Search Results (152)

In this study, we investigated the mitochondrial defects resulting from the deletion of GCN5, a lysine-acetyltransferase, in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Gcn5 serves as the catalytic subunit of the SAGA acetylation complex and functions as an epigenetic regulator, primarily acetylating N-terminal lysine residues on histones H2B and H3 to modulate gene expression. The loss of GCN5 leads to mitochondrial abnormalities, including defects in mitochondrial morphology, a reduced mitochondrial DNA copy number, and defective mitochondrial inheritance due to the depolarization of actin filaments. These defects collectively trigger the activation of the mitophagy pathway. Interestingly, deleting CSN5, which encodes to Csn5/Rri1 (Csn5), the catalytic subunit of the COP9 signalosome complex, rescues the mitochondrial phenotypes observed in the gcn5Δ strain. Furthermore, these defects are suppressed by exogenous ergosterol supplementation, suggesting a link between the rescue effect mediated by CSN5 deletion and the regulatory role of Csn5 in the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway. Full article

Situation awareness (SA) involves analyzing sensory data, such as audio signals, to identify anomalies. While acoustic features are widely used in audio analysis, existing methods face critical limitations; they often overlook the relevance of SA audio segments, failing to capture the complex relational patterns in audio data that are essential for SA. In this study, we first propose a graph neural network (GNN) with an attention mechanism that models SA audio features through graph structures, capturing both node attributes and their relationships for richer representations than traditional methods. Our analysis identifies suitable audio feature combinations and graph constructions for SA tasks. Building on this, we introduce a situation awareness gated-attention GNN (SAGA-GNN), which dynamically filters irrelevant nodes through max-relevance neighbor sampling to reduce redundant connections, and a learnable edge gated-attention mechanism that suppresses noise while amplifying critical events. The proposed method employs sigmoid-activated attention weights conditioned on both node features and temporal relationships, enabling adaptive node emphasizing for different acoustic environments. Experiments reveal that the proposed graph-based audio features demonstrate superior representation capacity compared to traditional methods. Additionally, both proposed graph-based methods outperform existing approaches. Specifically, owing to the combination of graph-based audio features and dynamic selection of audio nodes based on gated-attention, SAGA-GNN achieved superior results on two real datasets. This work underscores the importance and potential value of graph-based audio features and attention mechanism-based GNNs, particularly in situational awareness applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gastrostomy tube (GT) placement plays a vital role in managing children with chronic illnesses who are unable to meet their nutritional needs orally. While its clinical benefits are well established, limited data exist on caregivers’ satisfaction with GT use in Jordan. This study aimed to assess caregivers’ satisfaction and identify factors that influence their experiences by using a validated satisfaction scoring system in which a score greater than 20 indicates a high level of satisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jordan University Hospital, including children under 18 years of age who underwent endoscopic GT insertion between July 2017 and December 2024. Caregivers completed the Structured Satisfaction Questionnaire with Gastrostomy Feeding (SAGA-8), and demographic and clinical data were collected. Statistical analyses explored associations between satisfaction levels and patient-, caregiver-, and healthcare-related factors. Results: A total of 46 caregivers participated. The median satisfaction score was 26.1, surpassing the high satisfaction threshold of 20. Overall, 63% of caregivers expressed satisfaction or high satisfaction with GT feeding, and 82.6% were satisfied with the support provided by the healthcare team. Additionally, 69.5% and 65.2% of caregivers reported improvements in their child’s nutritional status and overall family well-being, respectively. Notably, 89.1% observed a reduction in feeding time, and 84.8% reported fewer respiratory infections following GT placement. Over half of the caregivers (58.7%) indicated that they would have agreed to earlier GT placement if they had been more aware of its benefits. Conclusions: Caregivers reported high satisfaction with GT use, with scores well above the validated threshold indicating high satisfaction. These findings highlight the positive impact of GT placement on children’s health outcomes and family quality of life. Enhancing caregiver education and providing robust healthcare support are crucial to improving the management of children who require GT feeding. Full article

GCN5-containing SAGA complex is evolutionarily conserved across yeast, plants, and humans and acts as a general transcription coactivator in the genome-wide regulation of genes. In Plasmodium falciparum, PfGCN5 forms a divergent complex, and the mis-localization of this complex by deleting the PfGCN5 bromodomain (ΔBrd) causes a plethora of growth defects. To directly test the PfGCN5 function, we performed conditional knockdown (KD) of PfGCN5. Whereas PfGCN5 KD phenotypically recapitulated the ΔBrd growth defects, it caused fewer transcriptional alterations compared to ΔBrd. To decipher the mechanism by which PfGCN5 regulates gene expression, we applied a new chromatin landscape analysis tool, CUT&Tag-seq, to map the chromatin localization of PfGCN5 and its deposited histone mark H3K9ac. Compared to ChIP-seq, CUT&Tag-seq identified substantially more H3K9ac peaks in the promoters of its target genes, with the peak intensity positively correlated with the levels of gene expression. CUT&Tag-seq analysis was remarkably more sensitive in mapping chromatin positions of PfGCN5, which colocalized with H3K9ac. The genes enriched with PfGCN5/H3K9ac signals at their promoters are involved in broad biological processes. Notably, PfGCN5′s positions overlapped with sequence motifs recognized by multiple apetela2 (AP2)-domain-containing transcription factors (AP2 TFs), suggesting that they recruited PfGCN5 to these promoters. Additionally, PfGCN5 was also colocalized with AP2-LT, further validating that AP2-LT is an integral component of the PfGCN5 complex. Collectively, these findings establish PfGCN5 as a master gene regulator in controlling general and parasite-specific cellular processes in this low-branching parasitic protist. Full article

The landmark Philippine Supreme Court case Llorente vs. Llorente illuminates the complex intersections of transnational migration, inheritance law, and colonial legacies in the Philippines. The case centers on Lorenzo Llorente, a Filipino US Navy serviceman whose estate became the subject of a fifteen-year legal battle between his first wife Paula and his second wife Alicia. Lorenzo returned from the battles of World War II to find his wife in Nabua living with his brother and pregnant with his brother’s child. Lorenzo obtained a divorce in California in 1952. He later returned to the Philippines and married Alicia, naming her and their three adopted children as heirs in his will. Upon his death in 1985, Paula challenged the validity of the US divorce and claimed rights to Lorenzo’s estate under Philippine succession laws. While lower courts initially favored Paula’s claims by rigidly applying Philippine laws that are rooted in the colonial era and privileged blood relations, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld Lorenzo’s will in 2000, recognizing his right to divorce as a US citizen. This case reveals how postcolonial Philippine legal frameworks, still heavily influenced by Spanish colonial law, often fail to accommodate the complex realities of transnational families and diverse kinship practices, instead imposing rigid interpretations that fracture rather than heal family relations. Inheritance, previously a highly shared and negotiated process mediated by the elders, can now escalate to family disputes which play out in the impersonal space of the courtroom. Full article

Cervical cancer screening is crucial for early detection and prevention. In Japan, women with negative intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) positivity are recommended retest for 12 months, rather than immediate colposcopy. International guidelines differ, and often prioritize early colposcopy for persistent HPV16/18 infections. This study evaluates Japan’s current screening approach, and identifies areas for improvement. A retrospective cohort study analyzed cervical cancer screening data from Saga Prefecture (2019–2021), assessing follow-up adherence, colposcopy referral rates, and CIN2+ and CIN3+ detection among NILM/HR-HPV+ cases. Among 27,789 individuals screened, 2248 (8.1%) were NILM/HR-HPV+. Follow-up adherence after 12 months was 54.4%. Of these, 132 with cytological abnormalities underwent colposcopy, revealing CIN2+ in 27.3% of cases. Additionally, 561 women with persistent NILM/HR-HPV+ underwent colposcopy, with CIN2+ in 7.6% and CIN3+ in 3.9% of cases. Japan’s current NILM/HR-HPV+ management strategy could delay the detection of high-grade cervical lesions. International guidelines favor earlier colposcopy referrals, particularly for HPV16/18+ cases. To improve cervical cancer prevention, Japan should consider a risk-based stratification model, enhance follow-up adherence, expand colposcopy access, and develop a national patient tracking system. Adopting primary HPV-based screening could attain the best global practices, facilitating earlier detection and reducing cervical cancer. Full article

In view of the typical multi-target scenarios of underwater direction-of-arrival (DOA) tracking complicated by uncertain measurement noise in unknown underwater environments, a robust underwater multi-target DOA tracking method is proposed by incorporating Saga–Husa (SH) noise estimation and a backward smoothing technique within the framework of the cardinalized probability hypothesis density (CPHD) filter. First, the kinematic model of underwater targets and the measurement model based on the received signals of a hydrophone array are established, from which the CPHD-based multi-target DOA tracking algorithm is derived. To mitigate the adverse impact of uncertain measurement noise, the Saga–Husa approach is deployed for dynamic noise estimation, thereby reducing noise-induced performance degradation. Subsequently, a backward smoothing technique is applied to the forward filtering results to further enhance tracking robustness and precision. Finally, extensive simulations and experimental evaluations demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms existing DOA estimation and tracking techniques in terms of robustness and accuracy under uncertain measurement noise conditions. Full article

The cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway is responsible for transcriptional regulation of cell wall remodeling in response to cell wall stress. How cell wall remodeling mediated by the CWI pathway is effected by inputs from other signaling pathways is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that the Mck1 kinase cooperates with Slt2, the MAP kinase of the CWI pathway, to promote cell wall thickening in glucose-starved cells. Integrative analyses of the transcriptome, proteome and metabolic profiling indicate that Mck1 is required for the accumulation of UDP-glucose (UDPG), the substrate for β-glucan synthesis, through the activation of two regulons: the Msn2/4-dependent stress response and the Cat8-/Adr1-mediated metabolic reprogram dependent on the SNF1 complex. Analysis of the phosphoproteome suggests that similar to mammalian Gsk-3 kinases, Mck1 is involved in the regulation of cytoskeleton-dependent cellular processes, metabolism, signaling and transcription. Specifically, Mck1 may be implicated in the Snf1-dependent metabolic reprogram through PKA inhibition and SAGA (Spt-Ada-Gcn5 acetyltransferase)-mediated transcription activation, a hypothesis further underscored by the significant overlap between the Mck1- and Gcn5-activated transcriptomes. Phenotypic analysis also supports the roles of Mck1 in actin cytoskeleton-mediated exocytosis to ensure plasma membrane homeostasis and cell wall remodeling in cell wall-stressed cells. Together, these findings not only reveal the novel functions of Mck1 in metabolic reprogramming and polarized growth but also provide valuable omics resources for future studies to uncover the underlying mechanisms of Mck1 and other Gsk-3 kinases in cell growth and stress response. Full article

The bush cricket Saga pedo, listed as Vulnerable globally by the IUCN and included in Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive, is a parthenogenetic species highly sensitive to environmental changes, facing threats from forest expansion and agricultural intensification. S. pedo prefers dry, open habitats with sparse vegetation, and its pronounced thermo-heliophily makes it an indicator of xerothermic habitats. In many areas of Italy, including the Northern Apennines (Piedmont), semi-natural grasslands are fragmented. Open habitats have been reduced to small, isolated patches surrounded by forests due to the abandonment of agropastoral activities. Consequently, the occurrence of open habitat species is related to the quality and availability of suitable areas and ecological connectivity. We developed a spatial Bayesian framework to identify areas of occurrence for S. pedo. Using the inverse probability of occurrence, we derived ecological corridors among suitable patches. Our findings indicate that the occurrence and connectivity of S. pedo are reduced by intensive cultivation but favored by open habitats with 10–50% woody tree cover, suggesting sustainable land management is crucial for supporting the species. Given the extinction risk S. pedo faces, we urge local administrations to maintain and improve suitable areas and guarantee the network of ecological corridors identified. Full article

Background and Objectives: Pediatric patients with complex medical conditions, including neurological impairments, genetic syndromes, dysphagia, and malnutrition, often face feeding difficulties that require enteral nutrition support. The optimal technique for gastrostomy tube (GT) placement in children remains unclear, with options such as laparoscopic gastrostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) being compared in previous studies. This study evaluates outcomes, including complications and caregiver satisfaction, associated with different GT placement techniques in pediatric patients, focusing on the impact of concomitant anti-reflux surgery (fundoplication). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of 71 children (34 with anti-reflux surgery [Group 1], 37 without [Group 2]) undergoing GT placement between 2019 and 2024. Data included demographics, procedural details, complications, and caregiver satisfaction assessed via the Structured Satisfaction Questionnaire with Gastrostomy Feeding (SAGA-8). Results: A total of 71 patients (34 in Group 1, 37 in Group 2) were included in the final analysis. The mean age at the time of the procedure was 5.0 ± 1.1 years, with cerebral palsy being the most common underlying condition. Laparoscopic GT was performed in 97% of cases (69/71), with two percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placements. Common complications included suppuration (32.35% Group 1 vs. 21.62% Group 2, p = 0.88) and infection (5.88% vs. 2.70%, p = 0.67). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of complication rates, although patients in Group 1 had longer hospitalization durations (7.51 ± 3.56 days vs. 4.22 ± 2.13 days, p < 0.005). Caregiver satisfaction, as assessed by the SAGA-8, was high, with 84.5% of families reporting positive outcomes. Factors influencing satisfaction included previous aspiration pneumonia and the use of home blenderized diets post-discharge. Conclusions: Both laparoscopic and PEG techniques are associated with low complication rates and high caregiver satisfaction in pediatric patients requiring gastrostomy placement. The laparoscopic approach may be preferred for patients undergoing concomitant fundoplication. Full article

To understand the topic of old age in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, we can draw much information from relevant literary texts among other sources because the poets operated with general notions commonly subscribed to by their audiences. Old people appear in many different roles already in the pre-modern world, but here the focus will rest mostly on worthy, dignified, mighty, and even ferocious old warriors in heroic poetry. Those stand out because of their strength, their knowledge, their resolve, their wisdom, and their extensive and varied abilities, but this does not automatically mean that they were flawless. To round off this entry, the attention will finally turn to remarkable examples of old but highly respected people in the verse narratives by the German poet Heinrich Kaufringer, in Boccaccio’s Decameron, a harbinger of the Italian Renaissance, in Christine de Pizan’s didactic writings, and in the Old Norse Njál’s Saga. Full article

This paper recounts the author’s reluctant journey of translating Matthew Fuller and Eyal Weizman’s Investigative Aesthetics: Conflicts and Commons in the Politics of Truth into Japanese, a process that turned out to be a mix of philosophical tightrope walking and comedic pratfalls. Along the way, we meet Baumgarten, the original translator who coined the aesthetica nomenclature, Kant, who insists that there can be no such thing as a science of sensibility, and a parade of Japanese translators who took great artistic liberties in rendering an alien term into a complicated language formed by three layers of different writing systems. The author reflects on his coining of a new translation for “aesthetics” in Japanese—Kansei-Jutsu (“Sensibility-Art”)—a term that baffled publishers, thrilled a few cultural studies scholars, and may have earned a side-eye from beauty salons already using “estetikusu” for facials. The translation saga spirals into debates about what “aesthetics” even means, culminating in a bittersweet realisation: translation is less about getting it right and more about sparking delightful, sometimes ridiculous, new ways of thinking. By the end, aesthetics re-emerges as a celebration of difference, proving that even conflicts can create a strange and wonderful commons when approached with an openness to diverse sensibilities. Full article

Spray-drying is a common technique for the microencapsulation of bioactive compounds, which is crucial for improving their stability and bioavailability. In this study, the encapsulation efficiency (EE), physicochemical properties and in vitro bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds from spray-dried encapsulated phenol-rich extracts of grape pomace, a winery waste, were evaluated. Sodium alginate alone (SA) or in a mixture with gum Arabic (SA-GA) or gelatin (SA-GEL) was used as a coating. SA-GEL achieved the highest EE (95.90–98.01%) and outperformed the intestinal release of phenolics by achieving a bioaccessibility index (BI) for total phenolic compounds of 37.8–96.2%. The release mechanism of phenolics from the microcapsules adhered to Fickian diffusion. Encapsulation significantly improved the BI of individual phenolics, with the highest BI values for gallocatechin gallate (2028.7%), epicatechin gallate (476.4%) and o-coumaric acid (464.2%) obtained from the SA-GEL microcapsules. Structural analysis confirmed amorphous matrices in all systems, which improved solubility and stability. These results suggest that encapsulation by spray-drying effectively protects phenolics during digestion and ensures efficient release in the intestine, which improves bioaccessibility. This study contributes to the understanding of biopolymer-based encapsulation systems, but also to the valorisation of grape pomace as a high-value functional ingredient in sustainable food processing. Full article

Topographical data are essential for hydrological analysis and can be gathered through on-site surveys, UAVs, or remote sensing methods such as Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). These tools are crucial in hydrological studies for accurately modeling basin morphology and surface stream network patterns. Two different DEMs with resolutions of 0.13 m and 5 m were used, as well as tools which carry out urban basin delineation by analyzing their morphometric parameters to process the hydrography of the study area, using three Geographic Information Systems (GIS): ArcGIS, GlobalMapper, and SAGA GIS. Each piece of software uses different algorithms for the pre-processing of DEMs in the calculation of morphometric parameters of the study area. The results showed variations in the quantity of delineated stream networks between the different GIS tools used, even when using the same DEM. Similarly, the morphometric parameters varied between GIS tools and DEMs, which tells us that the tools and topographic data used are important. The stream network generated using ArcGIS and the DEM obtained with UAV offered a more precise description of surface flow behavior in the study area. Concerning ArcGIS, it can be observed that between the resolutions of the INEGI DEM and the UAV DEM, the delimited area of micro-basin 1 presented a minimum difference of 0.03 km². In contrast, micro-basin 2 had a more significant difference of 0.16 km². These discrepancies in results are attributed to the different algorithms used by each piece of software and the resolution of each DEM. Although some studies claim to have obtained the same results using different software and algorithms, in this research, different results were obtained, and emphasize the importance of establishing procedural standards, as they can significantly impact the design of stormwater drainage systems. These comparisons will allow decision-makers to consider these aspects to standardize the tools and topographic data used in urban hydrological analyses. Full article

Wildfires increasingly threaten forest ecosystems, particularly in arid Mediterranean regions impacted by climate change. This study presents a novel quantitative framework for optimizing silvicultural interventions to reduce combustion energy loads and enhance resource conservation. Using dendrometric equations, biomass removal calculations, and geospatial modeling (Ordinary Kriging, SAGA-GIS and Q-GIS), the methodology evaluates the spatial distribution of calorific energy before and after thinning interventions. The results show that a 20% thinning intervention reduced calorific energy by 13.45% and water demand by 8.38%, while thinning at 30% and 40% intensities achieved even greater reductions. Specifically, thinning reduced the higher calorific potential by 14,000 kJ/m² and saved approximately 861,390 L of water across the study area. These findings provide actionable insights for forest managers to balance ecological health, optimize thinning practices, and mitigate wildfire risks in vulnerable ecosystems. Full article