• four mitigating factors that make power appear to corrupt when something else is actually going on.
  • dirty hands
    • people in power often are faced with no good alternatives and your hands will appear dirty, even when you choose the lesser of the evils
  • the idea of learning
    • authoritarian leaders are new to the job in the beginning and they have to learn to be good at being bad. Their leadership may appear to get worse but they are just learning how to be more effectively ruthless - on-the-job training
  • the problem of opportunity
    • a scaling effect. A leader of a country has far more people they can harm with his/her decision than a janitor.
  • the problem of scrutiny
    • people in power get more scrutiny
    • if you are not in power, you could be committing a crime but never get caught because you are not scrutinized to the same degree - think Donald Trump

Review coordinated by Life Science Editors

Reviewed by: Dr. Helen Pickersgill, Life Science Editors

Potential Conflicts of Interest: None

Impact Point: Transcription factors may mediate the release of specific genes in extracellular vesicles that could be taken up by other cells and directly influence their behaviour.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale, membrane-bound vesicles containing proteins, nucleic acids and lipids that are released by most cell types. Originally thought of as a cell waste disposal mechanism, they have since been rebranded as a means of intercellular communication, both short and long range, (like a cellular postal service), and can, for example, modify gene expression and function in recipient cells via the transfer of specific RNAs (DOI: 10.1038/s41580-020-0251-y). One interesting function for EVs was the recent discovery that antigen presenting cells (APCs) could donate telomeres via EVs to recipient T cells and rescue them from senescence (DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00991-z).

Given EVs contain a wide variety of cargos derived from the secreting cells, which have been extensively profiled (e.g., DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.07.009) they are particularly interesting as sources of biomarkers for diagnosing diseases such as cancer (e.g., DOI: 10.1038/s12276-019-0219-1). We might also be able to use them as stable delivery mechanisms for controlling cell behaviour or targeting therapeutics/diagnostics.

We know quite a bit about how RNAs and proteins are selected for secretion by EVs (mediated by the autophagy protein LC3: e.g., DOIs: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1756557; 10.1038/s41556-019-0450-y). But little is known about DNA. DNA presents a particular challenge as it is packed up into the nucleus. This is also particularly important to understand in the context of horizontal gene transfer, i.e., passing functional genes between cells.

Main question: How does a cell ‘select’ specific DNA cargo from the nucleus and enable it to be released by EVs?

The advance: They discover that a transcription factor (FOXM1) plays a central role in mediating DNA release in EVs.

Results: • FOXM1 and LC3 (autophagy protein) colocalize and interact in cultured cells (coIP endogenous and exogenous, EMSA, immunostaining and identify an FOXM1-binding domain mutant). • FOXM1, LC3 and DNA colocalise in the cytoplasm in cultured cells, which increases upon starvation-induced autophagy (immunofluorescence). • FOXM1 and LC3 are found in EVs released from cultured cells (Western blot). • 15,544 DNA identified in EVs released from cultured cells (evDNA sequencing), of which 25 overlapped with DNA loci binding FOXM1 (ChIP). • FOXM1-bound nuclear DNA is transported to the cytoplasm upon induction of autophagy and is released in EVs in cultured cells (knock-in tagged chromatin with CRISPR-cas9, IF and PCR). This is dependent on FOXM1 (knock-out in cultured cells).

Significance: Transcription factors display strong DNA binding specificity and so are ideal candidates for directing specific genes into EVs for potential transfer to recipient cells.

Remaining questions/points: Care needs to be taken with regard to purification of EVs. Are the FOXM1-DNAs in the EVs functional in recipient cells? Is the DNA being actively ‘selected’ for an intercellular signalling purpose or is this just random degradation? Is it all FOXM1 bound DNA that has the potential to be trafficked to EVs or just a subset? Do other transcription factors have the same function or is it specific to this protein/family? Does this mechanism occur in other contexts (e.g., in vivo, under disease conditions).

ReconfigBehSci. (2021, February 1). @MaartenvSmeden @richarddmorey 2/2 Having conducted experiments on lay understanding of arguments from ignorance, in my experience, people intuitively understand probabilistic impact of factors, such as quality of search, that moderate strength. Rather than build on that, we work against it with slogan! [Tweet]. @SciBeh. https://twitter.com/SciBeh/status/1356228495714746370

ReconfigBehSci. (2020, October 31). RT @learnfromerror: PHIL STAT FORUM NOVEMBER 19; STEPHEN SENN ‘Randomisation and Control in the Age of Coronavirus?’ https://t.co/hqT8GWTqC… [Tweet]. @SciBeh. https://twitter.com/SciBeh/status/1323311706609721344

depression, anxiety disorders, current substance use/abuse, multiple losses, particularly stressful circumstances surrounding the death, lack of social supports, uncertainty about the death, the unavailability of usual mourning rituals

‘No one wanted to read’ his book on pandemic psychology – then Covid hit. (2021, August 19). The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/19/book-psychology-pandemics-steven-taylor

• number of simultaneous connections (peak and average)

• the message rate/payload size.

Osmanov, I. M., Spiridonova, E., Bobkova, P., Gamirova, A., Shikhaleva, A., Andreeva, M., Blyuss, O., El-Taravi, Y., DunnGalvin, A., Comberiati, P., Peroni, D. G., Apfelbacher, C., Genuneit, J., Mazankova, L., Miroshina, A., Chistyakova, E., Samitova, E., Borzakova, S., Bondarenko, E., … Sechenov StopCOVID Research Team. (2021). Risk factors for long covid in previously hospitalised children using the ISARIC Global follow-up protocol: A prospective cohort study [Preprint]. Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.26.21256110

Young, K. S., Purves, K. L., Huebel, C., Davies, M., Thompson, K. N., Bristow, S., Krebs, G., Danese, A., Hirsch, C., Parsons, C. E., Vassos, E., Adey, B., Bright, S., Hegemann, L., Lee, Y. T., Kalsi, G., Monssen, D., Mundy, J., Peel, A., … Breen, G. (2021). Depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK [Preprint]. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/sf7b6

Blakemore, E. (n.d.). New diabetes cases linked to covid-19. Washington Post. Retrieved February 11, 2021, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/02/01/covid-new-onset-diabetes/

Elgar, F. J., Stefaniak, A., & Wohl, M. J. A. (2020). The trouble with trust: Time-series analysis of social capital, income inequality, and COVID-19 deaths in 84 countries. Social Science & Medicine, 263, 113365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113365

Chambon, Monique, Jonas Dalege, Lourens Waldorp, Han van der Maas, Denny Borsboom, and Frenk van Harreveld. ‘A Complex Systems Perspective on Compliance with Behavioral Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands: How Psychological Networks Can Inform Interventions.’ PsyArXiv, 31 March 2021. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/fmu9w.

Hein, G., Gamer, M., Gall, D., Gründahl, M., Domschke, K., Andreatta, M., Wieser, M. J., & Pauli, P. (2021). Social cognitive factors outweigh negative emotionality in predicting COVID-19 related safety behaviors. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/5sbzy

Lopez-Persem, A., Bieth, T., Guiet, S., Ovando-Tellez, M., & Volle, E. (2021). Through thick and thin: Changes in creativity during the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/26qde

Lee, Elizabeth C., Nikolas I. Wada, M. Kate Grabowski, Emily S. Gurley, and Justin Lessler. ‘The Engines of SARS-CoV-2 Spread’. Science 370, no. 6515 (23 October 2020): 406–7. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abd8755.

Endress, Ansgar. ‘The Values of Survival: Socio-Cultural Values Predict COVID-19-Related Mortality’. PsyArXiv, 3 December 2020. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/da95b.

Clift, Ash K., Carol A. C. Coupland, Ruth H. Keogh, Karla Diaz-Ordaz, Elizabeth Williamson, Ewen M. Harrison, Andrew Hayward, et al. ‘Living Risk Prediction Algorithm (QCOVID) for Risk of Hospital Admission and Mortality from Coronavirus 19 in Adults: National Derivation and Validation Cohort Study’. BMJ 371 (20 October 2020): m3731. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3731.

November 19: “Randomisation and control in the age of coronavirus?” (Stephen Senn). (2020, October 30). PhilStatWars. https://phil-stat-wars.com/2020/10/30/november-19-randomisation-and-control-in-the-age-of-coronavirus-stephen-senn/

Giesbrecht, G. (2020, October 2). Protocol for the Canadian Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic study. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/w8hd5

Rogers, Andrew H., Lorra Garey, and Michael J. Zvolensky. “COVID-19 Psychological Factors Associated with Pain Status, Pain Intensity, and Pain-Related Interference.” Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, February 10, 2021, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2021.1874504.

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Papageorge. N. W., Zahn. M. V. Belot. M., van den Broek-Altenburg. E., Choi. S., Jamison. J. C., (2020). Socio-​Demographic Factors Associated with Self-​Protecting Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Institute of Labor Economics. Retrieved from: https://covid-19.iza.org/publications/dp13333/

Muge Cevik [mugecevik] (2020/09/21) Over the last 6 months, we've learned a lot about how SARS-CoV-2 spreadsMicrobe What does the evidence so far tell us about SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics, high-risk activities and environments? Thread Thread (1/n) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3692807 [tweet]. [twitter], https://twitter.com/mugecevik/status/1308080079763902464

A truly enjoyable read about specific environmental factors and their effect on learning in adult zebra fish. Although the study was done on fish, it is known that this particular contaminant effects humans as well in many ways, including in intelligence. The fact that this contaminant was found to effect learning and memory in adult fish reminds us to consider multiple aspects when constructing educational environments. Physical location and learning environment can greatly impact adult learning outcomes and is rarely talked about in adult learning theory papers. 10/10 for interest, 1/10 for relevance to this class.

Muge Cevik {@mugecevik} (2020) Over the last 6 months, we've learned a lot about how SARS-CoV-2 spreadsMicrobe What does the evidence so far tell us about SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics, high-risk activities and environments? Thread. Twitter. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/mugecevik/status/1308080065830363138

Racine, S. E., Miller, A. E., Mehak, A., & Trolio, V. (2020, September 14). Examining Risk and Protective Factors for Psychological Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/ys8fn

Lee, Hyeon-seung, Derek Dean, Tatiana Baxter, Taylor Griffith, and Sohee Park. ‘Deterioration of Mental Health despite Successful Control of the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea’. Preprint. PsyArXiv, 30 August 2020. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/s7qj8.

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Larionov, P., & Mudło-Głagolska, K. (2020, July 20). Mental health risk factors during COVID-19 pandemic in the Polish population. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/3ku8w

Meeting the psychological needs of people recovering from severe coronavirus. (2020, May 7). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hAUUTdhHlc&feature=youtu.be

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First Factor encouraging professional environmentalists in their denial of social collapse in the near term

Discuss what these societal factors may have included.

This was an excellent article Chen (2007) in defining and laying out how a blended learning approach of objectivist and constructivist instructional strategies work well in online instruction and the use of an actual online course as a study example.

RATING: 4/5 (rating based upon a score system 1 to 5, 1= lowest 5=highest in terms of content, veracity, easiness of use etc.)

This article explores the interaction of student based learner-centered used of technology tools such as wikis, blogs and podcasts as new and emerging technology tools. With distance learning programs becoming more and more popular, software applications such as Writeboard, InstaCol and Imeem may become less of the software of choice. The article looks closely at the influence of technology and outcomes.

RATING: 4/5 (rating based upon a score system 1 to 5, 1= lowest 5=highest in terms of content, veracity, easiness of use etc.)

ICT is enhancing communication in the digital learning environment. In this article the integration of ICT is explored and reveals how both teachers and students are able to better utilize their digital options 24/7 more effectively and efficiently. In addition, a gap has been identified in being showing how to best use ICT in the learning environment and included are in-depth studies of its’ use. The article identifies factors influencing teachers’ decision to integrate ICT in teaching.

RATING: 4/5 (rating based upon a score system 1 to 5, 1= lowest 5=highest in terms of content, veracity, easiness of use etc.)

A visual exploration of the link between statin use and the risk of Diabetes in a subpopulation of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

This is an interactive graph created with Biovista Vizit; nodes and links can be further explored to view supporting bibliography and molecular mechanism of action.

3 important factors