Enhanced expression of the myogenic factor Myocyte enhancer factor-2 in imaginal disc myoblasts activates a partial, but incomplete, muscle development program.

The Myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) transcription factor plays a vital role in orchestrating muscle differentiation. While MEF2 cannot effectively induce myogenesis in naïve cells, it can potently accelerate myogenesis in mesodermal cells. This includes in Drosophila melanogaster imaginal disc myoblasts, where triggering premature muscle gene expression in these adult muscle progenitors has become a paradigm for understanding the regulation of the myogenic program.

Drosophila as a Model to Understand Second Heart Field Development.

The genetic model system Drosophila has contributed fundamentally to our understanding of mammalian heart specification, development, and congenital heart disease. The relatively simple Drosophila heart is a linear muscular tube that is specified and develops in the embryo and persists throughout the life of the animal. It functions at all stages to circulate hemolymph within the open circulatory system of the body.

Modeling a variant of unknown significance in the Drosophila ortholog of the human cardiogenic gene NKX2.5.

Sequencing of human genome samples has unearthed genetic variants for which functional testing is necessary to validate their clinical significance. We used the Drosophila system to analyze a variant of unknown significance in the human congenital heart disease gene NKX2.5 (also known as NKX2-5).

A collaborative approach to promote use of 3D printing in a biology research laboratory.

Three dimensional (3D) design and printing are customizable and cost-effective approaches to developing small equipment and other items for use in various interdisciplinary applications. However, many pedagogical approaches to 3D printing focus more on the generation of artifacts than on the involvement of students as creators. Moreover, library makerspaces offer 3D printing services but cannot always engage the students with practical applications of their designs.

Using Drosophila to model a variant of unknown significance in the human cardiogenic gene .

Sequencing of human genome samples has unearthed genetic variants for which functional testing is necessary to validate their clinical significance. We used the Drosophila system to analyze a variant of unknown significance in the human congenital heart disease gene, . .

Phosphorylation of the Myogenic Factor Myocyte Enhancer Factor-2 Impacts Myogenesis In Vivo.

Activity of the myogenic regulatory protein myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) is modulated by post-translational modification. We investigated the in vivo phosphorylation of MEF2, and identified serine 98 (S98) as a phosphorylated residue. Phospho-mimetic (S98E) and phospho-null (S98A) isoforms of MEF2 did not differ from wild-type in their activity in vitro, so we used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate an S98A allele of the endogenous gene.

Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK.

Background: Red Squirrels United was a UK landscape-scale grey squirrel management programme undertaken between 2016 and 2020.

Methods: A total of 11034 grey squirrels were removed by culling, with 1506 necropsied and 1405 suitable for adenovirus (AdV) or squirrelpox virus (SQPV) quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. Spleen, lip or hair were extracted, and DNA was isolated, with samples tested in duplicate by qPCR.

Developing an implementation fidelity checklist for a vocational rehabilitation intervention.

Background: Despite growing numbers of studies reporting the efficacy of complex interventions and their implementation, many studies fail to report information on implementation fidelity or describe how fidelity measures used within the study were developed. This study aimed to develop a fidelity checklist for measuring the implementation fidelity of an early, stroke-specialist vocational rehabilitation intervention (ESSVR) in the RETAKE trial.

Methods: To develop the fidelity measure, previous checklists were reviewed to inform the assessment structure, and core intervention components were extracted from intervention descriptions into a checklist, which was ratified by eight experts in fidelity measurement and complex interventions.

Promoter architecture of Drosophila genes regulated by Myocyte enhancer factor-2.

To gain understanding into the mechanisms of transcriptional activation of muscle genes, we sought to determine if genes targeted by the myogenic transcription factor Myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) were enriched for specific core promoter elements. We identified 330 known MEF2 target promoters in Drosophila, and analyzed them for for the presence and location of 17 known consensus promoter sequences. As a control, we also searched all Drosophila RNA polymerase II-dependent promoters for the same sequences.

RETurn to work After stroKE (RETAKE) Trial: protocol for a mixed-methods process evaluation using normalisation process theory.

Objectives: This mixed-method process evaluation underpinned by normalisation process theory aims to measure fidelity to the intervention, understand the social and structural context in which the intervention is delivered and identify barriers and facilitators to intervention implementation.

Setting: RETurn to work After stroKE (RETAKE) is a multicentre individual patient randomised controlled trial to determine whether Early Stroke Specialist Vocational Rehabilitation (ESSVR) plus usual care is a clinically and cost-effective therapy to facilitate return to work after stroke, compared with usual care alone. This protocol paper describes the embedded process evaluation.

Experiences of staff providing specialist palliative care during COVID-19: a multiple qualitative case study.

Objective: To explore the experiences of, and impact on, staff working in palliative care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: Qualitative multiple case study using semi-structured interviews between November 2020 and April 2021 as part of the CovPall study. Data were analysed using thematic framework analysis.

An Opportunistic Assessment of the Impact of Squirrelpox Disease Outbreaks upon a Red Squirrel Population Sympatric with Grey Squirrels in Wales.

Native red squirrels () persisted in the coastal mainland woodlands of northern Gwynedd whilst sympatric with an invasive grey squirrel () population suppressed by culling. Squirrelpox disease in the red squirrel population was recorded in 2017 and 2020/21. An autumn 2020 outbreak was associated with only 17.

Understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on delivery of rehabilitation in specialist palliative care services: An analysis of the CovPall-Rehab survey data.

Background: Palliative rehabilitation involves multi-professional processes and interventions aimed at optimising patients' symptom self-management, independence and social participation throughout advanced illness. Rehabilitation services were highly disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aim: To understand rehabilitation provision in palliative care services during the Covid-19 pandemic, identifying and reflecting on adaptative and innovative practice to inform ongoing provision.

Change in Activity of Palliative Care Services during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Multinational Survey (CovPall).

To identify factors associated with palliative care services being busier during Covid-19. Cross-sectional online survey of UK palliative care services (April to July 2020) (CovPall). Ethical approval was received from King's College London Research Ethics committee (LRS-19/20-18541).

Prohibit, Protect, or Adapt? The Changing Role of Volunteers in Palliative and Hospice Care Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Multinational Survey (Covpall).

Background: Volunteers are common within palliative care services, and provide support that enhances care quality. The support they provided, and any role changes, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are unknown. The aim of this study is to understand volunteer deployment and activities within palliative care services, and to identify what may affect any changes in volunteer service provision, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Embedding mentoring to support trial processes and implementation fidelity in a randomised controlled trial of vocational rehabilitation for stroke survivors.

Background: Little guidance exists regarding how best to upskill and support those delivering complex healthcare interventions to ensure robust trial outcomes and implementation fidelity. Mentoring was provided to occupational therapists (OTs) delivering a complex vocational rehabilitation (VR) intervention to stroke survivors. This study aimed to explore mentors' roles in supporting OTs with intervention delivery and fidelity, and to describe factors affecting the mentoring process and intervention delivery.

Exploring costs, cost components, and associated factors among people with dementia approaching the end of life: A systematic review.

Introduction: Understanding costs of care for people dying with dementia is essential to guide service development, but information has not been systematically reviewed. We aimed to understand (1) which cost components have been measured in studies reporting the costs of care in people with dementia approaching the end of life, (2) what the costs are and how they change closer to death, and (3) which factors are associated with these costs.

Methods: We searched the electronic databases CINAHL, Medline, Cochrane, Web of Science, EconLit, and Embase and reference lists of included studies.

Specialist palliative care services response to ethnic minority groups with COVID-19: equal but inequitable-an observational study.

Objectives: To develop insights into response of palliative care services caring for people from ethnic minority groups during COVID-19.

Methods: Cross-sectional online survey of UK palliative care services response to COVID-19. Quantitative data were summarised descriptively and χ tests used to explore relationships between categorical variables.

Quality indicators for dementia and older people nearing the end of life: A systematic review.

Background: Robust quality indicators (QIs) are essential for monitoring and improving the quality of care and learning from good practice. We aimed to identify and assess QIs for the care of older people and people with dementia who are nearing the end of life and recommend QIs for use with routinely collected electronic data across care settings.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted, including five databases and reference chaining.

Factors Associated With Emergency Department Visits by People With Dementia Near the End of Life: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Emergency department (ED) attendance is common among people with dementia and increases toward the end of life. The aim was to systematically review factors associated with ED attendance among people with dementia approaching the end of life.

Design: Systematic search of 6 databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, ASSIA, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) and gray literature.

Understanding and addressing challenges for advance care planning in the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of the UK CovPall survey data from specialist palliative care services.

Background: Specialist palliative care services play an important role in conducting advance care planning during COVID-19. Little is known about the challenges to advance care planning in this context, or the changes services made to adapt.

Aim: Describe the challenges that UK specialist palliative care services experienced regarding advance care planning during COVID-19 and changes made to support timely conversations.

'Necessity is the mother of invention': Specialist palliative care service innovation and practice change in response to COVID-19. Results from a multinational survey (CovPall).

Background: Specialist palliative care services have a key role in a whole system response to COVID-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. There is a need to understand service response to share good practice and prepare for future care.

Aim: To map and understand specialist palliative care services innovations and practice changes in response to COVID-19.

The Challenges of Caring for People Dying From COVID-19: A Multinational, Observational Study (CovPall).

Context: Systematic data on the care of people dying with COVID-19 are scarce.

Objectives: To understand the response of and challenges faced by palliative care services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and identify associated factors.

Methods: We surveyed palliative care and hospice services, contacted via relevant organizations.

The genome sequence of the eastern grey squirrel, Gmelin, 1788.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male (the eastern grey squirrel; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Eutheria; Rodentia; Sciuridae). The genome sequence is 2.82 gigabases in span.