Structure diversity in three forest types of north-eastern Thailand (Sakaerat Reserve, Pak Tong Chai)

The aim of the present study is to provide a basic knowledge in view of a better understanding of the global structure of threetropical forests at the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station (Pak Tong Chai district, Northeastern Thailand): a drydipterocarp forest (DDF), a dry evergreen forest (DEF) and an intermediate stage (DDFwf), characterized by the absence offire since 29 years in a pyro-climax. These forest ecosystems were contrasted by the composition and floristic structure, thebasal area and the tree density. The species richness increases with the passage from the DDF, the most open environment, to the DDFwf, the most densely wooded. By these tree density and basal area, the DDF (602 trees/ha at DBH ³ 5 cm, 14.2 m2/ha) and the DEF (992 trees/ha at DBH ³ 5 cm, 29.0 m2/ha) studied belong to the typical tropical ecosytems of southeast Asia. The man-made fires and anarchic forest exploitations are a danger for the stability of these different ecosystems

Computing the drainage discharge and assessing the impacts of tunnels drilled in Hard Rocks

International audienceMost Hard Rocks (HR) are or were exposed to deep weathering processes. It turns out that the hydraulic conductivity of HR is mostly inherited from these weathering processes (Lachassagne et al., 2011): (i) within their permeable Stratiform Fissured Layer (SFL) located below the low hydraulic conductivity unconsolidated weathered layer (saprolite). The thickness of both layers often reaches more than 100 m (Dewandel et al., 2006), (ii) and within the permeable vertical fissured layer developed at the periphery of or within preexisting geological discontinuities (joints, dykes, veins, lithological discontinuities, etc.) (Dewandel et al., 2011, Roques et al., 2012). From this conceptual model, the drainage discharge and the surface hydrogeological (piezometry in wells) and hydrological (discharge of streams) impacts of shallow highway tunnels drilled in a metamorphic series (metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks) intruded by granitic bodies have been forecasted. These tunnels belong to the A89 highway recently opened (2012) in France between Balbigny and La Tour de Salvagny (Monts du Lyonnais, 50 km West of Lyon city). They are up to 4 km long, and their depth below ground level ranges between 0 and 300 m. The method is based on

An economic evaluation of irbesartan in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension and nephropathy: cost-effectiveness of Irbesartan in Diabetic Nephropathy Trial (IDNT) in the Belgian and French settings

Background. In the Irbesartan in Diabetic Nephropathy Trial (IDNT), treatment with irbesartan demonstrated 23 and 20% reductions in the combined endpoint of doubling of serum creatinine (DSC), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or death in patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy compared with amlodipine and control, respectively. A simulation model was developed to project long-term cost consequences of the IDNT in Belgium and France. Methods. A Markov model simulated progression from nephropathy to DSC, ESRD and death in patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy. Treatment-specific probabilities were derived from IDNT. Country-specific ESRD-related data were retrieved from published sources. Delay in onset of ESRD, life expectancy and mean lifetime costs were calculated for patients with a baseline age of 59 years. Future costs were discounted at 3% per annum (p.a.), and clinical benefits were discounted at 0 and 3% p.a.. Extensive sensitivity analyses were performed. Results. Onset of ESRD was delayed with irbesartan by 1.41 and 1.35 years vs amlodipine and control, respectively. When a 10-year time horizon was considered, delay in ESRD onset led to anticipated improvements in life expectancy of 0.13 years vs amlodipine and 0.26 years vs control. Irbesartan was associated with cost savings of €14 949 and €9205/patient in Belgium, and €20 128 and €13 337 in France, vs amlodipine and control, respectively. The results were robust under a wide range of plausible assumptions. Conclusions. Treating patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy using irbesartan was both cost- and life-saving compared with amlodipine and contro

Bud Formation and Shoot Development In Vitro: Observations on Stem and Bud Explants of Psychotria punctata (Rubiaceae)

Protuberances tentatively identified as buds were initiated on callus proliferating from the bases of excised terminal buds of Psychotria punctata (Rubiaceae) cultured on media containing 10(-4) and 10(-5)M zeatin. Only those cultures maintained in a greenhouse during mid-summer formed such buds. A high cytokinin concentration together with one or more specific environmental conditions appear to be required for their formation. In contrast, large nodule-bearing shoots developed directly from terminal buds when these were excised during the fall and cultured on the same medium in controlled environment chambers providing temperatures and light intensities lower than in the greenhouse. Zeatin was required for shoot development on this medium; little development occurred in its absence. Shoot development occurred in both 8- and 16-hr days in the chambers; it did not occur in darkness, in continuous, predominantly incandescent light, or in the greenhouse

Developing Cross-Cultural Empathy through Mindfulness

INTRODUCTION: The murder of George Floyd sparked international movements to address racial inequality. These movements have prompted critical conversations about medical racism, bias, and social determinants of health. These events have caused us to turn inwardly and question what we know, the limits of our understanding, and the role of medical training in developing the skills and perspectives needed to address racial inequality in health care systems. The purpose of this session is to share the design and preliminary outcomes of a curricular intervention that aims to train pediatrics residents to use mindful reflective practice to develop cross-cultural empathy and engage with anti-racist ideas. STUDY OBJECTIVE: To develop and implement a curriculum that teaches mindful reflective practice as a tool for developing cross-cultural empathy and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in healthcare. METHODS: Pediatrics and combined medicine-pediatrics residents participated in four 90-minute small group sessions: (1) cultivating critical awareness of racism in medicine, (2) unpacking bias, microaggressions, and coded language, (3) exploring personal identity and intersectionality, and (4) committing to action and curriculum reflections/feedback. Each session was co-led by 3 facilitators (LB, JL, FW) and structured to provide opportunities for learners to engage, explore, explain, and elaborate on the content presented. Each session began with a guided mindfulness activity and concluded with individual written reflection. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Empathy Quotient, and Stanford Professional Fulfillment assessments prior to session 1, following session 4, and 3 months after completion of the curriculum. Participants also completed the Social Justice and Empathy Assessment following session 4, and 3 months post-curriculum. Quantitative data was analyzed for pre-post changes using t-tests. Curriculum acceptability, facilitator effectiveness, and perceived benefit of each portion of session content was reviewed. Participants engaged in a brief audio-recorded focus group at the end of session 4. The transcribed focus groups and participants’ written reflections following each session were qualitatively analyzed to identify common themes. RESULTS: Preliminary results from first two cohorts (N=9) indicate that all residents found the course to be sufficiently challenging and that it helped them to pursue growth. The majority of participants expressed increased understanding of curriculum domains; mindfulness (77.8%), medical racism (88.9%), bias/coded language/microaggressions (100%), and identity/oppression/intersectionality (88.9%) and rated the overall course as excellent (88.9%). All residents endorsed agreement for facilitator’s content expertise and excellence in teaching skills. Qualitative analysis of focus groups is ongoing at this time. Preliminary review suggests that participants enjoyed the curriculum, found it to be unique in their residency experience, and desire more opportunities to discuss DEIJ issues in small groups. We expect full quantitative an qualitative analysis of all 6 cohorts in this pilot study will be completed and available for presentation at IU Education Day

TRPV1-expressing primary afferents generate behavioral responses to pruritogens via multiple mechanisms

The mechanisms that generate itch are poorly understood at both the molecular and cellular levels despite its clinical importance. To explore the peripheral neuronal mechanisms underlying itch, we assessed the behavioral responses (scratching) produced by s.c. injection of various pruritogens in PLCβ3- or TRPV1-deficient mice. We provide evidence that at least 3 different molecular pathways contribute to the transduction of itch responses to different pruritogens: 1) histamine requires the function of both PLCβ3 and the TRPV1 channel; 2) serotonin, or a selective agonist, α-methyl-serotonin (α-Me-5-HT), requires the presence of PLCβ3 but not TRPV1, and 3) endothelin-1 (ET-1) does not require either PLCβ3 or TRPV1. To determine whether the activity of these molecules is represented in a particular subpopulation of sensory neurons, we examined the behavioral consequences of selectively eliminating 2 nonoverlapping subsets of nociceptors. The genetic ablation of MrgprD^+ neurons that represent ≈90% of cutaneous nonpeptidergic neurons did not affect the scratching responses to a number of pruritogens. In contrast, chemical ablation of the central branch of TRPV1+ nociceptors led to a significant behavioral deficit for pruritogens, including α-Me-5-HT and ET-1, that is, the TRPV1-expressing nociceptor was required, whether or not TRPV1 itself was essential. Thus, TRPV1 neurons are equipped with multiple signaling mechanisms that respond to different pruritogens. Some of these require TRPV1 function; others use alternate signal transduction pathways

Community-Informed Relationship Violence Intervention in a HighStress, Low-Income Urban Context

To evaluate the effectiveness of the House of Ruth Maryland’s Gateway Project, a community-informed and oppression-sensitive relationship violence intervention program (RVIP; commonly labeled “batterer intervention”), designed for a predominantly low-income, racial minority population residing in a high-stress urban context. Method: Propensity score matching with data on 744 male program participants (89% Black; 59% unemployed; 76% on probation) was used to compare recidivism rates for those who did, and did not, complete the intervention program. The propensity score matching created comparison groups (n = 216 per group) with very similar distributions on 28 balancing factors. Results: During the year after program enrollment, program completers had significantly lower frequency of re-arrest for all criminal offenses, d = 0.16, p = .018 and marginally lower frequency of violent offenses, d = 0.12, p = .075 than matched non-completers. No treatment effect was identified for partner-abuse-related legal involvements, d = 0.06, p = .365. Secondary analyses controlling for propensity score in the full sample yielded similar results, and analyses of session attendance as a continuous variable found additional evidence of a significant program effect on violent offenses in the matched sample. Conclusions: In contrast to a carefully matched sample of program non-completers, men who completed this 28-session intervention, which adapts the traditional RVIP focus on power and control to address the life context of participants who experience systemic oppression, discrimination, economic distress, and community violence, had lower overall involvement with the criminal justice system

Extracellular ATP-induced NO production and its dependence on membrane Ca2+ flux in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots

Extracellular ATP (eATP) is a novel signalling agent, and nitric oxide (NO) is a well-established signal molecule with diverse functions in plant growth and development. This study characterizes NO production induced by exogenous ATP and examines its relationship with other important signalling agents, Ca2+ and H2O2 in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy root culture. Exogenous ATP was applied at 10–500 μM to the hairy root cultures and stimulated NO production was detectable within 30 min. The NO level increased with ATP dose from 10–100 μM but decreased from 100–200 μM or higher. The ATP-induced NO production was mimicked by a non-hydrolysable ATP analogue ATPγS, but only weakly by ADP, AMP or adenosine. The ATP-induced NO production was blocked by Ca2+ antagonists, but not affected by a protein kinase inhibitor. ATP also induced H2O2 production, which was dependent on both Ca2+ and protein kinases, and also on NO biosynthesis. On the other hand, ATP induced a rapid increase in the intracellular Ca2+ level, which was dependent on NO but not H2O2. The results suggest that NO is implicated in ATP-induced responses and signal transduction in plant cells, and ATP signalling is closely related to Ca2+ and ROS signalling