BMO Spaces on Weighted Homogeneous Trees

We consider an infinite homogeneous tree V endowed with the usual metric d defined on graphs and a weighted measure μ. The metric measure space (V, d, μ) is nondoubling and of exponential growth, hence the classical theory of Hardy and BMO spaces does not apply in this setting. We introduce a space BMO(μ) on (V, d, μ) and investigate some of its properties. We prove in particular that BMO(μ) can be identified with the dual of a Hardy space H1(μ) introduced in a previous work and we investigate the sharp maximal function related with BMO(μ)

PACAP in developing sensory and peripheral organs of the zebrafish, Danio rerio

The anatomical distribution of PACAP-like immunoreactivity was investigated in sensory and peripheral organs of the zebrafish, Danio rerio, during the pharyngula, hatching and larval periods, by using indirect immunofluorescence methods. First PACAP-like immunoreactive (ir) elements appeared during the pharyngula period, at 24 hours post fertilization (hpf), within the most superficial layer of the retina and the dorsal aorta. At 48 hpf, additional ir cells were found in the olfactory placode and esophagus. At 72 hpf (hatching period), PACAP-like immunoreactivity was first detected in the ganglion cell layer of the retina, the otic sensory epithelium, pharyngeal arches, swim bladder and pancreatic progenitor cells. During day 5 of larval development, new groups of ir cells appeared in the liver, whereas no ir elements were observed in the olfactory placode. Subsequently, at day 13 of larval development, additional ir elements were found for the first time in some gut epithelial cells while those previously observed in the retina and otic sensory epithelium were absent. The transient expression of PACAP-like ir material in sensory organs suggests that the peptide could be implicated in neurotrophic activities and neurosensorial connections in the migration and/or differentiation processes. The appearance of PACAP-like ir elements in peripheral organs at different developmental stages, indicates that this peptide could be involved in the control of more specific functions as soon as these peripheral structures begin to operate

Use of an animal model to evaluate anxiolytic effects of dietary supplementation with tilia tomentosa moench bud extracts

Anxiety disorders are common and complex psychiatric syndromes affecting a broad spectrum of patients. On top of that, we know that aging produces an increase in anxiety vulnerability and sedative consumption. Moreover, stress disorders frequently show a clear gender susceptibility. Currently, the approved pharmacological strategies have severe side effects such as hallucinations, addiction, suicide, insomnia, and loss of motor coordination. Dietary integration with supplements represents an intriguing strategy for improving the efficacy and the safety of synthetic anxiolytics. Accordingly, a recent article demonstrated that glyceric bud extracts from Tilia tomentosa Moench (TTBEs) exert effects that are consistent with anxiolytic activity. However, the effects of these compounds in vivo are unknown. To examine this question, we conducted behavioral analysis in mice. A total of 21 days of oral supplements (vehicle and TTBEs) were assessed by Light Dark and Hole Board tests in male and female mice (young, 3 months; old, 24 months). Interestingly, the principal component analysis revealed gender and age-specific behavioral modulations. Moreover, the diet integration with the botanicals did not modify the body weight gain and the daily intake of water. Our results support the use of TTBEs as dietary supplements for anxiolytic purposes and unveil age and gender-dependent responses

Chemical Characterization and Source Apportionment of Household Fine Particulate Matter in Rural, Peri-urban, and Urban West Africa

Household air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions is an important cause of disease burden. Little is known about the chemical composition and sources of household air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa, and how they differ between rural and urban homes. We analyzed the chemical composition and sources of fine particles (PM2.5) in household cooking areas of multiple neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana, and in peri-urban (Banjul) and rural (Basse) areas in The Gambia. In Accra, biomass burning accounted for 39–62% of total PM2.5 mass in the cooking area in different neighborhoods; the absolute contributions were 10–45 μg/m3. Road dust and vehicle emissions comprised 12–33% of PM2.5 mass. Solid waste burning was also a significant contributor to household PM2.5 in a low-income neighborhood but not for those living in better-off areas. In Banjul and Basse, biomass burning was the single dominant source of cooking-area PM2.5, accounting for 74–87% of its total mass; the relative and absolute contributions of biomass smoke to PM2.5 mass were larger in households that used firewood than in those using charcoal, reaching as high as 463 μg/m3 in Basse homes that used firewood for cooking. Our findings demonstrate the need for policies that enhance access to cleaner fuels in both rural and urban areas, and for controlling traffic emissions in cities in sub-Saharan Africa

Hardy Spaces on Weighted Homogeneous Trees

We consider an infinite homogeneous tree V endowed with the usual metric d defined on graphs and a weighted measure μ. The metric measure space (V, d, μ) is nondoubling and of exponential growth, hence the classical theory of Hardy spaces does not apply in this setting. We construct an atomic Hardy space H1(μ) on (V, d, μ) and investigate some of its properties, focusing in particular on real interpolation properties and on boundedness of singular integrals on H1(μ)

Workplace factors, burnout signs, and clinical mental health symptoms among mental health workers in Lombardy and Quebec during the first wave of COVID-19

Abstract Several research contributions have depicted the impact of the pandemic environment on healthcare and social care personnel. Even though the high prevalence of burnout depression and anxiety in healthcare settings before COVID-19 has been well documented in the research, the recent increase in psychological distress and mental health issues in healthcare and mental health workers should be attributed to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the present study is to develop, evaluate, and compare a model of COVID-19 workplace stressors between two different territories, the Italian region of Lombardy and the Canadian province of Quebec. Within this model, burnout is depicted as the strongest determinant of mental health symptoms for mental health workers. In turn, the main workplace determinants of burnout are the perception of a lack of support from the organization and the fear of contracting COVID-19 at work. Findings also provide insights for designing interventions to promote and protect mental health workers in the context of the pandemic. In conclusion, it is necessary to monitor burnout and carefully analyze elements of organizational culture, in addition to offering clinical and psychological care for those in need. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Dissecting the impact of environment, season and genotype on blackcurrant fruit quality traits.

This work aims to determine the effect of genotype x environment (GxE) interaction that influence blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) fruit quality. We applied metabolomics-driven analysis on fruits from four cultivars grown in contrasting European-locations over two seasons. By integrating metabolomics and sensory analysis, we also defined specific metabolic signatures associated with consumer acceptance. Our results showed that rainfall is a crucial factor associated with accumulation of delphinidin- and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, the two mayor blackcurrant pigments meanwhile temperature affects the main organic acid levels which can be decisive for fruit taste. Sensorial analysis showed that increases in terpenoid and acetate ester volatiles were strongly associated with higher appreciation score, while proacacipetalin, a cyanogenic-glycoside, was positively associated to bitter taste. Our results pave the way for the selection of high-quality cultivars and suitable production sites for blackcurrant cultivation.publishedVersio

Within-Neighborhood Patterns and Sources of Particle Pollution: Mobile Monitoring and Geographic Information System Analysis in Four Communities in Accra, Ghana

BACKGROUND: Sources of air pollution in developing country cities include transportation and industrial pollution, biomass and coal fuel use, and resuspended dust from unpaved roads. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to understand within-neighborhood spatial variability of particulate matter (PM) in communities of varying socioeconomic status (SES) in Accra, Ghana, and to quantify the effects of nearby sources on local PM concentration. METHODS: We conducted 1 week of morning and afternoon mobile and stationary air pollution measurements in four study neighborhoods. PM with aerodynamic diameters RESULTS: In our measurement campaign, the geometric means of PM2.5 and PM10 along the mobile monitoring path were 21 and 49 microg/m3, respectively, in the neighborhood with highest SES and 39 and 96 microg/m3, respectively, in the neighborhood with lowest SES and highest population density. PM2.5 and PM10 were as high as 200 and 400 microg/m3, respectively, in some segments of the path. After adjusting for other factors, the factors that had the largest effects on local PM pollution were nearby wood and charcoal stoves, congested and heavy traffic, loose dirt road surface, and trash burning. CONCLUSIONS: Biomass fuels, transportation, and unpaved roads may be important determinants of local PM variation in Accra neighborhoods. If confirmed by additional or supporting data, the results demonstrate the need for effective and equitable interventions and policies that reduce the impacts of traffic and biomass pollution