In recent decades, numerous studies have suggested a positive relationship between prosociality and well-being. What remains less clear are (a) what the magnitude of this relationship is, and (b) ...what the moderators that influence it are. To address these questions, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine the strength of the prosociality to well-being link under different operationalizations, and how a set of theoretical, demographic, and methodological variables moderate the link. While the results revealed a modest overall mean effect size (r = .13, K = 201, N = 198,213) between prosociality and well-being, this masked the substantial variability in the effect as a function of numerous moderators. In particular, the effect of prosociality on eudaimonic well-being was stronger than that on hedonic well-being. Prosociality was most strongly related to psychological functioning-showing a more modest relationship with psychological malfunctioning and physical health. Using prosociality scales was more strongly associated with well-being than using measures of volunteering/helping frequency or status. In addition, informal helping (vs. formal helping) was linked to more well-being benefits. Demographically, younger givers exhibited higher levels of well-being other than physical health, while older and retired givers reported better physical health only. Female givers showed stronger relationships between prosociality and eudaimonic well-being, psychological malfunctioning, and physical health. Methodologically, the magnitude of the link was stronger in studies using primary (vs. secondary) data and with higher methodological rigor (i.e., measurement reliability and validity). We discussed all of these results and implications and suggested directions for future research.
Public Significance Statement
The present meta-analysis suggests a small and significant association between prosocial behavior and well-being. It also provides researchers with important insights into what theoretical (i.e., types of prosociality and well-being), demographical (i.e., age, gender, and retirement status), and methodological factors (i.e., primary vs. secondary data collection and methodological rigor) may strengthen or weaken the link between prosociality and well-being.
Through unknown mechanisms, insulin activates the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP1c) transcription factor to promote hepatic lipogenesis. We find that this induction is dependent on ...the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1). To further define the role of mTORC1 in the regulation of SREBP1c in the liver, we generated mice with liver-specific deletion of TSC1 (LTsc1KO), which results in insulin-independent activation of mTORC1. Surprisingly, the LTsc1KO mice are protected from age- and diet-induced hepatic steatosis and display hepatocyte-intrinsic defects in SREBP1c activation and de novo lipogenesis. These phenotypes result from attenuation of Akt signaling driven by mTORC1-dependent insulin resistance. Therefore, mTORC1 activation is not sufficient to stimulate hepatic SREBP1c in the absence of Akt signaling, revealing the existence of an additional downstream pathway also required for this induction. We provide evidence that this mTORC1-independent pathway involves Akt-mediated suppression of Insig2a, a liver-specific transcript encoding the SREBP1c inhibitor INSIG2.
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► mTORC1 is required for proper activation of hepatic SREBP1c by insulin ► LTsc1KO mice reveal that mTORC1 activation is not sufficient to induce hepatic SREBP1c ► An mTORC1-independent pathway is also required for hepatic SREBP1c induction by Akt ► Akt signaling suppresses Insig2a, a liver-specific inhibitor of SREBP1c
Understanding the structure of messenger RNA (mRNA) lipid nanoparticles, and specifically the microenvironment of the mRNA molecules within these entities, is fundamental to advancing their ...biomedical potential. Here, we show that a permeating cationic dye, thionine, can serve as a cryogenic electron microscopy contrasting agent by binding selectively to encapsulated mRNA without disturbing lipid nanoparticle morphology. Cryo-electron microscopy images identify the mRNA location, revealing that mRNA may exist within solvent-filled cavities or may be substantially lipid associated.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) hold great potential for regenerative medicine because of their ability for self‐renewal and differentiation into tissue‐specific cells such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, ...and adipocytes. MSCs orchestrate tissue development, maintenance and repair, and are useful for musculoskeletal regenerative therapies to treat age‐related orthopedic degenerative diseases and other clinical conditions. Importantly, MSCs produce secretory factors that play critical roles in tissue repair that support both engraftment and trophic functions (autocrine and paracrine). The development of uniform protocols for both preparation and characterization of MSCs, including standardized functional assays for evaluation of their biological potential, are critical factors contributing to their clinical utility. Quality control and release criteria for MSCs should include cell surface markers, differentiation potential, and other essential cell parameters. For example, cell surface marker profiles (surfactome), bone‐forming capacities in ectopic and orthotopic models, as well as cell size and granularity, telomere length, senescence status, trophic factor secretion (secretome), and immunomodulation, should be thoroughly assessed to predict MSC utility for regenerative medicine. We propose that these and other functionalities of MSCs should be characterized prior to use in clinical applications as part of comprehensive and uniform guidelines and release criteria for their clinical‐grade production to achieve predictably favorable treatment outcomes for stem cell therapy. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:2173–2185
Adopting a multifaceted approach for characterizing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is critical for the selection of best‐in‐class cells for therapeutic use. Assaying for surfactome, secretome, self‐renewal, colony formation, trophic factor secretion, and multilineage differentiation, all form part of an assessment of cellular naivety or “stemness.” When this status is combined with functional assays such as immunomodulation, and other key parameters of cellular health that include telomere length, they collectively help provide a robust assessment of characteristics that are increasingly becoming important indicators of clinical efficacy.
Gender bias has been identified as one of the drivers of gender disparity in academic medicine. Bias may be reinforced by gender subordinating language or differential use of formality in forms of ...address. Professional titles may influence the perceived expertise and authority of the referenced individual. The objective of this study is to examine how professional titles were used in the same and mixed-gender speaker introductions at Internal Medicine Grand Rounds (IMGR).
A retrospective observational study of video-archived speaker introductions at consecutive IMGR was conducted at two different locations (Arizona, Minnesota) of an academic medical center. Introducers and speakers at IMGR were physician and scientist peers holding MD, PhD, or MD/PhD degrees. The primary outcome was whether or not a speaker's professional title was used during the first form of address during speaker introductions at IMGR. As secondary outcomes, we evaluated whether or not the speakers professional title was used in any form of address during the introduction.
Three hundred twenty-one forms of address were analyzed. Female introducers were more likely to use professional titles when introducing any speaker during the first form of address compared with male introducers (96.2% 102/106 vs. 65.6% 141/215; p < 0.001). Female dyads utilized formal titles during the first form of address 97.8% (45/46) compared with male dyads who utilized a formal title 72.4% (110/152) of the time (p = 0.007). In mixed-gender dyads, where the introducer was female and speaker male, formal titles were used 95.0% (57/60) of the time. Male introducers of female speakers utilized professional titles 49.2% (31/63) of the time (p < 0.001).
In this study, women introduced by men at IMGR were less likely to be addressed by professional title than were men introduced by men. Differential formality in speaker introductions may amplify isolation, marginalization, and professional discomfiture expressed by women faculty in academic medicine.
The interactions of plants with environment and insects are bi-directional and dynamic. Consequently, a myriad of mechanisms has evolved to engage organisms in different types of interactions. These ...interactions can be mediated by allelochemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which include volatile terpenes (VTs). The emission of VTs provides a way for plants to communicate with the environment, including neighboring plants, beneficiaries (e.g., pollinators, seed dispersers), predators, parasitoids, and herbivores, by sending enticing or deterring signals. Understanding terpenoid distribution, biogenesis, and function provides an opportunity for the design and implementation of effective and efficient environmental calamity and pest management strategies. This review provides an overview of plant-environment and plant-insect interactions in the context of terpenes and terpenoids as important chemical mediators of these abiotic and biotic interactions.
Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic testing platforms are a growing sector of the healthcare industry as they offer the advantages of rapid provision of results, ease of use, reduced cost, and the ability ...to link patients to care. While many POC tests are based on chromatographic flow assay technology, this technology suffers from a lack of sensitivity along with limited capacity for multiplexing and quantitative analysis. Several recent reports have begun to investigate the feasibility of coupling chromatographic flow platforms to more advanced read-out technologies which in turn enable on-site acquisition, storage, and transmission of important healthcare metrics. One such technology being explored is surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy or SERS. In this work, SERS is coupled for the first time to a rapid vertical flow (RVF) immunotechnology for detection of anti-HCV antibodies in an effort to extend the capabilities of this commercially available diagnostic platform. High-quality and reproducible SERS spectra were obtained using reporter-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Serial dilution studies indicate that the coupling of SERS with RVF technology shows enormous potential for next-generation POC diagnostics.
Literature evaluating intraoperative temperature/humidity and risk of surgical site infection (SSI) is lacking.
All operations at three centers reported to the ACS-NSQIP were reviewed (2016–2020); ...ambient intraoperative temperature (⁰F) and relative humidity (RH) were recorded in 15-min intervals. The primary endpoint was superficial SSI, which was evaluated with multi-level logistic regression.
14,519 operations were analyzed with 179 SSIs (1.2%). The lower/upper 10th percentiles for temperature and RH were 64.4/71.4 °F and 33.5/55.5% respectively. Low or high temperature carried no significant increased risk for SSI (Low ⁰F OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.51–1.77, P = 0.86; High ⁰F OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.69–1.86, P = 0.63). This was also true for low and high RH (Low RH OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.58–1.61, p = 0.88; High RH OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.33–1.14, P = 0.12). Analysis of combined temperature/humidity showed no increased risk for SSI.
Significant deviations in intraoperative temperature/humidity are not associated with increased risk of SSI.
•Large deviations in OR temperature do not increase risk of SSI.•Large deviations in OR humidity do not increase risk of SSI.•Efforts to decrease risk of SSI should focus on other modifiable factors.
Dipolar aromatic liquids confined in the interstitial domains of chiral organogels show significantly enhanced electric polarization, as compared with those of pure liquids alone or organogels formed ...with nonpolar liquids. Intriguingly, nitrobenzene gels showed a supramolecular polar switching phenomenon; i.e., hysteresis in the polarization (P)–electric field (E) curves was observed for the gel above the melting point of the solvent. This indicates that the nitrobenzene molecules confined in the chiral nanofibrous gel networks exert macroscopic polarization whose direction is inversed depending on the direction of the external electric field. The anomalously enhanced electric polarization and polar switching phenomenon of supramolecular gels in varied solvents are scrutinized by the positive-up–negative-down (PUND) measurements, and the interactions between the gel nanofibers and the polar solvent molecules play crucial roles for the emergence of the polar switching phenomenon. This work presents for the first time that dipolar liquid molecules filling the interstitial space of supramolecular gels exhibit a significant confinement effect. It provides a new perspective to design electric-field-responsive soft materials based on the functional liquid domains confined in their porous networks.
The phylum Cnidaria represents a close outgroup to Bilateria and includes familiar animals including sea anemones, corals, hydroids, and jellyfish. Here we report genome sequencing and assembly for ...true jellyfish Sanderia malayensis and Rhopilema esculentum. The homeobox gene clusters are characterised by interdigitation of Hox, NK, and Hox-like genes revealing an alternate pathway of ANTP class gene dispersal and an intact three gene ParaHox cluster. The mitochondrial genomes are linear but, unlike in Hydra, we do not detect nuclear copies, suggesting that linear plastid genomes are not necessarily prone to integration. Genes for sesquiterpenoid hormone production, typical for arthropods, are also now found in cnidarians. Somatic and germline cells both express piwi-interacting RNAs in jellyfish revealing a conserved cnidarian feature, and evidence for tissue-specific microRNA arm switching as found in Bilateria is detected. Jellyfish genomes reveal a mosaic of conserved and divergent genomic characters evolved from a shared ancestral genetic architecture.
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