No abstract

Gratitude is a fundamental aspect of social interaction that positively influences emotional and social well‐being. It is also crucial for promoting online community health by motivating participation. However, how gratitude occurs and can be encouraged in online communities is not yet well understood. This exploratory study investigated how online community users experience gratitude, focusing on how gratitude expression and acknowledgment occurs, can break down or can be reinforced. Semistructured Critical Incident interviews were conducted with 8 users of various online communities, including discussion and support groups, social Q&A sites, and review sites, eliciting 17 memorable examples of giving and receiving thanks online. The findings gave rise to a process model of gratitude in online communities—the “gratitude cycle,” which provides a detailed, holistic understanding of the experience of gratitude online that can inform the design of online community platforms that aim to motivate users to perpetuate the cycle. An enriched understanding of gratitude in online communities can help ensure future platforms better support the expression and acknowledgment of thanks, encouraging participation.

We have investigated the potential of metal–organic frameworks for immobilising single atoms of transition metals using a model system of Pd supported on NH2-MIL-101(Cr).

No abstract

Background Sublingual tablet buprenorphine (BUP-SL) and oral liquid methadone (MET) are the daily, standard-of-care (SOC) opioid agonist treatment medications for opioid use disorder (OUD). A sizable proportion of the OUD treatment population is not exposed to sufficient treatment to attain the desired clinical benefit. Two promising therapeutic technologies address this deficit: long-acting injectable buprenorphine and personalised psychosocial interventions (PSI). This study will determine (A) the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness — monthly injectable, extended-release (BUP-XR) in a head-to-head comparison with BUP-SL and MET, and (B) the effectiveness of BUP-XR with adjunctive PSI versus BUP-SL and MET with PSI. Safety, retention, craving, substance use, quality-adjusted life years, social functioning, and subjective recovery from OUD will be also evaluated. Methods This is a pragmatic, multi-centre, open-label, parallel-group, superiority RCT, with a qualitative (mixed-methods) evaluation. The study population is adults. The setting is five National Health Service community treatment centres in England and Scotland. At each centre, participants will be randomly allocated (1:1) to BUP-XR or SOC. At the London study co-ordinating centre, there will also be allocation of participants to BUP-XR with PSI or SOC with PSI. With 24 weeks of study treatment, the primary outcome is days of abstinence from non-medical opioids during study weeks 2–24 combined with up to 12 urine drug screen tests for opioids. For 90% power (alpha, 5%; 15% inflation for attrition), 304 participants are needed for the BUP-XR versus SOC comparison. With the same planning parameters, 300 participants are needed for the BUP-XR and PSI versus SOC and PSI comparison. Statistical and health economic analysis plans will be published before data-lock on the Open Science Framework. Findings will be reported in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials and Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards. Discussion This pragmatic randomised controlled trial is the first evaluation of injectable BUP-XR versus the SOC medications BUP-SL and MET, with personalised PSI. If there is evidence for the superiority of BUP-XR over SOC medication, study findings will have substantial implications for OUD clinical practice and treatment policy in the UK and elsewhere. Trial registration EU Clinical Trials register 2018-004460-63.

Background: The risk of graftinduced dyskinesias (GIDs) presents a major challenge in progressing cell transplantation as a therapy for Parkinson's disease. Current theories implicate the presence of grafted serotonin neurons, hotspots of dopamine release, neuroinflammation and established levodopa-induced dyskinesia.Objective: To elucidate the mechanisms of GIDs. Methods: Neonatally desensitized, dopamine denervated rats received intrastriatal grafts of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) differentiated into either ventral midbrain dopaminergic progenitor (vmDA) (n = 15) or ventral forebrain cells (n = 14). Results: Of the eight rats with surviving grafts, two vmDA rats developed chronic spontaneous GIDs, which were observed at 30 weeks post-transplantation. GIDs were inhibited by D 2 -like receptor antagonists and not affected by 5-HT1A/1B/5-HT6 agonists/antagonists. Grafts in GID rats showed more microglial activation and lacked serotonin neurons. Conclusions: These findings argue against current thinking that rats do not develop spontaneous GID and that serotonin neurons are causative, rather indicating that GID can be induced in rats by hESC-derived dopamine grafts and, critically, can occur independently of both previous levodopa exposure and grafted serotonin neurons.

ObjectivesDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, addiction treatment services received official guidance asking them to limit face-to-face contact with patients and to prescribe opioid agonist treatment (OAT) medication flexibly. With the aim for most patients to receive take-home supplies for self-administration rather than attendance for observed daily dosing.DesignThis was a theory-driven, clinically applied qualitative study, with data for thematic analysis collected by semi-structured, audio-recorded, telephone interviews.ParticipantsTwenty-seven adults (aged ≥18 years) enrolled in sublingual (tablet) buprenorphine and oral (liquid) methadone OAT.SettingCommunity addictions centre in the London Borough of Lambeth operated by South London and Maudsley NHS Trust.ResultsThree major themes were identified: (1) dissatisfaction and perceived stigma with OAT medication dispensing arrangements before the pandemic; (2) positive adaptations in response to COVID-19 by services; (3) participants recommended that, according to preference and evidence of adherence, OAT should be personalised to offer increasing medication supplies for self-administration from as early as 7 days after commencement of maintenance prescribing.ConclusionsIn an applied qualitative study of patients enrolled in OAT during the COVID-19 pandemic, participants endorsed their opportunity to take medication themselves at home and with virtual addiction support. Most patients described a preference for self-administration with increased dispensing supplies, from as early as 7 days into maintenance treatment, if they could demonstrate adherence to their prescription.

Questions about what constitutes the ‘good life’ are increasingly being asked by policy makers, academics, researchers and members of the public. Sandra Carlisle and colleagues explain the background to the debate, and suggest that modern western values, if unchecked, could pose a risk to people’s wellbeing on a global scale