Comparative Ceramic Study Between Enslaved and Planter Contexts in Martinique

Data recovered during archaeological research at the former sugar plantation Crève Cœur on Martinique (Figure 1) provides the opportunity to study the lives of the enslaved population and the planters in relation to one another. For the purpose of this study a portion of the ceramic assemblage from an area within the slave village (Locus A) and a portion of the assemblag

Modulation of pathogen-induced CCL20 secretion from HT-29 human intestinal epithelial cells by commensal bacteria

BACKGROUND: Human intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) secrete the chemokine CCL20 in response to infection by various enteropathogenic bacteria or exposure to bacterial flagellin. CCL20 recruits immature dendritic cells and lymphocytes to target sites. Here we investigated IEC responses to various pathogenic and commensal bacteria as well as the modulatory effects of commensal bacteria on pathogen-induced CCL20 secretion. HT-29 human IECs were incubated with commensal bacteria (Bifidobacterium infantis or Lactobacillus salivarius), or with Salmonella typhimurium, its flagellin, Clostridium difficile, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, or Mycobacterium smegmatis for varying times. In some studies, HT-29 cells were pre-treated with a commensal strain for 2 hr prior to infection or flagellin stimulation. CCL20 and interleukin (IL)-8 secretion and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: Compared to untreated cells, S. typhimurium, C. difficile, M. paratuberculosis, and flagellin activated NF-kappaB and stimulated significant secretion of CCL20 and IL-8 by HT-29 cells. Conversely, B. infantis, L. salivarius or M. smegmatis did not activate NF-kappaB or augment CCL20 or IL-8 production. Treatment with B. infantis, but not L. salivarius, dose-dependently inhibited the baseline secretion of CCL20. In cells pre-treated with B. infantis, C. difficile-, S. typhimurium-, and flagellin-induced CCL20 were significantly attenuated. B. infantis did not limit M. Paratuberculosis-induced CCL20 secretion. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to demonstrate that a commensal strain can attenuate CCL20 secretion in HT-29 IECs. Collectively, the data indicate that M. paratuberculosis may mediate mucosal damage and that B. infantis can exert immunomodulatory effects on IECs that mediate host responses to flagellin and flagellated enteric pathogens

Stretching the IR theoretical spectrum on Irish neutrality: a critical social constructivist framework

In a 2006 International Political Science Review article, entitled "Choosing to Go It Alone: Irish Neutrality in Theoretical and Comparative Perspective," Neal G. Jesse argues that Irish neutrality is best understood through a neoliberal rather than a neorealist international relations theory framework. This article posits an alternative "critical social constructivist" framework for understanding Irish neutrality. The first part of the article considers the differences between neoliberalism and social constructivism and argues why critical social constructivism's emphasis on beliefs, identity, and the agency of the public in foreign policy are key factors explaining Irish neutrality today. Using public opinion data, the second part of the article tests whether national identity, independence, ethnocentrism, attitudes to Northern Ireland, and efficacy are factors driving public support for Irish neutrality. The results show that public attitudes to Irish neutrality are structured along the dimensions of independence and identity, indicating empirical support for a critical social constructivist framework of understanding of Irish neutrality

Evaluating the Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutation D614G on Transmissibility and Pathogenicity.

Global dispersal and increasing frequency of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant D614G are suggestive of a selective advantage but may also be due to a random founder effect. We investigate the hypothesis for positive selection of spike D614G in the United Kingdom using more than 25,000 whole genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Despite the availability of a large dataset, well represented by both spike 614 variants, not all approaches showed a conclusive signal of positive selection. Population genetic analysis indicates that 614G increases in frequency relative to 614D in a manner consistent with a selective advantage. We do not find any indication that patients infected with the spike 614G variant have higher COVID-19 mortality or clinical severity, but 614G is associated with higher viral load and younger age of patients. Significant differences in growth and size of 614G phylogenetic clusters indicate a need for continued study of this variant

Evaluating the Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutation D614G on Transmissibility and Pathogenicity

Global dispersal and increasing frequency of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant D614G are suggestive of a selective advantage but may also be due to a random founder effect. We investigate the hypothesis for positive selection of spike D614G in the United Kingdom using more than 25,000 whole genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Despite the availability of a large dataset, well represented by both spike 614 variants, not all approaches showed a conclusive signal of positive selection. Population genetic analysis indicates that 614G increases in frequency relative to 614D in a manner consistent with a selective advantage. We do not find any indication that patients infected with the spike 614G variant have higher COVID-19 mortality or clinical severity, but 614G is associated with higher viral load and younger age of patients. Significant differences in growth and size of 614G phylogenetic clusters indicate a need for continued study of this variant

Changes in symptomatology, reinfection, and transmissibility associated with the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7: an ecological study

Background The SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 was first identified in December, 2020, in England. We aimed to investigate whether increases in the proportion of infections with this variant are associated with differences in symptoms or disease course, reinfection rates, or transmissibility. Methods We did an ecological study to examine the association between the regional proportion of infections with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant and reported symptoms, disease course, rates of reinfection, and transmissibility. Data on types and duration of symptoms were obtained from longitudinal reports from users of the COVID Symptom Study app who reported a positive test for COVID-19 between Sept 28 and Dec 27, 2020 (during which the prevalence of B.1.1.7 increased most notably in parts of the UK). From this dataset, we also estimated the frequency of possible reinfection, defined as the presence of two reported positive tests separated by more than 90 days with a period of reporting no symptoms for more than 7 days before the second positive test. The proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections with the B.1.1.7 variant across the UK was estimated with use of genomic data from the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium and data from Public Health England on spike-gene target failure (a non-specific indicator of the B.1.1.7 variant) in community cases in England. We used linear regression to examine the association between reported symptoms and proportion of B.1.1.7. We assessed the Spearman correlation between the proportion of B.1.1.7 cases and number of reinfections over time, and between the number of positive tests and reinfections. We estimated incidence for B.1.1.7 and previous variants, and compared the effective reproduction number, Rt, for the two incidence estimates. Findings From Sept 28 to Dec 27, 2020, positive COVID-19 tests were reported by 36 920 COVID Symptom Study app users whose region was known and who reported as healthy on app sign-up. We found no changes in reported symptoms or disease duration associated with B.1.1.7. For the same period, possible reinfections were identified in 249 (0·7% [95% CI 0·6–0·8]) of 36 509 app users who reported a positive swab test before Oct 1, 2020, but there was no evidence that the frequency of reinfections was higher for the B.1.1.7 variant than for pre-existing variants. Reinfection occurrences were more positively correlated with the overall regional rise in cases (Spearman correlation 0·56–0·69 for South East, London, and East of England) than with the regional increase in the proportion of infections with the B.1.1.7 variant (Spearman correlation 0·38–0·56 in the same regions), suggesting B.1.1.7 does not substantially alter the risk of reinfection. We found a multiplicative increase in the Rt of B.1.1.7 by a factor of 1·35 (95% CI 1·02–1·69) relative to pre-existing variants. However, Rt fell below 1 during regional and national lockdowns, even in regions with high proportions of infections with the B.1.1.7 variant. Interpretation The lack of change in symptoms identified in this study indicates that existing testing and surveillance infrastructure do not need to change specifically for the B.1.1.7 variant. In addition, given that there was no apparent increase in the reinfection rate, vaccines are likely to remain effective against the B.1.1.7 variant. Funding Zoe Global, Department of Health (UK), Wellcome Trust, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UK), National Institute for Health Research (UK), Medical Research Council (UK), Alzheimer's Society

A longitudinal study of tooth formation and root resorption from birth to preadolescence

The findings of the present study provide information of considerable clinical value to the orthodontist and pedodontist. They also contain basic data for those interested in child growth and they contribute to the normative data reported so far on tooth formation and root resorption. Dental age is a convenient method of determining the physiologic status, but in formation such as provided in this study is required before its value as a maturity indicator can be fully assessed. Subsequently, additional and more comprehensive studies may reveal the interrelations in development of the various tissue systems. The effect of environmental insult, especially the extraction of deciduous teeth, upon the formation and eruption of the permanent teeth, as obtained from serial radiographs of the same individual, can also be applied by the clinician who frequently has to decide the optimum time for the removal of teeth. Although the present study is limited in scope because of the small number of serial data available, it has made possible the compilation of basic facts on dental development that can be obtained only from longitudinal material.[…] [Extract from Epilogue

A longitudinal study of tooth formation and root resorption from birth to preadolescence

The findings of the present study provide information of considerable clinical value to the orthodontist and pedodontist. They also contain basic data for those interested in child growth and they contribute to the normative data reported so far on tooth formation and root resorption. Dental age is a convenient method of determining the physiologic status, but in formation such as provided in this study is required before its value as a maturity indicator can be fully assessed. Subsequently, additional and more comprehensive studies may reveal the interrelations in development of the various tissue systems. The effect of environmental insult, especially the extraction of deciduous teeth, upon the formation and eruption of the permanent teeth, as obtained from serial radiographs of the same individual, can also be applied by the clinician who frequently has to decide the optimum time for the removal of teeth. Although the present study is limited in scope because of the small number of serial data available, it has made possible the compilation of basic facts on dental development that can be obtained only from longitudinal material.[…] [Extract from Epilogue

Synthesis and physical evaluation of lanthanide ion based complexes for the hydrolysis of phosphodiesters

THESIS 8644This thesis describes the synthesis and complexation characteristics of a series of cyclen based lanthanide complexes, designed for hydrolysis of phosphodiesters. Chapter one gives an introduction into the field of phosphodiester hydrolysis. This chapter will look at many of the advances made in the area of phosphodiester hydrolysis, with particular emphasis on RNA cleavage by lanthanide ion complexes. Firstly, the mechanism of this reaction and the significant role played by the metal ions will be discussed. This will be followed by a review of cyclen based lanthanide complexes that have been used to promote the hydrolysis of phosphodiesters. Finally, examples of highly efficient and selective systems capable of hydrolysis in a site-specific manner will be discussed

Angle-specific isokinetic shoulder rotational strength can be reliably assessed in collision and contact athletes

An increased understanding of rotational strength as a potential prognostic factor for injury in contact and collision athletes may be important in planning return to sport. The aim of this study was to (1) determine the test–retest reliability of clinically relevant, angle-specific rotational and peak torque measurements in a cohort of uninjured collision and contact athletes; (2) develop a normal descriptive profile of angle-specific rotational torque measurements in the same cohort; and (3) examine the effects of direction and joint angle on shoulder rotational strength interlimb asymmetries. Twenty-three collision and contact athletes were recruited for the interday reliability substudy and 47 athletes were recruited for the remaining substudies. We used intraclass correlation coefficients with 95% confidence intervals to quantify interday reliability of all variables. We used a 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance to analyze differences in absolute interlimb asymmetries. Interday reliability for the isokinetic strength variables was good to excellent (0.78–0.90) on the dominant side and moderate to good (0.63–0.86) on the nondominant side. Maximum angle-specific torque (as well as peak torque) can be measured reliably in internally and externally rotated positions. A normal profile of clinically relevant, angle-specific shoulder rotational torque measurements for collision and contact athletes has been established which provides a reference when assessing shoulder strength in this population