Lessons learned about post-secondary institution tobacco policy change by Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative Grantees, 2018-2020

OBJECTIVE

The Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative (TFGCI) granted funding to U.S. post-secondary institutions to assist with creating 100% smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies to prevent young adult tobacco use. This study assessed grantee experiences working on campus tobacco policy change. Participants: Sixty U.S. post-secondary institutions completing TFGCI funded work between 2018 and 2020. Methods: An online survey assessment was completed by each institution at the end of their 18-month grant period to share facilitators and barriers to policy change, lessons learned, and advice for future efforts. Results: Many institutions faced challenges of time and capital constraints and pushback from campus constituents. Collaboration, diverse constituent engagement, and educational efforts throughout the advocacy process were important facilitators of policy change. Conclusions: Adopting and implementing comprehensive tobacco policy on college campuses is challenging. Regardless of institution type, commitment to the long-term goal and diverse stakeholder support guided movement toward 100% smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies.

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1953032 .

[LINC00926 promotes pyroptosis of hypoxia-induced human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells by recruiting ELAVL1]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the regulatory role of the long non-coding RNA LINC00926 in pyroptosis of hypoxia-induced human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) and explore the molecular mechanism.

METHODS

HUVECs were transfected with a LINC00926-overexpressing plasmid (OE-LINC00926), a siRNA targeting ELAVL1, or both, followed by exposure to hypoxia (5% O2) or normoxia. The expression of LINC00926 and ELAVL1 in hypoxia-treated HUVECs was detected using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and the levels of IL-1β in the cell cultures was determined with ELISA. The protein expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins (caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1 and NLRP3) in the treated cells were analyzed using Western blotting, and the binding between LINC00926 and ELAVL1 was verified with RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay.

RESULTS

Exposure to hypoxia obviously up-regulated the mRNA expression of LINC00926 and the protein expression of ELAVL1 in HUVECs, but did not affect the mRNA expression of ELAVL1. LINC00926 overexpression in the cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation, increased IL-1β level and enhanced the expressions of pyroptosis-related proteins (all P < 0.05). LINC00926 overexpression further up-regulated the protein expression of ELAVL1 in hypoxia-exposed HUVECs. The results of RIP assay confirmed the binding between LINC00926 and ELAVL1. ELAVL1 knockdown significantly decreased IL-1β level and the expressions of pyroptosis-related proteins in hypoxia-exposed HUVECs (P < 0.05), while LINC00926 overexpression partially reversed the effects of ELAVL1 knockdown.

CONCLUSION

LINC00926 promotes pyroptosis of hypoxia-induced HUVECs by recruiting ELAVL1.

[Rapid detection and genotyping of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4/5 variants using a RT-PCR and CRISPR-Cas12a-based assay]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a rapid detection and genotyping method for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4/5 variants using CRISPPR-Cas12a gene editing technology.

METHODS

We combined reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and CRISPR gene editing technology and designed a specific CRISPPR RNA (crRNA) with suboptimal protospacer adjacent motifs (PAM) for rapid detection and genotyping of SARS- CoV-2 Omicron BA.4/5 variants. The performance of this RT- PCR/ CRISPPR-Cas12a assay was evaluated using 43 clinical samples of patients infected by wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and the Alpha, Beta, Delta, Omicron BA. 1 and BA. 4/5 variants and 20 SARS- CoV- 2-negative clinical samples infected with 11 respiratory pathogens. With Sanger sequencing method as the gold standard, the specificity, sensitivity, concordance (Kappa) and area under the ROC curve (AUC) of RT-PCR/CRISPPR-Cas12a assay were calculated.

RESULTS

This assay was capable of rapid and specific detection of SARS- CoV-2 Omicron BA.4/5 variant within 30 min with the lowest detection limit of 10 copies/μL, and no cross-reaction was observed in SARS-CoV-2-negative clinical samples infected with 11 common respiratory pathogens. The two Omicron BA.4/5 specific crRNAs (crRNA-1 and crRNA-2) allowed the assay to accurately distinguish Omicron BA.4/5 from BA.1 sublineage and other major SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. For detection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4/5 variants, the sensitivity of the established assay using crRNA-1 and crRNA-2 was 97.83% and 100% with specificity of 100% and AUC of 0.998 and 1.000, respectively, and their concordance rate with Sanger sequencing method was 92.83% and 96.41%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

By combining RT-PCR and CRISPPR-Cas12a gene editing technology, we successfully developed a new method for rapid detection and identification of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4/5 variants with a high sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility, which allows rapid detection and genotyping of SARS- CoV-2 variants and monitoring of the emerging variants and their dissemination.

A 3'-end capture sequencing method for high-throughput targeted gene expression profiling

Molecular phenotyping through shallow 3'-end RNA-sequencing workflows is increasingly applied in the context of large-scale chemical or genetic perturbation screens to study disease biology or support drug discovery. While these workflows enable accurate quantification of the most abundant genes, they are less effective for applications that require expression profiling of low abundant transcripts, like long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), or selected gene panels. To tackle these issues, we describe a workflow combining 3'-end library preparation with 3'-end hybrid capture probes and shallow RNA-sequencing for cost-effective, targeted quantification of subsets of (low abundant) genes across hundreds to thousands of samples. To assess the performance of the method, we designed a capture probe set for more than 100 mRNA and lncRNA target genes and applied the workflow to a cohort of 360 samples. When compared to standard 3'-end RNA-sequencing, 3'-end capture sequencing resulted in a more than 200-fold enrichment of target gene abundance while conserving relative intergene and intersample abundances. 3'-end RNA capture sequencing enables accurate targeted gene expression profiling at extremely shallow sequencing depth. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

IL-15RA regulates IL-15 localization and protein expression in skeletal muscle cells

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? How are the dynamics of IL-15 and its receptors altered during the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes, and how is IL-15 regulated? What is the main finding and its importance?

ABSTRACT

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a myokine in the Interleukin-2 (IL-2) family that is generated in the skeletal muscle during exercise. The functional effect of IL-15 involves muscle regeneration and metabolic regulation in skeletal muscle. Reports have indicated that the mechanism of Interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha (IL-15RA) regulates IL-15 localization in immune cells. However, the dynamic of IL-15 and its receptors, which regulate the IL-15 pathway in skeletal muscle differentiation, have not yet been clarified. This study investigated the mechanism of IL-15 regulation using a mouse skeletal muscle cell line, C2C12 cells. We found that the mRNA expression of IL-15, Interleukin 2 Receptor Subunit Beta (IL-2RB) (CD122), and Interleukin 2 Receptor Subunit Gamma (IL-2RG) (CD132) increased, but that IL-15RA exhibits different kinetics as differentiation progresses. We also found that IL-15, mainly localized in the cytosol, preassembled with IL-15RA in the cytosol and fused to the plasma membrane. Moreover, IL-15RA increased IL-15 protein levels. Our findings suggest that genes comprising the IL-15 signaling complex are enhanced with the differentiation of myotubes and that IL-15RA regulates the protein kinetics of IL-15 signaling in skeletal muscle. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Sensorimotor integration within the primary motor cortex by selective nerve fascicle stimulation

KEY POINTS

Cortical integration of sensory inputs is crucial for dexterous movement. Short-latency somatosensory afferent inhibition of motor cortical output is typically produced by peripheral whole-nerve stimulation. We exploited intraneural multichannel electrodes used to provide sensory feedback for prosthesis control to assess whether and how selective intraneural sensory stimulation affects sensorimotor cortical circuits in humans. The activation of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) was explored by recording scalp somatosensory evoked potentials. Sensorimotor integration was tested by measuring the inhibitory effect of the afferent stimulation on the output of the primary motor cortex (M1) generated by transcranial magnetic stimulation. We demonstrate in humans that selective intraneural sensory stimulation elicits a measurable activation of S1 and that it inhibits the output of M1 at the same time range of whole-nerve superficial stimulation.

ABSTRACT

The integration of sensory inputs in the motor cortex is crucial for dexterous movement. We recently demonstrated that a closed-loop control based on the feedback provided through intraneural multi-channel electrodes implanted in the median and ulnar nerves of a participant with upper limb amputation improved manipulation skills and increased prosthesis embodiment. Here we assessed, in the same participant, whether and how selective intraneural sensory stimulation also elicits a measurable cortical activation and affects sensorimotor cortical circuits. After estimating the activation of the primary somatosensory cortex evoked by intraneural stimulation, sensorimotor integration was investigated by testing the inhibition of primary motor cortex (M1) output to transcranial magnetic stimulation, after both intraneural and perineural stimulation. Selective sensory intraneural stimulation evoked a low-amplitude, 16 ms-latency, parietal response in the same area of the earliest component evoked by whole-nerve stimulation, compatible with fast-conducting afferent fiber activation. For the first time, we show that the same intraneural stimulation was also capable of decreasing M1 output, at the same time range of the short-latency afferent inhibition effect of whole-nerve superficial stimulation. The inhibition generated by the stimulation of channels activating only sensory fibers was stronger than the one due to intraneural or perineural stimulation of channels activating mixed fibers. We demonstrate in a human subject that the cortical sensorimotor integration inhibiting M1 output previously described after the experimental whole-nerve stimulation is present also with a more ecological selective sensory fiber stimulation. Abstract Figure: Double-sided filament electrodes (ds-FILE), bearing 16 active sites, and perineural Cuff electrodes were implanted in the median and ulnar nerve of the arm in a hand amputee (upper left panel, single nerve represented). Selectivity of stimulation (1), evoked activity in the somatosensory cortex (2), and sensorimotor integration (3) were investigated. TMS: transcranial magnetic stimulation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Smartphone-based human fatigue level detection using machine learning approaches

Human muscle fatigue is the main result of diminishing muscle capability, leading to reduced performance and increased risk of falls and injury. This study provides a classification model to identify the human fatigue level based on the motion signals collected by a smartphone. 24 participants were recruited and performed the fatiguing exercise (i.e. squatting). Upon completing each set of squatting, they walked for a fixed distance while the smartphone attached to their right shank and the gait data were associated with the Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion (i.e. data label). Our machine-learning model of two (no- vs. strong-fatigue), three (no-, medium-, and strong-fatigue) and four (no-, low-, medium-, and strong-fatigue) levels of fatigue reached the accuracy of 91, 78, and 64%, respectively. The outcomes of this study may facilitate the accessibility of a fatigue-monitoring tool in the workplace, which improves the workers' performance and reduce the risk of falls and injury. Practitioner Summary: This study aimed to develop a machine-learning model to identify human fatigue level using motion data captured by a smartphone attached to the shank. Our results can facilitate the development of an accessible fatigue-monitoring system that may improve the workers' performance and reduce the risk of falls and injury. Abbreviations: WMSD: work-related musculoskeletal disorders; IMU: inertial measurement unit; RPE: rating of perceived exertion; SVM: support vector machine; IRB: institutional review board; SOM: self-organizing map; LDA: linear discriminant analysis; PCA: principal component analysis; FT: fourier transformation; RBF: radial basis function; CUSUM: cumulative sum; ROM: range of motion; MVC: maximum voluntary contractions.

Monkeypox re-emergence in Africa: a call to expand the concept and practice of One Health

INTRODUCTION

Monkeypox is a re-emerging viral zoonosis that occurs naturally in heavily forested regions of West and Central Africa. Inter-human transmission of monkeypox virus, although limited, drives outbreaks, particularly in household and health-care settings. But the available evidence suggests that without repeated zoonotic introductions, human infections would eventually cease to occur. Therefore, interrupting virus transmission from animals to humans is key to combating this disease. Areas covered: Herein we review laboratory and field studies examining the susceptibility of various animal taxa to monkeypox virus infection, and note the competence of various species to serve as reservoirs or transmission hosts. In addition, we discuss early socio-ecologic theories of monkeypox virus transmission in rural settings and review current modes of ecologic investigation - including ecologic niche modeling, and ecologic sampling - in light of their potential to identify specific animal species and features of the environment that are associated with heightened risk for human disease. Expert opinion: The role of disease ecology and scientific research in ongoing disease prevention efforts should be reinforced, particularly for wildlife-associated zoonoses such as monkeypox. Such efforts alongside those aimed at nurturing 'One Health' collaborations may ultimately hold the greatest promise for reducing human infections with this pathogen.

Managing conflicts between economic activities and threatened migratory marine species toward creating a multiobjective blue economy

Harnessing the economic potential of the oceans is key to combating poverty, enhancing food security, and strengthening economies. But the concomitant risk of intensified resource extraction to migratory species is worrying given these species contribute to important ecological processes, often underpin alternative livelihoods, and are mostly already threatened. We thus sought to quantify the potential conflict between key economic activities (5 fisheries and hydrocarbon exploitation) and sea turtle migration corridors in a region with rapid economic development: southern and eastern Africa. We satellite tracked the movement of 20 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and 14 leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles during their postnesting migrations. We used movement-based kernel density estimation to identify migration corridors for each species. We overlaid these corridors on maps of the distribution and intensity of economic activities, quantified the extent of overlap and threat posed by each activity on each species, and compared the effects of activities. These results were compared with annual bycatch rates in the respective fisheries. Both species' 3 corridors overlapped most with longline fishing, but the effect was worse for leatherbacks: their bycatch rates of approximately 1500/year were substantial relative to the regional population size of <100 nesting females/annum. This bycatch rate is likely slowing population growth. Artisanal fisheries may be of greater concern for loggerheads than for leatherbacks, but the population appears to be withstanding the high bycatch rates because it is increasing exponentially. The hydrocarbon industry currently has a moderately low impact on both species, but mining in key areas (e.g., Southern Mozambique) may undermine >50 years of conservation, potentially affecting >80% of loggerheads, 33% of the (critically endangered) leatherbacks, and their nesting beaches. We support establishing blue economies (i.e., generating wealth from the ocean), but oceans need to be carefully zoned and responsibly managed in both space and time to achieve economic (resource extraction), ecological (conservation, maintenance of processes), and social (maintenance of alternative livelihood opportunities, alleviate poverty) objectives.

Counseling parents at risk of delivery of an extremely premature infant: Differing strategies

BACKGROUND

It is not known how neonatologists address the affective and cognitive loads on parents deciding whether to resuscitate infants born extremely preterm. This study explores expert neonatologists' views on these decision-making processes and their own roles in counseling parents.

METHODS

Semistructured interviews asked internationally recognized experts to share their perspectives on perinatal consultations. Their responses were subjected to thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Eighteen of 22 invited experts participated. Approximately equal numbers reported employing a physician-driven approach, a parent-driven approach, and a combined approach during these consultations. Those who followed a physician-driven approach typically focused on conveying standard information about adverse outcomes. Those who followed a parent-driven approach typically focused on addressing parents' information requests, guiding their decision making, and providing affective support. Nearly all experts, in each group, endorsed addressing the child's quality of life, in terms of functionality, when discussing long-term outcomes. Although many believed that families adjusted to life with a disabled child, few discussed the topic during prenatal consultations. Most, in each group, reported trying to alleviate future "decisional regret" for parents whose premature infants subsequently became disabled. None spoke to parents about possible decisional regret after deciding to forgo resuscitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Expert neonatologists are deeply concerned that parents understand the decision facing them. However, they differ on what information they offer and how they balance parents' need for cognitive and affective support. They expressed more concern about parents' decisional regret should their child survive resuscitation, but have severe disability, than about decisional regret after foregoing resuscitation.

On the Origins of Perceptions: Student Perceptions of Active Learning and Their Implications for Educational Reform

This Conversation Starters article presents a selected research abstract from the 2016 Association of American Medical Colleges Central Region Group on Educational Affairs annual spring meeting. The abstract is paired with the integrative commentary of three experts who shared their thoughts stimulated by the study. These thoughts highlight the value of exploring what drives student perceptions of active learning in order to reform medical education.

Evidence for Context Switching in the Effects of Average Item Length and Item-Length Variability on Internal Consistency

This investigation examined the effects of 3 item characteristics-the average number of words per item, within-scale variability in item length, and item "direction"-on internal consistency reliability and interitem correlation. In Study 1, we examined the effects of these variables on overall scale-level reliability using 444 subscales from 9 personality scales. In Study 2, we examined interitem correlation at the paired-item level using 477 nonredundant item pairs from 14 personality scales. Lower scale reliability was associated with more average words per item, greater within-scale variability in item length, and a greater percentage of reverse-keyed items. Similarly, smaller interitem correlations were associated with a greater degree of mismatch in item length between the paired items and with a mismatch (vs. match) in the items' respective "directions." The pattern of results across both studies supports our notion that lower internal consistency results from increased context switching; that is, from the confusion that occurs when respondents must switch back and forth between the interpretive frames pertaining to short versus long items, or between items pertaining to one pole of a personality dimension and its "opposite" pole. Suggestions for maximizing the internal consistency of personality scales are proposed.

Metal phytoremediation potential of naturally growing plants on fly ash dumpsite of Patratu thermal power station, Jharkhand, India

Three naturally growing plants Ipomoea carnea, Lantana camara, and Solanum surattense were found in fly ash dumpsite of Patratu thermal power station, Jharkhand, India. They were assessed for their metal uptake potential. The fly ash was slightly alkaline with very less nitrogen and organic carbon but enriched with phosphorus and heavy metals. Lantana camara and Ipomoea carnea showed good translocation from root to shoot for most of the metals except Mn and Pb. The order of metal accumulation in stem of both the plants were Fe(205mg/kg)>Mn(65mg/kg)>Cu(22.35mg/kg)>Pb(6.6mg/kg)>Cr(3.05mg/kg)>Ni(1 mg/kg)>Cd(0.5 mg/kg) and Fe(741 mg/kg)>Mn(154.05 mg/kg)>Cu(20.75 mg/kg)>Pb(6.75 mg/kg)>Ni(4.0 mg/kg)>Cr(3.3mg/kg)>Cd(0.05mg/kg), respectively. But Solanum surattense accumulated most of the metals in roots. The order was in the following order, Mn (382.2mg/kg) >Fe (264.1mg/kg) > Cu (25.35mg/kg) >Pb (5.95 mg/kg) > Ni (1.9 mg/kg) > Cr (1.8mg/kg) > Cd (0.55 mg/kg). The order of Bioconcentration factor (BCF) in root and shoot followed almost the same order as, Mn>Fe>Ni>Pb>Cu>Cr≈ Cd in all the three species. ANOVA showed significant variation in metal accumulation by root and stem between the species. Finally, it can be concluded that Solanum surattense can be used as phytostabilizer and other two species as phytoextractor of metal for fly ash dumpsite reclamation.

Examining the Process of Responding to Circumplex Scales of Interpersonal Values Items: Should Ideal Point Scoring Methods Be Considered?

The Circumplex Scales of Interpersonal Values (CSIV) is a 64-item self-report measure of goals from each octant of the interpersonal circumplex. We used item response theory methods to compare whether dominance models or ideal point models best described how people respond to CSIV items. Specifically, we fit a polytomous dominance model called the generalized partial credit model and an ideal point model of similar complexity called the generalized graded unfolding model to the responses of 1,893 college students. The results of both graphical comparisons of item characteristic curves and statistical comparisons of model fit suggested that an ideal point model best describes the process of responding to CSIV items. The different models produced different rank orderings of high-scoring respondents, but overall the models did not differ in their prediction of criterion variables (agentic and communal interpersonal traits and implicit motives).

Refining the Openness-Performance Relationship: Construct Specificity, Contextualization, Social Skill, and the Combination of Trait Self- and Other-Ratings

Scholars have raised concerns that openness to experience has ambiguous relationships with performance. In this study, we examine both openness and one of its more narrow dimensions, learning approach. In addition, the research context was made narrow (i.e., higher education academic performance in science), and social skill was interactively combined with peer- and self-rated personality in the prediction of academic performance (i.e., grades). We found that those high on learning approach, but not openness, 1 year later performed better academically than those lower on learning approach. Furthermore, for those high and average on social skill, increased peer-rated learning approach was associated with higher performance. Finally, the combination of self- and other-ratings of learning approach was a better predictor of academic performance than the combination of self- and other-ratings of openness. The relationship of openness with academic performance benefits from narrowing predictors and criteria, framing the study within a relevant context, accounting for social skill, and combining self- and other trait ratings.

Expression of synthetic human tropoelastin (hTE) protein in Nicotiana tabacum

Plant molecular farming (PMF) is an important growing prospective approach in plant biotechnology; it includes production of recombinant pharmaceutical and industrial proteins in large quantities from engineered plants. Elastin is a major protein component of tissues that require elasticity, it helps keep skin smooth as it stretches to allow normal. Elastin is used as a raw material for the cosmetic industry. In this work, we aimed to use plant as a bioreactor for the expression and production of the full human tropoelastin protein. Agrobacterium- mediated transient expression system into Nicotiana tabacum using syringe agroinfiltration was used to provide fast and convenient way to produce recombinant proteins with greater expression overall the plant leaf. This study aimed to establish an efficient and rapid system for transiently expression and production of human recombinant tropoelastin protein in transgenic N. tabacum plants. Modified elastin (ELN) gene was biosynthesized and cloned into pCambia1390 vector to be used into N. tabacum agroinfilteration. Optimization of codon usage for the human tropoelastin gene, without changing the primary structure of the protein was carried out to ensure high expression in tobacco plants. The obtained data proved that the 5(th) day post-infiltration is the optimum interval to obtain the maximum production of our recombinant protein. Southern blot analysis was able to detect 2175 bp fragment length representing the ELN orf (open reding frame). On the other hand, ELN -expression within plant's tissue was visualized by RT-PCR during the period 3-10 days post agroinfiltration. At the protein level, western and ELISA confirmed the expression of recombinant tropoelastin protein. Western blot analysis detected the tropoelastin protein as parent band at ∼70 kDa from freshly extracted protein, while two degraded bands of ∼55 and ∼45 kDa, representing a pattern of tropoelastin were appeared with frozen samples. This study showed that biosynthetic ELN gene was successfully expressed into N. tabacum leaves using agroinfiltration technique.