Sensitive Coverage Saves Lives: Improving media portrayal of suicidal behaviour

The report outlines the results of consultations with journalists, suicide prevention agencies and mental health groups conducted by the journalism ethics charity MediaWise. It makes recommendations for action by media organisations and suicide prevention agencies

Macrophage Activation Redirects Yersinia-Infected Host Cell Death from Apoptosis to Caspase-1-Dependent Pyroptosis

Infection of macrophages by Yersinia species results in YopJ-dependent apoptosis, and naïve macrophages are highly susceptible to this form of cell death. Previous studies have demonstrated that macrophages activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prior to infection are resistant to YopJ-dependent cell death; we found this simultaneously renders macrophages susceptible to killing by YopJ− Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Yptb). YopJ− Yptb-induced macrophage death was dependent on caspase-1 activation, resulting in rapid permeability to small molecules, followed by membrane breakdown and DNA damage, and accompanied by cleavage and release of proinflammatory interleukin-18. Induction of caspase-1-dependent death, or pyroptosis, required the bacterial type III translocon but none of its known translocated proteins. Wild-type Yptb infection also triggered pyroptosis: YopJ-dependent activation of proapoptotic caspase-3 was significantly delayed in activated macrophages and resulted in caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis. The transition to susceptibility was not limited to LPS activation; it was also seen in macrophages activated with other Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and intact nonviable bacteria. Yptb infection triggered macrophage activation and activation of caspase-1 in vivo. Y. pestis infection of activated macrophages also stimulated caspase-1 activation. These results indicate that host signaling triggered by TLR and other activating ligands during the course of Yersinia infection redirects both the mechanism of host cell death and the downstream consequences of death by shifting from noninflammatory apoptosis to inflammatory pyroptosis

Discriminating Between Coherent and Incoherent Light with Metasurfaces

Metasurfaces represent a powerful paradigm of optical engineering that enables one to control the flow of light across material interfaces. We report on a discovery that metallic metasurfaces of a certain type respond differently to spatially coherent and incoherent light, enabling robust speckle-free discrimination between different degrees of coherence. The effect has no direct analogue in conventional optics and may find applications in compact metadevices enhancing imaging, vision, detection, communication and metrology.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Are Individuals Fickle-Minded?

Game theory has been used to model large-scale social events — such as constitutional law, democratic stability, standard setting, gender roles, social movements, communication, markets, the selection of officials by means of elections, coalition formation, resource allocation, distribution of goods, and war — as the aggregate result of individual choices in interdependent decision-making. Game theory in this way assumes methodological individualism. The widespread observation that game theory predictions do not in general match observation has led to many attempts to repair game theory by creating behavioral game theory, which adds corrective terms to the game theoretic predictions in the hope of making predictions that better match observations. But for game theory to be useful in making predictions, we must be able to generalize from an individual’s behavior in one situation to that individual’s behavior in very closely similar situations. In other words, behavioral game theory needs individuals to be reasonably consistent in action if the theory is to have predictive power. We argue on the basis of experimental evidence that the assumption of such consistency is unwarranted. More realistic models of individual agents must be developed that acknowledge the variance in behavior for a given individual

Anti-Arthritic Activity in Rats of Some Phosphinegold(I) Thionucleobases and Related Thiolates

A number of phosphinegold(I) thiolates where, generally, the thiolate is derived from a thionucleobase, have been screened for anti-arthritic activity in Dark Agouti rats, a gold sensitive model for arthritis. Potency and toxicity data showed that, generally, the Ph3P derivatives and species based on thiopurines were the most effective and that with other complexes enhanced activity was accompanied by greater toxicity

In Vitro Antitumour Activity of Some Triorganophosphinegold(I) Thionucleobases

A series of phosphinegold(I) thionucleobase analogues, [R3PAu(SRx)] (R = Et, Ph or chexyl; HSR1 = 2-mercaptobenzoic acid, HSR2 = 2-thiouracil, HSR3 = 6-mercaptopurine and HSR4 = 6-thioguanine) have been examined for their in vitro cytotoxicity in L1210 murine leukemia cells in culture. The range of ID50 values (continuous 48 h exposure) for the complexes is 0.041 - 0.131 μM. The complexes with SR3 and SR3 are generally the most active; however, there is no clear trend associated with the phosphine ligands

Isolation of Bordetella avium and Novel Bordetella Strain from Patients with Respiratory Disease

Bordetella avium is thought to be strictly an avian pathogen. However, 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified 2 isolates from 2 humans with respiratory disease as B. avium and a novel B. avium–like strain. Thus, B. avium and B. avium–like organisms are rare opportunistic human pathogens

Clues to the kludonometer

Maria-Theresia Walach, Melanie Cookson-Carter and Rachel Roberts discuss the life work of Captain William Nelson Greenwood, whose legacy includes a mysterious tide calculato

Anaemia, iron status and vitamin A deficiency among adolescent refugees in Kenya and Nepal

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin 8.3 μg ml−1) and vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol < 0.7 μmoll−1) in adolescent refugees.DesignCross-sectional surveys.SettingKakuma refugee camp in Kenya and seven refugee camps in Nepal.SubjectsAdolescent refugee residents in these camps.ResultsAnaemia was present in 46% (95% confidence interval (CI): 42–51) of adolescents in Kenya and in 24% (95% CI: 20–28) of adolescents in Nepal. The sensitivity of palmar pallor in detecting anaemia was 21%. In addition, 43% (95% CI: 36–50) and 53% (95% CI: 46–61) of adolescents in Kenya and Nepal, respectively, had iron deficiency. In both surveys, anaemia occurred more commonly among adolescents with iron deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency was found in 15% (95% CI: 10–20) of adolescents in Kenya and 30% (95% CI: 24–37) of adolescents in Nepal. Night blindness was not more common in adolescents with vitamin A deficiency than in those without vitamin A deficiency. In Kenya, one of the seven adolescents with Bitot's spots had vitamin A deficiency.ConclusionsAnaemia, iron deficiency and vitamin A deficiency are common among adolescents in refugee populations. Such adolescents need to increase intakes of these nutrients; however, the lack of routine access makes programmes targeting adolescents difficult. Adolescent refugees should be considered for assessment along with other at-risk groups in displaced populations