mGlu5 Inhibition in the Basolateral Amygdala Prevents Estrous Cycle-Dependent Changes in Cue-Induced Cocaine Seeking

Drug associated cues are a common relapse trigger for individuals recovering from cocaine use disorder. Sex and ovarian hormones influence patterns of cocaine use and relapse vulnerability, with studies indicating that females show increased cue-induced craving and relapse vulnerability compared to males. In a rodent model of cocaine craving and relapse vulnerability, cue-induced cocaine seeking behavior following weeks of withdrawal from extended-access cocaine self-administration is higher in females in the estrus stage of the reproductive (estrous) cycle (Estrus Females) compared to both Males and females in all other stages (Non-Estrus Females). However, the neuronal substrates and cellular mechanisms underlying these sex differences is not fully understood. One region that contributes to both sex differences in behavioral responding and cue-induced cocaine seeking is the basolateral amygdala (BLA), while one receptor known to play a critical role in mediating cocaine seeking behavior is metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5). Here we assessed the effects of BLA mGlu5 inhibition following prolonged withdrawal from cocaine self-administration on observed estrous cycle-dependent changes in cue-induced cocaine seeking behavior. We found that BLA microinjections of the mGlu5 antagonist MTEP selectively reduced the enhanced cue-induced cocaine seeking normally observed in Estrus Females while having no effect on cocaine seeking in Males and Non-Estrus Females. These findings identify a unique interaction between cocaine-exposure, estrous cycle fluctuations and BLA mGlu5-dependent transmission on cue-induced cocaine seeking behavior

A Qualitative Study of Workplace Stress and Coping in Secondary Teachers in Ireland

Teacher stress has received scant attention in Ireland. This study examines teachers’ perceptions of their daily stresses and how they attempt to cope with such situations. Interviews were conducted with fifteen secondary teachers from a variety of school types in eastern Ireland. The teachers showed great concern for their students, with some being prepared to ignore school guidelines in order to deal with their pupils’ needs. Several particularly stressful factors were identified, including the maintenance of boundaries (especially when dealing with students with personal problems), dealing with disruptive student behaviour, and the heavy workload. These stresses closely mirrored those described in international literature. Levels of stress and methods of dealing with stress varied widely among the sample, with primary support coming from their colleagues. One strong finding was the lack of suitable training and preparation felt by the participants, particularly in methods of dealing with sensitive and stressful situations in pupils, and in appropriate means of reaction to student misbehaviour. It is recommended that teacher-training courses include explicit training in dealing with such situations

Nonparametric statistical downscaling for the fusion of data of different spatiotemporal support

Statistical downscaling has been developed for the fusion of data of different spatial support. However, environmental data often have different temporal support, which must also be accounted for. This paper presents a novel method of nonparametric statistical downscaling, which enables the fusion of data of different spatiotemporal support through treating the data at each location as observations of smooth functions over time. This is incorporated within a Bayesian hierarchical model with smoothly spatially varying coefficients, which provides predictions at any location or time, with associated estimates of uncertainty. The method is motivated by an application for the fusion of in situ and satellite remote sensing log(chlorophyll-a) data from Lake Balaton, in order to improve the understanding of water quality patterns over space and time

Distribution, hosts and long-term decline in abundance of the Patagonian lamprey inferred from diet assessment of albatrosses

Knowledge of lampreys during their marine phase is limited, and for the southern hemisphere species was gleaned from their predators (albatrosses) in the 1970s. Taking advantage of new methodologies and long-term data on predator diet and distributions, we infer diverse aspects of lamprey distribution and ecology. DNA analyses indicated that albatrosses at South Georgia prey on Patagonian lamprey Geotria macrostoma, originating from Argentina. Their core pelagic distribution when free swimming appears to be the Antarctic Polar Frontal zone (APFZ), and not South Georgia waters as assumed previously. If so, the APFZ would be the first known hotspot in abundance of an anadromous lamprey in oceanic waters. We could not identify a teleost fish that would be a likely host. Instead, we infer that the lamprey may prey on baleen whales, based on comparison of stable isotope ratios in lamprey with candidate host species, timing of appearance in albatross diets coincident with whale migrations, and circumstantial evidence (unexplained scarring recorded during the whaling era). We suggest that the lamprey do not tolerate cold Antarctic waters, and detach from southerly-migrating whales at the thermal boundary of the APFZ, where they become accessible to albatrosses in surface waters. Given strong evidence that relative importance of prey in seabird diets reflects availability in foraging areas, the steep decrease in the annual consumption of lamprey by albatrosses at South Georgia from > 550 tonnes in 1975–1976 and 1986, to very low levels in most years since 2012, is likely to indicate a major population decrease. Despite our unconventional means of assessing the population trend, there is a compelling case for listing of Patagonian lamprey at least as Near threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and an urgent need to better understand anthropogenic threats in Argentina

Cation Ordering and Exsolution in Copper-Containing Forms of the Flexible Zeolite Rho (Cu,M-Rho; M=H, Na) and Their Consequences for CO₂ Adsorption

Funding: UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Grant Numbers: EP/N024613/1, EP/N032942/1, EP/L017008/1.The flexibility of the zeolite Rho framework offers great potential for tunable molecular sieving. The fully copper-exchanged form of Rho and mixed Cu,H- and Cu,Na-forms have been prepared. EPR spectroscopy reveals that Cu2+ ions are present in the dehydrated forms and Rietveld refinement shows these prefer S6R sites, away from the d8r windows that control diffusion. Fully exchanged Cu-Rho remains in an open form upon dehydration, the d8r windows remain nearly circular and the occupancy of window sites is low, so that it adsorbs CO2 rapidly at room temperature. Breakthrough tests with 10 % CO2/40 % CH4 mixtures show that Cu4.9-Rho is able to produce pure methane, albeit with a relatively low capacity at this pCO2 due to the weak interaction of CO2 with Cu cations. This is in strong contrast to Na-Rho, where cations in narrow elliptical window sites enable CO2 to be adsorbed with high selectivity and uptake but too slowly to enable the production of pure methane in similar breakthrough experiments. A series of Cu,Na-Rho materials was prepared to improve uptake and selectivity compared to Cu-Rho, and kinetics compared to Na-Rho. Remarkably, Cu,Na-Rho with >2 Cu cations per unit cell exhibited exsolution, due to the preference of Na cations for narrow S8R sites in distorted Rho and of Cu cations for S6R sites in the centric, open form of Rho. The exsolved Cu,Na-Rho showed improved performance in CO2/CH4 breakthrough tests, producing pure CH4 with improved uptake and CO2/CH4 selectivity compared to that of Cu4.9-Rho.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Mechanosensitive calcium flashes promote sustained RhoA activation during tight junction remodeling

Epithelial cell–cell junctions remodel in response to mechanical stimuli to maintain barrier function. Previously, we found that local leaks in tight junctions (TJs) are rapidly repaired by local, transient RhoA activation, termed “Rho flares,” but how Rho flares are regulated is unknown. Here, we discovered that intracellular calcium flashes and junction elongation are early events in the Rho flare pathway. Both laser-induced and naturally occurring TJ breaks lead to local calcium flashes at the site of leaks. Additionally, junction elongation induced by optogenetics increases Rho flare frequency, suggesting that Rho flares are mechanically triggered. Depletion of intracellular calcium or inhibition of mechanosensitive calcium channels (MSCs) reduces the amplitude of calcium flashes and diminishes the sustained activation of Rho flares. MSC-dependent calcium influx is necessary to maintain global barrier function by regulating reinforcement of local TJ proteins via junction contraction. In all, we uncovered a novel role for MSC-dependent calcium flashes in TJ remodeling, allowing epithelial cells to repair local leaks induced by mechanical stimuli

Practical lessons learned for assessing and treating bipolar disorder via telehealth modalities during the COVID-19 pandemic

We briefly frame challenges and steps to overcoming those challenges in delivering care for patients with bipolar disorder via telehealth or telephone during COVID-19. Telehealth provides an invaluable opportunity to provide care for patients even under circumstances of social isolation. The issues discussed in this debate are intended to guide and assist clinicians, both in assessment and intervention, in adjusting to the use of virtual care for patients with bipolar disorder

Practice guidelines for clinical microbiology laboratories: Mycobacteria

Mycobacteria are the causative organisms for diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), leprosy, Buruli ulcer, and pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease, to name the most important ones. In 2015, globally, almost 10 million people developed TB, and almost half a million patients suffered from its multidrug-resistant form. In 2016, a total of 9,287 new TB cases were reported in the United States. In 2015, there were 174,608 new case of leprosy worldwide. India, Brazil, and Indonesia reported the most leprosy cases. In 2015, the World Health Organization reported 2,037 new cases of Buruli ulcer, with most cases being reported in Africa. Pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease is an emerging public health challenge. The U.S. National Institutes of Health reported an increase from 20 to 47 cases/100,000 persons (or 8.2% per year) of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease among adults aged 65 years or older throughout the United States, with 181,037 national annual cases estimated in 2014. This review describes contemporary methods for the laboratory diagnosis of mycobacterial diseases. Furthermore, the review considers the ever-changing health care delivery system and stresses the laboratory’s need to adjust and embrace molecular technologies to provide shorter turnaround times and a higher quality of care for the patients who we serve

Cluster randomized controlled trial protocol: addressing reproductive coercion in health settings (ARCHES)

Background\ud Women ages 16–29 utilizing family planning clinics for medical services experience higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) and reproductive coercion (RC) than their same-age peers, increasing risk for unintended pregnancy and related poor reproductive health outcomes. Brief interventions integrated into routine family planning care have shown promise in reducing risk for RC, but longer-term intervention effects on partner violence victimization, RC, and unintended pregnancy have not been examined.\ud \ud Methods/Design\ud The ‘Addressing Reproductive Coercion in Health Settings (ARCHES)’ Intervention Study is a cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a brief, clinician-delivered universal education and counseling intervention to reduce IPV, RC and unintended pregnancy compared to standard-of-care in family planning clinic settings. The ARCHES intervention was refined based on formative research. Twenty five family planning clinics were randomized (in 17 clusters) to either a three hour training for all family planning clinic staff on how to deliver the ARCHES intervention or to a standard-of-care control condition. All women ages 16–29 seeking care in these family planning clinics were eligible to participate. Consenting clients use laptop computers to answer survey questions immediately prior to their clinic visit, a brief exit survey immediately after the clinic visit, a first follow up survey 12–20 weeks after the baseline visit (T2), and a final survey 12 months after the baseline (T3). Medical record chart review provides additional data about IPV and RC assessment and disclosure, sexual and reproductive health diagnoses, and health care utilization. Of 4009 women approached and determined to be eligible based on age (16–29 years old), 3687 (92 % participation) completed the baseline survey and were included in the sample.\ud \ud Discussion\ud The ARCHES Intervention Study is a community-partnered study designed to provide arigorous assessment of the short (3-4 months) and long-term (12 months) effects of a brief, clinician-delivered universal education and counseling intervention to reduce IPC, RC and unintended pregnancy in family planning clinic settings. The trial features a cluster randomized controlled trial design, a comprehensive data collection schedule and a large sample size with excellent retention.\ud \ud Trial Registration\ud ClinicialTrials.gov NCT01459458. Registered 10 October 2011