Trusting the Health System and COVID 19 Restriction Compliance

We examine the extent to which exposure to higher relative COVID-19 mortality (RM), influences health system trust (HST), and whether changes in HST explain the perceived ease of compliance with pandemic restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on evidence from two representative surveys covering all regions of 28 European countries before and after the first COVID-19 wave, and using a difference in differences strategy together with Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM), we document that living in a region with higher RM during the first wave of the pandemic increased HST. However, the positive effect of RM on HST is driven by individuals over 45 years of age, and the opposite effect is found among younger cohorts. Furthemore, we find that a higher HST reduces the costs of complying with COVID-19 restrictions, but only so long as excess mortality does not exceed the average by more than 20%, at which point the ease of complying with COVID-19 restrictions significantly declines, offsetting the positive effect of trust in the healthcare system. Our interpretation of these estimates is that a higher RM is interpreted as a risk signal among those over 45, and as a signal of health-care system failure among younger age individuals.     

Effects of phosphate availability on the root system architecture: large-scale analysis of the natural variation between Arabidopsis accessions

Developmental plasticity is one main adaptative response of plants to the availability of nutrients. In the present study, the naturally occurring variation existing in Arabidopsis for the growth responses to phosphate availability was investigated. Initially details of the effects of phosphate starvation for the four currently used accessions Cvi, Col, Ler and Ws were compared. A set of 10 growth parameters, concerning the aerial part and the root system, was measured in both single‐point and time‐course experiments. The length of the primary root and the number of laterals were found to be consistently reduced by phosphate starvation in all four accessions. These two robust parameters were selected to further screen a set of 73 accessions originating from a wide range of habitats. One‐half of the accessions showed also a reduced primary root and less lateral roots when phosphate‐starved, and 25% were not responsive to phosphate availability. For the last quarter of accessions, phosphate starvation was found to affect only one of the two growth parameters, indicating the occurrence of different adaptative strategies. These accessions appear to offer new tools to investigate the molecular basis of the corresponding growth responses to phosphate availability.     

Observations on rodlet cells found in the vascular system and extravascular space of angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare scalare)

In the angelfish ( Pterophyllum scalare scalare ) numerous rodlet cells were found in the large post-orbital blood vessel caudal to the eye and in the surrounding extravascular space. Within the vessel the rodlet cells formed striking regular arrays, along the inner aspect of the wall. The rodlets within the cells were positive to PAS but negative to Sudan Black B, Masson's, and the Fuelgen stain. The capsule around the cells was negative for all these stains. These rodlet cells appeared to be traversing the vessel endothelium, and to be pushing the endothelium aside without damaging it. Some discharged their contents into the vessel, but we never observed the release of intact rodlets. The nuclei of rodlet cells in actual contact with the vessel were at the end of the cell more distant from the endothelial wall. Cell-to-cell adhesion structures or communications junctions between rodlet cells and the endothelium were not evident. A putative rodlet cell precursor in the extravascular space contained large electron-dense granules, and extended pseudopodia that contacted nearby rodlet cells. Based on their morphology, tissue distribution, and their behaviour, we conclude that the rodlet cell is an endogeneous teleost cell type, and possibly represents a form of matured granulocyte.     

Purification and Characterization of a Human Brain Galectin-1 Ligand

Abstract: Our previous studies have characterized an endogenous lectin from human brain identified as galectin-1. A soluble ligand of galectin-1 was purified from human brain by affinity chromatography and preparative electrophoresis. The purified ligand (termed HBGp82, for human brain galectin-1-binding polypeptide of 82,000 daltons) has an apparent molecular mass of 82 kDa and is glycosylated by N -linked biantennary complex structures. HBGp82 was partially characterized by microsequencing of peptide fragments. Similar peptides were found in a heat shock of protein of 90,000 daltons, hsp90. However, comparison of apparent molecular weights and matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry clearly showed that HBGp82 differs to some degree from hsp90.     

Multiple paternity in the red-eyed treefrog Agalychnis callidryas (Cope)

DNA fingerprinting of tadpoles from two different ‘one female-two male’ matings of the red-eyed treefrog, Agalychnis callidryas, revealed multiple paternity of offspring. Offspring were assigned paternity based on bands shared with the putative father, but not shared between putative fathers or with the mother. Paternity was split 44/56% and 36/64% in two matings. These results do not support a hypothesis of sperm priority in access to unfertilized eggs by primary males. Multiple paternity may be commonplace in species of anurans with matings by multiple males.     

Purification and characterization of two essential cytochromes of the thiosulphate-oxidizing multi-enzyme system from Thiobacillus A2 (Thiobacillus versutus)

Four c-type cytochromes were purified by several procedures including chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B and Sephadex G-75, G-100 and G-200 and chromatofocusing. Cytochrome c-551 had a pI value of 5.2 and an M_r of 260 000 consisting of six non-covalently bound polypeptides each with an M_r of 43 000, and contained four to five haems. Cytochrome c-552.5 had a pI value of 4.8 and an M_r of 56 000 consisting of two polypeptides with the same M_r 29 000, and contained two haems. Cytochromes c-551 and c-552.5 were reduced by ascorbate to about 70 and 60% of the fully dithionite-reduced values, respectively, and both were essential components in the thiosulphate-oxidizing multi-enzyme system (other components of the system were ‘enzyme A’, ‘enzyme B’ and sulphite: cytochrome c oxidoreductase). These two cytochromes functioned as electron carriers and effectors in the oxidation of thiosulphate. Some evidence suggested that cytochrome c-551 might be a specialized electron transfer component for sulphonate-sulphur oxidation. Both cytochromes could be reduced by thiosulphate in the presence of enzymes A and B. Cytochrome c-550 (basic) and cytochrome c-550 (acidic) were small proteins with M_r 15 000 and 14 000 and pI values of over 8 and 5, respectively. Their physiological role is uncertain.