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A neuron-glial model of exosomal release in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease
No full textExosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles that perform a variety of biological functions linked to the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative disorders. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), for examples, exosomes are responsible for the release of Aβ oligomers, and their extracellular accumulation, although the underpinning molecular machinery remains elusive. We propose a novel model for Alzheimer's Aβ accumulation based on Ca2+-dependent exosome release from astrocytes. Moreover, we exploit our model to assess how temperature dependence of exosome release could interact with Aβ neurotoxicity. We predict that voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) along with the transient-receptor potential M8 (TRPM8) channel are crucial molecular components in Alzheimer's progression
High turnover in clinical dietetics: A qualitative analysis
No full textBackground: Relationships between dietitians and other healthcare providers can impact the degree to which patient
care is collaborative; inefficient communication can lead to suboptimal care. It takes time for multidisciplinary team
members to build collaborative, trusting relationships. For this reason, frequent dietitian turnover is of concern.
Consequences include fewer referrals to clinical dietetic services and limited provider continuity. The characteristics of
clinical dietetic jobs associated with high turnover have not been identified. We predicted that managers would
identify disease prestige as having an impact. In this study, we aimed to explore: 1) characteristics of clinical dietetic
jobs associated with the highest turnover, and 2) consequences of high turnover on patients and managers of clinical
dietitians.
Methods: Research assistants conducted semi-structured interviews with ten managers of clinical dietitians in the
Canadian public healthcare system. We employed a constant comparative approach to thematic analysis. We classified
themes related to turnover as either avoidable or unavoidable.
Results: Sub-themes under avoidable turnover included lack of manager support, growth opportunities, burnout/
workload, tension/conflict and hours of work. Sub-themes under unavoidable turnover included life-stage/life-events
and geography. We also identified themes related to consequences of turnover, including: burnout/workload, client/
patient impact, tension/conflict, cost and gap-specific. As predicted, prestige was perceived as playing a role in
triggering dietitian turnover. Managers observed high turnover resulting in low provider continuity and limiting patient
access to dietitians.
Conclusions: Managers of publicly-employed dietitians identified many factors as contributing to high turnover. Future
prospective research, incorporating the objective measure of turnover and multi-method analysis of work
characteristics and work setting, would be of value in the identification of characteristics of clinical dietetic jobs
associated with high turnover and the consequences of high turnover on patients and managers of these staff
Home bias and corporate environmental social responsibility
No full textThis paper analyzes the impact of executives’ hometown identification on corporate environmental social responsibility (CESR) using a sample of Chinese A-share-listed companies from 2007 to 2018. It finds that: the CESR scores of companies are higher when executives work in their hometowns, indicating that executives’ hometown identification significantly improves the fulfillment of CESR; mechanism tests show that the above relationship is more significant in regions with superior environmental quality, indicating that executives take CESR more seriously in their hometowns more due to social pressure; further tests found that executive characteristics, such as executive type and age, have a regulating effect on this relationship. In addition, the nature of property rights of listed companies also affects executives’ hometown identification. Executives of state-owned enterprises have a stronger hometown identification, which enhances the fulfillment of CESR to a higher extent. In the context of the micro level of the enterprise, this paper provides positive evidence that an informal system, named as “hometown identity”, can enhance the performance of CESR and the pressure effect implicitly behind the social network, which enriches and expands the research related to CESR fulfillment.National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaMinistry of Education of the People's Republic of ChinaAtlantic Association for Research in the Mathematical Science
Effectiveness of dry cow therapy and/or internal teat sealant on existing infections in smallholder dairy farms in Kenya
No full textBackground and Aim: Dry cow therapy (DCT) can be an effective treatment of mastitis that has not responded to
conventional treatment during lactation. The aim of this study was to establish the effectiveness of DCT options available
in reducing intramammary infections in smallholder dairy farms in Kiambu County, Kenya.
Materials and Methods: The study targeted smallholder dairy farms which were registered at the local dairy cooperatives
and which had cows that were at the point of dry-off. A total of 32 cows with 121 quarters that were California Mastitis
Test (CMT) positive were recruited, with the quarters randomly allocated to receive either DCT (DCT – neomycin sulfate,
penethamate hydriodide, and procaine benzylpenicillin) and internal teat sealant (ITS) or ITS alone (bismuth nitrate) after
aseptically collecting quarter milk samples for bacterial culture. Farm- and animal-level factors were captured through a
questionnaire which was administered to the principal farmer or a person who was managing the animals. Post-calving,
milk samples were also collected for bacterial culture to establish if the infection was cleared or if there was a new infection.
Results: DCT with ITS significantly reduced the proportion of quarters infected with Staphylococcus aureus from 64.0% at
dry-off to 44.0% post-calving (35% reduction). In the control group, ITS alone, there was a small reduction in proportions
of S. aureus from 46.8% to 40.4%. Proportions of quarter infections by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in the treatment
group reduced from 16.0% at dry-off to 2.0% post-calving, with a significant reduction in the control group too from 19.1%
to 4.3%, which could be due to self-cure. Actinomyces species, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus species, and Pseudomonas
species proportions slightly increased in the treatment group, as did E. coli and Pseudomonas species proportions in the
control group.
Conclusion: In smallholder dairy farms with subclinical mastitis, DCT of CMT-positive cows leads to a significant decrease
of S. aureus infections at calving.University of Prince Edward Islan
Possibility of Stabilizing the Greenland Ice Sheet
No full textRecent acceleration in the retreat of the Greenland ice sheet under a warming climate has caused unprecedented challenges and threats to coastal communities due to the rising sea level and increasing storm surges. This raises a critical question from a climate mitigation perspective: Would there still be a chance to stabilize the Greenland ice sheet if the carbon reduction goals of the Paris Agreement could be met? Here, we show that there is indeed a possibility for stabilizing the Greenland ice sheet with the low-emission scenario of RCP2.6. In particular, RCP2.6 would potentially limit the warming in Greenland below 1°C within next 30years and constrain its loss of ice sheet coverage below 10%. After 2050, the annual mean temperature in Greenland is likely to be stabilized and no further loss is expected to its ice sheet. However, the effective window for this chance will be closing after 2020. If no effective carbon reduction policies are being taken now, we are very likely to enter a continuous warming pathway and lose the chance of stabilizing the Greenland ice sheet.Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaAtlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyNanjing Agricultural UniversityACEnet (Canada
Virtual programming during COVID: What we wished we had known in advance
No full textThis article discusses how the University of Wyoming libraries converted a face to face program series into remote programming due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is noted that the libraries received two grants to provide African American poetry programming in the summer of 2020. It mentions that the planning committee collaborated with campus professors to provide panel discussions, poetry slam with the UW Black Studies Center, and recruited readers to read poems during a poetry event
Highwater mark collection after post tropical storm Dorian and implications for Prince Edward Island, Canada
No full textPrince Edward Island (PEI), Canada has been experiencing the consequences of a rising sea level and intense storms on its coasts in recent years. The most recent severe event, Post Tropical Storm Dorian (Dorian), began impacting Prince Edward Island on 7 September 2019 and lasted for over 20 h until the morning of 8 September 2019. The measurement of highwater marks (HWM) from the storm was conducted between 25 September and 25 October 2019 using a high precision, survey grade methodology. The HWM measured included vegetation lines, wrack lines, beach, cliff, and dune morphological features, and tide gauge data at 53 locations in the Province along coastal areas that are exposed to high tides, storm surge, high winds, and wave runup. Photos were taken to provide evidence on the nature of the HWM data locations. The data reveal that Dorian caused extensive coastal floods in many areas along the North and South Coast of Prince, Queens and Western Kings Counties of Prince Edward Island. The floods reached elevations in excess of 3.4 m at some locations, posing threats to local infrastructure and causing damage to natural features such as sand dunes in these areas. The HWM data can provide useful information for community and emergency response organizations as plans are developed to cope with the rising sea level and increased frequency of highwater events as predicted by researchers. As Dorian has caused significant damage in several coastal areas in PEI, better planning using an enhanced storm forecasting and coastal flood warning system, in conjunction with flood stage values, could possibly have reduced the impacts of the storm in the impacted areas. This could help enhance public understanding of the potential impacts in local areas and how they can prepare and adapt for these events in the future
Can self-esteem be improved using short daily training on mobile applications?: Examining real world data of GG Self-esteem users
No full textObjective
Using real world data, we examined the associations between self‐esteem ratings and the short, daily use of a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)‐based mobile application targeting self‐esteem related beliefs. The effects of using this application on mood ratings were also assessed.
Method
Real world data of GG Self‐esteem users were collected from January 2019 until August 2019. Participants’ self‐esteem and mood scores were evaluated at three‐time points corresponding to Levels 1, 20 and 46 of the mobile application.
Results
Significant increases in self‐esteem ratings were found across all three‐time points. Increased mood ratings were only found at Level 20, compared to baseline. Dropout rates across assessment points were associated with younger age, and males showed significantly higher self‐esteem scores than women at baseline and the second assessment point.
Conclusions
Our findings are consistent with previous controlled trials indicating that using CBT‐based mHealth applications targeting maladaptive beliefs may be useful for increasing user's wellness and reducing distress
Analysis of urban energy resources to achieve net-zero energy neighborhoods
No full textThis paper summarizes a methodology developed to optimize urban-scale energy mix. An optimal capacity estimation method based on energy credits is proposed, the objective of which is to plan renewable and alternative energy sources to yield zero (or positive) year-end energy credits. Several renewable and alternative energy resources are considered, including photovoltaic systems, solar thermal collectors, wind turbines, waste to energy (WtE) potential, as well as thermal seasonal storage. The methodology employs several energy simulation and optimization tools, including Energy Plus, TRNSYS and MATLAB. The optimization employs a non-linear process that uses objective function, boundaries and non-linear/linear constraints as input. The methodology is demonstrated on a hypothetical mixed-use neighborhood, designed to achieve high-energy performance objectives, with three scenarios of energy operations: 1) all electric, 2) all-electric except for DHW, and 3) DHW and space heating arenon-electric. The pilot location of this mixed-use neighborhood, including residential and commercial buildings, is Calgary (AB, Canada). For the all-electric scenario, PV systems implemented in all available south facing roof areas together with a limited number of wind turbines can achieve NZE status. For the other two scenarios, solar thermal collectors coupled to borehole thermal storage (STC and BTES) need to be considered. Although in all cases of the considered scenarios waste-based energy is not required, it can be used to shave the peak electric load, reducing the stress on the grid. This methodology can be employed for the design of an integrated urban energy systems, in different neighborhood designs, to achieve energy self-sufficient, or energy positive status