To alleviate group members’ physiological stress, supervisors need to be more than polite and professional

This is the final version. Available on open access from SAGE Publications via the DOI in this recordAlthough stressors are common in group life, people cope better when group authorities treat them with care/concern. However, it remains unclear whether such treatment affects individuals’ physiological stress. In this experiment, individuals engaged in an interview known to increase cortisol (stress biomarker). Surrounding the interview, an ingroup supervisor treated them with standard professionalism (politeness; control), explicit care/concern (high-quality treatment), or disregard (poor-quality treatment). While those in the control condition experienced a spike in cortisol, individuals in the high-quality treatment condition did not experience this physiological stress (cortisol). Those shown poor-quality treatment also did not exhibit stress, suggesting the explicit disregard for them may have undermined the interview’s legitimacy, thereby removing social evaluative threat. Paralleling past research, self-reported stress did not reflect individuals’ physiological stress (cortisol). Overall, results suggest that to alleviate members’ physiological stress, supervisors need to be more than polite and professional – also demonstrating care/concern for them as individuals

Localization of Fulicin-like Immunoreactivity in the Central Nervous System and Periphery of Biomphalaria glabrata, an Intermediate Host for Schistosomiasis

An estimate of about ten percent of the population worldwide live at risk of contracting the parasitic disease schistosomiasis, or “snail fever”. The digenetic trematode worm species Schistosoma mansoni that is responsible for causing the most common form of intestinal schistosomiasis requires the freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata to serve as its primary intermediate host, where it multiplies and develops into its cercarial form that is infectious to humans. Parasitic castration and parasitic gigantism are among some of the profound behavioral changes that the infection of B. glabrata by S. mansoni is known to cause. For this reason, a neural transcriptomics approach was undertaken to determine precursor prohormones that could encode neuropeptides implicated in Biomphalaria reproductive and feeding behaviors. A transcript (1616 nucleotides) was found to encode a putative precursor polypeptide (316 aminoacids) that could give way to the neuropeptide fulicin (Phe–D-Asn-Glu-Phe-Val-NH2; Ohta et al. 1991; Yasuma Kamatani et al. 1995) and five additional related peptides. For this investigation, affinity purified polyclonal antibodies (rabbit) were developed against the anticipated fulicin neuropeptide. Fulicin-like immunoreactivity was observed throughout the central nervous system (CNS) with distinct neurons and clusters on the ventral and dorsal surfaces, as well as in peripheral tissues. Fulicin-like cells of both large and small diameter were present on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the buccal ganglion. In addition dispersed clusters of small diameter cells were observed in the cerebral and pedal ganglia. However, in the right pleural ganglion no fulicin-like neurons were present, although it was rich in immunoreactive fibers. Within the left parietal and visceral ganglia, clusters of large prominent cells appeared to give rise to axons projecting to the anal and intestinal nerves. Additionally, peripheral tissue of B. glabrata, specifically regions of the mantle, lip and tentacle were rich in fulicin-like immunoreactive fibers and cell bodies. These results suggest that fulicin and other peptides derived from the fulicin precursor could regulate behaviors related to food intake, reproduction, and growth that are altered during the course of infection in this host-parasite system

Evaluating the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day Program

It is well-documented that women in the United States are underrepresented in STEM fields and engineering in particular. This results in the underutilization of the available range of human resources and diverse problem-solving capacity in addressing the types of problems engineers are trained to solve. The lack of female representation in STEM fields may be associated with gender stereotypes and cultural practices that steer women away from engineering, a process that begins in childhood. This study examined the impact of one type of outreach, a 1-day opportunity for young girls in grades 1 through 5 to learn about and get hands-on experience with engineering. As part of this program, gender stereotypes as they relate to STEM fields were also discussed. We were interested in children’s interest in and previous experiences with engineering as well as their and their parent’s general beliefs about the child’s abilities in STEM areas. We collected surveys from parents and children prior to the program and from children immediately and 6 months after the program. Results showed that regardless of child age, participating in the program contributed to a significant increase in children’s self-reported engagement in engineering activities and in knowledge and interest in engineering. However, when followed up 6 months later, children’s self-reports in these areas returned to nearly pretest levels. The findings suggest the need for booster engineering experiences to maintain the gains achieved through participating in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program

The Medecins Sans Frontieres Intervention in the Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever Epidemic, Uige, Angola, 2005. I. Lessons Learned in the Hospital.

When the epidemic of Marburg hemorrhagic fever occurred in Uige, Angola, during 2005, the international response included systems of case detection and isolation, community education, the burial of the dead, and disinfection. However, despite large investments of staff and money by the organizations involved, only a fraction of the reported number of cases were isolated, and many cases were detected only after death. This article describes the response of Medecins Sans Frontieres Spain within the provincial hospital in Uige, as well as the lessons they learned during the epidemic. Diagnosis, management of patients, and infection control activities in the hospital are discussed. To improve the acceptability of the response to the host community, psychological and cultural factors need to be considered at all stages of planning and implementation in the isolation ward. More interventional medical care may not only improve survival but also improve acceptability

Impact of a Health Fair on Student Organizations Providing Care to the Detroit Hispanic/Latinx Community and Barriers Affecting Patients of a Student-Run Clinic Primarily Serving this Population

Current literature shows Hispanic/Latinx populations in the U.S. face health inequities. Amigos Medicos (AM) Clinic, located in Southwest Detroit, is a student-run free clinic that addresses these issues through preventive health screenings. We hosted a health fair in 2022 and invited other student organizations in efforts to connect the community to resources. Our aim is to identify specific barriers faced by our population in receiving health care and to identify the impact of participation in the fair on those organizations. One survey was administered to patients attending clinic that identified health barriers they face. The other survey was administered to student organizations four months after the fair to assess representatives’ experiences. Data administered to organizations showed all (100%) student organization representatives believed the health fair brought increased awareness to the Detroit population about their respective student organization. The most identified limitations reported by the organizations in serving the community were financial constraints (43%) followed by limited space/resources (14%) and lack of volunteers (14%). Our response rate for the survey administered at the clinic is approximately 38% and data collection is ongoing. 66.67% of patients reported they do not have health insurance. 44% reported visiting a community clinic and 22% visit the Emergency Department. 22% indicated that lack of health insurance, language barriers, lack of transportation, or long wait-time for appointments increased the difficulty of accessing healthcare. Our research not only demonstrates unique challenges in working with Hispanic/Latinx populations but also the needs and barriers faced by the community

Inspection of floating platform mooring chains with a climbing robot

This paper describes the development of Moorinspect, a novel robot that can climb on platform mooring chains both underwater and in air to non-destructively test (NDT) each link with long range ultrasound guided waves. The prototype robot is designed to be able to climb up/down a mooring chain for up to twenty metres below the surface, climb up through the splash zone to the first link which is located in air and connected to the turret of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility. This first link suffers the most intense stresses and fatigue failure and thus it is important to test its integrity. A robot that can climb through the splash zone (considered to be the most dangerous zone for human divers) will be the first of its kind. The robot is able to cope with link dimension variations due to corrosion and biological fouling and link curvatures caused by bent links, chain curvature due to gravity, and links twisted at angles of up to eight degrees around a nominal angle of ninety degrees. The robot places an NDT collar consisting of ultrasound probes around the full circumference of each link to be tested. The design has been analysed extensively using Von Mises stress analysis to ensure that the robot is strong and robust enough to carry a sensor payload of more than 70 kg and a robot weighing 500 kg in air and is able to operate in the splash zone. A first prototype chain climbing robot has been tested via trials on a four link mooring chain suspended in air and while immersed in a diving tank

MicroRNAs regulate Ca2+ homeostasis in murine embryonic stem cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of embryonic stem cell (ESC) biology, and their study has identified key regulatory mechanisms. To find novel pathways regulated by miRNAs in ESCs, we undertook a bioinformatics analysis of gene pathways differently expressed in the absence of miRNAs due to the deletion of Dicer, which encodes an RNase that is essential for the synthesis of miRNAs. One pathway that stood out was Ca2+ signaling. Interestingly, we found that Dicer-/- ESCs had no difference in basal cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels but were hyperresponsive when Ca2+ import into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was blocked by thapsigargin. Remarkably, the increased Ca2+ response to thapsigargin in ESCs resulted in almost no increase in apoptosis and no differences in stress response pathways, despite the importance of miRNAs in the stress response of other cell types. The increased Ca2+ response in Dicer-/- ESCs was also observed during purinergic receptor activation, demonstrating a physiological role for the miRNA regulation of Ca2+ signaling pathways. In examining the mechanism of increased Ca2+ responsiveness to thapsigargin, neither store-operated Ca2+ entry nor Ca2+ clearance mechanisms from the cytoplasm appeared to be involved. Rather, it appeared to involve an increase in the expression of one isoform of the IP3 receptors (Itpr2). miRNA regulation of Itpr2 expression primarily appeared to be indirect, with transcriptional regulation playing a major role. Therefore, the miRNA regulation of Itpr2 expression offers a unique mechanism to regulate Ca2+ signaling pathways in the physiology of pluripotent stem cells

Sleep deprivation increases oleoylethanolamide in human cerebrospinal fluid

This study investigated the role of two fatty acid ethanolamides, the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide and its structural analog oleoylethanolamide in sleep deprivation of human volunteers. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were obtained from 20 healthy volunteers before and after a night of sleep deprivation with an interval of about 12 months. We found increased levels of oleoylethanolamide in CSF (P = 0.011) but not in serum (P = 0.068) after 24 h of sleep deprivation. Oleoylethanolamide is an endogenous lipid messenger that is released after neural injury and activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) with nanomolar potency. Exogenous PPAR-α agonists, such as hypolipidemic fibrates and oleoylethanolamide, exert both neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects. Thus, our results suggest that oleoylethanolamide release may represent an endogenous neuroprotective signal during sleep deprivation