Patients with COVID-19 are at increased risk of thrombosis, which is associated with altered platelet function and coagulopathy, contributing to excess mortality.
To characterize the mechanism of ...altered platelet function in COVID-19 patients.
The platelet proteome, platelet functional responses, and platelet-neutrophil aggregates were compared between patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and healthy control subjects using tandem mass tag proteomic analysis, Western blotting, and flow cytometry.
COVID-19 patients showed a different profile of platelet protein expression (858 altered of the 5773 quantified). Levels of COVID-19 plasma markers were enhanced in the platelets of COVID-19 patients. Gene ontology pathway analysis demonstrated that the levels of granule secretory proteins were raised, whereas those of platelet activation proteins, such as the thrombopoietin receptor and protein kinase Cα, were lowered. Basally, platelets of COVID-19 patients showed enhanced phosphatidylserine exposure, with unaltered integrin αIIbβ3 activation and P-selectin expression. Agonist–stimulated integrin αIIbβ3 activation and phosphatidylserine exposure, but not P-selectin expression, were decreased in COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 patients had high levels of platelet-neutrophil aggregates, even under basal conditions, compared to controls. This association was disrupted by blocking P-selectin, demonstrating that platelet P-selectin is critical for the interaction.
Overall, our data suggest the presence of 2 platelet populations in patients with COVID-19: one of circulating platelets with an altered proteome and reduced functional responses and another of P-selectin-expressing neutrophil–associated platelets. Platelet–driven thromboinflammation may therefore be one of the key factors enhancing the risk of thrombosis in COVID-19 patients.
•COVID-19 patients’ platelet function and platelet proteins were compared with those of healthy controls.•Proteomic analysis of platelets indicated that COVID-19 decreased platelet activation proteins.•Agonist–induced phosphatidylserine exposure and integrin αIIbβ3 activation were impaired in COVID-19 patients.•COVID-19 led to maximal levels of P-selectin–dependent platelet-neutrophil aggregates.
The German ONET Interest Profiler Short Form Roemer, Lena; Lewis, Phil; Rounds, James
Psychological Test Adaptation and Development,
12/2023, Volume:
4, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Holland's RIASEC model is the dominant framework to
conceptualize vocational interests. It describes vocational interests with six
broad domains: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, ...enterprising, and
conventional. The O*NET Interest Profiler Short Form is a freely accessible
inventory measuring vocational interests according to Holland's model
with 60 items. With this manuscript, we provide a translation of the inventory
into German and evaluate the scores' psychometric qualities,
construct-related and criterion-related validity. We used data from an
age-diverse (N = 276) and high-school sample
(N = 672). Internal consistency estimates of the scale
scores were adequate. Randomization tests and multidimensional scaling showed
that the scores' structural properties mirrored the RIASEC theoretical
model. Scale scores were sensitive to gender differences and could predict
participants' actual and ideal occupations with reasonable hit rates.
Overall, the German O*NET Interest Profiler Short Form seems apt for usage
in career counseling and research settings.
As a result of decisions by numerous state and federal commissions and tribunals, most recently the Fair Work Commission, penalty rates have become an important influence on the labour market in ...Australia. The paper investigates how relevant are the myriad penalty rates to today's social mores and the modern service-based economy. What are the consequences of penalty rates for employment, productivity, profitability and consumer welfare? What would be the impact of their removal? A number of data sources are analysed in the context of the economics of labour markets to answer these questions. The restaurant, café and catering industry is used as a specific example to illustrate the effects of penalty rates.
Since 2006 there have been significant changes in the labour market for university graduates, most notably the Global Financial Crisis of 2007 and the subsequent downturn in gross domestic product ...growth, and a huge expansion in university places. This article presents estimates of the monetary returns in Australia associated with the completion of bachelor degrees in 2016 for a range of fields of study and compares them to the estimates for 2006. The results show that for the median person, there are still good monetary incentives to complete these degrees and the private rate of return compares favourably with the long-term real bond rate. However, the article also concludes that the return to an individual investing in bachelor education had mostly declined in the period 2006-2016. There is, again, considerable variation between disciplines and for some, completion of a bachelor degree does not yield positive returns. The key factors determining the monetary rate of return are the discipline of the degree and the graduates' subsequent labour force status. Graduates in full-time employment in most disciplines avoided being among those with low (or negative) rates of return. In addition, there is some evidence of skills mismatch and over skilling among the lowest paid university graduates. Author abstract
This article presents estimates of the private monetary benefits in Australia associated with the completion of Bachelor degrees for a range of fields of study under a range of different assumptions. ...For the average person, results show strong monetary incentives to complete these degrees and the private rate of return compares favourably with the real long-term bond rate. However, differences can be observed in rates of return according to gender and discipline of study with, generally, lower returns for women and for those holding degrees in the humanities. The results are calculated on varying assumptions which provide evidence of the robustness of the conclusions. Finally, implications for policy, such as university financing and increases in university places, are discussed. Author abstract
Tigilanol tiglate (TT, also known as EBC-46) is a novel, plant-derived diterpene ester possessing anticancer and wound-healing properties. Here, we show that TT-evoked PKC-dependent S985 ...phosphorylation of the tyrosine kinase MET leads to subsequent degradation of tyrosine phosphorylated p-Y1003 and p-Y1234/5 MET species. PKC inhibition with BIM-1 blocked S985 phosphorylation of MET and led to MET cell surface accumulation. Treatment with metalloproteinase inhibitors prevented MET-ECD release into cell culture media, which was also blocked by PKC inhibitors. Furthermore, unbiased secretome analysis, performed using TMT-technology, identified additional targets of TT-dependent release of cell surface proteins from H357 head and neck cancer cells. We confirm that the MET co-signalling receptor syndecan-1 was cleaved from the cell surface in response to TT treatment. This was accompanied by rapid cleavage of the cellular junction adhesion protein Nectin-1 and the nerve growth factor receptor NGFRp75/TNFR16. These findings, that TT is a novel negative regulator of protumorigenic c-MET and NGFRp75/TNFR16 signalling, as well as regulating Nectin-1-mediated cell adhesion, further contribute to our understanding of the mode of action and efficacy of TT in the treatment of solid tumours.
Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are commonly employed as excipients in preclinical studies and in vitro experiments to dissolve poorly hydrosoluble drugs. Their use is generally considered safe in both ...animals and humans; however, limited data is available concerning the safety of PEGs when administered parenterally. The results of our investigation demonstrate that PEG-400 can have an irritant effect on serosal surfaces and causes subcapsular hepatocellular necrosis in mice when administered intraperitoneally at a high dose (4mL/kg). Accordingly, levels of serum biomarkers of liver injury need to be carefully interpreted in studies where PEG is administered intraperitoneally and always in association with the results of the histological assessment.
Australia has proven to be a popular destination for Indian students seeking higher education qualifications. In recent years, the influx of Indian students into Australia has shown considerable ...volatility and so has their enrolment mix between the further, vocational and higher education sectors. An understanding of the motivations and characteristics of potential and current Indian international students along with the changing dynamics of the global higher education sector is important to be able to analyse this volatility and to ensure effective and sustainable marketing of higher education to Indian students. This paper provides a profile of Indian students studying in Australia and provides insight into their course preferences and motivations for choosing Australia. A key finding of this paper is that apart from traditional motivators such as higher rates of returns and employability associated with a foreign qualification, Indian students are very responsive to changes in Australia's labour market, immigration and student visa policies relative to other international alternatives. Author abstract
Four species of saltcedars,
Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.,
Tamarix chinensis Lour.,
Tamarix parviflora DC., and
T. canariensis Willd. and their hybrids, are exotic, invasive small trees from Asia that ...cause great damage to riparian ecosystems of the western United States. They displace native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat (including that of many endangered species), increase soil salinity and wildfires, lower water tables, reduce water available for agriculture and municipalities, and reduce recreational use of affected areas. Phytophagous insects are abundant on saltcedar in the Old World and we selected
Diorhabda elongata Brullé
deserticola Chen as the top candidate biological control agent because of the great damage it causes, and its high host specificity, broad geographic range, and presumed adaptability in the United States. Literature review and our overseas surveys indicated that this insect is associated only with species of
Tamarix and occasionally with
Myricaria but not with
Reumaria or
Frankenia (all Tamaricales) in the Old World. In quarantine facilities in the United States, and overseas, we tested beetles from China and Kazakhstan on six species and three hybrids (26 accessions) of
Tamarix and on 58 species of other plants, in 15 tests of different types, using 1852 adults and 3547 larvae, over 10 years. Survival from larvae to adults averaged 55–67% on the
Tamarix species, 12% on
Myricaria sp., and only 1.6% on the three
Frankenia spp. No larvae completed their development on any of the other 54 plant species tested, where most larvae died during the first instar. Adults oviposited readily on
T. ramosissima accessions, less on
Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. (athel), and only rarely on other plants. The host range of the
D. e. deserticola we tested from Kazakhstan was not different from those we tested from China. Therefore,
D. e. deserticola, is sufficiently host-specific and was approved for field release in North America. This is the first biological control agent introduced into the United States for control of saltcedar.
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