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Social, political and cultural challenges of the BRICS
For the almost 40 years of its existence, ANPOCS has contributed to introducing or consolidating new thematic areas in the academic agenda of debates in the Brazilian social sciences. Commensurate with this history, at the 37th Annual meeting, hosted in âaguas de Lindoia, Sنao Paulo, in 2013, we organized a large International Symposium, The BRICS and their social, political and cultural challenges on the national and international levels. There were six sessions of debates, gathered under the umbrella of \"Development and public policies,\" \"Social inclusion and social justice,\" and \"Emerging powers and transformations in the international system,\" followed by a final plenary session. Around 30 anthropologists, political scientists, sociologists and researchers in international relations from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, met over three highly productive days. As might be expected at ANPOCS, the encounter was marked not only by the diversity of countries and disciplines, but also by the theoretical and political diversity of the participants, something already apparent in the composition of the Brazilian coordinators of the Symposium. This book is just one tangible outcome of the papers and dialogues emerging from this encounter. Like the Symposium, the volume is divided into three sections.
Book
Volume of supervised exercise training impacts glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review with meta-regression analysis
Aims/hypothesis
Supervised exercise programmes improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes, but training characteristics associated with reduction in HbA
1c
remain unclear. We conducted a systematic review with meta-regression analysis of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) assessing the association between intensity and volume of exercise training (aerobic, resistance or combined) and HbA
1c
changes in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods
Five electronic databases were searched (1980–2012) to retrieve RCTs of at least 12 weeks' duration, consisting of supervised exercise training vs no intervention, that reported HbA
1c
changes and exercise characteristics. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection and data extraction.
Results
Twenty-six RCTs (2,253 patients) met the inclusion criteria. In multivariate analysis, baseline HbA
1c
and exercise frequency explained nearly 58% of between-study variance. Baseline HbA
1c
was inversely correlated with HbA
1c
reductions after the three types of exercise training. In aerobic training, exercise volume (represented by frequency of sessions) was associated with changes in HbA
1c
(weighted
r
= −0.64), while no variables were correlated with glycaemic control induced by resistance training. In combined training, weekly volume of resistance exercise explained heterogeneity in multivariate analysis and was associated with changes in HbA
1c
levels (weighted
r
= −0.70).
Conclusions/interpretation
Reduction in HbA
1c
is associated with exercise frequency in supervised aerobic training, and with weekly volume of resistance exercise in supervised combined training. Therefore, exercise volume is a major determinant of glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Journal Article
Batman vs. Deathstroke
\"When Batman discovers a mysterious package containing DNA test results proving that he is not Damian Wayne's biological father, the Dark Knight sets his sights on his son's true father--Deathstroke! But Damian Wayne can't really be Slade Wilson's son--can he? And who sent the package--and why? The ultimate custody battle ensues as the World's Greatest Detective and the World's Deadliest Assassin clash in this instant classic!\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
Contractility of single cardiomyocytes differentiated from pluripotent stem cells depends on physiological shape and substrate stiffness
Single cardiomyocytes contain myofibrils that harbor the sarcomerebased contractile machinery of the myocardium. Cardiomyocytes differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-CMs) have potential as an in vitro model of heart activity. However, their fetallike misalignment of myofibrils limits their usefulness for modeling contractile activity. We analyzed the effects of cell shape and substrate stiffness on the shortening and movement of labeled sarcomeres and the translation of sarcomere activity to mechanical output (contractility) in live engineered hPSC-CMs. Single hPSC-CMs were cultured on polyacrylamide substrates of physiological stiffness (10 kPa), and Matrigel micropatterns were used to generate physiological shapes (2,000-μm² rectangles with length:width aspect ratios of 5:1–7:1) and a mature alignment of myofibrils. Translation of sarcomere shortening to mechanical output was highest in 7:1 hPSC-CMs. Increased substrate stiffness and applied overstretch induced myofibril defects in 7:1 hPSC-CMs and decreased mechanical output. Inhibitors of nonmuscle myosin activity repressed the assembly of myofibrils, showing that subcellular tension drives the improved contractile activity in these engineered hPSC-CMs. Other factors associated with improved contractility were axially directed calcium flow, systematic mitochondrial distribution, more mature electrophysiology, and evidence of transverse-tubule formation. These findings support the potential of these engineered hPSC-CMs as powerful models for studying myocardial contractility at the cellular level.
Journal Article
Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors as risk factors for future suicide ideation, attempts, and death: a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies
A history of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) is consistently cited as one of the strongest predictors of future suicidal behavior. However, stark discrepancies in the literature raise questions about the true magnitude of these associations. The objective of this study is to examine the magnitude and clinical utility of the associations between SITBs and subsequent suicide ideation, attempts, and death.
We searched PubMed, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar for papers published through December 2014. Inclusion required that studies include at least one longitudinal analysis predicting suicide ideation, attempts, or death using any SITB variable. We identified 2179 longitudinal studies; 172 met inclusion criteria.
The most common outcome was suicide attempt (47.80%), followed by death (40.50%) and ideation (11.60%). Median follow-up was 52 months (mean = 82.52, s.d. = 102.29). Overall prediction was weak, with weighted mean odds ratios (ORs) of 2.07 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.76-2.43] for ideation, 2.14 (95% CI 2.00-2.30) for attempts, and 1.54 (95% CI 1.39-1.71) for death. Adjusting for publication bias further reduced estimates. Diagnostic accuracy analyses indicated acceptable specificity (86-87%) and poor sensitivity (10-26%), with areas under the curve marginally above chance (0.60-0.62). Most risk factors generated OR estimates of <2.0 and no risk factor exceeded 4.5. Effects were consistent regardless of sample severity, sample age groups, or follow-up length.
Prior SITBs confer risk for later suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, they only provide a marginal improvement in diagnostic accuracy above chance. Addressing gaps in study design, assessment, and underlying mechanisms may prove useful in improving prediction and prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Journal Article
Academic burnout among master and doctoral students during the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 outbreak has had an immense impact on academic life and public health. Graduate students had experienced obligatory curfews and quarantines due to the COVID-19 outbreak directly impacting their mental health and triggering academic burnout. In this cross-sectional study, we address the issue of mental health in graduate students by relating it to the factors associated with burnout syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 519 graduate students from master's and Ph.D./DLA degrees across universities in Hungary and other European countries participated in this study. The Copenhagen burnout inventory student version was used to evaluate burnout syndrome as an outcome. Our findings displayed burnout significantly lower among graduate students who had good sleep quality, receive high levels of support from their university, and were satisfied with how their university dealt with the pandemic. The excessive consumption of alcohol, the use of antidepressants, being single, and thinking about dropping out showed as predictive factors of burnout. The results add to emergent evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and the predicted factors of academic burnout among master and doctoral students.
Journal Article
Space-time risk cluster of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazilian endemic region with high social vulnerability: An ecological time series study
Despite visceral leishmaniasis (VL) being epidemic in most Brazilian regions, the Northeast region is responsible for the highest morbidity and mortality outcomes within the country.
To analyse the spatiotemporal dynamics of VL cases to identify the temporal trends and high-risk areas for VL transmission, as well as the association of the disease with social vulnerability in Brazilian Northeast.
We carried out an ecological time series study employing spatial analysis techniques using all VL confirmed cases of 1,794 municipalities of Brazilian Northeast between the years 2000 to 2017. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was used to represent the social vulnerability. Incidence rates were standardized and smoothed by the Local Empirical Bayesian Method. Time trends were examined through segmented linear regression. Spatiotemporal analysis consisted of uni- and bivariate Global and Local Moran indexes and space-time scan statistics.
Incidence rate remained stable and ranged from 4.84 to 3.52 cases/100,000 inhabitants. There was higher case prevalence between males (62.71%), children and adolescents (63.27%), non-white (69.75%) and urban residents (62.58%). Increasing trends of new cases were observed among adult male subjects (≥ 40 years old) and urban residents. Importantly, VL incidence showed a direct spatial dependence. Spatial and space-time clusters were identified in sertão and meio-norte sub-regions, overlapping with high social vulnerability areas.
VL is a persistent health issue in Brazilian Northeast and associated with social vulnerability. Space-time clustering of VL cases in socially vulnerable municipalities demands intersectoral public policies of surveillance and control, with focus on reducing inequalities and improving living conditions for regional inhabitants.
Journal Article
Triglobal resolvent analysis of swept-wing wakes
Through triglobal resolvent analysis, we reveal the effects of wing tip and sweep angle on laminar separated wakes over swept wings. For the present study, we consider wings with semi-aspect ratios from $1$ to $4$, sweep angles from $0^\\circ$ to $45^\\circ$ and angles of attack of $20^\\circ$ and $30^\\circ$ at a chord-based Reynolds number of $400$ and a Mach number of $0.1$. Using direct numerical simulations, we observe that unswept wings develop vortex shedding near the wing root with a quasi-steady tip vortex. For swept wings, vortex shedding is seen near the wing tip for low sweep angles, while the wakes are steady for wings with high sweep angles. To gain further insights into the mechanisms of flow unsteadiness, triglobal resolvent analysis is used to identify the optimal spatial input–output mode pairs and the associated gains over a range of frequencies. The three-dimensional forcing and response modes reveal that harmonic fluctuations are directed towards the root for unswept wings and towards the wing tip for swept wings. The overlapping region of the forcing–response mode pairs uncovers triglobal resolvent wavemakers associated with self-sustained unsteady wakes of swept wings. Furthermore, we show that for low-aspect-ratio wings optimal perturbations develop globally over the entire wingspan. The present study uncovers physical insights on the effects of tip and sweep on the growth of optimal harmonic perturbations and the wake dynamics of separated flows over swept wings.
Journal Article
Transcriptome profiling of symptomatic vs. asymptomatic grapevine plants reveals candidate genes for plant improvement against trunk diseases
Background
Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are a disease complex that pose a serious challenge to vineyard productivity worldwide. Their increasing occurrence, coupled with the absence of effective treatments, turns their incidence one of the biggest obstacles to viticulture. A deeper understanding of grapevine defence mechanisms is essential to develop new strategies for a sustainable disease management.
Results
This study explored the transcriptome profiling of GTDs symptomatic and asymptomatic plants of ‘Trincadeira’ (a slightly susceptible or tolerant cultivar to GTDs) and ‘Alicante Bouschet’ (a highly susceptible susceptible or susceptible cultivar to GTDs), under natural field conditions. RNA-seq yielded 1 598 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) when comparing cultivars, and 64 DEGs associated with symptomatology, regardless of the cultivar. Transport was revealed as the main biological process involved, predominantly activated in ‘Alicante Bouschet’, indicating a possible link between these genes and disease progression. Conversely, the relative tolerance of ‘Trincadeira’ to this disease complex might be supported by the activation of secondary and hormonal metabolism and the differential expression of a set of defence-related genes, which may act as key factors to limit GTDs infection. An important role of the peroxidase gene
PER42
in the inhibition of GTDs symptoms was highlighted in this study.
Conclusions
Our results provide novel insights into grapevine resistance mechanisms to GTDs and highlight candidate genes for improving disease tolerance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first transcriptomic study of naturally infected grapevines with multiple trunk pathogens under natural field conditions. By modulating the activation or inhibition of key plant response regulators, it may be possible to enhance resistance, offering sustainable and effective strategies for successful management of GTDs.
Clinical trial number
Not applicable.
Journal Article
Physiological Characterisation of Human iPS-Derived Dopaminergic Neurons
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer the potential to study otherwise inaccessible cell types. Critical to this is the directed differentiation of hiPSCs into functional cell lineages. This is of particular relevance to research into neurological disease, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), in which midbrain dopaminergic neurons degenerate during disease progression but are unobtainable until post-mortem. Here we report a detailed study into the physiological maturation over time of human dopaminergic neurons in vitro. We first generated and differentiated hiPSC lines into midbrain dopaminergic neurons and performed a comprehensive characterisation to confirm dopaminergic functionality by demonstrating dopamine synthesis, release, and re-uptake. The neuronal cultures include cells positive for both tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and G protein-activated inward rectifier potassium channel 2 (Kir3.2, henceforth referred to as GIRK2), representative of the A9 population of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) neurons vulnerable in PD. We observed for the first time the maturation of the slow autonomous pace-making (<10 Hz) and spontaneous synaptic activity typical of mature SNc dopaminergic neurons using a combination of calcium imaging and electrophysiology. hiPSC-derived neurons exhibited inositol tri-phosphate (IP3) receptor-dependent release of intracellular calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum in neuronal processes as calcium waves propagating from apical and distal dendrites, and in the soma. Finally, neurons were susceptible to the dopamine neuron-specific toxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) which reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and altered mitochondrial morphology. Mature hiPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons provide a neurophysiologically-defined model of previously inaccessible vulnerable SNc dopaminergic neurons to bridge the gap between clinical PD and animal models.
Journal Article