The anti-inflammatory role for IkappaB kinase (IKK) beta through inhibition of ‘classical’ macrophage activation

PhDRecent research has revealed a role of NF-B in the resolution of inflammation. Using Cre-lox mediated gene targeting, IKK was selectively deleted in macrophages (IKKβ∆Mye). From in vitro studies, LPS stimulated IKKMye macrophages increased STAT1 phosphorylation, iNOS, MHC II and IL-12 production, suggesting negative cross talk between NF-B and STAT1 signalling pathways. Since IKK is required for TNF gene expression and TNF signalling, I investigated the hypothesis that TNF inhibits ‘classical’ macrophage activation through IKK activation. Macrophages from p55-/- and mice treated with anti-TNF antibody show increased STAT1 activation and IL-12 expression after LPS and IFN stimulation. BMDM infected with adenovirus expressing IKKβ dominant negative rescued the inhibitory effect of TNFα on IL-12p40 production, indicating TNFα inhibits IL-12p40 via IKKβ activation. Macrophages are antigen presenting cells while IL-12 and MHC II are critical factors for TH1 cell development. I thus investigate the inhibitory effects of IKKβ∆Mye macrophages in TH1 responses. FACS analysis showed higher MHC II, costimulatory molecules expression on IKKβ∆Mye macrophages after LPS stimulation. In a DTH model, recall assay has shown increased antigen-specific IFN production from IKKMye splenocytes compared to IKKβF/F splenocytes. Furthermore, IFN production was greatly enhanced by CD4+ OTII T cells co-cultured with IKKMye macrophages. Further analysis of CD4+ OTII T cells with qRT-PCR showed increased TH1 genes including IRF1, IFN, IL-12R1 and IL-12R2 and reduced TH2 marker IL-4. In addition to the enhanced antigen-specific T cell responses, IKKMye macrophages also increased anti-tumour immunity. Injection of H-Y positive MB49 tumour cells into IKKF/F and IKKMye female mice has shown tumour rejection, but no tumours were rejected after CD8+ T cells depletion, suggesting tumour rejection is associated with enhanced CTL activity. Taken together, these studies demonstrated the negative regulatory roles of IKK in macrophage activation and their impact to the innate and adaptive immunity

Resilin Distribution and Abundance in \u3ci\u3eApis mellifera\u3c/i\u3e across Biological Age Classes and Castes

The presence of resilin, an elastomeric protein, in insect vein joints provides the flexible, passive deformations that are crucial to flapping flight. This study investigated the resilin gene expression and autofluorescence dynamics among Apis mellifera (honey bee) worker age classes and drone honey bees. Resilin gene expression was determined via ddPCR on whole honey bees and resilin autofluorescence was measured in the 1m-cu, 2m-cu, Cu-V, and Cu2-V joints on the forewing and the Cu-V joint of the hindwing. Resilin gene expression varied significantly with age, with resilin activity being highest in the pupae. Autofluorescence of the 1m-cu and the Cu-V joints on the ventral forewing and the Cu-V joint on the ventral hindwing varied significantly between age classes on the left and right sides of the wing, with the newly emerged honey bees having the highest level of resilin autofluorescence compared to all other groups. The results of this study suggest that resilin gene expression and deposition on the wing is age-dependent and may inform us more about the physiology of aging in honey bees

Should I Travel? Moral Motivation During Crises

While our travel decisions involve many decisions related to the right or wrong way to behave, our understanding of morality in tourism is largely underdeveloped. Currently, we are hoping for a more responsible and sustainable future after the pandemic. However, we still lack understanding of how moral motivations influence people’s travel behavior during a crisis for better crisis management. Against the background of COVID-19, this study develops the moral motivation of travel amid public health crisis (MMTPHC) scale and tests its influence on travel behavior to advance our understanding of morality in tourism. Specifically, two moral motivations (compliance with anti-epidemic policy related to traveling and shame) discourage people’s travel intentions. However, concern about public denunciations and empathy toward others encourage travel intention. We also found shame and concern for public denunciations mediate the relationships between face concerns and travel intentions. Practical implications are suggested

Investigating the Motivations and Constraints of Chinese Peer-to-Peer Accommodation Hosts

Purpose – This research aims to identify peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation hosts’ perceived motivations and constraints, to examine the prediction of the motivation and constraint factors on hosts’ intention to continue business based on hosts’ attitudes, and to explore the moderating role of business scale. Design/methodology/approach – A scale for hosts’ perceived motivators and constraints was developed. Mixed methods were used to develop and analyse a conceptual framework for demonstrating how constraints and motivations influence hosts’ behavioural intentions. Findings from interviews with hosts interpretatively supported the survey results.Findings – Chinese hosts’ perceived constraints and motivators are identified and explained. The survey results indicate that constraints lower intention to continue one’s business and motivators heightens it. Motivators have a higher effect on attitudes and intentions than constraints do. Business scale was confirmed as a moderator in the constraint—attitude link but not in the motivator—attitude relationship.Practical implications – This paper offers policy implications for governments, online platforms and hosts in terms of establishing incentives and solving problems so that Chinese hosts can sustainably operate their businesses.Originality/value – This paper identifies constraints and motivators and develops a measurement scale for both simultaneously, which provides a holistic explanation of hosts’ attitude and behavioural intention. It also reveals the moderating role of business scale. In investigating the thoughts of existing hosts operating on global and local platforms in China, this paper complements the literature, which mainly focuses on the Western context and a single global platform

Service-learning and research scheme : the Lingnan model

This Manual is a product of Lingnan University’s pilot SLRS. It aims to provide a framework for interested parties to organize or refine a range of Service-Learning Programs and to develop a comprehensive set of validating instruments that can be used to assess the effectiveness of the SLRS from the varying perspectives of students, course instructors, social service agency supervisors and program coordinators. The specific objectives of this Manual are: (i) To provide useful reference information on Service-Learning to interested parties at Lingnan University and other tertiary institutions. (ii) To provide definitions of the structures, contents and processes of the Lingnan model of Service-Learning (SLRS) and guidance to support implementation. (iii) To provide a set of validation instruments, as developed by Lingnan, for evaluating the effectiveness of the SLRS from the perspective of participants. (iv) To share the summary results of the evaluation of Lingnan’s SLRS pilot. This is the first manual of its kind for running a Service-Learning scheme with the unique characteristics of liberal arts education in Hong Kong.https://commons.ln.edu.hk/osl_book/1004/thumbnail.jp

An antiinflammatory role for IKKβ through the inhibition of “classical” macrophage activation

The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway plays a central role in inflammation and immunity. In response to proinflammatory cytokines and pathogen-associated molecular patterns, NF-κB activation is controlled by IκB kinase (IKK)β. Using Cre/lox-mediated gene targeting of IKKβ, we have uncovered a tissue-specific role for IKKβ during infection with group B streptococcus. Although deletion of IKKβ in airway epithelial cells had the predicted effect of inhibiting inflammation and reducing innate immunity, deletion of IKKβ in the myeloid lineage unexpectedly conferred resistance to infection that was associated with increased expression of interleukin (IL)-12, inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II by macrophages. We also describe a previously unknown role for IKKβ in the inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)1 signaling in macrophages, which is critical for IL-12, NOS2, and MHC class II expression. These studies suggest that IKKβ inhibits the “classically” activated or M1 macrophage phenotype during infection through negative cross talk with the Stat1 pathway. This may represent a mechanism to prevent the over-exuberant activation of macrophages during infection and contribute to the resolution of inflammation. This establishes a new role for IKKβ in the regulation of macrophage activation with important implications in chronic inflammatory disease, infection, and cancer

Co-creation experience and place attachment: Festival evaluation

Adopting customer-to-customer value co-creation logic, this study explored the underlying dimensions of the co-creation experience and its effects on the behavioral intention to attend festivals. The analysis focused on the role of place attachment and festival satisfaction as mediators in the relationship between festival visitors' satisfaction with the co-creation experience and their behavioral intention to attend the festival. Drawing on 444 survey responses, our findings support the mediation roles of place dependence and festival satisfaction. The findings did not vary between tourists and residents. This suggests that facilitating shared consumption of festivals motivates festival attendees to re-patronize specific festivals. Based on these findings, both theoretical and practical implications of this analysis are discussed

National identity and cultural festivals in postcolonial destinations

The number of cultural festivals organised globally has increased primarily due to their significance in celebrating and promoting community values, ideologies, identity and continuity. This mixed-method study aims to understand the role national identity and the associated emotions play in cultural festivals. It first investigates the rationale of organising festivals to celebrate postcolonial hybrid identities via a qualitative approach in Study 1, specifically regarding the ‘Macao International Parade’. It further tests a proposed framework via a quantitative approach in Study 2, which investigates the relationships between national identity, festivalscapes, festival satisfaction, hedonic value and re-patronising intention. This study implies that the cultural festival in Macao not only recognises a unique moment in history, but also contributes to strengthening the hybrid identity in postcolonial Macao. Based on these findings, both theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Circulating Levels of Adipocyte and Epidermal Fatty Acid–Binding Proteins in Relation to Nephropathy Staging and Macrovascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

OBJECTIVE—To investigate the relationships of serum adipocyte fatty acid–binding protein (A-FABP) and epidermal fatty acid–binding protein (E-FABP) with renal dysfunction and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients