Search

Abstract Adhesion G Protein Coupled Receptors (aGPCRs) have evolved an activation mechanism to translate extracellular force into liberation of a tethered agonist (TA) to effect cell signalling. We report here that ADGRF1 can signal through all major G protein classes and identify the structural basis for a previously reported Gαq preference by cryo-EM. Our structure shows that Gαq preference in ADGRF1 may derive from tighter packing at the conserved F569 of the TA, altering contacts between TM helix I and VII, with a concurrent rearrangement of TM helix VII and helix VIII at the site of Gα recruitment. Mutational studies of the interface and of contact residues within the 7TM domain identify residues critical for signalling, and suggest that Gαs signalling is more sensitive to mutation of TA or binding site residues than Gαq. Our work advances the detailed molecular understanding of aGPCR TA activation, identifying features that potentially explain preferential signal modulation.

Nowadays there is a large number of cars in the world, they have overcrowded the cities, therefore the parking places are becoming more and more difficult to find. This reason has led in finding a solution for increasing the number of car parks on a small area. The paper proposes the development, functional description and testing of a smart parking system demonstrator based on elevator principal. The demonstrator can be controlled with the help of an android application which is connected to an Arduino via bluetooth.

Optimity Advisors conducted the study “Health system performance assessment – Integrated Care Assessment”, commissioned by Chafea and DG SANTE, assessing: (i) the state of integrated care (IC) implementation in the EU28 Member States, Norway and Iceland; and (ii) developing an evidence-based Integrated Care Performance Assessment (ICPA) framework. The framework, supported by an Excel tool, was co-designed with stakeholders across Europe. The ICPA tool will be tested by members of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIPonAHA), B3 Action Group on Integrated Care. From a review of literature in 24 languages, an extensive mapping of 560 IC initiatives in 30 countries and the maturity assessment of 12 health systems, we inferred that IC strategies, policies, models and projects are present across Europe, but their characteristics, depth and breadth of integration vary considerably. Taking this heterogeneity into account, the framework was co-designed drawing on user-centred design and agile methodologies. Following an iterative approach with regular stakeholder engagement (questionnaires, video-conferences, peer-review webinars, presentations at events, and a validation workshop), experts and practitioners helped us determine which indicators sourced from existing performance assessment frameworks were considered “core” to IC assessment, with the rest proposed as “optional” indicators in the performance assessment model. The core indicators selected were categorised under four domains -Advancement of integration; Use of care services; Health outcomes; Experiences of care- with a fifth overarching domain considering financial issues. Indicators have been re-worded and re-defined to make them applicable across the wealth of IC initiatives while offering measures for international comparison. The heterogeneity of the context in which IC initiatives operate in Europe was a key challenge for the development of a framework that had to be relevant and potentially used in all included countries. This was addressed by providing an additional Excel-based ICPA tool offering flexibility in the use of the framework and allowing users to adapt indicators to their context. The tool allows users to compare performance to a set target for each indicator in the ICPA framework. The use of the ICPA framework and tool will help healthcare systems across Europe to further develop their IC system - based on their current state and context - and could significantly help them achieve better health outcomes and care experiences. The use of user-centred design and agile methodologies are proved methods of finding useful solutions to common challenges. Our research indicates that these principles also apply in the area of health performance assessment and can support IC implementation. Without user engagement, there was a risk that the output of the study would not provide the value sought. As IC evolves, the framework will need to be updated and adapted to new circumstances. Further user engagement and testing is recommended to ensure usability. With the research concluded, the framework and tool will need to be tested in practice through the involvement of members of the B3 Action Group of the EIPonAHA. Preliminary results will be resented at ICIC19. A web-based tool could facilitate uptake and data collection and analysis.

All EU28 countries, Norway and Iceland, run Integrated Care Initiatives (ICI) in efforts to address the new demographic challenges, reduce costs and improve health outcomes. As part of a study commissioned by Chafea and DG SANTE, Optimity Advisors has conducted an extensive review and mapping of ICI across Europe, to assess the level of penetration and adoption of ICI in the 30 countries and evaluate the level of maturity of several healthcare systems. This has allowed to examine the extent of the use of digital tools in ICI. The aim of this presentation will be to look at the relationship between theory and practice, assessing whether assessments of a country’s healthcare system in terms of its Digital Health maturity is reflected in its number of digitally-enabled ICI. For each country, the Study Team, in collaboration with researchers from all included nationalities, has identified 573 ICI and analysed their characteristics and implementation. Considering the different elements of the selected initiatives, it was possible to assess the extent to which Digital Health was included in each country. Additional desk research and the use of the Scirocco Maturity Assessment Tool (which has “information and e-Health” as one of its 12 assessment criteria) have then allowed to examine whether a correlation between the number of digitally-enabled ICI per country and the maturity of their integrated care systems exists. Our research has shown that all EU28 countries, Norway and Iceland, have implemented e-Health Strategies. The review found that IC strategies, policies and projects are present in all 30 countries, although their characteristics, depth and breadth of integration are varied. However, based on our repository of ICI, only 79, out of the 573 ICI retrieved, included a digital component. This translates to less than 15%, spread across 18 countries (Spain (16); UK (11); Lithuania (9); Italy (6); Germany (6); Czech Republic (5); Belgium (5); Greece (4); Finland (4); Slovakia (3); Hungary (2); France (2); Cyprus (1); Iceland (1); Norway (1); Croatia (1); Denmark (1); Austria (1)). Contrary to our assumptions, the assessment of integrated care system maturity did not always reflect the number of ICI with digital components retrieved in the repository. For example, while stakeholders from Denmark and Iceland, have self-assessed their “information and e-Health” domain as highly advanced, both countries only have one digitally-enabled initiative listed in the repository. Moreover, while the evidence around integrated care shows that Digital Health is a key component of an integrated system, in practice less than 15% of all the retrieved ICI had a digital component in it. There is therefore a lack of clarity on whether ICI working on health and social care programmes and strategies see e-Health and m-Health as central elements of the integration, or if Digital Health is rather perceived as an additional and complementary element that would assist, rather than drive, their projects. Additional research focusing on the role of Digital Health in practice and on how to raise the Digital Health profile in the ICI landscape across Europe should be considered.

Kinetochores are the chromosomal attachment points for spindle microtubules. They are also signaling hubs that control major cell cycle transitions and coordinate chromosome folding. Most well-studied eukaryotes rely on a conserved set of factors, which are divided among two loosely-defined groups, for these functions. Outer kinetochore proteins contact microtubules or regulate this contact directly. Inner kinetochore proteins designate the kinetochore assembly site by recognizing a specialized nucleosome containing the H3 variant Cse4/CENP-A. We previously determined the structure, resolved by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), of the yeast Ctf19 complex (Ctf19c, homologous to the vertebrate CCAN), providing a high-resolution view of inner kinetochore architecture (Hinshaw and Harrison, 2019). We now extend these observations by reporting a near-atomic model of the Ctf3 complex, the outermost Ctf19c sub-assembly seen in our original cryo-EM density. The model is sufficiently well-determined by the new data to enable molecular interpretation of Ctf3 recruitment and function.

This study examined the association between ownership of high-risk ("vicious") dogs and the presence of deviant behaviors in the owners as indicated by court convictions. We also explored whether two characteristics of dog ownership (abiding licensing laws and choice of breed) could be useful areas of inquiry when assessing risk status in settings where children are present. Our matched sample consisted of 355 owners of either licensed or cited dogs that represented high or low-risk breeds. Categories of criminal convictions examined were aggressive crimes, drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, crimes involving children, firearm convictions, and major and minor traffic citations. Owners of cited high-risk ("vicious") dogs had significantly more criminal convictions than owners of licensed low-risk dogs. Findings suggest that the ownership of a high-risk ("vicious") dog can be a significant marker for general deviance and should be an element considered when assessing risk for child endangerment. (Contains 3 tables and 4 figures.)

Presents nine responses of professors and communication professionals to the ethical, economic, and enduring issues of journalism and mass communication education. Considers their responses to the state of journalism and mass communication education and reevaluates educational assumptions and practices. (SG)