Genome-wide transcriptomics analysis identifies sox7 and sox18 as specifically regulated by gata4 in cardiomyogenesis

This work was supported by British Heart Foundation (BHF Project Grant no PG/13/23/30080 to B.A.A and S.H.), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/M001695/1 to S.H.) and the University of Aberdeen (for A.T.L). Acknowledgements We’re grateful to Ms Yvonne Turnbull and Ms Kate Watt for technical assistance and lab management. We would like to thank Professor Cedric Blanpain and Dr Xionghui Li from Université Libre de Bruxelles for providing training of ES cell manipulation and Mesp1/Gata4 cell lines. We are grateful to Professor Todd Evans from Weill Cornell Medical College for generously providing iGata ES cell lines. We also would like to thank Professor Aaron Zorn and Scott Rankin for providing Xsox18 plasmid.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Pulses for healthy and sustainable food systems: The effect of origin on market price

Pulses are widely acknowledged for their high nutritional value due to high protein content, low content in calories, and low glycemic index; they are a good alternative to animal proteins thus offering a considerable number of social, environmental, and health benefits. Despite pulses being widely acknowledged as healthy and sustainable food, in mainly European countries, consumption is growing but still lower than the recommended level, production is unprofitable in comparison to the current market prices level, and a reduction in harvested area has led to a strong dependence on import for pulses supply. Pulses are particularly fitting to the feature of local food because they can be suitably grown in any context, even in the most complex areas, and consumer interest and awareness of food origin has strongly increased in recent years. Lentils were selected as a case study in this paper that aims to define which features are effective on market price and, in particular, the role of origin declaration on label plays in defining the market price and how the origin attributes may enhance market price and farms competitiveness. The methodological tool for this investigation is the hedonic price model, useful to explain the effects of attributes of pulses affecting the market price. Results contribute to a better understanding of the pulse market, emphasizing that the “origin declaration” on label may have a positive effect on market price

Mass accretion rates of clusters of galaxies: CIRS and HeCS

We use a new spherical accretion recipe tested on N-body simulations to measure the observed mass accretion rate (MAR) of 129 clusters in the Cluster Infall Regions in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (CIRS) and in the Hectospec Cluster Survey (HeCS). The observed clusters cover the redshift range of $0.01<z<0.30$ and the mass range of $\sim 10^{14}-10^{15} {h^{-1}~\rm{M_\odot}}$. Based on three-dimensional mass profiles of simulated clusters reaching beyond the virial radius, our recipe returns MARs that agree with MARs based on merger trees. We adopt this recipe to estimate the MAR of real clusters based on measurements of the mass profile out to $\sim 3R_{200}$. We use the caustic method to measure the mass profiles to these large radii. We demonstrate the validity of our estimates by applying the same approach to a set of mock redshift surveys of a sample of 2000 simulated clusters with a median mass of $M_{200}= 10^{14} {h^{-1}~\rm{M_{\odot}}}$ as well as a sample of 50 simulated clusters with a median mass of $M_{200}= 10^{15} {h^{-1}~\rm{M_{\odot}}}$: the median MARs based on the caustic mass profiles of the simulated clusters are unbiased and agree within $19\%$ with the median MARs based on the real mass profile of the clusters. The MAR of the CIRS and HeCS clusters increases with the mass and the redshift of the accreting cluster, which is in excellent agreement with the growth of clusters in the $\Lambda$CDM model.Comment: 25 pages, 19 figures, 7 table

When Collectivity Makes a Difference: Theoretical and Empirical Insights from Urban and Rural Communities in Colombia

[EN] In this paper, we analyse two Colombian communities using elements of the capability approach. The first, Comuna 8, is an urban community in Medellín, Colombia¿s second largest city. The second community is a Zona de Reserva Campesina (Peasant Farmer Reserve Zone) in the Cabrera municipality, in the Department of Cundinamarca. We explore the reasons why people value being part of a community, along with the collective capabilities that are expanded through community participation. As a product of these capabilities communities plan their own territories, which are examples of collective functionings. Social and environmental conversion factors, as well the historical background of the two communities, are key elements in the analysis. Finally, this research sheds light on individual and collective agency. This agency not only occurs in spaces recognised by Colombian law, but also in areas claimed by the communities themselves.This work was supported by Programa Adsideo 2015, Centro de Cooperacion al Desarrollo, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. Ayudas Salvador de Madariaga, Subprograma de Movilidad, Plan Estatal de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnica y de Innovacion 2013-2016.Boni Aristizábal, A.; Millan Franco, GF.; Millan Franco, MA. (2018). When Collectivity Makes a Difference: Theoretical and Empirical Insights from Urban and Rural Communities in Colombia. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. 19(2):216-231. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2017.1412408S216231192Alkire, S. (2002). Valuing Freedoms. doi:10.1093/0199245797.001.0001Biggeri, M., & Ferrannini, A. (2014). Opportunity Gap Analysis: Procedures and Methods for Applying the Capability Approach in Development Initiatives. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 15(1), 60-78. doi:10.1080/19452829.2013.837036Boni, A., & Walker, M. (2016). Universities and Global Human Development. doi:10.4324/9781315742793Crocker, D. A., & Robeyns, I. (s. f.). Capability and Agency. Amartya Sen, 60-90. doi:10.1017/cbo9780511800511.005Deneulin, S. (2014). Wellbeing, Justice and Development Ethics. doi:10.4324/9781315867090Deneulin, S., and S. Alkire. 2009. “A Normative Framework for Development?” InAn Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach: Freedom and Agency, edited by S. Deneulin and L. Shahani, 19–31. London: Earthscan.Drydyk, J. (2013). Empowerment, agency, and power. Journal of Global Ethics, 9(3), 249-262. doi:10.1080/17449626.2013.818374Apsan Frediani, A., Boni, A., & Gasper, D. (2014). Approaching Development Projects from a Human Development and Capability Perspective. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 15(1), 1-12. doi:10.1080/19452829.2013.879014Gaventa, J. (2006). Finding the Spaces for Change: A Power Analysis. IDS Bulletin, 37(6), 23-33. doi:10.1111/j.1759-5436.2006.tb00320.xHill, J. L. (1996). Psychological sense of community: Suggestions for future research. Journal of Community Psychology, 24(4), 431-438. doi:10.1002/(sici)1520-6629(199610)24:43.0.co;2-tIbrahim, S. S. (2006). From Individual to Collective Capabilities: The Capability Approach as a Conceptual Framework for Self‐help. Journal of Human Development, 7(3), 397-416. doi:10.1080/14649880600815982McMillan, D. W., & Chavis, D. M. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 6-23. doi:10.1002/1520-6629(198601)14:13.0.co;2-iRamos-Vidal, I., & Maya-Jariego, I. (2014). Sentido de comunidad, empoderamiento psicológico y participación ciudadana en trabajadores de organizaciones culturales. Psychosocial Intervention, 23(3), 169-176. doi:10.1016/j.psi.2014.04.00

Fournier's gangrene and intravenous drug abuse. An unusual case report and review of the literature

Fournier's gangrene is a potentially fatal emergency condition characterized by necrotizing fasciitis and supported by an infection of the external genital, perineal and perianal region, with a rapid and progressive spread from subcutaneous fat tissue to fascial planes.In this case report, a 52-year-old man, with a history of hepatitis C-virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease and cocaine use disorder for which he was receiving methadone maintenance therapy, was admitted to the Emergency Department with necrotic tissue involving the external genitalia.Fournier's gangrene is usually due to compromised host immunity, without a precise cause of bacterial infection; here it is linked to a loco-regional intravenous injection of cocaine. A multimodal approach, including a wide surgical debridement and a postponed skin graft, was needed. Here we report this case, with a narrative review of the literature