Two leading theories within the field of suicide prevention are the interpersonal psychological theory of suicidal behaviour (IPT) and the integrated motivational-volitional (IMV) model. The IPT ...posits that suicidal thoughts emerge from high levels of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. The IMV model is a multivariate framework that conceptualizes defeat and entrapment as key drivers of suicide ideation. We applied network analysis to cross-sectional data collected as part of the Scottish Wellbeing Study, in which a nationally representative sample of 3508 young adults (18–34 years) completed a battery of psychological measures. Network analysis can help us to understand how the different theoretical components interact and how they relate to suicide ideation. Within a network that included only the core factors from both models, internal entrapment and perceived burdensomeness were most strongly related to suicide ideation. The core constructs defeat, external entrapment and thwarted belonginess were mainly related to other factors than suicide ideation. Within the network of all available psychological factors, 12 of the 20 factors were uniquely related to suicide ideation, with perceived burdensomeness, internal entrapment, depressive symptoms and history of suicide ideation explaining the most variance. None of the factors was isolated, and we identified four larger clusters: mental wellbeing, interpersonal needs, personality, and suicide-related factors. Overall, the results suggest that relationships between suicide ideation and psychological risk factors are complex, with some factors contributing direct risk, and others having indirect impact.
•12 of the 20 psychological factors were uniquely related to suicide ideation.•Perceived burdensomness and internal entrapment made equal contribution to suicide ideation.•Defeat, external entrapment and thwarted belonginess were mainly related to other factors than suicide ideation.•Networks highlight complexity between psychological factors and suicide ideation.
Wildfire occurrence is influenced by climate, vegetation and human
activities. A key challenge for understanding the risk of fires is quantifying the mediating effect of vegetation on fire
regimes. ...Here, we explore the relative importance of Holocene land cover,
land use, dominant functional forest type, and climate dynamics on biomass
burning in temperate and boreo-nemoral regions of central and eastern Europe
over the past 12 kyr. We used an extensive data set of Holocene pollen and
sedimentary charcoal records, in combination with climate simulations and
statistical modelling. Biomass burning was highest during the early Holocene
and lowest during the mid-Holocene in all three ecoregions (Atlantic, continental and boreo-nemoral) but was more spatially variable over the past 3–4 kyr. Although climate explained a
significant variance in biomass burning during the early Holocene, tree
cover was consistently the highest predictor of past biomass burning over
the past 8 kyr. In temperate forests, biomass burning was high at
∼45 % tree cover and decreased to a minimum at between 60 % and
70 % tree cover. In needleleaf-dominated forests, biomass burning was
highest at ∼ 60 %–65 % tree cover and steeply declined at
>65 % tree cover. Biomass burning also increased when arable
lands and grasslands reached ∼ 15 %–20 %, although this
relationship was variable depending on land use practice via ignition
sources, fuel type and quantities. Higher tree cover reduced the amount of
solar radiation reaching the forest floor and could provide moister, more
wind-protected microclimates underneath canopies, thereby decreasing fuel
flammability. Tree cover at which biomass burning increased appears to be
driven by warmer and drier summer conditions during the early Holocene and
by increasing human influence on land cover during the late Holocene. We suggest that long-term fire hazard
may be effectively reduced through land cover management, given that land
cover has controlled fire regimes under the dynamic climates of the
Holocene.
Nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) self-renew and differentiate into nephrons, the functional units of the kidney. Here, manipulation of p38 and YAP activity allowed for long-term clonal expansion of ...primary mouse and human NPCs and induced NPCs (iNPCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Molecular analyses demonstrated that cultured iNPCs closely resemble primary human NPCs. iNPCs generated nephron organoids with minimal off-target cell types and enhanced maturation of podocytes relative to published human kidney organoid protocols. Surprisingly, the NPC culture medium uncovered plasticity in human podocyte programs, enabling podocyte reprogramming to an NPC-like state. Scalability and ease of genome editing facilitated genome-wide CRISPR screening in NPC culture, uncovering genes associated with kidney development and disease. Further, NPC-directed modeling of autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) identified a small-molecule inhibitor of cystogenesis. These findings highlight a broad application for the reported iNPC platform in the study of kidney development, disease, plasticity, and regeneration.
Display omitted
•YAP activation allows long-term expansion of hPSC-iNPCs•iNPC-derived nephron organoids generate mature podocytes with limited off-target cells•Podocyte-to-NPC reprogramming with hNPSR-v2 medium reveals human podocyte plasticity•Genome-wide CRISPR screening and PKD modeling from genome-edited NPC lines
Nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) generate nephrons, the functional units of the kidney. Li and colleagues develop systems for long-term expansion of mouse and human NPCs, which can further develop into mature nephron organoids. These in vitro systems generate novel insights into kidney development and disease and reveal human nephron plasticity.
As Ireland's population increases and chronic disease becomes more prevalent, demand on limited general practice services will increase. Nursing roles within general practice are now considered to be ...standard, yet alternative allied health professional roles are under explored within an Irish context. Allied health personnel such as Advanced Paramedics (APs) may have the capability to provide support to general practice.
To explore General Practitioners' (GPs) attitudes and opinions of integrating Advanced Paramedics (APs) into rural general practice in Ireland.
A sequential explanatory mixed methodology was adopted. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to a purposeful sample of GPs attending a rural conference followed by semi-structured interviews. Data was recorded and transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.
In total n = 27 GPs responded to the survey and n = 13 GPs were interviewed. The majority of GPs were familiar with APs and were receptive to the concept of closely collaborating with APs within a variety of settings including out-of-hours services, home visits, nursing homes and even roles within the general practice surgery.
General Practitioner and Advanced Paramedic clinical practice dovetail within many facets of primary care and emergency care. GPs recognise that current rural models are unsustainable and realise the potential of integrating APs into the general practice team to help support and sustain the future of rural general practice services in Ireland. These interviews provided an exclusive, detailed insight into the world of general practice in Ireland that has not been previously documented in this way.
Advancing age is the strongest risk factor for osteoporosis and skeletal fragility. Rapamycin is an FDA-approved immunosuppressant that inhibits the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex, ...extends lifespan, and protects against aging-related diseases in multiple species; however, the impact of rapamycin on skeletal tissue is incompletely understood. We evaluated the effects of a short-term, low-dosage, interval rapamycin treatment on bone microarchitecture and strength in young-adult (3 mo old) and aged female (20 mo old) C57BL/6 mice. Rapamycin (2 mg/kg body mass) was administered via intraperitoneal injection 1×/5 d for a duration of 8 wk; this treatment regimen has been shown to induce geroprotective effects while minimizing the side effects associated with higher rapamycin dosages and/or more frequent or prolonged delivery schedules. Aged femurs exhibited lower cancellous bone mineral density, volume, trabecular connectivity density and number, higher trabecular thickness and spacing, and lower cortical thickness compared to young-adult mice. Rapamycin had no impact on assessed microCT parameters. Flexural testing of the femur revealed that both yield strength and ultimate strength were lower in aged mice compared to young-adult mice. There were no effects of rapamycin on these or other measures of bone biomechanics. Age, but not rapamycin, altered local and global measures of bone turnover. These data demonstrate that short-term, low-dosage interval rapamycin treatment does not negatively or positively impact the skeleton of young-adult and aged mice.
Abstract Background The prevalence of adolescent self-harm in Northern Ireland (NI) and its associated factors are unknown. Given the established relationship between conflict and mental health, and ...NI׳s recent history of conflict, it is important to investigate the factors associated with self-harm in NI. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of self-harm in NI adolescents and the factors associated with it, including exposure to the NI conflict. Methods Observational study of 3596 school pupils employing an anonymous self-report survey. Information was obtained on demographic characteristics, lifestyle, life events and problems, exposure to the NI conflict, social and internet influences, and psychological variables. Results Self-harm was reported by 10% of respondents. In univariate analyses, exposure to the NI conflict was associated with self-harm alongside established risk factors. In multivariate analyses, bullying and exposure to self-harm were associated with lifetime self-harm in both girls and boys. Alcohol use, drug use, physical and sexual abuse, and self-esteem were also associated with self-harm in girls. In boys, absence of exercise, sexual orientation concerns, anxiety and impulsivity were additional risk factors. The internet/social media and the self-harm of others were also key influences. Limitations This is a cross-sectional study. Conclusions The rate of self-harm was lower than elsewhere in the UK/Ireland. The study highlights the factors which should be considered in terms of risk assessment. In addition to established risk factors, the findings suggest that more research on the legacy of the NI conflict as well as the influence of new technologies warrant urgent attention.
A previous study showed that roughness perception may depend on either temporal or spatial variations in firing rate among cutaneous mechanoreceptive afferents. The present study was designed to ...distinguish between these hypotheses. Plastic surfaces embossed with patterns of dots designed to produce predictable alterations in temporal and spatial firing rate variation were used as stimuli in psychophysical and neurophysiological experiments. Subjective roughness magnitudes obtained from psychophysical experiments fitted the predictions of the spatial but not the temporal hypothesis. In the neurophysiological experiments, the stimuli were scanned across the receptive fields of cutaneous mechanoreceptive afferents. Firing rate variation in the neural responses was measured using a range of temporal and spatial filters. Temporal variation was not correlated with roughness magnitude. Spatial variation, on a scale of 1-2 mm (one to two receptor spacings), was closely correlated with roughness.
PDF
