Interdisciplinarity in practice: reflections from early-career researchers developing a risk-informed decision support environment for Tomorrow's cities

The concept of disaster risk is cross-disciplinary by nature and reducing disaster risk has become of interest for various disciplines. Yet, moving from a collection of multiple disciplinary perspectives to integrated interdisciplinary disaster risk approaches remains a fundamental challenge. This paper reflects on the experience of a group of early-career researchers spanning physical scientists, engineers and social scientists from different organisations across the global North and global South who came together to lead the refinement, operationalisation and testing of a risk-informed decision support environment for Tomorrow's Cities (TCDSE). Drawing on the notions of subjects and boundary objects, members of the group reflect on their individual and collective journey of transgressing disciplinary boundaries across three case studies between June–December 2021: operationalisation process of the TCDSE; development of a virtual urban testbed as a demonstration case for the implementation of the TCDSE; and consolidation of frequently asked questions about the TCDSE for communication purposes. The paper argues that (1) the production of boundary objects in interdisciplinary research nurtures relations of reciprocal recognition and the emergence of interdisciplinary subjects; (2) the intrinsic characteristics of boundary objects define the norms of engagement between disciplinary subjects and constrain the expression of interdisciplinary contradictions; and (3) affects and operations of power explain the contingent settlement of interdisciplinary disagreements and the emergence of new knowledge. Activating the interdisciplinary capacities of early-career researchers across disciplines and geographies is a fundamental step towards transforming siloed research practices to reduce disaster risk

Topiramatın adiposit farklılaşması ve bazı karbonik anhidraz izoenzimleri gen ekspresyonu üzerine etkileri

Background: Topiramate, an antiepileptic drug, besides its known effects in neurons, is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and causes weight loss in treated subjects, but, the mechanisms of weight loss effect have not been yet identified.. Objective: In this study, effects of topiramate on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and expressions of carbonic anhydrase I, II, III, VA, VB were investigated to determine possible roles of carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes and adipocytes in weight loss effect of topiramate. Material and methods: Adipocyte differentiation was detected by Oil Red O staining. Carbonic anhydrase I, II, III, VA, VB expressions were determined by Real-Time PCR method. Results: It was found that topiramate induced adipogenesis at all concentrations (p < 0.0001). CA expressions increased significantly with adipogenesis (p = 0.0001). Topiramate stimulated adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and reduced CA II, VA and VB and, an increased CA III expression was observed at low concentrations. CA II, VA and, VB expressions were found increased and CA III expression decreased at high topiramate concentrations. Conclusion: It was concluded that changes in CA III expression were consistent with its reduction in obesity, alterations of CA II, VA and VB expressions could be attributed to compensation mechanism of cells. © 2020 De Gruyter. All rights reserved

Systemic oxidant/antioxidant balance in human abdominal aortic aneurysm

PMID = 2622827

Synthesis and anticancer activities of some new coumarin derivatives including the triazole ring and their in silico molecular docking studies

PubMed: 331468952-s2.0-85096678192The synthesis, docking study, and investigation of the anticancer activities of some coumarin derivatives containing the triazole ring are reported in this study. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro anticancer activity against the cell lines CRL5807 (human bronchioalveolar carcinoma), CRL5826 (human squamous cell carcinoma), MDA-MB231 (human breast cancer cells), HTB177 (human lung cancer), PC-3 (human prostate adenocarcinoma), PANC-1 (human pancreatic cancer cells), used as cancer cells, and CCD34Lu (normal human lung fibroblasts), used as a healthy cell line. Cytotoxicity effects of the samples were determined by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay. In silico studies were also performed to explore the binding interactions of the molecules. © 2020 Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaf

Carbonic anhydrase I and II autoantibody levels in primary hypertension: Our preliminary results

OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis of primary hypertension (HT) is still not completely clear, although autoimmunity has been implicated in recent years. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is an enzyme involved in a number of important metabolic processes. CA I and II autoantibodies have been linked to various autoimmune diseases. However, CA I and II autoantibody levels in primary HT have not been previously investigated. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate levels of CA I and II autoantibodies in primary HT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients newly diagnosed with primary HT and 33 healthy individuals were included in the study. Twenty- four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed following office controls. Blood specimens were collected under appropriate conditions for CA I and II autoantibody level investigation and biochemical tests. Urine sodium and protein excretion were measured after 24 h. Demographic and biochemical parameters and CA I and II autoantibody levels were then compared between the patient and healthy groups. RESULTS: CA II autoantibody and uric acid levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive group than in the control group (p=0.005, and p<0.001, respectively). CA II autoantibody (exp ß: 79.06 CI: 4.44-1407.02) (p=0.003) and uric acid elevation (exp ß: 2.10 CI: 1.31- 3.34) (p=0.002) were identified as independent predictors of HT development at logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: CA II autoantibody levels were higher in hypertensive patients, and this elevation is an independent predictor of HT development. © 2020 Verduci Editore s.r.l. All rights reserved

Novel 1,2,4-triazole substituted metallo-phthalocyanines: Synthesis, characterization and investigation of electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties

KOCA, ATIF/0000-0003-0141-5817; AKCAY, Hakki Turker/0000-0002-8502-9608WOS: 000446286200024The phthalonitrile compound (3) and peripherally tetra substituted zinc(II) (4), nickel (II) (5), iron (II) (6), cobalt (II) (7) and copper (II) (8) phthalocyanines were synthesized for the first time in this study. the structural characterization of these novel compounds were performed with FT-IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, UV-Vis and mass spectroscopy. the redox properties of the complexes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, controlled-potential coulometry and in-situ spectroelectrochemistry. the effects of redox active and inactive metal centers on the electrochemistry of 4-2-(4-methyl-5-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)ethoxy substitute phthalocyanine were examined. the color changes associated with the redox processes and electro-generated anionic and cationic redox species were suggested their applicability in the fields of the electrochemical technologies. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

The prognostic significance of serum TGF-?1 levels in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

PubMed: 27467498Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) may exhibit a mild clinical course or a severe profile like mortal bleeding. The pathogenesis of the illness and reason of bleeding are unclear. However, endothelial injury is a key factor in the pathogenesis of the illness. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-?) is one of the materials involved in repairing injured endothelium. This is a significant polypeptide released in pretty much all cells and important for the regulation of cellular events, epithelium formation, inflammation, blood coagulation, and collagen synthesis. This study aimed to determine the prognostic significance of serum TGF-?1 levels in CCHF patients. We examined 120 patients hospitalized with CCHF diagnosis and their serum TGF-?1 was investigated, retrospectively. Patients were put into two groups according to the existence of hemorrhage. Forty-four (36.7%) patients had hemorrhage. TGF-?1 levels in patients with bleeding were 5.2 ± 1.8, and 7.1 ± 2.2 for non-bleeding (P < 0.0001). When ROC analysis was performed in patients with CCHF alone in order to identify patients with bleeding, at a TGF-?1 cut-off point of 4.9, AUC was 0.762 (0.675–0.835), sensitivity 59.1%, specificity 85.5%, PPV 70.3%, and NPV 78.3%. We summarize that TGF-?1 level and endothelial dysfunction can be related. A decreased TGF-?1 level is a likely prognostic and diagnostic factor for bleeding in CCHF patients. Therefore, this marker should be considered in the treatment strategy for these patients. J. Med. Virol. 89:413–416, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc