Genes Involved in the Endoplasmic Reticulum N-Glycosylation Pathway of the Red Microalga Porphyridium sp.: A Bioinformatic Study

N-glycosylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications that influence protein polymorphism, including protein structures and their functions. Although this important biological process has been extensively studied in mammals, only limited knowledge exists regarding glycosylation in algae. The current research is focused on the red microalga Porphyridium sp., which is a potentially valuable source for various applications, such as skin therapy, food, and pharmaceuticals. The enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and processing of N-glycans remain undefined in this species, and the mechanism(s) of their genetic regulation is completely unknown. In this study, we describe our pioneering attempt to understand the endoplasmic reticulum N-Glycosylation pathway in Porphyridium sp., using a bioinformatic approach. Homology searches, based on sequence similarities with genes encoding proteins involved in the ER N-glycosylation pathway (including their conserved parts) were conducted using the TBLASTN function on the algae DNA scaffold contigs database. This approach led to the identification of 24 encoded-genes implicated with the ER N-glycosylation pathway in Porphyridium sp. Homologs were found for almost all known N-glycosylation protein sequences in the ER pathway of Porphyridium sp.; thus, suggesting that the ER-pathway is conserved; as it is in other organisms (animals, plants, yeasts, etc.).     

Multifactor,Sequentially Releasing Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering:Fabrication Using Solvent/Nonsolvent Sintering Technology

Biodegradable constructs, providing both mechanical support to growing tissues and timed release of biological agents, are highly desired in tissue engineering. This study aimed to develop a platform technology that responds to these challenges. Accordingly, we report herein on model systems in which microspheres of poly(suberic anhydride), containing all-trans retinoic acid (atRA), and poly(d,l -lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), containing bovine serum albumin (BSA), were co-sintered at room temperature, using a solvent/nonsolvent mixture. These scaffolds release about 60% of atRA and negligible amounts of BSA within the first five days, followed by slower and steady release of BSA. They have pores of 150–500 μm and a compressive modulus of 200 kPa. Myoblasts and fibroblasts were seeded on the loaded scaffolds and both showed enhanced proliferation rates. Based on sound thermodynamic principles of polymer science, this technology demonstrates an as yet unachieved degree of versatility. It allows for the tailoring of “intelligent” scaffolds that preserve the integrity of the incorporated agents and of advanced modalities to release various drugs in a scheduled manner.     

Differential effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on well-being: interaction between age,gender and chronotype

The unprecedented restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic altered our daily habits and severely affected our well-being and physiology. The effect of these changes is yet to be fully understood. Here, we analysed highly detailed data on 169 participants for two to six months, before and during the second COVID-19 lockdown in Israel. We extracted 12 well-being indicators from sensory data of smartwatches and from self-reported questionnaires, filled daily using a designated mobile application. We found that, in general, lockdowns resulted in significant changes in mood, sleep duration, sport duration, social encounters, resting heart rate and number of steps. Examining subpopulations, we found that younger participants (aged 20–40 years) suffered from a greater decline in mood and number of steps than older participants (aged 60–80 years). Likewise, women suffered from a higher increase in stress and reduction in social encounters than men. Younger early chronotypes did not increase their sleep duration and exhibited the highest drop in mood. Our findings underscore that while lockdowns severely impacted our well-being and physiology in general, greater damage has been identified in certain subpopulations. Accordingly, special attention should be given to younger people, who are usually not in the focus of social support, and to women.     

Magnetic Assembly of a Multifunctional Guidance Conduit for Peripheral Nerve Repair

Nerve growth conduits are designed to support and promote axon regeneration following nerve injuries. Multifunctionalized conduits with combined physical and chemical cues, are a promising avenue aimed at overcoming current therapeutic barriers. However, the efficacious assembly of conduits that promote neuronal growth remains a challenge. Here, a biomimetic regenerative gel is developed, that integrates physical and chemical cues in a biocompatible “one pot reaction” strategy. The collagen gel is enriched with magnetic nanoparticles coated with nerve growth factor (NGF). Then, through a remote magnetic actuation, highly aligned fibrillar gel structure embedded with anisotropically distributed coated nanoparticles, combining multiple regenerating strategies, is obtained. The effects of the multifunctional gels are examined in vitro, and in vivo in a 10-mm rat sciatic nerve injury model. The magneto-based therapeutic conduits demonstrate oriented and directed axonal growth, and improve nerve regeneration in vivo. The study of multifunctional guidance scaffolds that can be implemented efficiently and remotely provides the foundation to a novel therapeutic approach to overcome current medical obstacles for nerve injuries.     

Graphene-Based Nanomaterials for Neuroengineering: Recent Advances and Future Prospective

Graphene unique physicochemical properties made it prominent among other allotropic forms of carbon, in many areas of research and technological applications. Interestingly, in recent years, many studies exploited the use of graphene family nanomaterials (GNMs) for biomedical applications such as drug delivery, diagnostics, bioimaging, and tissue engineering research. GNMs are successfully used for the design of scaffolds for controlled induction of cell differentiation and tissue regeneration. Critically, it is important to identify the more appropriate nano/bio material interface sustaining cells differentiation and tissue regeneration enhancement. Specifically, this review is focussed on graphene-based scaffolds that endow physiochemical and biological properties suitable for a specific tissue, the nervous system, that links tightly morphological and electrical properties. Different strategies are reviewed to exploit GNMs for neuronal engineering and regeneration, material toxicity, and biocompatibility. Specifically, the potentiality for neuronal stem cells differentiation and subsequent neuronal network growth as well as the impact of electrical stimulation through GNM on cells is presented. The use of field effect transistor (FET) based on graphene for neuronal regeneration is described. This review concludes the important aspects to be controlled to make graphene a promising candidate for further advanced application in neuronal tissue engineering and biomedical use.     

A confluence of contexts: Asymmetric versus global failures of selective attention to Stroop dimensions.

In 6 experiments probing selective attention through Stroop classification, 4 factors of context were manipulated: (a) psychophysical context, the distinctiveness of values along the color and word dimensions; (b) set size context, the number of stimulus values tested; (c) production context the mode used to respond; and (d) covariate context, the correlation between the dimensions. The psychophysical and production contexts mainly caused an asymmetry in selective attention failure between colors and words, whereas the set size and covariate contexts contributed primarily to the average or global magnitudes of attentional disruption across dimensions. The results suggest that (a) Stroop dimensions are perceptually separable, (b) J. R. Stroop's (1935) classic findings arose from his particular combination of contexts, and (c) stimulus uncertainty and dimensional imbalance are the primary sources of task and congruity effects in the Stroop paradigm. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A shared reality of therapists and survivors in a national crisis as illustrated by the Gulf War.

Utilizes the example of the Gulf War to present a conceptualization and a pragmatic model of professional intervention during situations of national crisis, like the recent situations (bomb explosions) in Buenos Aires, Argentina and in Oklahoma City, US. The authors discuss the impact of the shared reality experienced by therapists and patients, when both are exposed to a national crisis. The article stresses the importance of going out into the field and aiding the victims wherever they are. It describes interventions by an Israeli mental health team formed during the Gulf War, which assisted victims, whose homes were damaged by Scud missiles, wherever they were housed after their evacuation. By addressing the questions that confront the therapist in a national crisis of this kind, the authors introduced a certain mode of work that reflects the way the therapist and the patient cope with their shared reality as well as with the interrelationship between external organization and internal mobilization. Three case examples of adult individuals whose homes were destroyed during the war serve to illustrate the effectiveness of the technique of immediate intervention in the field in a crisis of this kind. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vegetation establishment on the southern Israeli coastal sand dunes between the years 1965 and 1999

Since 1960, the Israeli coastal dunes have undergone a stabilization process that is manifested in the increase of vegetation cover and in a decrease in the abundance of sand-living flora and fauna species. The objective of the study was to quantify, using remote sensing and GIS, the rate and extent of vegetation expansion and their resultant temporal changes on Israel’s southern coastal dunes between the years 1965 and 1999.The results indicate that during the entire study period, the vegetation-covered area grew by 82% at an annual average growth rate of 1.75%. Concurrently, the bare shifting dune area decreased by 37% at an annual average growth rate of 1.34%.The conspicuous trend over the period studied, despite regressive processes, is a transition from bare shifting dunes to stabilized, vegetation-covered dunes. The extrapolation of the results, assuming continuation of processes and no destruction effects, indicates that with the decrease in the bare shifting dunes, the ratio of bare shifting dunes and sparse vegetation coverage landscape will equalize by between 2007 and 2010.According to this extrapolation, between 2012 and 2015, no bare shifting dune landscape will remain, and the study area will be covered with sparse- and dense-level vegetation cover. Beginning in 2035, the entire study area will be covered in vegetation whose density will be between 60 and 100%. Meso-climate and land use changes are among the factors that might explain this phenomenon.     

The relationships among objective and subjective environmental stress levels and serum uric acid: The moderating effect of perceived control.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of objective and subjective stress levels and perceived control on serum uric acid (SUA). Respondents were 2,504 male and 1,176 female manufacturing employees. Objective job-related stress was assessed by the Ergonomic Stress Level (ESL) inventory (S. Melamed, D. Yekutieli, P. Froom, E. Kristal-Boneh, & J. Ribak, 1999). As expected, ESL was positively associated with SUA, but among male respondents only. The measure of subjective stress, environmental annoyance, was negatively related with SUA for male respondents, thus not confirming the hypothesis. Perceived control was not found to have a direct effect on SUA, after controlling for the ESL measure. For male respondents only, perceived control moderated the relationship between ESL and SUA: This relationship was negative for those reporting above-average control and positive for those reporting below-average control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

LIA: A Virtual Assistant that Can Be Taught New Commands by Speech

ABSTRACT

In the imminent future, people are likely to engage with smart devices by instructing them in natural language. A fundamental question to ask is how might intelligent agents interpret such instructions and learn new tasks. In this article we present the first speech-based virtual assistant that can be taught new commands by speech. A user study on our agent has shown that people can teach it new commands. We also show that people see great advantage in using an instructable agent, and determine what users believe are the most important use cases of such an agent.