bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing Reparations in the Al Mahdi Case
Authors: Lostal Marina
Published: October 2021

The city of Timbuktu evokes remoteness and, since 2012, chaos and destruction. During an armed conflict in the north of Mali, radicals took over the city and destroyed several of its mausoleums. One of the perpetrators, Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, was convicted at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his participation in the destruction of 10 religious and historic buildings. The unprecedented nature of the Al Mahdi case led to an equally unprecedented question at the reparations phase: who are the victims of cultural heritage destruction and how should their harm be addressed? Drawing from the author’s personal involvement in the case as an appointed expert, this article is a journey into how this question was resolved and the practical challenges it posed during the implementation phase. These challenges, while specific to the Al Mahdi case, provide a framework to demonstrate the level of complexity involved in the implementation of reparations. The article focuses on three ‘monumental’ challenges: (i) whether ‘unborn children’ should be included in the pool of victims given that cultural heritage is meant to be preserved for the benefit of future generations; (ii) what place women ought to occupy in the implementation of reparations, despite the customary practices of side-lining them; and (iii) the decision of whether to memorialize events surrounding the crime. On the latter challenge, the article introduces the concept of ‘restorative agency’, a working principle that was adopted to ensure memorialization practices reflect the experience of victims. Incidentally, this article reveals some of the work of the Trust Fund for Victims, one of the ICC’s least comprehended creations, and briefly discusses the role of experts during implementation moving forward.
Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Nursing Responses to Cuticular Cues Emanating from Short-term Changes in Larval Rearing Environment
Authors: Metz Bradley N , Chakrabarti Priyadarshini , Sagili Ramesh R
Published: October 2021

Honey bee larvae are dependent on the social structure of colony for their provisioning and survival. With thousands of larvae being managed collectively by groups of foragers (collecting food resources) and nurse bees (processing food and provisioning larvae), coordination of colony efforts in rearing brood depends on multiple dynamic cues of larval presence and needs. Much of these cues appear to be chemical, with larvae producing multiple pheromones, major being brood ester pheromone (BEP; nonvolatile blend of fatty acid esters) that elicits both short-term releaser effects and long-term primer effects. While BEP can affect colony food collection and processing with the signaling of larval presence, it is unclear if BEP signals individual larval needs. To understand this aspect, in a series of experiments we manipulated larval feeding environment by depriving larvae from adult bee contact for 4-h period and examined (1) nurse bee interactions with contact-deprived and nondeprived larvae and larval extracts; (2) forager bee responses to contact-deprived and nondeprived larval extracts. We also characterized BEP of contact-deprived and nondeprived larvae. We found that nurse honey bees tend to aggregate more over contact-deprived larvae when compared with nondeprived larvae, but that these effects were not found in response to whole hexane extracts. Our analytical results suggest that BEP components changed in both quantity and quality over short period of contact deprivation. These changes affected foraging behavior, but did not appear to directly affect nursing behavior, suggesting that different chemical cues are involved in regulating nursing effort to individual larvae.
Effects of nitrogen addition on clonal integration between mother and daughter ramets of Moso bamboo: a 13C-CO2 pulse labeling study
Authors: Zhai Wanlu , Wang Yi , Luan Junwei , Liu Shirong
Published: October 2021

Resource sharing among connected ramets (i.e. clonal integration) is one of the distinct traits of clonal plants. Clonal integration confers Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) a strong adaptability to different environmental conditions. But the mechanisms of how clonal integration makes Moso bamboo has better performance are still poorly understood. In this study, acropetal and basipetal translocation of photosynthates between Moso bamboo ramets were analyzed separately to investigate how clonal fragments obtain higher benefits under heterogeneous N conditions. Clonal fragments of Moso bamboo consisting of two interconnected mother–daughter ramets were used, each of the ramets was subjected to either with or without N addition. The acropetal and basipetal translocation of 13C-photosynthates was separated via single-ramet 13CO2-labeling. Mother ramets translocated more 13C-photosynthates to daughter ramets with N addition, and the translocation of 13C-photosynthates to mother ramets was more pronounced when daughter ramets were treated with N addition. The 13C-photosynthates that were translocated from mother ramets without and with N addition were mainly invested in the leaves and roots of daughter ramets with N addition, from daughter ramets with N addition were mainly invested in the leaves and roots of mother ramets with and without N addition, respectively. These results suggest that mother ramets preferentially invest more resources in nutrient-rich daughter ramets, and that daughter ramets serve as efficient resource acquisition sites to specialize in acquiring abundant resources based on the resource conditions of mother ramets. Clonal plants can improve their resource acquisition efficiency and maximize the overall performance in this way.
Challenges of prescribing antidepressants for the elderly: a scoping review
Authors: Fahrni Mathumalar Loganathan , Zubir Siti Nor Afiqah Mohd , Saman Kamaliah Md , Misran Nurul Fatin Laila , Hassan Bassam Abdul Rasool , Mohammed Ali Haider , Wayyes Abdulrasool M
Published: October 2021

Objectives

With a shift in global demographic trends favouring the older population, depression, which is increasingly common to older adults, is fast becoming a significant public health phenomenon that can result in rising healthcare costs, co-morbidities and fatalities. In particular, challenges to prescribing antidepressants to older people given their altered pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles is of major concern to healthcare providers. We aimed to review the challenges encountered by prescribers when diagnosing and selecting older patients suited to receive an antidepressant.

Methods

English articles published between 2011 and 2021 were searched from the three databases which were MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and EMBASE to identify studies related to challenges in prescribing antidepressants for older people with the combination of search keywords such as depression, antidepressants, elderly and challenges, but not limited to them. Studies were excluded if the age of the participant is below 65 years old. The relevancy of the studies to be included were examined initially based on their titles and abstracts. Additional articles were searched from the reference lists of relevant articles.

Key findings

Out of 2500 studies, 11 articles was included in this study. The challenges were classified into three themes: challenges associated with the ageing processes, difficulty in recognising depressive symptoms and challenges in distinguishing depression from cognitive impairment.

Conclusions

Antidepressant prescribing in the elderly is complicated, in which there is a lack of proof for beneficial approaches. The study highlighted pertinent challenges to prescribers when older patients seek drug therapy for depression. This could have easily led to many depression cases gone undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
Influence of Tacrolimus on Serum Vitamin A Levels in Patients after Renal Transplantation
Authors: Yang Shulin , Le Juan , Peng Rui , Wang Shaoting , Li Yan
Published: October 2021

Objective

Patients after renal transplantation exhibit high levels of vitamin A, which has been previously suspected to be related with immunosuppressive medication. However, this possibility has not yet been systematically studied.

Materials and Methods

Altogether, 116 patients were included and divided into 2 groups based on serum creatinine levels. The mean values of vitamin A levels between the 2 groups were compared using the Student’s t-test. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the association between vitamin A and tacrolimus.

Results

Elevated vitamin A levels were found in both groups, and patients with kidney dysfunction after transplantation showed higher levels of vitamin A than patients with recovered kidney function. Most important, we could not identify any significant correlations between vitamin A level and tacrolimus for both groups. After long-term and short-term monitoring for different patients, obvious individual differences emerged. Such results generally ruled out previous suspicions regarding causality between immunosuppressive medication (tacrolimus) and vitamin A elevation after renal transplantation.

Conclusion

Patients after renal transplantation showed higher serum vitamin A levels than people with a normal medical exam, even if their graft function was restored. The cause of this abnormality did not seem to be related with tacrolimus.
Extended Hernquist–Springel formalism for cosmic star formation
Authors: Sorini Daniele , Peacock John A
Published: October 2021

We present a revised and extended version of the analytical model for cosmic star formation originally given by Hernquist and Springel in 2003. The key assumption of this formalism is that star formation proceeds from cold gas, at a rate that is limited by an internal consumption time-scale at early times, or by the rate of generation of gas via cooling at late times. These processes are analysed as a function of the mass of dark matter haloes and integrated over the halo population. We modify this approach in two main ways to make it more general: (1) halo collapse times are included explicitly, so that the behaviour is physically reasonable at late times; (2) allowance is made for a mass-dependent baryon fraction in haloes, which incorporates feedback effects. This model reproduces the main features of the observed baryonic Tully–Fisher relationship, and is consistent with observational estimates of the baryon mass fraction in the intergalactic medium. With minimal adjustment of parameters, our approach reproduces the observed history of cosmic star formation within a factor of 2 over the redshift range of 0 < z < 10. This level of agreement is comparable to that achieved by state-of-the-art cosmological simulations. Our simplified apparatus has pedagogical value in illuminating the results of such detailed calculations, and also serves as a means for rapid approximate exploration of non-standard cosmological models.
SDSS-IV MaNGA: drivers of stellar metallicity in nearby galaxies
Authors: Neumann Justus , Thomas Daniel , Maraston Claudia , Goddard Daniel , Lian Jianhui , Hill Lewis , Domínguez Sánchez Helena , Bernardi Mariangela , Margalef-Bentabol Berta , Barrera-Ballesteros Jorge K , Bizyaev Dmitry , Boardman Nicholas F , Drory Niv , Fernández-Trincado José G , Lane Richard
Published: October 2021

The distribution of stellar metallicities within and across galaxies is an excellent relic of the chemical evolution across cosmic time. We present a detailed analysis of spatially resolved stellar populations based on >2.6 million spatial bins from 7439 nearby galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-IV (SDSS-IV) Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) survey. To account for accurate inclination corrections, we derive an equation for morphology-dependent determination of galaxy inclinations. Our study goes beyond the well-known global mass–metallicity relation and radial metallicity gradients by providing a statistically sound exploration of local relations between stellar metallicity [Z/H], stellar surface mass density Σ⋆, and galactocentric distance in the global mass–morphology plane. We find a significant resolved mass density–metallicity relation $r\Sigma _\star ZR$ for galaxies of all types and masses above $10^{9.8}\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$. Different radial distances make an important contribution to the spread of the relation. Particularly, in low- and intermediate-mass galaxies, we find that at fixed Σ⋆ metallicity increases with radius independently of morphology. For high masses, this radial dependence is only observed in high Σ⋆ regions of spiral galaxies. This result calls for a driver of metallicity, in addition to Σ⋆ that promotes chemical enrichment in the outer parts of galaxies more strongly than in the inner parts. We discuss gas accretion, outflows, recycling, and radial migration as possible scenarios.
PLATO hare-and-hounds exercise: asteroseismic model fitting of main-sequence solar-like pulsators
Authors: Cunha M S , Roxburgh I W , Aguirre Børsen-Koch V , Ball W H , Basu S , Chaplin W J , Goupil M-J , Nsamba B , Ong J , Reese D R , Verma K , Belkacem K , Campante T , Christensen-Dalsgaard J , Clara M T , Deheuvels S , Monteiro M J P F G , Noll A , Ouazzani R M , Rørsted J L , Stokholm A , Winther M L
Published: October 2021

Asteroseismology is a powerful tool to infer fundamental stellar properties. The use of these asteroseismic-inferred properties in a growing number of astrophysical contexts makes it vital to understand their accuracy. Consequently, we performed a hare-and-hounds exercise where the hares simulated data for six artificial main-sequence stars and the hounds inferred their properties based on different inference procedures. To mimic a pipeline such as that planned for the PLATO mission, all hounds used the same model grid. Some stars were simulated using the physics adopted in the grid, others a different one. The maximum relative differences found (in absolute value) between the inferred and true values of the mass, radius, and age were 4.32, 1.33, and 11.25 per cent, respectively. The largest systematic differences in radius and age were found for a star simulated assuming gravitational settling, not accounted for in the model grid, with biases of −0.88 per cent (radius) and 8.66 per cent (age). For the mass, the most significant bias (−3.16 per cent) was found for a star with a helium enrichment ratio outside the grid range. Moreover, an ∼7 per cent dispersion in age was found when adopting different prescriptions for the surface corrections or shifting the classical observations by ±1σ. The choice of the relative weight given to the classical and seismic constraints also impacted significantly the accuracy and precision of the results. Interestingly, only a few frequencies were required to achieve accurate results on the mass and radius. For the age the same was true when at least one l = 2 mode was considered.
Proper motions of OB stars in the far Carina Arm
Authors: Drew J E , Monguió M , Wright N J
Published: October 2021

In large-scale maps of the Galactic disc, the Carina Arm stands out as a clear spiral feature, hosting prominent star clusters and associations rich in massive stars. We study the proper motions of 4199 O and early B most likely in the far Carina Arm, at distances mainly in excess of 4 kpc from the Sun, within the sky region, 282° < ℓ < 294° and −3° < b < +1° (Galactic coordinates). The sample is constructed by extending an existing blue-selected catalogue, and cross-matching with Gaia EDR3 astrometry. The observed pattern of proper motions is modulated into a saw-tooth pattern, with full amplitude approaching 1 mas yr−1, recurring roughly every 2–3 degrees of longitude (200–300 pc at the median OB-star distance of 5.8 kpc). Kinematic perturbation of underlying circular rotation is most likely present. The data also reveal a moving group containing >50 OB stars at ℓ ∼ 286°, b ∼ −1.4° behind the main run of the far arm. An analysis of relative proper motions is performed that yields an incidence of runaway O stars of at least 10 per cent (potentially >20 per cent when full space motions become available). To map where runaways have run away from, we set up simulations for the region that assume linear trajectories and test for trajectory impact parameter in order to identify likely ejection hot spots. We find the method currently gives good results for times of flight of up to ∼4 Myr. It shows convincingly that only NGC 3603 and Westerlund 2 have ejected OB stars in significant numbers. Indeed, both clusters have experienced intense spells of ejection between 0.6–0.9 and 0.5–0.8 Myr ago, respectively.
A new analytic ram pressure profile for satellite galaxies
Authors: Vega-Martínez Cristian A , Gómez Facundo A , Cora Sofía A , Hough Tomás
Published: October 2021

We present a new analytic fitting profile to model the ram pressure (RP) exerted over satellite galaxies on different environments and epochs. The profile is built using the information of the gas particle distribution in hydrodynamical simulations of groups and clusters of galaxies to measure the RP directly. We show that predictions obtained by a previously introduced β-profile model cannot consistently reproduce the dependence of the RP on halocentric distance and redshift for a given halo mass. It features a systematic underestimation of the predicted RP at high redshifts (z > 1.5), which increases towards the central regions of the haloes and it is independent of halo mass, reaching differences larger than two decades for satellites at r < 0.4Rvir. This behaviour reverses as redshift decreases, featuring an increasing overestimation with halocentric distance at z = 0. As an alternative, we introduce a new universal analytic model for the profiles that can recover the RP dependence on halo mass, halocentric distance, and redshift. We analyse the impact of our new profile on galaxy properties by applying a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation and evolution on top of the simulations. We show that galaxies experiencing large amounts of cumulative RP stripping typically have low stellar masses (M⋆ ≤ 109.5 M⊙). Besides, their specific star formation histories depend on the RP modelling applied, particularly at high redshifts (z > 1.5).
Improving IGM temperature constraints using wavelet analysis on high-redshift quasars
Authors: Wolfson Molly , Hennawi Joseph F , Davies Frederick B , Oñorbe Jose , Hiss Hector , Lukić Zarija
Published: October 2021

The thermal state of the intergalactic medium contains vital information about the epoch of reionization, one of the most transformative yet poorly understood periods in the young Universe. This thermal state is encoded in the small-scale structure of Lyman-α (Ly α) absorption in quasar spectra. The 1D flux power spectrum measures the average small-scale structure along quasar sightlines. At high redshifts, where the opacity is large, averaging mixes high signal-to-noise ratio transmission spikes with noisy absorption troughs. Wavelet amplitudes are an alternate statistic that maintains spatial information while quantifying fluctuations at the same spatial frequencies as the power spectrum, giving them the potential to more sensitively measure the small-scale structure. Previous Ly α forest studies using wavelet amplitude probability density functions (PDFs) used limited spatial frequencies and neglected strong correlations between PDF bins and across wavelets scales, resulting in suboptimal and unreliable parameter inference. Here we present a novel method for performing statistical inference using wavelet amplitude PDFs that spans the full range of spatial frequencies probed by the power spectrum and that fully accounts for these correlations. We applied this procedure to realistic mock data drawn from a simple thermal model parametrized by the temperature at mean density, T0, and find that wavelets deliver 1σ constraints on T0 that are on average 7 per cent more sensitive at z = 5 (12 per cent at z = 6) than those from the power spectrum. We consider the possibility of combing wavelet PDFs with the power, but find that this does not lead to improved sensitivity.
FlyAtlas 2 in 2022: enhancements to the Drosophila melanogaster expression atlas
Authors: Krause Sue A , Overend Gayle , Dow Julian A T , Leader David P
Published: October 2021

FlyAtlas 2 (flyatlas2.org) is a database and web application for studying the expression of the genes of Drosophila melanogaster in different tissues of adults and larvae. It is based on RNA-Seq data, and incorporates both genes encoding proteins and microRNAs. We have now completed the population of the database with 13 tissues from both male and female adults, five sex-specific tissues, and eight larval tissues. Larval garland cell nephrocytes have also been included. Major enhancements have been made to the application. First, a facility has been added for a ‘Profile’ search for genes with a similar pattern of tissue expression as a query gene. This may help establish the function of genes for which this is currently unknown. Second, a facility has been added dedicated to the larval midgut, where the difference in gene expression in the five regions of different pH can be explored. A variety of further improvements to the interface are described.
RNAPhaSep: a resource of RNAs undergoing phase separation
Authors: Zhu Haibo , Fu Hao , Cui Tianyu , Ning Lin , Shao Huaguo , Guo Yehan , Ke Yanting , Zheng Jiayi , Lin Hongyan , Wu Xin , Liu Guanghao , He Jun , Han Xin , Li Wenlin , Zhao Xiaoyang , Lu Huasong , Wang Dong , Hu Kongfa , Shen Xiaopei
Published: October 2021

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) partitions cellular contents, underlies the formation of membraneless organelles and plays essential biological roles. To date, most of the research on LLPS has focused on proteins, especially RNA-binding proteins. However, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that RNAs can also function as ‘scaffolds’ and play essential roles in seeding or nucleating the formation of granules. To better utilize the knowledge dispersed in published literature, we here introduce RNAPhaSep (http://www.rnaphasep.cn), a manually curated database of RNAs undergoing LLPS. It contains 1113 entries with experimentally validated RNA self-assembly or RNA and protein co-involved phase separation events. RNAPhaSep contains various types of information, including RNA information, protein information, phase separation experiment information and integrated annotation from multiple databases. RNAPhaSep provides a valuable resource for exploring the relationship between RNA properties and phase behaviour, and may further enhance our comprehensive understanding of LLPS in cellular functions and human diseases.
C3 glomerulopathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy: impact of chronic histologic lesions and beneficial effects of clone-targeted therapies
Authors: Caravaca-Fontán Fernando , Lucientes Laura , Serra Núria , Cavero Teresa , Rodado Raquel , Ramos Natalia , Gonzalez Fayna , Shabaka Amir , Cabello Virginia , Huerta Ana , Pampa-Saico Saúl , Gutiérrez Eduardo , Quintana Luis F , López-Rubio Maria Esperanza , Draibe Juliana , Alonso Titos Juana , Fernández-Juárez Gema , Goicoechea de Jorge Elena , Praga Manuel
Published: October 2021

Background

C3 glomerulopathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy (C3G-MIg) is a rare entity. Herein we analysed the clinical and histologic features of a cohort of C3G-MIg patients.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, multicentre, observational study. Patients diagnosed with C3G-MIg between 1995 and 2021 were enrolled. All had genetic studies of the alternative complement pathway. The degree of disease activity and chronicity were analysed using the C3G histologic index. Descriptive statistics and propensity score matching (PSM) analysis were used to evaluate the main outcome of the study [kidney failure (KF)].

Results

The study group included 23 patients with a median age 63 of years [interquartile range (IQR) 48–70], and 57% were males. Immunoglobulin G kappa was the most frequent MIg (65%). The diagnosis of C3G-MIg was made in transplanted kidneys in seven patients (30%). Five (22%) patients had C3 nephritic factor and five (22%) had anti-factor H antibodies. One patient carried a pathogenic variant in the CFH gene. During a follow-up of 40 months (IQR 14–69), nine patients (39%) reached KF and these patients had a significantly higher total chronicity score on kidney biopsy. Patients who received clone-targeted therapy had a significantly higher survival compared with other management. Those who achieved haematological response had a significantly higher kidney survival. Outcome was remarkably poor in kidney transplant recipients, with five of them (71%) reaching KF. By PSM (adjusting for age, kidney function, proteinuria and chronicity score), no significant differences were observed in kidney survival between C3G patients with/without MIg.

Conclusions

The C3G histologic index can be used in patients with C3G-MIg to predict kidney prognosis, with higher chronicity scores being associated with worse outcomes. Clone-targeted therapies and the development of a haematological response are associated with better kidney prognosis.
Cigarette Promotions in U.S. Pharmacies
Authors: Seidenberg Andrew B , Henriksen Lisa , Ribisl Kurt M
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The sale of tobacco products within American pharmacies has generated controversy for several decades, leading two U.S. states and 45 municipalities to adopt tobacco-free pharmacy policies. While previous research has reported cheaper cigarette prices in pharmacies, compared to other retailers, little is known about cigarette promotions in pharmacies, which are associated with increased youth smoking and unplanned cigarette purchases among adults.

Aims and Methods

Between May and August 2015, trained data collectors conducted store audits at 2128 tobacco retailers located within 97 U.S. counties in 40 states. Observations were made for three types of cigarette promotions: special price (e.g., $0.30 off/pack), multi-pack promotions (e.g., buy one pack, get one free), and cross-product promotions (e.g., buy a pack of cigarettes and a get free can of snus). We calculated weighted estimates of the proportion of pharmacies and other retailer types with cigarette promotions and used weighted multivariable logistic regression to compare cigarette promotions by tobacco retailer type, accounting for clustering at the county level and controlling for county-level demographic characteristics.

Results

Cigarette promotions were observed in 94.0% of pharmacies, more than any other retailer type (e.g., convenience stores: 82.0%, tobacco stores: 77.0%). All retailer types had lower odds of promotions for Marlboro, Newport, Camel, menthol, or any interior cigarette promotion, compared to pharmacies.

Conclusions

Nearly all pharmacies offered in-store cigarette promotions and pharmacies had greater odds of offering cigarette promotions than all other retailer types. Whether voluntarily or legislatively, tobacco-free pharmacies would eliminate a prevalent retail source of cigarette promotions.

Implications

This is the first known national study to examine prevalence of cigarette promotions in U.S. pharmacies compared to other retailer types. Nearly all pharmacies offered in-store cigarette promotions and pharmacies had greater odds of offering cigarette promotions than all other retailer types. These findings underscore the inherent contradiction of pharmacies serving both as an important component of the health care system, but also as purveyors and promotors of addictive and lethal tobacco products. Whether voluntarily or legislatively, tobacco-free pharmacy policies would eliminate a prevalent retail source of cigarette promotions.
Subaru/FOCAS IFU revealed the metallicity gradient of a local extremely metal-poor galaxy
Authors: Kashiwagi Yuri , Inoue Akio K , Isobe Yuki , Nakajima Kimihiko , Ouchi Masami , Ozaki Shinobu , Fujimoto Seiji , Ono Yoshiaki , Kojima Takashi
Published: October 2021

We present the first measurement of the metallicity gradient in extremely metal-poor galaxies (EMPGs). With Subaru/Faint Object Camera And Spectrograph (FOCAS) Integral Field Unit (IFU), we have observed a nearby, low-mass EMPG, HSC J1631+4426, whose oxygen abundance and stellar mass are known to be 12 + log (O/H) = 6.9 and log10(M*/M⊙) = 5.8, respectively. The measured metallicity gradient is −0.36 ± 0.04 dex kpc−1 corresponding to −0.049 ± 0.006 dex$\:R_\mathrm{e}^{-1}$ for the continuum effective radius of Re = 0.14 kpc. Our observation has successfully demonstrated that three-dimensional spectroscopy with 8 m-class telescopes is powerful enough to reveal the metallicity distribution in local EMPGs, providing precious information on the baryon cycle in local analogs of primordial galaxies in the early Universe.
The Effect of the Model’s Social Status on Placebo Analgesia Induced by Social Observational Learning
Authors: Bieniek Helena , Bąbel Przemysław
Published: October 2021

Background

Placebo analgesia can be induced by social observational learning. The aim of this study was to determine whether this effect can be influenced by the social status of a model.

Methods

Healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to three groups: a group that observed a video featuring a high-status model (introduced as a professor), a group that observed a video featuring a low-status model (introduced as a janitor), and a control group. Participants observed videos showing a model (of high or low status) undergoing the experimental procedure, during which he received pain stimuli. In each group, half of participants watched a video in which the model rated blue stimuli as more painful (6–8 on the numeric rating scale) and orange stimuli as less painful (1–3 on the numeric rating scale), whereas the other half of participants watched a video in which the model rated orange stimuli as more painful and blue stimuli as less painful. Participants in the control group did not watch any video. Then, all participants received 16 electrocutaneous pain stimuli of the same intensity, preceded by either blue or orange colors. The perceived social status of the model and the trait empathy of participants were measured.

Results

Placebo analgesia was induced in both experimental groups, yet no difference in the magnitude of the effect was found. However, we found that the participants’ individual ratings of the model’s social status predicted the magnitude of placebo analgesia.

Conclusion

This is the first study to show that the perception of a model’s social status is related to the magnitude of placebo analgesia induced by observational learning.
Functional and Structural Neuroplastic Changes Related to Sensitization Proxies in Patients with Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Pedersini Paolo , Gobbo Massimiliano , Bishop Mark D , Arendt-Nielsen Lars , Villafañe Jorge H
Published: October 2021

Objective

Several reports in literature have identified sensitization as a possible basis for the enhanced pain reactions associated with osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this current systematic review is to summarize functional and structural brain changes associated with surrogate sensitization parameters assessed in patients with OA-related pain.

Design

Systematic review.

Subjects

Patients with OA related pain.

Methods

A literature search was conducted systematically in MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE databases for human studies up to December 2019. Articles were included if they assessed brain imaging and sensitization parameters (quantitative sensory testing and questionnaires) in adults with OA-related pain. Methodological quality was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) score.

Results

Five studies reporting on 138 patients were included in this review. The MINORS scale yielded mean scores of 8.5/16 and 12.3/24, for the cohort and case-control studies respectively. Four low-quality studies suggest a greater pain matrix activation associated with clinical measures of sensitization in patients with OA, while another study underlined the presence of structural changes (reduced gray matter volume) in the cortical areas involved in the nociceptive processing possible also related to sensitization.

Conclusions

This review shows conflicting evidence for structural and functional neuroplastic brain changes related to sensitization proxies in patients with OA.
The Greater London Council’s Homesteading Scheme: Housing Rehabilitation and the Urban Imaginary of Conservative Politics in London, 1977–81
Authors: Pinto Tessa
Published: October 2021

This article examines the Greater London Council (GLC)’s Homesteading scheme, which gave away dilapidated, council-owned houses to aspiring homeowners. The first section provides an overview of the scheme and its North American origins. The second half of the article explores the scheme in the context of London’s electoral geopolitics, and considers how the relationship between the boroughs and the GLC influenced housing policy across the capital. The article then locates the scheme within the context of the ‘inner city’, and explores the complex relationship between race, homeownership, and the Conservative Party during the late 1970s. Finally, the article identifies the formation of a Conservative urban imaginary that envisioned London as a ‘city of villages’, resurrecting the brick terraced street as the ideal domestic form, in opposition to the high-rise housing of welfare state modernism—and in so doing, drew on a growing sense of popular individualism during the decade. To conclude, the article proposes that the GLC’s Homesteading scheme was a striking prefiguration of the kinds of urban interventions in British cities that characterized Thatcher’s premiership, and that it has significance for understanding a range of diverse, intersecting urban issues during the period.
LncRNA-ENST00000556926 regulates the proliferation, apoptosis and mRNA transcriptome of malignant-transformed BEAS-2B cells induced by coal tar pitch
Authors: Zhu Yonghang , Li Zhongqiu , Wang Weiguang , Jing Linhao , Yu Qi , Li Zhenkai , Chen Xu , Zhang Jiatong , Zhang Peng , Feng Feifei , Zhang Qiao
Published: October 2021

As a byproduct of coal tar distillation, coal tar pitch (CTP) has been proven to be carcinogenic to human. However, the mechanisms of lung cancer induced by CTP are still unclear. It has been shown that long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) play an important role in the development of human cancers. This study aims to investigate the effect of LncRNA-ENST00000556926 on malignant-transformed human bronchial epithelial (BAES-2B) cells induced by coal tar pitch extracts (CTPE). In this study, BEAS-2B cells were treated with 2.4 μg/ml of CTPE for 72 h and then passaged; and the cells were treated 4 times in the same procedure, then passaged until passage 30 (CTPE30). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to detect cell viability, then cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry, and transcriptome sequencing analysis was used to detect differentially expressed mRNAs after interference of ENST00000556926. The results indicated that the expression of ENST00000556926 in CTPE30 group was significantly higher compared with control group. Furthermore, after interfering the expression of ENST00000556926, cell viability was inhibited, and cell cycle was arrested while apoptosis of malignant-transformed BEAS-2B cells was promoted. Moreover, a total of 159 differentially expressed mRNAs were screened out after interference of ENST00000556926, including 62 up-regulated mRNAs and 97 down-regulated mRNAs. In addition, knockdown of ENST00000556926 decreased the expression of thioredoxin domain containing 5 (TXNDC5) and FOXD1. In conclusion, LncRNA-ENST00000556926 could regulate the proliferation, apoptosis and mRNA transcriptome of malignant-transformed BEAS-2B cells induced by CTP, which may provide a novel treatment strategy for lung cancer.
Growth Promotion of Giant Duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza (Lemnaceae) by Ensifer sp. SP4 Through Enhancement of Nitrogen Metabolism and Photosynthesis
Authors: Toyama Tadashi , Mori Kazuhiro , Tanaka Yasuhiro , Ike Michihiko , Morikawa Masaaki
Published: October 2021

Duckweeds (Lemnaceae) are representative producers in fresh aquatic ecosystems and also yield sustainable biomass for animal feeds, human foods, and biofuels, and contribute toward effective wastewater treatment; thus, enhancing duckweed productivity is a critical challenge. Plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can improve the productivity of terrestrial plants; however, duckweed–PGPB interactions remain unclear and no previous study has investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying duckweed–PGPB interaction. Herein, a PGPB, Ensifer sp. strain SP4, was newly isolated from giant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza), and the interactions between S. polyrhiza and SP4 were investigated through physiological, biochemical, and metabolomic analyses. In S. polyrhiza and SP4 coculture, SP4 increased the nitrogen (N), chlorophyll, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) contents and the photosynthesis rate of S. polyrhiza by 2.5-, 2.5-, 2.7-, and 2.4-fold, respectively. Elevated photosynthesis increased the relative growth rate and biomass productivity of S. polyrhiza by 1.5- and 2.7-fold, respectively. Strain SP4 significantly altered the metabolomic profile of S. polyrhiza, especially its amino acid profile. N stable isotope analysis revealed that organic N compounds were transferred from SP4 to S. polyrhiza. These N compounds, particularly glutamic acid, possibly triggered the increase in photosynthetic and growth activities. Accordingly, we propose a new model for the molecular mechanism underlying S. polyrhiza growth promotion by its associated bacteria Ensifer sp. SP4, which occurs through enhanced N compound metabolism and photosynthesis. Our findings show that Ensifer sp. SP4 is a promising PGPB for increasing biomass yield, wastewater purification activity, and CO2 capture of S. polyrhiza.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
A Microbial Fermentation Product Induces Defense-Related Transcriptional Changes and the Accumulation of Phenolic Compounds inGlycine max
Authors: Schulman Pablo , Ribeiro Thales H. C. , Fokar Mohamed , Chalfun-Junior Antonio , Lally Richard D. , Paré Paul W. , de Medeiros Flávio H. V.
Published: October 2021

With the progressive loss of fungicide efficacy against Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the causal agent of Asian soybean rust (ASR), alternative methods to protect soybean crops are needed. Resistance induction is a low impact alternative and/or supplement to fungicide applications that fortifies innate plant defenses against pathogens. Here, we show that a microbial fermentation product (MFP) induces plant defenses in soybean, and transcriptional induction is enhanced with the introduction of ASR. MFP-treated plants exhibited 1,011 and 1,877 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) 12 and 60 h after treatment, respectively, compared with water controls. MFP plants exposed to the pathogen 48 h after application and sampled 12 h later (for a total of 60 h) had 2,401 DEGs compared with control. The plant defense genes PR1, PR2, IPER, PAL, and CHS were induced with MFP application, and induction was enhanced with ASR. Enriched pathways associated with pathogen defense included plant–pathogen interactions, MAPK signaling pathways, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, flavonoid metabolism, and isoflavonoid metabolism. In field conditions, elevated antioxidant peroxidase activities and phenolic accumulation were measured with MFP treatment; however, improved ASR control or enhanced crop yield were not observed. MFP elicitation differences between field and laboratory grown plants necessitates further testing to identify best practices for effective disease management with MFP-treated soybean.
Integration of Patient-reported Outcomes Assessment Into Routine Care for Patients Receiving Residential Treatment for Alcohol and/or Substance Use Disorder
Authors: Yi Cameron M. , Huhn Andrew S. , Hobelmann J. Gregory , Finnerty John , Solounias Bernadette , Dunn Kelly E.
Published: October 2021

Background

More than 3 million individuals receive treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and/or substance use disorder each year, yet there exists no standardized method for measuring patient success in treatment. Quantifying a more comprehensive assessment of treatment outcomes could identify the relative efficacy of different treatment strategies for individuals with AUD/substance use disorders, and help patients to identify, in advance, appropriate treatment options.

Methods

This study developed and embedded patient-reported outcome measures into the routine clinical operations of a residential treatment program. Surveys assessed demographics, drug use history, physical and mental health, and quality of life. Outcomes were assessed among participants at admission (n = 961) and in patients who completed the survey at time of discharge (n = 633).

Results

Past 30-day alcohol and/or opioid use at admission were correlated with worse self-reported physical and mental health, sleep, and quality of life, and greater negative affect and craving (Ps < 0.05). Previous history of treatment and/or withdrawal management were associated with worse self-reported physical and mental health, quality of life, and increased craving (Ps < 0.05). Physical and mental health improved across timepoints and was most pronounced when comparing persons receiving treatment for opioid use disorder versus AUD, wherein persons with opioid use disorder had worse physical health at all time points, and greater sleep disturbance and negative affect at discharge (Ps < 0.05).

Conclusions

It is feasible to embed patient outcome monitoring into routine clinic operations, which could be used in the future to tailor treatment plans.
Single Dose of Oral Azithromycin With or Without Amoxicillin to Prevent Peripartum Infection in Laboring, High-Risk Women in Cameroon
Authors: Subramaniam Akila , Ye Yuanfan , Mbah Rahel , Mbunwe Doreen M. , Pekwarake Seraphine , Bunwi Edwan Yui , Fondzeyuf Anthony , Ngong Mary G. , Dionne-Odom Jodie , Harper Lorie M. , Jauk Victoria C. , Carlo Waldemar A. , Halle-Ekane Gregory , Szychowski Jeff M. , Tih Pius , Tita Alan T.
Published: October 2021

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the effectiveness of single-dose azithromycin, with or without amoxicillin, with placebo to prevent peripartum infection in laboring women.

METHODS:

We conducted a multicenter, three-group, double-blind randomized controlled trial of women with viable term nonanomalous pregnancies with either prolonged labor of 18 hours or longer or rupture of membranes for 8 hours or longer in Cameroon. Women with chorioamnionitis before randomization, study drug contraindications, or planned cesarean births were excluded. Women were randomized to oral azithromycin 1 g–placebo (group 1), oral azithromycin 1 g–oral amoxicillin 2 g (group 2), or placebo–placebo (group 3). All groups received usual care, including antibiotics given at the health care professional's discretion. The primary outcome was a composite of maternal peripartum infection or death from any cause up to 6 weeks postpartum. Two primary comparisons (group 1 vs group 3 and group 2 vs group 3) were planned. We estimated that 241 women per group (planning for 750 total) would provide 80% power at two-sided α=0.05 (0.025 per comparison) to detect a 50% effect size assuming 20% baseline composite infection rate.

RESULTS:

From January 6, 2018, to May 15, 2020, 6,531 women were screened, and 756 (253 in group 1, 253 in group 2, and 250 in group 3) were randomized. Baseline characteristics (including body mass index, duration of rupture of membranes or labor, and parity) were balanced across groups, except for maternal age. More than 60% of women in each group received usual-care antibiotics: more than 90% penicillin and approximately 50% for prolonged rupture of membranes across all study groups. Composite outcome incidences were similar in antibiotic groups 1 (6%) and 2 (7%) compared with placebo group 3 (10%) (RR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3–1.2; 0.7, 95% CI 0.4–1.3, respectively). Chorioamnionitis and wound infection were significantly lower in group 2 (3.2% vs 0.4% and 4% vs 0.8% respectively, both P=.02) compared with group 3. There were no differences in other maternal or neonatal outcomes including neonatal infection.

CONCLUSION:

A single dose of oral azithromycin with or without amoxicillin for prolonged labor or rupture of membranes at term did not reduce maternal peripartum or neonatal infection. Observed lower than expected infection rates and frequent usual-care antibiotic use may have contributed to these findings.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03248297.

FUNDING SOURCE:

Merck for Mothers Investigator Studies Program grant.
Birth Outcomes for Planned Home and Licensed Freestanding Birth Center Births in Washington State
Authors: Nethery Elizabeth , Schummers Laura , Levine Audrey , Caughey Aaron B. , Souter Vivienne , Gordon Wendy
Published: October 2021

OBJECTIVE:

To describe rates of maternal and perinatal birth outcomes for community births and to compare outcomes by planned place of birth (home vs state-licensed, freestanding birth center) in a Washington State birth cohort, where midwifery practice and integration mirrors international settings.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all births attended by members of a statewide midwifery professional association that were within professional association guidelines and met eligibility criteria for planned birth center birth (term gestation, singleton, vertex fetus with no known fluid abnormalities at term, no prior cesarean birth, no hypertensive disorders, no prepregnancy diabetes), from January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2020. Outcome rates were calculated for all planned community births in the cohort. Estimated relative risks were calculated comparing delivery and perinatal outcomes for planned births at home to state-licensed birth centers, adjusted for parity and other confounders.

RESULTS:

The study population included 10,609 births: 40.9% planned home and 59.1% planned birth center births. Intrapartum transfers to hospital were more frequent among nulliparous individuals (30.5%; 95% CI 29.2–31.9) than multiparous individuals (4.2%; 95% CI 3.6–4.6). The cesarean delivery rate was 11.4% (95% CI 10.2–12.3) in nulliparous individuals and 0.87% (95% CI 0.7–1.1) in multiparous individuals. The perinatal mortality rate after the onset of labor (intrapartum and neonatal deaths through 7 days) was 0.57 (95% CI 0.19–1.04) per 1,000 births. Rates for other adverse outcomes were also low. Compared with planned birth center births, planned home births had similar risks in crude and adjusted analyses.

CONCLUSION:

Rates of adverse outcomes for this cohort in a U.S. state with well-established and integrated community midwifery were low overall. Birth outcomes were similar for births planned at home or at a state-licensed, freestanding birth center.