Role of plant glyoxylate reductases during stress: a hypothesis

Molecular modelling suggests that a group of proteins in plants known as the β-hydroxyacid dehydrogenases, or the hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase superfamily, includes enzymes that reduce succinic semialdehyde and glyoxylate to γ-hydroxybutyrate and glycolate respectively. Recent biochemical and expression studies reveal that NADPH-dependent cytosolic (termed GLYR1) and plastidial (termed GLYR2) isoforms of succinic semialdehyde/glyoxylate reductase exist in Arabidopsis. Succinic semialdehyde and glyoxylate are typically generated in leaves via two distinct metabolic pathways, γ-aminobutyrate and glycolate respectively. In the present review, it is proposed that the GLYRs function in the detoxification of both aldehydes during stress and contribute to redox balance. Outstanding questions are highlighted in a scheme for the subcellular organization of the detoxification mechanism in Arabidopsis

The impact of immediate breast reconstruction on the time to delivery of adjuvant therapy: the iBRA-2 study

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is routinely offered to improve quality-of-life for women requiring mastectomy, but there are concerns that more complex surgery may delay adjuvant oncological treatments and compromise long-term outcomes. High-quality evidence is lacking. The iBRA-2 study aimed to investigate the impact of IBR on time to adjuvant therapy. Methods: Consecutive women undergoing mastectomy ± IBR for breast cancer July–December, 2016 were included. Patient demographics, operative, oncological and complication data were collected. Time from last definitive cancer surgery to first adjuvant treatment for patients undergoing mastectomy ± IBR were compared and risk factors associated with delays explored. Results: A total of 2540 patients were recruited from 76 centres; 1008 (39.7%) underwent IBR (implant-only [n = 675, 26.6%]; pedicled flaps [n = 105,4.1%] and free-flaps [n = 228, 8.9%]). Complications requiring re-admission or re-operation were significantly more common in patients undergoing IBR than those receiving mastectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required by 1235 (48.6%) patients. No clinically significant differences were seen in time to adjuvant therapy between patient groups but major complications irrespective of surgery received were significantly associated with treatment delays. Conclusions: IBR does not result in clinically significant delays to adjuvant therapy, but post-operative complications are associated with treatment delays. Strategies to minimise complications, including careful patient selection, are required to improve outcomes for patients

A study on the relation between business process management maturity and innovation

This paper presents a study of the relationship between business process management maturity and innovation in organizations. Data was collected with a questionnaire that was based on three theoretical models namely a BPM maturity model, and adoption of innovations model and the innovation values chain. Data was collected from several organizations ranging from small to large in several countries in Europe. The findings suggest a moderate and on occasion somewhat stronger relation between the core concepts. These relationship seem to differ when data was analyzed for the separate organizational sizes. The core recommendations are that that organizations need to asses their BPM maturity and 'innovativeness' before concerted efforts are made for improvement, and that an alignment of BPM and innovation may offer positive results in organizational performance

Plasma-Enhanced Molecular Layer Deposition of Phosphane-ene Polymer Films

A vapour phase molecular layer deposition (MLD) process generating phosphorus-rich phosphane-ene polymer networks was adapted from known solution phase methods and successfully used in a commercial atomic layer deposition tool. By using plasma-enhanced MLD on Si/SiO2 and Al2O3 substrates, film deposition was carried out with a commercially available primary phosphine, iBuPH2, paired with a known volatile cyclic siloxane precursor, tetramethyltetravinylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4Vinyl). The deposition process used radicals generated by an Ar plasma source to facilitate P-H addition to vinyl functionalities on D4Vinyl which yielded a growth per cycle of 0.6 – 2.0 Å, generating 10-120 nm films as determined by AFM and SEM measurements. Characterization of the films were carried out using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and oxygen scavenging capabilities were studied using a quartz crystal microbalance, showing an uptake of oxygen by a 12 nm depth of a freshly deposited polymer film

Exaggerated increases in microglia proliferation, brain inflammatory response and sickness behaviour upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation in non-obese diabetic mice

The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, an established model for autoimmune diabetes, shows an exaggerated reaction of pancreas macrophages to inflammatory stimuli. NOD mice also display anxiety when immune-stimulated. Chronic mild brain inflammation and a pro-inflammatory microglial activation is critical in psychiatric behaviour. Objective: To explore brain/microglial activation and behaviour in NOD mice at steady state and after systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Methods: Affymetrix analysis on purified microglia of pre-diabetic NOD mice (8-10 weeks) and control mice (C57BL/6 and CD1 mice, the parental non-autoimmune strain) at steady state and after systemic LPS (100 ?g/kg) administration. Quantitative PCR was performed on the hypothalamus for immune activation markers (IL-1?, IFN? and TNF?) and growth factors (BDNF and PDGF). Behavioural profiling of NOD, CD1, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice at steady state was conducted and sickness behaviour/anxiety in NOD and CD1 mice was monitored before and after LPS injection. Results: Genome analysis revealed cell cycle/cell death and survival aberrancies of NOD microglia, substantiated as higher proliferation on BrdU staining. Inflammation signs were absent. NOD mice had a hyper-reactive response to novel environments with some signs of anxiety. LPS injection induced a higher expression of microglial activation markers, a higher brain pro-inflammatory set point (IFN?, IDO) and a reduced expression of BDNF and PDGF after immune stimulation in NOD mice. NOD mice displayed exaggerated and prolonged sickness behaviour after LPS administration. Conclusion: After stimulation with LPS, NOD mice display an increased microglial proliferation and an exaggerated inflammatory brain response with reduced BDNF and PDGF expression and increased sickness behaviour as compared to controls

Human centred design considerations for connected health devices for the older adult

Connected health devices are generally designed for unsupervised use, by non-healthcare professionals, facilitating independent control of the individuals own healthcare. Older adults are major users of such devices and are a population significantly increasing in size. This group presents challenges due to the wide spectrum of capabilities and attitudes towards technology. The fit between capabilities of the user and demands of the device can be optimised in a process called Human Centred Design. Here we review examples of some connected health devices chosen by random selection, assess older adult known capabilities and attitudes and finally make analytical recommendations for design approaches and design specifications.This research was part funded by the European Project WIISEL (Wireless Insole for Independent and Safe Elderly Living) [81] which was created to decrease the incidence of falls in the older adult population. Coordinated by CETEMMSA, it is co-funded by the European Commission (FP7-ICT, Project reference: 288878) for 3 years, with 3.9 M€ budget and 8 partners from 6 different countries.peer-reviewe

Human centred design considerations for connected health devices for the older adult

Connected health devices are generally designed for unsupervised use, by non-healthcare professionals, facilitating independent control of the individuals own healthcare. Older adults are major users of such devices and are a population significantly increasing in size. This group presents challenges due to the wide spectrum of capabilities and attitudes towards technology. The fit between capabilities of the user and demands of the device can be optimised in a process called Human Centred Design. Here we review examples of some connected health devices chosen by random selection, assess older adult known capabilities and attitudes and finally make analytical recommendations for design approaches and design specifications