Key features of palliative care service delivery to Indigenous peoples in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States: A comprehensive review

Background: Indigenous peoples in developed countries have reduced life expectancies, particularly from chronic diseases. The lack of access to and take up of palliative care services of Indigenous peoples is an ongoing concern. Objectives: To examine and learn from published studies on provision of culturally safe palliative care service delivery to Indigenous people in Australia, New Zealand (NZ), Canada and the United States of America (USA); and to compare Indigenous peoples’ preferences, needs, opportunities and barriers to palliative care. Methods: A comprehensive search of multiple databases was undertaken. Articles were included if they were published in English from 2000 onwards and related to palliative care service delivery for Indigenous populations; papers could use quantitative or qualitative approaches. Common themes were identified using thematic synthesis. Studies were evaluated using Daly’s hierarchy of evidence-for-practice in qualitative research. Results: Of 522 articles screened, 39 were eligible for inclusion. Despite diversity in Indigenous peoples’ experiences across countries, some commonalities were noted in the preferences for palliative care of Indigenous people: to die close to or at home; involvement of family; and the integration of cultural practices. Barriers identified included inaccessibility, affordability, lack of awareness of services, perceptions of palliative care, and inappropriate services. Identified models attempted to address these gaps by adopting the following strategies: community engagement and ownership; flexibility in approach; continuing education and training; a whole-of-service approach; and local partnerships among multiple agencies. Better engagement with Indigenous clients, an increase in number of palliative care patients, improved outcomes, and understanding about palliative care by patients and their families were identified as positive achievements. Conclusions: The results provide a comprehensive overview of identified effective practices with regards to palliative care delivered to Indigenous populations to guide future program developments in this field. Further research is required to explore the palliative care needs and experiences of Indigenous people living in urban areas

Genome-Wide SNP-genotyping array to study the evolution of the human pathogen Vibrio vulnificus Biotype 3

Vibrio vulnificus is an aquatic bacterium and an important human pathogen. Strains Of V. vulnificus are classified into three different biotypes. The newly emerged biotype 3 has been found to be clonal and restricted to Israel. In the family Vibrionaceae , horizontal gene transfer is the main mechanism responsible for the emergence of new pathogen groups. To better understand the evolution of the bacterium, and in particular to trace the evolution of biotype 3, we performed genome-wide SNP genotyping of 254 clinical and environmental V. vulnificus isolates with worldwide distribution recovered over a 30-year period, representing all phylogeny groups. A custom single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array implemented on the Illumina GoldenGate platform was developed based on 570 SNPs randomly distributed throughout the genome. In general, the genotyping results divided the V. vulnificus species into three main phylogenetic lineages and an additional subgroup, clade B, consisting of environmental and clinical isolates from Israel. Data analysis suggested that 69% of biotype 3 SNPs are similar to SNPs from clade B, indicating that biotype 3 and clade B have a common ancestor. The rest of the biotype 3 SNPs were scattered along the biotype 3 genome, probably representing multiple chromosomal segments that may have been horizontally inserted into the clade B recipient core genome from other phylogroups or bacterial species sharing the same ecological niche. Results emphasize the continuous evolution of V. vulnificus and support the emergence of new pathogenic groups within this species as a recurrent phenomenon. Our findings contribute to a broader understanding of the evolution of this human pathogen

Centralizer's applications to the (b, c)-inverses in rings

[EN] We give several conditions in order that the absorption law for one sided (b,c)-inverses in rings holds. Also, by using centralizers, we obtain the absorption law for the (b,c)-inverse and the reverse order law of the (b,c)-inverse in rings. As applications, we obtain the related results for the inverse along an element, Moore-Penrose inverse, Drazin inverse, group inverse and core inverse.This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 11771076 and no. 11871301). The first author is grateful to China Scholarship Council for giving him a scholarship for his further study in Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain.Xu, S.; Chen, J.; Benítez López, J.; Wang, D. (2019). Centralizer's applications to the (b, c)-inverses in rings. Revista de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. 113(3):1739-1746. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13398-018-0574-0S173917461133Baksalary, O.M., Trenkler, G.: Core inverse of matrices. Linear Multilinear Algebra 58(6), 681–697 (2010)Benítez, J., Boasso, E.: The inverse along an element in rings with an involution, Banach algebras and $$C^*$$ C ∗ -algebras. Linear Multilinear Algebra 65(2), 284–299 (2017)Benítez, J., Boasso, E., Jin, H.W.: On one-sided $$(B, C)$$ ( B , C ) -inverses of arbitrary matrices. Electron. J. Linear Algebra 32, 391–422 (2017)Boasso, E., Kantún-Montiel, G.: The $$(b, c)$$ ( b , c ) -inverses in rings and in the Banach context. Mediterr. J. Math. 14, 112 (2017)Chen, Q.G., Wang, D.G.: A class of coquasitriangular Hopf group algebras. Comm. Algebra 44(1), 310–335 (2016)Chen, J.L., Ke, Y.Y., Mosić, D.: The reverse order law of the $$(b, c)$$ ( b , c ) -inverse in semigroups. Acta Math. Hung. 151(1), 181–198 (2017)Deng, C.Y.: Reverse order law for the group inverses. J. Math. Anal. Appl. 382(2), 663–671 (2011)Drazin, M.P.: Pseudo-inverses in associative rings and semigroups. Am. Math. Mon. 65, 506–514 (1958)Drazin, M.P.: A class of outer generalized inverses. Linear Algebra Appl. 436, 1909–1923 (2012)Drazin, M.P.: Left and right generalized inverses. Linear Algebra Appl. 510, 64–78 (2016)Jin, H.W., Benítez, J.: The absorption laws for the generalized inverses in rings. Electron. J. Linear Algebra 30, 827–842 (2015)Johnson, B.E.: An introduction to the theory of centralizers. Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. 14, 299–320 (1964)Ke, Y.Y., Cvetković-Ilić, D.S., Chen, J.L., Višnjić, J.: New results on $$(b, c)$$ ( b , c ) -inverses. Linear Multilinear Algebra 66(3), 447–458 (2018)Ke Y.Y., Višnjić J., Chen J.L.: One sided $$(b,c)$$ ( b , c ) -inverse in rings (2016). arXiv:1607.06230v1Liu, X.J., Jin, H.W., Cvetković-Ilić, D.S.: The absorption laws for the generalized inverses. Appl. Math. Comput. 219, 2053–2059 (2012)Mary, X.: On generalized inverse and Green’s relations. Linear Algebra Appl. 434, 1836–1844 (2011)Mary, X., Patrício, P.: Generalized inverses modulo $$\cal{H}$$ H in semigroups and rings. Linear Multilinear Algebra 61(8), 1130–1135 (2013)Mosić, D., Cvetković-Ilić, D.S.: Reverse order law for the Moore-Penrose inverse in $$C^*$$ C ∗ -algebras. Electron. J. Linear Algebra 22, 92–111 (2011)Rakić, D.S.: A note on Rao and Mitra’s constrained inverse and Drazin’s $$(b, c)$$ ( b , c ) -inverse. Linear Algebra Appl. 523, 102–108 (2017)Rakić, D.S., Dinčić, N.Č., Djordjević, D.S.: Group, Moore–Penrose, core and dual core inverse in rings with involution. Linear Algebra Appl. 463, 115–133 (2014)Wang, L., Castro-González, N., Chen, J.L.: Characterizations of outer generalized inverses. Can. Math. Bull. 60(4), 861–871 (2017)Wei, Y.M.: A characterization and representation of the generalized inverse $$A^{(2)}_{T, S}$$ A T , S ( 2 ) and its applications. Linear Algebra Appl. 280, 87–96 (1998)Xu, S.Z., Benítez, J.: Existence criteria and expressions of the $$(b, c)$$ ( b , c ) -inverse in rings and its applications. Mediterr. J. Math. 15, 14 (2018)Zhu, H.H., Chen, J.L., Patrício, P.: Further results on the inverse along an element in semigroups and rings. Linear Multilinear Algebra 64(3), 393–403 (2016)Zhu, H.H., Chen, J.L., Patrício, P.: Reverse order law for the inverse along an element. Linear Multilinear Algebra 65, 166–177 (2017)Zhu, H.H., Chen, J.L., Patrício, P., Mary, X.: Centralizer’s applications to the inverse along an element. Appl. Math. Comput. 315, 27–33 (2017)Zhu, H.H., Zhang, X.X., Chen, J.L.: Centralizers and their applications to generalized inverses. Linear Algebra Appl. 458, 291–300 (2014

Reduced T Regulatory Cell Response during Acute Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Malian Children Co-Infected with Schistosoma haematobium

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress host immune responses and participate in immune homeostasis. In co-infection, secondary parasite infections may disrupt the immunologic responses induced by a pre-existing parasitic infection. We previously demonstrated that schistosomiasis-positive (SP) Malian children, aged 4-8 years, are protected against the acquisition of malaria compared to matched schistosomiasis-negative (SN) children.To determine if Tregs contribute to this protection, we performed immunologic and Treg depletion in vitro studies using PBMC acquired from children with and without S. haematobium infection followed longitudinally for the acquisition of malaria. Levels of Tregs were lower in children with dual infections compared to children with malaria alone (0.49 versus 1.37%, respectively, P = 0.004) but were similar months later, during a period with negligible malaria transmission. The increased levels of Tregs in SN subjects were associated with suppressed serum Th1 cytokine levels, as well as elevated parasitemia compared to co-infected counterparts.These results suggest that lower levels of Tregs in helminth-infected children correlate with altered circulating cytokine and parasitologic results which may play a partial role in mediating protection against falciparum malaria

Somatic mutation and gain of copy number of PIK3CA in human breast cancer

INTRODUCTION: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are a group of lipid kinases that regulate signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, adhesion, survival, and motility. Even though PIK3CA amplification and somatic mutation have been reported previously in various kinds of human cancers, the genetic change in PIK3CA in human breast cancer has not been clearly identified. METHODS: Fifteen breast cancer cell lines and 92 primary breast tumors (33 with matched normal tissue) were used to check somatic mutation and gene copy number of PIK3CA. For the somatic mutation study, we specifically checked exons 1, 9, and 20, which have been reported to be hot spots in colon cancer. For the analysis of the gene copy number, we used quantitative real-time PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization. We also treated several breast cancer cells with the PIK3CA inhibitor LY294002 and compared the apoptosis status in cells with and without PIK3CA mutation. RESULTS: We identified a 20.6% (19 of 92) and 33.3% (5 of 15) PIK3CA somatic mutation frequency in primary breast tumors and cell lines, respectively. We also found that 8.7% (8 of 92) of the tumors harbored a gain of PIK3CA gene copy number. Only four cases in this study contained both an increase in the gene copy number and a somatic mutation. In addition, mutation of PIK3CA correlated with the status of Akt phosphorylation in some breast cancer cells and inhibition of PIK3CA-induced increased apoptosis in breast cancer cells with PIK3CA mutation. CONCLUSION: Somatic mutation rather than a gain of gene copy number of PIK3CA is the frequent genetic alteration that contributes to human breast cancer progression. The frequent and clustered mutations within PIK3CA make it an attractive molecular marker for early detection and a promising therapeutic target in breast cancer

Prime movers : mechanochemistry of mitotic kinesins

Mitotic spindles are self-organizing protein machines that harness teams of multiple force generators to drive chromosome segregation. Kinesins are key members of these force-generating teams. Different kinesins walk directionally along dynamic microtubules, anchor, crosslink, align and sort microtubules into polarized bundles, and influence microtubule dynamics by interacting with microtubule tips. The mechanochemical mechanisms of these kinesins are specialized to enable each type to make a specific contribution to spindle self-organization and chromosome segregation

Multiplicity Distributions and Charged-neutral Fluctuations

Results from the multiplicity distributions of inclusive photons and charged particles, scaling of particle multiplicities, event-by-event multiplicity fluctuations, and charged-neutral fluctuations in 158$\cdot A$ GeV Pb+Pb collisions are presented and discussed. A scaling of charged particle multiplicity as $N_{part}^{1.07\pm 0.05}$ and photons as $N_{part}^{1.12\pm 0.03}$ have been observed, indicating violation of naive wounded nucleon model. The analysis of localized charged-neutral fluctuation indicates a model-independent demonstration of non-statistical fluctuations in both charged particles and photons in limited azimuthal regions. However, no correlated charged-neutral fluctuations are observed.Comment: Talk given at the International Symposium on Nuclear Physics (ISNP-2000), Mumbai, India, 18-22 Dec 2000, Proceedings to be published in Pramana, Journal of Physic

Fractal Dynamics of Earthquakes

Many objects in nature, from mountain landscapes to electrical breakdown and turbulence, have a self-similar fractal spatial structure. It seems obvious that to understand the origin of self-similar structures, one must understand the nature of the dynamical processes that created them: temporal and spatial properties must necessarily be completely interwoven. This is particularly true for earthquakes, which have a variety of fractal aspects. The distribution of energy released during earthquakes is given by the Gutenberg-Richter power law. The distribution of epicenters appears to be fractal with dimension D {approx} 1--1.3. The number of after shocks decay as a function of time according to the Omori power law. There have been several attempts to explain the Gutenberg-Richter law by starting from a fractal distribution of faults or stresses. But this is a hen-and-egg approach: to explain the Gutenberg-Richter law, one assumes the existence of another power-law--the fractal distribution. The authors present results of a simple stick slip model of earthquakes, which evolves to a self-organized critical state. Emphasis is on demonstrating that empirical power laws for earthquakes indicate that the Earth`s crust is at the critical state, with no typical time, space, or energy scale. Of course the model is tremendously oversimplified; however in analogy with equilibrium phenomena they do not expect criticality to depend on details of the model (universality)

Stimulation of MAP kinase pathways after maternal IL-1β exposure induces fetal lung fluid absorption in guinea pigs

BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that maternal interleukin-1β (IL-1β) pretreatment and induction of fetal cortisol synthesis activates MAP kinases and thereby affects lung fluid absorption in preterm guinea pigs. METHODS: IL-1β was administered subcutaneously daily to timed-pregnant guinea pigs for three days. Fetuses were obtained by abdominal hysterotomy and instilled with isosmolar 5% albumin into the lungs and lung fluid movement was measured over 1 h by mass balance. MAP kinase expression was measured by western blot. RESULTS: Lung fluid absorption was induced at 61 days (D) gestation and stimulated at 68D gestation by IL-1β. Maternal IL-1β pretreatment upregulated ERK and upstream MEK expression at both 61 and 68D gestation, albeit being much more pronounced at 61D gestation. U0126 instillation completely blocked IL-1β-induced lung fluid absorption as well as IL-1β-induced/stimulated ERK expression. Cortisol synthesis inhibition by metyrapone attenuated ERK expression and lung fluid absorption in IL-1β-pretreated fetal lungs. JNK expression after maternal IL-1β pretreatment remained unaffected at either gestation age. CONCLUSION: These data implicate the ERK MAP kinase pathway as being important for IL-1β induction/stimulation of lung fluid absorption in fetal guinea pigs