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Objective: To explore participants' shared experience attending a pilot mindfulness-based retreat (MBR) intervention supporting the psychological well-being of mothers of pediatric heart transplant (HTx) recipients., Methods: A qualitative description approach was used within a larger hybrid mixed-methods pilot study evaluating the implementation-effectiveness of a 2-day MBR tailored specifically for a pediatric HTx population. A purposive sample of mothers was recruited from a leading Canadian pediatric HTx center, and each represented a primary, female-identifying caregiver, sharing residence with a pediatric HTx recipient of at least 4 months post-transplant. Two focus groups were conducted after and 16 individual interviews 3 months after the MBR to elicit participants' in-depth experience attending the MBR. Reflexive thematic data analysis led to theme development through an iterative process with consensus among team members., Results: Sixteen mothers of pediatric HTx recipients (mean patient age 9.8 years; mean time post-transplant 8.2 years) participated in the MBR held in Ontario, Canada. Qualitative findings illuminated mothers' shared experience attending the MBR, reflecting three themes that describe key intervention elements beyond those affiliated with mindfulness practice alone: "respite," "readiness," and "relationships." Findings highlight acceptability and appropriateness as distinct yet interrelated implementation outcomes., Conclusions: Elements of "respite," "readiness," and "relationships" are key components of the MBR experience that offer valuable intervention and clinical considerations related to mothers' psychological well-being. Aligning intervention acceptability and appropriateness through tailored strategies may aid implementation. Future research considering maternal readiness relative to support intervention participation is warranted., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Mothers are often the primary caregivers for children requiring heart transplantation. Given that a mother's ability to successfully cope with the demands of her caregiving role may be predictive of positive familial psychosocial outcomes, it is critical that maternal coping is assessed and supported in paediatric healthcare. Mindfulness-based programmes are proposed as one intervention that may enhance quality of life, improve distress tolerance and coping and reduce social isolation in caregiving populations. This pilot study aims to investigate: (1) the implementation success of a mindfulness-based retreat (MBR), and (2) the effectiveness of a MBR at improving quality of life, distress tolerance, coping and perceived social support for mothers of paediatric heart transplant recipients., Methods and Analysis: A convergent parallel, mixed-method design is proposed for this pilot, exploratory study. Twenty mothers will participate in this pilot MBR held at a resort in Ontario, Canada. Quantitative data will be obtained using five standardised instruments completed at three time points: (T1) 24-hours prior to the intervention, (T2) immediately on completion of the intervention, and (T3) three months post-intervention. Qualitative data will be collected from all participants both through semi-structured focus groups at T2 and individual telephone interviews at T3. Focus groups and individual interviews will be transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis. Quantitative and qualitative data will be merged and compared during interpretation to ensure that the intervention implementation and effectiveness of the MBR retreat are described with comprehensive accuracy. The primary outcomes will be feasibility in relation to implementation effectiveness and participants' perception of social support for efficacy of the MBR intervention., Ethics and Dissemination: This study received Institutional Research Ethics Board approval from The Hospital for Sick Children (Number: 1000064719). Informed consent will be obtained prior to participant enrolment. Findings will be disseminated via conference presentations and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The notochord is an important organ involved in embryonic patterning and locomotion. In zebrafish, the mature notochord consists of a single stack of fully differentiated, large vacuolated cells called chordocytes, surrounded by a single layer of less differentiated notochordal epithelial cells called chordoblasts. Through genetic analysis of zebrafish lines carrying pseudo-typed retroviral insertions, a mutant exhibiting a defective notochord with a granular appearance was isolated, and the corresponding gene was identified as ngs (notochord granular surface), which was specifically expressed in the notochord. In the mutants, the notochord started to degenerate from 32 hours post-fertilization, and the chordocytes were then gradually replaced by smaller cells derived from chordoblasts. The granular notochord phenotype was alleviated by anesthetizing the mutant embryos with tricaine to prevent muscle contraction and locomotion. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ngs encodes a new type of intermediate filament (IF) family protein, which we named chordostatin based on its function. Under the transmission electron microcopy, bundles of 10-nm-thick IF-like filaments were enriched in the chordocytes of wild-type zebrafish embryos, whereas the chordocytes in ngs mutants lacked IF-like structures. Furthermore, chordostatin-enhanced GFP (EGFP) fusion protein assembled into a filamentous network specifically in chordocytes. Taken together, our work demonstrates that ngs encodes a novel type of IF protein and functions to maintain notochord integrity for larval development and locomotion. Our work sheds light on the mechanisms of notochord structural maintenance, as well as the evolution and biological function of IF family proteins.

The current demands faced by elite sports coaches and the nature of their educational experiences are outlined. Examination of current approaches to coach education are considered in relation to research evidence which describes the key skills required in elite sports coaching. Recently, reflective practice has emerged as a key skill with which to enhance coach learning and increase the value of coaches' educational experiences. In tracing this emergence, this study analyses the use of reflective practice and learning strategies within six governing body award coaching programmes. Results indicate that none of the programmes examined contained structures or processes for directly teaching or overtly nurturing reflective skills. However, almost all programmes offered a potential structure for this through completion of a coaching log or undertaking a period of mentoring. Finally, recommendations are made to coach educators for developing reflection within coach education programme structures.

During mitosis, the mammalian Golgi disassembles into numerous vesicles and larger membrane structures referred to as clusters or remnants. Following mitosis, the vesicles and clusters reassemble to form an intact Golgi in each daughter cell. One model of Golgi biogenesis states that Golgi matrix proteins remain assembled in mitotic clusters and then serve as a template for Golgi reassembly. To test this idea, we performed a 3D-computational analysis of mitotic cells to determine the extent to which these proteins remain in mitotic clusters. As a control we used brefeldin A-induced Golgi disassembly which causes dispersal of Golgi enzymes, but leaves matrix proteins in remnant structures. Unlike brefeldin A-treated cells, in which matrix proteins were clearly sorted from non-matrix proteins, we observed extensive dispersal of matrix proteins in metaphase cells with no evidence of differential sorting of these proteins from other Golgi proteins. The extensive disassembly of matrix proteins argues against their participation in a stable template and supports a self-assembly mode of Golgi biogenesis.

Nurses who care for infants and children undergoing thoracic surgery must function and make decisions which take into account a multiplicity of complex data. This necessitates a background of knowledge, skill and intuition which guides their nursing practice. The principles of holistic care in which the total needs of the infant and child are met within the context of the family are seen as an important approach to patient care. Selected perspectives in the care of infants with congenital and acquired thoracic anomalies are discussed, in particular infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and oesophageal atresia. The preparation of children for chest surgery and the postoperative nursing management are outlined and include aspects of pain management, physiotherapy and chest drain care.