAO levels may negatively affect human health. As phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the main source of dietary choline, its intake or PC-rich foods may be harmful to human health; however, quantitative comparative information among dietary choline compounds (PC, glycerophosphocholine [GPC], and choline chloride [CC]) regarding in vivo generation of TMAO is lacking. Here, we compared the effects of PC, GPC, and CC on plasma TMAO levels in rats. Furthermore, we investigated their effects on gut microbiota at the genus level. Dietary PC did not affect plasma TMAO levels, whereas dietary GPC and CC significantly increased them. At the genus level, plasma TMAO levels were significantly negatively correlated with relative abundances of Anaerotruncus, Actinomyces, Enterococcus, Dialister, Clostridium XIVa, and Granulicatella; they were significantly positively correlated with that of Coprobacter. Moreover, the relative abundances of Anaerotruncus and Coprobacter were found to predict plasma TMAO levels. Therefore, dietary PC, unlike GPC or CC, does not increase plasma TMAO levels in rats. Furthermore, several gut microbes are associated with changes in plasma TMAO levels in rats fed with choline compounds.

The South Estonian language islands in the context of the Central Baltic area

This article offers a comparative analysis of several morphosyntactic and phonological features in the South Estonian language islands: Leivu, Lutsi, and Kraasna. The objective is to give an overview of the distribution of selected features, their (in)stability over time, and discuss their form and use in a broader areal context. To achieve this goal, comparative information was also included from the closest cognate varieties (Estonian and the South Estonian varieties, Courland Livonian and Salaca Livonian) and the main contact varieties (Latgalian, Latvian, and Russian). The data analysed in this study originated from various sources: text collections, dictionaries, and language corpora. The results reveal a multitude of linguistic patterns and distribution patterns, which means that the studied varieties are similar to / different from one another in various ways and points to multifaceted contact situations and outcomes in this area. Kokkuvõte. Miina Norvik, Uldis Balodis, Valts Ernštreits, Gunta Kļava, Helle Metslang, Karl Pajusalu, Eva Saar: Lõunaeesti keelesaared Kesk-Balti mõjuväljas. Artikkel esitab lõunaeesti keelesaarte – Leivu, Lutsi ja Kraasna – mitme morfosüntaktilise ja fonoloogilise joone võrdleva analüüsi. Uurimuse eesmärgiks on anda ülevaade valitud joonte levikust ja püsivusest ajas ning arutleda nende vormide ja kasutuse üle laiemas areaalses kontekstis. Selleks võetakse arvesse lähimate sugulaskeelte (eesti ja lõunaeesti, Kuramaa ja Salatsi liivi) ja -murrete ning tähtsamate kontaktkeelte (latgali, läti, vene) esinemusi. Analüüsitakse erinevatest allikatest, mh tekstikogudest, sõna- raamatutest ja keelekorpustest pärit ainest. Uurimistulemused toovad esile mitmesuguseid vormiseoseid ja muutuste levikuviise, osutades uuritud keelte ja murrete omavaheliste kontaktide mitmelaadsusele ning sellest tingitud erinevatele keelesüsteemi arengutele.

Gender and Rules of Procedure in Constituent Processes: A Comparative Discussion in Support of the Chilean Constitutional Convention

On 6 August 2021 International IDEA, in partnership with the Law Faculty of UniversidadAdolfo Ibáñez, Corporación Humanas and ComunidadMujer, held a virtual seminar on gender and rules of procedure in constituent processes. Its objective was to share comparative information about designing rules of procedure (regulations) for constituent processes from a gender-equality perspective with members of the newly constituted Chilean Constitutional Convention, Chilean civil society, academics and legal practitioners. The open-invitation online event brought together a panel of women constitution-makers from constituent processes in Bolivia, Kenya, South Africa and Tunisia. The experts discussed their respective experiences and the benefits and drawbacks of the rules of procedure that guided their constituent processes. Representatives from the implementing partners moderated expert panel sessions and question-and-answer discussions.

A new species of Zercon (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata) from Norway, with notes on sexual dimorphism in Zerconidae

In this paper we describe and illustrate Zercon hamaricus sp. nov. based on all postembryonic stages obtained from soil samples and laboratory cultures. The new species belongs to a species group in which dorsal setae J1–J4 in females are short and similar in length, and J5 are considerably longer. In most species of this group opisthonotal setae J5 and Z4 are clearly displaced anteriorly. Zercon hamaricus sp. nov. is most similar to Z. forsslundi Sellnick, 1958 and to a less extent to Z. polonicus Błaszak, 1970. The females of Z. forsslundi, Z. polonicus and Z. hamaricus sp. nov. can be distinguished based on the range of J5, the length and character of the Z and S-series setae, the distance between setae Z5 and the location of gdZ3. We also include comparative information on other related species of Zercon. The new species is one of the six known species that have clearly visible sexual dimorphism in opisthonotal chaetotaxy.

Questions in the Chemical Enzymology of MAO

We have structure, a wealth of kinetic data, thousands of chemical ligands and clinical information for the effects of a range of drugs on monoamine oxidase activity in vivo. We have comparative information from various species and mutations on kinetics and effects of inhibition. Nevertheless, there are what seem like simple questions still to be answered. This article presents a brief summary of existing experimental evidence the background and poses questions that remain intriguing for chemists and biochemists researching the chemical enzymology of and drug design for monoamine oxidases (FAD-containing EC 4.1.3.4).

Strategy for identification of Hoax News in digital media in facing case of racism of Papua students in Indonesia

The amount of hoax information spread about the case of racism of Papuan students in Surabaya can certainly trigger conflict. Therefore, Papuan students are required to be able to properly analyze information obtained from any source, especially from digital media. This study aims to determine the strategy of Papuan students in identifying hoax news about cases of racism in digital media. This study uses qualitative methods with data collection techniques consisting of observation, in-depth interviews, documentation and focus group discussions. The informants consisted of Papuan students in Jayapura and Jakarta. Data analysis uses data reduction, data display and conclusion/verification. The results showed that student literacy about hoaxes consisted of (1) hoaxes were confusing and provocative information, (2) hoaxes were news diversion issues, (3) untrue news and (4) hoaxes sourced from the community and the state. Related to how Papuan students identify hoaxes, they are (a) looking for comparative information on other media, (b) checking and rechecking with friends and family, and (c) checking the clarity of information sources. To be critical of hoax news, students are criticizing hoaxes against images, photos and news that are not appropriate, criticizing foreign media and domestic media that spread hoaxes, and criticizing the government as a hoax spreader. The recommendation for this research is that the government makes an electronic-based information system that can be used by the Papuan people as a means to find out the government's efforts in educating and educating the Papuan people in the field of Digital Media Literacy.

"CLUSTERING TAX ADMINISTRATIONS IN EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER STATES"

"The European Union Member States use different organizational and functional models of tax administration that could determine better or worse performances. This paper analyzes the way of organization and operation of tax administrations in European Union Member States from the perspective of the 21 variables obtained based on the information made available on the OECD’s Tax Administration Comparative Information Series. Using the hierarchical clustering procedures, tax administrations in the European Union Member States were grouped into clusters. The purpose of this approach was to observe if the respective clusters can be associated with a certain grouping of the tax administrations, made according to their classification, from the point of view concerning the activity efficiency. The efficiency of the activity was evaluated based on 5 indicators developed in the specialty literature. The research showed that the tax administrations in the formed clusters can be found in one of the ranking parts. Therefore, the grouping of tax administrations based on variables that reflect their characteristics can be a useful tool in identifying an organization and functioning model for the tax administration that associated with a certain efficiency level."

The recent range expansion of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae) in Hokkaido, Japan.

Though the Japanese population of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) has increased in recent decades, information on its spread to the northern island of Hokkaido has not been reported outside of Japan. The purpose of this paper is to update the scientific community about the breeding and range ecology of P. carbo, and to provide comparative information on the abundant and similar looking resident Japanese Cormorant (P. capillatus). Several ornithological groups and researchers were contacted in order to gather information about the current distribution and breeding activities of P. carbo in the region. Here the findings of Japanese research groups, translated publications, and direct observations are made available.

RELEVANCE OF THE RENOVATION SOLUTIONS RESIDENTAL HOUSING IN THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY CONTEXT

The main energy efficiency problems of existing houses in domestic economy are discussed. This article presents the housing renovation projects experience in the European countries. Renovation is one of the most effective method of energy efficient of the old building. But in Ukraine this effective mechanism is not worked. Implementation of the renovation mechanism in Ukraine is practically not carried out legislation and lack of regulatory framework. The issues of reduce energy resourses in residential buildsing are very important not only in Ukraine but in other European countries. The problem of low housing supply is additionally compounded by the problem of high energy consumption of excising housing.This raises many issues related to the implementation of this program. The energy characteristics of excising housings are given. Comparative information on housing for the population are shown.