Hard-to-get-at data from difficult-to-access users

This paper reports on the design and development of a suite of tools to collect, analyze and visualize a diverse range of data from sufferers of mental ill-health. The aim is to allow researchers and ultimately sufferers and clinicians to better understand the ‘individual signatures’ of factors that indicate or identify episodes of ill-health. The tools have been applied as part of a study working with clients of a mental health service that demonstrates positive results con-cerning the applicability and acceptability of the approach in developing a bet-ter understanding of the factors surrounding self-harm behavior

RelA/NF-kappaB recruitment on the bax gene promoter antagonizes p73-dependent apoptosis in costimulated T cells

The balance between antiapoptotic and proapoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family is critical in determining the fate of T cells in response to death stimuli. Proapoptotic genes, such as bax, are generally regulated by the p53 family of transcription factors, whereas NF-kappaB subunits can activate the transcription of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 members. Here, we show that CD28 activation protects memory T cells from irradiation-induced apoptosis by both upregulating bcl-xL and inhibiting bax gene expression. We found that p73, but not p53, binds to and trans-activates the bax gene promoter in irradiated T cells. The activation of RelA/NF-kappaB subunit in CD28 costimulated T cells and its binding onto the bax gene promoter results in suppression of bax transcription and decrease in both p73 and RNA polymerase II recruitment in vivo. RelA recruitment on the bax gene promoter is also accompanied by the lost of p300 binding and the parallel appearance of histone deacetylase-1-containing complexes. These findings identify RelA/NF-kappaB as a critical regulator of T-cell survival by affecting the balance of Bcl-2 family members

CRITICAL ASPECTS IN SCRAPS OF COLD SMOKED SALMON PROCESSING

The aim of the paper was to summarize the critical aspects in the processing of smoked salmon scraps as resulted from seven different lots of samples through microbiological and chemical-physical analysis. Results demonstrate that this product has very variable salt content, high microbial counts influencing the shelf-life, rancidity problems depending on the raw material and is heavily contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes

Housing Environmental Risk in Urban Areas: Cross Country Comparison and Policy Implications

The main aim of this paper is to assess whether there is a statistically significant environmental impact of cities within European countries. Second, starting from the estimated environmental impact of cities within European countries, the paper investigates whether cross-country variation can be explained by macro-economic factors and government policies which can play a role in mitigating such an impact. We start from individual evidence (EU-SILC data) to obtain a measure of the environmental impact of cities within countries, and then correlate the latter with macro variables to explain European heterogeneity. These estimates confirm that the environmental risk for households is particularly perceived in more densely populated urban agglomerations, although the marginal effects are quite heterogeneous between countries. Macroeconomic factors such as inequality, wealth, taxation and public spending on the environment, and macroeconomic constraints such as the public finance disequilibrium produce a strong heterogeneity between countries in determining the marginal effects of urban metropolises on household environmental risk

A police-led real-time surveillance system for suspected suicides in Great Britain

It has become increasingly apparent that rapidly available information about the occurrence of suicides is needed, particularly to support suicide prevention efforts. Concerns about the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerability to suicide highlighted the need for such early data internationally. Here, we set out the nature, current status, and content of a real-time suicide monitoring system in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), and explore its potential to contribute to timely and targeted suicide prevention initiatives. We also discuss the challenges to successful implementation

Two hydroxy pyridinecarboxylic acid derivatives as a possible chelating agents in neurodegenerative disease; equilibrium complexation studies with Cu(II), Zn(II).

The metal ion chelators 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid (DQ5) and 1,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid (DQ715) and Cu(II) and Zn(II) were investigated with the aim to restore the homeostasis of the brain Cu(II) and Zn(II) in neurodegenerative diseases. The proton dissociation constants of the ligands, the stability constants, and the coordination modes of the metal complexes formed were determined by pH-potentiometric, and spectral (UV–Vis and EPR or 1H NMR) methods. The results show that in slightly acidic and neutral pH range mono and bis complexes are formed through bidentate coordination of the ligands. The biological MTT-test reveals that the DQ715 ligand is able to lower the cytotoxic effect of Cu(II) in human embryonic kidney HEK-293 cells. Our studies revealed, however, that none of the chelators were efficient enough to withdraw these metal ions from the amyloid aggregates

Factors deterring and prompting the decision to attempt suicide on the railway networks: findings from 353 online surveys and 34 semi-structured interviews

Background There is a suicide on the British railways every 36 hours. However, the reasons why people choose to die by train are not well understood. Aims To explore factors influencing and discouraging the decision to attempt suicide on the railway networks. Method We conducted an online survey and qualitative interviews with individuals who had contemplated or attempted suicide by train. Results A total of 353 survey responders had considered and 23 had attempted suicide at rail locations (including railways and metro/underground); a third of these cases were impulsive. The most frequently reported motivations for contemplating or attempting suicide were perceptions of quick and certain lethality (54 and 37%, respectively) and easy access to rail settings (33 and 38%, respectively). The main factor discouraging people from rail suicide was its wider impact, especially on train drivers (19%). In qualitative interviews (N = 34) the desire to avoid intervention from others was also a common motivating factor for attempting suicide on the railway networks. Conclusions People attempt suicide by train because railway settings are easy to access and because of an inaccurate perception of certain and quick lethality. Tackling exaggerated perceptions of lethality may help reduce suicides by train

HEMODIALYSIS-RELATED LYMPHOMONONUCLEAR RELEASE OF INTERLEUKIN 12 IN PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE.

Abstract: Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that causes interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production and enhancement of cell-mediated cytotoxicity. To clarify the role of hemodialysis biocompatibility on IL-12 production and uremic immunodeficiency, we have studied the IL-12 and IFN-gamma release by PBMC harvested from 12 patients dialyzed with cuprophan membrane (CU), eight patients dialyzed with polymethylmethacrylate membrane (PMMA), and eight nondialyzed uremic patients (UR). Ten healthy subjects constituted the control group (CON). PBMC were cultured for 48 h with and without nonspecific mitogen stimulation. In unstimulated conditions, CU showed an IL-12 PBMC production higher than CON, UR, and PMMA (46.67 +/- 30.13 versus 2.56 +/- 1.38, 6.16 +/- 7.09, and 4.62 +/- 4.76 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.01). IL-12 production was correlated with C3a concentration measured at the outlet of hemodialyzer after 15 min of dialysis (r = 0.69, P < 0.01). IL-12 release in CU remained unchanged under mitogen stimulation (44.34 +/- 23.86 pg/ml) and was lower than in CON, UR, and PMMA (66.0 +/- 12.41, 68.37 +/- 25.78, and 67.75 +/- 22.61 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.05). IFN-gamma production was similar, in unstimulated conditions, in all groups. Under stimulation, IFN-gamma release was lower in CU (13.42 +/- 12.04 IU/ml) than in CON, UR, and PMMA (51.84 +/- 30.74, 32.16 +/- 13.86, and 32.16 +/- 13.86 IU/ml, respectively; P < 0.01). These results demonstrate that hemodialysis with CU induces monocyte activation with an enhanced release of IL-12. On the contrary, stimulated PBMC production of both IL-12 and IFN-gamma is lower in these patients than in CON, UR, and PMMA. The altered release of these cytokines could play a role in cell-mediated immunodeficiency of the uremic patients dialyzed with CU

Evaluating the efficiency of DNA Metabarcoding to analyze the diet of Hippocampus guttulatus (Teleostea: Syngnathidae).

Seahorses are considered a flagship species for conservation efforts and due to their conservation status, improving knowledge on their dietary composition while applying a non-invasive approach, could be useful. Using Hippocampus guttulatus as a case study, the present study represents pioneering research into investigating the diet of seahorses by NGS-based DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples. The study developed and tested the protocol for fecal DNA metabarcoding during the feeding trials where captive seahorses were fed on a diet of known composition; the process was subsequently applied on fecal samples collected from wild individuals. The analysis of samples collected during the feeding trials indicated the reliability of the applied molecular approach by allowing the characterization of the effectively ingested prey. In the field study, among detected prey species, results revealed that the majority of the seahorse samples contained taxa such as Amphipoda, Decapoda, Isopoda, and Calanoida, while less common prey taxa were Gastropoda and Polyplacophora. As only a small amount of starting fecal material is needed and the sampling procedure is neither invasive nor lethal. The present study indicates DNA metabarcoding as useful for investigating seahorse diet and could help define management and conservation actions