Healthy urban mobility on the intersecting identity roads : black women mobile experiences

A mobilidade é componente essencial da vida nas cidades. Os perfis e as condições de deslocamento são afetados por múltiplas variáveis e têm sido percebidos como pauta importante na promoção da saúde. Uma pesquisa realizada em três capitais brasileiras entre 2016 e 2019 revelou dados importantes que colocam a raça como elemento central da discussão de mobilidade intragênero. As diferenças encontradas nos padrões de deslocamento de mulheres de diferentes raças, em interlocução com os relatos de duas mulheres pretas entrevistadas, operam como disparador de uma discussão sobre as “escolhas” de mobilidade, propondo uma problematização do modelo de "mobilidade saudável" pautado na lógica eurocentrada. Espera-se contribuir para os debates sobre mobilidade urbana e gênero na perspectiva decolonial, apontando para a necessidade de políticas urbanas atentas às particularidades das práticas de mobilidade da mulher preta, reconhecendo as potencialidades das suas formas de transitar, ressaltando a importância de valorizar e favorecer suas experiências.Mobility is an essential component of city life. The patterns and conditions of displacement, for both individuals and social groups, are affected by multiple variables and have been recognized as an important agenda for health promotion. A survey conducted in three Brazilian capitals between 2016 and 2019 revealed important data that place race as a central element of intragender mobility discussions. The differences found in the displacement patterns of women of different races, in conjunction with two narratives from black women interviewed, leads to a discussion on intersectionality and “chosen” mobility patterns, offering a critical approach against the model of "healthy mobility" based on Eurocentric logic. This paper aims to contribute with discussions concerning mobility and gender from a decolonial perspective, pointing to the need for urban policies that are attentive to the particularities of black women's mobility practices, recognizing its potential and favoring their experiences

High-fat diet impact on intestinal cholesterol conversion by the microbiota and serum cholesterol levels

Cholesterol-to-coprostanol conversion by the intestinal microbiota has been suggested to reduce intestinal and serum cholesterol availability, but the relationship between intestinal cholesterol conversion and the gut microbiota, dietary habits, and serum lipids has not been characterized in detail. We measured conserved proportions of cholesterol high and low-converter types in individuals with and without obesity from two distinct, independent low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) dietary intervention studies. Across both cohorts, cholesterol conversion increased in previous low-converters after LCHF diet and was positively correlated with the fecal relative abundance of Eubacterium coprostanoligenes. Lean cholesterol high-converters had increased serum triacylglycerides and decreased HDL-C levels before LCHF diet and responded to the intervention with increased LDL-C, independently of fat, cholesterol, and saturated fatty acid intake. Our findings identify the cholesterol high-converter type as a microbiome marker, which in metabolically healthy lean individuals is associated with increased LDL-C in response to LCHF.publishedVersio

Molecular Cytogenetic Profiling Reveals Similarities and Differences Between Localized Nodal and Systemic Follicular Lymphomas

Recently, we have developed novel highly promising gene expression (GE) classifiers discriminating localized nodal (LFL) from systemic follicular lymphoma (SFL) with prognostic impact. However, few data are available in LFL especially concerning hotspot genetic alterations that are associated with the pathogenesis and prognosis of SFL. A total of 144 LFL and 527 SFL, enrolled in prospective clinical trials of the German Low Grade Lymphoma Study Group, were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization to detect deletions in chromosomes 1p, 6q, and 17p as well as BCL2 translocations to determine their impact on clinical outcome of LFL patients. The frequency of chromosomal deletions in 1p and 17p was comparable between LFL and SFL, while 6q deletions and BCL2 translocations more frequently occurred in SFL. A higher proportion of 1p deletions was seen in BCL2-translocation–positive LFL, compared with BCL2-translocation–negative LFL. Deletions in chromosomes 1p, 6q, and 17p predicted clinical outcome of patients with SFL in the entire cohort, while only deletions in chromosome 1p retained its negative prognostic impact in R-CHOP–treated SFL. In contrast, no deletions in one of the investigated genetic loci predicted clinical outcome in LFL. Likewise, the presence or absence of BCL2 translocations had no prognostic impact in LFL. Despite representing a genetic portfolio closely resembling SFL, LFL showed some differences in deletion frequencies. BCL2 translocation and 6q deletion frequency differs between LFL and SFL and might contribute to distinct genetic profiles in LFL and SFL

Antagonistic Parent-Offspring Co-Adaptation

In species across taxa, offspring have means to influence parental investment (PI). PI thus evolves as an interacting phenotype and indirect genetic effects may strongly affect the co-evolutionary dynamics of offspring and parental behaviors. Evolutionary theory focused on explaining how exaggerated offspring solicitation can be understood as resolution of parent-offspring conflict, but the evolutionary origin and diversification of different forms of family interactions remains unclear.Methodology/Principal Findings In contrast to previous theory that largely uses a static approach to predict how “offspring individuals” and “parental individuals” should interact given conflict over PI, we present a dynamic theoretical framework of antagonistic selection on the PI individuals obtain/take as offspring and the PI they provide as parents to maximize individual lifetime reproductive success; we analyze a deterministic and a stochastic version of this dynamic framework. We show that a zone for equivalent co-adaptation outcomes exists in which stable levels of PI can evolve and be maintained despite fast strategy transitions and ongoing co-evolutionary dynamics. Under antagonistic co-adaptation, cost-free solicitation can evolve as an adaptation to emerging preferences in parents. Conclusions/Significance We show that antagonistic selection across the offspring and parental life-stage of individuals favors co-adapted offspring and parental behavior within a zone of equivalent outcomes. This antagonistic parent-offspring co-adaptation does not require solicitation to be costly, allows for rapid divergence and evolutionary novelty and potentially explains the origin and diversification of the observed provisioning forms in family life

The cross-sectional GRAS sample: A comprehensive phenotypical data collection of schizophrenic patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Schizophrenia is the collective term for an exclusively clinically diagnosed, heterogeneous group of mental disorders with still obscure biological roots. Based on the assumption that valuable information about relevant genetic and environmental disease mechanisms can be obtained by association studies on patient cohorts of ≥ 1000 patients, if performed on detailed clinical datasets and quantifiable biological readouts, we generated a new schizophrenia data base, the GRAS (Göttingen Research Association for Schizophrenia) data collection. GRAS is the necessary ground to study genetic causes of the schizophrenic phenotype in a 'phenotype-based genetic association study' (PGAS). This approach is different from and complementary to the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on schizophrenia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For this purpose, 1085 patients were recruited between 2005 and 2010 by an invariable team of traveling investigators in a cross-sectional field study that comprised 23 German psychiatric hospitals. Additionally, chart records and discharge letters of all patients were collected.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The corresponding dataset extracted and presented in form of an overview here, comprises biographic information, disease history, medication including side effects, and results of comprehensive cross-sectional psychopathological, neuropsychological, and neurological examinations. With >3000 data points per schizophrenic subject, this data base of living patients, who are also accessible for follow-up studies, provides a wide-ranging and standardized phenotype characterization of as yet unprecedented detail.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The GRAS data base will serve as prerequisite for PGAS, a novel approach to better understanding 'the schizophrenias' through exploring the contribution of genetic variation to the schizophrenic phenotypes.</p

Interpersonal functioning or ability to mentalize. Outcome predictors in group psychotherapy

This paper investigates the predictive value of the psychological mindedness assessment procedure (PMAP) with respect to differential group therapy outcome using outpatient group therapies with patients suffering from somatoform disorders. Within the contextual framework of the mentalization theory the possible predictive power of the PMAP prior to indications for therapy is reflected. As the results of 50 patients from 6 therapy groups show high PMAP ratings prior to treatment onset predict group suitability of patients. This in turn is predictive for an emotional attunement of such patients during treatment, which is in itself a qualification for an emotional involvement with the group interactive process and therefore highly predictive. In contrast patients with a lower PMAP rating should be referred to groups where another treatment concept or technical attitude on the part of the group leader is realized. The shorter the therapy groups last the more homogeneous group composition should be regarding psychological functioning of patients prior to treatment onset (level of mentalization)

Artificial Intelligence in Purchasing: Facilitating Mechanism Design-based Negotiations

Negotiations are central to reach consensus between supply chain partners while, simultaneously, meeting internal cost and quality targets. Purchasing prices can be improved by inducing competition in the supply base. In this context, the application of mechanism design theory in negotiations gained enhanced attention. While such approaches can result in high cost reductions, mechanism design-based negotiations are very complex. The paper aims at answering the question whether artificial intelligence (AI) can facilitate the execution of mechanism design-based negotiations. To this end, a World Café has been conducted at an automotive original equipment manufacturer. A group of 20 experts from the fields of purchasing and AI discussed the potentials of AI for the purchasing function. The results indicate that the application of AI can indeed facilitate the execution of mechanism design-based negotiations and help overcoming bounded rationality problems. Even more, AI might be a game changer for the purchasing function