Search Results (666)

The study investigates how Turkish science teachers view and understand skill-based questions (SBQs). SBQs aim to assess higher-order cognitive skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, in line with global standards like PISA and TIMSS. The data collected via the Word Association Test (WAT) revealed teachers’ conceptual frameworks and attitudes toward SBQs. The most frequently associated terms were ‘cognitive based’ and ‘culturally context consistency’. Teachers expressed mixed perceptions, with concerns about SBQs’ alignment with international standards, literacy, validity, and the stress they impose on students. Statistical analyses showed that teachers’ cognitive structures lack integration, indicating confusion and limited understanding. The findings highlight the need for enhanced teacher training, clearer guidelines and addressing the gaps between policy and practice. This study contributes to educational assessment reforms by emphasizing the importance of supporting teachers in using SBQs effectively. Full article

The response of the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis to energy demands is perturbed by previous chronic stress perceived during the neonatal or adult periods. We examined the effects of chronic variable stress (CVS) during adolescence on the responses of the HPT axis and target tissues of adult rats to 14 days of voluntary wheel running (Ex) or pair-feeding (PF) to match the reduced food intake of exercised rats. CVS increased the expression of Gr in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and of Npy in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) in males; serum corticosterone concentration increased (1.5×), MBH Dio2 and PVN Trh decreased (40%) in both sexes, serum fT4 increased only in males, while T3 and fT3 increased (2×) in females. Exercise decreased Cort and increased PVN Trh expression only in males. In both sexes, it increased MBH Pomc and Dio2 (2×), skeletal muscle Dio2 and Pgc1a (2×), inguinal and perigonadal white adipose tissue (WAT) Adrb3, Dio2, Pparg, Hsl (1.5×), and brown adipose tissue Adrb3, Dio2, and Ucp1. All exercise-induced changes were repressed in CVS-Ex, except Hsl in inguinal WAT of both sexes, or BAT Dio2 in females, which, in contrast, was stimulated (1.5×). PF had lower values than sedentary in most parameters. These results support the idea that adolescent stress affects adult metabolic and neuroendocrine responses to exercise in a sex-specific manner. Full article

Exogenous estrogen use in male-to-female individuals has been linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk, though the mechanisms remain unclear. This study examines the effects of 17β-estradiol (E₂) on metabolic and aortic function in castrated (CAS) male Sprague Dawley rats. CAS rats received subcutaneous E₂ (CAS + E₂) or placebo (CAS + PL) pellets for ~35 days, with intact males serving as controls. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation (EDV) in response to acetylcholine and contractile responses to phenylephrine were measured in aorta before and after pharmacological inhibitors. Metabolic parameters and expression of proteins associated with vascular and insulin signaling were also determined in aorta and white adipose tissue (WAT). E₂ treatment reduced body weight, improved HbA1c and enhanced glucose tolerance in CAS rats compared to the CAS + PL group. Improved glucose homeostasis was associated with upregulation of estrogen receptor alpha, phosphorylated Akt/Akt, and glucose transporter-4 expression in WAT. However, E₂ increased plasma triglyceride and impaired EDV, indicating compromised vascular function. Our results suggest that impaired aortic relaxation in the CAS + E₂ group may be partly attributable to increased contractility. Additionally, we observed reduced G protein-coupled estrogen receptor and elevated inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, warranting further investigation into whether these factors contribute to the effects of E₂ on aortic relaxation. Full article

Ovarian aging is characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The development of adjunctive treatments that mitigate age-related subfertility is warranted. We examined the benefits of nutraceutical supplementation (FE; Fertility Enhancer) with mitochondrial antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, metabolic activators, vitamins and minerals, and amino acids on ovarian aging, metabolic activity, and reproductive success in young (Y; 6-month-old) and middle-aged (O; 11-month-old) female C57BL/6J mice. The mice were fed calorie- and macronutrient-matched diets w/wo the FE supplement for three months and harem mated twice. Daily FE supplementation promoted significant body re-composition, including loss of white adipose tissue (gWAT: −36% vs. CON, p < 0.001), gain of skeletal muscle (SkM: +67% vs. CON, p < 0.001), and improved SkM/gWAT ratio (+185% vs. CON, p < 0.001). Metabolic testing showed enhanced fat oxidation (+38%, p < 0.01) and energy expenditure (+7%, p = 0.051) in FE mice. Breeding and immunoblotting data demonstrated improved reproductive success (Y-CON: 44%, Y-FE: 89%, O-CON: 0%, O-FE: 18%) and a modest attenuation of ovarian aging markers in both FE groups. We surmise that a multi-ingredient supplement, such as the Fertility Enhancer, may improve body re-composition, metabolic activity, and markers of ovarian aging, thus enhancing reproductive health and fertility in females. Full article

The circadian rhythm of the central brain clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is synchronized by light. White adipose tissue (WAT) is one of the metabolic endocrine organs containing a molecular clock, and it is synchronized by the SCN. Excess WAT is a risk factor for health issues including type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). We hypothesized that bright-light exposure would affect the human WAT transcriptome. Therefore, we analyzed WAT biopsies from two previously performed randomized cross-over trials (trial 1: n = 8 lean, healthy men, and trial 2: n = 8 men with obesity and DM2). From 7:30 h onwards, all the participants were exposed to either bright or dim light. Five hours later, we performed a subcutaneous abdominal WAT biopsy. RNA-sequencing results showed major group differences between men with obesity and DM2 and lean, healthy men as well as a differential effect of bright-light exposure. For example, gene sets encoding proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation or respiratory chain complexes were down-regulated under bright-light conditions in lean, healthy men but up-regulated in men with obesity and DM2. In addition to evident group differences between men with obesity and DM2 and healthy lean subjects, autonomic or neuroendocrine signals resulting from bright-light exposure also differentially affect the WAT transcriptome. Full article

Background: Enhancing adipose tissue functionality is a promising cellular-level approach to combating obesity. White adipose tissue (WAT) can acquire beige or brown adipose tissue (BAT)-like properties, characterized by increased thermogenesis and energy dissipation. While the SIRT1-SRSF10–Lipin-1 axis has been identified in hepatocytes, where Lipin-1 regulates triglyceride metabolism, its role in adipocytes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the function of Lipin-1 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and its interaction with SIRT1, SRSF10, and PPARγ in promoting browning-like transcriptional responses. Methods: Mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated during differentiation with either rosiglitazone (RGZ), the SIRT1 activator SRT1720, or the SIRT1 inhibitor EX527. Gene expression was assessed by real-time PCR, and protein levels were measured using the Simple Western blot system. Data were compared with untreated controls and analyzed using GraphPad Prism. Results: Lipin-1 expression was significantly upregulated by RGZ treatment, alongside increased transcription of Sirt1 and Srsf10, supporting the presence of this regulatory axis in adipocytes. Elevated Srsf10 favored the production of the Lipin-1b isoform, whereas SIRT1 inhibition reversed these effects, confirming its upstream role. Pathway activation further enhanced the expression of browning markers, including Ucp1, Pgc1a, PRDM16, and CIDEA. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that Lipin-1 interacts with the SIRT1–PPARγ–SRSF10 axis in adipocytes and contributes to the acquisition of beige/brown-like characteristics in WAT. This regulatory pathway may represent a potential target for improving lipid metabolism and metabolic health. Full article

Polyphenols have been widely recognized for their potential anti-obesity effects. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a polyphenol compound-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, quercetin, and rutin (EQR) on obesity-related parameters and gut microbiota composition. After four weeks of high-fat diet (HFD) induction, the obese Wistar male rats received EQR treatment for an additional four weeks. EQR supplementation significantly reduced body weight gain, feed efficiency, adipose tissue accumulation, and liver lipid content in obese rats. Additionally, it enhanced fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels and modulated gut microbiota composition. Specifically, EQR treatment significantly induced Fusobacteria, Fusobacteriaceae, Christensenellaceae, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Lachnoclostridium, Enterorhabdus, and Parvibacter levels and reduced Deferribacteres and Mucispirillum levels. Gene expression analysis in liver, white adipose tissue (WAT), and brown adipose tissue (BAT) revealed that EQR upregulated the expression of liver PPAR-α, WAT SIRT-1, and BAT PGC-1α, while downregulating liver PPAR-γ, liver FATP-1, and WAT FAS, indicating its role in promoting fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis, as well as suppressing lipid synthesis and transport. In conclusion, EQR demonstrated significant anti-obesity effects by modulating gut microbiota and lipid metabolism, suggesting its potential as a functional ingredient for obesity management. Full article

Water stress and weed competition emerge as pivotal stressors during the development of corn. This two-year study evaluated the effect of Amaranthus palmeri (AMAPA) on corn at varying densities (1, 2, and 4 plants per m⁻¹) under two different irrigation (full and deficit) regimes. Water use efficiency and leaf water potential values were evaluated to determine the effects of different irrigation water amounts and AMAPA densities on corn water consumption. AMAPA height and fresh weight were also measured along with corn growth parameters. The results indicated that corn height, first ear height and number of rows in corn ear decreased by 14.5%, 22.1% and 9.47% on average with the effect of deficit irrigation compared to full irrigation. Under the pressure of four AMAPA plants, ear diameter, ear length, number of grains in a row of ears, ear weight and grain yield decreased by 10.7%, 22.4%, 26.3%, 43.0% and 43.1% on average compared to monoculture corn. Deficit irrigation increased water use efficiency values, while AMAPA density decreased these values. While this study demonstrated that a reduction in irrigation and an increase in AMAPA density exerted adverse effects on the growth parameters of corn, it was also observed that under deficit irrigation conditions, AMAPA did not demonstrate superiority over corn, which possesses a high degree of competitive power in comparison to other C3 summer crops. Full article

Obesity is a chronic disorder associated with serious comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Conventional pharmacological treatments often suffer from limited efficacy, poor selectivity, and undesirable side effects, highlighting the need for more effective alternatives. Nanomedicine offers a promising approach by overcoming these limitations through targeted drug delivery and enhanced therapeutic precision. This review examines key nanotechnological strategies in obesity management, including targeting white adipose tissue (WAT) and the vascular marker prohibitin, promoting WAT browning, and utilizing photothermal therapy and magnetic hyperthermia as nanotheranostic tools. We discuss major nanomedicine platforms—such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, and polymeric nanoparticles—alongside emerging applications in gene nanotherapy and herbal formulations. Potential toxicity concerns are also addressed. In summary, nanomedicine holds substantial potential to revolutionize obesity treatment through targeted, effective, and multifunctional therapeutic strategies. Full article

Trust in Traditional Thai Medicine (TTM) among Thai people has been reduced due to a lack of objective standards and the susceptibility of the general population to false information. The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) has significantly impacted various industries, including traditional medicine. However, previous Gen AI models have primarily focused on prescription generation based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), leaving TTM unexplored. To address this gap, we propose a novel fast-learning fine-tuned language model fortified with TTM knowledge. We utilized textual data from two TTM textbooks, Wat Ratcha-orasaram Ratchaworawihan (WRO), and Tamra Osot Phra Narai (NR), to fine-tune Unsloth’s Gemma-2 with 9 billion parameters. We developed two specialized TTM tasks: treatment prediction (TrP) and herbal recipe generation (HRG). The TrP and HRG models achieved precision, recall, and F1 scores of 26.54%, 28.14%, and 24.00%, and 32.51%, 24.42%, and 24.84%, respectively. Performance evaluation against TCM-based generative models showed comparable precision, recall, and F1 results with a smaller knowledge corpus. We further addressed the challenges of utilizing Thai, a low-resource and linguistically complex language. Unlike English or Chinese, Thai lacks explicit sentence boundary markers and employs an abugida writing system without spaces between words, complicating text segmentation and generation. These characteristics pose significant difficulties for machine understanding and limit model accuracy. Despite these obstacles, our work establishes a foundation for further development of AI-assisted TTM applications and highlights both the opportunities and challenges in applying language models to traditional medicine knowledge systems in Thai language contexts. Full article

Chronic high-fat diet (HFD) feeding in male rats causes significant metabolic as well as inflammatory disturbances, including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, liver and kidney dysfunction, oxidative stress, and hypothalamic dysregulation. This study assessed the therapeutic effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA), a natural polyphenol, administered at 10 mg and 100 mg/kg/day for the last 4 weeks of a 12-week HFD protocol. Both CGA doses reduced body weight gain, abdominal circumference, and visceral fat accumulation, with the higher dose showing greater efficacy. CGA improved metabolic parameters by lowering fasting glucose and insulin and enhancing lipid profiles. CGA suppressed orexigenic genes (Agrp, NPY) and upregulated anorexigenic genes (POMC, CARTPT), suggesting appetite regulation in the hypothalamus. In abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT), CGA boosted antioxidant defenses (SOD, CAT, GPx, HO-1), reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA), and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β, while increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. CGA modulated inflammatory signaling via upregulation of miR-146a and inhibition of IRAK1, TRAF6, and NF-κB. It also reduced apoptosis by downregulating p53, Bax, and Caspase-3, and restoring Bcl-2. These findings demonstrate that short-term CGA administration effectively reverses multiple HFD-induced impairments, highlighting its potential as an effective therapeutic for obesity-related metabolic disorders. Full article

The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-$\mathsf{\beta }$) gene family is widely distributed across the animal kingdom, playing a crucial role in various cellular processes and maintaining overall health and homeostasis. The present study identified 34 TGF-$\mathsf{\beta }$ family genes based on the genome sequence in Tupaia belangeri, which were classified into the TGF-$\mathsf{\beta }$, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), growth differentiation factor (GDF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and Activin/Inhibin subfamilies. A phylogenetic analysis revealed the evolutionary relationships among members of the TGF-$\mathsf{\beta }$ family in T. belangeri and their homologous genes in Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, and Pan troglodytes, indicating a high degree of conservation throughout evolution. A chromosomal distribution and collinearity analysis demonstrated the localization of these genes within the genome of T. belangeri and their collinearity with genes from other species. A gene structure and motif analysis further illustrated the conservation and diversity among TGF-$\mathsf{\beta }$ family members. A protein interaction network analysis highlighted the central roles of TGFB1, TGFB3, BMP7, and BMP2 in signal transduction. A functional enrichment analysis underscored the significance of the TGF-$\mathsf{\beta }$ signaling pathway in the biological processes of T. belangeri, particularly in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. We assessed the impact of cold acclimation treatment on the expression of TGF-$\mathsf{\beta }$ family proteins in the adipose tissue (white adipose tissue [WAT] and brown adipose tissue [BAT]) of T. belangeri using ELISA technology, finding that protein expression levels in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of in the control group. These results suggested that cold acclimation may enhance the adaptability of T. belangeri to cold environments by modulating the expression of TGF-$\mathsf{\beta }$ family genes. This study offers new insights into the role of the TGF-$\mathsf{\beta }$ family in the cold acclimation adaptation of T. belangeri, providing a scientific foundation for future genetic improvements and strategies for cold acclimation. Full article

Forskolin (FSK) induces the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) through the activation of adenylate cyclase (AC) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) generation. When administered intravenously or orally, FSK undergoes significant metabolism and accumulation in the liver and other tissues, resulting in high side effects and low anti-obesity effects due to trivial amounts reaching WAT. This study examines the potential anti-obesity and metabolic effects of the inguinal WAT (IWAT) delivery of FSK in high-fat diet-induced C57BL/6J obese mice. Mice received one of the following treatments twice weekly for 4 weeks: 1. Control into both IWAT depots (Con^both); 2. FSK 15 mg/kg body weight (BW)/injection into both inguinal WAT (IWAT) depots (FSK15^both); 3. FSK 7.5 mg/kg BW/injection into both IWAT depots (FSK7.5^both); and 4. FSK 7.5 mg/kg BW/injection into the left IWAT depot (FSK7.5^left). Both the FSK15^both and FSK7.5^both treatments improved metabolic parameters by lowering blood glucose, enhancing glucose tolerance, and reducing serum insulin and cholesterol. The FSK15^both treatment had a greater impact on IWAT, resulting in smaller adipocytes and increased expression of Ucp1 and Tmem26 mRNA levels. All FSK treatments also reduced inflammatory and lipogenic markers in the liver, indicating improved hepatic metabolism. These findings suggest that local delivery of FSK into subcutaneous WAT is a potential strategy for combating obesity and improving metabolic health. However, further studies are needed to confirm the statistical and biological significance of these effects. Full article

In light of rising environmental concerns, the rapid industrial recycling of building demolition waste material (BDWM) is now capable of supporting sustainable development in metropolitan regions. From this perspective, the current study investigated the geotechnical properties and applications of BDWMs as substitutes for natural materials (NMs) in road engineering infrastructures. For this purpose, the physical and geotechnical characteristics of both types of materials were initially examined, and then compared using laboratory-scale material comprehensive assessments such as sieve analysis (SA), the flakiness index (FI), the specific gravity test (Gs), the Los Angeles abrasion test (LAAT), Atterberg limits (AL), the water absorption test (WAT), the California bearing ratio (CBR), the direct shear test (DST), and the Proctor soil compaction test (PSCT). The BDWMs were collected from two locations in Iran. According to the results, the collected samples consisted of concrete, bricks, mortar, tile materials, and others. The CBR values for the waste material from the two sites were 69 and 73%, respectively. Furthermore, the optimum water content (OWC) and maximum dry unit weight (MDD) from the two sites were reported as 9.3 and 9.9% and 20.8 and 21 kN/m³, respectively, and the hydrogen potential (pH) as 9 and 10. The shear strength and CBR values indicated that the BDWM had a suitable strength compared to the NM. In terms of road infrastructure applications, the shear strengths were adequate for the analysis of common sub-base materials used in filling and road construction. Furthermore, the study’s findings revealed that BDWMs were suitable replacements for the NM used in road engineering operations and could make a significant contribution to sustainable development. Full article

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is an economically important vegetable but powdery mildew (caused by Podosphaera xanthii) limits cucumber production. The WALLS ARE THIN1 (WAT1) gene is crucial for regulating secondary cell wall thickness and is pivotal in plant immune responses. However, the role of WAT1 in cucumber defense against P. xanthii remains poorly characterized. In this study, we identified 47 CsWAT1 genes in the C. sativus genome and classified them into five clusters. Comprehensive analyses of the chromosome location, gene structure, and protein motifs revealed both conserved evolutionary and functional characteristics across plant species, as well as novel features specific to cucumber. Promoter analysis suggested that nine CsWAT1 genes may participate in the cucumber response to P. xanthii stress. Further expression profiling and functional analysis indicated that CsWAT1-20 positively regulates cucumber defense against P. xanthii stress. Our results provide fundamental insights into the characterization of CsWAT1 genes and the function of CsWAT1-20 in P. xanthii defense, laying the groundwork for further studies on the roles of the CsWAT1 gene family in cucumber plants. Full article