BMO Spaces on Weighted Homogeneous Trees

We consider an infinite homogeneous tree V endowed with the usual metric d defined on graphs and a weighted measure μ. The metric measure space (V, d, μ) is nondoubling and of exponential growth, hence the classical theory of Hardy and BMO spaces does not apply in this setting. We introduce a space BMO(μ) on (V, d, μ) and investigate some of its properties. We prove in particular that BMO(μ) can be identified with the dual of a Hardy space H1(μ) introduced in a previous work and we investigate the sharp maximal function related with BMO(μ)

PACAP in developing sensory and peripheral organs of the zebrafish, Danio rerio

The anatomical distribution of PACAP-like immunoreactivity was investigated in sensory and peripheral organs of the zebrafish, Danio rerio, during the pharyngula, hatching and larval periods, by using indirect immunofluorescence methods. First PACAP-like immunoreactive (ir) elements appeared during the pharyngula period, at 24 hours post fertilization (hpf), within the most superficial layer of the retina and the dorsal aorta. At 48 hpf, additional ir cells were found in the olfactory placode and esophagus. At 72 hpf (hatching period), PACAP-like immunoreactivity was first detected in the ganglion cell layer of the retina, the otic sensory epithelium, pharyngeal arches, swim bladder and pancreatic progenitor cells. During day 5 of larval development, new groups of ir cells appeared in the liver, whereas no ir elements were observed in the olfactory placode. Subsequently, at day 13 of larval development, additional ir elements were found for the first time in some gut epithelial cells while those previously observed in the retina and otic sensory epithelium were absent. The transient expression of PACAP-like ir material in sensory organs suggests that the peptide could be implicated in neurotrophic activities and neurosensorial connections in the migration and/or differentiation processes. The appearance of PACAP-like ir elements in peripheral organs at different developmental stages, indicates that this peptide could be involved in the control of more specific functions as soon as these peripheral structures begin to operate

Chemical Characterization and Source Apportionment of Household Fine Particulate Matter in Rural, Peri-urban, and Urban West Africa

Household air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions is an important cause of disease burden. Little is known about the chemical composition and sources of household air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa, and how they differ between rural and urban homes. We analyzed the chemical composition and sources of fine particles (PM2.5) in household cooking areas of multiple neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana, and in peri-urban (Banjul) and rural (Basse) areas in The Gambia. In Accra, biomass burning accounted for 39–62% of total PM2.5 mass in the cooking area in different neighborhoods; the absolute contributions were 10–45 μg/m3. Road dust and vehicle emissions comprised 12–33% of PM2.5 mass. Solid waste burning was also a significant contributor to household PM2.5 in a low-income neighborhood but not for those living in better-off areas. In Banjul and Basse, biomass burning was the single dominant source of cooking-area PM2.5, accounting for 74–87% of its total mass; the relative and absolute contributions of biomass smoke to PM2.5 mass were larger in households that used firewood than in those using charcoal, reaching as high as 463 μg/m3 in Basse homes that used firewood for cooking. Our findings demonstrate the need for policies that enhance access to cleaner fuels in both rural and urban areas, and for controlling traffic emissions in cities in sub-Saharan Africa

Constrained 1,4-dialkylpiperazines as monoamine transporters inhibitors for cocaine-related abuse

Cocaine abuse and addiction remain grave health and societal problems with nearly 11,000 overdose deaths in 2015. Despite the high prevalence of cocaine use, no FDA-approved therapeutic for treating cocaine addiction has been achieved. The primary target for cocaine is dopamine transporter (DAT) and the rewarding and reinforcing effects of cocaine are mediated predominantly by its inhibition, with a consequent ‘reverse agonist’ effect. Several DAT inhibitors have been proposed as potential drugs for cocaine abuse.[1-2] One of the most studied DAT inhibitors, GBR12909 (Ki DAT = 3.7 nM), is able to slightly increase DA level and to blunt the cocaine-induced elevation of extracellular DA in vivo without exerting the central exciting effects of cocaine and addiction. Unfortunately, the phase I clinical trials failed, due to its cardiotoxicity.[3-4] In a lead optimisation program focused to identify novel and safe GBR12909 analogues, nine constrained derivatives were design and synthesized in a ligand based approach. Maintaining unaltered the fluoro-phenyl and phenylpropylpiperazine moiety, the rigidification of the ethylene ether, by means of tetrahydrofuran, dioxolane, dioxane, oxathiolane and dithiolane ring, was investigated in a focused SAR study (Fig. 1). All the compounds were assayed for the determination of the binding affinity for DAT, NET and SERT. In particular, two dioxolane derivatives displayed a binding affinity comparable to that of GBR12909, with Ki of 21.2 and 13.9 nM for DAT, and a selectivity ratio SERT/DAT > 30. Since the cyclization introduces one chiral centre, the two enantiomers of one racemic mixture were prepared following enantioselective synthetic procedures. The (R)- and (S)-forms showed a binding affinity comparable to the one determined for the racemate (Ki DAT of 16 and 46 nM, respectively), suggesting that the configuration of the stereocenters slightly affect the binding to the DAT transporter. For the most interesting derivatives, uptake inhibition assays were conducted in rat brain synaptosomes. It was observed that the potency trend parallel the affinity values

Hardy Spaces on Weighted Homogeneous Trees

We consider an infinite homogeneous tree V endowed with the usual metric d defined on graphs and a weighted measure μ. The metric measure space (V, d, μ) is nondoubling and of exponential growth, hence the classical theory of Hardy spaces does not apply in this setting. We construct an atomic Hardy space H1(μ) on (V, d, μ) and investigate some of its properties, focusing in particular on real interpolation properties and on boundedness of singular integrals on H1(μ)

First report of Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasoidea) from lungs of montane chameleons in Cameroon: description of two new species and notes on biology.

Les nematodes pulmonaires parasites de cameleons du genre Rhabdias n'etaient connus qu'en Afrique orientale et a Madagascar. Deux especes sont decrites au Cameroun: il Rhabdias okuensis n. sp., hote-type Chamaeleo (Trioceros) quadricornis gracilior au Mont Oku est frequent; l'espece est proche de R. jarki, au Burundi, par la capsule buccale courte et l'oesophage long et mince, et en est distincte par la grande vesicule cervicale et des caracteres cephaliques (bouche, papilles). Les femelles parasites sont hermaphrodites (spermatozoides identifies); en outre, elles perforent la paroi pulmonaire et provoquent des lesions, comme R. jarki. C. (T.) w. wiedersheimi au Mont Oku heberge aussi R. okuensis, comme cela est demontre par les sequences des genes 12S rADN et coxl. ii) R. cristati n. sp., hote-type C. (T.) cristatus ou Mont Cameroun est decrit chez un specimen fortement parasite; l'espece est proche de R. chamaeleonis d'Afrique Orientale, et en est distinct par la grande taille de la capsule buccale et l'apex epais de l'intestin. La phase libre du cycle, etudiee chez R. okuensis, presente les caracteres des autres Rhobdias de cameleons: heterogonie, developpement des larves par endotokie matricide, stade infectant avec une extremite caudale epaisse et arrondie, exuvie transformee en gaine cuticulaire epaisse; chaque femelle libre produit une larve, comme chez les autres Rhabdias africains, alors que la femelle de R. gemellipara, parasite de cameleon malgache, en produit deux

Workplace factors, burnout signs, and clinical mental health symptoms among mental health workers in Lombardy and Quebec during the first wave of COVID-19

Abstract Several research contributions have depicted the impact of the pandemic environment on healthcare and social care personnel. Even though the high prevalence of burnout depression and anxiety in healthcare settings before COVID-19 has been well documented in the research, the recent increase in psychological distress and mental health issues in healthcare and mental health workers should be attributed to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the present study is to develop, evaluate, and compare a model of COVID-19 workplace stressors between two different territories, the Italian region of Lombardy and the Canadian province of Quebec. Within this model, burnout is depicted as the strongest determinant of mental health symptoms for mental health workers. In turn, the main workplace determinants of burnout are the perception of a lack of support from the organization and the fear of contracting COVID-19 at work. Findings also provide insights for designing interventions to promote and protect mental health workers in the context of the pandemic. In conclusion, it is necessary to monitor burnout and carefully analyze elements of organizational culture, in addition to offering clinical and psychological care for those in need. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland