Practice does not make perfect: Experimental evidence on the effectiveness of coaching beginning teachers.

In their paper "Unrecognized threat to global soil carbon by a widespread invasive species" O'Bryan et al. (2021) suggested that wild boar (also named feral pigs or wild pigs) and their grubbing reduce global soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. In this study models were used to estimate global wild boar abundance and postulated additional CO2 emissions due to wild boar bioturbation. However, the authors ignored experimental evidence about the effects of wild boar on SOC that points in a completely different direction altogether.

Clinical and experimental evidence explaining and supporting the role of UV radiation as a causal factor for the induction and promotion of nonmelanoma and malignant melanoma skin cancer are presented. While there is excellent animal experimental data and human epidemiologic evidence supporting the causal relationship of UVR (UVB, as well as UVA radiation) for basal and squamous cell carcinomas, the data establishing a direct causal relationship between melanoma and exposure to sunlight appear to be complex. They do, however, suggest a definite promotional role of sunlight in the causation of melanoma. Using a hairless pigmented mouse strain (Skh-hr2), experiments were initiated to examine the role of UVR in the induction of melanoma. A single application of DMBA as an initiator and subsequent thrice-weekly exposures to either UVB (290-320 nm) or UVA (320-400 nm) or the combined exposures of UVA and UVB resulted in the formation of blue nevus-like lesions. Repeated UVR exposures for over 30 weeks resulted in the development of melanoma (38%), as well as lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma only in those mice that were pretreated with DMBA and had developed nevi. Mice receiving UVB, UVA, or the combination treatments of UVB plus UVA without DMBA pretreatment developed papillomas and squamous cell carcinoma but no melanoma. These studies indicate that some initiation event is essential to transform melanocytes to blue nevus-like lesions before UVR (UVB + UVA) can act as a promoter and accelerate the development of malignant melanoma, as as well as lymphoma.

Is Tolerance to Antiepileptic Drugs Clinically Relevant?

Currently, no consensus exists regarding criteria required to designate a protein within a proteomic data set as a cell surface protein. Most published proteomic studies rely on varied ontology annotations or computational predictions instead of experimental evidence when attributing protein localization. Consequently, standardized approaches for analyzing and reporting cell surface proteome data sets would increase confidence in localization claims and promote data use by other researchers. Recently, we developed Veneer, a web-based bioinformatic tool that analyzes results from cell surface N-glycocapture workflows─the most popular cell surface proteomics method used to date that generates experimental evidence of subcellular location. Veneer assigns protein localization based on defined experimental and bioinformatic evidence. In this study, we updated the criteria and process for assigning protein localization and added new functionality to Veneer. Results of Veneer analysis of 587 cell surface N-glycocapture data sets from 32 published studies demonstrate the importance of applying defined criteria when analyzing cell surface proteomics data sets and exemplify how Veneer can be used to assess experimental quality and facilitate data extraction for informing future biological studies and annotating public repositories.

Experimental evidences on the chemi-electro-hydrodynamic absorption of sulphur dioxide in electrified water sprays

Complex progressive neurodegenerative Alzheimer's disease is characterized by cognitive decline, memory impairment, and accumulation of amyloid and tau pathologies, along with aggravation of neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. In our previous studies, the potential of azilsartan, a widely used angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), was demonstrated to possess neuroprotective action when administered through intranasal route, improving memory and cognition through modulation of central renin-angiotensin signalling in a demented animal model. With the intranasal administration, azilsartan nanoemulgel offers the ability to bypass the BBB due to the use of the olfactory and trigeminal neural pathways, achieving direct brain targeting of the therapeutics. In the present study, the neuroprotective effect of azilsartan (5mg/kg via intranasal route consequently for 45days) was further validated in an AlCl3-induced murine model of Alzheimer's dementia through investigation of mechanistic pathways. The results demonstrated that intranasal delivery of azilsartan significantly ameliorated cognitive decline when compared to standard drug donepezil, as evidenced from the behavioural tests, restored hippocampal oxidative balance (SOD, GSH, CAT), reduced lipid peroxidation (2.6-fold reduction in MDA levels compared to the AlCl3-intoxicated group), and increased neuronal count. The biomarker study revealed suppression of inflammatory markers, reduction of Alzheimer's specific pathological markers, and significant restoration of neurotrophic pathways. To validate these findings, in silico molecular docking and dynamics simulations were conducted on the key markers TNFα, IL1β, PPARγ, BDNF, APP, and p-Tau, which showed strong and stable binding interactions with BDNF and PPARγ and moderate but persistent stabilization with APP and p-Tau, aligning with in vivo experimental outcomes. Therefore, the integrated computational and experimental evidence thus demonstrates that azilsartan exhibits neuroprotection, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for repurposing in Alzheimer's disease.

This paper reviews physical, experimental and epidemiological evidence for and against radiation hormesis and discusses implications with regards to radiation protection. The scientific community is still divided on the premise of radiation hormesis, with new literature published on a regular basis. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends the use of the Linear No Threshold (LNT) model, for planning radiation protection. This model states that the probability of induced cancer and hereditary effects increases with dose in a linear fashion. As a consequence, all radiation exposures must be justified and have a sufficient protection standard in place so that exposures are kept below certain dose limitations. The LNT model has sufficient evidence at high doses but has been extrapolated in a linear fashion to low dose regions with much less scientific evidence. Much experimentation has suggested discrepancies of this extrapolation at low doses. The hypothesis of radiation hormesis suggests low dose radiation is beneficial to the irradiated cell and organism. There is definite standing ground for the hormesis hypothesis both evolutionarily and biophysically, but experimental evidence is yet to change official policies on this matter. Application of the LNT model has important radiation protection and general human health ramifications, and thus it is important that the matter be resolved.

The focus of this research is on decisions related to human capital formation and preferences crucial for social interaction. These decisions are analyzed at different stages of the life-cycle, starting with other-regarding preferences in preschoolers, followed by skill formation in adolescents and preferences for honesty in adults. Answering the questions on skill formation and human capital accumulation was possible by exploiting the full potential the data provided, that is by combining different data types as well as making use of the data structure and analyzing paradata from the data collection process. Thus, this dissertation contributes to the literature by combining survey data, experimental data and paradata to analyze factors that influence individual decision-making. An important aspect this thesis focuses on are environmental factors that influence decision-making. These include family or community factors or situational factors in an experiment. Spite and cognitive skills in preschoolers: Other-regarding preferences in adults have been examined in depth in the literature. Research has shown that spiteful preferences play a crucial role in the development of human large-scale cooperation. However, there is little evidence of the factors explaining spiteful behavior in children. We investigate the relationship between children’s cognitive skills and spiteful behavior in a sample of 214 preschoolers aged 5-6 and their mothers. Here, other-regarding behavior in children is elicited through four simple allocation decisions. A key advantage of our study is that we have information about children’s cognitive and non- cognitive skills as well as maternal and household characteristics. We find that higher cognitive skills are associated with more spiteful behavior in children. This relationship is even more pronounced among boys. Moreover, we find further gender differences that depend on the measure of cognitive skills and the degree of spite displayed. Is it the family or the neighborhood? Evidence from sibling and neighbor correlations in youth education and health: In this paper we present sibling and neighbor correlations in school grades and cognitive skills as well as indicators of physical and mental health for a sample of German adolescents. In a first step, we estimate sibling correlations and find substantial influence of shared family and community background on all outcomes. To further disentangle the influence of family background and neighborhood, we estimate neighbor correlations. Our results show that for all outcomes, estimated neighbor correlations are clearly lower than estimated sibling correlations. However, especially for cognitive skills and mental health, neighbor correlations are still substantial in relation to sibling correlations. Thus, compared to existing results from other countries, the influence of the neighborhood is not negligible in Germany for these outcomes. Who lies and to whom? Experimental evidence on cheating in a household survey context: In this paper, I evaluate a cheating experiment implemented in the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) Study. My results show no relationship between cheating and socio-economic characteristics, personality traits, or economic preference parameters, except between cheating and education. I also study a high- and a low-stakes treatment to test the robustness of cheating in the face of increased gains. The results indicate that people cheat more when potential gains from doing so are greater, but that education appears to be a mediating factor. Further, I carry out a closer analysis of the decision-making situation focusing on the relationship between interviewer characteristics and the probability of cheating. This analysis provides the novel result that some interviewer characteristics—such as gender—significantly increase the probability of cheating.

Many investigations have found common occurrences of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in women, and clinical experience has shown that BPPV can develop due to increased hormonal fluctuations, especially during menopause. Therefore, knowledge about neurochemicals and their involvement with BPPV is imperative for the management of neurological issues in women. This review will discuss appropriate gender-based considerations of BPPV based on experimental and clinical evidence. The studies describe 2 lines of evidence regarding the association of perimenopause in women and the development of BPPV: (1) experimental evidence: the existence of estrogen receptors in the inner ear, otoconial malformations in osteopenic/osteoporotic rats, changes in otoconin 90 caused by hormone replacement therapy, and impaired calcium absorption following estrogen deprivation corrected by estrogen replacement therapy and (2) clinical evidence: epidemiological aspects, osteoporosis and estrogen deficiency. Future studies are necessary to validate the effects of hormonal replacement therapy and phytoestrogen in women with recurrent BPPV.

The evolution of sex is one of the most important and controversial problems in evolutionary biology. Although sex is almost universal in higher animals and plants, its inherent costs have made its maintenance difficult to explain. The most famous of these is the twofold cost of males, which can greatly reduce the fecundity of a sexual population, compared to a population of asexual females. Over the past century, multiple hypotheses, along with experimental evidence to support these, have been put forward to explain widespread costly sex. In this review, we outline some of the most prominent theories, along with the experimental and observational evidence supporting these. Historically, there have been 4 classes of theories: the ability of sex to fix multiple novel advantageous mutants (Fisher-Muller hypothesis); sex as a mechanism to stop the build-up of deleterious mutations in finite populations (Muller's ratchet); recombination creating novel genotypes that can resist infection by parasites (Red Queen hypothesis); and the ability of sex to purge bad genomes if deleterious mutations act synergistically (mutational deterministic hypothesis). Current theoretical and experimental evidence seems to favor the hypothesis that sex breaks down selection interference between new mutants, or it acts as a mechanism to shuffle genotypes in order to repel parasitic invasion. However, there is still a need to collect more data from natural populations and experimental studies, which can be used to test different hypotheses.

Glatiramer acetate-reactive T cells produce brain-derived neurotrophic factor

Periodic oscillation in curved duct flows

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is one of the main causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by sustained elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), preventing an increase in pulmonary blood flow after birth. The affected neonates fail to establish blood oxygenation, precipitating severe respiratory distress, hypoxemia, and eventually death. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), the only approved pulmonary vasodilator for PPHN, constitutes, alongside supportive therapy, the basis of its treatment. However, nearly 40% of infants are iNO resistant. The cornerstones of increased PVR in PPHN are pulmonary vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling. A better understanding of PPHN pathophysiology may enlighten targeted and more effective therapies. Sildenafil, prostaglandins, milrinone, and bosentan, acting as vasodilators, besides glucocorticoids, playing a role on reducing inflammation, have all shown potential beneficial effects on newborns with PPHN. Furthermore, experimental evidence in PPHN animal models supports prospective use of emergent therapies, such as soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activators/stimulators, l-citrulline, Rho-kinase inhibitors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonists, recombinant superoxide dismutase (rhSOD), tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) analogs, ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), 5-HT2A receptor antagonists, and recombinant human vascular endothelial growth factor (rhVEGF). This review focuses on current knowledge on alternative and novel pathways involved in PPHN pathogenesis, as well as recent progress regarding experimental and clinical evidence on potential therapeutic approaches for PPHN.

The importance of halogen bonds-highly directional interactions between an electron-deficient σ-hole moiety in a halogenated compound and an acceptor such as a Lewis base-is being increasingly recognized in a wide variety of fields from biomedicinal chemistry to materials science. The heaviest halogens are known to form stronger halogen bonds, implying that if this trend continues down the periodic table, astatine should exhibit the highest halogen-bond donating ability. This may be mitigated, however, by the relativistic effects undergone by heavy elements, as illustrated by the metallic character of astatine. Here, the occurrence of halogen-bonding interactions involving astatine is experimentally evidenced. The complexation constants of astatine monoiodide with a series of organic ligands in cyclohexane solution were derived from distribution coefficient measurements and supported by relativistic quantum mechanical calculations. Taken together, the results show that astatine indeed behaves as a halogen-bond donor-a stronger one than iodine-owing to its much more electrophilic σ-hole.

Cancer chemoprevention is a new approach in the management of cancer. Traditional cytotoxic chemotherapeutic approaches cannot cure most advanced solid malignancies. Chemoprevention can be defined as the use of non-cytotoxic drugs and natural agents to block the progression to invasive cancer. Chemoprevention can either prevent DNA damage that initiates the neoplastic transformation process or reverses the progression of pre-invasive lesions. Epidemiological observations, experimental evidence from animal carcinogenesis models, knock-out models, cancer cell lines and clinical trials have shown the efficacy of this approach. Recent advances in our understanding of carcinogenesis have led to the synthesis of new drugs that target specific receptors. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs target the prostaglandin pathway. The identification of the role of cyclooxygenase-2 in epithelial carcinogenesis led to the synthesis of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (Celecoxib). Celecoxib was subsequently approved for the prevention of colon polyps in familial adenomatous polyposis after the completion of a randomized clinical trial. The large chemoprevention clinical trial with the selective estrogen receptor modulator, tamoxifen, showed the benefit of tamoxifen in the prevention of breast cancer in high-risk women. Retinoids and rexinoids target the retinoid receptors and have a role in chemoprevention of aerodigestive, hepatic and cervical neoplasia. Selenium, an inhibitor of the glutathione peroxidase system, is being tested in the chemoprevention of prostate cancer and lung cancer. The different isoforms of vitamin E (tocopherols) may be chemopreventive. Recent evidence indicates that gamma-tocopherol may be a more powerful chemopreventive than the alpha-tocopherol. The review details the rationale, experimental and clinical evidence and the drug targets of the chemopreventive agents that are currently in various phases of clinical development.