The influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on organisational culture: An empirical investigation.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is known to transform and create opportunities for the world of work. However, little is known about how the future workforce, such as university students, are being equipped and exposed to 4IR technologies and ways of thinking in a South African (SA) context. This study's findings contribute to understanding the influence of organisational culture on the uptake of 4IR technology within higher education (HE) in SA during a pandemic.

Impacts of multiple anthropogenic stressors on the transcriptional response of Gammarus fossarum in a mesocosm field experiment.

Background: Freshwaters are exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors, leading to habitat degradation and biodiversity decline. In particular, agricultural stressors are known to result in decreased abundances and community shifts towards more tolerant taxa. However, the combined effects of stressors are difficult to predict as they can interact in complex ways, leading to enhanced (synergistic) or decreased (antagonistic) response patterns.

Risk of postpartum depressive symptoms is influenced by psychological burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic and dependent of individual stress coping.

Purpose: There are different studies worldwide, which have shown a higher risk of mental disorders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One aim of this study was to identify influencing factors of the psychological burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on the development of postpartum depression. Further, the role of individual stress and coping strategies was analyzed in this context.

CD40 Drives Central Nervous System Autoimmune Disease by Inducing Complementary Effector Programs via B Cells and Dendritic Cells.

Costimulatory CD40 plays an essential role in autoimmune diseases, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of human multiple sclerosis (MS). However, how CD40 drives autoimmune disease pathogenesis is not well defined. Here, we used a conditional knockout approach to determine how CD40 orchestrates a CNS autoimmune disease induced by recombinant human myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (rhMOG).

Fear, depression, and well-being during COVID-19 in German and South African students: A cross-cultural comparison.

Various studies have shown a decrease in well-being and an increase in mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, only a few studies have explored fear, depression, and well-being cross-culturally during this time. Accordingly, we present the results of a cross-cultural study that (1) compares these mental health scores for German and South African students, (2) compares the correlations among them, and (3) identifies COVID-19 fear, well-being, and depression predictors. German and South African societies differ from each other socio-culturally, politically, and economically.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in Scotland's wastewater.

Nationwide, wastewater-based monitoring was newly established in Scotland to track the levels of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA shed into the sewage network, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We present a curated, reference dataset produced by this national programme, from May 2020 to February 2022. Viral levels were analysed by RT-qPCR assays of the N1 gene, on RNA extracted from wastewater sampled at 162 locations.

Selecting Better Biocatalysts by Complementing Recoded Bacteria.

In vivo selections are powerful tools for the directed evolution of enzymes. However, the need to link enzymatic activity to cellular survival makes selections for enzymes that do not fulfill a metabolic function challenging. Here, we present an in vivo selection strategy that leverages recoded organisms addicted to non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) to evolve biocatalysts that can provide these building blocks from synthetic precursors.

Brain network architecture constrains age-related cortical thinning.

Age-related cortical atrophy, approximated by cortical thickness measurements from magnetic resonance imaging, follows a characteristic pattern over the lifespan. Although its determinants remain unknown, mounting evidence demonstrates correspondence between the connectivity profiles of structural and functional brain networks and cortical atrophy in health and neurological disease. Here, we performed a cross-sectional multimodal neuroimaging analysis of 2633 individuals from a large population-based cohort to characterize the association between age-related differences in cortical thickness and functional as well as structural brain network topology.

Generation Y medical doctors' experiences of a positive psychology 2.0 intervention for burnout in a South African public hospital.

The aim of the research was to explore experiences of a Positive Psychology 2.0 (PP2.0) intervention for burnout among Generation Y medical doctors working in a South African public hospital.

Guidelines for mouse and human DC generation.

This article is part of the Dendritic Cell Guidelines article series, which provides a collection of state-of-the-art protocols for the preparation, phenotype analysis by flow cytometry, generation, fluorescence microscopy, and functional characterization of mouse and human dendritic cells (DC) from lymphoid organs and various non-lymphoid tissues. This article provides protocols with top ticks and pitfalls for preparation and successful generation of mouse and human DC from different cellular sources, such as murine BM and HoxB8 cells, as well as human CD34 cells from cord blood, BM, and peripheral blood or peripheral blood monocytes. We describe murine cDC1, cDC2, and pDC generation with Flt3L and the generation of BM-derived DC with GM-CSF.

SWAVE 2.0 Imaging of Placental Elasticity and Viscosity: Potential Biomarkers for Placenta-Mediated Disease Detection.

Pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are associated with structural and functional changes in the placenta. Different elastography techniques with an ability to assess the mechanical properties of tissue can identify and monitor the pathological state of the placenta. Currently available elastography techniques have been used with promising results to detect placenta abnormalities; however, limitations include inadequate measurement depth and safety concerns from high negative pressure pulses.

Association of Carotid Plaque and Flow Velocity With White Matter Integrity in a Middle-aged to Elderly Population.

Background And Objectives: It is uncertain whether there is an association of carotid plaques (CPs) and flow velocities with peak width mean diffusivity (PSMD) and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) independent of shared risk factors. We aimed to study this association controlling for biomarkers of inflammation and cardiac dysfunction and typical cardiovascular risk factors and spatial distribution.

Methods: We included participants from the population-based Hamburg City Health Study, recruiting citizens between 45 and 74 years of age.

Early effect of thrombolysis on structural brain network organisation after anterior-circulation stroke in the randomized WAKE-UP trial.

The symptoms of acute ischemic stroke can be attributed to disruption of the brain network architecture. Systemic thrombolysis is an effective treatment that preserves structural connectivity in the first days after the event. Its effect on the evolution of global network organisation is, however, not well understood.

Identification of Broadly Applicable Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors by Systematic Comparison of Commonly Used Capsid Variants .

Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) represent highly attractive gene therapy vectors and potent research tools for the modulation of gene expression in animal models or difficult-to-transfect cell cultures. Engineered variants, comprising chimeric, mutated, or peptide-inserted capsids, have strongly broadened the utility of AAVs by altering cellular tropism, enabling immune evasion, or increasing transduction efficiency. In this work, the performance of 50 of the most used, predominantly published, AAVs was compared on several primary cells, cell lines, and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived models from different organs, including the adipose tissue, liver, lung, brain, and eyes.

Sex differences in pressure and flow waveform physiology across the life course.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has long been deemed a disease of old men. However, in 2019 CVD accounted for 35% of all deaths in women and, therefore, remains the leading cause of death in both men and women. There is increasing evidence to show that risk factors, pathophysiology and health outcomes related to CVD differ in women compared with men, yet CVD in women remains understudied, underdiagnosed and undertreated.

Unconscious system-psychodynamics within a German 4IR engineering company in South Africa.

This article focuses on systems psychodynamics and particularly on the CIBART-model which explores conflict, identity, boundary, authority, role and task and how these phenomena work out on an unconscious level. Therefore, this article presents empirical findings on CIBART in a German multinational engineering organization operating in South Africa. For this study, 16 managers where interviewed on their transformation toward Industry 4.

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton in psychobiography: Sense of coherence and faith across her lifetime.

This article focuses on the coping skills of one selected, extraordinary woman, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton (1757-1854) during the founding of the United States of America. This work contributes to theory on two different levels. First, it contributes to psychobiographical research on women in diverse spheres of society, thereby strengthening the aspect of gender and coping strategies in terms of psychobiographical perspectives.

Diagnosing Oncocytoma by Core Needle Biopsy: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Oncocytoma is one of the most common benign kidney tumors, accounting for 3-7% of all solid renal masses. Diagnosing oncocytomas using renal biopsy remains a controversy in the uro-pathologic community. With the increasing use of biopsies for assessment of renal lesions, reaching this pathologically benign diagnosis may prevent further surgical measures and have significant clinical benefit.

The impact of social rhythm and sleep disruptions on waist circumference after job loss: A prospective 18-month study.

Objective: This study prospectively examined change in waist circumference (WC) as a function of daily social rhythms and sleep in the aftermath of involuntary job loss. It was hypothesized that disrupted social rhythms and fragmented/short sleep after job loss would independently predict gains in WC over 18 months and that resiliency to WC gain would be conferred by the converse.

Methods: Eligible participants (n = 191) completed six visits that included standardized measurements of WC.

Direct identification of ALK and ROS1 fusions in non-small cell lung cancer from hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides using deep learning algorithms.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and ROS oncogene 1 (ROS1) gene fusions are well-established key players in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although their frequency is relatively low, their detection is important for patient care and guides therapeutic decisions. The accepted methods used for their detection are immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay, as well as DNA and RNA-based sequencing methodologies.

Psychobiographical trends: Untold stories and international voices in the context of social change.

Objective: This article describes the increase of publications in the area of psychobiography, thereby analysing the trends in the articles published in the special issue on psychobiography and social agency and activism. It further highlights the specific approaches taken by autobiographers who write psychobiographical accounts of extraordinary individuals and "everyday heroes" in their attempt of creating social impact in specific socio-cultural groups, societies or even on a global level.

Method: This is a conceptional article which comments on the trends presented in this special issue.