Study On Phubbing With The Perspective Of Connection To Disconnection Using Smartphone On Youth Generation

Phubbing has become a topic of interest for researchers worldwide. The rationale is that since cellphones are used in co-present interactions, they are easily accessible. This is known as "phubbing" and is not acceptable behavior in most places. Phubbing is the practice of ignoring people in social situations by looking at one's phone instead of interacting with them, according to Chotpitayasunondh and Douglas (2018). The purpose of this article to provide an overview of phubbing research investigations

Cardiac fibrosis can be attenuated by blocking the activity of transglutaminase 2 using a selective small-molecule inhibitor

Cardiac fibrosis is implicit in all forms of heart disease but there are no effective treatments. In this report, we investigate the role of the multi-functional enzyme Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) in cardiac fibrosis and assess its potential as a therapeutic target. Here we describe the use a highly selective TG2 small-molecule inhibitor to test the efficacy of TG2 inhibition as an anti-fibrotic therapy for heart failure employing two different in vivo models of cardiac fibrosis: Progressively induced interstitial cardiac fibrosis by pressure overload using angiotensin II infusion: Acutely induced focal cardiac fibrosis through myocardial infarction by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (AMI model). In the AMI model, in vivo MRI showed that the TG2 inhibitor 1–155 significantly reduced infarct size by over 50% and reduced post-infarct remodelling at 20 days post insult. In both models, Sirius red staining for collagen deposition and levels of the TG2-mediated protein crosslink ε(γ-glutamyl)lysine were significantly reduced. No cardiac rupture or obvious signs of toxicity were observed. To provide a molecular mechanism for TG2 involvement in cardiac fibrosis, we show that both TGFβ1-induced transition of cardiofibroblasts into myofibroblast-like cells and TGFβ1- induced EndMT, together with matrix deposition, can be attenuated by the TG2 selective inhibitor 1–155, suggesting a new role for TG2 in regulating TGFβ1 signalling in addition to its role in latent TGFβ1 activation. In conclusion, TG2 has a role in cardiac fibrosis through activation of myofibroblasts and matrix deposition. TG2 inhibition using a selective small-molecule inhibitor can attenuate cardiac fibrosis

Corrigendum to “Counting adolescents in: the development of an adolescent health indicator framework for population-based settings”

The authors were recently made aware of an oversight such that parts of the text in the Introduction and Methods sections, which describe shortcomings in the existing literature and the methods in this work to identify frameworks and indicators, were missing attribution to published work cited elsewhere in the manuscript. To clarify, we adjust the relevant sections to fully attribute the prior work in three areas, as described below. Underlined text is additional to the original: While both school- and community-based modalities can provide nationally representative data among eligible adolescents, several shortcomings in adolescent health measurement in LMICs were noted by the GAMA Advisory Group (Reference 13 as in the original paper). First, these measurements do not equally cover all adolescent subgroups, with evidence gaps being largest for males, younger adolescents aged 10–14 years, adolescents of diverse genders, ethnicities, and religions, as well as those out of school and migrants. Second, age-disaggregated data are often lacking—due in part to incomplete age coverage—limiting their use for program planning. Third, several aspects of adolescent health are inadequately covered including mental health, substance use, injury, sexual and reproductive health among unmarried adolescents, and positive aspects of adolescent health and well-being. Fourth, the definitions and assessment methods used across adolescent health indicator frameworks are inconsistent. For example, adolescent overweight and obesity—a major cause of non-communicable diseases and a public health risk for future and intergeneration health—is inconsistently captured across indicator frameworks and strikingly absent from the SDGs (Reference 13 as in the original paper). Additional shortcomings include, current adolescent health data systems often lack intersectoral coordination beyond health (e.g., with education, water and sanitation, and social protection systems) and suffer from irregularities in coverage and timing (Reference 6 as in the original paper). Broadly, these indicator frameworks and strategy documents captured disease burden, health risks, and prominent social determinants of health during adolescence. To be congruent with the existing global recommendations and guidelines (References 3–7 as in the original paper) and global measurement efforts (References 10 and 16 as in the original paper), the indicator framework documents had to meet three inclusion criteria, as laid out by the GAMA Advisory Group (Reference 14 as in the original paper): (1) provide recommendations about the measurement of adolescents' health and well-being; (2) include indicators for “adolescents” covering the adolescent age range (10–19 years) in the whole or part; and (3) be global or regional in scope. Using the GAMA's approach (Reference 13 as in the original paper), the recommendations of Lancet Adolescent Health Commission (Reference 6 as in the original paper), and several other guidelines (References 7, 9, 12, 17–19 as in the original paper), we selected adolescent health and well-being domains based on four key aspects of adolescents in LMICs: a) population trends; b) disease burden; c) drivers of health inequality; and d) opportunity for interventions

Counting adolescents in: the development of an adolescent health indicator framework for population-based settings

Changing realities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in terms of inequalities, urbanization, globalization, migration, and economic adversity shape adolescent development and health, as well as successful transitions between adolescence and young adulthood. It is estimated that 90% of adolescents live in LMICs in 2019, but inadequate data exist to inform evidence-based and concerted policies and programs tailored to address the distinctive developmental and health needs of adolescents. Population-based data surveillance such as Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) and school-based surveys provide access to a well-defined population and provide cost-effective opportunities to fill in data gaps about adolescent health and well-being by collecting population-representative longitudinal data. The Africa Research Implementation Science and Education (ARISE) Network, therefore, systematically developed adolescent health and well-being indicators and a questionnaire for measuring these indicators that can be used in population-based LMIC settings. We conducted a multistage collaborative and iterative process led by network members alongside consultation with health-domain and adolescent health experts globally. Seven key domains emerged from this process: socio-demographics, health awareness and behaviors; nutrition; mental health; sexual and reproductive health; substance use; and healthcare utilization. For each domain, we generated a clear definition; rationale for inclusion; sub-domain descriptions, and a set of questions for measurement. The ARISE Network will implement the questionnaire longitudinally (i.e., at two time-points one year apart) at ten sites in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa and two countries in Asia. Integrating the questionnaire within established population-based data collection platforms such as HDSS and school settings can provide measured experiences of young people to inform policy and program planning and evaluation in LMICs and improve adolescent health and well-being

Tunable, Grating-Gated, Graphene-On-Polyimide Terahertz Modulators

An electrically switchable graphene terahertz (THz) modulator with a tunable-by-design optical bandwidth is presented and it is exploited to compensate the cavity dispersion of a quantum cascade laser (QCL). Electrostatic gating is achieved by a metal grating used as a gate electrode, with an HfO2/AlOx gate dielectric on top. This is patterned on a polyimide layer, which acts as a quarter wave resonance cavity, coupled with an Au reflector underneath. The authors achieve 90% modulation depth of the intensity, combined with a 20 kHz electrical bandwidth in the 1.9–2.7 THz range. The modulator is then integrated with a multimode THz QCL. By adjusting the modulator operational bandwidth, the authors demonstrate that the graphene modulator can partially compensate the QCL cavity dispersion, resulting in an integrated laser behaving as a stable frequency comb over 35% of the operational range, with 98 equidistant optical modes and a spectral coverage ~1.2 THz. This paves the way for applications in the terahertz, such as tunable transformation-optics devices, active photonic components, adaptive and quantum optics, and metrological tools for spectroscopy at THz frequencies

Graphene overcoats for ultra-high storage density magnetic media

Hard disk drives (HDDs) are used as secondary storage in digital electronic devices owing to low cost and large data storage capacity. Due to the exponentially increasing amount of data, there is a need to increase areal storage densities beyond~1Tb/in^2. This requires the thickness of carbon overcoats (COCs) to be<2 nm. However, friction, wear, corrosion, and thermal stability are critical concerns below 2 nm, limiting current technology, and restricting COC integration with heat assisted magnetic recording technology (HAMR). Here we show that graphene-based overcoats can overcome all these limitations, and achieve two-fold reduction in friction and provide better corrosion and wear resistance than state-of-the-art COCs, while withstanding HAMR conditions. Thus, we expect that graphene overcoats may enable the development of 4-10 Tb/in^2 areal density HDDs when employing suitable recording technologies, such as HAMR and HAMR+bit patterned media

Publisher Correction: Graphene overcoats for ultra-high storage density magnetic media.

Publisher Correction: Graphene overcoats for ultra-high storage density magnetic media

Accumulation of Succinyl Coenzyme A Perturbs the Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Succinylome and Is Associated with Increased Susceptibility to Beta-Lactam Antibiotics

Penicillin binding protein 2a (PBP2a)-dependent resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is regulated by the activity of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle via a poorly understood mechanism. We report that mutations in sucC and sucD, but not other TCA cycle enzymes, negatively impact β-lactam resistance without changing PBP2a expression. Increased intracellular levels of succinyl coenzyme A (succinyl-CoA) in the sucC mutant significantly perturbed lysine succinylation in the MRSA proteome. Suppressor mutations in sucA or sucB, responsible for succinyl-CoA biosynthesis, reversed sucC mutant phenotypes. The major autolysin (Atl) was the most succinylated protein in the proteome, and increased Atl succinylation in the sucC mutant was associated with loss of autolytic activity. Although PBP2a and PBP2 were also among the most succinylated proteins in the MRSA proteome, peptidoglycan architecture and cross-linking were unchanged in the sucC mutant. These data reveal that perturbation of the MRSA succinylome impacts two interconnected cell wall phenotypes, leading to repression of autolytic activity and increased susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics. IMPORTANCE mecA-dependent methicillin resistance in MRSA is subject to regulation by numerous accessory factors involved in cell wall biosynthesis, nucleotide signaling, and central metabolism. Here, we report that mutations in the TCA cycle gene, sucC, increased susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics and was accompanied by significant accumulation of succinyl-CoA, which in turn perturbed lysine succinylation in the proteome. Although cell wall structure and cross-linking were unchanged, significantly increased succinylation of the major autolysin Atl, which was the most succinylated protein in the proteome, was accompanied by near complete repression of autolytic activity. These findings link central metabolism and levels of succinyl-CoA to the regulation of β-lactam antibiotic resistance in MRSA through succinylome-mediated control of two interlinked cell wall phenotypes. Drug-mediated interference of the SucCD-controlled succinylome may help overcome β-lactam resistance

Growth of c-oriented MgB2 thin films by Pulsed Laser Deposition: structural characterization and electronic anisotropy

MgB2 thin films were deposited using Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) and ex-situ annealing in Mg atmosphere. The films presented critical temperatures up to 36K and turned out to be preferentially c-oriented both on Al2O3 (r-cut) and MgO(100) substrates. Synchrotron analyses gave also some indications of in plane texturing. The films exhibit very fine grain size (1200angstromin the basal plane and 100angstrom along c-axis) but the general resistivity behavior and the remarkable extension of the irreversible region confirm that the grains boundaries are not barriers for supercurrents. Upper critical field measurements with the magnetic field perpendicular and parallel with respect to the film surface evidenced a field anisotropy ratio of 1.8. The Hc2 values are considerably higher with respect to the bulk ones, namely when the field lies in the basal plane, and the field-temperature phase diagram for the two magnetic field orientations suggest the possibility of strongly enhancing the pinning region by means of texturing.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure